In the morning it was impossibly hard, I was sluggish and regretted everything I packed back in my duffel bag. I clearly remember, rolling every article of clothing, those tears you only get-when-your-angry tears dotted on the packed clothing. And my walk to the dining hall, where we will all meet up to go to the van, every step seemed to get heavier and heavier. The table has been moved, and bags dotted the floor. Frank and Hazel sat in the corner, Hazel dozing on his shoulder. Jason, Piper, and Leo were laughing about something by a window and Percy was relaxing in his own area, earbuds tucked in his ears. I walked over to him, sitting to his left, I placed my hand on top of his. Percy's eyes snapped open and his body tensed, but relaxed when he saw it was just me.
"Hey there," He murmured, pulling me closer, practically on his lap. I didn't say anything, because if I knew I did, I'd burst into tears. I nuzzled my face far into the crook of his neck, trying to memorize his scent.
Percy breathed in deeply, "Have I ever told you you smell like lemons and vanilla?"
I felt myself blush, "No." My mind drifted off to last night, Percy really said 'I love you', as much as it was true for me, my tongue swelled and was unable to make words.
"Well," Percy kissed my head, "I'm really gonna miss you," His voice turned soft,
My voice matched his, "Percy, I-I lov-"
"Good morning everyone!" The Lady chirped, a little too happy for how she was last night, I silently cursed. I was so damn close!
The Lady didn't say anymore but ushered us to the van for a long ride. I wasn't ready to fly from Colorado mountains to San Fransisco, and more importantly-away from Percy. A even bigger dark cloud hung over us as we piled in, I sat as close to Percy as possible. His arm curled around my waist, my legs laid across his. I could almost sleep forever like this, curled into him. The drumming of the van, the beautiful forests, birds chirping, and Percy's hands drawing random shapes on my back. I could've sworn he traced the words 'I love you'. Since both of us were tucked in the back, we had the freedom to talk
"Percy," I whispered, he turned his head, "What's your mom like?"
He thought for a good minute, "She's amazing. Her hair is a little bit longer than yours, straighter and dark brown with streaks of gray. Her eyes are this gorgeous blue, and they change shades like freshwater streams in the sunlight. They light up in the best way when She never says an unkind kind anyone, and is a very hard worker and in my life I have never heard her complain. Her smile is like a nice, chocolate and fresh linen smelling quilt that warms you all throughout. My mom talks a lot when she's nervous, and is a greek myth nut. Her parents, my grandparents, died in a plane crash when she was 5 and she has been frightened since. Her uncle raised her, but during her senior year of high school he died of cancer, she was swamped in bills and wasn't able to fulfill her dream to go to college. She met my Dad in December, the small amount of times she talked about him, she explained as love at first sight. My mom got pregnant, and when I was born he was hardly around. He was in the navy, and was deployed. is ship was lost. Even though my Dad was never seen again, she still keeps letters he wrote her from overseas. And she has this photo album of any pictures that include him. I know she'll love you."
"I never really had a mom figure," A wonderful, but crazy idea, came to me,"What if I see if I could stay in Manhattan for the rest of the summer?"
Percy's eyes light up like a kid on Christmas, "Really? That'd be awesome! Will your Dad go for it?"
My little ballon of happiness deflated, "When hell freezes over, ever since he found me being abused-I've never left his side-no, he's never left my side. It's like I'm a baby"
"We'll figure something out, rest for awhile."
I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder, dozing off
Percy was shaking me awake, we had gotten to the DIA-Denver International Airport. We all rushed out and went through the long lines at security, only to find out our flight was 45 minutes away. We all huddled by a large panel of windows overlooking the plains and take off lanes. A broad built man rushed over, he was in a pristine pin-stripe suit-his dark glossy hair slicked back and his eyes dark and cold.
"Hazel, Jason," The man smiled, his voice battling Morgan Freeman's for the deepest voice.
Hazel stood up, "Dad, you made it" Jason just smiled from his spot on the floor, "Hey Uncle Hades,"
Although his smile stayed on his face, his eyes showed his surprise, "I don't believe I'ver heard your voice since 1947" Unsure if it was a joke, Hazel just stared.
His large pale hand caressed her cheek, "It was a joke, Darling. Are you ready to come home? Thalia is back from her trip to Australia and is excited to see you guys," He set his hand on Jason's shoulder. He was a good foot and a half taller than Hazel, and a head taller than Jason. His eyes wandered over all of us, stopping at Percy, "Oh my, Perseus. Hello,"
Percy smiled, yes smiled, and stood up-detangling himself from me, my body missed the heat he brought, "Hades, long time no see. How is Zeus?"
Hades shook his hand, "He's off in Asia on some business deal, you know how he is"
"Is Hera as awful as usual?"
