[I've got requests to calm down with the swearing. Hope this is okay, because I seriously love you guys]

CHAPTER 13: ANNABETH POV

Annabeth! ,my mind screams. What were you thinking? My subconsciousness adds. Like I had a choice, I retort. I shake my head to clear all the thoughts; I don't want to be at war with myself. Well, my subconsciousness is right, anyway. He'll probably think all is forgiven and play his damn game again. No more of that.
***************

I'm ready two hours early and I can't stop getting nervous. I check my hair and my makeup and everything is perfect. I try to find ways to kill time but come up with none. I pace my cabin while my half-brothers and sisters watch me cautiously. Minutes later, there's a knock on the door. I open the door to find Rachel Elizabeth Dare waiting for me.

"Annabeth" she addresses me and I nod.

"I um..." she seems unsure but I wave my hand impatiently for her to go on.

"It's about Percy"

I stop and stare into the horizon, my face neutral. Calm. Calm. Calm. My mind repeats it like a chant. I refuse to show emotion here; he doesn't deserve it.

"I don't know what it is with you two but know that he loves you with all his heart. With what's left, anyway." she said. With what's left? Still, I don't look at her. My emotions are threatening to spill; the pain, sadness and anger swirl inside of me, looking for chinks in my armor. But I stand strong.

"Annabeth" she said gently. "He's yours and you are his. I'm just there for him as a friend. Know that, okay?"

I don't have time for this lecture and I want her to piss of but I just nod in hopes she would leave me alone. Well, I get my wish. She senses my annoyance and exits, leaving me to think about her words.

I finally pass my time browsing through Daedalus' laptop. Gods, that man is a true genius, I thought as I inspected a 3D model of a building that looked like children's blocks. Correctly calculated, the building would stand upright if I used...

"Annabeth?" someone calls. It's Percy. I get up and straighten my clothes and checked the time. It's time to go and get this over with.

"I'm ready" I say when I open the door. He finds my eyes and for a moment I get lost in those sea-green orbs. He's guilty, sad and broken. I quickly compose myself and look away awkwardly, not wanting to feel guilty of his anguish.

"Let's go?" he asked, offering me his hand, but quickly lowered it. Gods, this is awkward.
*************

The ride to his apartment is a real pain in the ass. I sit as far as I can from him and he seems a little hurt. Nevertheless, he kept his distance. I found myself stealing glances at him and ironically, he doesn't even look my way for once. He keeps his eyes straight ahead, staring at nothing in particular and rubbing his eyes as if he wants something to be erased from his memory. I would bet anyone sixty bucks that it was me.

"Percy!" Sally greets him with full-on enthusiasm and I manage a smile. She tackles him with a hug and turns to me.

"Glad you could stop by, Annabeth" she said and I returned her hug. I've known her for so long, she feels like a mom to me.

"Percy, Annabeth. Thanks for joining us" Paul Blofis said.

"It's nothing" Percy and I said in unison and I looked down in embarrassment.

"Well!" Percy said. "What are we waiting for? I'm starving."

The dinner was fancy as hell and I knew Sally wanted to impress us. I devoured down mine in record time and asked for another serving and she seemed extremely pleased. Gods, the woman can cook. We made small talk about politics and the weather, Percy being unusually talkative. I frowned at his sudden change of behavior and Sally noticed, raising a brow. I smiled politely and shook my head. Dinner went by swiftly and before I knew it, I was helping Sally in the kitchen. She must have put loads of work into making dinner.

"Is everything alright?" she asked me.

"Yes. Why?"

"Just asking" she replied indifferently. Moments later she spoke up.

"Is something going on between you two?"

I stop for a minute and shake my head.

"No?" she asked.

"No."

"Hmmm" she muses and seems lost in thought.

We go into the living room and find Percy and his step-dad deep in conversation. They immediately stop when we come in and I know something is going on. We sit across from them and the tension in the air is obvious and nobody speaks.

"I'll be in my room" Percy said and left. All eyes turn on me except Percy's and I look down. Sally leaves to get dessert and I follow her, not wanting to sit still. She gets out blue ice cream and hands me a bowl.

"Give that to Percy, will you?" I nod in response and go find his room. I walk with swift and silent steps. I reach his room and the door is ajar. Inside it's dark except for a lamp lit next to his bed and I open the door quietly, walking cautiously to where he is sitting. He sits on the edge of his mattress with his elbows on his knees and hands covering his face. It couldn't be possible but...

"Percy?" I call, my voice small and insignificant against the wall of silence between us. I keep the bowl of ice cream on his desk and walk over to him, my pulse quickening and I kneel down in front of him. I try to take his hands off his face but he doesn't budge. I try once more, gently, and he gives in. When I see his face, my heart drops to the floor.

His eyes are bloodshot and his face is damp with tears. Those sea-green eyes regard me with every ounce of sadness he can muster and I suddenly have the impulse to wipe away his sorrow and kiss him. Tell him everything is going to be fine. But nothing is fine.

"Percy?" I barely whisper. Not even in battle, have I seen him so vulnerable, small and so helpless.

"What is it Annabeth?" he said, eyeing the floor.

"I... what..." I fumble and he looks me in the eye and said,

"It's killing me, Annabeth. Being so close to you, yet so distant. I can't..." he trails off and began to sob.

With those words, he shattered my armor of confidence.

"Do you want me to go?" I ask uncertainly.

He nods slowly and I look down at the floor. He wants me to go?

"Percy" I said quietly as if approaching something dangerous. "I don't want to go."

His head snaps up immediately and I see hope in his eyes. He smiles weakly and wipes away my tears with his thumb.

"It's not worth it, Annabeth. I don't deserve-" I kiss him there and then. Some hunger deep within my heart is satisfied and my thirst for him is quenched. I allow myself to get lost in this infinite moment of love with Percy and for the first time this week, I believe we might have another chance at our relationship.

"Annabeth-" he began as we break away but I place my finger on his lips.

"I don't know if I'm ready to forgive you, Percy. But I'll give you one more chance to prove yourself." His face brightens instantly at these words.

"But let's take it slow, okay?" I said and he nods. We both are ready. Ready to try it once more. Ready to start over.

[This chapter is more or less swear-free and tbh, it feels a lot more romantic, lol. I still can't believe people are enjoying my story because as far as I'm told, I'm trash at romance and drama, lmao. I read every review even if I don't respond to them always and it makes me happy beyond measure. Thanks all for the wonderful support!]

GirlItsCalledWierd

P.S Thanks for the 2000+ views. You guys are amazing!