It was the fifth set of the match, because of course it was.
Of course it had to go there, that long, that close.
The universe needed to drag it out, drag out the one thing she'd been dreaming of since she first picked up a volleyball at the age of five.
It was 13 to 14, the Kent Red Foxes up by a single point. Annabeth's entire body could've been ignited with a single touch from anything or anyone. Her muscles tense, coiled, ready for action, ready to strike.
Her father was there, her step mother was there, her brothers were there, Luke was there. Almost everyone she cared about was there for her.
Wait, almost?
The thought startled her, but she knew exactly who she had in mind that was missing. Green eyes…
She was snapped from her daze by a whistle, and she brought her attention to a built, tall girl in a Red Foxes jersey who was about to serve.
She shifted her position, and watched the ball as it was hit over the net, calling out where it was going as she saw it. Hazel, poised and lithe like a cat, sprung to action and popped the ball up perfectly for Piper.
Annabeth's feet were already set into motion, calling out for the ball as Piper popped it upwards, calling out Annabeth's position number. Her body was ahead of her mind, her arms swinging as she launched herself into the air, her open hand coming down with a vengeance onto the ball.
She twisted her torso so the ball would go where she wanted it, and it smacked into the court directly on the side line closest to her.
The line judge at the corner blew her whistle and flicked her flag toward the court, signifying that it was in. The scoreboard ticked one number.
14-14.
Annabeth watched it, sweat trailing down the back of her neck, and a moment later Piper had a hand on her hitter's back. "Watch 21, she has issues with anything on her left side," the setter muttered before she retook her place. Annabeth simply nodded to herself as one of the refs threw her the ball.
Her turn to serve.
She stepped behind the line and took a deep breath, steeling her nerves, visualizing her success, seeing whatever she wanted to happen do so in her mind.
Damn self help podcasts.
She turned to face the court again, determination and fire lit into her eyes. As she took her steps and tossed the ball, she knew exactly where she was going with it. Dropping it directly over the net, toward the left side of number 21.
She was rewarded with a panicked reaction and a ball into the net before hitting the deck. Annabeth grinned, and her eyes flickered to the scoreboard once again.
15-14.
Her body was on fire, her nerves shot, her adrenaline pumping, her fingers trembling. The ball came into her hands again, and she stared at it. One more point. One more point separating her from her dream, the ultimate victory.
She stepped behind the line again, staring at the crowd, at no one in particular. She knew where her family was, and her gaze wandered over. A sea of blue and white, of people staring at her and her alone right now. Somehow, one pair of eyes stuck out.
Green. Sea green. The most beautiful color she'd seen in her life.
Percy?
She did a double take, a triple take, a quadruple take. The boy was there, seated with Jason, Leo, and Frank.
And his eyes were on her.
Her cheeks flushed as she turned to the net once more, sucking in a breath.
In, out.
You can do this, Chase.
In, out.
One more. Just one.
In, out.
She looked up to the net and poised herself before she hit the ball over, rushing to her position while watching the ball carefully. The girl recovered it this time, popping it into the air. It was coming for the right side of the net, where Piper and Annabeth were both located. Annabeth yelled something to her teammates that, even afterward, she didn't remember what she'd said.
The communication worked, and the two girls leapt into the air in sync, hands splayed, arms outstretched.
As the girl on the right began to hit, the ball hit the pair's hands, and fell to the court.
A moment of shock passed through the crowd before the scoreboard ticked one final time.
16-14.
Then, the party began.
Cheers, whoops, tears, screams, confetti.
It all became a blur to the blonde, her team around her and Piper, hugging them, raising them into the air. Annabeth looked as blue and white paper rained down from above, her lips parted in awe. She saw Piper beside her with the same expression, and the two girls joined into a hug, tears streaming down both of their cheeks.
They'd done it.
The rest of the ceremony was a blur, medals, speeches, blah blah blah.
Their athletic director brought out the trophy, and Annabeth got tunnel vision.
"It's my honor to present the state championship trophy to our own Annabeth Chase!"
The crowd was deafening as Annabeth walked up and took the trophy into her hands. She looked it over, memorizing everything detail, every speck of information about that moment, before she turned to her team and held the trophy up in extended arms, a roaring cheer exiting her lips
When she held that trophy up to her teammates, she felt ecstatic. This is the moment she'd been waiting for.
All the hard work the past four years, all the late nights and all the early mornings, all the hours spent in the gym and the weight room.
Her teammates whooped and cheered, running over and gathering around her, everyone reaching up to try and get a hand on the trophy. Annabeth could only smile, holding it tightly in her fingers as her teammates and the crowd around them cheered.
Eventually they settled down a little, and got together with the trophy for a picture. Annabeth was smiling to much her cheeks hurt, and she couldn't let go of the trophy.
That or she just didn't want to.
Maybe a little of both.
Countless pictures and tears later, Annabeth was standing by her family, Luke's arm around her while they all chatted. The trophy was still held firmly in the blonde's arms, but still, she let her eyes wander as her loved ones spoke around her.
Namely, her eyes wandered for one reason and one reason only.
When she found him, he had a smile on his face and his…his arm around a girl. Wait, what?
Her vision tunneled.
Red, frizzy hair. Freckles. Bright eyes, bright smile. Marker stained jeans.
Rachel? Rachel Dare?
Her mouth dried, her heart skipped five beats, her chest…it ached. She couldn't move her eyes away.
Percy's eyes wandered as well, and somehow, they met hers. It's like the world around them stopped for a moment, just one, fleeting moment.
When it resumed, he smiled at her and nodded, holding a thumbs up. She simply smiled and nodded in return, before his eyes moved away.
Nothing more.
Her eyes couldn't leave him, though. Rachel was standing comfortably beside him, her head in the crook of his shoulder, right where Annabeth's used to be.
Stop it, Chase. You did this. You made your choice. Deal with it.
Oh, how her heart disagreed.
The two excused themselves after a bit, and Rachel's lips touched Percy's cheek as the two made their way to the exit, their fingers now intertwined as they left the building, both of them smiling at one another.
It took her a moment. Her heart ached, her chest hurt. She didn't understand, why did she care? This was exactly what she'd done to him. She deserved everything and more, but…somehow, it hurt her.
She was snapped into reality by Luke's hand low on her hip, and she almost jumped away from him as she raised her eyes. "Hm?"
He gave her a look. "Ah, did you hear anything we were just talking about?"
She flushed. "No, sorry. What did I miss?"
He made a face before he shook his head. "Just forget it. You should go change, so we can get out of here."
She gave her family a final round of hugs before returning to the locker room, championship trophy in tow.
She'd gotten everything she wanted. The title, the victory, offers for school, and her love, but…somehow she still felt empty.
Does it matter what I accomplish if I don't have the person beside me I most want to celebrate it with?
