A/N: I'd like to thank some of the people who helped me out: AlEmily360, SapphireTrafficker, tigerlilycorinne, AshenMoon42, Lesbian101, Shiuanc2, and LadyHW.

Annabeth adjusted her dress, pulling it further down her leg. Silena had coaxed her into it, and she had to admit she looked good, but it was a little short for Luke's taste. She hadn't wanted to say anything because Silena had looked happy for the first time that week when Annabeth asked her for help. She checked her appearance on her phone camera: her hair was still a little messy, but it would have to do.

As she rounded the corner, she saw the orange glow of the cafe. The owners had tried to make it look like a painting by Van Gogh, and seeing the art reference made her smile every time. Well...not every time. She wasn't smiling now. The strangeness with Silena still hadn't made her forget what she was going to see, or not see, tonight. Would Luke look like he had been in a fight? And if he did, what would she do? What would she do if he didn't?

She walked into the overhang of the restaurant, warming up at the friendly atmosphere and trying not to overthink. Couples dined outside, leaning into their conversations, as heat lamps warmed the porch area. It was nearly October—and it felt like it—giving people a reason to seek each other out and let their warm touch linger. Annabeth was suddenly reminded of her and Percy at the aquarium. She pushed that thought to the back of her mind.

Annabeth peered into the window of the cafe, eyes swept the tables and searching for Luke's blonde hair and distinct scar. Finally, she spotted him, sitting in the far left of the cafe. He looked...normal. He had a slightly pinched expression, like he was sucking on a lemon, but that was probably because Annabeth was about to be late.

She leaned against a tree, out of sight of the people inside the cafe, and caught her breath. I don't want to go in there, she realized. She didn't want to sit at a table with Luke and have another tense conversation or share more inane facts about her life to pass time. Her stomach dropped. Since when had she felt like this?

Annabeth willed herself to stop breathing so heavily. She was being ridiculous. Luke was a good person. She loved him. They had been through so much together; he had taken care of her when she needed it, and he had been a part of her life for longer than anyone. Nearly anyone. Just because things were difficult now didn't mean things couldn't get better.

She plastered on a smile and entered the cafe. She walked toward Luke in the corner, who rose to meet her.

"Hey, babe." Luke stood up from the table and pulled her into a quick kiss. Annabeth obliged, before sitting down opposite of him. She looked at him a bit closer. He was tenser than she had initially noticed. His shoulders were rigid and that pinched expression hadn't left his face.

"You look nice," he said, looking at her outfit. Annabeth pulled down her dress self consciously, even though she knew he couldn't see it underneath the table. "Have you been wearing that all day?"

Annabeth thought that was a pretty weird question, but she answered it nonetheless. "No, I changed before I came here."

"That must have been what made you late," Luke said. Annabeth didn't respond. "It was worth it, you look nice."

"Thanks." Annabeth tried to remember a time before this—before the awkward, stilted conversations, the ruined dates, the uncomfortable feeling in her gut every time he looked at her from across the table. There had been a time when it had been perfect. A while ago, when it had been three instead of two, and they had been something else, something real.

"I already ordered, but when the waiter comes around, you can ask him then," Luke said. Annabeth politely nodded. "So, how are you, how have your friends been...how's the project with...whatshisface going?" Luke said.

"Fine...I'm good, everyone's good. The project with Percy is going well. We're almost done with it," she said. Annabeth was certain that Luke hadn't forgotten Percy's name, he had a great memory when it came to things like that.

"Is that so," he said. "And how's Percy? Is everything good?" There was something wrong with the tone of his voice, but Annabeth couldn't pin it down. Was it Luke who punched Percy? Was Piper right?

"He's alright. Although," Annabeth said carefully watching for Luke's reaction. "Some asshole punched him in the face."

No reaction. "A fight, huh. He doesn't seem to be that great of a person."

