Chp 7
Annabeth's POV

When I woke up, my lips still tingled from where Percy's lips had been. I didn't regret kissing him, it was amazing. I fell asleep with a smile on my face - the first time that had happened in a long time.

I somehow felt comfortable and protected when I was with him. I wanted to go back to his apartment just to taste kiss lips again, to feel the fire burn with desire in my stomach. How had I date Luke when there was someone else that made me feel new experiences and make me smile?

I changed into my jeans, boots, a long sleeve white shirt and my leather jacket. I tied my hair into a ponytail, not wanting my hair to get knotty due to the wind. I didn't want to wait another day tot break up with Luke. And I most certainly wasn't going to go to his place tonight. That's why I had decided to go early in the mid morning.

I walked into the apartment building, wanting to get out of here as soon as possible. I went to the right floor and walked towards his door. One thing I hated about his place besides the bad paint job and smell of sweat - the thin walls and doors. But at this very moment, I was thankful they were like that.

As I stood in front of his door to knock, I heard the laughing from some guys. Okay, I couldn't go in now because they were here. "So you still dating the blonde?" The one asked, which made me practically press my ear to the door.

"Yeah." I heard Luke say, following an annoyed grunt from him. "So you didn't sleep with her yet?" The one guy asked. "Nah, she's too much of a prude to let me do her, but she's gonna come over tonight, I'll do her, and than I can finally get rid of her." He said.

I imagined impaling his head. "And then doesn't that bring you to the end of your 'to do's'?" He asked, and something told me they weren't talk about the type of to do concerning redoing the paint job and getting a new light bulb.

"So you were with Angie last night, right?" The one guy asked. "Yip, and you have to give her a try." Luke replied. I felt sick to my stomach. I couldn't bear listening anymore so I rushed to the elevator and out the building, feeling like someone was suffocating me in there.

What the hell had I done? Why couldn't I listen to my friends? Now that I knew, I felt so guilty and ashamed of myself. It was my fault I was even still dating him. If I hadn't been such an idiot then maybe I would be ten times happier. Now I definitely couldn't stand him.

~ Line Break ~

I unclenched my fists as Luke opened his front door, the very one I had been standing at hours before. It was around six in the evening, the usual time I came. He just about shoved his tongue into my mouth as he pulled me into the apartment and closed the door. He pulled away and started towards the couch, giving me time to wipe my mouth off before saying, "We need to talk."

He turned around, looking slightly annoyed. "Your 'to do' list, really? Lovely to hear you also recommended 'Angie' to your pervert friends." I said, crossing my arms, with a calm, challenging expression on my face.

He looked a little nervous. I crinkled my nose. "It smells disgusting in here." I said, looking around the place that he hadn't even bothered to clean up. "And it smells like beer in here. And I'm not an idiot, I can smell the smoke."

He took two long strides toward me, standing a meter away. "How did you-" he started, but I wasn't finished. "You know, I've had enough of your excuses and harsh words and criticism. If you have a problem with me not wanting to sleep with you, deal with it. If you don't like something about me, then I wasn't the right person to date. If you don't like me, you should have said so." I said, feeling my anger seething just below the surface.

He looked kind of stumped that he'd been mouthed off. "I can't believe I even bothered trying anymore when you stopped months ago. Instead you let me wallow in self pity and broken self confidence and pride. I can't let you do that to me anymore, so we're over - but I guess we were over a long time ago." I said.

He stared at me then put on a sneer. "Fine - do your own shit. And when you try to get back to me, I won't be taking you back." He said, trying to regain his confidence. "I won't want you back, I can assure you that." I retorted.

"Well, who's going to love you now?" He asked, thinking he had made me feel small. I just shook my head with a pitying look towards him. "Somebody." I said, confidence in the word. He nervously shifted as he had been showed up again.

He made me nervous as he put a sly grin on his face. "Well I'm not done with you yet." He said. I took a step backwards to get closer to the door but he took one large step and grabbed my wrist.

I wriggled my arm, trying to get out his firm grip. He squeezed my butt with his free hand, and tried to pry his arms off me, but he was too overpowering. "I mean, you got in your bit, I get to put in mine." He said, sliding a hand under my jacket and shirt to rest a cold hand on my skin.

I shuddered in a bad way. "Luke, stop it." I seethed, trying to wriggle out of his arms. But he pressed me to the door and blocked my escape root by pressing his hips against mine. He slid my hands to above my head and kissed me, his usual sloppy kiss that I had always disliked but now hated.

He held my hands up with his one arm and used the free hand to roam my body. I felt panic rise in my chest as he neared my jeans button. I moved my head to the side to escape his mouth but he just started kissing my neck.

I managed to free my one leg and tripped him up. He was blocking the door so I ran to the kitchen, getting behind the kitchen island to distance him from me. "Luke, stop it. You're scaring me." I said, the panic very clear in my voice as he prowled to the kitchen.

It just made him grin mercilessly. "Even better." He said. I tried to run for it but he caught my arm again. He carried me, kicking and screaming, to the couch. He lay on top of me, blocking any possible way of escaping yet again.

