Okay guys new chapter/one shot! Again, in Percy's POV (Sorry for all the POV changes, it keeps it interesting) and I hope you like it. Oh, and if you guys don't review I probably won't write any more one shots, so review! :) x


When I knocked on the door of the Athena cabin, I didn't expect a reply.

It was the middle of the day and everyone was out doing various activities, training, or eating lunch. But no matter where I looked I couldn't find Annabeth.

Seriously. I searched the armoury, the strawberry fields, the lake, the beach, the rock climbing wall, the big house, the mess hall, even the arts and crafts area. But to no avail. My best friend was nowhere to be found.

So that's why when I heard crying on the other side of the door, I was confused. Surely no one was in here. Unless it was Annabeth? No, it wouldn't be. But I checked anyway. I opened the heavy wooden door, and stepped inside the cabin. I'd been inside a couple of times before, so I sort of knew what to expect. But I didn't expect to see my best friend sitting in her bunk crying her eyes out.

I rushed over to Annabeth and sat beside her on her bed. She had her head in her hands, so I don't think she saw me. She was full on sobbing now, and I was genuinely worried. What had happened?

"Annabeth? Are you okay?" I asked quietly. She removed her head from her hands and wiped away her tears as if nothing was wrong.

"Percy? Oh nothing, nothing, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me, let's just go." Annabeth rushed, her voice thick. She made a move to get off the bed but I took a hold of her wrist and pulled her back down.

"No, Annabeth, obviously something happened. What is it? You can tell me." I told her. I tried to fill my voice with sincerity so she knew I was serious. It must of worked because she looked up at me. Her grey eyes were no longer shining with knowledge, but with tears. They were dull and sad, and her lip was quivering as if she was going to start crying again. I hoped not. I hate it when girls cry. Especially Annabeth. When I saw the miserable look on her face my heart broke a little.

"Y-you wouldn't understand." She whispered almost inaudibly. I suddenly felt slightly offended. I wouldn't understand?

"Try me."

Annabeth sighed and looked down at her hands that were now sitting in her lap. I saw her briefly glance sideways at the wall beside her bunk. I looked at it too and noticed something different- there were pictures pinned up.

The first one was of her when she was about 12. She was standing proudly in front of the Lincoln Memorial, her arms crossed and a grin on her face. I remembered that picture. I used to have a copy of it in my school book. The next one was of her dad, step mum, and little brothers. They were smiling happily at the camera. Whatever grudge Annabeth held against her family, she obviously still loved them to bits.

The next picture made me smile. It was taken right before my most recent quest- to save Annabeth after she was taken by Dr Thorn. Oh, and to save Artemis too. Anyway, the picture was of me, Annabeth, Thalia, Grover and Tyson. We were all smiling happily at the camera, and the memory made me smile too. The second last picture was of just me and Annabeth. My mum had taken it when she came to visit last. I had my arm around her shoulder and her's were around mine. We were mid-laugh when the picture was taken and it just made it ten times better. It might just be my favourite.

Suddenly my spirits fell when I saw the last picture- it featured Luke. It was a picture of a young Annabeth, Thalia and Luke. They all looked happy and content, as if everything was okay. That made me angry. If he was what she was so upset about, I didn't know if I could help.

Before I could do anything though Annabeth put her hand on my knee. "It's not what you think."

I raised my eyebrow. "Fine. What is it then? Annabeth, I want to know what made you so upset!" I asked, rather forcefully. I regretted it immediately, but Annabeth didn't seem to notice because she was too busy trying to hold her tears in. I didn't know why she always tried to be strong. Everyone breaks down at some point.

"I just... I don't know Percy. I'm scared. When I was younger and I just thought I had a family, everything went downhill and they weren't my family anymore. I had to run away. I lost my dad, and he was the most important person in my life, but I just couldn't go back." She exclaimed sadly. She took a breath before speaking again.

"And then when I met Thalia and Luke, and I made my first real friends, I felt complete again. I felt like everything might turn out okay. Luke promised that we would be a family forever and I wanted that so badly. They were the only people I had, for a while. Then Thalia almost died, and Zeus turned her into a tree and I lost one of my best friends. T-then when I was younger I started to get feelings for Luke, and I really liked him. But then h-he just left. He left me and turned bad, something he promised he would never do. He left our family and I was all alone. He promised he would never leave." She whispered, looking down.

As much as I hated Luke, hearing Annabeth speak about everything that happened, made me so sad for her that it was almost overwhelming. But no. I had to stay strong for Annabeth.

"And then you came and I made a real friend and I thought things were going well for once, despite e-everything that happened with Luke. Then Thalia came back and I was... over joyed. We were almost a family again, and I was so happy. One of my first ever best friends was back and there are no words to describe how happy I felt. Thalia promised me that she was back for good, and I felt content again." Annabeth said, her voice cracking slightly. She sniffled.

"And now Thalia has joined the hunters, and I know she's not gone forever but it's going to be hard to see her again. Luke promised our family was forever, and Thalia promised she wouldn't go again. I lost both of them. They both broke their promises. And I just-" She broke off there. The sobs were racking her body now and all I could think of to do was hold her. I wrapped my arms around her and she buried her face in my chest crying. She was probably make my shirt wet, but I found that I didn't care. She eventually pulled back and wiped her cheeks.

"Sorry, Percy. I just... I lost my two best friends who both promised to stay with me forever, and now that I've finally put my trust in someone else- you- I'm so scared, so scared Percy, that you're going to leave me one day too." She finished, so quietly I could barely hear her. A few stray tears fell down her cheeks. I cupped her face in both of my hands and wiped the away with my thumbs. Seeing her this broken, almost broke me too. I hated seeing Annabeth so sad.

"You listened to me carefully. I would never, ever leave you alone Annabeth. Ever. You're my best friend. You're my Wise Girl. I won't ever leave you, Annabeth." I promised, looking deeply into her eyes. My voice was thick and full of emotion, and I hope she understood.

"B-but they promised too. And they left." Annabeth said, her eyes tearing up again.

I shook my head. "I will never leave you intentionally Annabeth. I will do everything in my power to stay. Trust me. I promise."

Annabeth must have known how sincere I really was, because she nodded and pulled me into a warm embrace. Her chin was resting on my shoulder, and my arms were wrapped tightly around her waist.

"Thankyou Percy. For everything. You're amazing." Annabeth whispered into my ear.

"So I've been told." I answered cheekily. I heard her scoff, and even laugh a little as she buried her face in the crook of my neck. My heart started beating unnaturally fast.

"Seaweed Brain." She muttered affecctionately. I smiled,"Wise Girl." I replied.

And that's it. Not other words were needed. I sighed contently. Thank the Gods everything was back to normal.