Annabeth had to consider what to say. If she defended him, Luke might get jealous and suggest that there was something there that was not. If she didn't, she would feel very disappointed in herself. And what could she say that would reveal what Luke's part in this was, because he seemed way too interested to not be involved. God, when did every conversation with Luke start to feel like a chess match?

"It wasn't a fight," Annabeth heard herself say. "Apparently, the guy just punched him for no reason."

Luke's jaw clenched nearly imperceptibly. "I doubt someone would do something like that for no reason." Annabeth shrugged, not wanting to press him. "You two have gotten pretty close, wouldn't you say?" Luke said slyly.

"Not really."

"No? You don't like him?"

"No, he's—nice. And a hard worker." She felt the need to defend Percy somewhat, although she tried not to sound too fond.

"Well that's good," Luke said like he didn't really mean it. He smiled at the waitress as she came over. It didn't reach his eyes. Annabeth ordered her food and the waitress left. She waited for Luke to resume his line of questioning, but instead, he just declared, "When I get back, we should do something different."

Annabeth was relieved, but also intrigued. "Like what?" she asked, leaning forward on her elbows.

"We could check something new out. Go on a hike, or maybe to an art museum you like," he paused, "we could go to the aquarium."

It sounded like such an innocent suggestion, and maybe it was, but there was something in Luke's tone that suggested otherwise. An illness that chilled Annabeth and made her squirm. Did he know?

"Have you ever been to the aquarium, Annabeth?" he continued. She tried to school her expression into something neutrally interested.

"Yeah, it's pretty nice," she said calmly, but her mind was racing. If Luke did know, how? Was Luke stalking her, or having someone else stalk her? But that was crazy...right?

"Then it's a date," Luke said. "When I get back from my trip, we'll go to the aquarium."

Annabeth smiled sweetly. "Sounds like fun."

They ate their food and Luke talked about his upcoming trip—his last one with the internship. She relaxed as he talked. Their earlier conversation had been tense, but now Luke was smiling and talking excitedly and letting Annabeth make little jokes and she found that she was starting to enjoy herself a little more. See, she thought to herself, it's not so bad.

They left the restaurant and took an Uber back to Luke's apartment. Annabeth didn't feel like going up—she was tired, and whether or not the date had ended well, she still felt conflicted.

"You sure you don't want to come up?" he asked again, holding her hand.

She smiled and shook her head. "I'm sure. I've just got a lot to do tomorrow."

"Like what?" Luke asked.

Annabeth laughed him off lightly. "Stuff." She moved to kiss his cheek, but he angled his face at the last second to catch her lips. He was smiling into their kiss.

"That's okay," he said softly. "I have a surprise for you when you come back."

"Ooh, what is it?" She shivered slightly in the chill. Standing on his doorstep this long almost made her want to concede and just go in, if only to escape the cold.

"Don't be stupid," he chided her. "If I tell you, it won't be a surprise."

Annabeth tried not to frown at that. He squeezed her hand and let it go.

"I'll see you after my trip, okay?"

"Okay," Annabeth said.

He brushed her shoulder and closed the door to the apartment foyer. Annabeth stood on the steps for a moment before turning back to the street. Now...to walk or to Uber?

:::

Annabeth didn't go back to her dorm. She knew what would be waiting for her—a somber roommate with an even somber-er (not a word but who cares) bed, complete with ice cream and a sappy movie. Annabeth didn't know why, but she was feeling especially romantically devastated—yes, devastated. Everything seemed uncertain and unstable now. Maybe it was her ticking timer or perhaps it was her crumbling relationship, or maybe it was Percy's trouble-maker smiles, but she felt as though they were standing on the disintegrating sand of an hourglass.

Annabeth knew the only thing—the only person—that could help. She called Piper.

"Hello? Annabeth?" Piper picked up on the first ring. Her voice came through scratchy and tired, like she had been woken up. Annabeth checked her watch. It was only nine-thirty, but Piper, believe it or not, was an early sleeper.

