Chapter 7

Gone out for a while, see you soon.

Annabeth.

I left the note on my pillow before quickly retreating out of the hotel room, feeling empty handed with only a purse stuffed into my pocket.

It's early in the morning, 7 o'clock or so, though the streets were still burdened with cars, lorries and cyclists – all rushing to work in the cold crisp air.

Taking a deep breath, I walked down the main road, keeping my eyes fixed in the distance. This was the reason I came to Manchester in the first place; but the sense of fear and dread continually kept building up inside of me.

Stopping on the way to collect a coffee, I headed down a pretty looking side street that led into grander and more colourful part of the city. Fewer cars were down here; which made the roads smooth and clean, void of any cracks and litter.

Tall majestic houses lined the streets and trees grew out of the pavements in squares; everything shone with radiance and glowed in the rising sun. A stunning green park sparkled with the stream flowing through the middle and the smell of freshly baked bread wafted around me.

Number 5...just a few houses down the road. Gotcha. But what was I supposed to do now? Knock on the door and say how much I've missed him? He hates you. I forgot about that. God, what was I doing here? He'll think I'm a stalker...great, I'm turning into Luke.

You can't neglect your daughter forever. She's four years old and you haven't seen her since she was a baby.

I took another breath and shut my eyes momentarily, weighing between my head and my heart. This isn't about Percy and I, this is about my daughter – who I am longing to see after all these years. I've finally got back from my orchestra's tour in France and now...now I can't bear the silence of my home, the loneliness or the longing in my heart.

He hates you, he hates you... the voice in my head continually taunted. No...I have to see my daughter. I deserve to see her; it's not like Percy will forbid me...will he?

Standing on his doorstep with my hands shaking at my sides...

Oh god.

What shall I say when he opens it?

"Annabeth?"

My throat tensed up and I spun around suddenly, looking behind me down the steps. My face went completely white and for once in my life I was tongue tied.

Percy stood in front of me, beads of sweat on his forehead; as if he had been on a morning run – actually he had been on a morning run. Dressed in a light blue top and shorts, muscular arms and the same chiselled jaw I remembered...

Don't get distracted. Run whilst you can.

After his moment of shock, he stepped forwards and with a genuine smile on his face. It was like the break up had never happened...

"Do...do you want to come inside?" he asked, somewhat nervously.

"Uh...I don't...I was just l – " I sighed and mentally slapped myself for making a fool of myself. "If it isn't any trouble for you."

He smiled warmly, and my head suddenly felt dizzy and my skin tingled right to the fingertips. "Not at all. I was just going to wake Ebony up for school – "

"Oh, am I disrupting you? I can always come back later – "

"I'm sure it'll be fine, Ebony would love to see you."

"She would?"

Percy nodded and fumbled for his keys and unlocked the door, letting them both in. "Yeah, she's always saying how she wants you to come back and...Um...complete the family."

A pang of hurt stung in my heart, wishing that I could make the wish come true. I've always longed to see into Percy's mind, to find out the real reason we broke up, the real reason that we couldn't be together...the reason Ebony never got to know what a true family feels like. But I'm scared...I'm scared of what Percy thinks of me, what if he secretly doesn't want me to be here? I feel like I've stepped into a dangerous territory, full of hatred and terror.

I followed him into the living room, where the ceiling stretched high above my head and a large beautiful chandelier hung down, glittering with light. A perfectly polished grand piano stood at the edge of the room, against the patio doors that overlooked the wide spacious garden. Music was scattered around it, piles and piles of compositions and manuscripts, shelves of music lined the walls above.

"Take a seat – I'll go and wake Ebony up, ok?"

I nodded numbly and watched him leave the room hurriedly. He muttered something under his breath – like he was chiding himself angrily.

I wanted so badly to run up to him and beg to take me back...

No, you're with Luke now. Luke is your future, not Percy.

The rush of memories of last night entered my mind and another pang of guilt hit me. What we did was too soon...I don't even know if I love Luke yet. Hell, I barely even know him. But I was so...broken up that night, after seeing Percy and my daughter walking to school together, I didn't want to feel so alone anymore.

Stepping over towards the piano, I noticed something amongst all the crumpled pages of music and the lose staves that were scattered on the table next to it.

I picked it up and felt my breath trapped in my throat.

Our Piece: By Anna and I

"Oh my god..."

He kept it and finished the piano part. He kept the violin part that I gave him and matched the two melodies perfectly; I could hear it already in my head.

But what does this mean? That he still loves me? Once we split up, I expected him to throw away the music we composed...but no, he finished it and here it is now – slightly yellowed with age, but it's still here.

A spark of hope. That's what I felt. Then only to be diminished when I suddenly thought of Luke. I can't fall in love with Percy again, because where would that leave Luke? He travelled across the country to ask me out on a date and if that wasn't love, what is?

"Mummy?"

I turned around, brushing away the dampness in my eyes. "Ebony?"

A four year old girl stared up at me with sparkling green eyes and dark long curls that hung past her shoulders. She wore her light blue uniform, though she was wearing only one sock.

A smile lit up her face when she saw me and immediately ran up to me, hugging my legs.

