I AM SO, SO SORRY FOR THIS SHORT CHAPTER! I'LL TRY TO MAKE IT UP IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, OR IN ANOTHER CHAPTER! I'M SO SORRY FOR THE WONKY UPDATE SCHEDULE I HAD, THE PAST FEW WEEKS! I'LL TRY TO AVOID IT AGAIN, IN THE FUTURE, BUT I CAN'T GUARENTEE ANYTHING! I'LL MOST LIKELY TELL YOU IN ADVANCE, THOUGH! ALSO, I'M SORRY FOR ANY GRAMMATICAL ERRORS! I ONLY LOOKED THIS CHAPTER OVER, LIKE, ONCE OR TWICE. (Sorry for all the Caps Lock...)
Anyways! This chapter is dedicated to Miss Anony, for giving the idea of "Open This When...You Miss me the Most." Even if I changed the title a bit, it's basically the same context.
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson. Rick Riordan does. I also don't own the song She Will Be Loved, by Maroon Five.
Chapter Twenty-Five
(Annabeth's POV)
Even after everything, even after all the potentially motivational talks I had to go through, courtesy of my friends, I still somehow end up here. All locked up in my room, huddled in a warm burrito of blankets, while being completely unproductive with my life. After that text I sent Percy, a couple days ago, he's been trying to text me back, and call me, but I never replied to him. This is so illogical, I think, bitterly. Percy doesn't deserve this; he deserves a much better friend than me. Like I said before, he deserves all the love and happiness in the world.
All my friends tried contacting me, but once they saw that I was never replying, they eventually gave up. Maybe they got the unspoken message that I wanted to be left alone. Although, in the end, it was Percy who remained ever-so-persistent. Every time I saw his face appear on my phone, my heart would break, little by little. With each passing day, his texts would come less and less, and his calls were even more rare. Yes I get that I am being extremely overdramatic, right now, but I can't help it. Everyone needs to take a break from humanity, every once in a while.
I don't mind spending every day, out on your corner in the pouring rain... I looked at my phone, for the first time that day, only to see Percy's smiling face. I grit my teeth, trying to ignore the stinging feeling behind my eyes. I should really change my ringtone for him; that song is really not helping in a situation like this.
With a split-second decision, and rash movements, I opened my bedside drawer, and threw my phone in there. The thought of my phone breaking or cracking was miniscule, at the time. I slammed the drawer shut, and the sudden force caused something to fall off of it. I blinked at the empty space on the drawer a couple times, wondering if I secretly had super strength, or if whatever dropped was liable to fall off, anyways.
After a short mental debate, I got out of my bed, with slight difficulty, and headed to where the item should've fell. I squinted at the darkness, until I was finally able to distinguish an intricately designed lid. My chin wobbled, and I broke down. With my back against the wall, I assumed the fetal position, and tightly closed my eyes. Stupid, I silently berated myself. I'm so stupid.
I stayed there for gods' know how long. After for what could've been hours, I finally wiped my eyes, and picked up the box. I took off my necklace with shaking hands, and opened the box after countless futile attempts of trying to get the key in the hole. Once I came to the realization that I couldn't read anything, (which I should've already known, really), I picked up a flashlight that was in my drawer, and turned it on. A dull yellow light illuminated the insides of the silver box, and I was able to see.
I leafed through each envelope, with tears threatening to fall with each passing letter. It was only when I saw, "Open This When...You Miss Me," that I realized that I did miss that Seaweed Brain. Even if I'm mostly at fault—okay, entirely at fault—for this melancholy, it was to come sooner or later. Sure I could always talk to him, and Skype with him, but it wouldn't have been the same, after he visited California. Me just being in his presence, reminded me of how much I deeply craved it. He made me realize how dependant I was on him, which was scary enough, in itself.
I opened the envelope with my still fidgeting hands, and took out the letter, with impatient movements. I frowned once I saw the letter, for it was shorter than usual.
Dear Wise Girl,
I was about ready to crumple down into an ever-despairing pit of darkness, right then and there. I never realized how much I missed that nickname, until now. Sure I might act annoyed every now and then, but I tolerate it for a reason.
