xlviii. Gloomy Day

The feeling of gloominess lingered in the air and she awaited for the stormy January sky to downpour, however, it could not stop her from grinning as she waited for Percy outside Goode High School. But he never came nor did he answered any of her text messages. Annabeth checked her lips and checked her text messages for the nth time in the past half hour. It was already 7:15 am, the school day was starting soon...Where was he?

He's probably just running late, she concluded, but even then, he would've still texted her—ohmygod, what if something terrible happened to him?! What if—

"Oh my gosh! Did you hear? There was an accident on Fifth Avenue? It was very bad: I think a bus collided with a truck or something," Annabeth overheard.

Her eyes then widened, overhearing her classmate's conversation, and she realized that Percy rode the bus to school on fifth Avenue. Oh, no, no, no! All rational thinking became numb and all she could think was: what if Percy was on the bus?!

What if he's hurt? What if he's bleeding? What if he's injured? What if he has to go to the hospital?

Before Annabeth knew it, her cheeks were stained and wet and her white Converse were glued to the broken pavement as she quietly sobbed, unable to go inside or stop the tears.

"You okay, Annabeth?" through her blurred sight, Annabeth recognized it was Elle and the girl sounded worried, "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Annabeth looked away from Elle and croaked out, "I'm not crying. Elle."

"Sure," Elle frowned then handed her a tissue with a soft smile, "Here, wipe your tears, it's going to be okay."

"Thanks, Elle," Annabeth mumbled and accepted the tissue.

"Of course," Elle smiled, "Hey, do you want to go inside? School has already started."

Annabeth bit her lips and checked her phone, hoping Percy would respond or at least read her messages, "I...not yet."

Elle frowned then exclaimed, "Oh! You're waiting for Percy? He isn't here yet? Oh, he's probably staying home today like he has been over the past couple of days: he has a cold, you know, and it probably best if he doesn't attend school."

"Oh? What?! He has a cold? And that's why he's been absent for the past couple of days? Really?He told me he had to visit family in New Jersey...and that he was coming to school today because he finally returned," frowned Annabeth.

Elle furrowed her eyebrows then exclaimed, "Oh, shit! He didn't tell you?!"

Annabeth's eyes flickered when she—and Elle—realized that Percy had lied to her and though she was relieved that Percy was likely not involved in the bus accident, her heart instantly sank and she was hurt that her boyfriend had told a some other girl that he was sick and not her, his girlfriend. How could he?

Elle bit her lips, "Annabeth, I'm sorry—"

"It's fine," she wanted to cry all over again and avoided Elle's gaze, "I-I'm going inside."

Before Elle could respond, Annabeth wiped her cheeks, hands now wet and sticky, and headed inside the school ignoring the red haired girl who called after her.

By lunchtime, Percy still hadn't respond and Annabeth felt she was going to throw up from anxious she felt the entire morning, debating whether or not confront Percy about his lie. It broke Annabeth's heart, knowing he had been lying for endless days, however it left her feel dumbfounded—why did Percy lie to her? Did she do something wrong? Did—

"You should talk to him, Annabeth, or at least visit him," Elle suggested beside her as they worked together on their writing project for their creative writing class, "He probably has his reasons for not telling you."

At the first possible opportunity that was given (they had coincidentally been in restroom at the same time), Elle had explained to Annabeth (the girl was quite stumbling over her words) that she was not aware that Percy had not told Annabeth that he was sick and she was not trying to steal Percy away from her (hmm, sure).

"I guess," she responded curtly, "I'll think about it, Elle."

Annabeth was quite irritated that Elle kept talking about Percy and wondering what Annabeth was going to do, now she caught him him lying. She really, really wished the girl focused on their assignment instead about Annabeth's love life.

Without even thinking, Annabeth began fidgeting with the bracelet and the green and blue beads shimmered in the classroom lights. 

"That's a nice bracelet, Annabeth," Elle's eyes curiously gazed at the bracelet, "Where did you get it?"

"Oh? Percy got me this for Christmas," explained Annabeth with a sheepish smile, "His little sister made it—isn't it pretty?"

"Yes, it is," Elle nodded then softly smiled at her, "You're so lucky, Annabeth."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow, "How so?"

"You're dating Percy Jackson. He's so sweet, kind, intelligent, caring: he's the dream boy!" Elle said dreamily then her sweet, angelic voice soured, "All the girls wanted him and he had chosen you."

Her eyes widened in surprise then Annabeth furrowed her eyebrows—he had chosen you—but before she could respond, Mr. Blofis began talking and their conversation faltered. Yet, all Annabeth could think was Elle's response and knew the girl was envious. Oh, Phthonus!

By the end of the day, Percy still hadn't respond to her many, many text messages and Annabeth had stopped texting him, but still worried about him. And it seemed like none of his friends have also got a response from him (despite how much she wanted to, she didn't ask Elle if she got a response or not, afraid of the answer she might get).

It was during last period (physics) that Annabeth got a response from Percy and her breath sagged when she got a response.

Percy?
I don't know if you even getting
these nevertheless reading them but
please just reply
please
Read 1:49 PM

Seaweed Brain 🌊🍪✨
I'm okay, annabeth
Don't worry
I just didn't feel well today and slept in
I just woke up
Sorry for worrying you
Read 1:51 PM

I wondered if he actually woke up right now or has he been awake for the past couple of hours? Annabeth thought then bit her lips. Her trust for Percy was slowly crumbling. She wanted to respond ASAP—wanted to ask him why? why didn't he tell her the truth? that he was sick? why did he lie to her for the past couple of days?—however, she just left him on read and continued to take notes.

The final bell of the day rang, Annabeth quickly left the classroom, rushing to leave school and hop on the nearest bus to go to Percy's apartment (she need to see her boyfriend and talk, besides, she had schoolwork to give him).

The gloomy, grey sky greeted her when Annabeth stepped outside and she looked up at the sky and sighed. It was going to rain any minute and there was nothing she could do to shield herself from downpour .

[originally published on 1/8/21.]

[1/8/21] author's note! Hi, I still hope you guys remember me though I haven't update for the past couple of day haha-I would been doing okay with school and I'm so glad that I decided to change my schedule because I definitely would have been so stressed out! <3 it has been a crazy week in U.S and I hope everyone is safe along with my international readers! Anyways, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! I had a very good time writing this chapter and the next chapter that's from Percy's POV! So, look out for that tomorrow! I hope everyone is doing good with school! Don't procrastinate! Thank you for reading and have a good day/night! Much Love, Lucinda! 💙