20: The Jealousy

Annabeth POV

"Percy, Mr. worldwide superstar, here's my question to you..."

"Thalia, there are some questions that I can't answer," Percy said firmly. He was frowning as he looked around the circle.

Then, his gaze fell on me again. It was the fourth or fifth time that he looked at me since sitting down. I could tell that he didn't like me with Luke. I smiled as I slightly leaned back against Luke's arm.

His eyes narrowed once again. I could see his hand clench into a fist next to him.

Seeing his jealous reaction was fun.

"All right, Percy, fine. I got a different question," Thalia stated. I knew that Thalia would try to ask him about what was going on. However, unfortunately, Percy made it clear that he wouldn't answer.

"Fine, go for it," Percy said with a sigh.

Everyone cheered around the circle as we waited for Thalia's question.

I fidgeted with my purple sweater and touched my silver bracelet. It was soothing to feel the cool metal against my skin. I pulled away from Luke slightly because he was getting a little too close before turning back to the circle.

"Okay, Percy, what do you look for in a woman?" Thalia asked firmly.

A silence filled the group. The music was still playing in the background, and other people were talking and walking around. However, our group was invested in Percy's answer, especially me.

"I can drink, right?" Percy asked.

"Oh come on, Percy. That's not even a bad question," Silena exclaimed. "I am not giving you a drink for a question like that."

Percy sighed before giving his response.

"I look for someone who's powerful. She has to be able to hold her own and be independent. She's obviously gotta be caring and intelligent. She shouldn't care that I'm a famous singer," Percy said before looking up.

Everyone gazed at him intently. Some of them were smiling while others nodded in approval.

"Anything else, Percy?" Silena asked knowingly.

"Yeah, um, I look for someone," he hesitated. His sea-green eyes locked onto mine for a second before turning back to the group. He glanced down as he started talking.

"I look for someone who'd wear a nice purple sweater to a party like this and blue jeans. Minimal makeup and a slightly disorganized ponytail. She'd have a silver bracelet on to remind her of her mother."

Percy stopped talking suddenly.

Everyone's gaze shifted from Percy and fell on me. My fingers rubbed my mother's bracelet as I shifted uncomfortably. Somehow, what Percy said was incredibly romantic, and I couldn't block the butterflies in my stomach.

"Yeah, that's what I look for," Percy whispered. Even though he was talking to the group, his sentence was aimed at me.

"PERCY," an angry voice interrupted our game.

I looked up to see Rachel standing with her arms crossed. She looked angry as she met her boyfriend's gaze.

Percy sighed as he stood up. Rachel led him away to give him a piece of her mind, no doubt. After all, Percy was publically talking about another woman. They both walked into the study room that was adjacent to the living room (where we were sitting).

Rachel slammed the door shut, and the bang reverberated.

"Okay, that was informative," Thalia said awkwardly. We exchanged a knowing look. It certainly was informative but also confusing at the same time.

"Can you believe that asshole?" Luke asked harshly.

"Excuse me?" Jason acknowledged as he defended his best friend. Everyone in the circle shifted away from Jason and Luke.

"You all heard him, and it's obvious who he was talking about. The pop star has a girlfriend, yet he's flirting with someone else. That's gross," Luke exclaimed.

"You have no idea what you're talking about, Luke. You don't know Percy or his life," Jason stated firmly.

"Oh please, he knows that Annabeth's with me."

They both glared at each other. I simply sat there without knowing what to do. Luckily, Thalia spoke up as a mediator.

"Okay, guys, that's enough," she exclaimed.

A tense silence filled the air. Then, the music also stopped. A faint buzzing exploded into the speaker system, and Hazel yelped in surprise. Then, the music died.

"What the hell's going on?" Piper asked. "Who stopped the music?"

Silena sighed as she stood up. Technically, it was their house, so it was their job to fix any issues that were happening. I really hoped that nobody broke anything.

"OH MY GOD, Rachel, JUST STOP," a voice shouted.

Since everything was silent now, Percy's outburst was easily heard. Percy and Rachel were only in the room next door, after all.

My gaze intensified on the locked door of the study. It was only a few yards away from where we were sitting.

"Um, I'm gonna see what's going on," Silena said.

She stood up and walked towards the study. All of us turned towards Silena and watched in anticipation.

I don't think I've ever seen Percy yell at someone like that.

Silena had just opened the door when Rachel's shrieking exploded out. I could barely understand what she was saying.

"PERCY, you're my boyfriend. You belong to me," Rachel snapped. "What you're doing is so inappropriate."

"Don't even start on inappropriate behavior, Rachel," Percy shot back.

Silena stood at the door awkwardly before turning back to us. It was clear that she didn't know what to do or say. Rachel and Percy were clearly heated right now.

Jason quickly got up and walked over.

"Babe, I'm your girlfriend. We are together. When are you going to accept that?" Rachel shouted.

"I'm never going to accept it," Percy stated firmly.

"Bro, you guys are making a scene," Jason said loudly. Silence followed from the study as Rachel and Percy both walked outside and stood next to Silena.

"Um, is everything okay, guys?" Silena asked.

Rachel simply huffed before storming off. Percy sighed as he rubbed his tense arm. Then, he looked up at everyone.

His eyes were filled with emotional conflict.

"Um, sorry about that guys," Percy apologized.

"Bro, you have nothing to apologize for," Jason said. "All right, guys, let's just get back to the party. Percy and I will try to get the music going again."

With that, Percy and Jason disappeared. The group broke up after that. Luke stalked off towards his friends, and I walked outside with Thalia.

