hey guys:) i'm in a good mood so let's go for uplifting shall we?

Annabeth

I feel good about myself. I've had about seven hours of sleep and no nightmares in the past week. Matthew and I are a bit awkward, but we're okay and it's a relief to have that behind me. My favorite part? I'm spending some much needed best friend time with a certain raven haired guy you might know as Percy Jackson.

We're at Sally's candy shop, which she owns now, and I couldn't be prouder of her despite the fact it isn't her main profession. She accepted no money from Poseidon when it was offered, instead spending the past two years working her ass off at the candy shop and various other jobs around the city. The couple who owned it had a bit of a soft spot for Sally, and they allowed her to rent-to-own. Now, she's the proud owner of the candy shop formerly known as The Striped House, now known as Sally's. It is, in sarcastic tribute to a certain psychopath, various shades of blue and looks incredibly old-fashioned. There are booths and stools at the main counter and a neon sign above the dinging double doors, and it quickly became a place our group of friends liked to visit. Mostly, though, Percy and I like to help Sally clean up for a few extra bucks and mess around.

Currently we're arranging all of the salt and pepper shakers into a pyramid, which isn't necessarily cleaning but Sally's in the back and we know she doesn't mind seeing as we're already closed. It's a family diner, so by eleven the place has been locked and parted from. Seeing as it's around that time, we decided to do this almost subconsciously. It's almost like reverse Jenga, trying to balance the little shakers, but it's the most fun I've had in months.

"I told you not to put it there," Percy grinned at me as I tried to place a shaker, which shook dangerously. I rolled my eyes and maneuvered it a bit, and suddenly it opened up space for two more shakers. I grin at him as he grumbles. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

I give out a laugh and turn in a circle as an old Billy Joel song plays softly through a jukebox in the corner. "You should know by now to never doubt me."

"I know," he sighs angrily as his shaker falls for the third time. He slumps away from the table and comes to spin with me, and we close our eyes as the iridescent lights above us seem to shine through our closed lids. It feels timeless, in a way. Being in this moment with my best friend, and for a moment not having any worries. For a moment things are okay. I pray to God they stay that way.

Percy goes and switches it to a new song, and I recognize it immediately. I found it not long ago, and it's absolutely beautiful. It's called 'The Idea of Growing Old' and something about it hits with a resounding effect, and I refused to share it with anyone but Percy. I told him so and he laughed, but this song feels sacred. Almost no one has heard it, and there's just something about it that casts this longing inside me. Percy had his mom program it into the jukebox just for me, but the title is listed as this other song that everyone we know absolutely hates with a passion, so we know it can stay between us. I let out an elated laugh as I hear it and Percy smiles so widely at me I wonder if it hurts.

"Dance with me," he says, and I know he isn't asking so I roll my eyes, as we sway half heartedly with our fingers lightly intertwined. It's a very upbeat song, and something about it makes me want just feel the music. So that's what we do. We feel the music and lean against each other the way we always have and I know my heart is speeding up but I attempt to ignore it. I've dealt with these feelings, or at least I have enough that they aren't a huge problem, however they're pesky little things and it's kind of hard to push them away when his green eyes look almost blue as they reflect our surroundings, and I can see his pupils slightly dilating, and I can feel myself like him slightly more and-

Take control of yourself. Right. Almost forgot.

I lazily throw my arms around his waist and he twirls a bit of my hair but it all feels so natural and my heart pangs slightly at the familiarity of this. Of the feeling of normalcy and home when he holds me like he is now. It's slightly infuriating because I don't think he'll ever see me this way, and someone needs to fucking tell my heart because it put my mind on mute a long time ago.

Then he smiles at me and squeezes my hand and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

~O~

I haven't told anyone that Leo kept in contact with me. Not even Piper. Especially not Piper.

I know she and I will never see eye to eye and that's probably because we're just too different, but I still love her more than I love myself and I hate seeing her this way. She's been a mess and I think Jason's patience is really wearing thin because he likes her so much but she makes it so hard for him. I love them both, and I don't think it would be wise to add more strain to their relationship than there already is.

All I know is that Jason's almost broken up with her three times, but he stays because he thinks he's falling in love with her.

Piper...well, I think she's confused. We could all see how much Leo cared for her, and I more than anyone can understand how hard it is to separate friendly and romantic feelings. Sometimes I wonder if- no, I won't speculate. It isn't my business.

Back to the matter at hand, I've kept this secret from everyone. Well, except Percy but he doesn't count because he's my best friend. I think the other guys think we're horrible for not being more upset about Leo leaving, but we know exactly where he is. For now, he's okay. For now, he's happy. That's really all that matters at the moment. Even if he is staying with Percy's old friend, Calypso. I don't know too much about her, just that her dad used to be rich and abusive and now he's in jail and she lives in a shack she can't leave. It's more complicated, but Leo and I have very short phone calls and Percy left her two years ago. He hasn't heard from her since, and frankly he was surprised when he heard of her current living situation.

