Percy (NINE DAYS LATER)
It amazed me just how much could go on at camp without anyone else noticing. Although you could trust most of these half-bloods with your life on the battle field, your secrets will never be safe at Camp Half-Blood if word gets out. Over the years, I've come to realise I train with some of the most nosy people you'll ever meet.
No one knew Annabeth and I had started dating, with the exception of her siblings, and despite who their godly parent was, I trusted them. Sort of. I didn't really care whether or not anyone at camp knew, but if Athena found out... I shuddered thinking about it. She had clearly warned me to stay away from her daughter. Me, being the well behaved demigod I am, ignored her. Boy, was I going to get it.
An hour ago, I had pulled Annabeth down to the lake. Although she wouldn't swim, and she claimed to have a lot to do with Daedalus' laptop, we were still able to dangle our feet in the water, talk about pointless things, try our best to forget what was to come in the near future, and sneak in a kiss when no one was looking. Most of the campers were busy with whatever it is they do - hey, I'm an only child who doesn't particularly care what everyone else is doing, especially when the children of Aphrodite are involved - and, though there was probably something of more importance to focus on, we looked for any excuse to spend more time together.
"You know, for once, I don't want to go back to school this year," Annabeth admitted, entwining her fingers in mine.
I raised my eyes brows. "Did I hear that right?"
She elbowed me in the side. "Shut up, Seaweed Brain."
I chuckled for a moment before asking, "Why?"
"Because I want to spend more time with you." Her cheeks were tinged pink. "And I can't be bothered dealing with social issues. I swear, I don't know where all the stuck-up snobs come from, but where ever it is, I wouldn't complain if they all went back."
"So it's not just me?"
She smiled. "Okay, I guess mainly, yes, it is you. We never get to see each other during the school term. And now that we're-"
She stopped herself as a set of loud, fast footsteps reverberated through the wooden pier. We turned to see Malcolm hammering towards us, a look of urgency in his eyes. Annabeth shot to her feet, the worry evident in her scrunched eyebrows, stiff shoulders, and set stance, prepared for anything. I couldn't help thinking how adorable she looked.
"What's wrong?" she asked, expecting the worse. On the verge of war, spirits tended to run a little high at a camp full of ADHD demigods.
Malcolm's eyes widened. "Oh, nothing! We just didn't want to touch your bunk, and cabin inspection's in ten minutes."
She sighed, relaxing. "I'll be a minute. Thanks, Malcolm."
He nodded, glancing in my direction, at my hand laying beside me on the deck, palm up, where Annabeth's had just been, and I swear he looked amused before he turned around and sprinted off. Annabeth knelt beside me and placed a kiss on my cheek before following after.
I stared into the water, my mind wandering from one thing to another, watching the naiads at the bottom of the lake as the combed each other's hair, colourful schools of fish swimming by. The plants and weeds on the rocky floor swayed back and forth, the occasional bubble or two floating to the surface.
That's when it hit me.
Cabin inspections!
XXXXX
After the usual camp dinner in the pavilion, and a rather lifeless sing-along lead by the Apollo cabin, I sat with Annabeth in the amphitheater, watching the purple flames flicker and waver in the wind, shrinking down to a mere spark as the last few campers left. For at least an hour now, I'd been thinking about my upcoming birthday. For most teenagers, turning sixteenth is just another opportunity to throw a big party, open presents and overall, just enjoy the fact that you're young and free and have nothing to worry about. For your average half-blood, the prospect of actually living to that age astronomical. But for this Son of Poseidon... Well, lets just say I'm not particularly looking forward to it. All I know is that, when I turn sixteen, I have to make a big choice that will either save or end the world as we know it. One wrong decision and I could change Western Civilization forever. What's to celebrate, really?
I still didn't know what the prophecy was, and I think that's what worried me the most. I had no clue what would happen, all I knew was that it wouldn't be good. All I was certain of was that I had had enough action and adventure in my lifetime. I needed a break from being a hero.
But how did I tell Annabeth what I was planning to do?
Planning. Not really something I'm good at. Planning was Annabeth's thing, not mine. Somehow, my thoughts kept drifting back to the blonde-haired, grey-eyed Daughter of Athena, who happened to be my secret girlfriend. She's been there since the start, was with me on my very first quest to retrieve the lightening bolt, when the only problem was stopping a war between Zeus and Poseidon. That all seems trivial now, knowing the stakes of the new threat.
