And I'll be gone, gone tonight
The fire beneath my feet is burning bright
The way that I've been holding on so tight
With nothing in between

The story of my life
I take her home
I drive all night to keep worm
And time…is frozen (the story of, the story of)
The story of my life
I give her hope
I spend her love
Until she's broke inside
The story of my life (the story of, the story of)
-The Story of My Life, One Direction

January 30, 2014

Annabeth: roughly 21 weeks pregnant

One week later and I had had enough.

I was done with the extra security, never able to go out of the tour bus. I was done with torturing myself seeing all the news about the "Hottest It-Couple, Percy and Reyna!" I was done with being hidden on the tour bus like the baby and I were some dirty little secret to be kept away from the light. I was done with being hurt all the damn time. I was done with Percy's mixed signals and secrecy and lies. I was done.

So, with the help of Thalia and Luke, I arranged to have a personal day to myself in Las Vegas. I'll be damned if I was going to spend the entire day on the tour bus while Percy was off on a date with his girlfriend.

Remember, you got your pride and she's got him.

It was easier said than done.

The entire day had been mapped out, made easier for me to get from one place to the other without being seen by the paparazzi - because that was a huge threat, no matter how much I tried to downplay it - and to make sure Percy didn't know, because him throwing a fit was the last thing they needed when the band was so divided.

Rachel and Silena helped me pick out clothes that would be comfortable and stylish, and Thalia promised to meet me at one of the huge shopping centers to shop with me, just us two girls, maybe get a manicure. I had a day planned a spa that catered to pregnant women, and then a dinner with Luke since it and been a while since just the two of us had hung out together.

I was excited to go out and do something.

I was also excited to escape the tense atmosphere around the bus.

I didn't tell Luke that I had heard his argument, nor did I tell Percy. In all honesty, I felt like Luke was totally justified in everything he said - and I was being a little biased, I would admit - but I knew I would say the same things if some bitch was hurting my brother.

Thalia absolutely refused to talk to Percy, which was making an even deeper rift in the fabric of our relationship because Apollo was forced to hang around with Percy because of performing, and that made Thalia pissed even though there was nothing they could do about it.

Nico was stuck in the middle with me, being pulled in two different directions by his loyalty to his cousin and his loyalty to his friends.

The tension and discord was even being picked up by the media, but the guys just kept saying that no matter how close you were to some people, there was going to be some fighting if they were living in close, constantly moving quarters for any long period of time.

Percy was trying desperately to keep going on like nothing had happened, but with anger coming at him from all sides, there was just too much tension.

Frigga - during one of our weekly calls for just anything, which was nice because I could really use a mother figure right about now - told me that I needed to put less stress on my body, especially emotional stress. She encouraged me to take a day off and do whatever I wanted, as long as it wasn't too strenuous.

So, with the doctor's blessing, I threw myself into getting ready for my own day off.

"Okay, so do you have your cell phone and wallet? Hat? Sunglasses? Taser?"

I rolled my eyes at Thalia and said, "Yes, yes, yes, yes, and no, because it's illegal."

"So?"

I rolled my eyes again and hugged Thalia before slipping my feet into a comfortable pair of sandals.

"I'm going to head to the spa, then I'll call you when I'm at the mall. Meet me there and then we can shop and get our nails done, okay?"

"Yeah, cool beans. Remember, call if anything happens, and remember what to do if the paparazzi come after you."

"Duck my head down and don't answer any questions and hide in the nearest lockable space before calling you guys."

"Right, we don't need anything to happen to you or to Baby."

I was just about to walk out the door to where a car was waiting for me before Thalia put her hands on my shoulders and had me turn around to face her. Her bright blue eyes were concerned, a serious expression on her normally sarcastic face.

"Are you…are you really okay Annabeth, or are you pretending for everyone?"

I smiled sadly at Thalia and hugged her tightly - as tightly as I could with Baby in the way - and whispered, "I'm not perfect, but I'm getting there. I'll see you later today."

oOoOoOoOoOo

After a day in the spa - the deep tissue massage was amazing, and it was very relaxing to be in a pregnancy-safe hot tub for as long as I wanted with a great book - I felt like a new person.