Percy knows a few people in San Francisco, and he asked them to watch out for Leo. A guy named Frank and a girl named Reyna are making sure he doesn't get in too much trouble and that he doesn't go hungry or broke. It's given us some peace in keeping this information from our friends, and we really think this is right.

I laugh as Thalia flips off a passing car without a second thought. We're hanging out, just Luke, Thalia and I, like old times. It's been a while, and I am having trouble keeping up with all of their high school stories. I try to catch them up on my life, but there really isn't anything all that interesting going on that I can tell them. I hang off of the monkey bars, Luke swinging on a swing to my right as Thalia kicks at rocks across the playground. I missed them, and though it should feel like nothing's changed, I know something has because our dynamic is different. They have so many inside jokes and they share looks that carry whole conversations sometimes, and I feel slightly left out, but I get it. They're...different now. Both of them.

I look at Luke. Suddenly, he doesn't seem like someone to idolize over. He seems...like a regular guy, almost. Like a good friend, or a- or something. I don't know, but something's shifted, and for the first time I notice the looks Thalia subtly casts his way. I feel myself smile. Yeah, I think something's changed. I just...don't particularly mind. I'm happy for them.

"So," I start as I close my eyes and the breeze gets slightly harsher. "when were y'all gonna tell me you like each other?"

My eyes are still closed, so I'm confused when I hear no answer. Opening my eyes, I cast a look at Luke, who's looking at me like I grew a third head. I raise an eyebrow at him, then turn to Thalia. She's frozen, and her mouth is slightly dropped, but then she clears her throat and shoots me a questioning look. "What makes you say that?"

She says it nonchalantly. Almost too nonchalantly. "Just a hunch..." I observe them for a moment longer, then shrug. "Guess I was wrong."

"Uh, yeah!" I catch Thalia's flinch as she glances at Luke, who's striding forward towards me. "Wrong! Seriously, Annie, Thalia's like-like-I don't know, but we're not like that!"

"Um, okay?" I say, but I cast a worried look Thalia's way. She looks as if she's trying hard to remain indifferent. "If...you're sure?"

"Yes, yes, completely sure!" Luke's words startle me as I see he's now in front of me. I slip off the bars and onto the floor, and he gets slightly closer to me. Suddenly, he looks nervous. It's sort of endearing, the way he plays with his hands and looks at me through his eyelashes. "I have something to ask you. It's, uh, important and-"

"Hey!" Thalia calls, striding forward and clapping me on the back. "Weren't you supposed to meet Silena and Hazel right about now?"

"Um..." I'm so confused, but I do have to go meet them, so I nod my head at Thalia's almost stone-like expression. "Yeah, I do. Okay, well, I guess I'll se y'all later?"

Luke looks disheartened, and Thalia looks relieved, and suddenly I can't get out of the old park fast enough.

~O~

"-and then-this was the weird part- she jumps up and tells me I have to meet the girls. Isn't that odd?"

"Sure, whatever," Percy grumbles as he fidgets on the piano. His mom bought it for him, and he said he had a surprise for me. "Luke was probably going to-" He sighs to himself, looking over at me tiredly. "Hey, can you go get me a glass of water? I'm getting thirsty, and all this chatter isn't good for the soul."

I roll my eyes, but comply, getting up to get him his stupid drink. "So, you gonna play a piece for me or-"

"I'm horrible on the piano," he interrupts as he grabs the drink from my hand. "but it's fun. Or, at least, it is sometimes, when I can figure out the right key."

"Mmhm," I mumble as I settle on the couch to watch him. I cringe as he plays something really rough. "I'm sure."

He grumbles again, but keeps trying, eventually finding the right key, but then having trouble crossing his fingers here and there. "Hey," he looks up at me as I speak, and I smile softly at him. He looks beautiful right now. The sun is streaming in through the half open window, and a breeze settles into the room. The mahagony wood clashes against his bony, pale fingers, and his green eyes look dark against it. His hair is rumpled slightly from running his fingers through it, and shadows align to create an image of a sharp jawline and almost jagged cheekbones. His green long-sleeve is pushed to his elbows, and he looks so soft right now. Like a breeze could flow through the window and make him float away. I catalog this moment in my head, to remember and to treasure, and find it slightly hard to speak. "um, uh, I was just gonna tell you to relax. It's just me."

His eyebrows furrow as he looks at me, and I wish I could tell what he was thinking, but then a relaxed smile comes on his face, and he turns back to the piano. "Right. Just you."

It's the best I've ever heard him play.

~O~

I have never felt so happy in my life than in these stolen moments. Being with my favorite people in the world and feeling like no one can touch me. Feeling the darkness of my childhood edge away slightly. Feeling like I am unreachable. Feeling as if no matter what happens, I'll be okay. Which is why when, at six o'clock on a Saturday night, I heard the opening of my door downstairs when I knew I was home alone, I felt something within me shatter.

I think even then I knew what was gonna happen next, especially when I heard their thumping footsteps on the stairs, and the crashing of glass vases below me.

Oh, hello. Yes, it's me again. Hi. Yup, that is a cliffhanger, Ha, ha, ha. Well. See ya!

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