This chapter came out fast! Also because I felt like being evil...
Chapter 14
PART 1 – Three Years Later
"Percy!" Sally literally ran to her son as he walked through the front door, wrapping him in a smothering hug. "Oh Percy, it's so good to see you!"
"Come on honey, at least give him a chance to set his bags down." Percy's father, Paul, said with a grin. He was carrying two heavy duffels filled with Percy's stuff from college, and more waited in the car.
"Oh hush." Sally chided her husband, tears of happiness decorating her eyes. She placed her hands on Percy's shoulders and regarded him. "You look great sweetie; you even put a little weight on that skinny frame of yours."
Percy grinned, patting his still non-existent belly. Though, he had developed over the past few years.
"You look wonderful. Oh honey, it's so good to have you home for the summer." Sally wiped her cheek before hugging Percy one more time. "I've missed you so much."
"I missed you too mom." Percy grinned, dropping his bags and wrapping his mother in a firm embrace.
"Jason just called before you and your father walked in the door." Sally mentioned, finally releasing Percy from her motherly clutches. "He said he couldn't reach you on your cell, and wondered if you were home yet."
"Oh." Percy dug into his pocket for his phone. "I turned it off on the plane; I must have forgotten to turn it back on..."
"You better give him a call." Sally kissed Percy's cheek. "Just be ready for dinner in about an hour, okay?"
"Okay mom." Percy nodded, checking his cell. "And thanks for picking me up at the airport, dad."
"No problem son." Paul patted Percy on the back. "Good to have you home, your mother has been driving me nuts over our empty nest."
Percy grinned and asked, "Is Edward coming home for the summer too?" speaking of his older stepbrother.
"I guess he's going to stay in Georgia, he's got a good job lined up for the summer."
"That's too bad. I guess I'll have to suffer mom's pampering all by myself."
"I can hear you!" Sally called from the kitchen.
"Sorry mom!" Percy called with a laugh. "I guess I better start unpacking my stuff..."
Percy walked down the hall of his parent's rambler, lugging two heavy bags, and opened the door to his old bedroom. It was exactly the way he'd left it, and it seemed to Percy as though a lifetime had passed since he'd been home though it had only been three years. He felt like a different person after completing three years of college, and despite the familiarity of home, it still felt a little foreign.
Setting his bags down, Percy walked across the room to his dresser where a bunch of photographs were pinched into the frame of a mirror and smiled fondly at the images. There was one of him and his best friend Jason in their gowns on graduation day, one of Piper at the beach from the previous summer, and of course there was Annabeth. As if Percy could ever forget Annabeth...
Reaching forward, Percy took one of the photos off his dresser mirror and looked at it. It was of him and Annabeth at prom, the two standing in each other's arms. She was so beautiful in that red dress he bought her, it still took Percy's breath away. He hadn't seen Annabeth since the fall he had left, and looking at their prom picture made Percy's heart ache. Staring at that photo for several long moments, the memories flooded back...
== {1 year prior} ==
Percy was at his locker the Tuesday morning following prom weekend, when his best friend approached.
"Dude! I am finally a man!" Jason announced; his arms in the air.
Percy turned around with a broad grin. "Hey man, things went well with Rachel I take it?"
"It was awesome. I took her to my place after prom, lit some candles, and let the magic happen..." Jason swung his hips around proudly.
"Good thing your parents are on vacation, huh?" Percy noted.
"I know, right? It would have been a little weird if my mom was watching me lose my virginity on the living room floor." Jason joked.
Percy laughed, "The living room floor?"
"My magic can't be contained dude. It just happens, wherever and whenever."
Percy rolled his eyes and nudged his locker door shut. "So you and Rachel...?"
"We're totally going out." Jason confirmed as they started towards homeroom. "Can you believe it? I have a girlfriend!"
"That's terrific man." Percy patted Jason's shoulder. "I'm really happy for you."
"Yeah, the only bummer is I can't come over after school and work on our Captain Darkness comic. Rachel wants me to go to the mall with her."
Chuckling, Percy advised "That's okay. But listen, if she asks you to join her in the women's dressing room, say 'yes'."
"Will do. So how was your weekend with Annabeth?" Jason asked, "Anything crazy happen while you two stayed at the Four Seasons?"
"Nope, it was nice and quiet." Percy lied, recalling the 'threesome' with Annabeth and Piper. "Just the two of us. A lot of room service and making out."
"Sounds nice, dude. Things are finally coming together for us, you know? Things are going to be different from now on. I can sense it..."
A jock interrupted Jason and bumped shoulders as they crossed paths in the hallway, causing Jason to drop his books.
"Watch where you're going, geek." the jock laughed.
Jason let out a long sigh. "Then again, maybe some things will always be the same..."
"It'll be different at college." Percy bent to help pick up Jason's stuff. "I promise."
