~ Hey Angels ~
Here's the new chapter. I'm sorry if there are any mistakes, I haven't really had a lot of time to edit. If you spot any do tell me ;)
I just wanted to thank you all for your lovely, encouraging words after my little meltdown in the last chapter. I wasn't having a good day then but I feel much better now :))
Except for the fact that Y.S.D.T Fever got me into the K Pop band BTS and I am officially hooked. I could not be more part of ARMY now and it's taking over my life! But seriously, let's just appreciate Taehyung and his beautiful face for a moment please. đź’•đź’• And his low singing voice! Urgh, I'm dead. Also, Jungkook is my baby and Jimin is so sweet, his voice will melt your heart. I love them ALL actually, I cannot rave about them enough but I will stop here.
Go listen to them people! The only bad thing about them is that they are Korean and I don't speak Korean so I don't understand half of their lyrics and it's so upsetting! Cry. :'( All you Korean's are so lucky, I honestly envy you sooooo much right now.
Anyways, back to Dreams. I need to get back into pjo rather than fussing over BTS. Gods! This is one of the chapters you've all been waiting for! Where secrets and lies get spilt and hearts get broken and yadayadayada.
Disclaimer: I do not recommend the use of the drug Adderall under any circumstance (unless you have ADHD etc.) It's simply just for the sake of the story. It is a highly addictive drug and, as well as being ILLEGAL, can mess with you and your life. So don't do it kids!
I was actually going to cut this whole part out of Annabeth's story because so many reviewers wanted me to hurry up with the story line but then I got so many recommendations for songs to use during Annabeth's 'rebellious' stage so it kinda had to go in. It won't last long. Literally just 2 chapters and then things get happy again. ;)
Other than that, enjoy.
Chapter 4
Annabeth POV
Broken Secrets
Tuesday 20th October
Morning came bright and early as usual.
Café hours were beginning, and I was busying myself with laying out the tables and chairs. It was the only thing I could keep organised in my life now. The jukebox was playing in the corner and it reminded me of a time where I used to like dancing.
The good news is that I hadn't been fired and Helen hadn't punished me just yet, but she worked me harder than ever this week. I don't even think most adults work as long a hours as I do. I yawned softly, using the loud music to keep me awake but the exhaustion was draining me.
I made my way over to the bar only to stop suddenly hearing a creak of a floorboard to my right. I turned, gasping and backing up into the bar in shock when I saw him. He walked in, looking handsome as ever but slightly disturbed. He slumped closer, his hair messy and wild as though he'd just come back from a night out and I didn't doubt he had because he looked very, very drunk.
He held a large beer bottle in his hand as he used his arm to wipe the sweat from his forehead. I clutched my notepad nervously as he made his way over to me and backed up a little in fear. I didn't want to see him. Not now. Not after the constant phone calls I'd left to voicemail from him.
I thought he'd gone mad.
"Annabeth." He said, happy to see me.
"Luke, what are you doing here?" I gasped, keeping my voice steady.
He smiled a little, his eyes were tired and teary. "I just wanted to see you...you look great."
"Thank you." I whispered, utterly terrified of being around him but even more terrified of agitating him.
"I miss you, Annabeth. You don't understand, at first I just wanted you because everyone does but you were different, you know...from the moment I drove you to school, I couldn't stop thinking about you." He started to walk a little closer now and I gripped the edge of the bar, behind me, nervously.
"What do you want Luke?" I whispered.
"I…I just wanna talk." He said folding his arms as if he couldn't keep himself still, bouncing on his toes a little.
He stepped closer to me and I backed up along the bar slowly. "I just wanna...I mean, we can talk about anything, right? That's what you said." He said in a breathy voice as he reached out to me. I kept myself calm, slowly stepping away from him and hugging my arms uncomfortably.
"Okay, let's talk." I murmured, turning the music off. "What do you wanna talk about?" I said in the softest voice I could make in the moment, not wanting to agitate him.
"I-I want you to stop being silly and come back to me." He sobbed.
"Luke." I breathed keeping my voice, steady, clear and kind. "There's never been anything between us."
"Don't say that!" He cried, making me jump as he pointed a finger at me. "There was. There was!"
It seemed as though he was trying to assure himself of this more than me. Honestly, I felt so bad for him. He looked so broken and distraught like even the smallest thing would cause him to burst into tears
"We had something…and you need me Annabeth. You don't have any friends, I don't have any real ones...we need each other."
"I have friends." I murmured.
"What?" He scoffed. "Percy?" I hugged my arms more tightly, keeping my mouth shut as I took another small step back.
"You know...I saw you the other day." He said, taking a step closer and sipping from his beer bottle. "You were walking home."
Song Tribute: [Flatliners – Twin Shadow]
My heart lurched in my chest as I pieced it all together. "You followed me?" I whispered. It must have been when I was coming back from my shift at the cafe.
