The Alcohol

Annabeth POV

Thanksgiving break was very low-key, but I did get to spend a lot of time with my brothers, which was nice. However, they were still annoying 10-year-old boys. It was Saturday afternoon, and the boys were playing video games in the living room while I was working on a few architectural designs.

I loved architecture, so sketching buildings and monuments was a nice hobby of mine.

"Hey, Annabeth, I'm stepping out to pick up some groceries. Can you watch the boys?' Helen asked as she popped her head into my bedroom.

"Yeah, no problem, Helen."

"Thank you, Annabeth," she said before leaving.

I took my sketchbook, pencils, and phone before wandering to the living room. My brothers didn't even notice me coming into the room. Boys and their video games, right?

After a few minutes, my phone ringing interrupted my sketching.

I internally groaned. I hated to be interrupted while I was doing work. I glanced at my phone and realized that Percy was face-timing me

"What do you want, Seaweed Brain?" I said in annoyance.

"Woah, Wise Girl, good to see and talk to you, too," Percy said with a chuckle. "What's got you all twisted in a know."

"You!" I exclaimed sharply. "You interrupted my sketching."

"Oh right. I forgot that you're an architecture geek," he said with a smirk.

"Shut up, Seaweed Brain," I snapped in frustration. Sometimes, Percy could be so infuriating.

"Wise Girl, do you need me to come over and perform my skills on you? I think that would help a lot," he said as his smirk grew. Percy was (of course) talking about sex. If he was in front of me, I would've sucker-punched the stupid, yet attractive, grin off of his face.

"Okay, I'm hanging up now," I said slyly.

Percy frowned immediately. "No, Wise Girl, wait!"

I huffed as I stared at him. I sometimes forget that Percy was still a sex player, but conversations like this brought the truth back harshly. Even though he was joking and trying to get under my skin, these comments made me wonder if he was just doing this to sleep with me.

I sighed. I hated that Percy is a player. I hated having the constant doubt that everything he did was to try to get me in bed.

"Wise Girl."

Percy's call snapped my attention back to him.

"You zoned out, Wise Girl," he said.

"Why did you call me, Percy?" I asked in a more serious tone.

"Just wondering if you were coming to the party tonight?"

"What kind of question is that, Seaweed Brain? It's at Thalia's house, so of course, I'll be there."

"Right," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck.

I hadn't noticed that my brothers had gotten up. "Annabeth, is that your boyfriend?" Matthew asked teasingly. Bobby had a big, sly smile on his face.

"Yup, that's me," Percy shouted excitedly into the phone before I could say no.

Both Matthew and Bobby gasped and started running around the house screaming, "Annie has a boyfriend. Annie has a boyfriend."

Percy was laughing his ass off while I chased my brothers around trying to stop them from shouting that Percy and I were dating. Finally, I returned to the couch.

"Stop laughing, Seaweed Brain. This is all your fault," I said breathlessly.

Percy's smiling face turned back to his phone. "It's funny, Wise Girl."

"No, it's not. I don't want people thinking that I'm dating the player of the school."

"What's so wrong with that?" he asked surprisingly.

"Well, I don't want to be just one of your girls for sex, Percy. I have more pride than to date someone I know is a sex player," I said seriously.

A faraway look came into his eyes, but a smile masked his feeling quickly. My words certainly hit a mark on Percy, but he expertly hid whatever emotions he had been feeling.

Percy was good at hiding things, I realized.

Our conversation turned to lighter topics after that. I hung up after a few minutes since I'd see him tonight anyway.

***

Thalia and Jason's party was loud by the time I had gotten there. Only four people were here so far, yet the music was blasting already.

Thanks to Leo, the party was going to be chaotic (start to finish).

"Hey, Annabeth, have a drink," Leo exclaimed when he saw me. He was holding a red solo cup, which made me immediately suspicious.

I hesitantly took the glass.

I smelled the drink and decided to set it down. You could guess what it was?

All of our friends arrived quickly afterward. The whole night was going by with a lot of entertainment. We were all having fun. Calypso had smoothly entered our friend group. To everyone's surprise, Percy seemed fine with Calypso's presence.

"Guys, I think that we should all have a game of truth or dare," Connor Stoll exclaimed.

