Chapter 9

-Annabeth-

Saturday morning.

She was supposed to meet Percy that morning to get to know each other better. But after everything that happened the day before, she's still unsure if she can face him. She knows they have to talk at some point, and even staying away right now is hard for her. She was horrible to him at the side of that road. He didn't deserve that kind of treatment, even if he was angry. He's been through a lot and she knows it. She couldn't understand just how deep the wound was and she just kept pouring salt in it instead of disinfectant like she thought she was doing.

She checks her phone and sees the still unopened texts from Percy. He hasn't made any new attempts to call her, nor even a new text. Her heart breaks at what she did to him. She really wants to make it up to him. To start, she opens Percy's texts and properly reads them. Tears threaten to fall again. She can just hear his pained voice in his texts.

I'm sorry. I was wrong to snap at you like I did.

You are right. I can't be running away. I can't just close myself off.

Annabeth, please talk to me!

There's a considerable time gap between that text and the last one.

Alright... I'll give you some space... please call me if you decide to talk...

She shuts her eyes tight, whatever tears that were pooling getting squeezed out and slowly dragging themselves down her face.

I'm sorry, too, she thinks. She wants to give him a hug, press her face to his chest, listen to his heartbeat, and tell him everything's going to be okay. She wants to tell him just how sorry she is for hurting him.

She opens her eyes and pulls up the keyboard on her phone, her thumbs hovering just over the small letters.

This doesn't feel right, either...

She wants to see him. No, she needs to see him. Not through a phone. Texts can never do enough to heal a broken heart.

Brokenhearted...

That's the look he gave her that afternoon.

She tries calling him, but after a few rings it goes to his voicemail. She lets out a sad sigh and stares at her phone when a knock sounds from her door. "Annabeth? Are you awake?"

Thalia...

"Yeah," Annabeth manages to say after a moment of silence.

"Are you doing okay?"

"I don't know, Thal... I feel lost."

"Can I come in?"

"Of course."

Thalia enters the room and she sits next to Annabeth.

When she got home last night after eating dinner with Piper, Annabeth told her everything that happened. She was nothing but comforting to her and gave her advice. Advice that Annabeth wants to follow through.

"Are you going to see him today?" she asks her softly, taking her hand.

Annabeth blinks away more tears. "I want... need to. But what if he doesn't want to see me?"

"You can't just dwell on what ifs," Thalia says. "If he doesn't want to see you just yet, then tell him to call you when he's ready. Or, since he's just a block up the street, tell him to come here when he's ready. Or even at school."

"How do you make it sound so easy?" Annabeth asks her, looking up at her.

"It's easy to plan these things, but very difficult to actually do it," Thalia says with a smile. "It takes courage and strength to admit mistakes. And you, Annabeth Chase, are the bravest person I've ever met. If you can't do it, then nobody could."

Annabeth smiles softly. "Thank you, Thalia. I don't know where I'd be without you."

Thalia grins. "Well that's easy. You'd be on the streets, most likely."

Annabeth can't help but laugh a little, making Thalia smile even brighter. "There you go, that's what I like to see. Now, I have breakfast in the microwave for you if you want it. If not, just wrap it up and stick it in the fridge. I'll have it later."

"You know I can't pass up your cooking," Annabeth says, finally getting out of bed.

She looks in the mirror and frowns. Her eyes are red and puffy, her cheeks stained with the countless tears she shed the night before. Her hair looks like a vulture decided to make it its nest.

"If you're going to see him, I'd recommend getting cleaned up first," Thalia teases. Annabeth rolls her eyes, yet a shower does sound nice right about now. Even if she didn't need one, which she definitely does.

...

She sets the empty plate in the dishwasher after eating her breakfast. She keeps checking her phone for anything from Percy, but he still hasn't said anything. She's even worked up the nerve to at least text him.

[8:36a] Annabeth: Hey... We need to talk. Please call me if you're up for it.

She almost added the part where she wants to see him, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. It's been over an hour since she's sent that text and there isn't even a Read notification next to it meaning he hasn't even opened it. She feels guilty about it. She can't blame him for this either since she did it to him.