Annabeth walked into Percy's house with him that afternoon after giving him a ride home from school. "What a long day, I could barely stay awake in my classes. It was awful going to bed without you last night, after sleeping in your arms for three nights in a row."
"I know." Percy agreed, setting the day's mail on a kitchen counter. "I didn't sleep very well either. In fact, I conked out during my Social Studies class today for about ten minutes; I was so tired."
"Poor baby." Annabeth said while she casually flipped through the mail Percy set down, feeling nosey. "Does that mean you're too pooped to fool around?"
"I think I'm getting my second wind." Percy winked, opening the fridge and looking for a soda.
Annabeth smirked, finding an envelope addressed to Percy. "Hey what's this? Says it's from Brown University..."
Percy turned around from peering into the fridge, "Really?"
Annabeth handed the envelope over, "Did you apply there or something?"
"Yeah, like six months ago." Percy answered, tearing it open. "But only on a lark, Brown is nearly impossible to get into."
Annabeth waited curiously as Percy read through the letter.
"Holy shit." Percy suddenly said.
"What is it?" Annabeth wondered, on edge.
"They accepted me..." Percy smiled. "I got accepted to Brown!"
Annabeth manufactured a smile, not sharing her boyfriend's sudden joy. "Percy, isn't Brown in Boston?"
"Providence, actually, but that's real close to Boston." he kept reading the letter, "They want to help me with financial aid too... this is so cool!"
"But you said you applied on a lark..." Annabeth frowned. "You're not really going there are you?"
Percy looked to Annabeth, "Well, I didn't think I'd get accepted, but... why do you look so upset?"
"Percy, I'll never be able to get into Brown." Annabeth informed him. "I didn't even apply and the application window is already closed. If you go to Providence..."
"...we'll be apart." Percy suddenly realized.
== {Back to the present} ==
Percy listened to the phone ring as he sat on his bed staring at the prom picture of him and Annabeth.
Jason answered the phone and interrupted Percy from his recollections. "Percy?"
"Hey buddy, I'm home." Percy said with a smile, setting the photo of him and Annabeth aside on the bed.
"Dude!" Jason exclaimed. "It's excellent to hear your voice, how long has it been?"
"I don't know..." Percy considered. "Has it been since the holidays?"
Jason laughed, "We really sucked at keeping in touch this past year."
"I know." Percy grinned. "It's crazy. So how have you been?"
"I've been okay." Jason replied. "I'm glad summer is here. Not looking forward to getting a job, but it'll be awesome to hang out with you again. What are you doing tonight?"
"I need to put some face time with my parents." Percy said. "Dinner in an hour, but after that I'm free?"
"Cool. Want to go to a party?" Jason asked.
"Party?" Percy sounded curious; letting off some steam sounded perfect to him.
"Yeah. Piper's having a soiree over at her parent's house. They're out of town and she wants to have everyone over to sort of kick off the summer. She's having kegs, munchies..."
"I don't know..." Percy sounded dubious. "I'd love to see Piper, but I'm sure Annabeth would be there. I don't know if I can handle seeing her yet. It's been three years man."
There was only silence for several moments from Jason's end of the phone.
"What...?" Percy asked. "What is it?"
"Nothing." Jason lied.
"C'mon man, just tell me." Percy prodded. "Is it something about Annabeth?"
"Look man..." Jason sounded like someone just ran over his dog. "I hate being the one to tell you this, but Annabeth's seeing someone."
Percy felt like someone kicked him in the gut.
"You should totally still come though," Jason urged. "I bet she'd be glad to see you. I know Piper would be thrilled."
"Who is he?" Percy asked in a somber voice.
"A guy from college." Jason answered. "Typical jock athlete."
Percy winced, "Do you know him?"
"Not really. I've seen him around campus a few times, but I don't hang with the girls much anymore, not like last summer." Jason paused for a moment before continuing, "You know how it is dude, the same old shit from high school. The popular kids keep to their own. I still see Piper sometimes, but Annabeth..."
"What?" Percy pressed, "What about Annabeth?"
"She's the most popular girl on campus, dude. She hangs with the popular elite. You know better than anybody how hot she is, and every guy there would kill for a shot at..."
"I get it." Percy interrupted, not wanting to hear any more.
"Look man, I'm sorry." Jason said. "I know it's tough on you, but come to the party anyway. It'll be fun."
"Yeah okay, maybe. I'll call you after dinner?"
"Cool dude, I hope you come. Talk to you later."
Percy hung up his cell phone and looked aside to the prom photo again, where it lay on his bedspread. It didn't surprise Percy that Annabeth had a new boyfriend, but that didn't make it hurt any less. He wondered if going to Brown had been the right decision, and recalled the last time he had seen Annabeth...
== {3 years prior} ==
Annabeth burst into Percy's bedroom, a mess of puffy eyes and tears.
"Annabeth!?" Percy turned from packing. "What's wrong?"
