24 hours later

Annabeth

"Annabeth,wake up."

A hand gently shook my shoulder. It took me all my strength not to slap it away,to simply tell the nurse to screw off. I opened my eyes,focusing on the girl sitting next to me. I recognised her scent.

"Hi." I said simply,trying to avoid the strong smell of medicine that hospitals tend to have. She helped me up and gave me a glass of water. Needless to say,I was parched.

"How long..?"

"A couple hours. None of us went back to the apartment. We couldn't." Piper said softly,giving me a cloth to wipe my sweaty face. I accepted it. For the first time in my life,I had no idea what to do. I had no plan,no thoughts on my next step. I was simply stuck and I hated it.

"Is Thalia..?"

"Under medication. Doctor won't let us see her." She sighed,pushing a lock of clumpy hair out of her face "or maybe she just doesn't want to see us."

I shivered,remembering how her eyes seemed to crackle with electricity as she yelled and screamed so much the entire hospital seemed to feel it. It took thirty minutes and 10 nurses to inject something into her arm,which made her slump into a sleeping mess.

"It was scary,I know." she said quietly. I wondered if Jason had a temper like that. Quite unlikely

"Percy?" My throat felt raw despite the water. Piper shook her head.

"No word."

I slumped back,closing my eyes. If I had just ran,trusted him and ran,we would be okay. But I was hardwired to stop and think. Percy was hardwired to act on the spot. It was because of me that he could very well be dead.

Perseus Jackson. Dead. His captivating green eyes and perfect,slightly crooked smile would never look at me again. He would never hold me,never touch nor kiss me. My eyes began to burn.

"Anne." Piper said softly,wrapping her arms around my shoulders. I buried my face into her neck,sobbing loudly. And then I passed out.

I kept waking up to find different people around me. Doctors,nurses,Piper,Jason. Sometimes I was alone. But I could only stay up for five minutes before passing out. The doctors didn't seem to find any injury that could make all this happen to me. I didn't hit my head. So they turned to the only reliable answer they had; trauma.

They were probably right. Sometimes when I closed my eyes,I could feel his warm,sticky blood all over my hands,his lifeless body slumped in my arms as the color seemed to drain away from his sea green eyes. I remember screaming,screaming so much that my very head hurt and throat went raw. I don't know who called an ambulance; a passerby,maybe. Within seconds I could hear the sirens,the lights flashing. The area was being taped off. Thalia screaming bloody murder. Two stretchers, for Luke Castellan and Perseus Jackson. Two ambulances. I remember climbing into the ambulance with him. He wasn't moving,his eyes were open. Choking with tears,I closed them.

The police interrogations. How I knew Luke. Why were we at thaat scene. How long did we know each other. Who I think could have done this. Questions about Percy. It was all a big blur to me. After what seemed like a billion years,I woke up again. Piper and Apollo were on both sides of my bed.

"Hello."

"Welcome back to the living," Apollo joked feebly. He looked tired. I wondered how I looked at the moment. Probably like a corpse. I sat up,my arms shaking a bit.

"The other are with Thalia." Piper explained. I nodded.

"Are you hungry?" Apollo asked me. I shook my head,ignoring the feeble protests from my stomach.

"No." I replied,looking at him. "What happened with Penny?"

"She's coming back,with her father." he said grimly,his eyebrows furrowing "she had a panic attack at the hospital while she was with her parents at the hospital. She'll be here tonight."

I felt guilty. Piper apparently felt the same "I shouldn't have busted it to her like that over the phone."

"Me neither. I wasn't very sensible either." I muttered. Apollo frowned at the two of us.

"I don't blame you. And Piper,Penny would have gone berserk if you just gave her a cliffhanger." he chided.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"4pm. And-"

Just then the door opened,Jason striding in. For a moment,I could see anger flashing in his eyes,a striking resemblance to Thalia. Leo was behind him,cringing. Door slamming behind them,he almost growled at Apollo.

"You knew." he hissed. Me and Piper looked confused.

"Man,look. I'm sorry-" Apollo started,but Jason cut him off.

"Sorry?" he argued "What is wrong with you?"

"What's going on?" Piper asked,standing up. Jason looked at her,eyes blazing. I had never seen him like this.

