~ Hey Angels ~
Sorry I missed Sunday, there was a blackout and then I had to go to a party :))
I've been super stressed because my laptop has refused to connect to the wifi for two days but I've just managed to sort it out. Yay!
QueenOfWolves - I can't even begin to say how happy your review to Ch. 13 made me. SQUEEAAL! I'm pretty sure I cried when I read it. I didn't know what to expect with the chapter because it was so different to all my other ones but your reaction was all I needed to have faith in my writing again. I swear, other than it just being my passion, this is why I continue to write. Idk why but I feel honoured that my story got you into ff in the first place. And, my Gods, you could never bore me to death girly! My exams went okay, thanks. Could have been better but they were just practice ones. Thank you for being THE MOST AMAZING PERSON EVER! Please stay forever and remain a reader because I would genuinely be sad to see you go. Love ~ AWG
LouTheDog - Aaaawww, don't even worry about not reviewing until now. You said everything I needed to hear in just one review! Thank you for being so sweet and encouraging. It honestly melted my heart when you told me to stop apologising in case my chapters weren't good enough. Don't worry, I won't abandon this story, unless for some horrific reason I die or get kidnapped, I can promise you that ;) I took up your suggestion about making Annabeth struggle a bit more with her injury and I'm really glad you mentioned this because it's added a kind of raw, authenticity to her character I think. So thank you! And I am so proud that you're listening to The 1975 because of me, I cannot stress my love for them enough! Love ~ AWG
NONAME2002 - Yaaay! I'm glad you liked Ch. 13. I thought you might. Anyways, I wanted to talk about your Annabeth x Beckendorf theory and tell you that yes, you are going crazy ;)) I can totally see why you thought that was a possibility though with all the foreshadowing. I'm not intending to make them a 'thing' but I do want to make them really close. I feel like it's only logical since they were the closest to Silena and now that she's gone, they can only really turn to each other especially with Percy gone. So for your Ch. 14 review - honestly you make me laugh SOOOO much. I actually need your reviews in my day to day life even when you're considering murdering me ;) I am really sorry I missed Sunday btw. I think you're right that Annabeth should have put the necklace back, that would have made more sense, I can see that now. Damn! Oh well. ~ AWG
So this chapter is kinda short and sweet. I hope you guys like it x
Chapter 15
To Hurt and To Heal
Annabeth POV
Saturday 16th April
"Coffee?" The waiter offered me as I sat at the breakfast table with my mother. It was a grand piece of furniture with polished, dark mahogany wood and enough room to seat 20 people.
"Please." I smiled, touching my mouth as I swallowed a bite of poached egg on toast and held up my empty cup.
He was carrying it in a large coffee pot which was steaming at the top and permeating a glorious smell of caffeine through the air. The hot liquid was like a warm hug in my mouth as it slipped smoothly down my throat and I relished in a moment of sudden awakeness.
The weekend really could not have come any later but I was just so grateful it was here now. The past few days at school had been torturous. So torturous, I'm not even going to go into detail about it.
"Darling, are you alright? You seem miles away." My mother's charming voice rang out like silver bells. She looked perfectly radiant this morning in a long emerald green silk robe tied neatly at the waist. Her brown hair fell over her shoulders effortlessly in smooth, glorious waves. Her beauty never ceased to amaze me.
"Sorry." I shook myself a little. "I was just daydreaming." I lied. I don't really daydream anymore, I just reminisce and silently hurt inside.
She nodded but I could sense her worry. "So what's your plan for today? Shall we go out for lunch?"
"I'd love that." I smiled. I needed to get away. "I think I'll probably just relax for the rest of the day, get a bit of homework done, that sort of thing."
"Matthew don't hog the TV remote, share with your brother!" My mother shouted across the room to where my little brothers were fighting on the Living room sofa.
In the midst of their squabbling the News channel came on and my heart instantly dropped into my stomach. I'd recognise those two faces anywhere. The caption read:
Criminal Mastermind, Maxwell Hughes and Drug Dealer, Douglas Reed found handcuffed in an alleyway!
They had been on the News all week. Everyone was talking about them. Maybe a part of me was happy that these dangerous men were behind bars and were in no way capable of tormenting me anymore but mostly, all I could think about was how these boys had just ruined their lives.