"Percy, you can't go... you can't leave me..." Annabeth made a beeline for him.
Percy opened his arms to her, hugging tightly. "Annabeth, I thought we'd been over this."
"I know." Annabeth sniffled, clinging to Percy. "I thought I could do it baby, I really did. All summer long I've been putting this day off, tricking myself into thinking I could handle a long distance relationship, but you're leaving tomorrow and I'm going to miss you so much..."
"I'm going to miss you too." Percy kissed the dark curly tendrils atop Annabeth's head.
"Please don't go, Percy." Annabeth begged.
"It's a little late for that, don't you think?" Percy closed his eyes, trying to memorize the smell of Annabeth's hair.
"Percy..." Annabeth's weak voice said. "I can't do it."
"You can't do what?" Percy squinted, not understanding as Annabeth slipped out of his arms.
Annabeth wiped some mascara-stained tears from her cheek, "I can't handle the distance, it'll drive me crazy every day."
Percy didn't like the sound of that. "What are you saying, you want to break up?"
"I don't know." Annabeth looked at Percy's bags, thinking how ominously final they looked. "You were supposed to go to the University of Florida with me, that's what we agreed. Don't you remember when we talked about that at prom? We were going to go to school together. I would have joined you anywhere, but you picked a place I can't follow..."
"I remember." Percy sighed, his heart heavy with guilt. "But that was before I found out about Brown. I can't pass up the opportunity to study at an ivy-league school, especially on scholarship. I wish we didn't have to be apart, but..."
"But Brown is more important to you than me." Annabeth near-whispered.
"That's not true Annabeth, you know that."
"Then stay." Annabeth challenged.
"That's not fair." Percy said. "If you loved me you'd wait for me."
"And if you loved me you wouldn't leave!" Annabeth grew angry.
"I'm not abandoning you." Percy pled his case. "I'll be back in May to see you every year. We'll have the entire summer!"
"And then gone again three months later. Why can't you stay, Percy? Piper and Jason will both be at the U with me, but it won't be the same without you..."
"Annabeth, don't do this." Percy begged. "It won't be that bad. I'll call you every day, there's cam chats, and text messages, and emails and..."
"I don't know if I can do it Percy." Annabeth admitted. "I don't know if I can spend the next four years of my life waiting."
"So you won't wait for me?" Percy asked in disbelief. "You want to break up?"
Annabeth regarded Percy, fresh tears dripping down her cheeks, and then nodded. "I think we should. Maybe I can wait... I don't know. I guess we'll find out when you get back."
Percy blinked, his own tears coming now. "Annabeth, wait..."
"Wait, Percy? I'm just supposed to wait? I'm supposed to sit around for the next nine months, wishing we could be together? You're not supposed to leave me Percy! We agreed to stay together, no matter what..."
"I'm not leaving you, I-I..." Percy stammered.
"Yes you are Percy. I thought I was the most important thing in your life, but obviously I was wrong." Annabeth sobbed and turned.
"Annabeth! Please, just hold on..."
== {Back to the present} ==
As Percy stared at the prom photo, sitting on his bed, he remembered what he thought the night that Annabeth fled his room in tears. He thought there was no way Annabeth could break up with him, that she would call a day or two later and realize what a mistake she had made. He thought she would call and tell him that she loved him and would wait for him.
But that call never came.
Percy had wanted to call her a thousand times over the course of the school year, but was afraid of what Annabeth would say. He feared she would end it forever, and in the back of Percy's mind he maintained hope that somehow, someway, that when he got home for the summer she would have waited and that they would get back together. This continued over three years, and they never did end up seeing each other, despite the opportunities when Percy came back home over the summer. He just couldn't bring himself to see her, and besides, he didn't know how to find her. But when Jason told him about Annabeth's new boyfriend, Percy figured he had lost her forever.
"I'm glad you decided to come dude." Jason said after picking Percy up.
Percy sat in the passenger seat of Jason's car, unsure of his decision. "I'm still not convinced it's a good idea..."
"It'll be fine." Jason promised.
Percy nodded, not wanting to dwell on it. He looked at Jason again, "It has been way too long since we've hung out, I missed you. And check you out! I can't believe how great you look. You've lost a lot of weight."
Jason grinned as he drove. "Thanks dude. I guess the weight-loss bug hit after Rachel dumped me, I thought that maybe she'd take me back if I slimmed down."
"I'm still flabbergasted that she broke up with you on New Years." Percy said.
"That's not even the half of it dude. Turns out she already had a new boyfriend, someone at her college in Miami. They'd been dating since Thanksgiving!"
"That sucks." Percy replied.
"Yeah." Jason agreed. "That's how it goes I guess, long distance relationships never work."
Percy glanced out the car window, "Tell me about it."
Jason winced. "Sorry dude."