"Wow, that was something," Thalia said tensely. I nodded. "Are you okay, Annie?"

We walked around the garden in the backyard. It was peaceful outside, which was a drastic change from inside.

"I'm dealing, Thalia. I'm just confused is all. Percy's miserable. He broke down the other day in the rain, but I don't get why," I expressed.

We walked in comfortable silence for a while. Then, another thought entered my head.

"You know, he walked into the party with a kissy mark on his cheek."

"We both know that Rachel could've just forcibly kissed him. Her signature red is practically a stamp on the boyfriends," Thalia chuckled.

"Thalia, he cares about me. I felt it in the way that he talked to my dad about my passion for music. I felt it in the way he held my hands and looked at me the other day," I paused.

"You know, he managed to convince my dad to come to the showcase. My dad told me a few days ago that he'd come and watch me," I added.

I was so happy when my dad told me that he's going to watch me perform. It's all I wanted from him. I wanted my dad to be present.

"That's amazing, and I know, Annabeth. Something's happening, and Jason won't freaking tell me."

"Wait, I thought Jason didn't know."

"Yeah, he's lying. There are very few things that Jason and Percy don't share. If Jason didn't know the truth, then he wouldn't be supporting Percy so much. My brother is genuine that way," Thalia explained.

I nodded. It made sense.

Finally, we made a loop around the garden and walked back into Piper's house. I spent so much time here that I knew my way around. We walked into the kitchen morning room through the back door.

"Wait, Annabeth, wait," Thalia whispered suddenly.

"What?"

"Do you hear that?" Thalia asked. She suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me through the kitchen.

The music was blaring in the background, but I heard their voices now. I stretched around the corner to see Luke, Percy, and Jason. They were in the small hallway that led to the pantry. It was a fairly isolated location.

"Percy, you're a famous pop star, you already have enough. You don't need my girl on top of that," Luke snapped.

"She's not your girl, Luke," Percy shot back.

"Jackson, I got her. She accepted me, so I get to have her," Luke said firmly.

I felt a wave of distaste wash over me. I hated guys who talked about girls like that (like they were objects or possessions). It was disgusting.

Percy would never disrespect me like that.

"Don't talk about her like that. Annabeth is her own person, Luke. Just stay away from her," Percy stated. Jason nodded firmly.

"Oh, is Mr. Worldwide jealous over a normal girl," Luke chuckled.

"Yes, I am. You really don't want to mess with me or Annabeth right now. Trust me on that," Percy warned.

Percy was jealous. I felt giddy over the fact that he admitted it.

"Jackson, you may be a famous celebrity, but you can't do anything. Hell, you can't even control your own life let alone mine," Luke laughed annoyingly.

I wanted to go over there and punch Luke for insulting Percy.

Percy looked down. He wasn't admitting defeat, but he was consenting to Luke's point. It demonstrated how stuck Percy was feeling.

"You're right, Luke. However, I'm still not deterred from caring for her," Percy stated firmly. "So, stay away from Annabeth."

Luke's actions were harsh and fast. His knee came up and exploded into Percy's gut. I knew that Luke wasn't a good guy, but I never thought that he was dangerous.

Percy crumbled to the ground while coughing.

I stood there frozen. Thalia's eyes were wide open as she stared at what was happening. Luke wasn't finished, though.

His fingers wrapped around Percy's throat and pulled him up.

"Luke, let go of him," Jason shouted.

Jason pushed Luke to disarm him. However, Luke's grip was tight on Percy's throat. Luke fell to the ground and pulled Percy with him.

"What, Jackson? You're confident because you're a famous singer. If your voice is gone, then you're nothing," Luke whispered coldly.

Finally, my legs were able to move.

I immediately ran forward. I kicked Luke across the head. The surprise attack weakened him enough for Jason to shove him away from Percy.

Percy groaned on the ground and coughed harshly.

"Oh my god, Seaweed Brain," I exclaimed as I knelt down. I wrapped my arms around him as I steadied him on the floor. However, he was coughing and clutching his neck too much to respond to me.

"Get the hell away from my cousin," Thalia screeched.

Angry Thalia could make anyone shit their pants.

I looked up to see Thalia punch Luke square in the jaw. He staggered back into the kitchen as Jason shoved him again. I quickly turned back to Percy.

"Hey, Seaweed Brain, are you okay?" I requested.

Percy's eyes were bloodshot as he finally looked up. My fingers gently cupped his chin and tilted his head up. I gasped at the red bruises on his neck.

Percy winced as he pulled away from me.

Even though Luke was only holding Percy's neck for a few seconds at the most, his grip had been tight and hard, enough to bruise the skin. Water was sparkling in Percy's eyes.

My hand shook as I placed it on Percy's cheek.

"Percy, your voice will be okay. Just hang on, it's fine," I expressed.

He nodded with his eyes before I wrapped my arms around him. His head burrowed into my shoulder and neck. His body was shaking against me.

"This is my fault," I whispered painfully.

My fingers trembled in his hair. I had listened to Piper and Silena about the "making Percy jealous with Luke" plan. Technically, it worked, but it led to this.

"It, it's not (hah) your fault," Percy croaked. His voice was hoarse and scratchy and barely audible. He pulled back and locked his gaze on mine.

Gods, he was hurt, yet he was trying to make me feel better.

"Shhh, just don't talk now, Seaweed Brain," I expressed.

Thalia and Jason came back and helped Percy stand up. My eyes lingered on the streaks of red bruises on his neck. I felt truly awful.

We walked through the house. We needed to go to a more isolated and quiet place, which was upstairs. Percy's hand clutched mine tightly.

And, I wasn't going to let go.