someone like you pt. one

Annabeth never thought she would get her heart broken twice. Hell, she wasn't even dating anyone. She never imagined that her demise would come in the form of a harmless looking, cream colored, shimmering wedding invitation. It might not have meant much to others, but it meant the world to her. It was like having your death sentence delivered to you in bright, bold and happy letters.

Honestly, Annabeth didn't even know she still had her heart until the invitation arrived.

Percy Jackson and Rachel Elizabeth Dare invite you to their joining in matrimony!

The ceremony will be held at Palace Chapel on January 18, 2019.

Please bring wedding gifts as their will be a wedding reception for the bride and groom afterwards.

RSVP as soon as possible so the guest list can be finalized.

On the back, in small print that only Annabeth could see was a note: Looks like I won.

The writing was too neat to be Percy's, so Annabeth could only guess that it was Rachel's. Rachel had always despised her for dating Percy in high school, in spite of the fact that their families companies were rivals. And now, she just had to rub it in.

ONE YEAR AGO

Percy and Annabeth had been dating for two years now, and before that, they'd been friends for five. There was always the shadows of their parents rivalry's looming over them, but they had never cared about that before, and weren't going to start now.

Annabeth walked into their shared apartment, "Hey Seaweed Brain, what's up?" She had received a text from Percy, asking her to meet up in the midst of their busy schedules.

"Annabeth, I'm not sure how to tell you this," Percy was withdrawn, shy even.

"Just tell it to me straight Perce," She was confused, but not put off.

"I think we need to break up," Annabeth went numb as his words sunk in.

She started pacing, feet slapping on the floor, the only sign that she was nervous, "Why?" she asked smoothly.

"I don't feel it anymore, we're both too busy, I'm not in love," he wouldn't meet her gaze, and Annabeth felt her anger flare up. Why couldn't he even look at her when he was dumping her. Was she not enough?

"We have dinner together every Friday," she says softly, "I love you."

"Annabeth, please just accept it, don't make it harder than it is," Percy still won't meet her gaze, his voice turning rougher by the minute.

Annabeth can feel the anxiety and low self esteem creeping up, "Is there someone else?" she asks tentatively.

He runs a hand through his already tousled hair, before letting out a raggedy breath, "Is that what it takes to send the right message?" his voice is hard, strict even, making her feel small and immature.

"You know what, fuck you Percy. I've stuck with you for so long, and you won't even give me a proper explanation, even though you owe me one. If not for the fact that we've dated for two years, then tell me because we've been best friends for seven."

"Just please go Annabeth," he's turned away from her now, and Annabeth is furious that he won't even look at her.

"Fine."

She packs her bags, and as she leaves, she talks to his back, "You know Perce, I really loved you. I was ready to spend the rest of my life with you, parents be damned. I don't know why you gave up on us, I don't know why I wasn't enough for you, but I'm not mad. Just disappointed. I'll always love you Seaweed Brain. I hope you find happiness." As Annabeth walked out of his life, tears welled up in her eyes. She only saw him once after that, making one more visit to awkwardly take the rest of her stuff. He offered to let her stay in the apartment, but she wouldn't take the olive branch. She's too hurt, and though she would never admit it, she can't stop crying.

PRESENT DAY

She never thought he would move on so fast. The engagement photos make him look so happy, and he's still as handsome as ever. If you love someone, you let them go, and if they come back, they're yours forever. Percy's not coming back, she realized. Though she had sworn not to let him make her cry, she couldn't help but choke back the sobs.

"Oh honey," Piper stands in the doorway of her room, with Thalia next to her, "You saw the invite?"

Annabeth can only nod, tears staining the crisp invite.

Thalia bunches her fist up, "I swear, I don't even care if he's my cousin, I will murder him Annie, I can't fucking believe this."

Piper strokes Annabeth's hair, letting her cry it all out, "Why can't I just move on?" Annabeth sighs.

"You know, you should go to that wedding," Thalia says, causing Piper to glare at her.

"Why, why would I do that? It won't change anything. He fell out of love, he rejected me," Annabeth hiccuped.

"Revenge tactics. Show him you're better than ever, even if you don't feel like it. Make him regret it, make him think it was the biggest mistake of his life," Thalia says simply, "Plus, you can totally knock this Rachel girl out of the park if Piper does some of her magic."

"Thalia that's brilliant," Piper agrees, making Annabeth heave another sigh.