"It's okay." Percy assured him. "It's my own fault. I never should have left, I should have gone to the U with you guys."
"Your dad would have killed you had you done that." Jason commented. "I mean, you're an ivy leaguer!"
"I don't know if being an ivy leaguer is worth the cost. I miss Annabeth so much."
"There's got to be some hot girls at Brown though, right?"
Percy lifted a shoulder, "I guess, but I didn't date. Most girls went for upper classmen, and to be honest I always held out hope that Annabeth and I would get back together."
Both friends sat in silence as Jason drove, thinking about how much things had changed... yet so many things still remained the same.
Percy was the first to break the silence, "So you still hang with Piper, you said?"
Jason nodded, "Yeah. Piper's cool, you know? She didn't get quite as hung up in the popular crowd at college. We actually made out about a month and a half ago."
Percy turned towards his friend, "What? Seriously?"
"Yeah." Jason confirmed. "We were both drunk as shit at this house party. She was telling me how great I looked since losing my weight, and we ended up making out for like an hour."
"Holy shit man..." Percy grinned.
Jason shrugged, "Neither of us said anything about it the next day. She acted like nothing happened, so I figured it was just the booze and wasn't really into me, so I let it go."
"Wow. Are you into her?" Percy asked, happy to be talking about anything but Annabeth.
"Who wouldn't be?" Jason declared. "She's beautiful, sexy, and cool as hell. You know Piper as well as I do... she's got it together."
"Yeah." Percy laughed quietly. "I miss her, I can't wait to see her. Is she seeing anyone?"
"No one regular." Jason informed. "She dates a lot, but nothing serious."
"Her and Annabeth are still real close, right?"
"Oh yeah, of course. They both moved out of their parent's, as a matter of fact They've got an apartment together near campus." Jason turned onto Piper's street. "Damn, looks like a lot of people are here already."
Percy looked among the crowd of cars but didn't see Annabeth's BMW. He thought maybe he'd luck out and wouldn't have to face her.
There were several people mulling around the yard talking and laughing as Percy and Jason walked to the front door. Inside was even more crowded, and loud music blared in the living room. Percy recognized a few people from high school, but most faces appeared unfamiliar. Percy assumed they were Piper's new college friends.
"Jason!" Piper screamed, running from the kitchen with a plastic cup of beer sloshing in her hand. She looked fabulous in a white denim mini skirt, black blouse, and heels. Her brunette hair was longer than Percy remembered, and feathered stylishly.
"Hey Pipes." Jason hugged her. "Looks like quite the party already."
"Yep." Piper grinned, already obviously inebriated. "I'm glad you're here sweetie."
"You are?" Jason sounded surprised.
Piper nodded excitedly. "Of course. You want a beer?"
"In a sec." Jason answered. He pointed towards Percy, "Look who I brought."
Piper hadn't even noticed Percy since she wasn't expecting him. She turned towards the direction Jason was pointing.
"Hey Pipes." Percy offered a little wave.
"Oh my god... Percy? You're back?"
"Just flew in this afternoon."
Piper latched a hug onto Percy next, "It's so great to see you!"
Percy smiled, hugging her right back. "You too."
"Come on you guys, beer's in the kitchen." Piper led them towards the kegs. "Help yourself to some cups."
Jason grabbed a pair of plastic cups and handed one to Percy before moving to the tap. "So you're glad to see me, huh?"
Piper giggled, "Of course..."
Percy glanced at his cup and didn't really feel like drinking. Plus it looked like Jason and Piper wanted to flirt with each other, and Percy didn't want to get in the way of that. So he wandered towards the sliding glass doors in the back of the kitchen, which led to a large back yard. Stepping outside, he scanned the crowd on the patio, and froze when he saw her.
She was wearing a tiny little spaghetti-strapped green dress that displayed the full length of her always slender and tanned legs. Her blonde curly tendrils glistened in the evening light, and her smile could light entire worlds. She was talking to a tall, good-looking blond guy in stylish jeans and a tee shirt that was tight around his muscled biceps.
Percy watched as her gaze slowly pivoted in his direction, as though it were occurring in slow motion. Her expression changed when she saw him, the smile vanished to be replaced by something closer to shock. Percy's heart sunk into his stomach when he saw those sparkling gray eyes.
"Oh my god." Annabeth said, stunned. "Percy...?"
"Hi Annabeth." Percy tried to smile.
Annabeth stared at Percy like he had come back from the dead. She hadn't expected to see him at Piper's party, and the sight of him brought old emotions flooding back.
"Who's that skinny geek?" asked the blond guy standing next to Annabeth.
"I'll tell you later, okay?" Annabeth moved towards Percy. "Just give me a few minutes."
"Annabeth, It's great to see..."
Annabeth grabbed Percy by the arm, "Not here, come on."
Percy followed along as Annabeth led him into the house, sensing she wasn't pleased with him.
