10: The Truth

Annabeth POV

It was the third time that I called my dad today. It was normal for him to not pick up my calls. My dad was incredibly busy with his job as a traveling professor and archeologist.

However, I had to tell him something.

I don't even know why I was trying. I invited him every year for the past three years, but he never showed up. He'd always say that he was busy.

"Annie, is everything all right?" Thalia asked as she nudged me.

I quickly put my phone away and returned my attention to my friends. We were all sitting outside in the grass for lunch. The sun was out, and it was a good, autumn day.

"Yeah, everything's normal. My dad's not answering my calls," I said quietly.

"You're inviting him for the fall showcase."

I nodded. Thalia and I both sighed at the same time before turning back to Leo, who was rambling about the details of his new job. He starts officially working with Olympus Records as soon as Percy was over with his break.

Technically, he had 11 months of vacation left, so there was a lot of time.

However, it was nice to see Leo so excited. It was also great of Percy to convince his label that Leo was qualified for his team.

"Sorry, Leo, but I have to interrupt. Otherwise, you're gonna be rambling for the rest of lunch," Piper interrupted.

"You mean like how he always does," Percy said sarcastically.

I smiled as Leo shoved Percy playfully. Honestly, it was really enjoyable for members of our gang to make fun of each other. We were all in good spirits. Everyone laughed as Leo and Percy continued to fool around.

"Anyway, Pipes, what did you want to say?" Jason asked after separating Leo and Percy, who were both laughing like idiots.

"What's everyone planning to do for the showcase?" Piper asked excitedly.

"Pipes, you already know about everyone's talents. Some of us will sing while others will dance. Katie loves to showcase art and beauty. Then, we have students like Jason, Frank, and Thalia who won't perform because they're on the business end of things," Hazel said.

Hazel was absolutely correct. She and I were singers. Leo helped compose our music. The Stolls danced while Katie performed fast art.

"How about you Percy? Will you be singing?" Piper asked.

Percy shifted uncomfortably as all eyes fell on him. It was astonishing how he still got nervous about the attention sometimes despite being a celebrity.

"I don't know yet," Percy said with a sigh.

"Everyone would lose their shit if you were to perform, bro," Jason said. "You would really elevate the show."

I nodded in agreement as my gaze fell on Percy again.

"That's why I don't want to perform, guys. The showcase is about the students here. They have the opportunity to attract managers and records. It's about finding someone new. It's not about watching an already-established artist perform," Percy replied quietly.

The conversation shifted to other topics after that.

"Seaweed Brain, since when did you become so deep," I said with a smile. Percy looked up at me in surprise.

"Wise Girl, I've always been deep. I'm learning against performing at the showcase. It just wouldn't be fair," Percy said.

We were having our conversation near the edge of our group. He shifted in position to sit next to me.

I laid down so that I could face the sky and he followed suit.

"But, you're still a student here, Percy, just like everyone else," I said.

"Well, yes, I am a student, but we both know that I'm not like everybody else, Wise Girl. The showcase is about the students here looking for an opportunity," Percy said firmly.

"That's why I think you should perform, Percy."

I turned my head to face him. However, he was already looking at me. We were laying next to each other and surprisingly close to each other.

"Percy, think about it. If you were to perform, that would attract so much more publicity and a much larger audience to our showcase. The show would potentially even get broadcasted on YouTube and TV," I explained.

Percy sighed as he looked back at the sky. I watched as a smile graced his handsome face.

"That cloud up there looks like a guitar," Percy expressed. I shook my head as I stared at the cloud.

"What kind of guitars are you used to, Percy?" I asked with a chuckle.

"Come on, Wise Girl, don't you see it. Also, performing probably isn't that bad of an idea. You're right about the showcase," Percy said firmly.

"When am I not correct, Percy?" I asked slyly.

Percy laughed as he turned to me again. My gaze locked onto his before I also started laughing as well. We were having a really good time.