It had been a long time since I had done anything just for me, and it was more therapeutic than I thought it would have been. I lost myself in a good book, let someone massage the tension out of my shoulders and lower back, and just let my mind wander.

Also, the knowledge that I was screwing with Percy's plan to keep me locked away like a dirty little secret was heartening.

Thalia met me at the mall, bouncing with excitement.

I felt a pang of guilt. In everything that had been happening, I hadn't been paying enough attention to Thalia and Luke. They had been there for me through everything, and today was the first time in months that I had actually spent one-on-one time with them.

"Come on, I heard that Hot Topic was having a sale on the Marvel bobble head things, and I need to complete my collection."

I laughed at her enthusiasm and diligently followed her through the mall.

It was just like old times. Thalia and I stumbled through the mall, even stopped at the photo booth, and just acted like teenagers. We ignored the looks we got, the questioning glances and veiled disgust at my pregnant stomach.

Thalia insisted on buying a Captain America onesie to go with the Iron Man one that Apollo had bought. I insisted on her buying this beautiful blue dress that made her eyes seem even brighter.

We got our manicures - Thalia's a pale blue, mine a nude tone - and laughed and gossiped some more. We were careful to steer away from the topic of Percy or Baby or anything else that might ruin the atmosphere that we had built.

Luke met up with us at around four in the afternoon, his face alight with mischief, still visible even behind his sunglasses.

"What happened?"

"Percy came back to the tour bus when he forgot something and absolutely flipped out when he saw that you weren't there. It was amazing to watch, I wish I could have gotten it on camera for you."

Thalia jokingly handed me over to Luke and said over her shoulder, "We need to have a girls day again sometime, maybe invite Silena and Katie and Rachel!"

"Thanks girl!"

"Anytime!"

Luke laughed at our antics and pulled me away. We stopped occasionally on our way to the restaurant - once at a Photo Booth, because we were children at heart, once to pick up a leather jacket Luke had ordered and had shipped to a store, and then one more time because I saw a pretty dress I absolutely loved - laughing all the while. It was nice for us to just be out in public, and it was great that no one recognized him.

The whole day was pretty much perfect. After relaxing and being pampered I got to spend time with my best friend and my brother and I was able to completely forget about all the drama in my life up until this point.

Alas, I knew it wasn't going to last.

Luke and I had been walking back to the bus, almost home, when Percy came storming out of the tour bus and over to us. Luke immediately straightened up, pushing me behind him.

"Percy, think very carefully about what you're going to do right now," Luke hissed out.

Percy didn't look at him, just looked at me, his eyes stormy with so many emotions I couldn't get a read on them.

"Annabeth, are you okay?"

"Yeah?" I responded, not entirely sure where this was going.

"Do you think you can take a few steps to the right?"

I did what he asked, completely confused.

"Yeah, but what - PERCY!"

As soon as I was out of the way, Percy had reeled back and punched Luke across the face, hard enough that Luke's head snapped to the side and he stumbled a little. I made a move to help him, but I found myself restrained by Apollo and Thalia, who had appeared out of nowhere.

"No, Annabeth, don't interfere, it's getting physical and the last thing you need to do is get in the middle of it."

Luke wasn't down for long. He sprung back up and shoved Percy away with enough force to bruise.

"What the hell is your problem!?"

"My problem!? My problem is that I had no idea where Annabeth was, do you know what that panic feels like? I had no idea where she was, we're in fucking Sin City, I didn't know if she was alone or not, and no one was answering their damn phones!"

Luke scoffed, his nose swelling and bruising but he forced out anyway, "You have no right to her anymore. You're lucky she's still here, if I had it my way, she would have been on a plane back to New York."

Percy's eyes darkened even more, and he hissed back, "I am still the father of that child, you have no right to keep me away from them."

Luke shoved Percy again, getting right up in his face.

"You're right, you have a right to the child, but you don't have a right to Annabeth, and since the baby isn't born yet, it's kind of a gray area, so forgive me for wanting my sister away from your cheating ass as often as she can."