"Piper? Hi. Can I come over? I need you," Annabeth said. Through the phone, she heard the sounds of Piper getting up and moving around. Muffled music started playing in the background.

"Yeah, of course. The door will be open when you get here."

:::

Annabeth stepped through Piper's dim apartment. It was considerably cleaner from the last time she was here, probably because she had Jason over more often than not. Annabeth navigated herself through the hallway until she got to Piper's room. Inside, Piper sat on her bed in her pajamas, holding a pillow shaped like a cow.

"Hey." Annabeth sighed, letting her coat fall to the floor as she laid on the bed next to Piper.

"Hey." Piper patted her back. "You okay? What did you want to talk about?"

"It's Luke." Piper's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again and gestured for Annabeth to say something.

"Please don't say I told you so."

Piper rubbed her back soothingly. "You know that's more your thing than mine."

Annabeth just grunted in response. "It's just...I feel like we're just not working anymore. I don't know, maybe it is because we are reacting to our time a lot differently, maybe it is because of his stupid new job. Maybe it's because we're both going to be...y'know, in what ten...nine months..."

"You know...your imminent death is not exactly the best thing to build a relationship on," Piper said.

"You know it's more than that." Annabeth turned over and sat up.

"The past isn't the best thing either. If it doesn't work now…"

"I know," Annabeth said. Piper offered her the cow pillow and Annabeth took it, noting the badly sewn up place where it's horn should have been.

"Annabeth," Piper continued. "As happy as I am that you're seeing the faults in your relationship with Luke—" Annabeth glowered at her. "—well, not happy, just...relieved? What I'm trying to say is… do you think your thing with Percy has anything to do with this clarity?"

Annabeth blushed scarlet. "What thing?" she squeaked.

"Y'know," Piper said. "With your timer. Do you think you're relying a little bit too much on the guy?"

Annabeth let herself pause to catch her breath. She didn't know why her mind went there of all places. "I mean, isn't that the point? I'm becoming friends with Percy because of my timer."

"I've heard the way you talk about him," Piper said softly. "It's all complaints, but your voice...I'm not going to make assumptions, but it seems like you're getting close to him for reasons other than your timer."

Annabeth knew Piper was right and hated it. Percy was… god, Annabeth didn't want to admit it because then it would become real. And if it was real, Annabeth wouldn't know what to do. So she pivoted. "I didn't come here to talk about Percy."

Piper's look was so knowing and sympathetic that Annabeth had to look away. "So then what are you going to do?" Piper asked. "With Luke, I mean."

Back to safer territory. "I just...I don't know. I thought I really loved him, but everything he does annoys me, gets on my nerves. I feel like I have been delusional this whole time."

"Annabeth...you don't like him," Piper said. She waved off Annabeth's attempts to protest. "Just because you love someone doesn't mean you like them. And I think, at this point, you are starting to see that. You and Luke have been through a lot together and you share a history that's really important, but that doesn't change the fact that it's just not working in your present."

Annabeth stared at the blank space on Piper's wall and gripped the cow pillow tightly. She wanted to hide her face in it, but she didn't think Piper would appreciate mascara stains on her pillow.

"So what do you suggest I do?" she whispered, her voice coming out scratchy and raw. She had never been confronted by the idea of...not being with Luke. She remembered his promise to her and Thalia over ten years ago. Family.

"Just break up with him," Piper said softly.

"But then I'd lose him too."

"I never said you couldn't see him."

"That's not how it works with him." Annabeth wiped a tear from her face and then rubbed at her eyes. "Do you have any makeup wipes?"

"Yeah, sure." Piper got up and went to the bathroom before coming back and dropping a pack on Annabeth's lap. Annabeth started to wipe her face. Piper watched her before finally saying, "Just make sure you know when to walk away."

Annabeth rested her head on her knees. Her curly blonde hair spilled over her shoulder and shielded the tears sliding down her face from her friend.

' Why me? ' She asked her father once, before he remarried.

' Some people were born with tragedy in their blood,' he used to reply.

