A Thousand Years:

Percy's P.O.V:
Chapter Eight:
(Sorry this chapter is so short!)

"Wait. Slow down."

I couldn't find it ethical that Grover could possibly suggest such a thing. If my words slowed down, so did my world. I had to get all the events out of my mind before they disappeared entirely, or consume the clustered emotions that were threatening to overtake me. Whichever came first. Grover's eyes were wide and brown as they analyzed mine, an orange beanie hat covering his pointy ears. He followed me along the hallways, his crutches causing consistent taps to ring along the hallways. The faster my speech went, the more confused, the quicker I walked. The quicker I walked, the louder his crutches slammed off the newly cleaned floor.

I rung my hands through my hair, tearing at the tendrils. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do. She's my sister."

Grover's eyes flashed sympathetically. He opened his mouth, almost indecisive about whether or not he should speak, but eventually did. It wasn't what I wanted to hear. Not by a long-shot. "You're not related by blood. You have to realize that it is okay to feel things like that for her. She's not your real sister." I had envisaged that he would react in an expression of abhorrence, not even bothering to mask his objection by my statement. Maybe he even would've yelled in my face, voicing his revulsion, despite how shy he was. Which was fine by me. I needed a lecture. I needed someone to confirm that this was wrong; it had to be. I needed him to tell me that the pounding in my heart, and the longing for her gentle lips again was all just a sick, twisted delusion. I needed this because I wasn't sure if I would be able to withstand not kissing her again.

Goode high school was almost completely empty. Annabeth had avoided me ever since the kiss. I had almost gone up to her room after dinner, but her door was shut. Annabeth always slept with her door wide open, inviting, just in case I had a nightmare. It was a habit that never faded from childhood. Sometimes (though not so much anymore) I would crawl into her bed after waking up wet with sweat. Athena told us that as we aged, it wouldn't be appropriate anymore, so it all but ceased. She still left her door open, however, awaiting my imaginative arrival. Not last night, and that signified enough for me: she needed space. While I respected her wishes, it still felt like a slap to the face.As I had gotten ready this morning, I had opened her door quietly. Her blonde curls were frizzy around her cheeks, and sleep-goo clung to the corner of her eyes. Definitely not the most beautiful I had seen her, but the most calm and tranquil. Annabeth was usually tense and stressed, no matter what the environment. It was different, refreshing, to see her completely relaxed for once. After watching her rest for a few more seconds, I decided that me watching her was creepy. Extremely creepy. Edward Cullen creepy. So I closed the door with a quiet clang, unable to face her quite yet.

Since Grover and I each couldn't drive yet, and there was no way 'in hell' (as Thalia poetically put it) she would dare wake up at such an ungodly hour, I had to tell him here. I couldn't way another seven hours to refrain from telling him all the emotions that had been bottling up inside me. I would've exploded. It was nearing six fifteen, and the sky was still dim and grey. The school only opened this early because of the winter sports tryouts that were beginning to make their appearances.

I followed Grover into the empty men's bathroom.

Her hair had been wet. I could remember that. The rest was a muddle of heated emotions, avoidance, and frustration. The little curl had brushed up against my burning cheek when she leaned forward, almost like it would sizzle from the contrast that we both produced. Her lips had been cold against mine, and maybe a little shaky, like she was unsure what to expect from our short-lived embrace. When we pulled away, her eyes were content, sparkling, and warmth had spread through me. It had withered away as her eyes morphed into shock and terror, hand planting across her mouth.

"So you kissed Annabeth," Grover stated. "And then your dad knocked on the door. You two pulled apart, and now we're here."

I nodded. "Pretty much, yeah." I was happy at first, but that all but lasted two moments before we both realized what our actions had signified. I chafed my hands onto my jeans, trying to warm up. Autumn was slowly shifting into Winter, and I wasn't ready for the darkness that snow would befall. I leaned up against the sink, watching Grover carefully. This wasn't how I imagined our meeting would go, but I kept my mouth shut.

"I don't understand the problem."

"What? Do you even understand the consequences of me kissing her could do to my family? Dad would kill me, Annabeth would hate me, and Athena would be too ashamed to even look my way."

He rocked back and forth, face thoughtful. "And if they don't? The way I see it, you have a few options here. Option number one; admit you love Annabeth. Tell her, and tell your parents. Then-"

"No." I shook my head wildly, heat flaring against my cheeks. The concept filled me with dread and embarrassment. I swallowed down the dry taste resonating in the back of my throat, shortly considering if I was going to dry heave. "I don't love her."

"Then why did you kiss her?"

"Because," I began hoarsely, "I have a sick fetish."

He snorted at that, morbidly amused. "A fetish? She's not your real sister. But if she was, then we'd be having a different conversation right now." He patted me on the shoulder, smiling softly. "Again, I'll repeat, you're not related."

I scowled at him. "You don't understand, Grover. By law we are. How could we ever be together?"

There was another brief silence before he broke it. "Yeah. Yeah, I see your point. If you really want to forget about this, which I disagree with, then just forget about it. Don't bring it up again, and most certainly don't kiss her again."