It's a chilly morning so she grabs her coat and puts it on before stepping out of the apartment. She takes the stairs to the lobby and goes straight outside. She turns left on the sidewalk and walks towards Percy's apartment building. Her heart is pounding in her chest and she's more than nervous. Maybe even scared. She thinks about what she's going to say once she sees him.

Hey, I'm sorry about hurting you yesterday. It was stupid of me to just walk away like that.

Would that be enough? Maybe throw herself into his arms...

No that's too dramatic.

For all she knows, she could just burst into tears as soon as she sees him.

She doesn't even know why she likes him so much. She knows next to nothing about him. He's done nothing for her to get these feelings out of her.

She looks up at his apartment building and takes a deep breath. This is it. I'm really going to do this.

She enters his building and takes the stairs up to his floor. She remembers his room number and she finds it, knocking on the door.

She hears footsteps on the other side and she grows anxious. She thinks about just leaving when the door opens. It's not Percy, though. It's his mother, Sally.

"Oh, good morning Annabeth," she says with a smile. "I'm assuming you're here to see Percy?"

Annabeth lets out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. "Yeah... is he home?"

"No. He came by late last night to grab a few things before leaving. He said he was staying over at Leo's place. Why don't you come in, dear?"

"Oh, no you don't have to-" she tries to say, but Sally wouldn't take no for an answer so she reluctantly enters the apartment.

"Would you like something to drink?" Sally offers.

She's about to say no, but when she meet Sally's eyes she can't bring herself to say it. A few moments pass until Sally comes out of the kitchen with a cup of hot chocolate in her hands. She gives it to Annabeth who drinks it carefully. The warm liquid soothes her, warming her from the inside.

"He told me what happened yesterday," Sally says then, breaking the growing silence between them.

Annabeth's heart sinks. "He did...?"

"He tells me everything. But I don't blame you, really. I've been trying to get him to talk to Rachel for a long time," Sally says. "You're not the first person he's snapped at."

"I'm really sorry," Annabeth says, the words spilling out of her mouth before she can stop them. "I shouldn't have walked out on him like I did. It was stupid of me and I wish I could go back in time and fix what I did. Ignoring him really didn't help..."

Sally smiles softly. "I, for one, forgive you, Annabeth. Have you called him and told him that yourself?"

"I tried texting him... saying I want to talk. But..." she avoids Sally's eyes and looks down at her hot chocolate. "He never opened my messages. I want to see him."

"I can give you a ride there if you'd like," Sally offers.

"No, Mrs... I mean, Sally... I can't let you take time out of your day for me," Annabeth protests.

"It's no problem at all, really. I've got nothing going on today."

"Thank you, but I can get a taxi. I don't want to be a burden."

Sally smiles again. "Alright, dear. If that's what you want. You need to know the address, don't you?"

Annabeth is about to say no to that too, but she realizes she doesn't actually know Leo's address. "Yeah," she says sheepishly.

Sally gets a piece of paper and a pencil, writing down the address for Annabeth before giving it to her.

"Here you go. My number is also on there if you need anything. Anything at all, just give me a call."

"Thank you. You're too nice," Annabeth says, tears welling up in her eyes.

Sally blushes lightly. "So I've heard." She gives Annabeth a quick hug before sending her on her way. Annabeth wishes her mom would be so caring, but unfortunately for her that's never going to happen.

She leaves the apartment building and hails a taxi. After telling the driver her destination, she pulls out her phone and texts Piper.

[10:29a] Annabeth: Going to see Percy. His mom says he's at Leo's place so I'm taking a taxi there. I'll tell you everything later

She shuts off her phone and stuffs it into her pockets as she looks out her window. She watches the scenery change from skyscrapers, to small business buildings and apartments, to areas where there's more trees. Leo lives on the outskirts of the city so he's free to do just about anything.

Before she knows it, the driver is telling her that they've arrived. She thanks him and pays him before getting out of the taxi. As soon as she closes the door, the driver takes off, heading back to the city. She takes another deep breath, taking in the chilly morning air, which is even cooler due to being further from the city itself, then walks up the gravel driveway and knocks on the house door.

A man that looks strikingly similar to Leo opens the door -he smells like burning metal and lumber- and looks her up and down. "Can I help you?" he asks in a gravelly voice.

"Um, yes. Is Percy here? I was told he was here last night... I'm a friend of Leo's?" she explains carefully.

