This chapter goes out to all of my long term readers: Eclipse_Assassin, theishfudge87, ThePersonThatsHere, genenaetu, and therealiamham. Love you all and thanks for sticking around <3
This isn't the last chapter, btw! There should be at least ten more, idk for sure though.
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Monday, 6-4-18
It was a Monday, the fourth of June, exactly four years after I had met my best friend, Annabeth Chase. She would be coming to my apartment at eleven, an hour away.
I picked up my bedroom and got dressed in shorts and a green tee shirt. Panicking momentarily, I searched my closet for my present for Annabeth. I breathed in, relieved that it was still there. It wasn't something I could quickly repurchase. If I lost it, it was gone.
I decided to quickly wrap the small box so that it surprised her more when she finally got into it. I grabbed a roll of shiny silver wrapping paper from the closet in the hall and set up at the dining table. I attempted to wrap it, but ended up making it much too bulky.
Getting up, I pushed my chair in and wandered down the hall. I knocked on my mom's door.
"Come in, sweetie."
I opened the door. "Hey, Mom. Can you help me?"
"With what?" she asked.
"I was trying to wrap Annabeth's gift, and it isn't going well."
"Ooh, Annabeth's gift," Mom repeated. "When are you going to tell me what it is?"
"You'll get to find out with Annabeth," I said. "You might accidentally snitch."
"Percy Jackson, I think I, your mother, have the right to know what you spent over two hundred dollars on."
I blushed. "I - um...Mom, you can't just..."
She nodded. "Alright, let's go to the kitchen."
Mom sat beside me at the table and instructed me. It turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself. Of course, it would have looked much better if she had done it herself, but we agreed it would mean more to Annabeth if I did it myself.
"Nice work, Perce."
"Thanks." I glanced at the clock on the oven. "Annabeth will be here soon. Should I get something for us to eat, or what?"
"What are you two planning on doing?"
"We're going to do a tour sort of thing of all of the important places that things have happened at. First the park, then her old neighborhood, the beach, the old candy shop, the pizza place, and a lot more."
"Knowing you two, you'll definitely grab something at the pizza parlor," Mom pointed out. "You should be all set."
"Okay, let me just - "
There was a knock on the door, interrupting me. I rushed over and opened it up. Annabeth stood, holding a large gift bag, with a larger smile gracing her face.
I embraced her in a hug. "Hey, Annabeth."
"Hi, Percy."
"Come in," I said, opening the door wider. She stepped inside and we both went to my bedroom. We passed my parents' open bedroom, where Mom was sitting on her bed, organizing paperwork.
"Hey, Sally," Annabeth said.
"Hi," Mom responded. "I'll stay out of your way, you two. Have fun."
"So, four years, huh?" Annabeth trailed.
"Yeah, that's pretty crazy. Here, I got you something." I passed Annabeth the small wrapped box. She looked at it with curiosity before staring back at me. "Open it," I said.
She carefully peeled the decorative paper from the box, gasping a little when she noticed the label. "Percy Jackson," she breathed.
"Yes?"
"You did not get me something from Tiffany and Co."
"Maybe," I answered, grinning.
Annabeth lifted the top of the box off gently and removed the small piece of tissue paper. Immediately, her jaw dropped and she stared at me in awe. "You're kidding, right?"
I smiled sheepishly. "No. You like it?"
"Seaweed Brain, it's absolutely beautiful. Can you help me put it on?"
I nodded, taking the dainty, sterling silver bracelet from the box. The bracelet had a bunch of small links creating the physical shape of the jewelry, and had an infinity symbol across from the clasp. Engraved in the infinity charm was Annabeth's initials. I undid the clasp and wrapped it around Annabeth's wrist, praying it fit. I had done some serious estimating at the store, and ended up buying a small.
"I chose that one because, first of all, I knew you love silver when it comes to this stuff, and also because I want to have many more friendaversaries. I never want our friendship to end."
Annabeth's grey eyes shimmered as she smiled. "It's perfect, Percy. Thank you so much."
I smiled. "No problem."
She frowned a little bit. "Now my gift feels silly."
I shook my head. "I'm sure it's fine. Can I see?"