"Hey Annabeth." Jason offered as they walked by.
"Not now Jason." Annabeth's voice was curt as she hauled Percy towards the stairs.
Piper giggled. "It's always the drama with those two..."
Annabeth marched Percy upstairs and into Piper's parent's bedroom, closing the door to give them some privacy. "Percy, what are you doing here?!"
"I came with Jason, I wanted to see..."
"Me?" Annabeth interrupted. "Did you come to see me? I'm here with my boyfriend Percy, you can't just show up like this!"
"That tall blond guy with more muscles than brains?" Percy gestured back towards the door.
"His name is Dakota." Annabeth frowned, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Whatever. I came to hang out with Jason, and to see Piper." Percy lied.
"So, what..." Annabeth fumed. "You were just going to ignore me all night?"
"I'll do whatever you want!" Percy yelled back, "I won't make things uncomfortable for you and your new... whatever."
"Boyfriend." Annabeth finished for him. "He's my boyfriend, Percy."
"How can you be with a guy like that?" Percy suddenly blurted jealously.
"A guy like what? Huh Percy? A guy who doesn't leave me behind to go to Brown and fuck beautiful smart girls?"
"I didn't fuck..." Percy scowled. "I didn't leave you."
"Yes you did!" Annabeth snapped, her eyes growing damp. "You left me to go to your fancy school and leave me behind. You did what all guys do Percy, you had your fun with the pretty dumb girl then you moved on... I thought you were special. I thought you loved me!"
"You're not dumb, Annabeth and I do love you..."
"Just leave me alone Percy! It shouldn't be hard, you've gotten a lot of practice the last three years." Annabeth ran past him and out the door; she didn't want him to see her cry.
Percy stood there staring at the door and felt miserable. "Shit."
"I'm going to go." Percy had to speak loudly to be heard over the music after finding Jason by the keg with Piper.
"What? Already?" Jason asked. "We just got here."
"It was a mistake for me to come." Percy frowned.
"Percy, don't go because of Annabeth." Piper put her hand on Percy's shoulder. "She's just freaked out because she's still in love with you, and she's afraid of..."
Percy shook his head. "I don't think so. She has 'Dakota' now."
"Do you need me to drive you home?" Jason asked.
"No, it's cool. Stay and have fun, I'll call a cab or something."
"Percy..." Piper pleaded.
Percy lifted a hand and turned towards the door, "I'll see you later Pipes." He walked out to the front lawn feeling as low as he ever had in his life. He pulled out his cell phone, meaning to call for a taxi, but was interrupted by an angry jock.
"Hey dickwad, did you make my girlfriend cry?" Dakota stalked across the yard towards Percy.
Percy turned. "Oh shit." he muttered to himself. "Look man, I'm sorry. We've got history, I didn't mean to upset her..."
"Whatever man..." Dakota stepped up and shoved Percy in the chest. "I'm going to wreck you!"
"Dakota! Stop it!" Annabeth yelled, running after her boyfriend.
"What's the deal, Annabeth?" Dakota asked. "You got something going on with this geek?"
"No..." Annabeth shook her head. "I mean, he's my ex, but..."
"This guy?" Dakota asked, incredulous. "Is he the reason you won't put out for me? You're hung up on this loser?"
Percy blinked at that, looking to Annabeth. She hadn't slept with him! Percy smiled, elated at that thought.
"What are you smiling at, skinflint?" Dakota cocked his fist and blasted Percy right across the face.
"Percy!" Annabeth shrieked with worry as Percy fell to his ass on the grass. She trotted in her heels to his side, squatting next to him. "Percy, are you okay?"
"I don't fucking believe this." Dakota scowled, "We're over Annabeth, I've wasted enough time on you already. The dork can have you."
Annabeth seemed completely unconcerned with Dakota as he stalked off towards his car. "Percy? You're bleeding..."
"Ow." was all Percy could say, lifting a hand to the blood dripping from his nose.
Annabeth slung the purse off her shoulder, letting it land on the ground so she could dig for a tissue.
"You never slept with him?" Percy asked suddenly, less worried about his nose than he was Annabeth's recent sex life.
Annabeth shook her head, dabbing Percy's upper lip. "No. Not that it's any of your business."
Percy grinned brightly.
"What are you so happy about?" Annabeth frowned, doing her best to clean up the blood.
"You still love me." Percy was still grinning.
"Of course I do." Annabeth told him honestly. "But that doesn't change the fact that you left me, Percy. You left me and I've never been more hurt in my life."
Percy's grin slowly subsided, "Annabeth..."
Annabeth sniffled, handed Percy the bloody tissue, and fled back towards the house before she started crying again.
"Geez," Percy muttered to himself, unsure why or how he was making Annabeth so emotional.
Jason hovered over his best friend as Percy cleaned himself up at the kitchen sink. "Dude, what happened?"
