Capítulo 2: Chapter Two: New Vacation Plans
[DGW: To clarify, this is a fanfiction. I do not own any characters except my oc's.
•Percy jackson and the Olympians belongs to Rick Riordan.
•Amazon's The Boys belongs to by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The show is produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television Studios.
•Invincible belongs to Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Stegman.
Even though he is a femboy the main character does have a darker skin tone.
Please critique and comment about my work so I know how to do better in the future.]
Percy's Pov:
The ride home was nice.
Miss January was blasting music on the radio as she and GG sang along. Their company almost got me to stop stressing over Yancy and Ms. Dodds.
Almost.
Grover sat beside me trying to sing along, but he still had that over stressed look in his eye, like something or someone was gonna attack us.
I had tried asking him more questions but he said we should wait till we get home. Reluctantly I complied.
But, even with all this I was happy I was going to see my mom soon.
A word about my mother, before you meet her.
Her name is Sally Jackson and she's the best person in the world, which just proves my theory that the best people have the rottenest luck. Her own parents died in a plane crash when she was five, and she was raised by an uncle who didn't care much about her. She wanted to be a novelist, so she spent high school working to save enough money for a college with a good creative-writing program. Then her uncle got cancer, and she had to quit school her senior year to take care of him. After he died, she was left with no money, no family, and no diploma.
The only good break she ever got was meeting my dad.
I don't have any memories of him, just this sort of warm glow, maybe the barest trace of his smile. My mom doesn't like to talk about him because it makes her sad. She has no pictures.
See, they weren't married. She told me he was rich and important, and their relationship was a secret. Then one day, he set sail across the Atlantic on some important journey, and he never came back.
Lost at sea, my mom told me. Not dead. Lost at sea.
She worked odd jobs, took night classes to get her high school diploma, and raised me on her own. She never complained or got mad. Not even once. But I knew I wasn't an easy kid.
Finally, she married Gabe Ugliano, who was nice the first thirty seconds we knew him, then showed his true colors as a world-class jerk. When I was young, I nicknamed him Smelly Gabe. I'm sorry, but it's the truth. The guy reeked like moldy garlic pizza wrapped in gym shorts.
Between the two of us, we made my mom's life pretty hard. The way Smelly Gabe treated her, the way he and I got along ... well, when I came home is a good example.
"—didn't start the fire! It was always burning since the worlds been turning!"
The car came to a hault as Miss January parked in front of her building, which was right next to my apartment complex.
"And we have arrived! Hope you boys enjoyed the drive," Miss January said with a smile as she shut off the minivan.
"Thank you Miss January," the three said.
Me and Grover hopped out the car and went to the trunk for our bags, only for GG to stop us.
"Hey, no need for you two to carry these—" GG told us, grabbing our bags from the trunk— "I'll take 'em up for you."
Grover began to protest, "there's really no need—"
But he was already entering the complex, all our bags in his arms as he held open the door.
"Hurry up! I don't think the receptionist likes us letting the AC out!"
The three of us trudged up the complex steps, Grover slightly out of breath due to the difficulty of using his crutches.
Elevator just had to be broken.
"So… GG—" Grover panted— "what does that stand for?"
GG looked back down at us, already on the next flight of stairs.
"What? Like the letters?" GG asked as he set the bags down.
Grover nodded, leaning on a railing to catch his breath.
"Oh it's just the last two let's of my first name—" He said— "whenever I tell people my first name they say it's weird —which it is but tell that to my dad—and going by my middle name just seemed more complicated since I was told it was my mom's husband's name, and I don't think he'd like me."
With that he picked up the bags and went back to climbing the stairs.
Grover looked up at me confused and I shrugged. I didn't even know GG's parents.
The three of us walked into my mom and I's little apartment. I was hoping my mom would be home from work. Instead, Smelly Gabe was in the living room, playing poker with his buddies. The television blared ESPN. Chips and beer cans were strewn all over the carpet.
Hardly looking up, he said around his cigar, "So, you're home."
"Where's my mom?"
"Working—" he said— "You got any cash?"
That was it. No Welcome back. Good to see you. How has your life been the last six months?
Gabe had put on weight. He looked like a tuskless walrus in thrift-store clothes. He had about three hairs on his head, all combed over his bald scalp, as if that made him handsome or something.
He managed the Electronics Mega-Mart in Queens, but he stayed home most of the time. I don't know why he hadn't been fired long before. He just kept on collecting paychecks, spending the money on cigars that made me nauseous, and on beer, of course. Always beer. Whenever I was home, he expected me to provide his gambling funds. He called that our "guy secret." Meaning, if I told my mom, he would punch my lights out.
"I don't have any cash," I told him.
