Annabeth's P.O.V.
After school, everyone planned to meet at Jason's. Piper, Jason, and I got there first then Leo, Nico, Hazel, and finally Frank.
"How far is the cemetery from here?" I asked.
"It's pretty far. It a good three and a half mile walk." Jason responded. My eyes widened. Percy walked that far? We started walking. They asked me more about myself and how life had been before I came to Goode.
"Did you have a boyfriend?" Piper asked.
"No, I'm not all that into dating." I said.
"What? Even Leo has a girlfriend." Hazel said. I was wondering who it was seeing as there was obviously three couples. Nico and Will, Jason and Piper, and Hazel and Frank.
"She wasn't here today though. She went away to visit family for the weekend and she said she'd be back on Tuesday." Piper said.
"Her name is Calypso and she's perfect." Leo said. I saw a fence lining an open area. As we got closer I realized it was the cemetery. When we passed through the big black gates, everyone became quiet. Piper led us through the graveyard. I heard a raspy breath. I wasn't sure who it came from. I then saw a figure dressed in all black with their head against their knees. I looked at Piper and she nodded. It was Percy. I walked over to him. Everyone else walked around the gravestones but I walked through them. I put my hand on Percy's shoulder, then sat next to him. Everyone else sat too. After a few moments of silence except for Percy sniffling, I asked a question.
"Percy," I started. "Are you ok?"
After a moment of silence and a deep breath, I heard his response.
"No."
I wanted to tell him everything would be alright but I couldn't promise that. I looked at what he was facing. There was a gravestone. The name on the gravestone was Sally Jackson. Percy's mom I was guessing. Piper moved so that she was sitting against the gravestone that Percy was. She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a light hug. She laid her head on him.
"Percy, take all the time you need." She said slowly and softly.
"We're here for you." Said Jason. I smiled sadly. Percy picked his head up and Piper moved but kept her arms around him. His eyes were red and his face was wet. He looked around.
"I'm sorry guys." he said, his voice raspy. "It's just- I can't- this was the most difficult week for me. You guys had helped me through it and here you are again. why do you keep coming back? What did I do to deserve such great friends?" He said. He was sincere.
"Percy, you have gone through more pain than anyone should. Not only did you lose your mom but Rachael died that same week. And not long after Paul didn't want you anymore. If anything you deserve way better friends than just us." Hazel said. I had no idea who Paul or Rachael were. I figured now was not the time to ask. I looked at some of the gravestones, maybe I'd see Rachael's. I did. It was next to Sally's. It said she was a caring girlfriend. And then it clicked. She was Percy's girlfriend. The girl who he was kissing in the photo booth pictures. The red head. I realized I had zoned out.
"-dark, maybe we should head to somebody's place for a while." Piper was saying. Everyone nodded and stood up so I did too. On the walk back home, Piper and Jason were in front of everyone. They were silhouettes. The silhouettes were holding hands and the shorter one, piper, had her head on Jason's shoulder. Frank and Hazel were holding hands and walking with Leo. I saw that Percy had fallen behind a bit. I waited for him and walked with him. It was silence but it was comfortable. There was a slight breeze but the setting sun gave enough heat. The sun was giving shadows and highlights to Percy's face. His black hair was highlighted along with the left side of his nose. The right side of his face was in a dark shadow. I was to his left. He was walking with his hood up and his head down.
"Percy," I said softly. He lifted his head slightly and looked at me as we walked. "I'm sorry." He looked confused.
"For what?" He asked, his voice cracking on 'what'. He cleared his throat. "For what?" He said again, without the crack.
"For pushing you into the open. For sitting with you and trying to talk to you. You had clearly said to leave you alone but I didn't listen. I'm sorry." I said.
"It's ok." He said, pitting his head back down. "I didn't want anyone to judge you for talking to me. I push people out for a reason. I'm not trying to be a jerk. It's just that... every time I let someone into my life - they get hurt or I get hurt, or both. I just - I don't want to put that on anyone." He said as we walked up his street. He sped up and un-locked the door, then led everyone upstairs to his room. Everyone climbed through the window and sat on the cold roof. The topic of conversation on the roof was Percy. But as the night grew on, people started to leave. Soon, it was just Percy and I. We sat in comfortable silence as we looked at the stars. I had always liked the night sky. It was my favorite. It was one of the reasons why a big city wasn't my absolute favorite place to be. It was my second favorite. I liked areas where I could see the stars.
"Thanks." Percy said. "For trying to be my friend. No one has for a few years now." He said, rubbing the back of his neck and running his fingers through his raven hair.
"Of course. I can tell when someone needs a friend." I responded, smiling. He returned it, but it was a sad smile. I realized it was the first time I'd seen him smile. We sat for a little while longer. After a little while I stood up.
"I should go. My parents said I have to be home before 11:30." I said.
Percy stood up. "I- I'll walk you home if you want." He said. I smiled.
"Thank you, I'd be happy if you did." I responded. He walked with me in the cool night to my house.
"Thanks," I said. "For walking me home."
"No problem." He said. After a slight hesitation, I stepped forward and hugged him. He smelled like the ocean. He seemed confused for a second. But then, he hugged me back. He hurried his face in my neck and I knew that this was something he had needed for a while.
A/N : hey guys. What'd you think? Ok so I have a question. Do you want this story to have a good ending, bad ending, or both. I'll make both work, I have a plan for that. So don't worry about that. Please just tell me what you'd like. If there's more votes for one thing I'll do that. Remember to vote on my poll. Thanks for reading. Bye