"Dakota." Percy answered simply.
"He hit you? Damn dude."
Percy wiped his face with a towel. "Did you see where she went?"
"Who, Annabeth? She ran upstairs, bawling her eyes out. Piper just chased off after her."
"I need to talk to her." Percy stated, moving towards the stairs.
Jason let out a heavy sigh, watching Percy go. "This is just like high school..."
Percy rushed up the stairs, having to sneak by two people making out halfway up. When he reached the door that Annabeth had taken him to earlier, he heard Piper's voice and the sounds of Annabeth crying. He knocked.
The room went quiet for a few moments before the door cracked open, revealing Piper. "Percy? Now really isn't a good time, okay honey?"
"Piper, I just need to talk to her." Percy pleaded.
Piper looked apprehensive, glancing back into the room.
"It's okay Piper, I can handle it." came Annabeth's voice.
Piper nodded, then opened the door. "She's all yours. Good luck Percy." Piper kissed his cheek before leaving for the stairs.
Percy closed the bedroom door and found Annabeth sitting on the edge of a large bed, wiping tears off her face with a Kleenex.
"What do you want Percy?" Annabeth sniffed.
"You look really beautiful." Percy said.
Annabeth gave him a confused look. "Yeah right, I'm sure I'm just gorgeous. I'm crying, my eyes are puffy, my nose is flush..."
Percy approached the bed, sitting next to Annabeth. Though not too close. "I just meant in general. You're beautiful. Sometimes late at night, in my dorm room, I'd try to picture your face. I'd get so frustrated because it wouldn't be clear in my mind, and I had to turn on my light and pull your picture out of my bedside drawer."
Annabeth sniffled, turning to Percy's words.
"But even a picture isn't close to the real thing. When I first saw you tonight, I thought my heart had stopped beating. It was like time froze, like the whole universe went still, and there was only you."
"Percy..." Annabeth wiped her nose. "That's so sweet. And you didn't ruin my night."
Percy breathed out a laugh, "Sure I did. You're crying, your boyfriend left..."
"I don't think he's my boyfriend anymore." Annabeth noted.
"You really didn't sleep with him?" Percy dared.
Annabeth shook her head. "No. There hasn't been anyone... not since you. You're still my first, and my only."
Percy's heart leapt back into his chest when he heard that. "Why?"
Annabeth breathed out a laugh. "You're asking me why I haven't slept with anyone else?"
Percy nodded.
"I don't know..." Annabeth's face scrunched up in thought as she considered. "I just couldn't do it. I guess part of me is still your girl, and I didn't want to ruin that."
Percy brazenly leaned over and placed his lips against Annabeth's. She didn't respond at first, taken by surprise, but then she started to kiss him back. The exchange quickly grew heated and Percy snaked a hand through Annabeth's hair, holding the back of her head.
No one knew how to kiss her like Percy did, Annabeth thought. His lips felt so good after their long absence and her entire body screamed at Annabeth to give herself to him. But she pulled away...
"No Percy..." Annabeth told him.
"But I love you." Percy said.
Annabeth stood from the bed and took a couple of steps back. She needed distance because she felt like if Percy was any closer her willpower would crumble and she'd give in to her desire to be with him. "I know you do, but I won't do what we did. I won't fall completely in love with you, only to have you leave me in the end. If I do that, it'll tear me apart. When I'm with you Percy, I'm all in, and I can't be apart from you. I can't do that again..."
"Annabeth..." Percy squinted, unable to find the words to convince her not to leave.
"I'm sorry baby." Annabeth's tears returned once more. "I'm so sorry!"
Percy watched helplessly as Annabeth turned and fled from the bedroom, just like she had done none years prior at his house before he left for Brown. Her words 'I won't do what we did last summer.' echoed in his mind, and he knew exactly what she was referring to. Things had escalated between them after prom and graduation, emotionally. They spent every moment they could together as though attached by a mystical cord. When Percy wasn't working his summer job at the mall, or sleeping, he was with Annabeth. They were inseparable.
As Percy sat on the bed in Piper's parent's house, he couldn't help but remember the great times they had together...
== {3 years prior} ==
Annabeth stretched out the length of her body against Percy's, lying next to him on a beach blanket at Lake White. A low campfire in the sand burned next to them. They were alone, as the sun had set and all the other beach goers had left. It was just them, the sounds of the lake rolling against shore, and the occasional snap from the fire.
"I love you, Percy Jackson." Annabeth said, cuddling against her boyfriend.
Percy smiled. "I love you too Annabeth Chase."
"I've been wondering, what is your full name?"
Percy laughed, "Perseus. Like the Ancient Greek hero from mythology."
Annabeth lifted her head, glancing at Percy. "I didn't know that..."
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me." Percy informed her.
"Like what?" Annabeth inquired. "I want to know everything."
"Like... um, I had a crush on Jason's girlfriend, Rachel, in elementary school."
