Author's note-
Hi! Only one person asked a question last chapter, so here it is:
Question- When do you think you will update when school starts?
Answer-Probably at least once (maybe twice) a week, most likely on the weekend.
You can keep sending in questions. Go back to the previous chapter for the details.
Oh! I almost forgot! This chapter might be triggering for some people as it has mentions of self-harm scars in it. Please keep yourself safe and don't read if this affects you in any way.
Please review,
-SOS
Annabeth was facing away from the door. Empty cartons of ice cream and scrunched-up bags of chips littered the floor near her bed. On the bed, her phone with the owl case was by her feet. At the moment, she was tapping the keys furiously on a laptop by her pillow.
"Annabeth?" Percy asked softly, swallowing hard in nervous anticipation of her answer.
She turned around. "Percy?"
Her face was streaked with tears, and her grey eyes looked red. The bags under her eyes indicated that she hadn't slept in a while.
But to Percy, she looked beautiful.
"Um...hi?" was all Percy could think to say.
Annabeth waved shyly at him from the comfort of her bed, while he only stood in the doorway.
They both looked at each other for a full seven seconds, before breaking the silence.
"I'm sorry," Percy whispered.
Annabeth looked at him with a mixture of sadness and happiness, but didn't answer him. Instead, she just blinked.
"I missed you," she said simply, not sounding embarrassed or otherwise emotional in any way.
"What?" he replied, confused. He was expecting her to be mad at him.
"I said, I missed you," Annabeth responded. "As in, it's good to see you."
"Cool," Percy responded, catching her undertone of sadness. "I mean...I missed you too."
"Why did you come find me?" Annabeth asked abruptly. "I mean, I know you missed me, but you could have left me alone."
"You want me to leave you alone?" Percy was shocked.
"No! Definitely not." Annabeth's expression grew warmer. "But I'm just wondering..."
"I couldn't live without you," Percy confessed.
"Why not?" Annabeth wondered. "There are other people in the world."
"I know," Percy said. "But you're special."
"How so?" Annabeth folded her arms.
"Look." Percy rolled up his sleeves and showed Annabeth his scars. He pointed to his left wrist, and then his right wrist. "This is what happened when you weren't in my life."
Annabeth lifted her hand, then hesitated. "Can I?"
Percy nodded.
She began to run her fingers lightly over his scars, whispering "No, no, no."
Then she kissed his right forearm, making him shiver.
"And this is what it feels like when you are in my life," he murmured.
Annabeth giggled. "I love you too."
They sat there in a comfortable silence for a few minutes until Annabeth's computer pinged.
"Ugh," Annabeth complained. "Stupid computer, ruining our moment."
Percy laughed, hugging Annabeth. But she didn't look as happy.
"What's the matter?" Percy asked, concerned.
Annabeth slammed her computer screen shut, startling Percy.
"Luke's dead," she said flatly.
"What? How?"
"His mom snuck into the hospital at night, and killed him. Then she killed herself." Annabeth looked out the window sadly.
"I'm sorry, Annabeth," Percy said tentatively.
"It's okay," Annabeth replied. Before she could say anything else, there was a knock on the door, which had somehow closed when Percy moved out of the doorway.
"Annabeth? Are you okay in there? Is there a boy in your room? Why is the door closed? Annabeth Minerva Chase, open this door right now!"
The door opened, and Dr. Chase stood angrily in the doorway.
The scene she saw must have been a shock. Percy and Annabeth were sitting on the bed, Annabeth holding Percy's wrist.
"...Hi, Aunt Chase..." Annabeth smiled innocently.
"Perseus Jackson, get out of my house!" Dr. Chase yelled. "Annabeth, you're too young for this. Go to your room...wait, never mind. But, Percy, get out!"
Percy hugged Annabeth, whispering his phone number into her ear.
Then he ran all the way back home.