So, I'm guessing you're in California right now...Or maybe something tragic happened, and I'm not there...I'll just assume you're in San Francisco!
Both are applicable, I thought, snarling in my mind.
Gods' forbid it, if the second happened. I don't want to hurt you, again.
Again?! When have you ever hurt me? All I remember just consists of me hurting you, and not vice versa. Like right now...
You've been through so much, and I don't need to add onto that pain.
I smiled, sadly. Percy's been through a lot, too. He needs to stop thinking about everyone else, for a while, and just be concerned about himself.
If I ever (emotionally) hurt you, tell me, alright?
But, you've never hurt me. Intentionally, at least.
I'll beat myself up, over it. You could beat me up, too. Everyone can beat me up! It'll be one big painful party (for me, anyways)! Much fun!
I softly snorted. Like that would ever happen. If anyone ever hurt you, then I'd hurt them. Although, maybe that's a bit hypocritical of me to say, since I'm probably hurting him, right now. But, then again, I'm hurting on the inside, too, so...I guess we're kind of even, in a twisted way.
I'd deserve the pain.
No you don't. You don't deserve pain, at all. Technically speaking, no one really deserves pain, but still.
Just know that I'm probably missing you much more than you're missing me, right now. Take whatever state of nostalgia you're feeling, multiply that by around a million, and even then, you aren't even close to how I'm feeling, or how I felt, when you left.
I seriously doubt that. I miss you way too much.
Seriously. My mom, or any of our friends, are probably going to get worried. You're like my other half, Annabeth.
I smiled. You're like my other half, too, Percy.
Without you, I'm not wholly myself.
I almost rolled my eyes. He better not start going all cheesy, now.
(I better stop getting poetic...It's almost late here, too. You know what happens to me, if I'm awake past midnight.
I visibly shuddered. Unfortunately, I do know, and that is not a pleasant experience. It's almost as bad as his rum-cake-induced mind.
And, no. I do not secretly turn into a werewolf.)
A side of my mouth tugged up into a barely visible grin.
Moving on! I hope you're okay, Wise Girl...Hopefully you don't miss me that much.
I snorted. Missing you was inevitable. It just so happened to occur later, rather than sooner. And, of course I'd miss you a lot.
I mean, you don't have to worry about me, or anything. I'm perfectly fine! I have my friends and family to protect me! And I'd protect them! We protect each other!
I softly shook my head. I'd always worry about you guys, even if I know that you're all perfectly capable of defending yourselves.
You, however, I'd always worry about you. Now, don't go giving me that speech (*cough* rant *cough*) on how you can take care of yourself, and that you're independent, blah blah blah. Even if you're extremely strong and brave, even heroes have flaws and weaknesses. Nobody's invincible.
I smiled bitter-sweetly. I thought that we were Nobody.
I'd probably worry about you, at the randomness of times. Like, I could be eating some blue waffles, or try to sleep, and then I'd start to think about the worst-case scenarios that can be happening to you. (Happens all the flipping time. It's almost ridiculous.) Like, what if you get ridiculed at school?
I think I'm capable of handling that, on my own. Besides, if the Halloween Dance was anything to go by, I have some pretty amazing friends, that will hopefully stick up for me. Gods know that I'd protect them.
What if you, gods forbid, get into a car accident? What if, what if, what if...
What if's are horrendous creatures. What could've been's, too.
Although, I try to reassure myself that you're only going to be gone for a year. Even if a lot can happen in a year, we can get through this! You + me = Unstoppable Duo! (That's pretty much the most math I can do...)
I'm pretty sure you're much more capable at math than just that.
We can be those best friends that don't ever break apart!
I felt my face tingle, and my breathing hitched.
When you come back to New York, it'd feel as if nothing changed! We'd still be the same Unstoppable Duo!
I felt tears threaten to fall out of my stinging eyes. I'm sorry, Percy. I'm so, so sorry.
(Can that be our name, from now on? Unstoppable Duo... It seems catchy.)
I took a break from reading, to wipe my eyes. He seemed so sure. He was so confident in our friendship, and I just had to ruin everything. Stupid. I'm so stupid.
