The Lunch Table

Percy POV

I was so stupid. Why did I take the damn deal? It was a horrible idea considering the medical benefits I got from having sex. After all, it acted as my alternative pain relief since my body rejected normal drugs.

Furthermore, my chemo dosage and intensity would increase in December to see if we could get some positive results with a new regimen. Grover was pretty much yelling at me for the past two days. I knew that if it weren't for my bone cancer, he would happily be on board this deal, but my life was at stake here. I was knowingly messing with my treatment methods.

My mother came into my room as I doubled over into the garbage can again. All my food was coming out of my stomach and not in a healthy way.

My mom, Sally Jackson, gently rubbed the hair out of my face as I leaned back against my bed rest.

"How are you feeling, honey?"

"I've been better," I replied with a weak smile. These were the side effects of taking chemo this morning. My cycle went two weeks on chemo and two weeks off chemo. The two weeks that I had chemo were torture, and sex helped with that.

I had a trailer in our apartment parking garage where I did my business with my girlfriends. I knew my mom wasn't comfortable with my pain relief methods, but she didn't oppose it either. Nonetheless, I didn't bring my girlfriends home ever.

My mother gently brushed my hair as we stayed in silence.

In a few minutes, nausea rose again as I spilled my guts into the garbage can. I hated it when people, including members of my family, saw me like this. The instant someone knew about your disease, they treated you differently. Like all of a sudden, being kind no matter what becomes more important than your thoughts on the person.

People lose their previous experiences and opinions of the person because they have cancer, which was wrong.

I didn't want that.

I didn't want people treating me any differently just because of one aspect of my life. Cancer didn't make me or my identity. It was a challenge that I'm trying to overcome, and I wasn't going to let the cancer change how people saw and interacted with me.

"Mom, do you think keeping cancer a secret is a mistake?" I asked.

"No, Percy, cancer has affected your life enough. It shouldn't affect how other people see and treat you because that's too much loss/pain."

I loved my amazing mother. She understood me.

Gods, I was really stupid for making this deal with Annabeth. Sex helped me survive the effects of cancer, and I had given that up for three months. I didn't have a problem with apologizing to all the girls, but I didn't want to accept that cancer took away my ability to uphold my promises.

My loyalty dictated that I never broke promises, so I couldn't break the promise that was this deal. I couldn't let my cancer have that much power over me.

***

My muscles strained as I did push-ups in the school gym. School hadn't started yet, but Beckendorf and I usually worked out every few mornings. Cancer made you very sick, so it took an effort to stay fit and strong looking while fighting a disease.

"So, Perce, you made a deal with Annabeth Chase."

"How'd you know?" I asked.

"Are you kidding, bro? The whole school knows. It's the hottest gossip currently," he said laughing. "So, are you going to stick to it?"

I sighed. "That's the plan."

"Most people think you're gonna lose within a month"

I might have to break the deal for the sake of my health, but I didn't want to. "Well, defying expectations is what I do best," I said with a fake smile.

"I thought sex was what you do best, bro," he said jokingly before gulping some water.

"Besides that," I joked half-heartedly.

***

I needed to redirect my pent-up emotions and energy, and what better way to distract myself than to bother the person that got me into this deal in the first place.

The truth was that I was always interested in Annabeth Chase, but she wasn't the type to fall for sleazy flirtations and sole physical attraction. I actually admired that about her. She was strong, beautiful, and powerful (always substance over form).

Jason was already sitting at their lunch table today, so I decided to head over.

"Hey, Wise Girl, I have a date for you: January 20th," I said boldly as I sat down next to her.

The whole table starred at me like I was a mad man. Maybe I was a little bit.

"What the hell are you doing here, Jackson?" Annabeth asked.

"Well since you're my girlfriend now, I thought-"

"Hold on, I am NOT you're girlfriend," she interrupted immediately.

"Wise Girl, you are. Think about it: I am not allowed to have relations with any other girl because you told me not to, and we have a date to look forward to. So, you're my girlfriend."

She just glared at me with shock, but even she couldn't disagree with my logic. But, her ego would certainly forbid her from admitting that I'm right.

"I am not you're girlfriend, and I'd never want to be," she said angrily.

"What are you doing here, Percy, and what is January 20th?" Piper asked.

I smirked as I put my arm over Annabeth's shoulder. I was playing very close to a fire, but it was exciting, relaxing, and distracting all at the same time. It was a strange feeling to be around her.

She immediately slapped my arm away, which only made me smile more.

"I like that you're feisty. Anyway, January 20th is going to be the best night of your life because I'll be doing things with you and to you for every minute of it," I said slyly.

All her friends gaped at me as Annabeth's glare intensified.

I avoided looking at Rachel, who was just starring at me. I did feel bad about the girls that ended up getting hurt, but I also knew that I never led them on. I was always upfront with what I wanted: a physical relationship only.

"I hate you, Jackson, and I'm never going to sleep with someone like you," she spat.

"You will when you lose the deal, Wise Girl."

"Oh please, Percy, you're not going to make it one month," Thalia growled angrily. Jason's sister really didn't like me.

"I think I'll make it all three months for this one," I said wrapping my arm around Annabeth for a second time. Once again, she threw my arm off in annoyance.

I had to admit that this was a lot of fun.

"Also, I'll be joining you for lunch from now on, Wise Girl."

"What?!"

"Yeah because it's the right thing for a boyfriend to sit with his girlfriend. My friends will probably join me as well."

Jason smiled across from me. Jason always wanted our two friend groups to meet, so I was happy to allow an entryway given the circumstances. As if on cue, all my friends joined the table and effectively filled the lunch table.

Sixteen total members were sitting at the crowded table now (the seven, Thalia, Nico, Will, Rachel, the Stolls, Katie, Grover, and Juniper). Multiple conversations started around the table as Jason introduced everyone. While there was some awkwardness, everyone seemed to get along well enough to stay.

After a while, Annabeth groaned before turning to me. "I'm okay with every person at this table but you," she spat with venom.

The words really didn't affect me. At least, that's the lie I told myself.

"Wise Girl, that's no way to talk to your man," I said smiling.

Annabeth elicited a fake gagging reflex. She huffed in anger and annoyance before turning away to talk to Thalia. I poked her side to get her attention.

"What the hell do you want, Percy? Can't you see that I don't like you?" she asked with anger and irritation.

"Wise Girl, you're definitely going to like me after our special night that's 3 months from now."

"You're gonna lose, Percy." she paused before speaking again.

"I'd rather die before sleeping with you."

My smile faltered as I gazed at her. As someone who has a very real chance of dying, those words hurt a lot because of how false they were. Life was so precious, and it has its ups and downs, but people shouldn't say stuff like that.

"You don't really mean that, Wise Girl," I said with seriousness laced in my tone and expression.

I decided to stop talking to her for the rest of lunch. Instead, I turned towards some of my friends.