Warning: this chapter deals with a slightly violent sex scene and some relationship abuse. Nothing physical, but just wanted to warn you guys. Enjoy!

Chapter 7

Annabeth

Annabeth was having a terrible day and it wasn't even breakfast time yet. The air was sticky and humid already when she woke up as if the universe was purposely making a bad day worse. She barely had the energy to get out of bed, knowing what she had to do today.

A text from Luke popped up on her phone. Still on for lunch?

Annabeth sighed, sending him a quick confirmation. She had tossed and turned all night, debating on canceling on him, or sending him a breakup text at two in the morning, or just going to lunch and pretending like everything was fine.

Could she really do this? She hadn't really been alone since before her freshman year of high school. She had never been single. She had never had the freedom to walk into a bar and kiss a stranger, or hook up with a guy at a party. And up until recently she had been perfectly okay with that. She didn't know if it was the fact that college was approaching or she was changing or if it had to do with another boy coming to town but something had changed. She needed to experience that freedom that came with being single, needed to experience something other than Luke.

Then, things went really south. Lily was a disaster on their trail ride, skittering around when she saw sticks, rearing up at the sight of a chipmunk. Annabeth wondered if her horse could feel her own anxiety. On the way back, she stopped by her truck to grab the boots she wanted to wear, and that's when she realized the dumb thing wouldn't start. To make matters worse, Percy was in the barn when she got back looking unreasonably attractive in his t-shirt and jeans, the sight sending a rush of heat through her stomach. So of course, she did the most logical thing. She picked a fight.

He looked taken aback, which kind of hurt but it made Annabeth feel better to yell at somebody, something, anything, so she figured he could take it. She arranged to take her dad's truck instead, and she was the first to arrive at the diner. Annabeth took a seat at the booth they always sat at, giving Mae a tight smile.

"Darlin'" The older woman placed a menu in front of Annabeth, her southern accent thick as honey, "Somebody else joining ya today?"

Annabeth chewed on her bottom lip. "Luke should be here soon."

"Ah," Mae said, her face breaking out into a big smile. "You two are just the cutest, sweetheart. Everybody's rootin' for ya."

Annabeth choked out a thanks and pretended to be busy with her menu. She heard the familiar rumble of his truck before she actually saw him, the little bell on the door ringing when he walked in. He looked good. Of course, looks weren't the problem with them. He was relaxed in running shorts and an old t-shirt and Annabeth began to doubt herself.

No. A voice in the back of her head said, you know what you need to do.

Annabeth stiffened when he sat down, leaning forward to give her a quick kiss before saying hello. His lips were chapped and uninviting.

"Did you already order?" He asked, scanning the menu even though they had both been here enough times to know what they wanted.

Annabeth shook her head slightly. "No, but she's getting our milkshakes."

Luke looked up, cocking his head. "Everything alright?" He looked slightly concerned. It pained Annabeth. He knew her so well, it hurt.

"Yeah," She forced a smile. NO. "Do you want to share some fries?" Do you want to break up? Her subconscious screamed.

Be quiet. She told it. Maybe she was losing her mind. Actually, she had probably lost it already a long time ago.

"Sure." He responded, completely oblivious to the war going on inside her. "I'm not super hungry, so that's probably enough."

"Great." She smiled up at him. Mae came over with two milkshakes, strawberry for Annabeth, chocolate for Luke. Annabeth took a huge drink while Luke ordered, trying to look busy. Since when had a date with Luke become awkward? And boring?

She took a deep breath, desperately trying to think of a way to start the conversation, "Luke, I think we need to - we need - there's something," She stumbled over her words, unable to spit them out. There was something in his eyes - doubt, pity, concern - no, fear. Fear at the words she was trying to get out.

Luke took her hand from across the table. "I think I know what you're trying to say."

Annabeth almost spit up her drink. "You do?" She inquired.

He nodded solemnly. It was a weird expression on him. She rarely saw him act serious, even when it was just the two of them. "We should talk about what we're going to do once I go to college. I mean, obviously, we'll still be together, but I just want you to know that everything will be okay. You can come visit, and I'll obviously come home all the time so we can spend time together."

"Oh," She couldn't breathe, but Luke took it as she was scared or nervous or something about him leaving. Of course, she couldn't breathe because she had come here to break up with him and here he was basically telling her he saw a future for them years from now.

His eyebrows drew together at her lack of response, "We are on the same page about this, right? I mean… I'm planning on forever with you."

Annabeth almost threw up. "Forever?" She choked out.

He chuckled nervously, "I'm not proposing. Just, we've been together since we were fourteen. I thought maybe that meant something."