"No, we are not doing that," Percy said firmly.

I remembered the last time we played truth or dare together. Percy had to do the Ice-Tub dare and ended up sick in Piper's bathroom.

"Wait, how about Truth or Drink, Beer Pong, or Spin the Bottle," Travis said.

The Stolls were in a really good and active mood today. Actually, everyone was out to have fun today. After a quick vote, people decided we'd play a hybrid version of Truth or Drink and Spin the Bottle. Basically, the bottle would be spun to decide who does the Truth or Drink.

Several rounds passed by uneventfully. I guess people were scared to take a drink, so they gave easy questions. Rachel spun the bottle, and it landed on Percy.

A few 'oohs' and cheers erupted all around the room.

I could see the nervousness in Percy's eyes as he gazed at Rachel. I mean he probably had reason to worry considering it was Rachel asking him a question.

"Well, looks like you'll be the first to take a shot, Percy," Will Solace said cheerfully.

Everyone was waiting for the first official drink of the night. However, it was obvious that several of the guys, especially, had already taken a few innocent drinks (ie Leo, Will, and Connor).

"We'll see, guys," Percy said.

"Rachel, you get to ask Percy a question," Hazel cheered.

"Yup, I know," Rachel said. I could see the tricky sparkle in her eyes. "All right, Percy. Answer this: who was your best sex?"

Silence filled the room as everyone stared at Rachel and then at Percy.

"Nice question, Rachel," Leo exclaimed laughing.

I watched Percy closely. His gaze flitted to Calypso for a second, which gave the answer away. I immediately got an acid feeling in my gut. Ugh, why?

However, Percy quickly turned to everyone with a smile.

"I guess that I'm taking a drink," he said brightly.

There were a few boos and a few cheers as Leo filled a glass full of alcohol. Just based on the smell, I knew that they were drinking some strong stuff.

Percy chugged the drink before letting out a loud "whoo" cheer. Laughter erupted around the room as we continued to play.

Fortunately, I didn't have to take any drinks, but most of the people had. However, no one forced the people that didn't want a drink. No one in our group was like that.

Leo, Connor, and Rachel practically passed out from the alcohol throughout the night. They really got into party mode. Will, Hazel, and Katie were mildly drunk, but everyone that needed a ride were having designated drivers that didn't have any alcohol.

Around midnight, there were only six people left at the house.

Leo was sleeping on the couch.

Piper and Jason had retired to the bedroom, but they definitely weren't sleeping based on some of the noises. ;)

I was helping Thalia clean up a little while listening to her complain about Jason and Piper. The party was fun, and I was glad that I was sleeping over. It was definitely one of our wilder parties (usually, people didn't end up drunk). It was just one of those nights where everyone was in the mood to let loose and have an adventure.

"Hey, Thalia, did Percy leave without telling us?" I asked.

"Nah, he's waiting for an uber," Thalia said softly while throwing some stuff into the trash.

"So, where is he?"

"Annie, you seem curious about Percy for some reason."

"What? No. I'm just wondering because he's not here," I said a little too quickly.

Thalia smirked. "You seem defensive, Annabeth."

But then, Thalia's expressions turned a little more serious. "Annabeth, um, you really shouldn't mess or interact with Percy if you don't like him. You know he's-"

Thalia faltered off and paused (as if straightening her thoughts) before continuing, "Percy's a good guy with a lot going on."

I stared at my best friend in confusion.

"Okay, Thalia. I don't really understand. I just want to say goodbye."

"All right, I think he's in the front," Thalia said hesitantly.

I was utterly confused as I made my way to the front. However, I paused when I saw Percy out of the window. He was sitting on the step of the front porch. I noticed that his right hand was in a fist as he pounded the ground slowly but with power. His facial expressions were hard to read in the darkness, but it was a clearly solemn scene.

His body was slouched as he drank the alcohol from his red solo cup. Three empty glasses were laying on the ground next to him.

I was frozen staring at him from inside of the house.

The uber arrived in a few minutes.

I watched as Percy stood up and walked away quietly.

If I watched this in a movie, it would honestly be a sad and downcast scene, but I didn't understand why Percy was like that just now.