=Chapter Eleven=
•*•
Slightly uncomfy
=

Saturday, 7th of September

I awoke to my alarm, and I groaned, turning over to press the snooze button, before I froze.

What?

I sat up hastily, to find myself dressed in my pajamas and also bandaged up in the many places I had scratches from the manticores claws.

I was in the river. I.. I..

It all flooded back to me, realizing that none of last nights events were a dream, and yet.. here I was back in bed.

The bandages that I found on my arms and legs signaled that someone must have found me and brought me home.. but who? And how?

And also.. who changed my clothes.

I peaked under the bandages to see that they definitely did not fully heal when I was in the water, which was expected.

My dad's powers don't really work with extremely dirty water.. so healing myself would be slow and most likely ineffective... and hopefully it didn't make it worse.

But I had been stung by Dr. Thorn.. I should be dead, so I can only assume the water helped cleanse what it could.

Sure I was concerned by all of this.. but I was also grateful. Whoever saved me, well.. I appreciate it.

Although I probably would have been fine. Probably.

I shook the thoughts from my head. It was Sunday now, and the shop would open in two hours.

Liz should be here in an hour.. and May should show up in about 30 minutes.

How was I supposed to go about my day like nothing happened?

Just in case the person whoever rescued me talked to May or comes back, I decided to leave the bandages on instead of healing them in the water, although when I took my shower, it was pretty difficult to concentrate on only allowing my hair to get wet and not my body. Which sucks, cause I wanted to be clean.

Maybe I can get away with just putting the bandages back over where the wounds would have been..

But also, who knows who'd check.

Better be safe than sorry, I guess.
I'd rather not explain to anyone why I have amazing self healing abilities.
Not yet anyways.

I stepped out of the shower and heard some singing downstairs along with some very 70s and 80s music.

That was May alright.

I threw on my robe and headed back to my bedroom, and found a clean t-shirt to put on, then my new hoodie over it, and put on some jeans to match.

Luckily the weather was getting cooler so I could blame it on the vibes instead of me hiding wounds.

Which also reminded me. I needed to be more careful of the time I spend on my phone, as it's clear that even though it took a long and very difficult time for the three monsters that did get through, they still were quite powerful and managed to get me pretty good.

I should be safe from smaller and less powerful monsters, but it's not like that's a relief either. I'd much rather deal with a hell hound than the Minotaur.

I adjusted my gray hair under my regular black hair, making sure it wasn't visible before I went down stairs to help prep opening.

As soon as my foot hit the last step my hand was grabbed and I was spinning around with May, Singing along to Dancing Queen by ABBA.

"Youuuu can daaaance! Youuu can jiveee having the time of your liiiiife!!"

I caught Mays infectious laughter and sung along, temporarily forgetting all of my recent worries and just lived in the moment.

We sang and stocked and baked cookies, and when Liz came in, we drug her along with us.

eventually opening time came around and we turned down the volume substantially, but still sung along when nobody was around.

•*•

"Hey Liz and Percy? I'm going on break. You two have fun."

We both nodded, continuing to pour over a magazine with Autumn decorations to make plans for the store.

"I really like the window paint art here." Liz commented on a picture.

"Yeah we should definitely buy some paint." I agreed. "Oooh and these little Halloween streamers! So cute."

Liz giggled along with me as we pointed out silly items and creative DIY projects we could do.

The door jingled as a customer walked in, and I remembered it was Jason.

"Oh hi, welcome to Mays." I greeted.

Liz looked up and elbowed me a few times, "girl, wow girl he's hot-"

I elbow her back with a polite smile.

"Hi Percy. How are you?" He asked, looking slightly concerned.

"Oh, fine, thanks? Uh need help finding a book?" I asked.

"Oh.. no. Although I'd.. like to buy some cookies. Yeah." His eyes wondered, never really looking in one place too long, before they landed on the magazine. "Oh.. planning on decorating for fall?"

I nod. "Yup. You'll have to come in.. about a few weeks, see how it all looks." I smile.

He hums appreciatively. "Nice.."

"So.. how many cookies?" I asked, holding up my tongs, clacking them a few times. Because.. isn't that what you do?

"I'll take two, thanks." He reached in his pocket, pulling out his worn leather wallet.

"Alright. 2.12." I responded, ringing it up and putting two cookies in a paper bag.

He put his card in the reader and let it process.

"Need your receipt?"

"Nah.." he smiled.

Oh gods. Not that again.

"Okay." I passed over the cookies.

"Thanks. Hey.. mind if I hang around? I'm supposed to be home with my family but.. they're always loud and obnoxious.." he asked fidgeting with the paper bag.

"Oh sure. We got couches and tables.. so feel free to hang out."

He nods, moving over to a couch and while he sits there, slowly eats his cookies while he, unfortunately stares at me.

why me.

Liz blinks at me rapidly, a massive grin on her face. She takes my arm and drags me to the back.

"OH. MY-" I put a hand over her face.

".. girl you're too loud!" I hiss.

"You're totally crushing!!" She squeals quietly. Ish

"Liz.." I groan.

"Admit it! Who is heeee..."

"Liz.."

"Pleaaaaaaaaseeeeee...."

"Liz jeez... his Name is Jason.." I roll my eyes.

"Aww.. Percy and Jason sitting in-" Liz teased.

"Liz I hardly know him. All I know is he is cute, loves Jane Austen, (so far) and he's remembered my name.." I replied defensively.

"Oh yikes you do hardly know him, but that doesn't mean you get to pretend you aren't in the beginning stages at least!" She grins.

"Liz you're 17 and you've never had a boyfriend. How would you know." I replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Well!" Liz scoffed dramatically. "I may be 17 but I've had my fair share of crushes! I'll have you know my latest is this cute boy in math class-"

"I'm sorry Liz.. maybe after closing? We're supposed to you know.. be up front?" I interrupted, knowing Liz would rave for hours if I let her.

"Oooh! Yeah, duh. You go up. I got things to do.." she chuckled evilly.

"Okay.." I agreed suspiciously, leaving Liz to her madness, and I moved back to register to greet new customers and keep an eye on Jason.. who seemed to be doing a fantastic job keeping an eye on me.

Please don't tell me he's a stalker.. or a creep..

I did my best to ignore him, even though he seemed to almost be zoning out while watching me.

Eventually he got a call and it sounded important, so he got up, letting me know he was leaving with a wave.

I waved back.

Who knows. I'll try not to judge on this one occasion.

•*•

Hello!

Not my favorite chapter so far. But it's content. I'll probably revise someday and make it better, but for now I'll call it good. Hope you enjoyed.

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Really appreciate all of your support!

As always, if you have any suggestions let me know, I'd love to hear them!
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