"Thalia was planning on running away again,and these idiots-" he gestured to Leo and Apollo "-knew about it and never told me."

"What?" Piper asked,looking from Leo to Apollo,both looking guilty. "But-why would she want to run again?"

"We don't know!" Leo cried out,looking distressed "she wouldn't tell us,all she said was that she needed to trust us and it was important-"

"How do I know that you aren't lying?" Jason said angrily.

"Jason." Piper said softly,dragging all the attention towards her. His gaze softened a bit,shoulders loosening up. It was amazing how she could do that. "Go back to Thalia. I'll talk to them."

"But-"

"Go. I'll join you in a bit. Okay?" She asked. Jason exhaled,nodding. He gave the boys one last look of loathing before leaving. Piper frowned at them.

"Well?"

"We were talking the other day,and it was pretty obvious that she was about to run." Leo said hastily "And I asked her about it. She told me not to tell Jason,at least for now. Man I mean the lady is scary,okay? Like yes I feel bad,really bad. But it was either that or be murdered!"

"I was in the other room,eavesdropping." Apollo said softly,hands in his pockets. "I came out and confronted her like Leo did..and well..she came onto me." He looked down..and his face went red? I raised an eyebrow. Even Leo looked confused.

"Came..onto you?" I asked. He looked trapped.

"She begged me not to tell Jason, and how this affected everything and she even mentioned that she would be back! I didn't-"

"Did she kiss you?" Piper asked sharply. Apollo looked scared.

"No! Gods no Piper I would never do that to Penny. Or Jason. But she just...I don't know. Maybe I thought she wouldn't actually leave. She just looked so serious,scared even. And I didn't know what to do." Apollo said,frustrated.

"Do you like Thalia?" Leo asked suspiciously.

"Dude,no." Apollo said,scowling. "Enough. We've messed up enough,the last thing we need is for me to cheat on Penny and screw Jason's sister."

We all stayed silent,until Leo piped up,"Oh and nice to see that you're up Annabeth." I cracked a tiny smile. Piper sighed.

"I'm going to see Thalia." and she walked out. Leo sighed,pulling at his curly hair.

"Man,this is the worst." he said sadly "I'm surprised that Jason hasn't killed us yet."

"Please,no mentioning of killing." Apollo said,slumping down in a chair "Not after..."

I chill went down my spine "Is-any word about Percy?" I asked,desperate. He looked at me sadly.

"Doctors aren't revealing anything." He said "And Luke...I've spoken to him a few times. We used to be a little close. Helped me get with Penny back then." he smiled faintly "I even despised him for being so close with her. But I'll miss him."

Luke. Poor Luke. I remembered how scared he had looked. How he told me to run,run away from the Jackson's before it's too late. I shook my head. I didn't want to think about that.

"How are you,by the way?" He asked me,cutting off my thoughts. I blinked.

"Huh? Oh,well I'm not hurt. Just-"

"No. Not like that. I mean," he inhaled "Like...seeing all that,the gunshots,the accident..what happened with Percy and now Luke...how are you holding up?"

My chest deflated. I understood why Penny liked him so much. She was always so rushed,never expressed her emotions much and never knew how to express them. Apollo was her perfect match,able to interpret my thoughts and understand what was happening. "I-I'm holding on."

He gave me a curt nod,leaning back and closing his eyes.

"What do you think Penny will do when she comes back?" Leo asked weakly. Apollo sighed.

"Kill me for not telling Jason. Murder the doctors if they don't allow her to see Percy."

"It'll be worse than the other time." Leo groaned,sliding in his hair. I frowned.

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked. Apollo took a deep breath.

"Before you came here,it was a mess. Percy would leave for long periods of time,leaving Penny at home alone. Jason already knew her so he would kind of give her company when the house got too cold and quiet. But even he couldn't keep Penny calm all the time. She refused to drink like Percy,so she went overboard on coffee instead. Doesn't sound like much,but there are side affects. She didn't sleep at all,and at times she would pass out for hours. She began hallucinating and without Percy,we didn't really know what to do. Piper took care of her but it wasn't enough."