Then you can tell me about your amazing time in San Fran, and I can tell you how miserable I was, without you! (Just kidding! ...Maybe...) I can literally not wait until you come back, here. We have lots of things to tell each other.
Lots of things, indeed.
Oh my gods. This sounds like some sleepover, where people stay up all night gossiping...We can do that too! Pizza, movie marathon, the works!
Something like that sounds absolutely lovely, right now.
Now I'm just making myself anxious for the day you come back, and you haven't even left yet! See what thinking about the future does to me?! It makes me question reality!
I breathily laughed. The first time I properly laughed in days.
Also, you may have noticed that this letter is shorter than usual, and that's because—drum roll, please—I made you a video! It's in that USB I gave you, along with everything else. The majority of things I would like to say is there. Your code is: 0712.
I bit my lip. I don't know if he intended to use my birthday, instead of some other random combination, or not.
By the way, I miss you too, Wise Girl.
Sincerely,
Your Seaweed Brain
I hope you liked it! Sorry, once again, for the shortness! Also, this chapter is very meh, and OOC, in my opinion... Sorry about that, too. (Sorry for saying "sorry" a lot...) So, yeah. The next chapter would be the video, and some other things, that I still have to think up.
PercabethShipper: Aww! Thank you! It means a lot! Sorry if this chapter was a disappointment, though...
123456789abc: It is. :p Ironically enough. Although, the attachment would be in the next chapter. And, uh, I should be around three hours ahead of you, so I'm updating around 11:00 pm here, so it should be around 8 o'clock, where you are... I'm not sure, though, so don't take my word for it.
Miss Anony: Thank you! Nice to know I made things realistic! I try.
fanfic olympian: Sorry that the updates might be a little messed up...
the Oracle of Akemi: You're welcome! And, good to know! Thank you!
DarkShadow: Thank you! She's regressing in her courage, though. :p
Smiles Burn In The Styx: ...I never thought about it, that way. If that's how you perceive it, then by all means, go ahead! And, uh, I tried to incorporate that idea in here, but I'm not sure about the picture...Sorry! And, yeah! Independence! I'm happily forever-alone. :p Thank you, though!
Catsrawesome: Thank you! And, aww! Thanks, again! Answering reviews can actually be quite enjoyable, though... I'll try to incorporate that idea! It's amazing! And, I'll try to add another birthday...Eventually.
Abooknerdandproud: Thank you! And, haha. I try!
Chouxes: School can be stressful at times... And, it's okay! I'm sure you are a great author! Even if your update schedule is a bit off!
MyLittleBigBangSwitchAtOlympus: Thank you! And, yeah... It must be pretty painful. Haha, it's fine. Happy February!
master of waves 1995: He was pretty bad in the series...And then there's Octavian.
Raccoon1113: Thank you!
DramaLlama: Thank you! And, wow. I never noticed that...Thanks for that! (I'm sorry if the sentence previous sounds sarcastic. It's not meant to sound that way. I truly mean it.) Uh...Eventually some people will go to New York, but not with Annabeth. Like, they'll visit, on another day, on their own. If that makes sense...
Percabeth's BIGGEST fan: NOT FOR A WHILE! Sorry! Like, it's still a long time away...
The Titanical Cup: Thank you! And, uh, I'm trying!
QueenofSilver: Thank you! And, yay tragedy!
Writer432: YOU KNOW HOW WE FEEL ABOUT GRAMMAR! (Or... U kno how we fel abot grammer. [*cringes* {Cringe attacks. :p}]) THANK YOU! Piano time is later.
Guest: I'M SORRY YOU HAD TO WAIT SO LONG! And I'm sorry that this chapter is pretty short. Thank you, though!
imaagine4ever: Haha. It's okay! Percabeth just can't stay away from each other, for so long. :p Writing tragic things in general is fun... Thank you, by the way!
RainingLilies
purplicouspoladot
dschslava
gopercyjacksonstuff
Supremebananamanager
h4xdefender
Giberty
JustSimplyAlly
mimilove1013
nic923
Carsonft
JoZ16
marmar5678
r. olsen01