"Monsters." My mother uttered. "They deserve whatever sentence they get."
She knew they had something to do with what went down at the theatre.
Suddenly, the screen switched to a mugshot of Octavia and my skin grew cold. There was a nasty taste in my mouth and I could feel the lump growing in my throat. The News reporter went on to discuss how he'd been arrested yesterday morning after they found him chained up outside New York Presbyterian Hospital with a gunshot wound on his left shoulder. He'd been bleeding out on the street in the middle of the night before they found him and treated him quickly before the police came.
A haunting realisation came over me and I bit my lip. Was it Percy? Was it Percy doing all this? Some kind of heroic search for the villains they had faced that night. What was he doing? He could get hurt!
I couldn't help but worry about how Octavia had come to have a bullet lodged in his shoulder though. Did Percy do that too?
My heart skipped a beat.
Matthew changed the channel to SpongeBob SquarePants when he realised the TV screen was showing something educational.
"Maybe we could make a reservation at that restaurant you like." My mother chimed, knocking me out of my thoughts.
"Don't you have to book 6 months in advance?" I frowned, sipping my coffee.
"You underestimate me, darling." She smiled superciliously. It was that smile that had gained her a billion dollar company and that smile that had men falling at her feet. "Your mother can pull a few strings when she wants something."
"Of course, what was I thinking?" I grinned.
She winked at me and then took a sip of her coffee. "Would you pass me the butter?"
Simple request really, isn't it—pass the butter? I thought so too before I reached across the huge fruit bowl for it and was rewarded with a sharp stabbing pain in my lower stomach. It was slightly to the left but it sent shock-waves of more pain all over.
I gasped, gripping the table in a fit of splutters. My eyes scrunched tightly shut and a banging headache began pulsing from my temples.
"Annabeth!" My mother cried, starting up from her chair at the head of the table and rushing over to take my shoulder.
"I'm fine." I breathed, holding my stomach in pain. "Really, I just moved a little too quickly."
"Honestly, I thought the doctors said it wasn't deep. You should be healed by now." She whined. "I'll call the doctor after breakfast."
"No really, mom, I'm fine." I assured her. "They did say it could take 14 days. I guess my body just isn't ready to heal itself yet."
Understandable really.
"Oh, darling." She sighed, her eyebrows furrowing sorrowfully. "Maybe we should get you some kind of physical therapy if it's affecting your range of motion like this."
"I'll be okay, I'm just gonna go check my bandages." I said, getting up from the table and slowly walking to the bathroom on the ground floor.
A sense of relief passed over me once I'd closed the door behind me and sunk against the white wood. Silence—something I craved more than often nowadays.
I took a breath, straightening myself up and wondering over to the sink basin. A long mirror stretched out horizontally but it was too high to show anything below my chest. The pain hadn't really gone away yet and that was unusual for such a minor stab wound. I began to undo my cream silk robe, it was a small, pretty thing with a waist tie and see-through embroidered sleeves. Then I let it hang loosely over my matching white underwear and ever so carefully, started to unwrap my bandages.
It stung. Why did it sting?
The deeper I went into the bandage, the more a slight red dot began to appear. Blood. I gulped. It wasn't supposed to do that.
Song Tribute: [I Found – Amber Run]
When finally I saw the wound, there was a shrieking feeling in my gut and a heated panic ran through me. It had grown in size. What had been small enough for a pocket knife had now turned into kitchen knife width. An angry redness surrounded the cut and when I pressed a shaky finger to it, it burned.
Another gasp. Stumbling back against the wall. More gasps. Sinking to the floor. Thud. Whoa, the tiles are cold. What is happening? My head is spinning round and round. I'm shaking. My lips are going purple now but I can't see. Visions going blurry.
It was when the violent shivering chills took over that I really started to think that something was wrong with me. It must be infected or something, that's the only explanation.
I sat for a while, in my own little daze. Head tilted back against the wall, chin up as if my lips were searching for cleaner air. One leg outstretched, the other bent upwards. Body ice cold to the touch. The only light came from the window on the far left wall. It was casting streaks across the skin on my legs and settling in my blonde hair.