That's what Annabeth was.

A fucking tragedy.

It was a low night, even for Annabeth's standards.

:::

Annabeth woke up groggily, next to a still sleeping Piper. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand and tapped the screen.

"Shit." Shitshitshitshitshit . She'd already missed her first class and her next one was starting in twenty minutes.

"Shit shit shit shit shit," she muttered, getting to her feet and looking for her bag. She had dropped it somewhere on Piper's floor several days ago...where was it?

"Wow, Annabeth. I can't decide if you're really fucked or if you are trying out for a new form of beat-boxing. Should we be harmonizing right now?" Piper said, lifting her bed head off of her pillow. Annabeth shot her a glare before opening her closet.

"Can I borrow some clothes?" she asked, already flipping through Piper's wardrobe. She knew she looked and smelled like ass. She'd stayed in Piper's apartment for the last few days, not wanting to go back to her place even for new clothes.

"Can't you just go back to the dorm? You need a shower," Piper said, face falling back into her pillow.

"I don't have time. I'm going to be late to creative writing," she said, pulling off her own shirt and putting on one of Piper's. It fit her differently, tighter in some places and looser in others. It certainly wasn't as flattering on her as it was on Piper, but it would have to do.

"Then be late," Piper said, voice muffled. "It's not the end of the world."

"I can't—"

Piper sat up again, looking exasperated. "Right, because Percy's in that class."

Annabeth stopped rifling through Piper's sweats for a second (her jeans would never fit Annabeth). "I—I don't care what he thinks."

Piper rolled her eyes. "Sure you don't." She got out of the bed, walking over to Annabeth to straighten the clothing she had messed up (a futile effort, honestly). "But for the sake of everyone that has to be near you, take a shower."

Annabeth huffed. "Fine."

Half an hour and a shower later, Annabeth was tying her hair into a semi-neat bun before finding a way to do a ten minute walk in five.

Silena walked through the door, setting down her bag. "What're you doing here? I thought you had class."

"I slept in," Annabeth said hurriedly.

"Where've you been all weekend? You kind of disappeared." Silena looked carefully interested, a look that was becoming more and more familiar on her. "With Dream Boy?"

Annabeth snorted. "With Piper."

Silena looked disappointed. "Ahh."

"Sorry for not letting you know. You could have had the room to yourself."

The sad look Silena had been sporting for days returned. Annabeth hadn't even realized it was gone. What had she said wrong? "That's okay."

Annabeth wanted to ask what was wrong, but she didn't have time. She should already be gone. "Well, maybe next time," she promised.

Silena just turned her eyes to the ceiling, blinking. She gave Annabeth a watery smile. "You should probably get to your class."

Standing there looking at Silena, class was the last place she wanted to be, but she wasn't sure what she could do to help, so class was where she went.

Annabeth went through the back door, trying to open it as silently as she could. She ducked her head as she walked to her seat, trying to avoid the eyes of Professor Cavan.

"Annabeth, we can all see you. You can just walk normally to your seat," Cavan said. Students chittered and stared at her as she straightened and walked to her seat, the tips of her ears turning red. Cavan continued with her lecture while Annabeth got settled. Percy leaned towards her.

"Guess I got the worm this time." He was joking, but his eyebrows were drawn together in a way that didn't communicate amusement. Annabeth must look worse than she thought.

"Huh?"

"Y'know, like 'early bird gets the worm.' And you were late." He was too close and the smell of chlorine wafting off of him was intoxicating. Annabeth stared at him. "Come on, don't make me explain my jokes."

She rolled her eyes. "No, it's okay, I get it. I'm wormless."

He just grinned and nudged her with his shoulder. Annabeth bit the inside of her lip, tasting blood.

"Hey, you okay?" Hazel leaned into Annabeth's space, making her jump.

"Yeah, yeah," Annabeth whispered back. "Peachy."

