The Heart Attack

Percy POV

My body was still aching. I was feeling much better today, but my muscles were still sore, especially my abs. The cuts and light bruises healed, but other bruises and slices were still hurting my body.

At least, I didn't feel broken anymore. Jason and Thalia infused me with strength when I wasn't feeling any. That's why you need friends.

That's why I always hung out with Grover. He helped and supported me when I entered a dark place. Dark enough to want to die. He always helped me out of hell.

I missed the last three days of school.

Jason, Thalia, and Grover agreed that I needed to rest. I spent most of my time at Grover's house or in my trailer. I hadn't gone home in a few days. I doubted that Gabe cared. Although, he probably wanted his slave back.

I was about to start some work from school when a knock interrupted.

Thalia had just left after dropping off some food and supplies, so I assumed that she had come back for something. I wasn't expecting anyone else. Of course, life is full of surprises.

"Rachel, what are you doing here?" I asked in surprise.

She was dressed in a red short skirt that matched her curly hair. She was wearing a silk blouse that exposed her shoulders. Her appearance was off (a little too revealing), but I wasn't complaining. However, I had no clue why she was here.

"Percy, I just wanted to talk to you. Will you, um, give me the time?" she asked. Her voice was light and breathy. Rachel leaned in as she spoke.

I did a once-over before stepping out of my trailer.

We were standing in the empty parking garage. The only things that were surrounding us were cars, vans, and littered trash.

"Is everything all right, Rachel?"

"What makes you think that something is wrong?" Rachel asked as she stepped closer. Only two feet separated our faces.

I took a deep breath and stepped back. What was this girl doing? I thought that she hated me.

"Well, you don't like me, so I assumed that the only reason you came was that you needed my help. So, what's up?" I asked earnestly.

"Okay, something is wrong," Rachel replied. "I've been feeling.."

"What is it, Rachel? You can tell me."

Rachel leaned in more. Her feet raised so that her mouth could be in line with my left ear. Her breath sent tingers down my back as she spoke. Each word facilitated her lips to make contact with my ear and neck.

"I need you, Percy. Take me," she whispered sensually.

I sucked in a breath. My body reacted in the way that any teenage boy would. Furthermore, I was craving sex. I was craving pain relief and distraction. The past week has been so hard, and I wanted relief and satisfaction.

Gabe practically broke me, and my mom wasn't doing any better medically speaking. Everything sucked.

Rachel was a temptress. She used her hands to move mine onto her hips. I gazed into her light green eyes and freckled skin. Rachel was attractive, and I so wanted to do this.

Rachel shifted so that her lips were against my neck. I could feel her lips gently brushing my skin, and I wanted to give in. My aching body was begging for relief.

However, just then, Annabeth came to mind. Wise Girl.

I made this deal with her. I had committed three months of my life to her and this proposal. I couldn't break my promise. Of course, I also realized that I wanted way more than three months with Annabeth.

Furthermore, I wanted sex, but I didn't want it from Rachel.

"Wait, stop," I shouted frantically as I staggered back. My legs fumbled as my back hit the wall of my trailer. "Rachel, stop, I'm in the middle of a deal."

"Come on, Percy, screw the deal. I won't tell anyone," Rachel expressed while coming towards me again.

However, this time, my mind was made.

"I don't want to have sex with you," I expressed boldly. "I like having sex, but I don't want to have it with you. Not now. Not with you."

Memories of Annabeth kept flooding my mind as I spoke. I didn't like Rachel, but I did like Annabeth. I liked her more than I was willing to admit. Interestingly, interacting with my ex-girlfriend made me realize my true feelings for Annabeth.

Grover was going to get a kick out of this one.

"Percy, I know that you want this," Rachel responded. Her hand fumbled with the buttons of her shirt to expose her red bra.

God, dam it.

I was tempted. My body was reeling with desire. However, the desire wasn't for Rachel. It was for sex. I knew that it wasn't right to have sex with Rachel with Annabeth in mind. I was loyal to the people that I cared about.

A part of me cared for Rachel as a friend. She deserved better.

"Rachel, stop and cover yourself. I don't want this. I'm in the middle of a deal, and I'm not having sex with you. Please leave," I said firmly.

Rachel's green eyes narrowed on my face. She simply stood there helplessly. I felt bad about rejecting her, but we weren't together anymore. I don't have to feel guilty. Rachel quietly rebuttoned her shirt while I stepped into my trailer. I closed the door on Rachel to solidify my resolve to not break my and Annabeth's proposal.

I leaned back against the door and breathed. My head rested on the cold metal. My trailer was small, so the air was warm and thick.

I was too in shock about my feelings for Annabeth.

They were strong and deep. I was attracted to her physically but also emotionally and psychologically. I was close to falling for her, which broke every rule that I established for myself. Dam it, Percy. Not good.

