My nose is back to its previous state; straight. I had the surgery this morning, meaning I go back to school after the weekend, unfortunately. I begged mom to let me wait until I get my cast (cast as in there are pieces of tape and cloth and a small splint wrapped around it) off to go to school, mainly because I look ridiculous in it. She refused and feels inclined to remind me of how much school I have missed and how much work I will need to make up.

Annabeth has been visiting me all week after school and been telling me she has a surprise for me on Friday (which is today).

It's nearly two o'clock right now and I have been studying all day with mom. Ever since I got cleared by the doctor, she has insisted I study every waking minute.

"John...Smith." I answer.

"White."

"Why are there so many Johns? Is that the only name they could think of?"

My mom laughs at my remark. "It's a very English name, Perce."

"And very overused."

My mom closes my text book. "We can take a break for now."

"Thank you." I jump from my chair at the table and make my way to the couch. I scroll through the TV Guide and land on the National Geographic Channel airing a special on Greek gods. Not very interested, I take out my phone and text Annabeth.

From: Percy
I'm bored.

She is most likely in class so knowing Annabeth she is not going to respond.

From Annabeth:
Same.

Oh.

From Percy:
Aren't you supposed to be in class?

From Annabeth:
Test. Aren't you supposed to be in your surgery?

Percy:
Just got out a few hours ago.

Annabeth:
Aren't you supposed to be high on laughing gas or something?

Percy:
I think it wore off. I feel fine. Sort of. My nose hurts like hell so there's that.

Annabeth:
Sorry for that. Wish I could say and talk but the bell just rang and I have to get to world history. See you later.

Percy:
Bye

I toss my phone next to me and just as I am about to stand up the door behind me slams shut. Gabe. I immediately lay vertical on the ground, using the couch to hide me. I hear him move towards the fridge (why am I not surprised). I track his footsteps all the way back into his room and the door shuts. I jump up and grab my phone to text my mom.

From Percy:
Can you get him out? She'll be here in less than an hour.

From Mom:
I'll try. Go to your room and lock the door.

I do as my mom says and sneak to my room. I lay on my bed, hoping for the best. I lay on my stomach, and rest my head on my arm, closing my eyes. I think the medicine the anesthesiologist gave me has not fully worn off yet. No matter how hard I try, I find my self drifting into sleep.

-

"Should we wake him up?"

"No, he looks so peaceful."

"Oh come on, Annabeth."

I force myself to fully wake up. I open my eyes and adjust to my surroundings. I notice Annabeth sitting on my bed at my feet. But what's different, Luke and Thalia stand next to me. I smile and pull myself up. "Hey guys!"

Thalia tilts her head, concern evident on her face. "You okay?"

I chuckle. "I'm fine."

Luke crosses his arms across his chest and chuckles. "You look terrible, dude."

Before I can respond, Annabeth shoots Luke a glare. "Luke!" She looks back at me, placing her hand on my ankle and leaning closer. For some reason, it feels like a thousand butterflies were released in my stomach. "How you doing? Need anything?"

I laugh and shake my head. "You guys need to stop! I'm fine. Really. I'm just going to get up and go find mom." I'm praying to God she got Gabe out. Thalia gives me a hand to hoist myself out of my bed. I walk out my door, "Mom! Mom!"

My mom comes running out of her bedroom. I hug her, whispering to her. "You good?"

She nods. "Yeah. I'm fine. Don't worry." She pulls away and smiles at my friends behind me. "I'll make you guys something to eat."

The three smile and thank my mom.

We all sit in my living room. Thalia leans forward, "When are you coming back to school, Percy? We all miss you."

"Monday, actually."

"Whoa, buddy, you have a lot of work." Luke states.

I groan and throw my head back. "Thanks, Luke. How about we not talk about school?"

Thalia nods. "Fine." She sighs. "What did the doctor say? About all this?"

I shake my head and chuckle softly. "Or me. Talk about something happy."

Luke smiles. "Well, Thalia's birthday is next week. We are having a party."

"No we are not. I said no party." Thalia harshly shot back.

Luke held his hands up. "Okay. No party." He looked at me and held his hand up to his mouth so Thalia could not see his lips moving and mouthed to me, 'There is a party.'

Thalia rolled her eyes. "I can see what you're saying, Luke."

I smile. "I'll be there."

Thalia shook her head. "I give up."