Annabeth squealed out a laugh, "You didn't!"
"I did." Percy smiled. "I thought her red hair and freckles were cute."
"They are cute. But does that mean you didn't have a crush on me back then?" Annabeth teased.
"No, I totally did." Percy's voice grew reflective.
"You did?" Annabeth kissed his chest.
Percy nodded. "Even back then you were totally beautiful. You had the same curly hair and you always wore those cute pink ribbons around your pony tails."
"Oh my god Percy..." Annabeth looked at him with an amazed expression. "I can't believe you remember that. I loved my pink ribbons!"
"I've been in love with you my whole life." Percy said.
"Oh Percy." Annabeth slid her bikini-clad frame over Percy and moved her lips to his, giving him a light dragging kiss. "I've been in love with you my whole life too, I just didn't know it."
Percy put his arms around Annabeth and kissed her back. They exchanged several passionate brushes of their lips.
"I can't believe you're leaving in only a month." Annabeth said, pecking Percy's chin with light kisses. "I'm going to miss you so much."
"My mom bought me a cam for my laptop." Percy said, "So we can video chat every day."
Annabeth smiled, "Will you let me watch you jerk off?"
Percy laughed, "Yeah, probably. Will you let me watch you with your 'Long Paulson'?"
Annabeth giggled, "Of course."
They kissed some more, the sounds of their wet lips joining were as loud as the fire.
"I want to make love..." Annabeth whispered.
Percy swallowed, glancing around the beach to confirm they were alone.
"Do you remember the first time we came here?" Annabeth asked him, running her fingers through Percy's shock of brown hair. "You punched out Luke, and then masturbated me... we were right over there."
Percy glanced over to the rock where his masturbation of Annabeth took place. "I remember."
"We had just started going out. Everything was so new and exciting... I knew I was falling for you even then, but I had no idea how hard I'd fall." Annabeth's eyes twinkled. "Let me make love to you, right here, on our beach... under the stars."
Percy nodded with a warm smile, "Okay."
Sitting up, Annabeth squirmed until she worked her bikini bottoms off, then began to tug on his swim trunks and pulled them off Percy's legs. "I want to be on top of you. You penetrate me nicely that way."
Percy didn't argue as Annabeth crawled over him, still wearing her bikini top. She sat on his thighs and took hold of his limp penis. He sat up on his elbows and watched her begin to fondle him.
"You have such a gorgeous cock, Percy." Annabeth regarded it as she rubbed him with both hands. "You promise you won't stick it in any of the girls at Brown?"
"How could you even ask that?" Percy squinted. "Of course not."
"Promise me?" Annabeth pressed. "It would kill me if you put your cock inside another girl. I only want it to go in my body..."
"I promise." Percy said, "You're the only girl I'm ever going to want, Annabeth."
"Good." Annabeth felt satisfied by Percy's words. She lifted herself to her knees and over his hardened length. "I want to be the only girl you ever fuck. I'll take good care of your big dick Percy... I give you enough sex, right?"
Percy grinned at her.
"What?" Annabeth smiled back, hovering the lips of her vagina right over Percy's erection. Her hand gripped him, aiming him towards her sex.
"We're always having sex." Percy said. "We have the best sex life... like, ever."
Annabeth beamed brightly at that and began to lower herself.
Percy issued a quiet moan of pleasure as the head of his cock pushed past the folds of Annabeth's damp sex and into her vaginal canal. He laid back off his elbows in order to lift hands to Annabeth's thighs. Percy smoothed his palms over the summer-kissed skin of her toned legs as she straddled his hips and swallowed his cock into her depths.
Dropping her own hands to Percy's chest, Annabeth began to slowly work her hips, coating his length with her natural lubrication. "Mmm, I like it when you touch me. It makes me feel sexy when you rub your hands all over my body."
Percy slid his hands around her hips and gripped Annabeth's butt as it went up and down with her leisurely humping pace. Goose pimples raised across her skin at Percy's touch, and from the slight evening breeze.
Annabeth kept pushing more of him into her, plunging his long length further with every motion. "You've totally been stretching me out. My pussy has gotten really good at taking you, Percy. You're so fucking big that it took a lot of fucking, but my cunt fits you perfect now..."
Percy nodded hastily, feeling every agonizingly slow motion Annabeth was making on him. The walls of her pussy clung to his shaft and dragged up and down him. The sensation along his sensitive member was incredible.
"You've fucked the shape of your cock right into me..." Annabeth continued. "My cunt is like a mold now, able to hold your big thing like a custom glove. I'm your fuck-toy now, Percy. Your slam-piece."
Percy's throat issued a sighing groan at Annabeth's dirty talk. His grip squeezed her bare ass tightly in arousal.
Annabeth leaned back, letting the top side of Percy's erection press against the 'roof' of her vagina. Reaching behind herself, between Percy's legs, and found his scrotum to grip firmly.