"I want him to be happy. If I show up on his big day, I'll probably just make things worse. And Rachel probably only invited me so that she can brag on the invite, she doesn't expect me to actually show up. I don't want to cause trouble for Percy," Annabeth frowns.

"God, what did that dork do to deserve an angel like you Annie," Thalia rolls her eyes.

"Rachel doesn't expect you, and that's exactly what we want. You'll be the mysterious new girl," Piper squeals.

"Fine. I'll go, just to see him one last time, see him happy, and to get closure," Annabeth reluctantly agrees, making Thalia and Piper smirk at one another.

The next morning, Thalia and Piper wake her up, even though Annabeth wishes it all here a dream. Piper does her makeup, covering Annabeth's dark circles and puffy eyes from a night spent crying. Thalia helps Annabeth do her hair in some elaborate updo. Annabeth is barely conscious. She doesn't want to be here. She doesn't want to see Percy get married. She still wishes they were together, but she knows that's selfish.

She slips into whatever dress they set out. It's a silver-grey sleeveless slip dress, with a deep V and a slit in the skirt. It shimmers when she moves, and Annabeth realizes this is probably the prettiest she's looked since their anniversary.

"You look beautiful Annabeth," Piper says softly.

"Percy is a damn fool," Thalia says as the doorbell rings.

Unlike her own relationship, Piper and Thalia's have worked out quite well. Piper is engaged to Jason, Percy's cousin. Thalia is in a steady relationship with Luke Castellan. Her date tonight is her brother, Malcolm. Annabeth can see the pity in their eyes, mingled with anger, as Malcolm offers her his arm sadly.

When they arrive at the wedding venue, she wishes to disappear into the background. Grover, Percy's best man spots her first.

"I'm sorry you had to witness this. I don't know what Percy is doing. Rachel is a complete bitch, especially what she's doing to you," he whispers, giving her a hug.

Annabeth nods, "I'm fine. Don't make me cry tonight Grover, wouldn't want to ruin my mascara," she jokes weakly.

Someone taps her shoulder, and as Annabeth turns, she recognizes Sally Jackson, Percy's mother. When Percy and Annabeth were dating, the only person that supported their relationship was Sally. Poseidon was furious that his son was dating the spawn of the enemy, Athena Chase, but Sally managed to calm him down. Sally had always thought that their friendship would one day bring peace. Sally had been the mother figure Annabeth had never had.

"I'm sorry Annabeth, this is truly awful, if it was up to me, Percy wouldn't be getting married right now, but Poseidon is in a fix," Sally gives her a hug and sad smile, and Annabeth wonders if she'll be able to stand any more of this pity party.

And then she saw him.

He was standing at the front of the chapel, pacing. He looked exhausted, dark circles ringed his eyes, nothing like the happy engagement photos. His hair was mused, he looked thinner. His eyes met mine, and Annabeth saw the surprise and anguish on them. Or perhaps she just imagined the pained expression he gave her. Once, she had loved staring into his sea green eyes. But now? She couldn't stand to look at him any longer. She broke eye contact, and made her way to the back row. Already, Annabeth was planning her quick escape.

The wedding march started, the guests stood up, and there was the bride. Rachel Dare. She gave a look that can only be described as smug pride as she made her way down the aisle. Annabeth felt her stomach sink further and further down, she felt she might be sick.

She needed to get out of here.

"I can't do this to myself, I'm going on a vacation, to San Francisco," she whispered to Piper, and darted out of the chapel while all eyes were on the bride. She didn't notice the person watching her though, from a pair of green eyes.

As soon as she got into the cab, she broke down. The cab driver looked at her through the rearview mirror awkwardly handing her a tissue. Annabeth needed to move on, she needed to get away from the craziness of New York City, where all her friends were also friends of Percy's.

She booked a flight to San Francisco, and threw her stuff into a bag, bleary eyed. She practically tore the dress of of her, yanking her hair down into it's messy waves. As Annabeth destroyed her perfect facade, she felt herself breathing better. She yanked on some jeans and a comfortable hoodie, slipped on some Converse and headed out, feeling lighter.

When she got to the airport, a thought crossed her mind, of how Percy was probably a married man by now. Annabeth needed to block all thoughts of him out, so she slipped some earbuds in, and waited for her plane. Her mother had been right about the Jackson family.