He hums and cocks his head towards the backyard. "They were back there last I saw. Go right on back."

She thanks him and walks around the house towards the backyard. The warehouse and the workshop are back there, so chances are she'd find him in the warehouse.

As she gets closer to the structure, she hears something like shouting and something like wood being hit. She finds the door cracked open so she quietly lets herself in. Once inside, she finds what appears to be the remains of some kind of dummy and a bronze sword lying on the table near it.

That must be Percy's. It looks like the wooden one he has, but it's definitely real.

He must've been practicing with it.

She hears the shouting again, much louder since she's inside now, and the sound of wood connecting. She follows the sounds and finds the large open room of the warehouse where Percy's meetings took place. Everything looks the same except there's more armor and stuff lying about on the floor and tables around the room. Shuffling through all that is Percy and Leo, fighting each other with their wooden swords. Percy's got his shield strapped on his left arm, but has nothing else other than the clothes on his back.

Leo can barely keep up with Percy as he slashes and stabs relentlessly, eventually disarming Leo and ending the fight.

"God dammit! How are you so good with that thing?" Leo asks him.

Percy's back is facing Annabeth so she can't see his face.

"I told you," he replies. "I've been practicing. Haven't you been paying attention?"

Annabeth steps further into the room and Leo notices her. His eyes flash with surprise, but before he could do or say anything else, Percy turns around. Annabeth's heart breaks at the sight. His eyes are red and it looks like he didn't get much sleep because of the dark circles under his eyes, which widen just a little once he sees her. His hair is even messier, if that's possible, but it doesn't do anything but make him look more attractive to her.

"Annabeth...?"

She manages a small smile. "Hello, Percy."

"Wha-what are you doing here...?" he ask, taking a step towards her.

"I..." she takes a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I needed to see you. I want... need to... talk to you."

"I thought you hated me," he says miserably.

Her throat tightens. "I never said I hated you." She takes another step closer to him. Her heart is threatening to break free from her chest.

"You didn't read my messages... Didn't answer my phone calls... Not that I can blame you..." He sounds miserable, losing his confident tone from before.

"I know, and that was stupid of me. I was doing the exact thing I was telling you not to do and I regret doing that," she replies, taking yet another step towards him. He does the same, inching closer to her. He puts his sword and shield down.

"I'm really sorry for what I said yesterday," she continues. "I didn't realize what I was saying and I don't mean any of it."

Another step. Just ten feet apart.

"I need to apologize, too," Percy says.

"Percy-"

"Annabeth," he interrupts. "I shouldn't have snapped at you like I did. I know you were just trying to help me. I'm sorry."

Another step. Six feet.

"I shouldn't have pressured you. I pushed too hard," she says.

Her eyes sting with fresh tears.

"I hurt you so bad, Percy," she chokes out. "I... I betrayed you..."

"Annabeth..."

Another step. They're just a couple feet apart. All she needs to do is lunge towards him and...

Then what? Hug him?

She'd like that very much.

Kiss him?

She doesn't know him well enough... but she wouldn't be opposed to it. It's taking a lot more strength than it probably should to hold herself back from him.

"I don't want to stay away from you," she confesses. And she means it. Percy takes one last step towards her and she loses it. She falls into his arms and cries, her hands clinging to his arms.

He holds her, stunned momentarily, but he adapts quickly and holds her close, rubbing her back with his fingers.

"Shhh..." he whispers into her ear, his breath hot on her skin. Electricity arcs through her body and she shudders, sinking deeper into his embrace. "It's okay... I forgive you..."

"But how?" she sobs. "I was cruel to you..."

He smiles a little. "I know."

She smacks his chest. "That's not helping..."

Percy laughs, a wonderful sound that makes her heart do somersaults in her chest.

There doesn't need to be any words said from that point. All Annabeth wants to do is stay in his arms forever. She slips her arms under his and around his waist, pulling herself even closer, holding him tighter, as if letting go meant he disappears. She breathes in his scent, surprised that there's a hint of an ocean scent to him. But there's also a smell of sweat, probably from his morning training session with Leo. She doesn't care. She's just happy he's there with her. Overall, his scent, his gentle voice, the tenderness of his touch on her back, all comfort her in a way she's never been comforted before. She wants this moment to last forever.

"Thank you," she whispers once her eyes dry themselves of her tears.