Percy jumped with a shiver as Annabeth took his sac, "Oh fuck..."
"Your balls are all puffy." Annabeth bit her lower lip in a heated expression. "They're full of the cum you're going to squirt into me... into my cunt."
Percy started bucking upwards with his own hips, needy, wanting to hump faster. But Annabeth wasn't having it. She'd lift herself up and nearly off until Percy settled down, and he knew she wanted to give him a slow teasing fuck.
Annabeth smiled down at him, "You want to cum in me so badly don't you..."
"Yes." Percy admitted, reaching up to Annabeth's B-cup breasts. He slipped his hands between her skin and her bikini, squeezing her soft mounds in his palms. "I can't help it, you're so fucking sexy..."
"I like it when you play with my tits." she encouraged. Annabeth lowered herself once more, impaling herself on Percy, arching her neck and sighing loudly at the sensation of being filled by his ten inches. "Oh god baby... that's so good. There's nothing better in this world than getting stuffed with your big cock..."
Percy looked to their union. Annabeth had taken his entire length, and he wondered how she could do it. Knowing his own length, and guessing the distance with his eyes, he imagined his cock higher than Annabeth's belly button inside her. When she lifted back up, Percy could see his shaft glistening with her juices in the moonlight. Then on her way back down Percy could feel every agonizing centimeter of slow friction as her vagina swallowed him whole once more.
Annabeth groaned loudly, feeling Percy's length drag across her clit. "They should build monuments in the likeness of your cock, Percy... Jesus..."
Tightening his hands on Annabeth's breasts, Percy started to feel his orgasm simmer over.
Annabeth squeezed his scrotum, sensing his precarious need. "Are you going to cum?"
Percy kneaded on Annabeth's boobs, her bikini top flopping up her chest and off his hands. "I'm close..."
Watching his face, Annabeth clenched her vaginal muscles around his length and let go of Percy's balls to begin masturbating her clitoris. "Do you like squeezing my tits? Does that turn you on?"
"Yes..." Percy breathed.
"You like to squeeze my ass too, don't you baby?"
Percy nodded swiftly, "Y-yes..."
"You like rubbing your hands all over my sexy body, don't you Percy..."
"Fuck yes." Percy started bucking again, driving himself into Annabeth and creating friction between their union.
Annabeth rolled her hips in time with Percy's humping, her finger a blur on her tiny but engorged button. "Touch me..." she begged. "Touch me with your rough squeezing hands..."
And Percy did. He ran his palms all over her. Across Annabeth's flat stomach, her hips, and her thighs. He marveled at her smooth tanned form and began to lose control. "Annabeth..." he warned.
"I know baby...!" Annabeth started humping quickly, "I'm going to come too... oh god... hold me..."
When Annabeth flopped forward, Percy wrapped his arms around her torso. Her breasts pressed against his chest and she buried her face between Percy's neck and shoulder.
"Hold me tight Percy... oh god! Hold me while I cum on you..."
"I've got you..." Percy gasped, humping his erection into Annabeth. "Oh fuck... oh fuck..."
Annabeth issued long whimpering cries as her orgasm came like an overpowering force. Her entire body shook in Percy's arms and her gushing vagina quivered on his member. She could feel Percy's thrusts penetrate her depths, followed by the warm sticky explosion of his semen. Percy only stopped humping when his own orgasm arrived, burying his cock into Annabeth as deeply as possible. He trembled, just as she did, as his shaft twitched and heaved inside her, emptying itself of its burden.
Annabeth lay on Percy, in his embracing arms, for several long moments after their pleasure had subsided, catching her breath. "I will never get bored with this Percy. Oh my god. I want to grow old fucking your cock..."
== {Back to the present} ==
Thinking about that night on the beach, Percy resolved himself to do whatever it took to get Annabeth back. He got up from the bed and walked downstairs; the party was still in full swing and he didn't see Jason anywhere, but Piper was at the keg pouring herself a beer.
"Piper!" Percy called, "Did Annabeth leave?"
Piper turned, "Yeah, she took my car."
"Where did she go?" Percy asked, pushing through the crowd of drunk teenagers towards his friend.
But Piper looked hesitant.
Percy could read her expression "What? What is it?"
"She said she was going to Dakota's."
Percy's heart sunk again, which was becoming a familiar feeling to him that day.
"I'm sorry, sweetie." Piper looked sympathetic. "I really am. You know there's nothing I want more than for you two to be together."
"Yeah." Percy nodded. "Me too."
"Are you going to go after her? Piper asked, "I know where he lives... it's not far off campus."
Percy shook his head. "If she had gone anywhere else, I would have gone after her."
"What are you going to do?" Piper wondered.
Percy looked at the keg, and the promise it posed to ease his pain. "Give me a glass..."
(...to be continued)