Somewhere in the back of Annabeth's mind she knew that was a condescending, controlling statement. She realized all of a sudden, he knew exactly where she had wanted to take this conversation. He knew things were rough between them. But by reminding her of their history, he was trying to guilt her into another few months with him.

A part of Annabeth, the part that wasn't drowning in his puppy eyes, or remembering all of the good moments they had had, was aware that this was the wrong conversation. Aware that she wanted to break up with him. Aware that in his own twisted way, he was manipulating her.

But he was Luke, and he was hers, and he was looking at her so hopefully and all of a sudden she couldn't do it. They were Annabeth and Luke. Breaking up was not an option in this town. The rumors would be endless, and all of them would point poorly to her. Who knows what Luke would say about her if she dumped him. She reached out and took his hand again. "Of course it does." She said softly.

He grinned, "Good." He said, reaching for their untouched fries. "I can't imagine losing you, Annie."

She cringed at the nickname. Why couldn't she bring herself to do it? The only thing holding her back was the past, which was ridiculous. She liked to think of herself as not sentimental, but she couldn't bring herself to dump in. In fact, she couldn't even bring herself to tell him no when he said they should go get some ice cream before heading home. She had brought her own car, but he insisted on driving.

"I'll drop you off when we're done." He promised. She agreed, reluctantly, and climbed into his passenger seat. She rolled down the window and stuck her legs out, the hot air whipping at her skin. She turned the radio up louder and felt Luke grab her hand, tracing circles on the inside of her wrist.

Annabeth rifled through her bag and pulled out sunglasses, slipping them on. The whole scene was so familiar yet so wrong, that Annabeth felt an odd sense of deja vu, like this wasn't the first time she had been guilted into staying with him, being with him.

His hand traveled farther up her arm, until it was brushing her neck. She shivered, heat in her lower regions appearing. This was what he wanted, she knew that, and she shouldn't give him this - this satisfaction, this controlling behavior was so unhealthy, but there was something about it that turned her on and that scared her even more.

She was so fucked up.

And then they were passing their hookup spot. A little clearing off of the back road between the diner and town. Tire marks cleared the path into the woods, the place used by teenagers daily.

"Pull over." Annabeth said, making an extremely dangerous - no, rash - no, disgusting, decision.

Luke smirked. "Gladly." He sounded proud. God, there was something seriously wrong with her. The car bumped along in the dirt, Annabeth already pulling her boots off so they could climb in the back. She went first, Luke throwing the car into park as fast as he could. She always went first, since she was never on top. Luke hated it whenever she tried that.

His buckle came undone with a sickening clink and he ripped her underwear off her - literally ripped - she could see it laying in tatters on the floor of his truck. Her eyes zeroed in on that as he entered her, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in her gut. She felt as if she looked up at him she might break, show signs of weakness and she couldn't do that. She was strong, she was the girl with the quarterback boyfriend and the rich parents and she was Annabeth fucking Chase. She was not going to start crying just because she wasn't enjoying sex right now. The car rocked back and forth, the old wheels creaking at their movements.

"Annabeth," He panted. "Look at me."

She didn't - she couldn't, she felt frozen in place as he grasped roughly at her breast.

"I said," He stilled inside her, grabbing her chin roughly. She forced down tears as his eyes met hers, the look in them purely... purely animalistic, controlling, disgusting and she realized he couldn't get there without feeling in control, without touching her roughly, without gripping her thighs a little too hard.

What had she been thinking? She wanted to tell him to stop, that she hated this, but she couldn't speak. "Look at me." He said forcefully, before roughly starting to move again. And she realized that he didn't care how she felt. He didn't care if she came or if she was happy or satisfied after. She was a place for him to stick his dick.

And then his hand was on her throat, choking her. Not hard, but dangerously enough that she was… no. No, no, no. There was no way.

But she was.

She was so insanely turned on that she had to stifle a very loud moan because she was not - she would never - give him the satisfaction of knowing that he was pleasuring her right now. Except he did know, and a cocky, ugly grin spread across her face forcing her to close her eyes.

Another mistake. As soon as she shut them, a pair of green eyes popped up, and before she could help it she was picturing him inside of her, his hand on her throat and then she moaned for real because she knew then that this is what she had been wanting subconsciously. She suddenly found herself closer to the edge, finishing just as Luke was pushed over the edge. He let out a grunt before slumping against her. She allowed them one, two seconds before shoving him off her.

"I want to go home." She stuttered finally, after he had zipped up and they were back in the front seat.

Luke grinned in a way that made her feel so uncomfortable she almost vomited. "Sure. That was great, though." He kissed her and Annabeth felt another wave of nausea.

"Yeah," She murmured. She stuck her head in her phone the rest of the drive, ignoring the sickening feeling in her stomach and the wet feeling in her panties, a painful reminder of what she had just let happen.

Luke sped home, and all she was thinking about was her locking her door and spending the rest of the day in bed trying to figure out her feelings. They turned down her road, and she found herself face to face with the Grace Mansion.

"Stop." She said suddenly. He slammed on the brakes.

"Wanna pull over again?" He laughed. She fought down a wave of nausea. He disgusted her. She disgusted herself for staying with him.

"No just - just drop me off at Thalia's." She was breathless, she couldn't breathe, she needed -

"Sure." He said, turning down their drive. "I'll see you soon?"

She didn't respond, jumping out of his car and running before he had the chance to kiss her again.

"Annabeth!" Jason said in surprise as tripped over herself into the house, the familiar parlor in her view. "What are you-"

"Later." She gasped. "Thalia?"

"Her room." Jason said, reaching towards her but she brushed him off. He said something else but she couldn't comprehend.

She pushed open the doors to Thalia's room, stumbling in, tripping over a few dirty pieces of clothing.

"Hey!" Thalia laughed, then turned serious at how - how, desperate Annabeth knew she looked. Weak and desperate and drowning in whatever this thing she had with Luke was. She needed - she was fucked - this was unhealthy. She needed therapy after the realization she had come to today. She couldn't let him go, not because of the past, not because of his looks or his pleading face, not because of all their memories but because she somehow - someway had developed an attraction for the constant abuse he had caused her over the past few years. Emotional, sure, but he was abusing her and she - she was into it. It didn't matter how she got here. Maybe it was his doing, grooming or whatever those psychiatrists called it, maybe it was her own sick, twisted, disgusting mind.

She hadn't realized she was fainting until Thalia caught her, and then she was sobbing. Ugly, heaving sobs and she could feel her best friend's hands in her hair and Annabeth was clinging to her and sobbing.

Somehow Thalia got her onto the bed. Annabeth didn't know how much time had passed before she finally calmed down, but Thalia didn't move the entire time.

"Do you want to talk?" She asked finally. Annabeth had stopped crying, but she figured it was more because she just didn't have any tears left.

"I-I tried to break up with Luke today." She sniffled.

Thalia put her chin on Annabeth's head. "I take it that didn't go well."

Annabeth shook her head, sitting up and looking her friend in the eye. "I - I'm - I think I'm addicted to him." She whispered. "Thalia, there's something wrong with me."

"No." She said firmly. "There is something wrong with Luke. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Whatever you think, it's him, Annabeth. You know I've seen the way he's treated you this past year."

"But-" Annabeth sniffled.

"No buts. Lets send the dick a text right now and tell him it's over." Thalia said aggressively.

Annabeth managed a laugh. "Not right now. But I might take you up on that offer soon."

"Good." She nodded. "I have this thing with my dad, but I can cancel if you want. Whatever you need."

Annabeth smiled at her gratefully. "No, go be with your family. I should get home soon anyways, my family will be wondering where I am."

Thalia gave her a huge hug. "I love you." She said quietly.

"I know." Annabeth sniffed again, determined to not end up crying. "I love you." Annabeth hauled herself out of bed, halfway out the door before Thalia spoke.

"When you want to talk about what actually happened today, I'm here for that too." Her best friend's pointed look gave Annabeth the idea that she wasn't dropping it - this would be revisited.

Annabeth held back a sigh, and left. The Grace's chauffeur drove her to her car at the diner and she drove herself home with shaky hands. Of course, then she saw him again, and she couldn't help having a flashback to when she was positive she was going to have to fake it but then she saw those eyes in her ridiculous fantasy and she had gotten there - for the first time, with Luke.

His eyes were sparkling today, and she had done the stupidest thing she could have done - asked him to hang out. Percy looked surprised, but she figured he would be after the way she had acted that morning. Annabeth didn't know what she thought was going to happen. Maybe she was delusional, thinking they would all of a sudden get along - yes, that was it. She must have been delusional to think he could be nice for an evening.

And then she had said that dumb thing about a boyfriend, and things got worse, and she ended up crying again this time alone in her own bed. Out of all seventeen years of her ridiculous life, she had never felt more lonely or empty than she did today.

I'm back very soon haha, mostly because I was extremely bored babysitting today during nap time. This chapter is violent, so I'm sorry if it was too much for people. But I wanted to add another layer of complexity to their relationship, since I think it explains why she's staying with him over and over again. Anyways, hope you guys liked, I promise there really won't be anything this crazy again. Definitely lemons, but nothing like this. Love y'all.

-a