The Trailer

Percy POV

I was close to depressed again. My chemo cycle for February starts tomorrow, and I was not looking forward to it. The intensity of the new chemo regimen was actually daunting, and I felt awful at the beginning of every month.

Fortunately, Annabeth was there to spend more time with me.

I appreciated her presence a lot, but it didn't me avoid my feelings for her. I was trying and failing to fight my feelings for her.

As I walked through the hallway, my gaze locked onto Luke's. Neither of us said anything, but there was a silent conversation between us.

I hadn't told anyone that Luke was the one who attacked me that night. Instead, it was just a random guy who jumped me according to everyone else. The truth was that the fear and regret in Luke's eyes were real that night.

I hoped that he could change because of it.

Luke gave me a nod before turning back to his locker. I didn't need to get Luke in trouble as long as he stayed away from now on.

I hated Thursdays, and I hated school on Thursdays (especially the first Thursday of every month. School was so boring, and I almost fell asleep in all of my morning classes.

I was practically cheering when lunchtime came.

"Hey, Wise Girl," I said as I sat down next to her.

"You seem happy to see me, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said slyly.

"Yes, I am. Plus, I'm grateful that it's finally lunch. Ugh, I hate school," I groaned.

"Well, school is important, Seaweed Brain."

"Yeah, Yeah," I said as I waved off her support for school. Annabeth was super smart, so it made sense that she liked school and learning. Honestly, Annabeth and I were nearly polar opposite. She wasn't even my type, yet I fell in love with her.

Opposites attract, right?

"Hey, guys, so I was thinking about redoing my trailer. Do any of you guys want to help me this Saturday?" I asked the group.

"You're redoing your trailer, the one that you bring all your girls to," Rachel asked in shock.

I sighed. "Err, yeah."

A few of them agreed to help me out. I just didn't want to do the work alone, especially because I'll probably be sick from the chemo. I figured that a working task would be a good distraction for the weekend.

"What are you planning to do, Percy?" Thalia asked.

Annabeth also seemed curious.

"Oh, um, I'm changing the furniture, sheets, and appliances. I'll probably also paint the walls a different color."

"Woah, you're actually changing everything, bro. Why?" Leo asked.

"Yeah, why?" Jason and Rachel also asked. There were a few times when I wasn't too comfortable with my serious ex-girlfriend, Rachel, being in our friend group. This was one of the times.

"Err, I don't know. I guess I wanted a project," I said. I actually wasn't completely sure why I decided to redo the trailer. It was just a sudden impulse.

"All right," Thalia said. She had a strange, knowing look on her face.

"Yup, we'll be there, Seaweed Brain. However, you're seriously tripping if you think that you can just sit around and make us do all the work," Annabeth said teasingly.

"I'd never do that, Wise Girl. I'm a gentleman," I said with a smirk.

Annabeth simply rolled her eyes and shook her head.

I definitely appreciated that Annabeth didn't treat me any differently after finding out about my cancer two weeks ago. Wise Girl was exactly the same as she's always been, and that only made me like her more.

***

My arms were shaking as I clutched my toilet seat. Another round of vomit spilled out of my mouth. I felt awful, and tears were pooling in my eyes.

I tried not to cry about my cancer, but some days literally broke me. Today was one of those days. It was two in the morning, and I couldn't sleep. I had been throwing up or felt like I was throwing up for the past four hours (gods, I didn't even eat that much).

"Percy, honey, are you okay?" my mom asked.

"Mom, I'm sorry if I woke you up," I said softly before turning back to the toilet.

"No, I cannot sleep when my son is like this," my mom said softly. She came forward, wrapped her arm around my back, and rubbed my back.

I finished throwing up and leaned back against the wall. My eyes closed as I focused on my breathing. My body felt warm and everything was aching. Plus, I was sleep-deprived considering I did have to wake up early for school this morning.

"Percy, I hate seeing you like this. Maybe, you could call one of your-"

My mom faltered off. I gazed at my beautiful and supportive mother. She loved me so much that she was actually telling her son (me) to go out with a girl if it made him feel better.

"Mom, I love you, but I can't go with random girls anymore. It doesn't work anymore," I said weakly.

'Honey, you're in pain. If it helps you-"

"Mom, sex doesn't help anymore with anyone," I said firmly.

"Except for one girl?" she asked softly.

"How do you know, mom?"

"I know my son, Percy. You are so loyal, and you wouldn't get alternative pain relief from any other girl if you have feelings for one in particular. You like Annabeth, don't you?"