However, my next question ruined the moment.

"I missed you, Seaweed Brain. Why did you leave?" I asked quietly.

"Wise Girl, I was following my career. Making music and performing kinda demands that I leave our school and travel the world," Percy said.

I shook my head with a heavy sigh.

"You know what I mean, Percy. Why did you leave me?" I asked again.

Percy looked up at the sky as his body tensed. He looked like he wanted to tell something, but he was hesitating.

"You say I'm your best friend. Why aren't you telling me?" I asked firmly.

"It's just that I was trying to get away from you. I mean, I was too invested and connected to you, Wise Girl," Percy faltered off.

"So, you didn't want to be close to me anymore," I said sadly. That's what it sounded like.

"No, Wise Girl, I-" Percy stammered as he sat up. I sat up as well and looked at him. His hand rubbed his face before turning to me again. "Arcade was about you, Wise Girl. You're smart enough to figure out what that means."

He was telling the truth. I could see it in his eyes.

It took me a few seconds to digest his words and a few more seconds to put all of the puzzle pieces together.

Percy acted differently around me in the months leading up to his fame. Thalia suggested that Percy liked me all along, but I didn't believe her. Percy and I were best friends, and I didn't see him more than that.

However, Percy had.

He ghosted me as a way to push away his feelings. He didn't want to risk our friendship, so he fought his feelings instead. Of course, that ended up hurting our relationship anyway.

Regardless, the truth made sense.

"Oh," was my bland response. I didn't really know what to say.

***

I grabbed my textbook from my locker. However, the locker door slammed shut before I could close it.

"Excuse me?" I snapped at the redhead.

"Oops, sorry, Annabeth. I didn't you there," Rachel laughed annoyingly. I rolled my eyes as I reopened my locker to grab another book.

However, Rachel slammed the door shut again.

"What the hell is your problem?" I asked harshly. "You clearly did that on purpose. I don't even know why I gave you the benefit of the doubt."

Rachel continued to laugh as her posse of cheerleaders joined in. Gods, they were so annoying. Of all of the high school cliches that existed, the mean girls were the worst.

"I have a simple demand," Rachel said sweetly.

"I'm not going to accept your demands, Rachel. You have no power over me," I said firmly before turning to walk away.

However, the girls blocked my way. The hallway was empty besides me and the girls in front of me. I was definitely going to be late for class.

I had been running late because my mind was distracting. I was thinking about Percy and everything that he told me. Percy liked me (apparently, in the past). While I knew that I didn't like him then, I wasn't sure about now.

Things were so different now, and I couldn't deny my current physical and emotional attraction towards him.

Rachel snapped her fingers in my face to catch my attention.

"Let me make this very clear. Percy is gonna be mine, Annabeth. You need to step out of my way so that I can get what I want," Rachel said firmly. Her tone was so serious.

"Oh my god, Rachel, Percy isn't some piece of meat for you to claim. Who he wants to be with is his choice," I said.

Rachel laughed as she moved closer.

"Oh, and you think that he'll choose you still. Percy is a world-famous pop star, and you're a nobody. There's no way that he likes you now," Rachel said with a chuckle.

My mind raced. I really wanted to punch this girl, but I held back.

Honestly, I didn't know how Percy felt about me now. After all, he dated other people in the past two years. However, I wanted to believe that he still liked me since he didn't shy away from spending time with me. Not to mention, the kiss that almost happened in his basement the other day that we didn't talk about.

"Percy may or may not like me, but I know that he definitely doesn't like you," I said in a low tone. "Now, get out of my way."

As I started walking away, Rachel spoke up loudly.

"You don't know what I'm capable of, Annabeth," Rachel said harshly. I ignored her as I continued towards my class.

"Percy will be mine one way or another. Just wait and see," Rachel exclaimed.

For some reason, a part of me believed her.

However, I was too distracted and too lost in my own feelings to care. I realized that my feelings were complex and conflicted, but they were all about Percy.