I remembered something Apollo had said,months ago when Percy first disappeared for an entire week. Penny had collapsed on the sofa,drowsy with coffee and he said something like,"The last time this happened-" and was then cut off. It made sense now.

"You're lucky you didn't see her." Apollo said softly,his eyes wide "She would hardly talk,she lost a lot of weight,nothing but a bag of bones,and she was always pale and tired."

I nodded "But you still loved her."

"Yeah. I did."

I imagined a younger Penny,frail and tired and dead to the world. I imagined someone tall,sturdy and handsome like Apollo falling for her,always trying to make her feel special and loved. The thought was endearing.

"It's going to be okay." Apollo muttered "Percy's going to be fine." he seemed to be consoling himself,but I didn't object. I was grateful. Leo got up.

"I need coffee." he murmered and ran out. I put my head against the pillow,feeling a little dizzy.

"Apollo?"

"Hm?"

"Tell me something about Percy. A story or something. I don't want to fall asleep again." I asked quietly. He smiled.

"Well,okay..." he hesitated "Ooh,okay okay. So on Percy's and Penny's seventeenth birthday,we went to this fancy restaurant. And it was going well until Penny started bringing up how she was born first and thus deserved more cake for putting up with him. Percy got mad and told her to give him any dare,anything at all."

"Bad move." I grinned,my face slightly plaining.

"Penny dared him to take a spoonful of hot sause,dip it in some salt and run around screaming, 'my pants are on fire'."

"And?"

"Percy didn't let her down." Apollo grinned,his white teeth flashing. I laughed.

"After that,well,we got kicked out. We didn't even have to pay, because Leo decided to add some more spice by standing up on the table and pulling down his pants,only to reveal that he was wearing women's underwear."

We both laughed,feeling light headed. I felt better already. "You wanna hear another one?"

"Fire away,Solace." I grinned,eager for more.

"When they were about sixteen,Percy told Penny that he wanted to go out,get drunk and loosen up a bit. This was around when they first moved in together,away from their family. Penny agreed,and gave him the address for the nearest lesbian bar."

"Oh she didn't." I smiled. Ultimate Penny move.

"Oh she did,that beautiful angel." he said fondly "Penny didn't think he would stay there for long but he did. Worried,she got me,Leo and Jason to drive her to the bar and when we reached,we found him on the stage drunk and wearing a pink scarf and singing Beyonce's 'All the single ladies'."

I laughed again,wanting to be with Percy more than ever. To look him in the eye and never take him for granted again. Then I frowned. "Wait,they moved in together at age sixteen? But that's not even allowed."

"I know," he nodded "but they managed to pull some strings,they changed their names and ages on certain contracts. If it was ever dug up,they'd be in serious trouble. But that's how they are."

I nodded. "Tell me how you and Penny met."

His eyes glazed over as he seemed to be traveling into the past where he would steal glances at the green eyes girl who would look away blushing "I remember it like it was just yesterday. When we were sixteen,we all decided to go to a carnival. I had just met Piper and Percy,I knew Leo and Jason longer. Percy told us that his sister would be joining us soon,it didn't mean much to me. Until I saw her."

I grinned at his face,now flushed "What did you do?"

"Well,my first thought? Daym,she's beautiful. She was wearing this cute crop top with jeans and was always laughing and joking around with Percy. It took all my strength to not drool and stare." he said contently,staring at nowhere in particular "I always made it clear that I liked her,and I knew she liked me too. She just didn't want anything to do with guys. It made sense,I mean,she had to see her brother bang a new girl every week. She probably thought she would be used and thrown away. I swear,if Percy had been more decent,I could've gotten her way back." he chuckled,the smile fading away.

"He really loves you,you know." he added,looking at me. "I've never seen him head over heels with any girl."

Something in me stirred "And he means a lot to me. But...I don't even know if-if he's-" I couldn't finish the sentence. I wiped my eyes quickly,not wanting to break down again. I'm Annabeth Chase,and I'm tough. He smiled sadly.

"I know Chase,I know."

...

YOOOOO HIIII LOOK I WROTE A BIG CHAPTER FOR YALL SO YOU BETTER REVIEW OR ELSE I WILL CRY SMH K BYEEEE