In Summer

"Oh!" Annabeth's cheeks grew red. "Sorry. I'm Annabeth."

"No worries," Mrs. Jackson gave Annabeth another heartwarming smile. "I would offer you some cookies, but it looks like you've already helped yourselves. You can have some more if you like."

Percy had apparently been awaiting this offer, and promptly stuffed two more cookies in his mouth.

Annabeth thanked Sally and took another. Then her curiosity got the best of her.

"Do you mind me asking why they're... blue?" Annabeth asked.

Sally's smile faltered slightly. "My ex-husband once told me that there was no such thing as blue food."

Annabeth was beginning to love this woman already. Annabeth loved nothing more than the satisfaction of completely proving someone wrong.

There were a few comfortable moments of silence in which they all munched on cookies until Sally said.

"I would love to meet your parents sometime, if that's alright. Percy told me you live just across the street."

Annabeth looked down. "Believe me, you do not want to meet my stepmonster."

Oops. She hadn't meant to say that aloud. Usually, she just called Helen that in her head.

"Sorry?" Sally raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, um--"

"Haha. Stepmonster. That's a funny name," Percy said. Annabeth rolled her eyes at him.

"Not a big fan of your stepmom, huh?" Sally asked, as she took off her apron and went to go hang it on a wall.

Annabeth didn't know why she did it. Usually, she lied, or didn't respond, or avoided the question. But something about Sally made Annabeth feel like she could talk to her. Like she would understand and listen, and not judge her. Besides, she had shared something herself, about her ex-husband and all. She found herself ranting about all the annoying, stupid things her stepmom did and how her dad was completely blind to it. How she went behind his back and used his well-earned money for her stupid shopping trips. How Annabeth missed her mom more than anything and would give the entire world just to talk to her again, but she knew that wouldn't happen. How Helen didn't understand anything, and her dad didn't understand, and god forbid her stepbrothers understood anything, and no one understood her. Even in school when she did well, no one took her seriously because she was just a kindergartener, and what did she know? She was stuck on this tiny island with a family who acted as if she didn't exist, surrounded by kids who thought she was different, and she wanted nothing more than to fly far away and never come back.

Annabeth didn't know how long she was talking for, but when she finished, there was silence. She was worried she did something wrong. A boy in her class had once told her she talked too much, and she had spoken the bare minimum of words since that day.

Percy was looking at her with his mouth slightly open. He probably didn't know she was capable of saying that much at once.

Then Sally pulled her into a hug and stroked her hair, and Annabeth felt... safe. It was a feeling that she had never truly felt since the day her mom had passed away.

From that day forward, Sally took it upon herself to always make Annabeth feel at home when she was with the Jacksons.

::::::::::

Percy and Annabeth walked slowly down the dock, Percy's mother a few paces ahead. The wheels of Percy's suitcase clicked rhythmically every time they passed over a space in the wood. They walked in silence, both of them dreading what they knew was coming next.

Eventually, after as much stalling as possible, they reached the large ship that was leaving for the mainland in about ten minutes.

Sally took Percy's suitcase and went to store it on the ship, leaving Percy and Annabeth alone.

They stood there for a few seconds, and then Annabeth rushed forward and pulled Percy into a fierce hug.

"I'm gonna miss you, Anna," he said, his voice sounding on the verge of tears. Annabeth inwardly rolled her eyes at the nickname he had become so fond of using this summer.

"It's not really goodbye, right?" Annabeth said, trying to assure herself as well as Percy. "Just... for now."

Percy nodded. He was going to miss Annabeth. This summer, they'd practically become inseparable. Yet here they were... separating.

"Hey," Annabeth pulled out of the hug, almost reluctantly. "June 10th, right?"

Percy nodded and wiped tears off of his face.

"June 10th," he repeated.

"Percy, time to go!" Sally appeared behind Percy, and he took a small, half-hearted step backward.

Sally hugged Annabeth as well, stroking her hair in the way that she knew comforted the girl.

"We'll see you next summer," she gave Annabeth one last, warm, farewell smile, then turned and steered Percy towards the boat.

Once they had boarded, the captain removed the platform and the boat began to drift from the dock. Percy stayed pressed against the railing and waved at Annabeth.

"Bye, Wise Girl!" He shouted.

"Bye, Seaweed Brain!" she responded, with a bittersweet smile on her face.

Annabeth watched the boat float away until it disappeared over the horizon.

hey guys! sorry that i've been kind of inconsistent with my updates, i'll try to post more often in the future.
this chapter is kind of a short one and also sounds like an ending, but i promise there is a lot more to come :)

PS: when i was writing the second part i could NOT get that part from TLT musical out of my head that's goes "ill be back next summer, you'll see me again"
ok anyway i hope you all are doing well and staying safe, i love you all!

An <3