"I..." He sighed. "I wanted to make sure you got home safe." His voice was harsh but it had a concern in it. I knew that deep down he cared about me but he had a horrible way of showing it.
I nodded understandingly. "You don't have to do that." I said softly giving him a fake smile. The worst thing I could do was anger him right now.
If you look between him and me—my size and his size—there is one person who is clearly going to come out of this alive.
"I'm okay. I don't need you to protect me."
"What, but Percy can?" He shot back in a gravelly tone.
I jumped back a little. "No." I shook my head desperately. "No...no one can. I don't want anyone to protect me."
"He doesn't know you like I do." He pointed at me. "He doesn't love you like I do."
"You don't know what love is, Luke." I whispered with a soft sigh.
"So that's it then? You're just gonna end things just like that?"
"You lied to me." I frowned.
"I know." He wheezed.
"You kept lying to me and you hurt Thalia. You hurt her and then you tried to make Percy seem like the bad guy even to her."
"I know, I know." He murmured miserably, clawing his hair back roughly.
"You need to go...now."
"You're making a mistake." He shook his head.
"No, I'm not." I shook my head, managing to keep my voice steady again.
He laughed a little as he turned around and began to walk. I sighed in relief, letting go of my arms a little but then he lurched out and through his bottle against the wall. I jumped, taking a step back and feeling my heart beginning to race inside my chest. I could feel the fear raging up inside me now. There was so much of it that I could feel my own blood being pumped around my body in my ears.
"If I can't have you then no one can!" He yelled, snapping his head around and storming towards me.
I gasped, stumbling away and crashing against a table, sending glasses smashing onto the floor. I dodged my way around it, backing away from him and keeping the tables between us.
"Luke, don't do this, please." I begged, scared out of my wits.
"Don't resist me, Annabeth. You're mine. You've been mine right from the start." He grinned walking around the table and I stumbled away, doing my best not to fall over in my heels as he followed me around the cafe.
"All those girls I wasted my time with, even Thalia, none of them compare to you." He shook his head. "You're so irresistible, I can't help myself. I'm gonna make you mine Annabeth, right here, right now."
"Luke." I whispered, shaking my head with tears in my eyes now. "Don't, please. You love me, don't you?"
"Of course." He frowned, snapping out of his scary mode for a second.
"So you don't want to hurt me then." I murmured softly, still keeping one of the round cafe tables between us.
"Of course not. I'll be gentle I promise." He smiled softly.
I shuddered, stumbling back against a table, making the glasses and cutlery all rattle loudly.
"L-Luke...let's t-talk about this first. Why don't we go to school together and then we can talk there?" I begged, desperately wanting to be around people right now—people that could help me, people that could take him far away from me.
"No." He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm not falling for that, little Annie." He pointed a finger at me as though he was telling off a child. As though I was someone he controlled.
Then he lunged around the table in one swift moment. I gasped backing up against another table and grabbing the first thing my fingers landed on.
"Stay back!" I ordered, holding the knife up at him. "Don't make me do this, Luke...I...I don't want to hurt you." I stammered nervously, backing away from him slowly.
"That's why you won't." He smirked. "You couldn't hurt a fly, Annabeth...I know you. You won't fight back against Drew, against your stepmother, Helen."
A shiver ran up my spine. How did he know about Helen?
"And you won't fight back against me." He grinned, charging at me again.
I squealed, dropping the knife and dodging out of his way as I ran across the cafe to the doors but it was hard in my heels. I yanked hard but they wouldn't open. He'd jammed them somehow. My heart pounded in my chest and I got that sudden fear you always get when someone chases you and you have your back to them. I snapped my head around backing up against the door.
He was a fair distance away as he slowly walked towards me laughing. "You can't escape, little Annie. You're mine."
It was at that moment that for the first time...I actually wished Izzy came on time.
"Luke please, this isn't you!" I whimpered.
"Oh, but it is." He grinned. "This has always been me."
I yelped, pushing myself off the door and running towards the back door behind the bar. I had only just reached for the handle when he grabbed me. He forced me into the back, using me to barge open the door. I shrieked a little as he pushed me inside and pressed me up against a wall.
I tried to fight back but he just pinned me down, using his whole body to keep me in place. He used only one hand to hold both of mine above my head. I cried out for help but no one came and with every shriek or protest it only seemed to egg him on. I think he liked how I fought back. He liked the challenge like he thought this was all just a game, that I was a toy he could play with and that was acceptable.
He ripped my shirt open a little, tearing it at the sides. I screamed as his nails scratched my shoulder which was now bare from where the shirt was hanging off it. The top of my black lace bralette was just poking out and I whimpered as he stared at it hungrily.
He leaned in and pinned me harder to the wall as he began to slide his lips down my neck. I whimpered and writhed under his grip but nothing I did made a difference. I was weak under his iron grip and there was nothing I could do to stop him.