I wish Percy were here…
There was a wistful silence as I closed my eyes and imagined the bathroom door opening slowly and Percy appearing; ruggedly handsome with an adorably worried look on his face. He'd kneel by my side and take me in his arms. He'd kiss away the pain and carry me away.
But when I opened my eyes, I was alone and the daydream was gone.
~xXx~
Wednesday 20th April
...
"Grief, I've learned is really just love. It's all the love you want to give but cannot. All of that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go."
— Unknown
...
It had been exactly two weeks since Silena's death.
The more days that past the more she seemed to slip from my mind, not because I'd forgotten her; but because it almost seemed as though she had never even lived. I know that sounds awful, but it was like she was a ghost. I hadn't seen her in so long she seemed like a dream. Sometimes, I wondered whether she was real or just a figure of my imagination.
The whole school had moved on from it ages ago, but I never forgot her. The others and I never forgot the events of April 6th. The school display was still up and I still thought about her every single day. It was unbearable, every minute of every hour of every moment. The grief gave me little strength to bear the pain and I couldn't remember the last time I'd woken up with a smile on my face. Come to think of it, I hadn't really smiled in a while. None of us had.
I was right, the weeks after a death are always the worst because that's when you feel most of the loss from the loneliness; the absence of someone you once held firmly in your heart. I had spent many lunchtimes sitting by myself in the library or on the quad, just staring idly off into the distance, not really sure of what I was looking at or for. Maybe I was waiting for her to appear—for her to walk across the grass and smile at me again.
Sometimes, I would spend hours staring at the empty pages in my sketchbook, I'd stopped being able to draw weeks ago, and trying hard not to cry. And it wasn't just the despair taking hold of my heart and soul, it was the guilt. It should have been me in that coffin at the funeral, not Silena. Rafael was supposed to kill me, not her but Octavia had stepped in and interfered with everything. He didn't even know her. And I'd give anything to go back in time and take her place. Anything at all.
I sat in the studio chairs with the others, waiting for the dance instructor to arrive. Yes, we were chosen, along with a few others, to do this silly dance. Of all the people they could pick, they had to choose the people that were the least up to it. So we sat in our miserable group, waiting impatiently for the late instructor. I wore a lazy dark green jumper with a white illustration of planets on the front and the words 'Give Me Space', black leggings and white sneakers. I'd long since stopped trying to wear nice clothes in my current state.
The Stolls were sat in the middle of the room rolling a basketball to each other rather unenthusiastically which was abnormal for them. Leo was playing games on his phone and refusing to join in any conversations that the boys were having. Thalia and Reyna were pressed up in the corner of the room, whispering amongst themselves about something. Piper and I had long since come to acknowledge that is was best to leave them to it sometimes.
"Can you waltz?" A voice murmured and I shook myself awake, making a dumbfounded hum sound.
"I was asking if you knew how to waltz." Piper repeated, sitting on the chair below me. I was perched on one of the tables pushed to the side of the room. One leg outstretched the other brought up against my chest so I could rest my cheek against it.
"Oh." I said, sitting up and rubbing away the red pressure mark on my cheek. "I suppose." I glanced around the room, not feeling like myself at all today. "My mother taught me for the Christmas ball last year."
"Oh, that's right. I forgot." She smiled. "That gives you a head-start from everyone else then."
I gave her a half-hearted smile. "Don't worry, you'll pick it up quite easily." Then I rested my cheek on my knee again, hugging my shin.
"Tired?" Jason asked, walking over and smoothing my ponytail through his hand. It was a light, caring touch. He looked strikingly handsome today with his blonde hair lighter than ever and his blue eyes shimmering like the Caribbean. That white T-shirt did well to show off his tanned biceps.
"Mmm." I hummed, closing my eyes for a second and smiling a little.
He let my ponytail hang over my right shoulder and pressed the back of his fingers to my forehead. "You've got a fever again." He said worriedly.
"Again?" Grover gasped, rushing over to feel my forehead too. "Annabeth, you're burning up. I told you to tell me when this happened."
"I'm sorry." I murmured, sitting up dazedly.
Ever since they'd found out about my trip to the hospital, last Saturday, with an infected knife wound, everyone had been pretty focused on my well-being. Particularly Jason and Grover. Jason had taken over the older brother role and Grover was looking after me because his best friend wasn't.
