Okay, I really had fun writing the ending of the last chapter… poor, stupid, Rachel. I think that I should just remind you that on the 25th THIS MONTH or in 20 days, the new story- Homecoming will be premiering to Fanfiction… I am excited about that too…

~GoGreen52

The Cost

Chapter 11

Previously on The Cost:

Then why did Annabeth leave him? I hear she even took off her ring?" Rachel said, I just scowled at her and that smug smile she wore. "And tell me Annabeth, where is it now?" she asked.

I held my left hand up and smiled. I had her. But after like thirty seconds it was quiet. "Annabeth? Where is your ring?" Mrs. Jackson said, crossing her arms. I looked at my hand, and there was no ring. Crap.

I looked at Rachel and she was holding her hand up. There was a ring on it. My ring. Double crap.

Annabeth POV

"How did you get that?" I asked. My voice sounded like I was about to blow up… but on my side, I was.

"You should really be more careful when you are taking a shower. You left it on the kitchen table and I just so happened to be here picking up some reports to document. I guess that you aren't as smart as you think… you may have your friends fooled, but not me." Rachel said, smiling. That girl really knows how to piss me off.

"What do you mean?" I asked. I didn't have any secrets… oh crap…

Rachel smiled and looked at the door… Percy was standing there. I could read the look on her face- man this Is all perfect.

"Now that Percy is here, I guess I can reel you in." Rachel said, sounding like she had two crayons stuck up her nose… don't ask me.

"Annabeth… what's going on here?" Percy asked, looking like he just been hit in the gut, or lied too… I guess that's what I did.

I lied to him.

"Remember when I left you for those few days?" I asked him. Others were in the room, hooked on the conversation, and I knew I was done for.

"Yes, I do Annabeth. How do you think I could forget that?" Percy asked suspiciously. I guess he has every reason to be suspicious.

"Well… I had a talk… with someone…" I trailed off, wishing that this was just a terrible nightmare. I never wanted this to happen.

"With who, Annabeth? You know you can tell me anything." Percy urged me on, only causing me to hate myself more. Why did I do it?

"Ethan. The guy who tried to kill you." I told him, earning a gasp from the women in the room… well, besides Rachel. The guys had their mouths open so wide I was worried they would choke on a fly or something.

"Annabeth… why?" Percy asked, sounding breathless. I felt tears weld up in my eyes, and I saw he had the same happen to him.

"I-I don't know…" I ended in a whisper and tears fell down my face. His mother, Mrs. Jackson walked up to me and I felt a sudden jolt of pain on my cheek.

"Listen sweetheart, you almost killed my son, your own husband, and all you can say is 'I don't know?' are you effing kidding me?" she asked venom in her voice.

Adela had tears streaming down her cheeks and Aaron was holding her close to him. Wouldn't want the monster to get to her, now would he?

And at that moment, ladies and gentlemen, my heart was ripped out of me and crushed to pieces. I wouldn't even care if Kronos charged in the room right now, kidnapped me and beat me to pulp. I wouldn't care one bit, as long as my family was safe… from me.

Percy POV

After hearing Annabeth tell me that… I died. She tried to get back at me by killing me.

After my mom slapped her, I could see the pain in her eyes. The last time I saw that was… when she was with Luke. It killed me to see her so vulnerable like that… but right now I didn't care. That woman tried to kill me.

"Please, listen to me! I didn't go to that son of a gun just to try and kill Percy, why would I do that? I did that because we got in a fight, I did that because I needed to know if he… well… was back on our side." Annabeth said, looking down. I could see the red spot getting darker and I knew there would be a bruise.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, coming closer to her. She shrank back, and I knew I made a bad move- she was acting like she used to when she just got into the Witness Protection Program. I immediately felt a pang of guilt in my chest.

"I was going to… when things settled down." She said, and she winced… probably because my mom could pack in a strong slap… or punch… whatever road you went down.

"Oh, Annabeth…" I pulled her into a hug and smiled down on her. She was my own piece of heaven.

I looked pointedly at Rachel and she took her ring off, set it on the counter and ran out. I just laughed and hugged Annabeth again.

My mother joined the hug and I saw Annabeth wince.

"Did I hurt you again?" my mother asked, obviously nervous.

"Uhm… no, YOU didn't but Ethan did…" she said the last few words in a whisper and I barely caught them. Ethan touched Annabeth. I am going to get him. And this time, he wont be walking away.