"What for?" Percy asks her, pulling away just enough to gaze into her eyes and study her face.

"Everything," she says. "For chasing after me on the road. For letting me be here with you. You haven't lost faith in me, have you?"

He smiles, the same lopsided smile she's growing to love. "Never."

"How?"

"Hasn't anybody told you? Loyalty is my fatal flaw," he says.

"You're cheesy," she laughs.

His smile brightens a bit, as if he's proud of it.

She gets lost in his green eyes, his smile only adding to his already handsome features. Her heart rate quickens and she blushes deeply before finally letting him go.

"So you've been here this whole time?" she asks, trying hard not to jump back into his arms.

"Yeah. I had Jason drop me off at home so I could get some things and then took my car here."

"Wait, you have a car?" she asks, the sweet moment they were sharing fading into the past, but it's replaced with an equally happy moment. Things are going back to how they were before.

Percy laughs. "Yes, I have a car. I just don't use it to get to school because morning traffic is a bitch and I would never get to school on time if I drove."

"You never get there on time anyway!" Leo calls out.

Annabeth had forgotten he was even in here so she was a bit startled when he suddenly started talking.

Percy's mocking laugh fills the room. "Yeah well at least I'm not up until four in the morning making armor!"

"It's for an important cause!" Leo counters.

"It's a Halloween dance!"

Annabeth can't help but laugh at their stupid argument. Things only get better after that.

A few hours go by and Percy finishes his practice session with Leo, even shows off his sword to her. After he gets cleaned up, Annabeth joins him in his car and they return to his apartment, where Sally is very happy to see things worked out between the two teenagers.

"So does this mean what I think it means?" she had asked.

"What do you think it means?" Percy asks cautiously.

"Oh you know! You and her?"

Percy and Annabeth both blush. She doesn't meet his eyes because she's afraid that if she does, she'll throw herself at him again and that wouldn't look good in front of his mother. Or maybe just confirm a suspicion that isn't true. Well... not entirely.

"No, we're still just friends," she says before Percy can say anything.

For now...

"Yeah," Percy agrees. "Just friends mom. I still don't know much about her."

"Well that doesn't mean you can't date," Sally says. "But you do you, I guess."

Annabeth glances at Percy finally. He looks totally embarrassed, but he smiles softly when their eyes meet.

They get to go out like they planned and got some coffee, telling each other about themselves. Hobbies, interests, excluding the ones they already know about. It doesn't surprise Annabeth when he tells her he really likes to swim, especially in the ocean.

"That explains the ocean smell on you," she says, covering her smile with the coffee mug.

"Wait, I smell like the ocean?" he asks her, his eyebrows scrunched together, but he has a faint smile.

"Yeah, a little. It's nice, though," she says. "Anyway, have you thought about joining the swim team?"

"Jason and the others have been trying to convince me to join, but the other swimmers aren't really good to me," he says bitterly.

"Well," she puts her mug down and stares into his eyes, her own being firm. "Prove them wrong. Show to them you're not who they think you are."

"I... I don't know," he says. He's still unsure about the idea.

"You want to swim, right?"

"Yeah. Honestly, I'd give up my Greek classes to have a shot of swimming competitively."

"Then do yourself a favor and keep your classes, and join the swim team," Annabeth says. "The only person stopping you, is you, Percy."

He smiles softly. "Alright... I guess I could at least try out."

"Good. Now, any questions for me, Seaweed Brain?"

He coughs out a laugh and looks at her. "What did you call me?"

"Seaweed Brain. Because you're a dummy and you smell like the ocean and you like to swim so your head is probably full of seaweed," she proclaims.

"Oh, that's funny," he says sarcastically. "That's the dumbest explanation I've ever heard."

"Coming from a guy who doesn't know basic math," she jests.

"Hey I can do basic math!"

"Oh yeah? What's 9 plus 10?"

"19. Easy."

"Oh good," she breathes a sigh of relief. "I was afraid you were going to follow that stupid meme."

"It's not stupid," Percy argues. "It's a masterpiece."

"Only to you, Seaweed Brain," she laughs.

...

A/N: I had to update through my phone since I had to proofread and make sure it was written how it was supposed to go but I was also at work. Turns out the mobile app doesn't like the plus sign.