I looped my finger through the hole in my jeans, sighing gently. I looked in the mirror, staring at my restless green eyes, and the frown that played across my lips. For some reason, I seemed a lot older than I had been yesterday. Not wiser, but maybe a little less innocent. I turned the faucet, Grover's words ringing in my ears. I didn't want to tell my parents what I felt for someone who I was supposed to view as my sister. I didn't want to tell Annabeth how much I wanted to kiss her again, nor how much I wanted to wrap her in my arms and never let her leave. I didn't want to tell her how she had me wrapped around her tiny, little finger and she didn't even know it.

Most importantly, I didn't want to forget our kiss. I didn't want to continuously slam my feelings down for her to the point where they were nonexistent.

But I had to.

I promised Annabeth I would try and take care of her. Being with me? That wasn't what was best for her. Being realistic, there was a greater chance that it would tear our family apart until we were barely holding onto the seams that tied our love together. I couldn't do that to them. To her. They had all saved me. Is that how I would repay them? By going against everything that they had raised me to become?

"Besides," Grover finally spoke. "We're only fourteen. You've got plenty of time to figure that stuff out later on. You should only be worrying about how to breach the next map in Call of Duty."

The corner of my lip twitched up. "Yeah." My shoulders relaxed. "I'll just forget about it."

I was only fourteen.

My love for Annabeth was something future Percy would have to deal with.

Not today, and hopefully not tomorrow.

. . .

My plan to 'forget it' didn't even last past lunch.

I blamed how golden Annabeth's hair looked next to the window.

It was wrapped in a bun, little liters of curls escaping through her bound. I sat behind her, breathing in her gentle smell of honey. The sun shone through the window, igniting her blonde hair in a flourish of gold. Her collarbone shone more prominently as she turned to catch a better glimpse of the notes written across the smart board. Rachel sat in her usual spot next to me, frowning worriedly at me. Apparently I was being quieter than usual, and less lively. She told me so at the beginning of class, green eyes wide with concern. Grover helped me out with that, exclaiming that I was feeling ill. I pulled myself from my mind, straining my eyes to stare at Annabeth again. Her shoulders were tenser than they usually were, and she occasionally rubbed the slope with her hand, a soft wince tumbling from her lips.

"Did you pull a muscle?" I murmured the third time she seethed, but not that I was counting or anything.

Her voice cut off. I wanted to kick myself for saying something so stupid. Figures that the first thing I say to her after a long and awkward silence is 'did you pull a muscle?' It was a wonder she even allowed me to kiss her.

"No. Just slept weirdly on it," she responded in a discreet whisper.

"Oh. You should borrow the heating pad from mom when we get back home."

"Maybe," she mused quietly, voice indifferent and expression stoic. I rested my head on my two crossed arms, longing to melt into my seat.

Mr. Brunner launched into another humorous description of the Greek gods. Unlike my other classes, Mr. Brunner was actually an awesome teacher. He taught History, but took extra time on Ancient Greece, an interest of his. He was an elderly man in a wheelchair with wise brown eyes and a short brunette beard. I expected him to be strict, but he completely reverted my very notion with his interesting and spontaneous way of learning.

I tore off a small sheet of paper from my notebook, heart beating furiously in my chest. I scribbled it down quickly before I could lose my nerve, then poked Annabeth in the back with the pencil, just as the class erupted into excited chatter.

She frowned at me curiously. I handed her the note, and she took it inconspicuously.

I heard her unfold it.

I don't want you to hate me.

She stiffened further in her chair. I half expected her to crumple my note up, but instead she took out a pen. Annabeth slid it to me, grey eyes never leaving the teacher's rants.

I don't hate you.

Then why won't you talk to me?

Because we're in the middle of class...?

You didn't talk to me during gym or lunch.

I didn't have much to say.

My fingertips clenched the sides of it, knowing that my eyes came off pained and hurt. My pencil came down to the paper, ignoring Grover's pitying glance. I was fed by the way she was completely brushing off my existence. Maybe it would be simpler to forget our kiss had ever happened, but it wasn't as if I ran away the second I laid eyes on her in the hallway. She was avoiding me, justifying her reasons by assuming that's what I wanted.

Would you like me to be the first to say it?

Say what?

That was another thing I was accustomed to her doing. Acting like an air-head, as if she couldn't decipher what I was implying. Annabeth was one of the smartest people I knew- maybe not the most careful- and it offended me to think she could merely pass this off as some 'dumb blonde' moment.

Fed up, I wrote down a quick note and hastily shoved it into her fingertips.

We kissed. You can't just pretend it never happened.

I didn't even realize that class had ended until I watched students pile out of the door. I was completely numb, but my cheeks felt like it they were stinging. I hadn't expected that to hurt so badly, especially since I had already decided on what I was going to do. Forget it. I was going to forget it, but I couldn't pretend.

"Percy, my boy?" Chiron's voice broke me out of my thoughts. "Are you alright? Class has ended."

"Uh, yeah." I scooped up my books and shakily walked out of the door. "I'm fine."

Watch me.


A/N: I'm sorry this is so short, but viruses bruh. Anyone know how to get rid of computer viruses? UGH, it's so annoying. On the bright side, I have a snow day today, and probably one tomorrow.

The reviews made me so happy, but I'll (hopefully) update sooner for more! :)

Here's some questions for you: favorite line from this story, what you think I need to improve on, and what you want to happen in the next chapter.