His laughter was easy, flowing and unforced like a child's. Mine was usually the opposite, forced at things that were not amusing. Then again, I found very little amusing now a days. Being with him,was the one time I felt free. The one time laughter spills out of me like a fountain. Today it happened to be after school, in the woods behind my house. School had been particularly rough today due to the frequent torture from a certain group of girls. I know He can't always be there, but he knows how to make me feel better.
"Wisegirl, you can't let them get to you." He starts, even though this conversation happens every day.
I stare at my worn sneakers when I finally answer. "That's where you're wrong, I can let the get to me, and they usually do." He looks at me and I look away. He grabs my chin gently and turns my face back towards his.
"Hey, look at me. I don't care what they say, your still beautiful."
That's the main topic of the girls teasing. My clothes, my hair, everything actually. I'm never good enough, and I'll probably never be good enough for any one. I mean I'm the nerdy, weird ugly girl. Who would like her?
He was still staring at me, and suddenly his lips were on mine. In that moment, the world was perfectly still. For a fraction of a second, everything was perfect. Then I pulled away.
"What's wrong?" He asked as his eyes searched my face.
"This... This won't work" I stammer, tears threatening to spill out of my eyes. Stop, I scold myself, you don't cry!
"Annabeth, you don't always have to be so strong. You can let me help, but you have to tell me what's wrong." Only that was the whole problem, I couldn't. If any body knew, even him, they would hate me.
"That's what I came to tell you seaweed brain, I'm leaving." His face slowly grasps what I'm saying and then it when blank.
"Wisegirl, you can't leave!" He finally protested.
"That's the thing," I explain, getting up and grabbing my bag, " I have to. It's best for everybody."
"Not for me!" He yells reaching out and grabbing my wrist and I flinched. A puzzled expression came over his face, and it gave me a chance to pull my wrist away. For the first time in 7 years I was crying freely.
"Percy," I whisper, walking backwards, "I want you to know, I've always loved you." And with that I turned and ran, tears flowing down my cheeks, Percy's cries unheard by my ears. It was time to start over.