"Luke, stop, please!" I begged.
It was the only thing left to do now; to beg him not to humiliate me like this. Flashbacks of Rafael and Octavia came to my mind which only made the whole situation worse. It felt like déjà vu all over again.
He laughed against my skin and began to slide his lips down to my chest as he reached for my jean zip. My eyes widened immensely and I squealed, wriggling and writhing under his grip even more now. I kicked and shook and screamed for help. I yelled so loudly, I thought I might faint from the exhaustion before he clamped a hand over my mouth.
At that moment, the door burst open and there he was, standing there; perfect.
He wore dark jeans, a plain white T-shirt, Nike high tops and his leather jacket. I don't think I'd ever been so relieved to see anyone in my entire life and the fact that it was Percy, made everything bad melt away. I hadn't seen him since that night at the hospital because he'd been off school lately, recovering from his injuries.
His eyes blazed at Luke who still had his arms wrapped around me. He gave him a menacing look as he lunged at him.
"You sick bastard!" He yelled, ripping Luke off me and throwing him back against the far wall. Then he punched him over and over again.
Unable to watch, I turned away, trying to shut out the banging and the crashing and the yelling. I hugged my arms, scrunching my eyes shut and praying it would all be over soon.
And then everything was silent. I turned my head to see Luke sitting on the floor with his head in his hands, sobbing a few metres away. Percy was standing over him, frowning as though he couldn't believe he was actually crying. Then he looked up at me. His eyes were soft and full of concern. I managed to smile at him but I was weak and I began to slip down the wall from the exhaustion in my legs. Maybe it was from the stress and the intense physical labour I'd been doing lately or the relief that Percy was here or just from the fear, I don't know but my legs just gave way.
Percy swiftly dived for me and swept me up into his arms in a heartbeat. I stood there, clinging to him and burying my face into his chest, probably making his T-shirt all tear soaked.
"Annabeth." He breathed, pulling me against him tightly, pressing his cheek to the top of my head.
He pulled away a little, kissing my head desperately and looking me in the eye. "Are you hurt?" He frowned worriedly at my ripped shirt as he cupped my cheeks.
I smiled up at him softly, so happy to see his eyes once again. "No." I whispered, shaking my head. "How did you find me?"
"Luke sent me a text and I pieced it together." He frowned. "I swear if he'd hurt you—"
"I'm okay." I whispered, cutting him off. I held his forearms as he cupped the side of my neck just below my ear and used his thumb to stroke my jawline.
He let out a breath and gulped a little. "I've never been so scared in my life." He murmured.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Hearing you scream." He said in a shaky voice. "I never wanna hear that again."
At that moment, Luke groaned, trying to stand up and Percy made a low growling sound as he took a step but I stopped him. I grabbed his wrist and he looked at me in shock.
"Percy!" I said hastily. "Don't." I shook my head. "Stay with me?" I asked softly and he nodded slowly, lacing his fingers into mine but when he looked back at Luke, he was already running out the back door. I didn't even care though, I was with Percy and that's all that mattered.
Percy seemed angry to let him go like that but he didn't leave me and I loved him for that. He sighed, turning back to me. "You want me to take you home?" He frowned worriedly, stepping incredibly close to me and tightening his grip on my hand.
"I can't go home. Not like this...just...take me to school?" I wasn't really prepared for doing a shift right now and at that moment I didn't even care what Helen would do to me, I just wanted to get out of here.
He nodded, his eyes full of sadness now. I smiled softly reaching up to stroke his cheek softly before I could stop myself. "Hey...it's okay. I'm okay, you're okay and that's all that matters." He nodded again, holding my hand to his cheek.
"Um...I'm gonna get changed...wait for me?" I murmured and he smiled softly, giving me another nod before I disappeared into the locker room. With shaky hands, I pulled off my ripped work clothes and pulled on my casual ones. I wore a white v-neck top with long floaty sleeves, brown high-waisted suede shorts and my black ankle boots with the buckles.
For a moment, after the adrenaline began to settle, I just stood there in shock. A deep shaky breath trembled across my slips and I slumped onto the bench burying my head in my hands. I was shaking all over now. My fingers felt numb, I could barely even move. I gulped but it seemed to catch in my throat, choking me a little. I refused to let myself cry but I felt so broken and humiliated at that moment.
I sat there for God knows how long and suddenly I heard a knock at the door. I tried to respond but my lips were sewn shut.
"Annabeth?" His voice came and then again much louder as I heard the door open. I didn't lift my head from my hands or rather I couldn't. It seemed heavy and too much of an effort to even try.
I heard him sigh and then he came over crouching in front of me. "Hey." He murmured softly as he placed his hand to my knee. Naturally, I flinched and jolted away. I felt bad instantly as my eyes met his and I saw the shock in them. I didn't mean to but after what happened with Luke my body seemed to want to be left alone. I felt the urge to be alone where no one could touch me ever again and for some reason I felt guilty about that. Percy had risked his life for me to come here and this is how I repay him.