"Honey, have you taken any paracetamol today?" Piper frowned, suddenly extremely worried about me as she gripped my ankle.
"You had one after second period this morning." Jason answered for me. Classic older brother.
"Hhhmmm, you should probably wait another hour or so before taking another one then." Piper said.
"Are you gonna be okay to dance?" Jason asked. "Didn't the doctor say to avoid heavy exercise."
"Maybe you should sit this one out then, it could be dangerous." Grover nodded, looking like a little puppy with his cute brown eyes and furrowed brows. He had that bronze coloured mix-race skin that glowed whenever the sunlight caught him. Despite his previous attitude, I'd always thought he was a handsome looking guy.
"Guys, it's a waltz. It's not like I'm gonna be back flipping any time soon." I grinned, tired of all the fuss but still appreciating their concern.
I was really beginning to love these two. It's no wonder Percy considers them his closest friends.
Piper and Jason both laughed a little at that but Grover was not amused.
"I still think you should at least go to the nurse for a check-up." He huffed.
I smiled, reaching out to grip his wrist and swing it slightly. "Stop fussing, silly. I'm perfectly fine."
"Well…if you're sure."
"I am." I giggled, releasing his wrist to nudge his stomach with my fist.
Then I pulled myself around to sit at the edge of the desk, facing them. "The only thing I'm worried about at the moment is hosting this whole thing."
I was getting really nervous, especially knowing that I'd have to descend the stairs in front of everyone. That was a tradition; the female participants of the dance would walk down the stairs one at a time and be escorted by their partners to the dance floor. Just thinking about it made me feel physically sick.
"I still can't believe your mom offered your house up for the event." Piper said. "It's gonna be the best dance in the history of Goode High School!"
Yeah...the entire Senior year is going to see my house, including the Juniors.
"You're house is pretty sick." Jason agreed, slipping his hand into Piper's and not quite catching the love-struck smile on her face.
"And I thought Percy's dad's place was insane." Grover grinned.
"Oh, don't get your hopes up. Please. That's even more pressurising." I moaned.
Jason chuckled, giving me a side hug while keeping his other hand in Piper's. "It'll be fine Annabeth, don't worry about it."
"For Silena's sake, I hope you're right." I murmured and we all went silent for a while.
Then Piper smiled softly. "She'd be proud of you."
"Of me?" I frowned. "What have I done?"
"You survived a knife wound." Jason stated as if it was obvious.
"You stood up to the biggest crook in New York City." Grover added.
"You're holding us all together." Piper smiled. "After everything that's happened…I think we're all a little lost but you're keeping yourself level-headed. Even when you're hurting, you're the one who comforts us when we're upset. You're the glue in this group now Annabeth and if only Silena could see you now…" she smiled, "she'd think you're so strong."
Tears came to my eyes. I didn't usually cry at school but I was close to crying now.
"Thank you." I whispered. She smiled, moving to sit next to me and wrap an arm around my shoulder.
Nobody said anything further but this was all I needed. My closest friends around me and the hope for a better tomorrow.
Suddenly, the door burst open and Drew marched in with Rachel and Calypso at her tail. She rolled her eyes at me as they lounged around a table in the far corner. It didn't bother me though, I had too many things going through my mind anyway.
They were gossiping amongst themselves quietly but I heard Silena's name come up.
"I can't believe she won't even get to go to the event she planned all year." Calypso murmured.
"She really wanted it to be special." Rachel nodded, her head hanging low and her form surprisingly shrunken in on itself. This wasn't at all the confident, nasty Rachel I'd come to know.
"She did…" Drew murmured, her eyes fluttering off to the sunlight through the window next to her. A far-off look came across her face and for a single moment, she looked like a child. An innocent little child. Fragile and breakable. Emotional and unstable.
I couldn't believe it. I felt something at that moment. A ping in my heart.
"Anyway." She sniffled, composing herself and shaking away the vulnerability that had suddenly been exposed. "What dresses are you girls wearing? I've got my eyes on one from Ralph Lauren."
The rest of their conversation was drowned out by my own un-interest.
It was only when I saw Beckendorf listening in on them that I started to take notice again. He was sitting by himself in the corner of the room, spinning a basketball on his finger. I think he'd snatched it off the Stolls.
