A/N: Been gone two months and made a totally irritating cliffhanger. I'm sorry for being such a lousy writer and updater. I'm like dying every day just to get my hands on my computer and just write, but sadly the teachers would never let me have that pleasure now, wouldn't they?

Special thanks to:

storyteller1425 – I have got to learn how to manage my time. I've barely kept in touch with you and with all the other fanfiction authors in this archive, and I'm sorry. I'm supposed to read and review your latest Maximum Ride story (I'm expecting a lot from it. *winks, winks*). And thank you so much for the always lovely beta-reading work. People are probably jealous that I have you for my partner in crime.

Enjoy!

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Stuck In Between

Part 1 – The Beginning of A New End

Chapter 7: An Unexpected Spill

I'm in love with Percy Jackson.

Rachel's words ring loud and clear in my ears. A hot, searing flame slashes through me, engulfing my whole body senseless. My heart monitor beeps vociferously but Rachel doesn't notice.

"I've known him since we were fourteen. We used to go to the same school, and he's so… you know. I don't have the right words to describe him to you."

Without meaning to, I get angry. Maybe she doesn't know it, but she's stressing the fact that she's known Percy first. That she has the better claim. My mind drenches in the weight of swirled emotions. I have no valid reason to be angry with her. Percy is not my anything.

But I got angry anyway. I got angry and… jealous. Fiercely and absurdly jealous. I am not unintelligent enough not to know the reason why I am acting like a hot and jealous chick. I just can't accept it.

"I know you've never seen him. But if you did, I'm sure you'll know what I'm talking about. He has this thick, shaggy, black hair that goes too long sometimes whenever he forgets to get a haircut once a month. He's quite tall and his eyes…" she pauses, clearing her throat from the pressure. "His eyes have this lovely shade of green."

The way she describes him with devotion makes me feel, for the first time in months, defeat.

Luke's image instantly vanishes, my mind displaying a new vision of Percy. All this time I have pictured him looking like my best friend. I have pictured him looking like those surfers at the coast back home. But now, with the black hair and the green eyes, the Percy in my mind seems so tangible. Real.

I grudgingly thank Rachel for that.

"I do hope you'll open your eyes someday and see him for yourself," Rachel's voice grew gentle.

The yearning to see him for myself intensifies.

"You're prettier than me," she sighs sadly. "I guess that's one of the reasons why Percy likes you. I won't lie. I'm absolutely jealous. And I am sorry if I am. I just can't help it."

And I'm sorry, I want to say to her, that I'm angry at you. I just can't help it too.

I can't deny that Rachel does have the better claim: she knew Percy since they were kids, she knows everything about him, and yes, she already met him face to face.

I want to tell Rachel that she has nothing to be jealous about. That I should be the one who's jealous.

"Percy's drawn to you. He's never been like that. Even with his past girlfriends. And for the past few weeks he's been acting weird all of a sudden. Distracted. I know he's itching to get to this room all this time, even though he adamantly denies it. He's too stubborn to admit that he likes you – "

I don't want to listen to Rachel anymore. Percy would never… I can feel my lungs starting to get a little heavier.

"Percy's too oblivious to the obvious. Every time he says no, I always want to give him a nice smack on the face. Expect him to go red and spontaneously combust whenever he denies," she chuckles in spite of herself, knowing how much of a douche Percy can be sometimes.

"I'm not saying he's obsessed about you. He's nothing like that. It's hard to explain. He's hard to explain. He should say it to you himself. But," she gathers her wits, trying to clear away the lodge in his throat. "Whenever he talks about you, you can see it in his eyes as plain as day. What I'm saying is… Percy loves you, Annabeth."

She catches herself, finding the strength in her to continue. To my relief, she doesn't cry. I don't know what I would do if Rachel started sobbing her eyes out, and for that I am grateful. My anger abates a little.

A huge part of me does not want to believe what she's saying. It's unfathomable. Percy can't possibly… love me. Even thinking of that 'L' word makes me shiver. I don't want to believe Rachel. I don't trust her judgment. How can she possibly know his feelings for me? How can she know if he even has feelings for me? She said it herself. He never said it out loud.