"I'm sorry." I whispered, my lips and shoulders trembling as I scrunched the floaty sleeves of my top in my fist.
"It's okay." He nodded understandingly, using a soft voice. "I won't touch you if you don't want me to." He held his hands up slowly as began to stand up but I pulled him back down with both hands. He fell onto his knees, eyes widening as he looked at me, confused.
Regardless of everything, a part of me wanted him to touch me. Feeling his hands on my body gave me a sense of security. With anyone else it was different, but I trusted Percy. I knew he wouldn't hurt me.
He sighed softly. "What do you want me to do?" He asked, and our faces were so close, he was just a breath away.
I didn't really know the answer to that question, so I just pulled him closer, holding his hands as I pressed my forehead to his and breathed him in. I was only just taller than him, sitting on this bench so I had to crane my neck a little.
"Why does this keep happening to me?" I whispered weakly and I felt tears in my closed eyes now.
Percy sighed once more. "I don't know, baby..." He whispered, and my heart jolted at the sound of that one tiny little word. It seemed as though in the midst of all this horror, he could still make me feel giddy and lightheaded still. He could suck away my fear like it was nothing compared to my feelings for him.
"The world is cruel to the best of people."
I sobbed unwillingly against him. He tightened his grip on my hand and stayed with me like that for a while. Then he leaned back and wiped the single tear that had managed to escape from my cheekbone.
"We shouldn't stay here. Come with me?" He asked softly and I managed a brief nod before he pulled me up with him and lead me outside.
I left a note for Izzy on the bar before I joined him outside. I kept having to pull up my top, being a V-neck, it was pretty low, and every time it slipped, I would shudder. It's just that after everything that happened, I didn't really want to show any skin...at all.
I gulped, hugging my arms uncomfortably as we walked down the steps. Percy slid off his jacket and wrapped it around me, clearly noticing my discomfort in my own clothes. He wore a baby blue unbuttoned shirt underneath it which I could now see. He suited that colour so well.
"Thanks." I whispered and he gave me a nod as I pulled it over my sleeves and followed him to his car. I noticed that he kept his distance and I didn't know whether to be grateful or sad about that.
He opened the door for me to step inside and almost instantly, I felt the warmth of his car and the protection I only felt when I was around him.
I curled up in the seat as Percy got in the other side and revved the engine. As we sped away, I opened the window to feel the soothing wind in my hair, resting my head on the cold metal and closing my eyes. Just breathing in the fresh air seemed to relax me. Letting it flow over my hot face, I imagined my worries blowing away and for a moment they did.
It took me a while to realise the car was utterly silent. Sneaking a glance at Percy, I found myself swooning at his gorgeous face. He'd been there just like he promised. Maybe he never actually said he promised but he'd always shown that he'd cared for me and that he would protect me and today he'd proven that. I loved him so so so much in that moment. I felt the sudden urge to kiss him but I managed to restrain myself. I was just so incredibly lucky to have someone like Percy in my life.
He glanced at me before looking back at the road with a smile. "What are you thinking?" He raised his eyebrow and I sighed softly.
"Nothing, I'm just...I'm just glad you were there, Seaweed Brain." I murmured and he smiled softly, reaching over to take my hand in his. He pressed it to his lips, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Where else would I be, Wise Girl?" He said in that gorgeous sexy voice of his. I smiled a little and we went the rest of the journey without talking but our fingers were still entwined.
Song Tribute: [Photograph – Ed Sheeran]
The traffic was pretty bad, so we got to school when everyone else was arriving. Percy pulled into a parking space and we both let go of each other's hands to step out of the car. I let out a huge shaky breath as I shut the door. I wasn't sure if I was ready for school after all of that.
I gulped, looking at Percy over his car. He was frowning at me worriedly as he leant on the top of his car. "Are you sure you wanna do this?" He asked softly and suddenly something clicked in my brain, like a puzzle piece falling into place.
I gasped stumbling back as the image flashed across my mind. This was less of a flashback and more of a memory really as I only saw bits and pieces but I remembered him. It was the little boy again, only this time I could see his face and I could see his eyes. I gasped. They were a vibrant sea-green. The kind of sea green you wouldn't see on a normal human being and at that moment I knew. I'd recognise those sea-green eyes anywhere.
I saw him looking at me and this time I wasn't looking at my younger self...I was my younger self. He was looking at me and I at him. We were standing on a fairly low cliff with a lake down below and were both in swimwear. "Are you sure you wanna do this?" He asked and that phrase repeated over and over in my head until his face morphed into the Percy I knew today and the image repeated the same phrase. I crashed against the car behind me suddenly, making me whimper a little as I pressed my hand to my forehead.
