(A/N) Hello :) I wanted to make something clear from the last chapter: the last sentence was referring to the fact that Annabeth could be happy because Percy was in her life ;)
Percy POV
"And why aren't you happy, Wise Girl?" I asked before sitting down next to her. She tilted her head up to look at me, and she frowned, and that was when I knew she hadn't planned on anyone interrupting her thoughts.
She didn't say anything, and that was fine by me. She didn't have to say anything because I knew that if I sat there long enough, she'd eventually say something. Annabeth was one of those people who didn't like to leave things unfinished, and a dangling question definitely bugged her.
We sat there quietly, the waves growing steadily closer. I could see that was making Annabeth slightly uncomfortable, but she looked at me and relaxed a bit. And there was something in her eyes, something that knew I'd keep her safe. But it was more of a "you better not let me die or I swear I will haunt you forever" instead of "Percy's just so awesome he'll protect me with his life" kind of thing.
Annabeth was scowling deeply out at the water, and I wondered if the question I asked was bugging her. Eventually, I was granted an answer. "I'm not really sure. I guess I feel like…" She bit her lip, and she turned her gloomy grey eyes on me. I lifted my eyebrows and made a gesture with my hand that indicated she should go on.
"I feel like if I let myself be happy, whatever is making me happy will just go away soon." She confessed quietly, probing my gaze for something.
It was weird, the way she was looking at me like she was searching for some sort of answer. But I wasn't sure what she wanted me to say. "What do you mean?"
She smiled sadly. "I like architecture."
I snorted. "You're telling me. You don't even read normal books, you only—" I saw the threat in her glare, so I calmly just closed my mouth instead of finishing my little jab at her.
"Building things is permanent. When you make a structure right, it can last for an eternity. Just look at all of the famous structures still standing after thousands of years. I want to build something to last an eternity." She was looking at me again, this time with some kind of expectation I was supposed to meet.
But to be honest, I didn't get it. One thing I didn't like about Annabeth: she always seemed to speak in riddles because the cold, hard truth was too hard for her to talk about. So unfortunately, I sounded like a real idiot when I asked, "What are you talking about? What does that have to do with anything?"
She frowned, and I assumed I didn't meet that expectation. "Nothing in my life is ever permanent, so I want to build something that can last."
"Nothing is ever permanent?" I couldn't help but feel a bit confused. Everything in her life seemed to be pretty sturdy because she made it sturdy. She was the one with a back-up plan for the back-up plan.
Annabeth sighed. "Yeah, nothing is ever permanent. My mom… she left me when I was just a kid because she didn't want me. She made me happy, and she didn't last.
Luke made me happy. And he killed himself. Nothing ever lasts!" She finished loudly, banged her fist against the sand, her hand unclenching and clenching again.
"Sometimes you have to create your own happiness. You can't just expect something to happen to make you happy, you have to find it. Real happiness comes with hard work, not something that just smacks you on the head." I told her, and I was amazed at how… wise I sounded. Like Yoda or something.
However, Annabeth is a lot wiser than me. "That's why I want to build something. Something that will never crumble."
She wasn't telling me the whole truth. There was something she was leaving out, and I was going to find out what it was. "And? There's more to it than that."
"Maybe I'm not supposed to be happy!" She shouted, but I don't think she was yelling at me. I think she was just confused.
And not for the first time, I wondered why her life was so hard. I could see what she was saying about nothing lasting. Having a parent leave you sucks, and then having someone you love kill himself… well, I knew what that was like. "Everyone deserves to be happy."
"Yeah, I never said I didn't deserve it. But maybe I'm not meant to be happy."
Angrily, I grabbed her shoulders. "What is wrong with you?" I snapped, though being careful not to hurt her. "If you think like that, of course you'll never be happy!" I wanted her to be happy. I really, really did.
There was a long pause, when I was strangely close to her. I wondered why she was looking at me like that, eyes wide. Maybe because I rarely yelled at my friends, or maybe something else. "You're right," she finally whispered.
I started to let go of her, when she abruptly hugged me. "You're… a good friend." She told me when I snaked my arm around her slim waist. I tried not to notice the way her head rested under my neck perfectly, or that I could feel her heartbeat through my shirt.
It was different when we let go of each other. Things were both more awkward and more comfortable at the same time. "I need to go. My dad is probably having a fit," Annabeth told me. "And no, Percy, you don't have to walk me home," She rolled her eyes.
"It's a guy's place to ask," I said, shrugging my shoulder.
She punched me on the arm. "I can take care of myself."
I rubbed my arm lightly and muttered, "Yeah, I noticed. By the way…" I added in a more serious tone. "Just try, okay?"
"Try what? Strawberry ice cream with ketchup? I already told you, Percy, that is disgusting and I refuse to put that in my mouth!"
I shook my head, though I smiled in amusement at the disgusted look on her face. "You should try that too, even though that's not what I was talking about. Try to be happy."
"Fine, fine." She said carelessly, though I could tell she meant it. "Bye, Percy."
I waved and we turned to go our separate ways.
(A/N) Okay! That's that! Sorry if I disappointed anyone with the amount of Percabeth ;)
Oh yeah, and someone so kindly told me it is NOT archaeology, but architecture... I knew when I was typing that it didn't sound quite right :P