Colors [Percabeth]

One Side// Chapter 13

Percy

"Don't do anything while I'm gone." I let out a small sigh and replied, "Yes, ma'am." My mom was currently on her way to working one of her co-worker's night shift, though her concern of all things idiotic I could do without her supervision seemed to be stopping her. She pursued her lips and took one long look at me. "Maybe you should invite Annabeth over."

"Mom! I'm responsible enough and I'm sure she would much rather spend her time with friends than babysitting."

She sighed loudly and kissed my forehead, brushing my hair out of my eyes. "Okay, okay. Just make sure to call me if anything happens." I nod and bid her goodbye. Halfway out the door she glances back and says hesitantly, "But, you know, if you do decide to invite her over there's protection in my nightstand, Perce."

I could feel my face beet red. "Mom! Just go." As soon as I heard the lock click from the outside, I let myself take in my mom's words. What the hell was that supposed to mean? And why the hell would I invite Annabeth? I guess it's cause she's the only friend my mom has met so far. Sighing, I made my way upstairs into my room.

Opening the door, I found myself coming face-to-face with a thief. A blonde haired thief that was halfway through my window. "Annabeth?" I raised an eyebrow and lent her my hand for her to take. "What are you doing here?" "I'm here to talk." My eyebrow raised further up as she stepped inside my room. She was breathing heavily and she played with her hands. Her eyes didn't seem to want to look at mine. I sat down next to her and nodded. I rested a gentle hand on hers and mumbled, "I'm listening." Her eyes fixated on mine as she desperately wrapped her fingers around mine. Her voice was barely above a whisper, "You'll hate me. But I need to tell you before someone else does. You need to hear my side of the story."

***

Annabeth (5 years ago)

"Annabeth, I need you to go to the store and get some milk." My mom thrusts the money into my small hands. "And hurry up or no dessert tonight." I nod quickly, my curls bouncing along with my head. Without another word, I hurry out the door. I'm used to my mom demanding me to do things she is more than capable of doing herself. She seems to think that the busy streets filled with strangers are a perfect place for a twelve-year-old girl to be when the sun is just about to set. A small grunt coming from my right stops me. I look over my shoulder to find two of my friends from school. "Thals! Jace!" I say excitedly as I bounce over to them. They must've not heard me, for they were occupied at the moment. My gray eyes watched in horror as Thalia pulled out a gun and aimed for the kid in front of her. He was about her age, slightly taller. My heartbeat picked up. The people rushed by, not even noticing her action in the alleyway that wasn't even that far away from them. Before he could react, she pulled the trigger.

I couldn't react. My body started to tremble but that was the least of my concern now. A wave of nausea washed over me as I violently fell to my knees, scraping the skin in the process. "Shit!" The voice of a male exclaimed behind me. My heart lurched. Had a stranger noticed what was happening? Was Thalia going to jail now? Was I going for not stopping her? A blond Thalia's age suddenly grabbed my arm tightly and raised me to my feet. I tried to speak but the words were only clogged up in my throat. All I could do was stand there as tears lurched down my face as I studied the boy in front of me. His hair was tousled up but his blue eyes seemed alerted and focused. "A-Annabeth?" My head turned to face Jason. He had grown pale as he stared at me with wide eyes. The stranger's hand gripping my arm brought me back to reality. "Please don't kill me!" I pleaded desperately. "I promise I won't say anything. I-I'm just a kid, they won't believe me, please!" I couldn't raise my head to look up at the boy, but I could feel him burning holes at the top of my head. I stood there choking back my sobs. If I raised attention to the public, they would surely kill me. No. Jason and Thalia were my friends, they wouldn't. But I didn't doubt that he would.