Annabeth was at a loss for words.

Well, of course she was. her throat was blocked by the white-hot lump that had settled itself there. It made tears brim in her eyes all over again. Not to mention that train of thought was currently occupied with too many thoughts. It was hard to not just stay silent like that, stuck in Percy's embrace. It was hard to not sob in both newfound joy- and sadness too.

Percy, as well, was at a loss for words.

He had snuck into her room when he saw the familiar glow of lights. Percy expected everything but this. He'd never seen Annabeth like this. Not even when her favourite character in a book died. Or when they were much younger, when Annabeth fell and sprained her arm. It was strange. And it really hurt. He clenched his fist.

"I'm sorry," Annabeth apologizes again, sniffling. "This is unprofessional of me. I-I'm sorry." Her leg is sore with tension.

"Hey, hey..." Percy rests a hand on her back, helping her sit up. "I told you already. No need to apologize. Just," He shakes his head. "Are you okay with telling me what happened?"

She stays silent. "Im not sure."

"Then that's fine." He reassures, eyes showing the tiniest bit of concern. Annabeth doesn't see it- as much as Percy wants her to.

"My mom," She rubs her eye gingerly with her hand. "She just came into the kingdom a while ago. Told me a lot of pretty harsh things."

"As in Athena?" Percy's eyes widen in disbelief. She's told him about her, maybe when they were nine. Those stories about Athena were never good. And her visit can't mean any good either.

Annabeth nods quietly. "Yeah. Her." She looks up at him. "Hey, Percy?"

He looks right back at her. "Hm?"

"Am I... What do you think about me?"

"What d'you mean? You're my best friend. You've helped me throughout all this, so-" She cuts him off with her own words.

"I don't mean it like that." Annabeth swallows thickly. "What do you think about me just being here? I'm just.. Well, me. I'm not a noble. Or royalty."

"I don't think that matters, wisegirl. Not to me." The way he just looks at her makes Annabeth want to sob all over again. Why would it anyways? Percy wants to say, so badly, but he can't bring himself to ask.

"Am I..." She pauses. "Am I really good enough to be here? To actively be with people who just are more better than me. Athena, she.. She's making me think otherwise."

Percy's blood runs cold, making him freeze. What kind of question was that? And just what did Athena say to her? "Of course you are, Annabeth! You've been more than enough here." He insists, voice full confusion. "You've always have been." It's such a simple saying, and yet she can't help but find herself tearing up at the sentence.

He continues. "Did Athena say that you... weren't?"

"Yeah. Sort of. She just said that I'm not worthy enough. Not worth the time or the trouble." Annabeth winces at the memory, and also at Percy's look of hurt. Does she know that isn't true? Percy hope so. But how her eyes gleamed in the lighting, he starts to doubt that.

Did she really think that?

"Annabeth. Please don't think that way. You play a key role here! You're more than just worth the trouble, whatever that means-"

A key role. That's all she'll ever be, right?

Calypso was more than perfect. Rachel, Drew... All good suitors. Why would Percy ever bat an eye towards her? He only looked at her like a friend. Friends weren't so bad- and Annabeth really cherished her friendship between her and him. But.. Can frined give you feelings like this? Can they make your heart go pitter-patter everytime they see you?

No. No, they could not.

"-And don't let anyone, especially your own mother, let you think otherwise."

Right?

"Y-yeah." Annabeth murmurred. "Thank you. Really." She meant it. But she can't stop the growing feeling of inferiority creeping on her skin, biting at her. It's not much of a nice feeling, which makes her breath hitch. Neither can Annabeth stop the words from falling from her mouth. "It's getting late. You should leave." A stupid thing to say. After all that, too?

The clouds start to move in, covering the pale moon. It's dark. Really dark.

Shadows shroud every corner of the spacey area.

"Really?" Hurt laces his tone. There's a bit of understanding in the word along with it. "I can stay here, you know."

"I-Its fine. Someone like you shouldn't spend time here anyways. With me." Annabeth lowers her head glumly.

"I don't think-"

A lock comes from her door. Loud and sharp. "Annabeth? You awake? We heard some voices." Elizabeth's voice comes through, muffled on the other side. She looks over towards Percy.

"Please, Go. I'll be fine." Annabeth reassures, a small smile on her face. It doesn't quite reach her eyes. Percy can't bring himself to deny her. So,

"I..." He hugs her one last time, squeezing her shoulders as tight as he possibly can without hurting her. "Okay. I'll see you later."

"Yeah." Her smile dissapears.

Then Percy's gone, the window shutting close with a slight thump! of the glass. It hurt, it really does. Annabeth can never really have him. Percy was never hers to begin with, really, so why does her chest ache with every breath? She's just there to play a role. Despite what her reassuring best friend told her; she can't seem to shake the thoughts out of her head. Maybe it'll always stay like this.

It's much more hotter than it was before. Even with the lingering cool night air.

"Annabeth?" Elizabeth calls out again, her knocking more frantic and worrysome. "You okay in there?"

"E-everyhings just fine." She stammers out, wiping her wettened cheek with her sleeve. Her bed and blankets are damp with drying tears.

"...Alright," Elizabeth replies after a short beat of silence. Footsteps walk away from the door, leaving Annabeth alone to herself.

It took her a while. All those confusing, gut wrenching, feelings. The way Annabeth feels whenever she brushes a hand across his own. The pure jealousy whenever she saw him with someone else- even with someone as pure as calypso. She didn't want to be like this. She was never a jealous person. But Percy just so happened to change that narrative.

Because Annabeth loved him.

And they could never be together.

The next day it's quiet. Somber.

It's a humid, day, starting out as cloudy and dry. The weather makes it seem as if it's refecting off of Annabeth's emotions Then as the day goes on, it gets more cool and sunny. Perfect weather.

Three more girls get eliminated, leaving only few. The last few. It feels like a fever dream to Annabeth. Soon enough, she'll be the one in a carriage riding out of the palace. Maybe that would be a good thing. Considering the fact that it would be better to get it over with, and all.

Athena still leaves her option of leaving still standing. Annabeth might take it. Then it hits her- She never did get to tell Percy about that, did she? What he didn't know couldn't hurt him. It couldnt, no matter what.

Cameras still swarm the palace, words on the recent break in spreading around. Not even the remaining participant can stop talking about it, either. But the fact that the selection could be coming to a soon end is more than enough to keep them entertained. Much to her demise, Drew is still there. Kimberly got eliminated soon enough.

Annabeth laughs at the sight. Tears and wails ringing throughout the room, her "What!? How can this be!?" making people snicker and guffaw. That was just the thing she needed to get her mood backup. It felt nice. Wait, no. That was wrong.

Still, though, She thinks. It was pretty funny.

Calypso and Piper still remian, too. Piper just waved it off. Calypso beamed at the news.

Annabeth?

It's bleak. No new news to her. Only to help Percy is her only purpose there. Sure, that's fine by her.

Not like she has much of a choice.

tHANK YOU GUYS SO FREAKING MUCH! you guys are so understanding and I'm really glad to have such nice readers as u guys :) *insert heart emojis here*

so I plan on having 30 or less chapters. beware, everything's gonna get a lot more ramped up from here. better buckle up for safe measure.

I'm def not as active as I was in the past months, but summer break is finally here (yeah my school ends pretty late) so I'll work harder! before my current concerns were grades so just worrying abt updating my fics is a huge plus.

thanks for reading! and I hope you guys enjoyed!