A/N: During school, I was listening to a lecture about over working adults in America and this popped into my head. There's some cursing in this story. Whatever is in italics are flashbacks. Hope you like it! Review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
No One's POV
"Annabeth, you can't leave!" Percy said as Annabeth was packing.
"Percy, I have to go," she said with tears welling in her eyes. He started taking clothes out of her suitcase and into the now empty drawers. Frustrated, Annabeth gave up the antics after they continued the same routine of him unpacking and her re-packing. She sighs in frustration.
"Percy, give me one reason why I shouldn't leave?" she says as she faces him.
"Because I…"
"Don't tell me it's because you love me," she cuts him off.
"Fine, then tell me first why you're leaving?" he asks.
"Percy, look at your life. You've turned into a gods forsaken workaholic! You're almost never home. I come home from work at five when you come home at gods know when because I'm always asleep at ten and you're not home! Even in the morning when I wake up, you're usually gone by then. Being the C.E.O. of a leading manufacturing is busy work, I understand, but you never do anything besides that! 24/7 you're either at work, on the phone, sleeping, or bitching about work. Not to be selfish, but I've become the last thing you think of! You've missed and forgotten birthdays and anniversaries, and how do you think your mom felt when you, out of all people, her son, missed her birthday party because of a meeting! I just can't live like this anymore." She rants and by the time she's done, tears are streaming down her face. He stood there speechless. He remembers her anger that day.
Six months ago…
She sat at home waiting for him to come home. She had just gone to Sally's house to celebrate her birthday. Percy had called her at the party to tell her that he couldn't come to his own mother's party. She hung up the phone and had to break the news to Sally.
"Sorry Sally, that was Percy, he can't come because he's stuck in a meeting," and she could see tears well up in her eyes.
"Oh that's okay honey; it's not your fault or his that he can't make it. How about we have some dinner now," and Annabeth could see a tear roll down her face before she turned to get the dishes.
It wasn't the ideal night and to make matters worse, it was close to midnight, and he wasn't home. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't hear the front door bang open followed by a curse.
"Oh, hey, what are you doing in the dark?" he notices her sitting in the recliner with no lights on.
"How was your meeting? Why was it so important that you had to miss your own mother's birthday? Did you think that she wouldn't care?" she bombards him with numerous questions.
"Um let's see, the meeting was fine, we were discussing the new deal and plan that we're going to pass, so yes it was very important, and she'll have more birthdays, it's not like she'll only has one party," he answers and the last shocks her.
"Just one birthday! You don't get it; it's the thought of a meeting before family! You hurt her feelings and how do you think I felt when I saw tears roll down her face? Do you know how guilty I felt?" she rants.
"Look, I'm sorry, but I know what I did was wrong, but I have to do my job. This job will provide for our future family," he argues and her temper is uncontrollable.
"Future family? How are we even supposed to have a family when you're never home. We're just engaged. Every time I try to talk to you about setting up a date, you act like we have all the time in the world!" as the night went on, the fight had escalated, leaving Percy locked out of the bedroom and Annabeth crying herself to sleep.
"Annabeth, I didn't know you felt that way," he says in a soft tone.
"How could you in the first place? You barely talked to me ever since you got the job ten months ago. We've dated four years, lived together two years, engaged for one year, and I've known you since we were twelve, but this job has changed you for the worse. When was the last time you ever told me you loved me? Or the last time you kissed me? Or the last time we've gone out?" she pauses to let him think, but when he has no answer, she continues, "Exactly, you can't remember and I don't want to be in a relationship like this."
And with that she zips up the large suitcase. But before she can even walkout the bedroom door, Percy grabs her.
"Annabeth, stop," before she can even respond, he pulls her close to him.
"Please, Percy, let me go," and she's pulled into a breathtaking kiss. Before she can stop herself, she kisses him back. Remembering where she was, she pushes him away, furiously.
"You can't just come up to me and kiss me like that, expecting me to forget about what these past few months was!" she says angrily, but he stops her.
"I'll change Annabeth, I'll cut back on work, just please stay," he pleads with her.
"Remember the last time you said this? It last for a few weeks, but then you returned to the same workaholic," she says.
Five months ago…
"Annabeth, I'm sorry! I've cut back the hours, please unlock the door and let me in," he had forgotten their anniversary and had then cut back on work to make it up to her. The door soon unlocked and presented Annabeth in a red dress and her in tears.
"What do you mean you cut back on your hours?"He grabs her hands in his.
"I'll be home at five, at work at seven, and off on weekends. I promise you that I will be there and I won't forget anything. Just please forgive me," she forgave him.
This only lasted for three weeks before his hours returned to normal and she was left feeling neglected again and another promise broken.
"I know, but…" he didn't know what to say. He realized that he has been a horrible boyfriend, let alone fiancée.
"Percy, you need to let me go," he doesn't want to, but he knows he has too. Tears were streaming down his face and Annabeth felt guilty as ever, but she knew this was the right thing to do. They both walk to the door and Annabeth kisses him on the cheek. She then removes her engagement ring off her finger and gives it back to Percy, but he hands it back to her.
"No, keep it. It symbolizes me loving you and I still do so keep it please," and she leaves, but before she leaves she whispers a good-bye and so does he and she leaves him sobbing.
Next chapter will be updated as soon as I can! So REVIEW!!!
-azngirl123