Remembering how much Annabeth had been through made me feel cowardly, but also gave me the slight hope she'd understand what I had to do.
We made our way out of the amphitheater, and when we reached Athena's cabin, I took a deep breath, ready to explain my plan to her in the most persuasive way I could, outline the pros and cons, when she finally broke the heavy silence.
"I know what you're thinking, Seaweed Brain," she said softly, staring intently at the door. "It's your first instinct. Run. Hide. I should know. I ran away from home when I was seven, and at the time I thought it was my only option. And, honestly, I don't regret it. But I've seen you suffer a lot in the last few years. I knew you would as soon as you crossed camp's boundary. You saved the world, you saved Camp Half-Blood, and you saved me. Not to mention all the little things you've done on the way. You don't deserve to have to live like this. You've endured a lot in your lifetime. I watched you. I can see it now in your eyes."
All thought of speech left my mind, drifting away with the light breeze. After a moment of quiet, Annabeth turned her head, finally looking at me. Her eyes locked with mine and she continued.
"Go. You've already done so much, and everyone still expects more. I know you, Percy. You're overwhelmed. You need to breath."
In the faint light from the window, I noticed the tears that pooled down her cheeks. I didn't know why she was crying, but it pained me to see her sad. Quickly, I lifted my hand and gently brushed her cheeks. I started to speak. "Annabeth-"
"No." She shook her head. "Don't. It's what you were thinking, right? You were going to tell me you wanted to leave, have a few normal days, whatever that means." She laughed lightly, without amusement.
"Yeah. That's exactly what I was thinking," I confirmed.
She nodded and whispered, "I thought so," all the while, keeping her gaze locked on mine.
"Annabeth, why are you crying?" I asked.
It was almost as if I could see the internal battle raging inside her. Her eyes gave away so many emotions that I could barely interpret just one. Finally, she seemed to come to a decision. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled my head down to hers, pushing her lips to mine hungrily. She kissed me almost desperately, like she was afraid it would be our last. I really hoped it wasn't.
When she finally pulled away, panting for breath, she spoke again, her voice anguished. "Tell Chiron. He'll understand."
My eyebrows scrunched together, my forehead crinkling like it does when I'm confused. "What's wrong, Annabeth? Why are you crying? Why are you so set on me leaving? I mean, I don't think you want me to go, but you're saying I should because you think it's the right thing. Right?"
A small smile crept on to Annabeth's face, faintly outlined in the pale moonlight. "Right." She opened her cabin door, letting the light pool out over us, and stepped over the threshold. She turned back to me. "Goodnight, Seaweed Brain."
I watched her for a moment before speaking. "You didn't answer my first questions."
Pain flashed across her features, briefly, and she shook her head. "It doesn't matter..." She heaved a heavy sigh. "See you in a few days then?"
I nodded. "I guess."
Annabeth glanced around her, taking in her sibling on their various bunks. Most were trying their best not to pay us any attention, and one or two were actually asleep. When her gaze swept back to me, she seemed to cringe internally. That was when I realised she was scared. Terrified. Annabeth was frightened by what could happen, what the mysterious Great Prophecy could bring. And most of all, I think she was worried for me.
Something clicked inside me, like a final puzzle piece sliding into place. Annabeth was my best friend, and my girlfriend. I had to protect her, no matter what, whether physically, in a battle with one or a hundred monster, or emotionally. And I had to always be there for her, however she needed me. Right now, I could see what she wanted, more then anything, and so I stepped forward, in the middle of her home at Camp Half-Blood, in front of all of her sibling, and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her in for a hug. She buried her head in my chest and cried openly, her shoulders shaking with each sob. Annabeth barely showed weakness, but even the toughest warriors needed to open up sometime or another. If you've never cried, then you're not human. That's what my mum says. So I let her tears soak my camp shirt as I rested my chin on her head, pulling her in as close as I could. Eyes peeked at us from all around, worried faces peered from high and low, but no one moved.
I held Annabeth for a few minutes until her sobs slowed and her tears stopped flowing. When I kissed her hair, she sniffled and looked up at me. She stood on her toes until her head was level with mine and lightly pressed her lips to mine. A few more minutes passed until someone coughed. When we didn't pull apart, I was knocked back by a pillow. Yes, a big fluffy pillow. Rolling my eyes, I walked swiftly out the door, turning only to say goodbye to Annabeth.
"I'll be back," I promised, and with that, I left for the Big House in search of Chiron.