Everyone always leaves.
First it was her father, who left Annabeth for her stepmother, who hated Annabeth and her 'lies' - (there aren't spiders in here, you brat. Stop waking up your brothers, you're a big girl now).
Then, it was Thalia - who, even though it wasn't her fault (It's the gods, it's always the gods' fault) still died, still left her with Luke.
Luke - stupid, stupid Luke - started to leave her exactly eight days after Thalia died. She hadn't noticed it then - too caught up in her grief to notice - but when he first tried to kill Percy, the first time, Annabeth saw.
Percy was the first to stay. She expected him to leave, to take her as the daughter of his father's enemy, to run from her like everyone else did.
But he stayed. He stayed after Hera had forced them apart, after they had fallen into the pits of hell, after they defeated Gaia.
You have to be perfect, Her mind told her. Otherwise he'll leave you.
So she slowed her eating. Gradually, at first, going from skipping lunch every other day to hardly eating a full meal when she remembered that the last time she 'ate' was days ago.
Logically, she knew it wasn't going to solve anything - she was just wasting away from the inside out - but that side of her brain that said she had to be perfect always, always won, saying she could be just a little bit thinner, just a little slimmer.
She worked out as much as she could, too. Percy noticed, teasing her for being in the arena more often than him. Annabeth brushed it off with a smile, ignoring the hunger and the logical side of her brain that said she should eat.
Suddenly it had been a year after the was with Gaia, and they were celebrating - everyone was eating, having competitions, setting off fireworks, drinking (except Percy, she noticed, who only had the water Thalia offered him).
The nightmares were worse then, too. She couldn't escape the faces that haunted her, saying she could be better.
You're worthless, The voices taunted. Percy's gonna leave you soon, and you'll be all alone.
The next day she found him on the floor of their bathroom, crying and hyperventilating. Later, when he had calmed down and showered, he explained everything to her - and it was almost enough to have Annabeth break, to tell him everything that was haunting her.
But she couldn't, because then she'd pull him down (just like she lulled him into Tartarus, it was her fault herfaultherfault) and then he'd leave her, just like everyone else.
Suddenly, it was Thanksgiving, and Annabeth was out shopping for groceries. She wanted to cry as she wandered down the isles of food, searching for the ingredients they would need.
On her way home she IM'ed Percy - and she nearly told him, nearly broke.
Then she saw him - blinking back tears and looking so, so frustrated. He insisted he was fine, then asked her how she was.
Annabeth blanked, freezing, but for millisecond - Percy didn't notice, and she didn't elaborate.
When he repeated the question, she smiled (a fake smile, stretching over fake skin) and nodded.
Yeah, I'm good.
(Please don't leave me here alone.)