It was him... It was Percy. It's been Percy all along. Percy was the boy from my childhood, he was my friend...he was more than a friend actually. Suddenly it was like I was re-watching all my visions, all my memories, everything, and each time I saw his sea-green eyes. They came over me like a sudden, vast storm. It was too much. I couldn't breathe.
I could faintly hear Percy asking me what was wrong but I barely noticed. I stumbled away, gripping my necklace. I remembered everything at that moment. The sudden nostalgia just came flooding back to me. I remembered the first moment we met, to the moment I left him and to every moment in between. I remembered how I felt about him and how he felt about me. I just couldn't believe that the scrawny little boy I'd loved as a child was really the guy standing in front of me today.
And I suffocated under the heavy memories.
"Annabeth?" Percy frowned worriedly but I was already turning and walking away, through the car park. I walked away, frowning and flinching at every noisy sound.
Suddenly, I crashed into someone and looked up to see Silena. She smiled at me before her facial expression dropped at the sight of my clear trauma. I saw the populars standing around Beckendorf's old pickup truck in the corner of my eyes and could see Silena's concerned face but I was lost right now. I stumbled away from her and she called my name, gaining the attention of the others who looked over curiously. I was too busy looking at my necklace to notice though.
"Annabeth, stop! Wait up!" Percy called behind me and at that moment I did stop. I frowned looking at the 'P' on my necklace and suddenly I realised the 'P' stood for Percy. It was his name I'd been wearing around my neck all my life. I gasped.
"Annabeth, what's wrong?" Percy asked, pulling me around to face him and the others started murmuring amongst each other.
"It's you..." I whispered.
"You're gonna have to be a little more specific, Wise Girl." He joked.
"It's you, isn't it Percy? It's been you all along." I said holding my necklace up a little, without the slightest hint of humour in my tone.
In that moment, I watched his whole world come crashing down before his widening eyes. He no longer looked as if he was breathing as he stumbled back a little.
Though I had some sense of satisfaction that I finally knew who it was and it was amazing to think that when I was younger I had kissed Percy Jackson but now I just felt betrayed. He'd been lying to me this whole time.
Was this all a game to him? Maybe he really had been playing me all this time. It was all one sick mind game.
"What going on?" Silena called but neither of us responded and I knew they could hear our conversation but I didn't really care.
"Just tell me." I whispered.
Percy sighed, raking a hand through his hair and looking at me again. "Yes." He nodded. "It's me."
I began to breathe heavily now, blinking in shock and holding my forehead. I turned around trying to steady my breathing. "W-why would you lie to me?" I whispered, turning back to him.
"I...I didn't want to." He murmured. "You were the one who forgot me." He frowned with pain in his eyes.
"Oh no." I breathed. "You can-not blame this on me."
"Well it's true!" He yelled now.
"Percy?" Silena frowned moving to come over with Piper but he held a hand up to them and they stopped instantly.
"We were supposed to be best friends and then one day you just up and left me without an explanation." I gasped. "I waited for you for months!" He yelled. "Why the hell do you think I would have the letter 'A' tattooed to my neck? It's your name, Annabeth. I got it so that I'd never forget you."
I gulped in complete and utter shock and the others seemed stunned also. No one had known what the 'A' stood for and now they did. I just couldn't believe that it actually stood for Annabeth—my name. We'd both been wearing each other's initials for most of our lives.
"What? Was I supposed to just go frolicking through the meadows with you like nothing happened? I'm sorry that I didn't want you to remember something that ruined my life." He scoffed. "I'm sorry I didn't want to go through that kind of pain again." He said using a sarcastic tone.
I gulped. Pain? Was it really painful for him when I left? "Percy, I didn't want to leave you..."
He frowned. "What?"
"I never wanted to leave you." I said more loudly and more clearly.
"What are you talking about?"
I sighed heavily. "It was Drew, Percy. It was her all along, I should've known. She threatened me, made my life a living hell so that I'd agree to stay away from you. I was only nine at the time. I wasn't brave enough to fight back. I'm not brave enough to fight back now. She made me leave and I cried every night for a year." I frowned, feeling tears in my eyes as I remembered those horrible nights.
Percy's lips parted in shock and he seemed to take a while to process that. "Y-you remember?"
"I remember everything." I whispered.
"Finally!" Silena shrieked, clapping her hands proudly and Piper smiled beside her and that's when it hit me. They knew. They'd always known and they never told me anything.
"You knew." I gasped at them.
"Wait, what is going on?" Beck frowned.
"Yeah what is going on?" Leo added. "Why's everyone getting all triggered?" He thought this was all a joke as usual.
"A-Annabeth...I—" Silena started but I turned away, utterly betrayed.
"You knew all along and you never told me." I shook my head. "And you." I looked at Percy. "You didn't even tell me after I told you about my flashbacks. This whole time you've all been playing with me." I said in a hurt voice.
