Sorry for the long wait. Sooo just keep reading. ;)
Disclaimer: I don't own PJO.
Annabeth was starting to get worried. It was past eight and Percy wasn't home yet with Rachel. He didn't even bother to text or call her. Really, when that boy comes home she'll kick the crap out of him for making her so scared about his safety. She watched the clock. Tick-tock. It was as if the clock was mocking her as well. Tick-tock. Another five minutes passed by. That's it, finally came to her mind.
She reached out for her phone, dialed her best friend's number and waited. And waited. And waited. No one answered. "Damn, Jackson." She muttered under her breath.
She went for the door and slammed the door shut.
"Stupid Seaweed Brain. Making his friends prepare this dinner. Then making me wait. Who does he think he is?"
Her feet was taking her to nowhere, actually. She just goes to wherever she feels gravity pulls her. She thought about what Percy said, ...I was planning to propose to Rachel. There it was again. The pang in her chest. The feeling that the world was ending around her. She hated how it felt. She hated the hot tears that started forming in her eyes. It wasn't even jealousy anymore. No. She got over that a long time ago. It was the feeling that you know you couldn't be with the one you love. And Annabeth really, really hated that.
Really, she thought angrily, what does Percy see in that little crap? That's the question that's been hanging in her head since, like, forever.
She almost had him, you know. And that's what hurts Annabeth a dozen times more than anything. She was so sure Percy liked her back before. Then that redhead came into her life and ruined everything. She had him where she wanted him to be. She was that close. Then it all came crushing down when she stepped in their homeroom period, claiming that she was a new student from St. Clarion's Academy. Annabeth couldn't believe she even considered the thought that she looked like someone she could get along with. Until Rachel gave Percy a flirtatious smile and a once-over. She almost screamed in irritation when Percy blushed and smiled back with the same flirtiness and interest. Her plans took a rusty turn since then.
She kept hitting on Percy every now and then. In fact, she kept hitting on him more and more. Only because he was noticing her less and less.
Sometimes she wished that she never met him at all. So she wouldn't love his kelp head. So she wouldn't love his green orbs. So she wouldn't love his bravery and his concern for everyone around him. So she wouldn't...
"Argh!" She screamed in frustration. She wiped her angry tears with the back of her hand. So I wouldn't be this hurt...
It was a good thing she was alone. Because she could never forgive herself if anyone saw her crumble like this.
Then she suddenly got this instinct to head to their favorite place; the lake.
"Gee, thanks," she said to herself. "So I could remember our fun memories with each other and be more miserable than ever."
But she still went to the lake.
When she arrived at her destination, she was actually grateful she followed her instinct. What she saw on the water was the floating body of Percy Jackson.
"Percy!" She shouted as she ran to the water. She usually hates going in the water but she had to. It was her best friend, for Aphrodite's sake!
She swam as fast as she could. She grabbed Percy's arm and dragged him to the shore. When they arrived, Percy wasn't unconscious. He was very much alive.
"What's your problem!" Percy shouted at her, shaking his arm away from Annabeth's grip.
"What in Zeus's name were you doing!" she shouted back.
Percy masked his pain with anger but Annabeth could see through his facade. "None of your business," he said, harshly.
"None of my business? So I just let my best friend die there?" Her face softened. "Let me help you, Percy."
"No!" Percy started to shout again. "You won't understand. And if you'll really help me then you'll let me die there."
She grasped his arm just before he headed back to the sea. "Ironic, isn't it? A son of Poseidon, chief of sailors and swimmers, trying to kill himself by drowning. I did never figure you out."
Percy looked back. For the first time that night, he studied his friend. Her whole body was wet. Her face and her hair were covered by salt water and dirt. Her stormy eyes were red, as if she were crying just recently. He studied the grip Annabeth had on his upper arm. Her touch was firm yet gentle and somehow it helped Percy relax. Just a little bit.
"Perseus Jackson," she started in a very stern voice that made Percy cringed. "I will not let you die just because of some foolish break-up."
Percy tensed once more and set his jaw. "How did you know about that?"
Annabeth let go of his arm, sure enough he won't be running back to the water. "I'm not stupid, Percy. I thought you already knew that. C'mon. It's not that obvious. You not going home with her. And you getting oh so suicidal." She crossed her arms. Percy couldn't read Annabeth's expression.
Percy glared at her. "It wasn't foolish."
"Oh? Then what do you call it? A misunderstanding?"
Percy bowed his head. Ashamed, speechless. Once he brought his head back up again, there were tears trailing down his cheeks.
He spoke so softly, "I loved her."
Annabeth swallowed. Trying to conceal her own pain. She has to be strong. Percy's the one who's crumbling here. "I know."
"But now," His voice was thick with tears. "I'm not so sure."
Annabeth walked closer to him, set a hand on his shoulder and looked at him straight at the eye. "Hey, we'll figure this out. We always do. But she's not worth dying for." Annabeth's mouth cracked in a small smile. "Literally."
Percy looked away, not knowing what to believe anymore. "You don't know that."
Annabeth shrugged. "Maybe. But you have friends. And that's why we're here. Heck, can you imagine what kind of hell will your Mom go through if you let yourself drown?"
He shook his head.
"Exactly."
But all he could think of was the pain in his heart. What's the world for him if Rachel was gone now? She was out of his reach. All he wanted at the moment was to kiss her life out, vaporize Apollo, and get everything back to normal. Tonight was supposed to be the proposal, for Pete's sake! At the end of the night, they were supposed to be happy. But that's only it, isn't it? Just gonna stay as supposed to be. Forever.
"...Percy? Are you okay?"
"What do you think?" he snapped venomously, getting harsh again.
He backed up, staying away from Annabeth's reach. He threw something at Annabeth's feet. "Do anything you like with that. Sell it. Make money with it. Whatever. I don't care. It's yours."
He ran to the place where Blackjack was parked. She watched him until he vanished. He didn't even bother looking back.
She picked up the velvet box that landed in front of her feet. She dusted out the sand and opened the lid. It was wonderful. It was obvious that Percy spent some fortune on the little thing. She closed it before putting in her pocket.
She doesn't know what to feel. Happy? Now that Rachel is forever gone. But after seeing Percy like that, she wasn't sure if that felt right. For a terrible second, Annabeth herself considered of drowning herself in the sea.
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~Tammy Boomerang