We all laugh and our laughter gradually dies into an awkward silence.

Annabeth laughs to break the silence. "Haven't all been here in two weeks and we have nothing to talk about?"

Luke yells and points at me, "Leo got a date."

Thalia and Annabeth scream , "Leo went on a date!"

Annabeth smacks her forehead, "Can't believe I forgot to tell you!"

I laugh. "Wow. Ain't that a surprise? What's her name? Who is she? Have you guys met her?"

Thalia smiled. "Her name is Cleo. She's really pretty and super nice. Way out of Leo's league. But don't tell him we said that. She's sarcastic. We like her."

I nod happily. "Wow. Can't wait to meet her."

Thalia smiles slightly, as if something else came to mind. "Yeah. They seem so great together now. It took Leo a while to get the stomach but they seem happy now. You know?" Thalia looks at Annabeth, who looks down at her fidgeting hands, then back at me.

I shake my head, utterly confused. "Yeah okay. You okay, Thalia?"

She smiles, "Fine."

My mom interrupts, "Hey kids, I have some fruit and chips over here if you want some?"

Thalia looks at Luke and they seem to share this mini conversation. "Actually, sorry Ms. Jackson, I should be getting home. Luke, walk me?"

Luke nods and stands, seeming to understand. Not sure what though. "See you Monday."

Within in a second, the two were gone. I look at Annabeth. "That was weird."

She nodded, furrowing her eyebrows. "Yeah. I have no idea what's up with them. Come on."

We spent the next hour chatting with my mom in my kitchen, snacking on fruit.

"I'm going to walk you home, since now I can."

Annabeth smiles. "You don't need to do-"

I grab her coat and hand it to her. "Shut up. Mom, I'll be back in thirty minutes."

Annabeth laughed and headed out the door, me following right behind her.

-

"You can't be serious?" Annabeth laughed, stopping me in the middle of the street.

"Yeah. They had all these weird tools in their hands and we're looking at me. And the nurse was nearly freaking out that I wasn't unconscious. I don't know what they did but the last thing I remember was the nurse saying, 'Okay. He should be out after this.'"

Annabeth continued to walk and shakes her head. "The only time I got put under I was out like a light."

I looked at her oddly. "What happened?"

She shook her head. "I had scar tissue. It was a few years ago."

I nod. "Hey. Would you mind helping me with my homework tomorrow? I have a boatload."

"Oh no problem, Percy." She stopped in front of her building. I don't think her dad likes me very much so I decided just to drop her off at the front of her building.

"Bye, Percy." She smiles sincerely.

In this moment, she looked so beautiful. I can't believe I'm admitting that. There's this feeling in my stomach that just won't go away.

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close to me in an embrace. Without being able to constrain myself, I kiss her on the cheek. We pull away slowly, looking at each other, trying to discover the meaning of all of this. As if my mind and conscious have just been thrown out the window, I reach my hand up and let it rest on her cheek, caressing it. I'm getting that feeling again. The feeling to just go for it and forget about logic.

"Annabeth, I-" Looks like my conscious is back.

She sighs. "For a moment Percy, just shut up."

Annabeth seems to be more bold than I am and forcefully connects our lips. I respond immediately, realizing that maybe this is what I have wanted all along. I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me. Our lips move together in perfect sync, as we are stuck in our own world, not caring about the many people around us. But without warning, Annabeth pulls away and jumps out of my arms, backing into the door. We are both just as surprised and confused as the other. She struggles to turn around and grabs the door handle, shakily saying to me while unable to connect our eyes, "I have to go. Uh. Good night." She disappeared into the building. I don't know how long I sat there, dumbfounded. I probably just experienced the best moment of my life but something keeps trying to tell me I made a huge mistake. I run home, trying to understand why that felt so right.

-
NOW PLEASE READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO LIVE

jk you're fine but I need to tell y'all something you probably would like to hear
I'm making goals. Not promises. GOALS

(Btw I was sick all this week so sorry if That wasn't great writing. A bit delusional. But I'll edit it later.)

So my GOAL Is to have another update by next Friday. I want to make it less than two and a half weeks like I did to yall last time. So my GOAL is next Friday. We'll see how that goes. I'll keep it up and try very hard for yall.

Otherwise, how'd you like the chapter. Good, bad, how about there at the end? Eh? Eh? Yeah so comment and vote. It makes me happy (:

-Lu