CHAPTER 11
There was something even more empty about leaving Annabeth there. But he had to remember his mother and everything she meant to him.
His mother's happiness.
She deserves it. She deserves a happy marriage.
An unspoken tear slid down his face. He quickly wiped it away as he walked away from the dorms to his car. He raised his keys and his car beeped.
He opened the unlocked door and slid in, letting out a tired, frustrated breathe.
...
He loved her so much his heart felt like it was being ripped out of his chest.
How was he supposed to survive not being with her at all.
~o00o~
Annabeth slipped down to the floor, her legs underneath her. Tears threatened to fall. She winced, reaching up one hand to her mouth, the heel of her palm pressed against her lips to keep sobs from coming out.
Damn it.
She was completely in love with him. She always knew that, but she never knew how deep it was. This was bad. Very bad.
The time apart from him had did a number on her and she didn't know how long she would last with the coming marriage between their parents that would keep them away forever.
Her head still ached from the hangover from last night. There was a throbbing that pounded against her temple.
She then whipped her hair up in a messy ponytail.
Then rummaged in her purse to pick out her phone.
She tapped the contact and placed the phone against her ear.
"Hey Dad, do you have a moment?"
~o00o~
It was a few more days before the wedding and the whole six months that went by, Percy felt like he had not been living at all.
He rarely saw Annabeth now and he missed her unbelievably so. He barely ever saw her these days unless their parents had planned some kind of family dinner which usually included a lot more people than just our family—but there was only a single glance or two, they were lasting gazes, but that was it. They didn't talk or anything.
He was afraid of being tempted if he stood even ten feet from her.
It was like he had never met her.
Acting the happy part for their parents.
And days went by as they always had.
He paid for the coffee at the cashier, stopping himself from getting two every single time.
Some of the chicks in the cafe ogled him with hungry eyes.
But it was no use for them since he never payed enough attention to give any other girl a mere second glance.
He didn't think he ever would after sweet cherished memories of Annabeth and her dimpled smile.
Six months went by.
Six.
He hated the number six.
It was the number of bad relationships that he had in the past before giving up. It was the number of essays he had written in that one class period for old man gramps one time. It was also the number of slaps he had gotten from heartbroken girls-okay, probably more than that, but whose counting.
And at six months since the engagement party—since he had been with Annabeth that one last time—he was sure something bad was going to happen.
And, of course, something did.
~o00o~
The ceremony started and Percy was sitting next to Annabeth, since they were going to be married as siblings soon when their parents said 'I do'. It was awkward. He didn't know what to say or do, he just sat there—catching glances at her every few moments, seing that her attention was focused on the ceremony.
Her eyes looked bright silver and striking and her hair had been styled a bit to curl in more perfect waves, though her natural waves were more than perfect anyway.
Before he knew it, he was leaning closer to her, wanting to take in her lovely Annabeth scent and touch her—just one touch.
She straightened a bit, breathing in sharp, most likely feeling his presence so close.
She didn't turn to face him. She tried to act like he wasn't affecting her.
And he knew it was all for the best, but it still hurt how hard she was trying to ignore him. He brushed his hand lightly along the silky soft skin of her thigh, barely touching her just below the hem of her beautiful dress—but she felt it and he heard her breath catch.
"God damn it, Percy. Stop." She whispered under her breath.
But he couldn't. Being near her so close again made him lose his guard really easily. He wanted to taste those pink lips again and run his hands through that glorious hair.
Why did they have to sit him next to her?
"Sorry." He said, it was all he could think to say.
At that she turned to face him, giving him a full look into those stunning eyes. He saw her eyes flit to his own mouth, but she quickly broke from her gaze when they both heard the ceremony start— it was very wrong that there was such sexual tension hovering between them when they were going to be family very soon.
She pursed her lips a look of sadness inscribed in her eyes.
He wanted to take it away—to take it all away and just make her happy again.
He wanted to punch a wall at how frustrating this all was.
Then he saw his mother come down the aisle. He had offered to walk down with her, but she had insisted that she go down it alone, claiming she was old enough to do these things on her own.
His mother was beautiful, though there were wrinkles on her face, as she walked down the aisle— face lit with pure joy— up to where the Chancellor was standing with an expression Percy figured was his happy face.
Annabeth must have gotten her charming dimpled smile from her mother because the Frederick Chase just didn't know how to smile, well.
Sally reached the podium then the reverend pastor started talking.
The whole time he talked, Percy's eyes glanced between the couple getting married and Annabeth's smiling face. His chest filled with all sorts of emotions seeing that smile.
The pastor was then getting to the 'I do's'. Percy leaned over so that his mouth was near her ear.
"I love you." Three words, meaning the world to both of them and he knew it. He had needed to say it to her before it was too late.
He saw her bite her lower lip as her father said, "I do"
His chest clenched as he saw tears forming in those eyes he loved to look into so much.
