Chapter 10: Taking Your Hand

"You glow differently when you are happy" - Unknown

Author's Note: Hi everyone! Apologies for the delay, my life just got really busy and I haven't been able to do a whole lot of writing. I'm hoping I'll be able to update next week, but I honestly am not sure. If I do not update on Saturday, just don't expect a chapter. I hope you understand! Enjoy today's chapter!

Annabeth decided to stay at Thalia's house again. Her house felt suffocating. Her dad didn't hit her, anymore he just didn't talk to her either when he didn't need to. When she didn't need to be home, she didn't want to be.

There was some crazy ruckus going on downstairs since Thalia's parents weren't home.

Thalia and Annabeth were talking in the dark. Annabeth lost track of what they were talking about a long time ago.

"I swear if my brother and his friends do not shut up," Thalia grumbled. Thalia flicked the light back on temporarily blinding Annabeth. Thalia marched downstairs, while Annabeth lazily followed her.

"Could y'all kindly shut up, we are trying to sleep." Thalia barked.

"Thals live it up a little. Mom and dad are never gone!"

"We are living it up. In my room. Just be a little quieter, me and Annabeth can hardly hear each other talk!" Thalia exclaimed.

"We have more people coming over later, so sucks to be you."

Thalia opened her mouth to respond but a shout was heard from the other room.

"Dude! You guys have no more Coke, what kind of household is this?!"

"Just get something else!" Jason shouted back.

There were some protests from the other room, and Thalia shouted after them.

"Hey! Don't you dare drink my iced tea! Dad never lets me get that stuff!" Thalia yelled. She ran into the other room after the two guys. Annabeth smiled and decided to go outside for a breath of fresh air. She was far too tired to run after two crazy guys anyway.

She went out onto the front porch and sat on the steps. She looked up at the sky, a crescent moon. She looked at the glittering stars. Then she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Luke? I hope you are doing well. I miss you." Her voice cracked. "I uh may have made a friend. Are you proud of me?"

She tried to imagine his face. She heard his voice. "Of course I'm proud of you Annie."

She was mad that he had burned himself into her memory. It would have been easier to forget him and not have to deal with the grief.

Beyond that, she was mad that he loved her. She had made his pain so much harder to manage, but she could never return the feelings of love. She wondered how long it had started. They had always tossed 'I love you' around very loosely. Annabeth had always thought it was friend love, but when he had tried to kiss her that crescent moon night she had realized.

Luke was in love with her. She had been in shock. When he leaned in she abruptly pulled her face away.

"I've got to go." Were Annabeth's exact words.

Luke had looked sad, but he had an expression that looked like he expected that to happen. Would things have been different if she loved him back? Annabeth wondered about it all the time.

Tears spilled down her face. The cold air stung her wet face, but she didn't try to wipe the tears off.

Annabeth was tired. She was cold.

Annabeth sat coated in sadness for a long time. She could imagine someone walking by would feel the grief radiating off her. A while later she was pulled out of her bubble.

Annabeth had forgotten that Jason mentioned more people were coming over when a girl interrupted her.

"Hey? Uh, are you okay?"

Annabeth yelped, shocked, then proceed haphazardly wiped her face-off, and prayed that it looked like she hadn't been crying.

"Yeah, I'm fine!" Annabeth said as brightly as she could.

"Are you Leo's girlfriend Calypso? She said she'd meet me here to hang out with the guys but…" the girl trailed off.

In the porch light, it was hard to see her the girl, but she had brown hair and olive skin. Annabeth couldn't see what the girl was wearing very well but her shirt looked to be a pastel orange.

"I'm Annabeth actually."

"Oh? Jason said that-" Annoyance tinged the girl's voice.

"I'm Thalia's friend."

"Oh."

There was a long pause before the girl tried to initiate the conversation again. "Sorry about that, I get a little aggressive when it comes to my boyfriend. My name is Piper."

"Oh? You're the Piper he talks about all the time?"

She turned a faint shade of pink. Annabeth would be sure to tease Jason when she got the chance. Another uncomfortable pause happened until Piper spoke up again.

"Do you know if a girl named Calypso has shown up? She is Leo's girlfriend and I'm looking for her."

"I don't think so."

"Ah, alright."

Annabeth nodded. They fell back into an awkward silence.

Why can't I just keep a conversation going? Annabeth wondered.

"Anyway, I'm going in. You wanna come?"

"Nah, I'll stay out here for a little longer."