Percy opened his mouth to speak but Silena and Piper beat him to it. "No, Annabeth! I'd never do that to you!" Silena gasped.
"You have to believe us Annabeth, none of this—" Piper started.
"I thought I was going insane!" I cried, cutting her off and they all went silent. I was so sick of putting my trust in people and getting let down every time. "Do you know what that feels like? You let me think I was crazy!"
"We never meant to hurt you. We just didn't want to interfere." Piper urged and then they both rambled off endless nonsense that I didn't believe for a second. Maybe I didn't belong in the popular world. It only seemed full of liars and fakes.
"Shut up!" Percy yelled and they both fell silent instantly. "This is between Annabeth and I, no one else!" He ordered in that voice full of leadership and authority. Then he turned to me. "Beth, listen to me, I wanted to tell you, believe me I did, I just—" He started desperately but I just turned away.
I tore off his leather jacket, shuddering in the cold but I didn't care. I threw it at him and he caught it easily but he was frowning in shock. "You can take your leather jacket and your sea-green eyes and you can go find another girl to toy with." I frowned. "Because I'm sick of your mind games. I will not do this anymore.
"Annabeth—" He sighed but I had already begun to walk away towards the school steps. He grabbed my hand and pulled me around to face him. "Don't." He shook his head. "Don't leave. This is why I didn't want to let you in again. I was terrified this would happen." He pleaded, his eyes shaking with what I thought was fear.
Song Tribute: [River – Bishop Briggs]
I just shook my head, backing away and I looked angry. I actually looked angry. I never looked angry…
"Annabeth." Percy murmured with a look of agony in his eyes.
"Annabeth, wait!" Silena cried. "Please, I'm sorry!"
I didn't even wince. And I felt something. Something in my chest twisting and hardening into shape. Something inside me was changing. I could physically feel it. Maybe this was what Rafael had meant.
There's darkness in me yet.
I burst into the school corridors and stormed my way around the noisy crowds of students going about their daily business. My head span every time one of them bumped into me—vision blurring—body trembling. I completely knocked over a stack of papers someone was holding and even when they yelled at me, I continued to stagger along, bewildered and utterly abandoned of all logic.
I wasn't sure whether to be angry or completely distraught. Maybe I was both.
Stumbling like a newly born fawn, I made my way up a staircase and turned a few corners. I didn't specifically know where I was going, my form room was on the ground floor but the further I got from the others, the better I assumed I'd feel.
Gasping, I dove into a side door, away from the crowds and the noise. I just needed to breathe. When I looked up, I saw that I was in one of the Chemistry labs. It was one of the smaller ones they used for Freshman but I still shouldn't have been in here. Strictly speaking, you're not supposed to be in a science lab without a teacher present, especially chemistry labs because of all the toxic chemicals and things. But for now, I didn't care.
I sank into one of the wooden stools behind a desk, breathing heavily. Everything just seemed to be happening all at once today, even my brain wasn't big enough to process it.
I wasn't going to leave this room. I refused to. Not with all those people out there. How could they have lied to me like that? Every conversation I had about Percy with Piper and Silena, they were just keeping that secret from me. I guess I didn't really hate them, they probably just wanted to let Percy make the decision to tell me himself, but he didn't. Even after telling him about my flashbacks he still wouldn't fess up. What kind of a person does that to another person? I never wanted to see his face again! Ever!
Heavily sighing, I buried my head in my hands and embedded my fingers into the messy curls of my hair. I was so tired. Not just emotionally but physically. All this work and stress piling on top of me was too overwhelming and it felt that this last stretch was tearing me apart altogether. I hadn't slept at all last night either and it was starting to take its toll.
I had to come up with some sort of plan to keep it together or my studies would suffer for it. And if this was going to be my last term here at Goode High, I had to make it count.
Suddenly, I heard the door slam and my head shot up. The whiplash got to me and I had to blink a few times before I could focus on the figure standing a few metres away, in front of the closed door.
Clara Fitzgerald was standing there, looking at me with a weird expression. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail and her bag was slung over her right shoulder with the strap firmly clutched in her hands as if the bag held something very important.
She was a member of the school council and the debate team. I would've been on them with her if I wasn't so bloody self-conscious. I'd always admired her like I admired Reyna. She was smart, but it was like she never let the massive workload get to her. In fact, she thrived on the stress of it all. I needed some of whatever she had.
"Rough day?" She half smiled at me.
"Just a little." I gave her a half-hearted laugh and even that exhausted me.
"No offence, you look awful." She said bluntly.
I scoffed at the humour of it all. "Thanks."
"If you're looking for something to take the edge off, I can hook you up."
I stared at her for a moment, confused as to what she meant or maybe I wasn't, I just found it hard to believe.
