The Way I Loved You

Present day:

'Annabeth?'

His voice shocked her from her reverie. Annabeth had been thinking of Camp Half-Blood and Percy, she brushed the treacherous thoughts aside and turned to face him, smiling.

'Sorry Michael, I was daydreaming.'

'Oh good, I was worried you were stressing out over tomorrows exams.' said Michael, holding out his hand to help her up.

He's so sweet, thought Annabeth as she remembered the first time saw him.

Flashback:

It was Annabeth's first day at college, she glanced alertly around for monsters, a boy with light brown hair and brown eyes caught her eyes and smiler at her. Later that day she found out his name was Michael, and he was in her architecture class.

Michael was cute and very nice, always showing her his designs and studying with her in the library, a month later he asked her out and they started dating.

Today was their second anniversary.

Annabeth walked to her class with Michael and thought about their date that night.

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Annabeth sat on her bed in her dorm and shook the thoughts about Percy and Camp. Michael was a much better choice; he was intelligent and shared the same goals as her.

He is sensible and so incredible
and all my single friends are jealous

'I bought you a new pair of earrings,' chirped her dorm mate Abby, proffering a pair of silver hoop earring at her. 'They're an early birthday present, they'll look gorgeous for you anniversary date. You're so lucky having a boyfriend like Michael, always making sure you don't freak out before exams.'

He says everything I need to hear and it's like
I couldn't ask for anything better

Annabeth slipped on the silver earrings just before Michael knocked on the door and opened it with her spare key.

'Nice earrings, you look beautiful, let's take my car tonight.' said Michael holding the door open. Annabeth smiled and walked out the door but for some reason she wasn't feeling excited.

He opens up my door and I get into his car
and he says you look beautiful tonight
and I feel perfectly fine

But I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain
and it's two am and I'm cursing your name
you were so in love that you act insane
and that's the way I loved you

I'm breaking down and coming undone
it's a roller coaster kinda rush
and I never knew I could feel that much
and that's the way I loved you

During the car ride Annabeth's mind was wandering again. The main thought in her head was Why? Why was she waking up in the middle cursing because she had dreamt of Percy? Why did something feel wrong about her relationship with Michael? Why did she feel like she was breaking down?

Fine, she thought to herself, I'll compare the two of them.

Michael respected her space, while Percy tried to then ended up barging in at the wrong time. Michael could be held to his word; she never had to wait for him and called her every time he said he would, while Percy was late most times, and never IMed her at the right time; blaming monsters for making him late.

He respects my space
and never makes me wait
and he calls exactly when he says he will

Percy was on good terms with her Dad and step-mom and her younger brothers loved him, but Athena would never approve of him. Annabeth remembered the time when she took Michael to meet her family, he and her Dad had started talking about planes like old friends and her younger brothers seemed to dislike him. When they left that day they walked into Athena.

'Mother what are you doing here.' Annabeth had gasped.

'I'm visiting your father,' Athena replied smiling. 'So this is your new boyfriend.'

'Yes ma'am, I'm Michael.' said Michael politely, charming like every other adult he spoke to.

'I approve of him.' said Athena when Michael left to warm up his car.

Michael was sweet, and unlike Percy, he wouldn't attract every monster in a ten mile radius, however she knew that Percy could watch her back, and defend her with his life, while she had to make sure no monsters kidnapped Michael as bait for her.

He's close to my mother
talks business with my father
he's charming and endearing
and I'm comfortable

But I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain.
It's two am and I'm cursing your name,
you were so in love that you acted insane
and that's the way I loved you.

I'm breaking down and coming undone
It's a roller coaster kinda rush
and I never knew I could feel that much
and that's the way I loved you

That's when Annabeth knew; she knew why she wasn't excited about this date, why she had being feeling so restless and cagey around Michael.

'Are you alright, Annabeth?' asked Michael, disturbing her chain of thoughts. 'You're very quite tonight.'

'I'm fine Michael.' Annabeth replied, giving him a smile that felt fake. Her chest felt hollow, it wasn't heartbreak, but something else she couldn't quite put a grasp on.

He can't see the smile I'm faking,
And my heart's not breaking,
Cos' I'm not feeling anything at all.

Annabeth finally understood; she still loved Percy. She cared for Michael, but as a brother; a friend, he was too perfect, boring almost. But Percy was impulsive and reckless, the opposite of what she was, and she'd loved him of that. He was annoying in the best sense, frustratingly stubborn, but almost everything he did was for her. He was a Seaweed Brain, but he was observant, a great strategist ready to take risks. He'd loved her enough to let her go, leaving him was a mistake, she saw that now.

And you were wild and crazy,
Just so frustrating, intoxicating, complicated
Got away by some mistake. And now…

But I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain.
It's two am and I'm cursing your name,

I'm so in love that I acted insane
And that's the way I loved you.

I'm breaking down and coming undone
It's a roller coaster kinda rush
and I never knew I could feel that much
and that's the way I loved you

She realized the hollow feeling was heartache; she missed Percy, she missed Camp, she'd missed them since the novelty of going to college wore off. Annabeth missed all the fights they had over something stupid, all the times they'd went on dates outside of Camp and kissed in the rain while Percy kept them both dry.

As Michael pull up near the beach, making Annabeth think of Fireworks Beach at Camp, she knew what she had to do, it felt like an act of insanity but she knew it was the right thing to do.

'Michael.' she said before he could get out the car.

'Yes Annabeth,' said Michael looking concerned. 'You aren't feeling sick are you?'

'No, but we need to talk.' Annabeth cringed inwardly as she remembered herself saying the same thing to Percy.

'About?' asked Michael.

'I'm sorry Michael, we need to break up.'

'Is this an anniversary joke, or is someone threatening you?'

'Neither,' said Annabeth. 'I love someone else, I still love Percy.'

'Percy, the one who dumped you?' asked Michael looking confused.

'No I broke up with him,' Annabeth explained. 'I guess I'm a heartbreaker.' she added wryly.

'So what are you going to do?' asked Michael.

'My final exams are tomorrow, after that I'm leaving.'

'So you really mean it? Us breaking up?'

Annabeth nodded.

'I drive you back then.'

'Thank you Michael, I'm so sorry.'

'It's okay Annabeth; I knew you were too good to be true.'

Neither of them said another word after that.

The next day Annabeth found it hard to sit still during exams because of the mixture of her ADHD and anticipation of returning to Camp. Finally she finished the exam, only half hearing the examiner saying:

'Well done to all of you for undertaking the exam. The results will be mailed to you in around two months.'

She ran to get the suitcase she'd packed the night before, loaded it into the boot of her car and drove towards New York.

And that's the way I loved you

Annabeth smiled, thinking about Percy; soon she would reach Camp and see him again.

And that's the way I loved you