Chapter 13: You Are Strong

Author's Note: Hello all! Merry Christmas! And if you don't celebrate Christmas, happy normal Friday! Honestly, I've been feeling a little down lately, and it doesn't even feel like Christmas to me. I wasn't able to visit (the family wasn't able to come vis versa) so it doesn't feel quite the same. Anyway, I hope you are trying your best to stay positive and stuff like that. Happy Holidays!

People cry, not because they are weak, but because they have been strong for too long - Johnny Depp

The movie winded to a finish and while people finished eating, and packing up Thalia finally had enough. She walked over and woke Percy.

"I need to talk to you." Thalia gritted out.

Percy still half asleep woke up pretty quickly and willed his brain to function. "Me?"

"Yes, you. Who else?" She grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him out onto the porch. The air was cold, and the moon was full. They almost looked like a couple right before a breakup.

"What are you doing with Annabeth?" Thalia commanded, her blue eyes cold staring Percy down. The grip on his wrist was increasing and it was starting to hurt.

"What are you talking about?" Percy asked, perplexed.

"You guys look like a corny couple!"

"Why does it matter to you?"

"Because she's my best friend and messing around with you is gonna get her hurt! I'm trying to do what's best for her."

Percy yanked his hand out of her tightening grip. "How do you know what's best for her? I don't know Annabeth that well yet, but I know her enough to think that she wouldn't want to be messing up her budding friendships. I want to be her friend. Not everybody is like you, you know? Some people don't ghost you the first time you talk to them." Percy's voice was cold.

"I didn't mean to ghost you."

"Well that's what happened so congratulations," Percy responded sarcastically.

"I'm not letting you hurt her the same way you hurt me," Thalia said, looking down at the ground.

"What the hell are you talking about? I never hurt you. I tried texting, I tried calling, hell I wanted to get back in touch with you. You left with no warning, just radio silence. So I just gave up trying. You couldn't have asked me to try watering a dead plant. If you did that would just be selfish. If you wanted to be my friend you should have texted me back. Should have called me back. Screw you Thalia I'm done with you."

"Percy Jackson! You better not touch Annabeth."

"Why?" Percy sneered. "Because you own her?"

"No, she's my best friend. She's been through too much."

The front door opened, and low and behold there stood Annabeth. Her grey eyes swirled angrily, and Percy wondered how long she had been standing there.

"Thalia," Annabeth gritted out. "You think that I can't assess for myself who's good for me. You say that you want to protect me, but I think it's something else. I think you're selfish, and you don't want me to get Percy involved in my life because of your past with him. You think I can't handle more heartbreak after Luke."

"Annabeth I swear that's not it!"

"Then what is it?" Annabeth demanded. Thalia furrowed her brow, thinking of something to say.

"Nothing? Really? I know you don't tell anyone you date the truth, but I'm your best friend. I won't get mad. I trust you, why won't you trust me?"

"I can't tell you Annabeth."

"Why not?!"

"I just… can't."

"Fine. Talk to me when you're ready to tell me."

Thalia looked conflicted but let her best friend go and run to Percy.

Annabeth who seemingly forgot Percy was there tugged at Percy's wrist. Annabeth gentle pulled him down the porch, and off to the side. Annabeth's touch was gentle and careful, nowhere like Thalia's.

"I need a favor."

~q~Q~q

Ten minutes later they were both in Percy's car with Percy driving towards Annabeth's house. Annabeth played with the hair tie around her wrist while staring out the window. She had that awful feeling in her throat, and tried to blink out the tears that she knew were inevitably coming.

"Hey, Annabeth..?"

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

Such an innocent question. Three words. Annabeth turned towards Percy. She should have said yes. She desperately wanted to be able to say yes. Instead, she shook her head and started sobbing. It was almost like he expected it like he knew that she wasn't okay, but didn't mention it. Until she broke.

Percy put a hand on her thigh and looked for a place to pull over. Percy prayed that his hand was comforting and not giving her more anxiety or something. He wasn't great and comforting people, but Percy could listen. And Percy had a strong feeling that the sobbing girl, just wanted and needed to be listened to.

"I just don't get it." She sobbed. "I just met you because of tutoring, I don't get it. I-I know you guys have history, but I-" she hiccuped. "I don't like being in the middle of it. Thalia was friends with Luke too, and saw me practically die cuz of Luke." Annabeth sobbed. She kept wiping her tears with the heel of her hands. She was vaguely aware of Percy's hand on her thigh but her mind couldn't focus on anything else except for her tears.

Percy pulled the car into an empty spot and put the car in park. Then he hugged her.

Annabeth let it happen. She shouldn't have, but oh it felt so good. She buried her face in his shoulder and kept weeping. She breathed in his scent and at that moment Annabeth decided that she never wanted to let go.

"T-thalia's the only person I really have. S-she was there through e-everything. B-but then she freaks out because I start talking to another person. I-I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to drag you into everything. I-I'm sorry."

"S'okay Anna."

Anna.

That was a new name. Annabeth didn't mind it, in fact, she kind of liked it.

Percy rubbed his hand in soothing circles on her back, the other one combing through her hair. Percy didn't talk much, but for that Annabeth was glad. She just needed to be listened to too. She didn't tell him everything, but she told him about Luke and why Thalia thought she was so fragile. How when he died she lost a part of herself, that she didn't know she had.

And Percy realized just how strong she was. After all the pain of her life, she still managed to get through day after day never truly giving up.

"I-I'm sorry for making you take me home," she wiped her tears off. "I just n-needed a ride and I-I just sorry for drawing it out. N-Now I'm crying and y-you don't even know me that well. I'm so stupid. Y-you probably think I-I'm weak and just a stupid little girl."

Percy stayed silent for a while. Until he finally thought of what to say. "Annabeth? Do you want to know why you are strong?"

She continued sobbing as a response. "Annabeth, people cry not because they are weak but because they have been strong for too long."

"I-I cried like two days ago though." Another broken laugh bubbled from her throat as if trying to laugh at herself, but she wasn't funny enough.

"Then you must be in a lot of pain." Annabeth didn't deny it and continued to cry on his shoulder.

"You're gonna be okay Annabeth." He murmured into her hair. Percy took her hand behind her back and rubbed his thumb in circles over her knuckles. He felt every imperfection of the skin on her hand but adored it. Her imperfections made her perfect.

"You're gonna be okay."