Hazel just shook her head. "Tell me about it later." Then she lightly touched Annabeth's wrist where her timer was and— oh. She thought Annabeth was having more timer issues. Hazel didn't know about her issues with Luke or Percy or Luke and Percy. She wasn't sure if she wanted Hazel to know.

"Okay, I'm going to let you all go early, but remember," Professor Cavan called from the front of the room. "Your project is due at the end of this week. Sunday, before midnight, and then in my basket before class starts on Monday. I'd recommend using this extra time to finish it up."

There was a scrape of chairs as people began to pack their things. Annabeth found Percy looking at her.

"Kind of funny that you only got here ten minutes ago."

"Ha ha."

Percy snorted. "So, I know it's late, but I think I know someone who could help us with the project and..." Annabeth had stopped noticing what he was saying. Had he always looked this passionate when he spoke? There was something so infectious about his enthusiasm that had Annabeth smiling despite herself.

In her head, she heard Piper's voice: "I'm not going to make any assumptions…"

She shook her head. "Actually, if you don't mind, I'm going to work on some of my other homework. My heart isn't really in it today."

His smile dipped a fraction of an inch. "Okay, another time then," he said. "Are you going to the library?"

"I'm just going to stay here. Technically we still have the classroom for another half hour."

"Mind if I stay too?"

Annabeth shrugged. "Could I stop you?"

Percy smirked. "You could try. Wise Girl."

Annabeth let out a breath slowly and broke eye contact. Jesus. She started working on her math homework, but her heart wasn't in it. She stared at the paper, intently aware of Percy clacking away on the keys on his computer next to her.

After a few minutes, Percy said, "I guess your heart isn't really in any of your schoolwork today."

Annabeth focused on her paper, where she was doodling a tiny replica of the pantheon in Rome. She set her pencil down with a clack.

Rubbing her eyes, she said, "No, I guess not."

Percy paused, staring at the sketch and then at her. "Hey, Annabeth." He paused again while Annabeth looked up at him. "I don't know if it's really any of my business but, are you ok? You seem a bit...off today."

Annabeth didn't want to lie, but there was no form of the truth that existed that she could tell him. How could she communicate that she couldn't go one second without thinking about her conversation with Piper? About leaving Luke. About her timer. About the way, she wanted to trace the curve of Percy's cheekbones with her—

No. There were some things she wouldn't even admit to herself and this was one of them. Feelings would just complicate things and Percy was...well, Percy. He was loud, infuriating, a hard worker, witty, and kind. Admittedly handsome. She liked hanging out with him; he'd become a pretty good friend. Friend only . That, at least, she could admit.

"Long answer or short answer?"

"Long answer."

"Noooooooooooo," she said. Percy cracked a smile.

"Then do you want to go somewhere later?" he asked. "With me?"

She wanted to say yes. She should say no. Piper's assumptions, which were probably the same as Luke's, would not—could not—happen. That would add another variable in an already too complex equation.

The only thing she could do was bury it. She'd say no to Percy now, and no to Piper's assumptions, and no to Luke's… everything. And then she would carry out the last months of her life like she had planned, sans boyfriend. (Maybe she shouldn't break up with Luke?)

"Shit. I'm not like—this isn't a date," he said quickly, after Annabeth didn't respond. "I don't want to get on the bad side of your boyfriend again." A dark look passed over Percy's face.

"Again?" she pried. Annabeth had already guessed the truth—she wasn't so blind as to not see something right in front of her face. But she wanted to hear Percy say it.

He groaned. "It's nothing."

"Tell me."

"I don't want to ruin the image you have of your boyfriend."

"Too late," Annabeth said before she could stop herself. She slapped her hands over her mouth. "Shit."

"Shit," Percy agreed, smiling. Something inside Annabeth's stomach flip-flopped. "The word of the day."

"Do you want to go somewhere?" he asked her again. Annabeth got a text notification, but didn't bother to look down at her screen. Probably from Luke.

I should say no, I should say no, I should say no.

"Yes."