Disclaimer: All characters belong to Rick Riordan. Storyline is mine.

Chapter 37

Annabeth

That Friday, I'm sitting in the gym, stretching out with the rest of the team, getting ready for our first performance of the year. We had summer practices everyday two weeks before and the new freshmen will get initiated later tonight. They're all laughing, smiling, and fixing each others' buns, making sure that the bow is perfectly off to the side.

More than anything I want to rid myself of the nervous feeling in my stomach. Not only do I have to perform but my name is on this choreography. I'm not like Calypso, able to laugh it off and smile enough that people own't notice if you mess up.

I lay in my center split and rest my head on my interlocked hands. My uniform feels suffocating, like it's tightening so much around my body that I can't move. I breathe in and out until I feel lightheaded and proceed to try to slow down my thoughts. When I sit up and rub my eyes, I don't notice Calypso's presence until she rubs my back and tries to roll some tension out of it.

"Hey, it's alright. Everyone will love it."

I shake my head, realizing that not only do I have to deal with the regular dosage of nerves, I also have to deal with the fact that the majority of the student body hates me and they won't un-hate me.

"I don't know Cal..."

She sighs and sits down across from me.

"I know things aren't looking great, but..."

She trails off, looking over my shoulder and smiling. I take a peek and notice that all of the girls have stopped talking and are now whispering. I stand and turn around, finding the only thing that stops all the thought banging against the sides of my skull.

Percy breaks out in a smile when he sees me and I gasp, biting my lip as he jogs over. His arms sneak their way around my waist and he kisses my cheek. I look down at his football uniform and raise an eyebrow up at him. "Shouldn't you be in warm up?"

"Maybe. Maybe I told coach that I forgot my mouth guard in the locker room."

I laugh and roll my eyes at him. "You are going to get in so much trouble one of these days."

He shrugs and kisses my nose. "Today isn't that day, so we are all good."

I latch my lips to his and sink my fingers into his soft hair. When we split, I set my forehead on his and say, "Kick some ass for me out there."

He nods and replies, "Always."

With one last peck, he pulls away and runs out the back doors that lead to the field.

.::.

An hour later, we're all sitting in the stands, cheering the players on and when the first quarter is over, we go to the sides lines and stretch out. I absentmindedly lead the warm up, watching the game, and more specifically, number 12. He runs so fast it's hard to catch him and while they are winning by seven points, I know he is working just as hard as he does when they are losing.

Jason pats him on the back and they both laugh at something before setting themselves up once again. We finish stretching and before I know it, we are standing on the side of the field, waiting to be called on. The players walk off slowly and start jogging up except for one, who sits next to the water boy, Leo. Percy takes his helmet off and sit down, holding himself up on his hands. He gives me a cute smile and I roll my eyes, shaking my legs out.

I can do this.

I hear a distant voice on the intercom but I don't register what is says before we start running onto the turf, kneeling down in our opening positions. The first bars of our music start and we pop up into our poses, jumping right into the choreography. It's so fast I push myself forward to complete it. We leap and turn into different formations until we all drop into the grass and the song ends. We get up and run off to the sidelines. I search for my football player, whose eyes I avoided the whole dance in fear I would trip over myself.

He winks at me and blows me a kiss before running back into the school his teammates had minutes before. I lick my lips and smile, watching his retreating figure until he disappears into the building.

"Boy are you whipped." Cal's voice makes me laugh and punch her arm, until she grabs me a side hug and kisses my cheek. I giggle and hug her back.

"We survived," I say. She nods and pushes off of me to run to Leo who welcomes her with open arms and kisses her quickly.

They laugh and smile and watch them, happy that Cal has finally found her guy. Leo is perfect for her, the only guy that I can see at her side throughout high school.

Matt Odysseus can eat his heart out.

I look around at everyone else going to sit in the stands with friends and boyfriends, leaving me to walk back to the locker room alone. Once I open the hall and start walking down the long hallway the players clamber past me and when I feel one grab my hand I turn meet my favorite pair of eyes.

He pecks my cheek and squeezes my hands before Jason drags him away. He mouths 'I love you' and I blow him a kiss.

Catching it in the cheesiest way, he plants it on his cheek. I laugh and wave him off before turning into the locker room and dragging myself to my bag. I take my street clothes out and start peeling the many layers of my uniform. My jazz shoes are thrown in my dance bag along with the rest of the costume. Slipping into my regular clothes on, I sit on the bench and yank my sneakers on.

After struggling for a bit, I get them on and look around. I'm alone. Just like I seem to be most of the time now. Percy is great, but I don't want to depend on him every time I break down. He has too many things to worry about himself. My elbows go to my knees and bury my face in my hands, trying to swallow the dread of impending loneliness.

My tears fall slowly and I can feel the solid trail down my face before it breaks as the tears drop from my chin. For the second time this week, I cry for things that I wouldn't normally.

I cry for my mom.

I cry for Percy.

I cry for my inability to be who I'm supposed to be.

I cry for the hatred everyone suddenly.

I cry because I'm alone in this locker room.

And I cry because I'm afraid it will always be like this.

Reyna and Piper took part of the piece of my heart when they graduated and once Luke reunited with Thalia, we kept away from each other.

Before I know it, I'm on the floor with my legs curled up into my chest, hiding my face in my legs.

I hear a laugh in the hallway and stand up, furiously wiping my face and trying to dry my cheeks.

Bianca, a freshman comes in and stops in her tracks once she sees me.

I look up and smile weakly before throwing my bag over my shoulder.

I brush past her and start to push the door open before I hear, "Annabeth."

Once I turn to look at her she continues. "You always say you're here for anyone. Just know that it goes both ways. I'm always a text away."

I nod swallow the knot of tears at my throat, trying to slow my heartbeat.

The door slams behind me and I continue out the doors, and sneak a seat at the back of the bleachers, curled up against the cold. I feel the malicious glares and try to look around them but it's impossible to miss something hitting you from all angles. The student section is bustling and when the final touchdown is scored with a minute left, they all cheer as the clock counting down our win dwindles.

When they finish and a team tackle piles up in the middle of the field I stand up and start making my way out the entrance before hands grab my waist and turn me around.

He's sweaty and breathing deep, trying to stop his beating heart and smiling as if he didn't have a care in the world His eyes are lit up and with his hair poking out in every direction, I can't stop myself from fixing it. When I run my hand down his cheek his eyes close and I feel the groan vibrate in his chest. My Percy.

"You aren't getting away that easily."

I laugh and set my forehead on his shoulder, over his shoulder pads. His kisses my hair squeezes my hips. "How are you holding up?"

I nod and know I can't say anything without him knowing immediately.

"That's my girl. My beautiful girl of steel. You were incredible."

I bite my tongue before I say something dumb and something that I can't take back.

"You were so beautiful out there."

My arms constrict around his neck and he chuckles. When I'm yanked away by Calypso, already changed and ready for the team sleep over. Percy tries to keep my hand until I'm too far and he yells how much he loves me and I just feel empty.

A/N: Hey guys! I'm sorry for the neglecting this story but I have big things planned and I hope you all keep reading. Thanks for all the beautiful messages and reviews and I want to thank you for holding on and not getting mad. You guys are the best readers on earth and I can't imagine writing this story without all of you.

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