"Yeah, mom, I do like her a lot," I said earnestly.

Talking with someone was helping with the side effects of the chemotherapy.

"You should tell her, Percy. Just because you have cancer doesn't mean you can't have a real girlfriend that you care about and love."

"It's not fair, mom, for me or for Annabeth," I said truthfully. It hurt too much.

"Percy, that's for her to decide. I think that you need to tell her about your feelings. I raised you to be a man, Percy. Are you feeling better now?" she asked.

I nodded at both things that she said. I was feeling better now, so I could probably get some sleep. There was no more food left in my stomach to throw up. Furthermore, my mom was right that I had to tell Annabeth how I felt because clearly, the feelings weren't going away.

Honestly, I doubted my feelings for Annabeth would ever go away.

***

"Percy, do you really want to throw out all of these?" Jason asked.

"Bro, I told you that I don't need any of them, so YES."

We had already thrown at the mattress, sheets, and small couch cushions. We spend all afternoon shopping for all new stuff, and now we were cleaning out the trailer.

Grover, Thalia, and Annabeth were painting the far side of the trailer with blue paint. The near side (which had a small couch and mini kitchen) of the trailer was still being cleaned by me, Jason, and Piper.

Honestly, the trailer was too small for all of us. Four people would work fine.

By six o clock, everyone had left, which left Annabeth and me to finish stocking the trailer with the new stuff we brought.

The bed was already made, and we just restocking the mini kitchen with some water bottles, one pan, one pot, and a few plates and spoons. I didn't cook often in here, but sometimes I did heat food to eat or I ordered food.

"Seaweed Brain, do you even know how to cook?" Annabeth asked as she came inside with the mini couch cushions.

"Of course, I can cook, Wise Girl. Why do you insult me like this?" I asked with a smirk.

"Because it's so much fun," she said chuckling. We continued to talk and fool around for 15 minutes. The trailer was pretty much done. I was just working slowly to prolong our time together, and I was sure that Annabeth was doing the same.

A phone call interrupted our conversation.

I answered my phone without checking the caller ID. I wish I had, though.

"Hey, babe, where are you right now?" Drew's voice said in a sensual whisper.

"Why are you calling me, Drew?" I asked.

Annabeth turned to face me. Drew's call clearly had Wise Girl's attention.

"Percy, I was wondering if you wanted me to come by to your trailer. We can get our freak on and do some things."

I groaned in annoyance. I was in a chemo cycle, yet I didn't want any sexual experiences with any girl (except Annabeth I guess). I sighed.

"Drew, I already told you twice now, I'm not interested in you."

"Excuse me!" she shrieked. "Percy, no damn guy rejects me," she shouted.

"Well, I am rejecting you, Drew. I am not interested in you anymore, so just stop."

"Screw you, Percy Jackson. You don't know what I'm capable of, and the things that I can do to end you," Drew warned threateningly.

"Drew, I'm seriously not into you anymore. Just deal with it," I snapped into the phone before hanging up.

Annabeth and I stared at each other for a few moments before I sat down on the mini couch. She came and sat next to me. "What happened?" she asked.

"It was just Drew being the pampered queen that she is. She can't take no for an answer."

"Well, she's not used to it," Annabeth said with a happy smile.

"Why are you smiling?" I asked.

"No reason," Annabeth covered quickly before standing up. "All right, Seaweed Brain, it's getting pretty late, so I should get going."

I caught her hand before she left the trailer. I liked the feel of her hand in mine.

"Do you have to leave?" I asked.

"Are you making a move, Seaweed Brain? I'm not sleeping with you," she said firmly, but she was still smiling.

"Our first time won't be in my trailer. It'll be special," I muttered under my breath.

"What was that?" Annabeth asked.

"Nothing" was my quick response. "Do you need a ride?" I asked.

"What a gentleman," Annabeth said teasingly. "No, I have my dad's car today. Percy, thank you for talking to my dad about everything. It changed so much of my life."

"You've already thanked me enough, Wise Girl," I said with a smile.

I liked seeing her happy.

"When's your next chemo session?" she asked as we walked to her car.

"Tomorrow morning."

"Do you want company or anything?" she asked softly.

I stared at her. While I loved her company, I didn't like taking people to my hospital visits.

"Nah, I'm fine, Wise Girl. Thank you," I said firmly.

Before she got into her car, Annabeth turned to me one more time. "Percy, if you need anything or anyone, I'm here for you."

I believed her words completely.

As I watched her drive away, I realized that I appreciated the idea of a real, loving relationship with Annabeth despite having cancer.