"Luke!" I tried again, feeling a single tear slip my eye as I feared the worst. He slid a hand under my shirt, groping me. I tried yet again to push him off but he slipped my jacket and shirt off. I cried out, feeling the tears fall feely.

He started working on unbuttoning my jeans, struggling due to me squirming under him. I thought I might have heard someone knocking. But nothing happened and I squeezed my eyes closed, choking out a sob as he finally undid the button and pulled down the zip.

"Hey!" A voice shouted. I hadn't even noticed someone had opened the front door. Luke, as shocked as me looked in the direction of the door. A man, probably in his late forties, came towards us, and pulled Luke off me with one smooth movement, grabbing his shirt and pulling him up.

He wrapped his arms around Luke's waist, managing to hold down his arms in the firm lock, and pulled him towards the kitchen and away from me. I stumbled off the couch, sitting on the floor and sobbing in relief. A lady around the same age as the man came forward towards me, talking on the phone.

I couldn't catch anything she said as I was too relived and in shock from the experience. I quickly fixed my jeans and pulled on my top and jacket, pulling the jacket close to my body, feeling too ashamed that I had let him go so far due to being unable to fight him off.

The lady had finished on the phone and was trying to calm me down. I couldn't even look at Luke but got a glimpse of the man handcuffing him, making me realize he must be a policeman off duty.

Two officers arrived, making me realize she had called nine one one. I managed to wipe my face with my sleeve. "Is there someone we can call to come get you?" I half heard the lady say, still in shock from what he had done. "I - I-" I was stuttering badly and couldn't make out my words properly.

One of the officers took Luke out the apartment as the other talked to the man that had probably saved me from being scarred. "Percy." I managed to get out, handing her my phone with a shaky hand.

She called him, and he arrived minutes later. He quickly pulled me into his arms, and I sobbed into his chest. I sobbed due to relief from finally telling him we were over, for the shock of nearly being raped by one of the most revolting guys I knew, and because I was ashamed of myself.

"Percy, he just - he grabbed my wrist and I couldn't -" I started but he shushed me, telling me it was okay. "Excuse me, ma'am?" The officer asked. I managed to stop crying and wiped my face. "We are going to need a statement from you." He said, speaking gently and understandingly.

"If you could maybe come in tomorrow or when you feel ready to say what happened?" He asked. I nodded and he told me a couple more details about where to go when I felt ready. I found myself going to the couple who were looking at me with concern.

"Thank you." I said, swallowing hard as I prevented myself from crying again. The lady pulled me into a hug. I thanked the man as well, and hugged him. "If she's still shocked from the experience, please call me." She said to Percy, handing him a card.

He thanked them and walked me out the apartment building and into his car. I stared put the window as he drove me to Thalia and my place. I seemed to just float into the elevator, and down the passage, not really paying attention to anything.

Percy knocked on the door and Thalia came and answered it, frowning as she saw us there. We pushed past her, Percy guiding me to my room. He opened the door for me. "Change into comfortable, I'll come say goodbye in a minute." He said softly. I nodded and went in, leaning against the closed door.

I kicked off my shoes and pulled off my jeans, only bothering to change into my sweat pants. I hung up my jacket, hearing them talking behind the door. I couldn't make out any words, just heard mumbling. It was silent for a moment so I opened my door.

Percy and her looked over and Thalia rushed forwards wrapping her arms around my neck and giving me a huge hug. I was surprised but quickly wrapped my arms around her waist and rested my head on her shoulder. "Annabeth, you should of told me you were going to break up with him. What if he had hurt you badly?" She asked, squeezing me harder.

She pulled back and looked at my face, the slight bit of anger leaving her face as soon as she saw my red eyes and my tear stained cheeks. "I'll go make you some hot chocolate. It'll make you feel a little better." She said, trying to be helpful.

She left Percy and I and we looked at each other for a moment. He came closer and I wrapped my arms around his neck, closing my eyes as I breathed in his scent and felt his comforting warmth. He wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Thank you for coming." I said, softly. He pulled back so he could look down at me. "It's the least I can do." He said, his eyebrows still furrowed in concern. "I think you should go to bed, have she rest. We don't have to even deal with everything in the morning." He said.

I let him lead me to my room and he pulled my duvet cover back for me. I got in and sat up in bed, knowing Thalia would be done soon. "If you need anything, or want to talk at all, please call me. I'll be here." He said, making sure I understood he would be supportive.

I nodded. He gave a small, encouraging smile and kissed my forehead. "Sleep well." He said, stroking my cheek before getting up and leaving. Thalia came in and gave me the drink, sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Hey, is everything okay?" She asked, concern in her face and go her voice soothing and gentle. I shook my head which made her smile sadly. "You want to talk about it?" She asked. I shook my head and she nodded. "Okay, I'll leave you to some alone time and we can talk in the morning." She said.

She left the room and I was left alone. Why was the shock of the near rape experience making me feel so used and ashamed and guilty? Was it supposed to feel like this? Was I meant to feel all broken on the inside?

Drama filled action! Some of us forget every now and then how people are being raped everyday and some people aren't surviving the ordeals - so thought maybe just something to make us aware of being in a healthy, non abusive relationship is important.

Would you guys like a chapter of the court case? they apparently have those, and I dunno if you guys are interested.

-Sam

xox