Hades let out a booming laugh, "I might even say worse!"
The family joined in on laughter, it rung throughout the large airport.
"Percy!" A woman raced forward, fitting Percy's description to a tea. She didn't even slow down until she was in his arms, Percy stumbling back from the impact. She, Sally, was sobbing hugging Percy tighter and tighter.
Percy even had a few tears in his eyes, "Hey Mom,"
"My Baby Boy! I've missed you! How are you!" Her questions raced out, I smiled. This is what a family must be like. Hades was joking around with Hazel and Jason, Sally was pestering Percy, a stunningly attractive man giving a perfect smile to Piper, who proceeded to scream and jump into his arms. Hazel turned to Frank and looked like she was introducing him. Leo was looking stunned talking to Tristan Mclean. Percy was motioning over to me,
"Mom, meet Annabeth. My Girlfriend" Sally got the same excited sparkle in her eyes exactly like Percy's, their faces had a lot of similarities. High cheekbones, their eyebrows arched in the same way, extremely light freckles here and there.
She hugged me impossibly tight, "My dear, you're so beautiful! No wonder Percy's staring at you," I glanced over her shoulder to see Percy blushing and hurridly looking away
"Thank you Ms. Jackson" I smiled from ear-to-ear
Sally clicked her tongue, "Annabeth, please call me Sally. Ms. Jackson makes me feel so old"
"All right, Parents, time to board the planes. Say your good byes" The Lady was smiling
Sally looked between Percy and me, "Go ahead and have a minute,"
Percy wrapped me in a tight hug, "Annabeth, you're gorgeous and perfect. I'm heads over heels for you, and I love you. Never forget that. You didn't catch my eye right away. I won't deny this. But once you did, I swear, I couldn't look away. Annabeth, you're the missing piece to my puzzle. I love you with all my heart,"
"Percy, I-I love you too. I'm gonna miss you so terribly much even though we're gonna be dozens of miles away, I'll still love you" Warm tears flooded down my cheeks. In movies, it's always the they-slow-draw-together-like-magnets. Fuck that. I bunched his collar in my fists and brought our lips together, trying hard to let him know my feelings, what I wanted to say-but coudln't find the words. I held his face, my hands getting wet with his tears, his arms were impossibly tight around waist, squishing us together. If parents weren't there, I would've climbed onto his hips and stripped him of his shirt. I kissed him like I never kissed him before, like he was air and I was deprived. Percy kept whispering 'I love you' over and over again into my lips.
Percy had to pull away when his flight was boarding, and when his mother told him, the 4th time, "Annabeth Chase, I love you."
"Percy Jackson, I love you" I gave him a last lingering kiss, "This is harder than I thought"
"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard ~ Winnie the Pooh" He hugged me one last time, "Goodbye, Wise Girl"
I choked on a sob, "This isn't goodbye" I whispered fiercely
"Then-Then, well what should I say?" He stuttered over his tears,
I shrugged, "Anything but goodbye, I'm begging you"
"Ha, I have the Annabeth Chase begging," He attempted at a joke, but only made both of us cry harder
"I'll see you in awhile, okay? Let's say that" I kissed his cheeks
Percy nodded, "I'll see you later, Wise Girl,"
"I'll see you in awhile Seaweed Brain,"
Watching him shouldering his bag, and turning away, it shattered me. Here I finally found something I wanted to have, my something permanent, and here I was watching him walking away. And I could do nothing to stop it. Percy was going off to Manhattan, while I traveled across the US to San Francisco. I remember Hedi Owen once telling me, that somebody out there will love me more that I could possibly ever understand, and it might take me awhile or years to find them but once I do, it'll be like magic, and I'll just know when it happens-it's for real, and there a million possibilities. Of going separate ways. Together. And being with Percy felt magic. Making him smile, smirk, laugh, it made me so happy I couldn't think straight. So Goodbye, Percy Jackson. Goodbye Seaweed Brain. The farther he got, the more my heart seemed to ache. Watching his mother sling an arm around his waist, giving him a half hug-he was about a foot taller than her, and seeing Hazel hold her fathers hand and Hades's arm around Jason's shoulders, Piper be given a piggy back ride by her father and Leo laughing loudly at the sight of them. Even Frank was on his phone, smiling from ear to ear. The air around me seemed to drop 30 degrees, my hands itching to hold someone else's. Someone to hug tight, and not let go.
But, I have no one.
Goodbye Perseus Alexander Jackson.
I love you.
AN: IMPORTANT NOTICE: There's gonna be 1 more chapter. I'm sad this is ending, this story is like my baby. On a happy note, I have been starting to think of ideas for a sequel and the option of having one is all up to you guys, so if you want one leave me a review or PM (If you have an ideas about a sequel add that too)