I recounted the entire story to them. Starting with the first day Helen walked into my house. I watched their faces go from shocked, to disbelief, to rage. I showed them the scars, told them how the police didn't believe me when I said it was self defense, and how Helen basically made it my word against hers. Before she died. I told them about the nickname. How Helen called me that at the house because she knew I hated it. I told them all about the mess I called my life and how now there wasn't much of a chance of me having a life.
The entire room was silent at the end of my story and I just wanted to scream at them to say something. Anything. Yell at me I don't care. My mind was screaming. Thalia got up and hugged me. "Get a good night sleep Annie. We have a long day tomorrow." And she left. Jason and Luke also got up. "We just need time Annabeth. We aren't abandoning you. We would never do that. I just need to get my head wrapped around all this." Jason hugged me and whispered in my ear "Don't worry about us Annie. Worry about you. We're not going anywhere." I smiled and nodded. Luke closed the door behind him. And I saw the lock go into place from the inside.
Tears start to build in my eyes. THEY can't get their heads wrapped around the fact that I killed my father's wife. THEY can't handle it? What about me? I am the one who will have to live with myself for the rest of my life. But Jason said they would never abandon me, but they said that before didn't they. Before Thalia went into that coma. Before Jason got moved to California. Before Luke decided he couldn't handle and totally cut me off. I can't count on anyone can I?
I am too upset to try to go back to sleep, so I grabbed my MP3 player that I managed to scarf into the facility on the inside of my bra and quickly changed into compression shorts and a tank top before creeping into the hallway. I looked around and stayed as quiet as possible before finally breathing again. Thalia was right. There were no guards to be seen. I crept down the hallway until I saw the familiar set of giant doors that lead to the gym. I opened them and went to the closet with the equipment and, to my surprise, it was unlocked so I went in and snuck around. I found a couple mats that were usable and a chin up bar. I also grabbed a set of speakers and set up my MP3 on it before clicking on my workout playlist. The familiar tune comforted me as I set everything up and then started my normal routine. I sprinted about 20 times around the gym, walking the 9th and 19th ones. I went in the middle and alternated sets of 20 crunches and one-handed push-ups. I did this for a total of about 10 rounds of both exercises. I would not let my injury get in the way. If anything it will make me work harder. I added in some new stuff, like I tightened my core by doing one-handed planks. 30 seconds for the first 10 with a 10 second rest in between and then I held for a minute for another 10 with a 20 second rest in between and lastly I held for 1 min 30 seconds for the last 5 with a 10 second break in between.
I took a break and jogged around the gym a couple times before going over to the chin-up bar and doing 4 sets of 25 single-handed pull-ups and then on the last one I pulled myself all the way up so that my hips line up with the bar and swung my legs on to the bar continuing to do upside down crunches. I did about 2 sets of 25 before grabbing the bar and pushing off with my feet backwards landing perfectly and sticking the landing. Sweat is dripping off my forehead and my entire body is aching. But I keep going. I found an old punching dummy in the closet and dragged it out on the floor. I punched it in the "face" with my good hand. And it hurt like hell, but it also felt so good. I then proceeded to start throwing kicks in the side alternating sides. I grabbed the neck with my hand and started kneeing it. Getting faster and faster I kneed harder and harder. Tears started coming and I let them. Screw no crying and being unbreakable. You can't break something that's already broken. And that's what I am. Broken. Crushed. Destroyed.
I fell to the ground and started sobbing. How stupid was I for actually thinking, even just for a second, that they would just accept me for who I am now. I really thought I had a chance at having my friends back. But now I knew. They are just like everyone else in my life. They ran. They ran like cowards because they are scared. I slapped the floor and screamed. I yelled. I yelled about my family. I yelled about Luke. I yelled about Thalia. I screamed at God asking why the hell this was happening. I yelled at God asking why did I deserve this. Why do my brothers deserve this? Why does my dad deserve this? I screamed and screeched and threw everything in the gym. I threw the weights on the floor. I tore the chin-up bar apart. I punched the wall multiple times. And then I just stopped. I sat down and looked at the clock realizing I had an hour to get ready for the day. I wiped my eyes and put everything back best I could. I unplugged my MP3 and put the speaker in the closet. I put in on the inside of my shirt and slowly closed the door making my way down the hallway.
It never even occurred to me that somebody saw the entire thing.
And guess who that somebody was?
guess who saw Annabeth?! Was it Percy? Was it someone else? Hm, so many questions...
I am so sorry for being inactive for so long but the summer just turned out to be much more chaotic than I expected and I never really got a chance to update and then I had a really bad writer's block until like last night when I got the brilliant idea for this chapter. (That I hoped you liked :)) So naturally I got on my laptop and typed it up for all of you pretties ;)
Over the summer I got a really good idea for a one shot so about a month ago I posted "What Team?" So for those of you who haven't already read it here's a preview...
Hermione took a deep breath and waited in anticipation. All eyes on her she ripped open the envelope and it sprung to life. At first it was silent but then it called out, "What team?" The entire hall was silent for a moment before a Ravenclaw prefect stood up. She had dark brown hair and brown eyes. Hermione recognized the girl from her Ancient Runes class. Her name is Grace. "Wildcats!" Hermione's face lit up. And so did the rest of the muggle-borns along with some half bloods in the room. The letter called out again "What team?" And this time Hermione, Caroline, and some other muggle-borns stood up and joined Grace. Including Harry. "Wildcats!"
XD Anyway please review, favorite and follow!
Love ya'll!
-athena :)