Annabeth passed me the bright blue gift bag. I dug past the tissue paper and pulled out a large book. The cover was decorated with old polaroids of Annabeth and I, as well as small stickers and emblems that related to my favorite things, like the ocean. I opened the book up and noticed that on the inside of the cover, Annabeth had scrawled a note. When she saw me looking at it, she bit her lip.
"Read that later," she instructed. "When I'm not here. It's...embarrassing."
I smiled. "Okay."
I flipped through the pages, seeing it full of different photos of us, ranging from when we had just met at age twelve all the way to our Spring Fling photos. A few blank pages were left at the back. When I looked at Annabeth expectantly, she answered, "For the future."
I grinned, tugging Annabeth into a tight hug. "I love it. Thank you."
I felt her smile against my neck. "Of course." She rubbed her nose against my neck, causing a shiver to run down my spine. "Just curious, but, um...how much did that bracelet cost?"
"I don't give away unnecessary information," I murmured.
"Percy," Annabeth warned.
I sighed. "Two thirty-five."
"Seaweed Brain!" she exclaimed pulling back from our hug.
I chuckled. "You are worth it. Plus, your reaction was priceless."
I'd give anything to see it again.
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"Percy!"
"Yes?"
"You are literally insane. What are you doing?"
I laughed. "Walking."
"In the pouring rain!"
I shrugged. "And..."
"You're going to be miserable when we go home. You'll be all soggy."
"I don't mind being a little wet, Annabeth. Come join me."
She rolled her eyes, before tugging her hoodie's hood over her head and stepping from beneath the awning of the pizza parlor. We had just finished up our trip down memory lane and were about to head back to my apartment, when the downpour began. Annabeth insisted on either waiting it out or calling her brother, but I decided we didn't need to use those options. Walking was just fine.
"Look," I said, pointing at the streams flowing around the park. Some small fish were flopping around, leaping through the air.
Annabeth laughed. "They're happy."
I nodded, clasping her wrist and bringing her to the pond. I had her stand in front of the pond and took a picture with my phone just as a line of fish vaulted from the water.
I laughed. "This is going in the scrapbook for sure."
"Do you want me to take one of you?" she asked.
"No, but we can take one together."
"Alright."
Annabeth and I stood before the pond together, lining up the frame so you could see all of the ripples caused by the raindrops and the fish. I glanced at Annabeth and chuckled, brushing her hair from her face. It had been plastered to her cheeks from the rain, but she still looked adorable. I scraped my own sopping dark hair from my forehead and straightened my left arm.
We posed for a picture, grinning happily. When I retracted my arm to check the pictures, it almost slipped from my grasp, making us laugh.
"They're good," I said. "Maybe Mom or Paul can print them off somewhere."
I was just about to tuck my phone back into my pocket when a young guy walked by. "Hey, would you like me to take a photo of you two? I could help get a better angle."
I smiled. "That'd be great, thank you."
I handed him my cell phone and Annabeth and I posed again. I wrapped my right arm around her waist and she did the same with her left. We smiled at the camera.
"Here you go," the guy said, passing my phone back to me.
"Thank you."
"No problem. You two make a lovely couple."
I blushed. "Oh, we aren't, um, dating. Just friends."
"Oh, excuse me. Never the less, you guys look great together."
I smiled nervously. "Thanks again."
The guy took off. I glanced at Annabeth, who looked just as perplexed.
"Race you to the apartment," I declared, taking off.
"Seaweed Brain!"
We rushed through the pounding rain without a care in the world. Eventually we arrived back home.
"I totally won!" I shouted, plopping onto the couch.
Annabeth rolled her eyes, sitting beside me. "Yeah, okay. You had the element of surprise."
I grinned. "Tactics are key."
"Thanks for the wonderful day, Percy," Annabeth said all of a sudden.
"Of course. Thank you too."
I truly had a wonderful day, and I wanted many more. I was looking forward to spending as much time as possible with my best friend before she took off for Greece, a little over a month away.
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Annabeth's bracelet from Percy:
I really hope that you liked that chapter! Please tell me what you think! Also, another thank you to my long term readers. You guys are the best and motivate me so much!
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