But I'm Annabeth Chase. I am selfish and vain, and I always will be. I feel like a miser – greedy, hoarding someone else's love.

And I realize that I don't deserve Percy.

"Everyone knows it. He's just blind not to know, and he always diverts to anything just to avoid embarrassing emotional displays. But he does love you. I'm sure of it. Just as I'm sure that I'll love him anyway. Even if he's yours, I still will," she says in a small voice. The more she concedes, the more I feel selfish. The more she shows her capability to love unconvntionally, no matter how ridiculous and unpractical it sounds to give someone up for love, the more I hate myself.

This is the first time anyone has ever confessed to me like this, so I'm probably overreacting. But who wouldn't be, especially if a random girl sits next to your hospital bed, saying 'Hi! The guy I like is in love with you but it's okay. Can we be friends instead?'?

Yeah, my life is a knockoff straight from every teenage girl's fantasy chick lit.

"I hope you'll open your eyes," she says, pleading. "Please. For Percy. He's dying for you to wake up," there's a smile in her voice and I hear the sudden slap on my skin, her hands encasing my own. "And for me, too. Maybe we might not see eye to eye, but I know we'll be great friends."

I don't feel it, but she squeezes my hand. "I know Percy loves you, and I know that there's a great possibility that you'll love him back. I promise I won't get in the way between the two of you. But if something happens, if some miracle happens, if there's a possibility that he might love me back, would you extend the same courtesy to me, no matter what happens?"

At that, I have an answer. Now I am more than happy if someone kills me or if a meteor hits this room from outer space – sparing Rachel, of course – or anything. Anything at all that might end my life. Because I see now that I'm better off dead. I'm wreaking havoc in my Dad's life, stealing Rachel's only love, really messing up Percy… I can't believe I'm in a coma and I'm still a liability. God, the universe really wants to prove that I'm a horrible person even if I'm half dead.

But before I die, I want to squeeze Rachel's hand and respond to her. I want to say that if Percy will love her back, and I'm sure he will, I will extend the same courtesy. Even if they get married, have babies together, grow old together… I will restrain myself from killing her and I promise not to sacrifice her entrails to Hitler. Because she deserves him. And he deserves her.

Percy's an idiot. Damn, that son of a bitch is an utter idiot for not noticing that his best friend is in love with him. If only I could strangle him right now.

And yes, this whole teenage angst is sapping the life out of me.

"Thanks, Annabeth," she says and I know she's heard me. "At first, I didn't understand Percy's fixation on you, why I'm losing him for a girl who's under a coma. I don't know why he tells you his secrets, his dreams and suddenly in seven months, you know him better than I do. But now that I've talked to you first hand, I must say that Percy's one lucky bastard. And you're lucky to have him."

She gives my hand one last squeeze before she stands up and departs.

"Don't make him do anything impulsive and stupid, Annabeth," she mutters, closing the door behind her.

I sigh. I can't promise her that one.

And I'm sure that if Percy decides to choose her instead of me, I'll be devastated.

Because nobody can help but fall into loving Percy Jackson.

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A/N: I know I've done a short chapter and left you another cliffhanger, but I hope this was less frustrating than the former. Anyone out there who hates or hated Rachel Dare? Opinions regarding her and the story? Suggestions? I'll gladly hear you out on this one.

Just in case it would get me more than two months to update, here's a preview of Chapter Eight: The Closing:

It all comes spiraling down, dawning to me. And it all suddenly clicks.

"I know she's been visiting you with Grover when I'm not around."

I want to tell him that Rachel has visited me only once, twice if you count today. Besides the fact that she told me she's helplessly in love with him and that she's jealous of whatever's going on between the two of us and that she vows she wouldn't blast me to bits when he picks me, Percy's got nothing to worry about.

"Why aren't you awake? Why don't you speak to me? Today's my birthday. You promised me, right?" there was sadness in his voice. Today is the day I'm supposed to wake up. I will my eyes to flutter. Nothing.

Thank you very much for sparing this story some time. Thank you for your reviews and constant praises, advice, and encouragement. Thank you so much to all those who wished me a happy birthday, and may this be a blessed year for everyone. Please review! Constructive criticism, flames, and praises are warmly welcomed with the same degree.