He raised a greasy eyebrow.
Gabe could sniff out money like a bloodhound, which was surprising, since his own smell should've covered up everything else.
"You took a taxi from the bus station," he said— "Probably paid with a twenty. Your cripple and lady boy over there probably paid for themselves so you got six, seven bucks in change. Somebody expects to live under this roof, he ought to carry his own weight. Am I right, Eddie?"
Eddie, the super of the apartment building, looked at me with a twinge of sympathy. "Come on, Gabe," he said. "The kid's just got here."
"Am I right?" Gabe repeated.
Eddie scowled into his bowl of pretzels. The other two guys passed gas in harmony.
"Actually you'd be wrong—" GG said, stopping me from jsut taking the twenty from my pocket and giving it to Smelly Gabe— "we drove here free of charge."
Gabe scowled at GG, at least I think he scowled, the fat on his body made his eyes constantly squinted. He began to speak but GG cut him off.
"Hey did you know that home poker games are illegal?" GG asked as he set down Grover and I's luggage.
"What the he—" Gabe began but was cut off again.
"Yup! Generally, home poker games are considered legal in New York as long as no one is collecting rake or fees—" GG said as he walked over to Gabe, looking doen at random mounds of cash on the table— "seems you boys have been raking in some fees."
GG smiled at the four men, something about it was just creepy. Like one of those slimy con men, or lawyers who get supervillains court cases released.
Gabe turned away, upset as he grumbled obscenities under his breath.
GG walked back over, his conman smile now back to his normal grin, his Obsidian black eyes glistening in the apartment's dim light.
"So where's your room at Percy?"
I smiled at back him, "right this way."
I leas him and Grover to my room, which really wasn't my room. During school months, it was Gabe's "study." He didn't study anything in there except old car magazines, but he loved shoving my stuff in the closet, leaving his muddy boots on my windowsill, and doing his best to make the place smell like his nasty cologne and cigars and stale beer.
"Uh, nice room," Grover said, trying to sound nice.
I nodded, motioning for GG to drop mine and Grover's suitcase'ss onto the bed.
"Yeah. Home sweet home."
Gabe's smell was almost worse than the nightmares about Mrs. Dodds, or the sound of that old fruit lady's shears snipping the yarn.
"So you two want anything to eat?" I asked, taking off my shoes.
Before they could answer I heard my mom's voice. "Percy?"
She opened the bedroom door, and my body seemed to melt, I hadn't even noticed how clenched my fists were.
My mother can make me feel good just by walking into the room. Her eyes sparkle and change color in the light. Her smile is as warm as a quilt. She's got a few gray streaks mixed in with her long brown hair, but I never think of her as old. When she looks at me, it's like she's seeing all the good things about me, none of the bad. I've never heard her raise her voice or say an unkind word to anyone, not even me or Gabe.
"Oh, Percy." She hugged me tight. "I can't believe it. You've grown since Christmas!"
"Oh, Percy—" She hugged me tight— "I can't believe it. You've grown since Christmas!"
She turned and looked at Grover and GG.
Her red-white-and-blue Sweet on America uniform smelled like the best things in the world: chocolate, licorice, and all the other stuff she sold at the candy shop in Grand Central. She'd brought me a huge bag of "free samples," the way she always did when I came home.
"And you brought your friends over," She squealed happily.
"Would you both like some candy?"
GG eagerly nodded yes, scooting over and stealing the red sweets. Grover politely said no.
We sat together on the edge of the bed. While I attacked the blueberry sour strings, she ran her hand through my hair and demanded to know everything I hadn't put in my letters. She didn't mention anything about my getting expelled. She didn't seem to care about that. But was I okay? Was her little boy doing all right?
Grover and GG laughed at the sight. GG teasing me by asking the same questions in a baby talk voice.
I told her she was smothering me, and to lay off and all that, but secretly, I was really, really glad to see her.
From the other room, Gabe yelled, "Hey, Sally—how about some bean dip, huh?"
I gritted my teeth.
My mom is the nicest lady in the world. She should've been married to a millionaire, not to some jerk like Gabe.
For her sake, I tried to sound upbeat about my last days at YancyAcademy. I told her I wasn't too down about the expulsion. I'd lasted almost the whole year this time. I'd made some new friends, gesturing to Grover. I'd done pretty well in Latin. And honestly, the fights hadn't been as bad as the headmaster said. I liked YancyAcademy. I really did. I put such a good spin on the year, I almost convinced myself. I started choking up, thinking about Mr. Brunner. Even Nancy Bobofit suddenly didn't seem so bad.
Until that trip to the museum ...
"What?" my mom asked. Her eyes tugged at my conscience, trying to pull out the secrets. "Did something scare you?"