He wasn't sure she would say anything back, but she did and it hit him like a punch to the chest.
"I love you too. " She whispered back, turning her face to him right before his mother's voice saying 'I do' filled the whole church, "More than Anything." She added as if it would establish the confession even more permanently.
~o00o~
At the reception, everyone was dancing or having a drink or making a toast. Typical wedding reception.
Percy looked around and suddenly realized he couldn't see Annabeth anywhere. No wonder he felt off—his eyes were always on Annabeth at a party and she was nowhere to be seen.
He looked to where his parents were talking and cutting cake. Percy moved over and slid next to them.
"Hey, have you guys seen Annabeth?"
"Oh, she had to catch her flight to be in time for her orientation tomorrow. So, no need to worry. Bless her heart, she stayed for the whole ceremony before leaving." His mother said who looking incredibly happy in her wedding gown.
No, major need to worry.
"Orientation? What orientation?" He said hastily.
The Chancellor turned to him, "Her freshman orientation to Harvard, of course. Didn't she tell you about it?"
Percy's eyes widened, "Harvard?" He said, his voice suddenly weak.
"Yes, I sent my butler with her, so she should be fine." The Chancellor said, " I'm so proud of her."
Sally draped her hand on her new husband's arm, "Oh, dear, you should be."
"I'll be right back." Percy said before he was halfway across the dance room and out the church.
Why hadn't she said anything?
Percy got in his car and just drove.
~o00o~
He spun around and sped down the wide lanes of the airport. She couldn't have gone already.
She couldn't have.
She just couldn't.
Not after she said those words back to him.
Percy spun again, chest heaving.
They would have figured something out.
He would have only had to see her every day.
Just see her. It would have been fine.
Now, he wouldn't.
Where the f-k was the terminal for Boston?
He then ran back the other way, hoping to see those familiar golden curls anywhere.
He then looked up at the boarding times,
"Please, don't be gone yet. Don't be gone." He said under her breath.
He then saw her flight—
— departured.
Percy suddenly felt weak at the knees.
His shoulders slumped, the air knocked out of him.
He slammed his fist against some directory stationed next to him, hitting the plastic—almost breaking the thing.
He was lying to himself. He did know why she had left to study somewhere she had been insistent on not going— the only thing tying her here was him. And they were never going to happen again.
So now-
...she was lost to him.
~o00o~
Annabeth looked out of the window from her seat, her chin resting on the palm of her hand.
I'm sorry. So sorry.
She thought those words over and over, as if they might actually reach him. A sigh left her.
That wedding had been brutal. With Percy sitting next to her, so achingly near, and also knowing she was leaving right after. She just couldn't bring herself to tell him.
She was scared that if she did, he would persuade her not to.
But that could never happen.
Staying would be pure torture, seeing Percy every day because of family but never actually with him. She still didn't want to study law so she had made a compromise with her father.
"I'll go to Harvard, Dad. And I'll leave as soon as I can." She had said.
"That's fantastic Annabeth! I'm so glad you changed your mind." It was the first time she heard her father so happy for her.
She pressed her phone against her ear a bit more, "I want to leave now."
"What of the wedding? I do want you there, Annie." Her father's voice still booming even through her phone speaker.
She scrunched her face, only Thalia could call her that, "The orientation is the day after."
"Then you'll stay for the ceremony. I'll schedule your flight, don't you worry. I'm so proud of you, Annabeth."
"Don't be too happy. I'm still not going to study law. I'll go into Premed." At least I could avoid the boring courtrooms and save actual lives.
There was a pause before her father started talking again, "Alright, I can deal with that. Medical school suits you fine as well."
He could deal with that?
She had wanted to let out a scoff, but bit her lip just in time.
Annabeth watched as the clouds hid away parts of the land and tiny clusters of buildings below. The airplane attendant came up to her first class seat.
"A drink, miss?"
"Yes, please."
A drink sounded great right now.
~o00o~
Frederick Chase watched as Percy fled away from the scene to go after Annabeth.
He smiled over at his brown eyes bride and sipped the champagne in his hand-his grey cold eyes surveying everyone around them.
How-lovely his daughter had looked tonight.
Hopefully she would have a safe trip to Boston. Surely she would do well there at Harvard. All those years training and grooming her for success would definitely not be a waste.
She was his daughter after all.
His prize. winner.
A butler of his came up to him and bent down to whisper in his ear.
"Your daughter has safely left the airport."
"And-?" He prompted further in a hushed tone.
"Mr. Jackson has failed to intervene, sir. Everything is alright."
A broad smile widened on the Chancellor's face in satisfaction.
"Good, you did well."
The man butler bowed then walked off, leaving the large groom to celebrate the last few hours in his happy, joyful wedding party with the wonderful love of his life.