The Blackmail

Percy POV

"Hold on. You and Annabeth kissed. OH MY GOD. THAT'S HUGE," Grover exclaimed. His voice cracked during his high-pitch squeal.

I sighed while thinking about the aftermath of the kiss. It wasn't my best moment with a girl. I felt awful about how I ended things.

The kiss was phenomenal. I melted into it, and it was a struggle to break free. I realized that I was meant to kiss her, possibly for the rest of my life. The fireworks, happiness, and ecstasy were indescribable. I felt myself heal and get revived thanks to Annabeth.

Then, it all came crashing down. I thought about how I could be so happy when my mother is dead. She died a week ago, and here I was, ecstatic about my love for Annabeth. Guilt and shame bubbled within me, and I couldn't continue.

I wasn't ready to be with Annabeth when I felt so hollow and empty inside.

"So, what happened after the kiss?" Grover asked. "Did you take it any further?"

"No. I stopped it. I wanted to continue so badly, but I couldn't," I expressed miserably. I buried my face into my hands.

"Percy, what's wrong? You have feelings for her."

"I know. I'm falling in love with her, but I just couldn't stay happy. My mom died a week ago, Grover. How can I be happy and loved right now?"

Grover sat on the couch next to me. We were hanging out at his house the day after my and Annabeth's kiss. The living room smelled Eaarthy like always. It was soothing and comforting even though I didn't feel good at all. His hand gently patted my back.

"Perce, there's nothing wrong with being okay. I know that you're grieving and you're not ready right now, but you also deserve to be happy," he expressed.

"Think about it this way, Sally wants you to be happy. She wants to look down from heaven and see her son smiling."

My eyes watered as I faced my best friend. He always made me feel better. However, I knew that I wasn't ready for a relationship. My life and my mind were a mess right now.

"Thanks, Grover. Sometimes, you manage to talk like a philosophy professor. Do you know that?" I asked with a light chuckle.

"It's a gift, and I don't question it," he responded.

I sighed while shaking my head. Grover never denies a compliment. Honestly, who wants to deny favorable comments. I love compliments.

We decided to play some Fortnite before dinner. Mellie was an excellent cook, so I graciously accepted the dinner invite.

Honestly, I was looking for any excuse to not go home. Gabe was acting strange (as in, he was actually being nice), and I didn't like it. I felt like he was planning something, and I wanted to avoid any damage.

I was making plans for my future. My mother was gone, and I missed her greatly. However, I know that I no longer have to deal with Gabe. I'm going to move out.

Yes, I'll need a job to sustain myself, but I was fine with that.

It was time for Gabe and me to part ways. I just prayed that I could leave without him causing any trouble. However, that wish seemed too good to be true though.

Regardless, I need to stay hopeful. As Grover explained, Sally Jackson would want me to be happy and free.

***

I was nervous today.

I distracted myself from my grief and thoughts of Annabeth by planning my next steps for my future. I needed a place to stay at least for a short while.

While I would've loved to move in with Grover, his family already lives in a small home. They didn't have the money to support another teenager, and I would've been guilty of asking him for a place to stay.

That's what brought me to the Grace residence.

Jason and Thalia were rich. Like phone by the toilet rich. They also have a big home with extra bedrooms. I didn't like having to ask for help. I don't like receiving pity and causing trouble for others, but I didn't have much of a choice.

Until I get a job and save some money, I have to stay somewhere. My trailer wasn't exactly a comfortable long-term home for a teenager.

Besides, aside from Grover, Jason was my closest friend.

"Bro, what's the wifi password? It's different than before," I commented.

"Yeah, after the party over the summer, Thalia and I realized that the whole school has our wifi, so we changed it."

"The new password is BrickLover17."

"Nice password," I smirked.

I was confident that Thalia came up with the password. There was no way that Jason approved it. It's weird how Jason always gets hit by bricks, especially when he's near construction.

"Anyway, I'm not complaining or anything, but why are you here?" he asked.

"Well, I want you and Thalia to be here because it's pretty big. I would've preferred your dad here as well, but he's never home," I responded.

"Yeah, this is pretty much our home. My dad lives in an apartment in the city. The life of a national businessman," Jason explained.

Zeus was the owner of a national airline in the United States. He was so busy that he was never home. I was one of Jason's best friends, yet I've never seen Zeus in person. I've only seen Jason's housing staff, which includes their butler and guardian, Terminus.

After a few minutes, Thalai came downstairs.

She plopped herself on the couch before grabbing the controller out of my hands. I guess that I was done playing Fortnite.

"Guys, can you pause the game for a while?" I asked seriously.

They gave me confused expressions as Jason paused the Fortnite raid. I shifted uncomfortably before gazing into their eyes.