***

"SHE DID WHAT?" Grover exclaimed.

We stopped in the middle of the road because of Grover's shock. His face looked bewildered as he digested my story. Juniper was equally surprised.

"Yeah, I know. I couldn't believe it either. However, I'm telling you what happened. Rachel came to my trailer yesterday and tried to hit on me."

"And, you didn't do anything?" Juniper asked.

"Of course not. I have Annabeth now, so there's no chance or reason for me to engage with other girls."

Grover and Juniper stopped for the second time. They were simply staring at me with weird looks on their faces. It took a few moments for me to realize what I said.

"Err, I mean that I have Annabeth's and my proposal, and I can't break it," I stammered while continuing our walk.

Grover and Juniper were both smiling like idiots while gazing at me. Gods, could this get any worse? I didn't want to have feelings for Annabeth, and I certainly didn't need them questioning me about it.

I was walking to the hospital (since I always visit my mom on Thursdays), and I was crossing the park when I ran into Grover and Juniper. They were talking about trees and birds when I greeted them.

We continued talking about random topics while watching the kids running around the park. This was the most popular nature park in our city. I spend a lot of time here. The crisp air and nature are very soothing.

"Anyway, this is where I'll leave you two lovebirds. Don't do too much PDA at the park. There are kids here," I said with a smirk.

Both of their faces reddened as I laughed.

I walked along a sidewalk until reaching the edge of the park. Cars were bustling through the street. After a few more blocks, I reached my destination.

I knew my way around the hospital for two reasons. I spend a lot of time here because of my mom and my volunteering experience on Sundays. It only took a few minutes to reach my mother's room on the eighth floor.

My mom was sleeping, and I didn't have the heart to wake her. She looked very weak and pale. Tubes were connected to her arm and chest, and she was wearing an oxygen mask. I felt like she looked worse with every passing day.

I gently took her hand while sitting next to her bed. I gazed into her face and prayed that she'd get better. I would be lost without my mother.

I gently stroked her bald head just to do something. I needed her to survive and come home so that we could bake cookies together and watch movies. My mother would always kiss my cheek before sending me to school. I missed that. I missed her.

"Hello, Percy, I don't mean to bother you. However, we do need to discuss a few things," Dr. Apollo expressed with Nurse Hestia next to him.

I quickly wiped the tears from my cheek and looked up.

"All right, Percy, we had an incident yesterday. It's a pretty big deal, and I just don't know how to tell you," Apollo said firmly.

"It's all right, doctor, go ahead. Is everything all right?"

"Unfortunately, it's not okay. We are doing everything we can, but your mother's lung cancer is very aggressive. It's greatly destabilizing her body and hurting her other organs."

"I know that things are bad. What happened yesterday?" I asked. Dr. Apollo kept dodging the conversation and sweetening his words. However, I only wanted the truth.

Nurse Hestia came forward and fixed my mother's tubing. I realized that it was an excuse to be physically closer to me.

"As I was saying, your mother is very weak. Sometimes, cancer can be very hard on the heart," Apollo started. "What I'm saying is that your mother's heart stopped for a few minutes yesterday due to a heart attack."

My eyes widened in shock. I wasn't expecting that. My gaze immediately flitted to my mother. She was just sleeping, and she looked fine and alive.

"We brought her back. She's strong, and she pulled through. We're doing everything we can to keep her alive," Dr. Apollo said firmly.

"Wait, so my mom died for a few minutes?" I asked helplessly. A sinking weight fell in my gut. I couldn't believe it.

Dr. Apollo and Nurse Hestia looked at each other. Nurse Hestia nodded softly and motioned Dr. Apollo out of the room.

I simply sat there in shock. I didn't know how to react. My mother was still alive, but she had almost died. I wanted to cry and scream at the same time. However, I was in a hospital.

"I'm so sorry, child. I know that this is awful," Hestia expressed.

"She's dying, isn't she?" I asked softly.

My throat was tight with emotions. I was having trouble breathing as I gazed at my mother. Storms were burning my eyes. I couldn't take it anymore, especially since I didn't have my usual way of coping right now. It hurt too much.

I sniffed while wiping the tears from my eyes.

"You have to stay strong for her," Nurse Hestia affirmed. "However, I think that you should also prepare yourself."

Prepare yourself. That's what doctors and nurses say to families of individuals who are going to die. I knew all about hospital lingo. But, I never thought I'd hear it about my mother.

She is the most important person in my life, and she's the only constant in my 17 years of living. I couldn't lose her. I didn't want to.

I squeezed my mother's hand with both of my own. I brought her hand up to my forehead and hoped for her to live.

I'm not ready to prepare myself. I'm not ready to lose my mother.