Hey guys, welcome to the final chapter (the epilogue)! I hope you enjoy it, and again, please read the author's note at the end!
Also, there has been a site that has copied my work ( is what it's called), so please know that the site doing this has no explicit permission from me to do so. Whoever is doing this, please stop and remove the work, or I will contact to get them to personally remove it.
Percy stretched his arms out- all newly healed as he pushed himself back into the water, relishing the feel of it. His leg- now healthy, prepared to push off from the wall, and he took one look at the crowd, full of people he knew and didn't know.
He was looking for one person- one specific person, that said she would be there cheering him on. After this meet- the last meet until winter break, which for college, was several weeks, they would drive back home together, and see all of their friends.
Annabeth's classes had ended two days earlier, and she had flown to see Percy's meet this morning. He hadn't seen her since, but she said she was going to be at the competition.
There, she was sitting in the stands, shouting into her cupped hands. Percy couldn't wait until after they meet, were he could take her in his arms and just-
He hadn't seen her in a while, that was all. They kept up with calls, messages and facetimes, but it wasn't the same. Annabeth was now, with her story, more popular than ever, and the reveal that had happened the previous year had only increased her popularity.
Since then, she had started a youtube channel for writers, opened up on social media, and although all of this took time, and although she wasn't able to come out on her own terms, she seemed happy now.
When Percy had just met her, she was beautiful- of course, but now she seemed more- she seemed vibrant. Her curls bounced as she shouted into her hands, and Percy could practically see the confidence coming out of her.
The whistle blew, and it was time for him to go. He pushed off the wall, and swam, arms bobbing up and down, as he accelerated more and more through the water. As a turn came, he quickly flipped around and pushed off, his change of direction increasing his speed. Swimming faster in faster, he finally got to the other side, and breathed deeply, trying to get the air back into his lungs.
Then he looked up.
Nobody was there.
Did that mean he had gotten last? Wait, had he just bombed the last competition of the season?
Suddenly, swimmers began arriving at the end, and Percy realized that no, he had won. These people- they had swam slower than he had, and that meant…
That meant he has the first place champion.
He set his head against the side of the pool, smiling and ringing his hands through his hair. People run toward him, but he doesn't notice them.
Wow. It's like a dream come true.
He finds Annabeth in the crowd, who appears to be screaming at the top of her lungs. She looks so proud right now. Her curls bounce up and down as she jumps and cups her hands. He wants to run to her, and hug her, tell her how much he loves her.
He loves her.
It's true, it's so obvious that it couldn't not be. He's loved her since he met her. Since he watched her, knelt over her notebook, scrawling unidentified words on the page. He can't believe he hasn't told her yet- or even thought to tell her.
He gets out of the pool, and is immediately given a towel. He wraps it around himself, soaking up the water droplets falling down his chest, and nods at the people who congratulate him.
He wants to go straight to Annabeth, and wrap her into a huge bear hug, but he can't. He's being led to the locker room, and he wouldn't want to get her wet.
Quickly drying and changing into clothing, he grabs his bag, and practically bolts out of the locker room. Percy wants Annabeth so much now- no, he needs her.
And there she is standing in the light, looking at her phone and scratching the back of her neck. Her princess curls are put up into a ponytail now, and she doesn't seem to notice Percy.
That's going to have to change.
He rushed up to her, and she barely has time to register who it is, because then he's kissing her, and everythings okay now.
He shifted his lips to her ear, and whispered into it. "I love you so much,"
Annabeth stiffened, and she seemed caught off guard. Crap. Did he mess this up?
"You don't have to say it back," Percy said, "I just want to let you know."
Annabeth shakes her head furiously, her ponytail bouncing around, hitting Percy in the face as he holds her. "No, no. I don't know why I did that." She said, "I love you too Percy. So much."
Percy relaxes into her grip, and squeezes her tighter to him. He moves his lips from her ear, to her mouth, and they kiss once more, and Percy feels his heart tighten, just a little bit, with joy.
It's then when he realizes how lucky he is. How lucky they are to have found each other. It's been a long road, from failed dates to drew. From heartbreak to kisses, and most of all, from hate to love.
And even if Percy doesn't know much, he does know one thing- that all of this love, all of this joy comes from her. Sure, he can find joy out of other things, but she's the best thing he has right now.
He hopes she knows it.
Even if they started out rough, that's okay, because a perfect relationship is impossible- Percy knows this, it's so true. As many people say, love is messy. It doesn't fit neatly into one pile- it's scattered across a floor, flung everywhere imaginable.
And messy is good sometimes.
So he hugs Annabeth even closer than before, and whispers words of love to her as they hold each other. Gone are the insecurities, false thoughts and delusions- now it's just them- the two of them, standing there, together.
They curl out of the embrace, and Percy takes her hand.
There's no telling what's going to happen- life can't be wrapped up into a box with a sticky note reading "happy ending." Ups and downs always happen, but Percy knows that through everything that's happened in the past, that they'll have a happy ending.
Love is too strong for them not to.
Wow. I can't believe I finished this story. This is probably the first fanfiction I've ever successfully finished. I have so many projects on the side that aren't ready to be published, but I'm so glad that I put this one up.
All the support on this story has been absolutely amazing. I've said this before, many times, but I appreciate every favorite, follow, and review. All of your messages have made me smile, and I'm so happy that all you guys have enjoyed the story.
On that note, I'd like to tell you that the first chapter of "Heartbreak" (see my profile for more details) is posted! When I was choosing what to write next, I put into consideration both the poll results, and what I wanted to write.
More about "Heartbreak" is on my profile! It's Percabeth, but is more angsty (though there will be a happy ending!)
Again, thanks so much for the support, and I hope that you'll check out "Heartbreak."
See you in the next story!
- TheLil'Lion