Percy looked downright murderous now, and I started getting antsy. We were still in public, and the media could be her any moment.

"Guys, can we stop this now? Please?"

I was ignored.

Of course.

"You don't know anything about that Luke, so don't even try-"

"I don't need to know about your lack of self-control, I just need to know that you got my sister pregnant and you broke her heart and you have no fucking right-"

"STOP TALKING ABOUT ME AS IF I WASN'T RIGHT HERE!"

That caught their attention.

Since they were no long taking punches at each other, Thalia and Apollo let me go when I pushed forward. I stormed in-between them and shoved, making sure they weren't going to go at each other again.

"Luke, as much as I appreciate you standing up for me, I'm done with you both talking like I wasn't here."

I turned to Percy then, my anger at him for ruining this day for me making the filter in my mind take a vacation.

"Please, for the love of God, stop. I can't take it if you're always hovering, playing the part of devoted dad. We're not together anymore, okay? And I was ready to do this all by myself, I had a plan…please don't make me regret changing it. I'm sorry you didn't know where I was, but to be honest, I didn't think you would care. Percy, just…stop fighting so hard for something you lost yourself."

We were all so caught up in our little bubble of drama that when the flashing started, it was too late to move.

Media was everywhere. The paparazzi were screaming questions at us, and I just froze for one awful moment, just staring at them.

"Luke, is that your sister?"

"Is Percy Jackson the father?"

"Does Reyna know about the baby, Percy?"

"Apollo, is this the reason the band is having tensions?"

"Is Chasing Waves going to break up?"

Beckendorf suddenly appeared with a bunch of other body guards, pushing back the media frenzy. My eyes were unfocused, a bunch of flashing lights still distracting me.

Percy and Luke wrapped their arms around me, shuffling me forward, bracing themselves on either side of me to keep the other from seeing me.

But it was too late.

They knew.

The world knew.

"If I see one more news report about the fucking media making you out to be a harlot I'm going to kill something."

I ignored Thalia's ranting and just scrolled more on the computer, the television blaring the news that was all across tabloids now.

"Percy Jackson, Daddy-To-Be!"

"Luke's Sister, Harlot or Victim?"

"Reyna Denying Comment, Heartbroken Over Cheating Scandal!"

"Chasing Waves Refusing Comment on Pregnancy Bombshell!"

"Percy Jackson, Secret Life!"

"Annabeth Chase's Plot to Bag a Celebrity!"

It was all over the news. There was no way we could have stopped it or controlled it. The label was having a field day trying to keep things up. The band's reputation was going down, and it was all my fault.

But what pissed me off more about this all - aside from being called a slut from everyone on the planet, because I mean, come on, it takes more than one person to make a baby! - is that they thought I was the one that Percy cheated on Reyna with, never mind the fact that it was really the other way around!

There was so much speculation on the internet - on if Reyna had just been a cover up for Percy, if Percy and I were secretly married and having our first child, if this was breaking up the band, if Luke had known all along, if Apollo was the father of the baby (that made me want to gag a little), but the most common theory was that I was a slut who had slept with Percy and he kept me quiet to keep the world and his poor girlfriend from knowing the truth.

Fuck. That.

Luke had gone absolutely ballistic. We may have all escaped onto the bus, but the fight wasn't over. He gave Percy a black eye and a fractured nose. I had been in shock, unable to think.

Percy was all but banned from the bus. He had checked into a hotel, the same one that Thalia and Apollo had been using for privacy. Luke and I were alone on the bus most of the time, but he was already on the phone all the time and working with Nico to try and smooth this whole thing over.

Hands were suddenly stopping my typing, and I looked up to see a worn-looking Nico standing in front of me.

"You need to stop doing this to yourself Annabeth. When we come up with a statement, they will know they were wrong. Just…stop, okay?"

I nodded mutely, letting him shut the laptop and turn off the TV. He dropped down next to me on the couch and we both sat in silence for a while. Luke came out to join us, his own eyes darkened from his broken nose. I winced at the small cast on it, but he just patted my arm and said, "It's fine."

There was pounding at the door. I gave Nico a questioning look but he just shrugged. Luke rolled his eyes and made his way over to open it, his face going pale when he saw who it was.

I leaned forward to see and wanted to sink into the floor and never be seen again.

Reyna was standing in the doorway, dressed impeccably in black jeans, a pale purple tunic, and a chocolate brown leather jacket. Her thick, black hair was held away from her face in a ponytail, and her expression was livid.

"Where is he?" She demand in a lightly accented tone, pushing past Luke onto the bus.

"Um, he's -"

Luke's voice trailed off when Reyna and my eyes connected.

I wanted to be angry at this girl. I wanted to hate her, I wanted to yell and scream at her…but I knew I couldn't. Because she was just as hurt as I was now, and to be honest, I wanted to see her go toe to toe with Percy.

Her eyes softened and she asked in a small voice, "Please tell me the truth. Were you and Percy together when…when…"

I stood up and cradled my bump protectively in my hands.

"Yes. We had been dating for about four months when everything happened. I got pregnant, and well…you know the rest."

Her face paled and her hand came up to rest against her lips, her eyes watering slightly.

"I am so, so, so sorry. I never…I never would have asked him if I had known…I never would have…I am so sorry -"

I was just getting more and more confused, and from the looks that Nico and Luke were exchanging, so where they.

There was more noise at the door and Percy came storming in, Apollo and Thalia right behind him. He stopped dead when he saw Reyna's expression, my confusion, and just sighed. He had the look of a man who had woven a web of lies so tightly that the moment one thread was pulled, everything else started falling apart.

Reyna took no mercy on the bruised Percy, she just stormed over to him and shoved him hard, before punching him hard in the shoulder and then in the stomach.

"¡Eres un idiota! ¡¿Por qué estar de acuerdo con lo que pregunté si había estado saliendo on ella durante cuatros meses?! ¡¿Cómo pudiste hacer esto a ella, a mí?!"

Reyna ranted in Spanish, her face growing redder and redder.

Percy finally just slumped against the wall and yelled, "I wasn't thinking! I was trying to be both a good friend and a boyfriend, I didn't think…I didn't think, okay!? And I know, everything is a mess, and I'm sorry!"

Reyna stopped yelling, but she just looked at him in disappointment.

"You should have said no. And right now, you need to tell the truth."

Reyna turned to face all of us, and she just said, "I'm so sorry. When he tells you the truth…you'll know I didn't mean anything like this to happen. I am so, so sorry."

And then she turned around and walked out of the door, leaving all of us in silence, staring at Percy, who was leaning against the wall and looking like the entire world had just fallen out from underneath his feet.

A/N: I AM SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG TO GET UP. I GOT REALLY REALLY SICK AND IT JUST WASN'T A GOOD TIME ALL AROUND BUT I'M BETTER NOW AND HERE IS THE CHAPTER! I'm sorry if there are errors, I was rushing to get this up (doesn't that happen a lot?) and I am so thankful for all your reviews, honestly, ya'll blow me away!

There has been some confusion over the rest of the group knowing about why and how Percy and Annabeth broke up, but just imagine it as they all heard different pieces and made up reasons in their own head, so there is a jumbled mess that was cleared up with Luke and the others now. But there is still a whole other side of the story - Percy's - that is going to come out in the NEXT CHAPTER! The next chapter is a very, very emotional one and I hope I can do my plan justice. We will find out what the hell is going on with Percy and Reyna and why, and then there is some drama with the baby! Those of you who are Ed Sheeran fans, one of the songs that is going to be mentioned next chapter is "Small Bump."

Translation of Reyna's rant in Spanish (I do speak a little Spanish, but most of this is from Google Translate so I apologize if it's not correct): "You're an idiot! Why would you agree to what I asked if you had been dating her for four moths? How could you do this to her, to me?"

P.S. I am sorry if not everyone likes my music choices! I promise you, I don't listen to pop all the time, I have a variety and I try to showcase it, but I go with what the lyrics say more than the music, you feel me?