I scratched my arms gently while having an internal debate. Finally, I sighed. I have to rip off the bandaid.

"As you both know, I don't have the best living conditions." They nodded in worry while sharing a looking of sympathy. "You guys also know that my mom passed away last week. Grover told you guys."

That was part of the reason why they invited me today. Grover told them everything, so the Grace siblings wanted to comfort and distract me.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, brother," Jason whispered.

I blinked back the pain, sucked in a breath, and cleared my mind. "Anyway, I was wondering if you guys could provide me with a place to stay. It would be just for a few days. I can even pay rent. I don't want to live with Gabe anymore, and I need to-"

"Percy, STOP," Thalia ordered.

I paused and gazed into her electric blue eyes. Jason and Thalia shared the same eyes, and that was pretty much it in terms of genetic similarity.

Thalia and Jason shared a look while I gulped.

"The answer is YES. We would love to have you here," Jason answered. "The sooner you move in here, the better," Thalia added with a solid smile.

My eyes watered as I gazed at my best friends.

Thalia and Jason leaned forward and enveloped me in a tight hug. I gripped them tightly while my head rested on their shoulders. This is what I needed, and I loved them for accepting me into their home and family.

"Thank you so much," I whispered gratefully.

***

I started to pack up my room later that day. There was a lot of random crap that I had to organize and take to Jason's house next week, and I decided to get a head start.

A bunch of boxes and bags were laid out all over my blue room.

My mom's stuff was also here at the moment.

I quickly threw my videos games and old gadgets into a cardboard box. The extra sheets and my mom's clothes were already packed in a donation bag. I'm keeping some of my mom's meaningful items and donating the rest.

For example, the wedding ring that my dad gave my mom was resting on my nightstand. It was a beautiful diamond on a silver-encrusted ring.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" a voice spat.

I sighed while turning around the face Gabe. I knew that he wouldn't be happy, but it was time for me to move out. I can't deal with Gabe anymore, and I have no reason to tolerate him either.

His face scrunched in anger while his beady eyes scanned the room. His glare intensified while he noticed the packed-up boxes.

"We were both expecting this, Gabe. You even suggested it earlier. I'm moving out of here. It's time for us to part ways," I stated confidently.

"You really think that you're leaving me," he spat.

"You can't stop me. I don't have to serve you anymore. I'm done."

"YOU'RE NOT DONE WITH ANYTHING," Gabe roared. He launched an empty beer bottle against the wall. The glass shattered loudly.

I flinched but remained firm.

"I AM DONE. I HATE YOU," I shouted back.

I started to storm out of the room. I wasn't going to be weak against him any longer. He had nothing on me or so I thought.

"Who is this Annabeth Chase girl?" he asked darkly. I froze at the doorway. "She's quite a sexy little thing, isn't she?"

I whirled around to face a smirking Smelly Gabe.

"SHUT UP. Don't you dare take about her," I commanded. My chest rose and fell violently from bubbling anger.

"I would hate for something to happen to this blonde," Gabe spat while looking at a picture on his phone. "Don't you also have a goat-like best friend? Oh, I'm also forgetting the blue-eyes rich bimbos."

My fists tightened into a fist. He wouldn't hurt them. He couldn't.

I was so careful about not letting Gabe see the people that mattered to me. I always kept my friends away from my home, yet he still found them.

"You can't hurt them," I whispered.

"We both know the things that my friends and I are capable of," he spat. "I would hate for you to be the reason why they are attacked in some dark alley."

Helplessness washed over my body and soul. He was blackmailing me, and it was working. It was working because I knew how he operated. If Gabe wanted it, he'd do anything to keep me here as his slave.

"You're a horrible bastard," I huffed.

"This girlfriend of yours is really pretty," he slurred.

Gabe licked his lips while looking at the picture. I stormed towards him and knocked the phone out of his hands. Gabe laughed cruelly before walking out of my room.

I sat on the bed. Gods, I was so angry that everything was so screwed up. I thought that I was finally done with Gabe, yet he finds a way to poison my life again. It made me wonder if I'll ever be free of him.

I can't even go to the police. Gabe has drinking buddies who are just as bad as he is (i.e. Jerry). The instant that something happens the Gabe, they'll go after my friends. I wouldn't even have time to protect them.

It sucked. I kicked the box of clothes in frustration.

"HEY, BOY. YOU NEED TO SERVE ME AND MY BUDDIES WITH DINNER IN AN HOUR," Gabe hollowed from downstairs.

"DON'T SCREW IT UP OR YOU'LL BLEED."

I blinked back the heat burning my eyes. This was just my life now. I was a fool to think that I could escape hell. Such a dam fool.