She smirked at my expression. "Honey, we all have our secrets. But you're a good little girl, aren't you? Forget I said anything." She turned, reaching for the door handle.
"Wait!" I leaped up from my stool and she turned back around. I gulped.
What was I getting myself into?
"What exactly are we talking about here?" I asked quietly, looking around to check if anyone was listening.
She smiled, pulling down the blind and leaving us completely concealed in the chemistry lab, alone. Then she came over to me and reached into her bag, pulling out an orange pot of pills which she set down on the table.
The world stopped as soon as those pills hit the surface.
"Everything you need, and more, is right here in this tub." She said under her breath.
"What is it?"
"Adderall. It's a prescription medication used to—"
"I know what it is." I cut her off, looking down at the pills.
Adderall is a prescription medication used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. It is the brand name of a drug which contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, both of which are central nervous system stimulants.
I've heard that many students here at Goode High use it to improve concentration and stamina while studying for exams, but I never thought that Clara Fitzgerald, one of the smartest girls in school, was part of the circle.
My heart was beating fast. I'd never gotten myself involved in anything like this before and it scared me. And taking Adderall without a medical prescription is a misdemeanour. If you are convicted of the crime, you could face up to one year in county jail.
Then again, if I was smart, if I really kept it hidden…no one would ever know. No one would ever find out and I'd get the break I needed. Maybe this was what I'd been needing all along.
"So, are you in or are you out?"
I sighed. "Fine." She smirked, picking up the pot. "But just one."
"One, are you sure?"
I looked around again. "Well…maybe three—just to get me through the rest of the school week."
She nodded pouring three into her palm and holding them out to me. "It's thirty." She said simply, and my heart thudded. Okay, now things were getting serious.
"Oh, couldn't you just spare them? Just this once." I smiled but she didn't look amused.
"I'm not running a charity here, Annabeth." She said closing her fingers over the pills. "Thirty for first-timers, repeat customers get a discount."
"Okay, fine. I can do thirty." I fished into my bag, pulling out the cash. Helen had given it to me for the grocery shopping this morning but we could last a few more days I suppose and I'd find some other way of getting the extra cash.
She took the cash with a smile and dropped the pills into my palm with one swift motion. "Pleasure doing business with you." She said before turning on her heels and marching out the door, leaving me alone with the three orange and white pills in my palm.
I looked around cautiously. I would be so screwed if someone caught me now. I quickly rushed to the lab cupboards looking for one of the small ziplock bags they use to put specimens in. I found one of the tiny ones and dropped two of the pills inside before zipping it up and stuffing it into the inside pocket of my backpack. Then I took out my water bottle and held the last pill in my palm.
"No going back now." I murmured, tipping back the pill and downing the water.
~xXx~
Percy POV
Watching her walk away sent a violent thrum of emotions running through my veins—emotions that I'd vowed never to feel again. I could feel it tearing me apart as I staggered backwards, trying to catch my breath.
This couldn't be happening. Not again.
From the corner of my eyes, I could see Silena bursting into tears and running into a confused Beckendorf's arms. He had no clue what was going on. None of them did.
Piper was the first to comfort me. She came over in a heartbeat, taking my shoulders and trying to calm down my uneven breathing.
"Percy, Percy breathe." She said. "Breathe. We'll fix this. Everything's going to be okay. Do you hear me?" She said cupping my face hard so that I'd look her in the eyes.
"She walked away, Pips." I staggered. "She walked away again." I was looking at her but I wasn't really. My mind was gone. My vision gone. Everything—gone.
"She's upset, she'll get over it." She assured me, dropping her hands.
"Not this time." I shook my head. There was a sudden ping in my heart that made even the simple act of breathing, difficult.
"Talk to Drew." Piper said. "She's the one that caused all this mess, isn't she? Make her straighten it out."
At that moment, a raging heat of anger burned through me like liquid fire. I would've burnt the whole world down then in order to find that girl and make her pay for what she'd done to me. All this time, I'd blamed Annabeth when I should've have been blaming the girl right under my nose.
I fucking slept with that girl!
"Percy?" Piper said in a cautious voice, looking up at my furious expression. "You're not thinking what I think you're thinking, are you?"
But I was already storming past her, across the lot and up the stone steps, two at a time. I'd never felt this kind of crazed anger in my life. It could have brought buildings crashing to the ground. Sent people running.
"Bro, hold up!" Grover called. Other than Piper and Silena, he was the only one I'd told about Annabeth. He knew what I was going through but I wasn't in the mood to talk.
The double doors flew open as I stormed inside, pushing aside the crowd to find her. It was as if I could feel steam coming out of my ears like I would explode at any minute. I'd almost given up when I saw her standing across the corridor, against the lockers with Rachel and Calypso, gossiping amongst themselves.
With the others stumbling a few metres behind me, I marched over.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?" I yelled, loud enough to gain numerous stares but I hardly noticed.