"Alright, it was nice meeting you Annabeth."

"You too."

Annabeth was stayed outside for a little longer, trying to make sure it looked like she hadn't been crying.

Before she went inside another party of people walked up. She shouldn't have been surprised when Percy Jackson was in it. She seemed to crash into him everywhere she went. There were two girls in the back chatting and laughing. Percy saw Annabeth on the steps and locked eyes with her for a moment. Percy slowed down, the way she had when she was running yesterday. The girl behind Percy smashed into him.

"Hey! What gives?"

Percy mumbled an apology. The two girls sped ahead of the guys and waltzed into the house without knocking on the door. Percy and the other guy took their time.

Annabeth presumed that the other guy was Percy's friend. He had dark black hair, and the palest skin Annabeth had ever seen on a human. If he was any more pale Annabeth might have thought he was a ghost.

The other guy got to the door first and held it for Percy.

"That's okay Nico, I'll be in soon."

The boy nodded but let his eyes linger on Annabeth for a moment. He pursed his lips, then slipped into the door.

Annabeth felt her heartbeat speeding up while trying to get it to calm down.

"Are you cold?"

"Not really," Annabeth responded. She was severely underdressed for the cold weather. In sweatpants a t-shirt, and a thin jacket she was cold.

He looked like he was arguing with himself until he finally opened his mouth.

"Do you wanna go on a walk? I don't feel like being inside."

Too scared to say anything, Annabeth nodded. He extended his hand and helped her up. They both held on for a little longer than what would be considered normal. Eventually, they walked away from the house in silence. There was plenty of tension in the air, but silence seemed easier than words. But eventually, something needed to be said, and Percy was the one to start the conversation.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm crashing at the Grace's house."

"Ah." Percy was now ninety percent sure that Annabeth and Jason were dating. He had asked one of his friends, Leo about it but he had been very consumed in his video game.

The conversation was short. He had found out that Jason had a girlfriend, but Percy still didn't know who.

"What about you?" Annabeth asked. Her skin seemed to glow in the moonlight. Her blonde hair shimmered. His eyes naturally went toward the ground. On the way there her fingers caught his attention. She fingered a hair tie around her wrist.

He was tempted to take her hand. But Percy chided himself, she has a boyfriend.

Then why would she even take a walk with him?

"Hello? Why are you here tonight?" Annabeth asked. Her eyes were curious. They swirled grey, and before he could get distracted again he responded.

"One of my friends got dragged into going by people he didn't know well and said convinced me to go. He doesn't like a lot of people."

"I can understand him," Annabeth mumbled.

"Don't like people either?" Percy guessed.

Annabeth sighed. "No people are fine I just, I don't know what makes them happy. I feel like I need to please people."

"Why do you worry about making them happy then?" Percy questioned.

"I don't know, I guess," Annabeth said, unconvinced herself.

"You know, happiness isn't something you get. You have to take what you have and make happiness yourself. It isn't handed to you on a silver platter."

Annabeth pondered the statement. "I suppose you're right."

"Damn right I am." Percy grinned.

"You're smarter than you look Seaweed Brain."

They both smiled at each other than on a whim and a moment of bravery, Percy took her hand. He let his fingers rest loosely on her, and when she didn't pull away he tightened his grip just enough, so he could feel her hand.

Her immediate reaction was to pull away. The way she had done for years whenever someone touched her. But then for the first time, Annabeth's head finally wondered, why?

She had pulled away with Luke because she had felt nothing. Despite not knowing Percy well, there was something there. Maybe she could get to know him better. Maybe they could become something Annabeth was always afraid of. A part of her she had locked up.

So why pull away? This boy was kind and caring. They had grown closer. While they hadn't exactly become friends, but they seemed to have subconsciously grown closer. Annabeth knew that this would probably end in pain and tears. But why pull away? Annabeth couldn't find a reason too. The feeling of her cold hand against Percy's warm one was the best feeling ever to her. So Annabeth let herself have the moment.

Percy let his fingers rest loosely on her, but when she didn't pull away he tightened his grip just enough, so he could feel her hand. Percy noted how cold her hand was.

Annabeth's hand was so small compared to his. Her small hand gave Percy a strong desire to protect her from any pain in the world. It made her seem so fragile. Percy knew that probably wasn't true. She had every ability to be a badass, but right then she seemed so delicate. Everything seemed breakable, but it felt perfect. Even just for a moment.