"No, Mom."
I felt bad lying. I wanted to tell her about Mrs. Dodds and the three old ladies with the yarn, but I thought it would sound stupid.
"Uh actually Mrs. Jackson," Grover began.
I cringed. I had gotten so happy seeing my mom again I forgot Grover knew something about Mrs. Dodds and the old ladies.
I gave Grover a look saying, 'later, please.'
Grover sighed but complied.
"Yes, Grover?" Said my Mom, turning to look at him.
Grover started sweating nervously, "where's your bathroom?"
Mom pursed her lips. She knew we were holding back, but she didn't push.
"Just down the hall, GG can show you."
GG looked up at us confused, his mouth filled with red and green gummy's.
"Come on, GG." Grover said, taking his hand.
As they left, mom turned back to me smiling.
"I have a surprise for you," she said. "We're going to the beach."
My eyes widened. "Montauk?"
"Three nights—same cabin."
"When?"
She smiled. "As soon as I get changed."
I couldn't believe it. My mom and I hadn't been to Montauk the last two summers, because Gabe said there wasn't enough money.
Gabe appeared in the doorway and growled, "Bean dip, Sally? Didn't you hear me?"
I wanted to punch him, but I met my mom's eyes and I understood she was offering me a deal: be nice to Gabe for a little while. Just until she was ready to leave for Montauk. Then we would get out of here.
"I was on my way, honey—" she told Gabe— "We were just talking about the trip."
Gabe's eyes got small. "The trip? You mean you were serious about that?"
"I knew it," I muttered. "He won't let us go."
"Of course he will," my mom said evenly. "Your stepfather is just worried about money. That's all. Besides," she added, "Gabriel won't have to settle for bean dip. I'll make him enough seven-layer dip for the whole weekend. Guacamole. Sour cream. The works."
Gabe softened a bit. "So this money for your trip ... it comes out of your clothes budget, right?"
"Yes, honey," my mother said.
"And you won't take my car anywhere but there and back."
"We'll be very careful."
Gabe scratched his double chin. "Maybe if you hurry with that seven-layer dip ... And maybe if the kid and his brat of a friend apologizes for interrupting my poker game."
Maybe if I kick you in your soft spot, I thought. And make you sing soprano for a week.
But my mom's eyes warned me not to make him mad.
Why did she put up with this guy? I wanted to scream. Why did she care what he thought?
I'm sorry," I muttered. "I'm really sorry I interrupted your incredibly important poker game. Please go back to it right now."
Gabe's eyes narrowed. His tiny brain was probably trying to detect sarcasm in my statement.
"Yeah, whatever—" he decided— "now for the other one."
As if right on cue GG had walked around the corner, still eating the candy.
"Hey GG, I'm sorry to ask this but could you please apologize to Gabe for ruining his game?" My Mom asked politely.
GG stopped in his tracks, slowly turning to look at a smug Gabe.
"Go on," said Gabe.
I frowned. I wasn't a big fan that GG had to do this.
I slowly waited for him to apologize. Instead he did this.
"June 8th, Chicago sports stadium." He said with dull eyes as he crossed his arms.
I don't know what that means, or what it could mean, but Gabe shut up and turned back to his game.
"Just go," he grumbled.
"Thank you, both," my mom said. "Percy, Once we get to Montauk, we'll talk more about... whatever you and Grover have forgotten to tell me, okay?"
For a moment, I thought I saw anxiety in her eyes—the same fear I'd seen in Grover during the bus ride—as if my mom too felt an odd chill in the air.
But then her smile returned, and I figured I must have been mistaken. She ruffled my hair and went to make Gabe his seven-layer dip.
"Actually—" said Grover, as he came out of the bathroom, stopping my mom in her tracks— "would it be okay if GG and I came with?"
"Wait. Why are you volunteering me?" GG asked.
Grover stared at him, the same look he would give me.
"Trust me. You need to come with."
GG looked to me. A look that said 'what is wrong with your friend?'
I was about to speak but my Mom cut me off.
"Of course, Grover—" she said before turning to me— "Percy why don't you go and help GG pack, I'll tell Annie and Mr. Milk so they know."
GG and I just looked at each other completely confused. I guess it's a four person vacation now.
[DGW: To clarify, this is a fanfiction. I do not own any characters except my oc's.
•Percy jackson and the Olympians belongs to Rick Riordan.
•Amazon's The Boys belongs to by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The show is produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television Studios.
•Invincible belongs to Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Stegman.
Even though he is a femboy the main character does have a darker skin tone.
Please critique and comment about my work so I know how to do better in the future.]
[This has also been uploaded on Wattpad]
[Word Count: 2,911]
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