Drew blinked up at me in shock. "Percy—" She started in that soft tone she'd used to lure me into her bedroom the first time.
"YOU SICK SADISTIC BITCH!"
A look of horror and hurt crossed her face. She was too in shock to form words and so was Rachel and Calypso. They backed off behind her a little now as if they were scared to face my wrath next.
"Percy, calm down, you're making a scene." Piper hissed. They were all grouped behind me now.
"GOOD!" I said not looking back at her. "I want everyone here to know how Drew Tanaka, little miss popular, ruined my life! I want everyone to know what a terrible human being you really are!"
"What are you saying?" She whispered, frowning now as if she was innocent in all this. "What did I do?"
It was infuriating.
I pushed her up against the lockers hard, my palms pressed against her shoulders our chests rising and falling heavily against one another's. She looked up at me and gasped. We were nose to nose.
"Did you really think I'd never find out?" I whispered harshly. "You knew that I was in love with her and still you sent her away because of your selfish obsession with me."
"What are you talking about?" She frowned.
"When we were kids, Drew!" I yelled, jerking my hands back and stepping away. She was still pressed firmly against the lockers as if she was too scared to move.
"I've always known about your crush on me. You just couldn't accept the fact that I was happy with someone else so you made it your life's goal to push her away from me. WELL CONGRATULATIONS!" I suddenly cried, half laughing at the irony of all this.
"You did it! Are you happy?"
I'd been friends with her for so long. I'd trusted her for so many years after Annabeth left. She'd comforted me. She'd given me a shoulder to cry on as a weak little boy. And all that time she'd been a lying, scheming, bitch. This was her plan. This had always been her plan.
"Annabeth officially hates me." I said and surprisingly that didn't make her smile. She kept quiet, averting her eyes a little and for a split second, I saw guilt in them.
"I—I'm sorry." She whispered after a moments silence. "I never meant for it to go this far."
"Oh, bullshit! Yes, you did." I scoffed. "You enjoy ruining people's lives—it's what you do.
"I didn't want to ruin yours!" She protested, teary-eyed and reaching out to me but I stepped away.
I think, somewhere along the line of her wicked scheming, she'd forgotten about the possibility of hurting me. Her mind had been so set on destroying Annabeth that she didn't realise she'd been destroying me too.
"It's already done." I said bluntly. "You got what you wanted. Annabeth's never going to speak to me again for lying to her."
"You could do so much better than her." She said.
That pissed me off. "When are you gonna get it into that thick head of yours?" I cried. "I don't want anyone else!"
She gasped but held her ground before taking a step towards me. We were a little too close. "Can't I change your mind? I'm good at that." She smiled that dazzling smile. "I can make you forget her."
I smiled back closing the gap between us and hearing the sudden gasp of my friends behind me. I gently took her chin between my fingers and looked down at her with soft eyes. "Oh you poor, beautiful girl." I sighed. "You're so alone, you'll cling onto anything."
Her lips began to tremble as her eyes shimmered with tears. I felt sorry for her. It was stupid but I did. I actually felt sorry for the girl.
"Percy…" She whispered.
"If you have any respect for me left in there, you'll leave Annabeth alone. That's you included." I glared at Rachel, I knew all about her little schemes against Annabeth. "She's innocent—she's always been innocent." I murmured, loathing myself for ever thinking she wasn't in the first place.
"I'd be very careful, mistakes have their ways of catching up with you." I whispered to Drew. She just stared at me, utterly stunned. Then I let her go and backed up, arms out wide.
"Your royal highness." I teased, bowing a little and then dropping my arms. "I'm done being in your court." And with that, I swiftly turned. "Adios!" I cried saluting with two fingers up to the ceiling and walking away without another word.
As I walked, it seemed as if a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.
I was never going to let her manipulate me again.
Never again.
~xXx~
How was it guys? I hope it wasn't too bad, I'm a little bit unsure about this Annabeth rebellious thing. Like it's very out of character for her but I did have a lot of fun writing about it and of course what happens in the next chapter ;)
Please don't be mad at her for rejecting Percy and going off on one. Any normal human being would and she's been through so much - I'm surprised it didn't happen earlier. She needs this stage to toughen up a little before everything in her life can finally be put right!
Also, sorry if I got your hopes up with Luke in previous chapters. The majority of his character is bad in this story with a few redeeming moments. I guess it's up to your interpretations to decide whether he's a villain or not.
I'm sorry I haven't done any review responses, I'm rather busy with work this weekend and I know that's no excuse but I hope you can all forgive me. I did read them all and smiled throughout every single word so yeah, thank you so much my lovelies. If you did have a seriously important question to ask me, send me a little pm and I'll probably reply way before my next update.
See you next Sunday for sure but check my profile on Wednesday because I might have time to squeeze in an update then. Emphasis on the might.
Lots of Love ❤️
AWG xx