"I told Daddy you'd come back, I knew you would. I knew you would."

I bent down and stared at wonder at the creation Percy and I made. "I've missed you both so much."

She grinned, showing her pearly white teeth with the same expression I had seen Percy using so many times before. "You're staying with us forever, aren't you Mummy?"

I froze, and my heart fell. "I..."

"Daddy wants you back as well," she carried on, her smile never ceasing. "He always says that he misses you and that he loves you and that you're a violinist and you've been touring the world so you haven't had the chance to see me yet."

She ended her paragraph in one breath, looking pleased with herself.

"He said he loves me?"

Ebony nodded vigorously. "Yeah – and he sometimes looks really sad and it's because he misses you so much. Now that you're back, we're a family again!"

Percy rushed into the room suddenly. "Ebony, time for breakfast – "

"But mummy's just got here."

"You need to be on time for school," he said softly yet firmly. "I'm sure your mum can talk to you later."

"So you are staying forever?" Ebony said hopefully, staring at me with wide puppy eyes. "Please?"

"As long as your Dad allows me to," I replied through the pain in my voice.

If only I could stay forever... God, I'm letting down my own daughter, what kind of a mother am I? Percy would never want me to stay in this house anyway – not after the break up. If Ebony hadn't been born, then I probably would've never seen Percy ever again.

I met his eyes and saw a familiar emotion inside of them. The same emotion I saw every time I looked in the mirror. What went wrong? Just tell me what went wrong between us, Percy.

"Ebony?" he said again.

She grinned and beckoned me to follow them into the kitchen. Hesitantly, I stood at the doorway and watched them interact with each other...even a blind person could see the love between them. A small smile graced upon my lips, how I longed to be part of this.

Percy motioned me over to the table and I sat down on a chair, feeling slightly uncomfortable. I could feel his gaze on me, not a harsh glare...merely a look of...

No. He doesn't feel anything for you. Anyway, you're with Luke now. Don't get distracted. Don't get distracted. Don't fall in love.

"Mummy, do you love Daddy?"

I stiffened, taking a glance at Percy, but his face was impassive as he stared straight ahead of him out the window.

"Um..." what should I say? I don't know...I don't know. Taking a deep breath, I told her the truth. Partially. "Even if I did, he deserves someone better than me."

And that was true. I've seen the real side of him. I've always known in my heart that the memories we shared together were not full of lies and deceit...no, I know that Percy has a good heart – better than anyone I've ever known.

"That's not true," he cut in suddenly. "If anything, it's the other way around."

Across the table, Ebony frowned, her eyebrows creasing in confusion. "But you do love Daddy, don't you?"

"Ebony..." Percy sighed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"What?" she responded with a mouthful of cereal.

I got up suddenly, feeling an urge to cry for some strange reason. "Sorry. I'm disturbing your morning...I better go – "

"Wait, Annabeth – "

"Mummy, don't – "

"I'm sorry," I tried to tell them. "I'll...I...just don't forget I love you, Ebony. With all my heart."

Her eyes filled with tears and another stab of guilt pounded through my veins. It was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do – to walk away from my own flesh and blood.

Rushing to the door, I felt a hand enclose on my wrist. My reflexes acted up, shaking the hand away desperately. My back pressed against the closed door and I could feel my heart thumping with adrenaline.

"What do you want?" I said in a small voice, wanting only to get out of here.

"Annabeth I'm sorry," he said quietly, letting go of my wrist.

"For what?"

"For...the break up, for everything I've put you through. This is my entire fault – none of it was ever yours – "

Cold anger replaced the hurt and all I could see now was the seventeen year old boy from five years ago, who had smashed my heart to pieces like I was nothing.

"Then why did you do it, huh" I demanded, my fists clenching beside me. "If you never loved me, why did you lead me on for so long?"

"I did love you," was his weak response. "I never stopped."

"Then tell me why you ended it," I hissed, through gritted teeth, not wanting Ebony to hear our argu – conversation. "Go on, tell me. Tell me the truth and then maybe we can figure something out."

"I can't tell you," he fired back with equal frustration in his voice.

"Why not? How can it be so bad that you won't tell me?"

"Because...Becau..." he trailed off, his emerald eyes full of pain. Only then did I realise how close our faces were...

"You're a coward," I retorted vehemently. "God, it's only one reason. I don't care what it is, why can't you tell me?"

"I..." he stopped and took a breath. "I got bored of you, ok? You were just another girl on my list – my friend Grover dared me to go out with you – and when you kissed me in the concert, I knew that it would be easy."

I felt like he had just slapped me. Stumbling backwards, my back hit the door again. I tried to detect any lies in his eyes but I saw nothing but fire.

"Then why did you agree to look after Ebony?" my voice sounded quiet again, it had lost the heat and anger of before.

He's lying, he must be lying. He told Ebony that he loves me and he misses me. Unless he said it to cheer up her spirits.

"I'm not completely heartless," he said smoothly. "She is my flesh and blood as well as yours and I love her because of it."

"You know nothing about love," I whispered. "Nothing."

Pulling open the door, I rushed out into the street and raced down the pavement, wiping fiercely at my eyes as I went. I never bothered looking back.