"What?" Annabeth said into the phone. "You're what?"

"In the hospital," Percy replied weakly. "I- there was a car crash."

"What? When?"

"Yesterday," Percy said, "As I was going to the party. I- they wouldn't let me call you until now, I woke up three hours ago, Annabeth, I am so sorry."

Annabeth was frozen. This wasn't right. This couldn't be right. Had she just- "No Percy, I'm sorry, shit, is it okay if I come?" She said, interrupting her own thoughts. "Text me the address, I'll be on my way,"

Despite everything, Percy laughed (though it didn't sound much like a laugh at all), "It's fine Annabeth, I just-"

"No Percy," She said into the phone, "I am so sorry. I shouldn't have assumed. I just-"

"It's fine," He repeated, "You don't have to come."

Annabeth paused, and furrowed her brows. He wasn't making this easy. "Text me the address." She said firmly, and ran her hand through her hair. "I'm coming." She hesitated. "We have some things to… talk about." She continued, remembering what Drew had said at the party. And, how she didn't know if those things were true or not.

She was hoping that it wasn't true. That was obvious, he sounded so genuine. But… Drew had left an inkling, a chunk of anxiety in her head, one that was not going away unless she had specific confirmation from Percy himself. She needed to see his face.

"Fine." Percy said, sounding resolved. "I'll text it to you." He finished, hanging up the phone. Moments later, her phone binged! And she plugged the address into her google maps.

She walked quickly downstairs, and told her dad that she would be taking his car, (there was no chance Helen would allow her to take her own) and he nodded, more focused on the work he was doing on his laptop.

She grabbed the keys, and rushed outside to his car, turning on the ignition and steadying her phone in the car. Having not driven for a while, she adjusted the seat to her person preference and gripped the steering wheel. It was true, most of the time, her parents drove her places, but she did know how to drive. Not super well, but safely. Enough to get to the hospital and back.

Looking down at her blind spot, she took a deep breath, and with shaky hands, pulled out of the driveway. Soon, she was on her way to the hospital- though terrified of all the cars around her.

She arrived ten minutes later, and rushed to the front desk.

Breathlessly, she spoke, "I need to see someone," she stuttered a bit, but then regained her control. "Percy Jackson."

"Okay, let me see," The receptionist clicked her tongue. "Sorry honey, looks like he's only allowed to see relatives."

Annabeth mentally slapped herself in the head. Of course that was true. That's probably why he was discouraging her from coming. Maybe she could find a way to… Oh! That was it! "Please, I'm his girlfriend."

The receptionist then sighed, typed of couple things into her computer, and looked at her. "Fine. I'll let you in. He's upstairs, first room to the left."

"Thanks so much," She said, looking meaningfully at the receptionist. "I really appreciate it."

The receptionist nodded, and then beckoned her to leave. "Okay," She said, rolling her eyes.

Annabeth rushed upstairs, following the intrustictions the woman had given her, turning left to the first door. She slowly walked inside, and saw Percy, whose leg was propped up, and arms was in a sling.

"Shit," She said the first word that came to mind. This instantly captured the attention of both the doctor, and Percy's mom, she presumed. "Um, I'm sorry to interrupt but-"

To her surprise, Percy's mom smiled widely at her. "Annabeth!" She exclaimed. "It's so nice to finally meet you."

"Oh." Annabeth said. "It's nice to meet you to… Mrs. Jackson."

Sally smile was still wide, but weaker. Obviously it is, Annabeth thought, her son just got in a car crash. "Call me Sally." She said. "I…" She trailed off, looking at Percy, who nodded. "I have to go to the bathroom real quick. I'll leave you here to talk." Sally slowly made her way to the door, not limping- but at a frail and weak position. The doctor then followed her, and Annabeth presumed they were, instead of going to the bathroom, talking about the details in private.

Annabeth felt so bad. She was obviously interrupting something. Sally should be allowed to see her son even if she was there. She almost wanted to run to her and tell her she didn't have to leave. "Percy, I am so sorry." She said, walking over to the chair next to his bed. "I really… I just."

"It's okay." Percy said to her. "It's fine." He closed his eyes slightly.

Annabeth shook her head. "No it's not. I- I was mad at you, I genuinely thought I hated you but…I shouldn't have doubted your integrity. I just- everything was so loud, and I felt so alone, and Drew was saying things-"

"Drew was saying what?" He said, furrowing his brows.

"Just that you were only hanging around me to be nice, that you guys were a thing… stuff like that."

Percy shook his head. "Don't trust a word that comes out of Drew's mouth. She's… she can be rude. Really rude. It's almost as if she uses it as a coping mechanism."

"What do you mean?"

"She used to be decent, then her mom left. Now she's… like this." Percy said. "I thought you knew that."

Annabeth shook her head. "I didn't."

"But either way," Percy continued, "It's not okay, and I'm sorry that you went through that."

"You don't need to apologize. I need to apologize. I just… I was genuinely mad at you, and you were in the hospital, knocked out. What type of person am I?" As Annabeth said this, she leaned down closer to Percy.

He put his hand on hers. "Annabeth, it's okay, you were panicked, and I understand that." Percy's hand on her felt warm, and good, and most of all right. "It's okay."

"I really am sorry Percy," She said. "And you're not a 'brainless jock,' I promise you that."

"Definitely not the jock part anymore. With this, I probably won't be able to swim for a while. And my scholarship and the chances of getting it? That's down the drain."

Annabeth's eyes widened. She hadn't considered that- Percy's scholarship, now he would have no chance of getting that. "Is there anything I can do?"

"I'll be fine Annabeth, you don't need to do anything." He said, "I'll find a job somewhere, and earn some money, so that I can pay myself."

Although Percy sounded assured, Annabeth couldn't help but feel that he was really struggling with this. So she did the only thing she could do.

She held his hand a little tighter.

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!

I can't and won't spoil what's happening next, but I think you guys will like this next chapter…

I just wanted to say thanks for all the kind reviews on the last couple of chapters. Some of them made me laugh out loud, and some made me smile really wide.

Also, I'd really appreciate it if you voted on the poll that's listed on my profile (I feel like I keep saying this over and over again, I'm sorry)! I have several ideas for new stories, but I'd like to see what you guys want first and foremost (: