Chapter 8

-Percy-

"Mr. Jackson?"

Percy looks to Mr. Brunner. "Yes sir?"

"Jason has told me you brought a full set of what you and your group plan to use for the mock battle at Halloween," he says, speaking to Percy privately.

"Yeah, I did. It's in a duffel bag I set in your closet earlier," he explains, gesturing to the closet in question.

"Will you allow me to see it?"

"You want me to wear it?" Percy asks. "Or just show you."

"That's up to you, my boy," Mr. Brunner says. "But I would like your group to be here as well. After all, this is a group project."

"Yes, sir."

Percy goes back to his table and Leo looks at him upon his return.

"What did Mr. Brunner want?" he asks.

"Come with me," Percy says. "He wants us to show him what we have so far."

"Sweet! Where's the bag?" Frank asks.

"I have it in the closet. Come on, let's not keep him waiting," Percy replies.

...

Mr. Brunner leads Percy and his group to his private office so there's no interruptions.

Leo and Frank help Percy get set up in the armor and once all the plastic armor plates are in place, he puts the shield on his arm and secures the wooden xiphos to his side. The shield looks just like it's from the movie, 300.

Mr. Brunner walks around Percy, inspecting him.

"Wood swords?" he asks.

"Is that going to be a problem?" Percy asks him. "If it is we can easily change to plastic or something."

"No no, that shouldn't be a problem," he says. "Like I said, no heavy hits to any part of the body and you should be fine."

"So, what do you think?" he asks, opening his arms.

"Impressive how you made this in a week," Mr. Brunner says.

"All thanks to Leo," Frank says. "The guy doesn't stop working."

"I'm almost finished with two more sets," Leo says, obviously pleased with himself.

"And you and Jason's group will have the same armor?" Mr. Brunner asks.

"Yeah, kinda," Leo says.

"That's 10 sets of armor. Think you can do it in two weeks?" Percy asks him, but he has a feeling he already knows the answer.

"I'll work day and night until the order is complete," Leo says, then he grins and mockingly bows. "My King."

Everyone chuckles, but Percy rolls his eyes.

"Shut up, Valdez," he sighs.

"Well, in that case," Mr. Brunner says. "I'll allow you guys to use the workshop here. Feel free to bring your materials so you can keep working here if you'd like."

"Thanks, Mr. Brunner," Percy says. "But I think we can manage with Leo's house for the armor. Now, I think I should pack this stuff up."

He starts taking the armor off and carefully packs it up. The shield and spear won't fit in the bag so Percy stores it in the workshop, tied to the bag the armor is in. They spend the rest of the hour trying to design some armor for Frank and they just finish the chest plate when the bell rings.

"Oh hey! Mr. Brunner!" Percy calls out. He runs up to him.

"Yes, Percy?"

"I have something I think you might like to see. I don't have it here because... well... it's real. It's a real xiphos sword that Leo's dad made for me a few years ago after he heard about my interest in this kind of stuff, you know?"

"You have a real xiphos sword?" Mr. Brunner asks.

"Yeah. I was wondering if it would be alright if I brought it in Monday? It has a sheathe and that's how it will stay while it's here," Percy promises.

"I would like to see it, yes. I'll ask the principal and see if it's alright. But for now, you should get to your next class."

"Cool. See you next week!"

Mr. Brunner smiles and nods before turning back to his work.

...

Before he knew it, Percy found himself sitting in the common area after the final bell, right by the entrance of the building, talking to Jason about their project. Leo had already left for his house to keep making the armor and prop weapons they need to finish their costumes.

"Oh, get this. So, I talked to Mr. Brunner about my sword at home, yeah?"

"What he say?" Jason asks, impatient at the fact that Percy keeps pausing, though he's just making sure they're actually listening.

"He wants to see it and he talked to the principal," he explains. "I'm going to bring it to school on Monday for the class as long as I keep it in its sheathe unless instructed otherwise. He just told me this right before our last class."

"That's cool! Hey maybe Leo's dad can make me a gladius," he jokes.

Percy shrugs. "Maybe. But we both know the Greeks are better."

"Hey, the Romans shaped today's civilization!" Jason protests.

"But the Greeks fought hundreds of thousands, if not a million, Persians with only 300 Spartans," Percy argues. "And it wasn't just the Romans, the Greeks had some part in it, too!"

"Pfft! They had help! It wasn't just those 300. It doesn't count," Jason says, ignoring the latter comment.

"Of course it counts! I don't think your Romans ever did that."

"They've fought superior numbers before," Jason argues.

"Not with only 300."

A laugh interrupts their argument and Percy turns around, seeing Annabeth standing nearby.

"How long have you been standing there?" he asks, heat rising in his face.

"Oh, long enough," she says, smiling innocently.

"I thought you were going shopping today," Percy says.

"We decided that, after this morning, we can wait a while. Give everybody some time to cool off."

"This morning?" Percy asks, his eyebrows scrunching together. He had forgotten what happened earlier.

"We... I... had a fight with Rachel... about you," she confesses, her cheeks flush. "Right before I went to see you."

Now it's Percy's turn to blush. "Oh... You argued about me?"

"I was trying to defend you," she says, meeting his eyes for a second before looking away again.

"You didn't have to do that."

It's true. She didn't have to stand up for him, but that doesn't mean he isn't touched by it. It isn't often someone else other than Jason or Leo defend him, not that he'll ever admit to wanting it.

"I know, but I felt like I did. I know what it's like to be betrayed," she says, her eyes look towards her feet and she crosses her arms, almost hugging herself. It's clear this is an uncomfortable topic for her, too.

"I'll give you two some space," Jason says. "Are we still going to Leo's or...?"

Percy nods to him. "Yeah, just wait for me, okay?"

Jason nods and leaves them to themselves. Annabeth sits down next to Percy. "So... if you would like to talk... I'm here now."

Percy takes a deep breath. "I don't really know where to begin. Except we should probably go somewhere more private."

"Now that would seem suspicious," she says, but she's smiling softly.

He wouldn't mind the privacy and he has a feeling she wouldn't, either.

"Well... I think Jason knows what happened? So if you're willing to come with us again..." Percy offers.

Annabeth's smile brightens a bit. "Sure, I'd love to come with."

Her smile is so gorgeous. She's gorgeous.

Percy mentally slaps himself. Don't start going down that rabbit hole again, Perce. Don't think like that... not so soon.

"Alright, then let's go. I just gotta get my bag..."

"Already got it for ya."

Jason walks back and hands Percy's bag to him. "And your shield, and spear."

Percy secures his shield to his back and carries the spear with his bag. "Annabeth is coming with us today, too. If that's okay."

"Of course," Jason says with a smile. "Can't have your girlfriend stay behind," he whispers.

Percy and Annabeth blush. "Hey, she's not my girlfriend," he says defensively.

Jason laughs. "Whatever you say."

"Oh yeah? Well how's things with you and Piper?" Percy retorts. "Did you finally ask her out like you said you would?"

Annabeth gasps. "You're going to ask her out?"

"No! I mean, yes! I mean... oh fuck you, Jackson!"

Percy laughs.

"Don't tell Piper," Jason says.

"My lips are sealed," Annabeth says, miming the act of zipping her lips and locking it with a key.

...

During the car ride to Leo's house, she and Percy talk about what happened earlier that morning.

"You really said that?" he asks her, dumbfounded.

"Yeah. I mean, I couldn't let them talk about you like that," she replies. "She does regret doing all that to you, too. At least... I'm pretty sure she does."

"Oh, well... she didn't seem to regret it back then," Percy grumbles.

"Percy, you have to talk to her sometime," Annabeth urges him. "Maybe not tomorrow, or next week, hell it doesn't even need to be next month, but you really should talk to her. Work things out. She mentioned having a thing for you back then, and... maybe you could try being with her again."

Percy gives her a shocked expression, as if she slapped him. "Wait, you mean like be with her?"

"I don't mean like date her if you don't want to," Annabeth says. Though she's hiding it well on the outside, inside she's beating herself up for bringing it up. She doesn't necessarily want him to go to anyone else. She feels some sort of connection with Percy, something special. But if he wants to date someone else, she won't stop him. "I only meant like... hang out. Be friends again."

Percy scoffs. "Yeah, fat chance of that happening. I've learned never to trust her with anything after what she did. She practically ruined my life, Annabeth."

"I know how you feel," she says. "But-"

"I'm not talking to her, and that's it," Percy says. His expression is emotionless, his eyes hardened. Annabeth can't read him anymore. He's closed himself off and it's clear Annabeth doesn't like it.

"Well, this conversation is going well," Jason says sarcastically.

"Shut up, Grace," Percy snaps.

"Percy!" Annabeth cries.

"I shouldn't have opened up like I did..."

Annabeth sighs softly. "Percy..."

"I should've known not to..." He pauses and Annabeth stares at him.

"Not to what, Perce?" she asks him, her voice staggering between concern and accusation.

He doesn't want to talk to Rachel. It's his choice if he wants to and he's made his decision clear. He feels like he opened up too quickly, shared too much to soon. He's scared and angry but before he could stop himself, he already starts trying to shut down the conversation. He looks down to the floorboards where his duffel bag is sitting.

"Don't worry about it."

"Of course I'm going to worry about it! You're obviously hurting and I'm trying to help you." Her tone is gentle again. She searches his face but he refuses to look at her.

"Well maybe I don't need your help!" he snaps. He regrets those words immediately. He does want her help. He needs her help.

Jason's jaw goes slack and he almost crashes into another car, but he quickly swerves back into his lane and tries to concentrate. "Sorry. We're good. We're all good."

Percy glances at her, his eyes widening. Her grey eyes are wide with shock and her jaw is slack.

"A-Annabeth... I..." he stammers, but it's too late. She shuts her jaw and stares right into Percy's eyes. They're no longer full of concern like before, but with more hurt and anger. She didn't need to say anything. Her eyes told him enough.

"Jason, stop the car," Annabeth orders, her tone bitter.

"What? Why?"

"I said stop the car!"

"Okay okay," he says. He pulls over to the shoulder and puts the car in park.

"Annabeth -"

"No, Percy," she interrupts. "You've just made it clear you don't need my help. I'll just call a cab and go home."

"Annabeth," Percy pleads. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to -"

She doesn't say anything. She gets out of the car and slams the door, walking the other direction.

Percy sits in shock for a few moments before getting out of the car as well. He runs after her, calling out to her.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Way to go Jackson! You just screwed everything up again!

"Annabeth, please. I didn't mean it," he calls out.

She doesn't say anything. She just keeps walking while Percy chases after her.

"Annabeth, come back, please! Talk to me, please!" he pleads with her.

He's right on her heels, but she refuses to slow down, much less acknowledge he's even there.

They make it a quarter mile away from Jason's car before Percy slows down. He hurt her and he knows it. Everything she did to help him in the short time they knew each other and he just throws it back at her face.

He didn't mean what he said.

He catches her arm and forces her to stop and look at him.

"I'm sorry, Annabeth! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!"

"Let go of me, Percy!" she yells.

"No! Annabeth, I'm trying to make things right! I'm not making the same mistake I made before by running away from my problems! I'm admitting fault! I'm trying to talk with you!"

"I thought you didn't need my help!"

Her voice is full of venom and it scares Percy. Normally, his reclusive state would've made him fall back and shut himself away from the outside world, but now he's determined to make things right. Or try to.

"God, Annabeth, how many times do I have to say I'm sorry!? I do need your help, Annabeth!"

"Just leave me alone! Maybe everyone was right, I should just stay away from you!" she spats before shaking his arm off and storming away.

Percy freezes, completely stunned. His chest starts to hurt and his throat constricts as if somebody has their hands around it. Tears form in his eyes and they start to fall.

The one person in his life who is really helping him is leaving him and he knows it's his fault. He stands, frozen in place, as Annabeth disappears over a hill.

He betrayed her.

...

-Annabeth-

She doesn't know when Percy stopped following her, but she tries to convince herself that she doesn't care.

Problem is, she does care. Walking away from him as he pleaded with her was hard. Harder than running away from her parents while they were in New York.

(They would be back in San Francisco by now.)

He snapped at her for no reason. Or maybe there is a reason. She was pushing him. She shouldn't have pressed him like she did. She told him he can talk to her whenever he was comfortable with it, and in that moment he wasn't.

'I didn't mean it!'

Still, in spite of her clearing thoughts, her anger pushes her forward. Further away from Percy. She pulls out her phone and calls Piper.

"Annabeth! What's up?" she says cheerily.

"Can you pick me up?" she asks. Her voice is starting to break. Her heart tightens in her chest and it's suddenly hard to breathe.

"Um, sure. Where are you? Is something wrong?"

"It's Percy..." She tells her where she is.

"What are you doing out there? And what happened to Percy?"

"I'll tell you later... I just need a ride," she says bitterly.

"Okay girl. I'll be right there. Just sit tight."

"Thank you," she says as the call ends.

She finally stops walking and looks behind her. She's very far away from where she was. Percy's long gone.

Her phone rings and she checks the caller ID.

Percy.

She lets it ring out, hitting the power button on her phone to silence the ringing. She doesn't want to talk to him right now.

But she does...

She shouldn't have just left like that. It isn't right. She should've stayed and talked things out just like what she was trying to convince Percy to do with Rachel. He probably hates her now.

No, if he did he wouldn't have gone after her. She ignored him. And it was hard for her to ignore him.

'I'm sorry!'

She shuts her eyes, trying to push him out of her thoughts. But that only pulls him further into her mind. She can hear him more clearly. She can almost see him pleading with her to come back.

Come back.

There was pain in his voice, loud and clear. It stabbed into her chest like a knife, but she just kept walking. It's too late for that now. She sits by a tree next to the road and pulls her knees to her chest, burying her face in her hands. How could she be so stupid? She recalls the look on his face when she snapped at him, telling him that everyone was right about him and that she should stay away. It was a look of pure shock. A look of pain and regret. She regrets those words.

Her phone dings with a text message. Percy.

[3:45p] Percy: Annabeth, please talk to me. I'm sorry for snapping at you. It was wrong of me to do that. It wasn't fair on you.

She doesn't respond. She doesn't actually open her phone to read it. Just the notification.

Another text comes through.

[3:46p] Percy: Please answer me...

She still doesn't answer him, but it's getting harder with every text he sends. She can hear his voice in those words and it makes her heart hurt.

Another text.

[3:47p] Percy: I need your help, Beth...

This is too much for her. She silences her phone and pockets it. Her heart feels like it's being squeezed and her throat is tight. Her eyes sting with the threat of tears.

Bzzt!

She should apologize to him.

Bzzt!

No, if anything he should apologize to her! But he already has... so she owes him an apology.

Not yet...

No, now!

She groans, and that groan threatens to turn into a scream.

Finally, a car pulls up and the passenger window rolls down.

"Hey girl," Piper says. "Get in and talk to me!"

Annabeth gets up and climbs into the passenger seat of Piper's car.

"Okay, spill," she demands.

Annabeth takes a long, shaky breath. "P-Percy and I were talking about this morning... we were on our way to Leo's house because he invited me to help them with their Greek project... and I started telling him that he should talk to Rachel about what happened between them and he just closed himself off. I was starting to worry so I pushed him to talk with me and he just snaps!"

She's starting to lose control of her voice. Her shoulders jump and the threat of tears comes to reality as one trickles down her cheek.

"He didn't hurt you, did he?"

Annabeth shakes her head. "Not physically, no. I told him I was trying to help him and he just suddenly decided he didn't need my help."

"That asshole!" Piper exclaims. "Where's Leo's house? I'm going to give him a piece of my mind!"

"Piper, don't. Please. I don't want to face him again. Not so soon. Besides, I just made it even worse than it should've been," she confesses.

"What could be worse than that?"

"I told Jason to pull over and I got out. I just walked away from him, Piper."

"So? I would've done the same thing if Jason snapped at me like that."

"Even if he went after you? Pleading for you to stop and talk to him?"

Piper gapes at Annabeth for a moment. They're at a stop light now.

"He went after you?"

Annabeth nods. "He even caught up to me... he grabbed my arm and tried to get me to talk to him... but I shut him out."

"What did you say, exactly?"

Annabeth can't take it anymore. She breaks down in tears, crying into her hands.

"I-I said... I told him maybe everyone was right ab-about him," she sobs. "I said I should just stay away from him!"

Piper doesn't say anything. She doesn't know what to say.

"I just left him, Piper! I was just trying to get him to talk and then I just abandoned him while he was pleading with me to talk to him!"

"Shh... it's okay," Piper says softly, trying to comfort her.

"None of this is okay!" she shrieks, but quickly apologizes for it. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to yell..."

"No, don't apologize," Piper says firmly. "You want to come home with me or do you want to go back to your place?"

"I-I don't know..." she replies.

"Okay. So listen to me for a moment, okay?"

Annabeth nods and sniffles.

"Let him come to you. Don't say anything to him. He has to apologize to you."

"He did..."

"He did?" she asks, surprised. When Annabeth nods, Piper just looks surprised. "Well shit! He goes after you, apologizes, and you still walk away? Girl, do you know how fucking rare it is for the guy to apologize first?"

"I've never had to deal with this before!" she says defensively.

She hasn't. Everything up until she moved in with Thalia was being controlled for her. Life is hard and she understands it will never be easy. But this wasn't really what she expected.

"I screwed everything up... He's never going to trust me again," she says, choking up.

"No," Piper objects. "No, no, I'm sure he would still trust you. I mean, you were going to see him tomorrow. But that's probably canceled now..."

"That's not helping," Annabeth mumbles.

"Sorry," Piper says, sheepishly. "Oh! If he's with Jason, I should text him and tell him that you're with me. I'm sure after what you've told me, Percy would be worried. Umm... has he texted you, too?"

Annabeth blushes sheepishly, the tears done flowing. "Y-yeah... that and called... I... didn't answer any of them."

"Girl you're just digging yourself a deeper pit at this point," Piper sighs as she texts Jason.

The light turns green just as Piper puts her phone down and she gets the car moving again. It was an ridiculously long red light. "Tell you what, we'll go get something to eat. Maybe some food will cheer you up. Any preferences?"

"Just anywhere works for me," she replies. But she doesn't feel like she can eat anything right now. She just wants to see Percy and apologize to him, but at the same time can't bring herself to face him.