When he heard Silena's name, he dropped the ball and stormed out of the room without a word. We all blinked in silent shock for a moment, wondering what to do next. My heart sank for him. He must be hurting so much. Too much. It wasn't fair on him. Beckendorf is such a teddy bear. He doesn't deserve any of this.
Slowly, I slipped down from the table and left the room while the others watched my back. I felt like it was my job to go out there and talk to him. In a way, I was the only one who could do it. As much as the other's loved Silena, it was the two of us who were taking her passing the hardest. We needed each other. Now more than ever.
I found him sitting on the ledge against the long glass wall that stretched down the corridor. It was designed to be huge and you could see the whole quad from up here. He'd moved a fair distance away but murmurings could still be heard from the classroom.
At first, I was cautious about sitting next to him, perching carefully on the ledge, but his soft smile enabled me to relax a little. He only smiled like that at me nowadays. None of the others could really get him to smile. But sometimes—just sometimes—I could if I tried. If I really tried.
"I'm sorry." He murmured.
"Don't be." I told him softly.
"I still can't bear it." He said in a low voice. "Hearing her name. Hearing it in conversation." He dropped his head, pulling his red hoodie up to shield his emotions.
I could feel my heart bruising at his words. I hated this. Seeing him so lost and broken. If only I could bear his pain on my shoulders—hold it in my hands so that he didn't have to. I'd double my hurt if it meant that he could be happy.
"When I was a kid, I wanted to climb the tallest tree in my Grandparents garden. They've got a place in Colorado with huge grassy fields; you can see the view for miles and miles. Silena and I used to go there every summer." He sighed, sitting up to lean his back against the window. "Anyway, I slipped on a branch and fell 10 feet, landing on my back. It felt like every breath of air had been knocked right out of me. I couldn't move. I couldn't do anything. I don't know how long I lay there struggling until my parents found me."
I wanted to step in and stop him from saying anything that would bring him to tears but I let him speak. Maybe expression was something he needed right now.
"When my mom got the call from Silena's mom, I was in the kitchen…I had," he gulped, looking away down the corridor, "I'd just sent a text to her. We always said good morning to each other before school."
I covered my mouth in shock. Of course, I'd always figured him hearing the news would be devastating but hearing how it happened...God, it was soul-crushing.
"I felt like a kid again—with every wisp of air knocked out of my lungs." Then he dropped his gaze to his lap again. "I still can't believe it. Can't bring myself to terms with her just being gone. "
I nodded understandingly. "In a way, it doesn't feel real." I said. "I ask myself, every day, how can someone be there and then suddenly just not be?"
My words gave him some sort of relief and he sighed heavily. I think he was grateful that someone was giving him real talk after so many meaningless I'm sorry for your loss'.
"Silena was the kind of person to make everyone smile, I hate that she's the cause of everybody's tears now. She wouldn't want it. I know she wouldn't."
"You're right." He half-smiled. "She wouldn't want any of this. She died for a reason. She died for you."
"Beck, I—"
"Don't even finish that sentence, Annabeth." He looked at me long and hard with those deep brown eyes. "None of this was your fault and I know that so don't ever blame yourself." His expression was serious. "Promise me you won't."
I nodded once, feeling a lump in my throat.
"She wouldn't want us to fight with one another, to argue over who we can blame the most. I only wish I could tell Percy that now. But I just can't help feeling so angry." He breathed, clenching his fist. I'd never seen him quite like this before. He'd always been so gentle. "Angry at the people who did this to her. Just hearing their names in my head makes me sick."
I knew how he felt. I could list them: Rafaello, Douglas, Maxwell, Luke…Octavia.
Then I took his hand in both of mine, slowly and very carefully, urging him to look at me. "Beck, listen to me okay?" I pleaded. "You're angry, I get that. You want them to pay, I get that too. I can't even imagine what you're going through. I mean, Gods, if I lost Percy I don't know what I would do. But you can't let that anger consume you. Otherwise, it will eat away at you for the rest of your life and you'll never be able to move on. You'll never be happy again, and you deserve to be happy, Beck. I want that for you more than anything."
I didn't realise there were tears in my eyes until now.
He smiled at me softly, brushing one from my cheekbone away. "Percy doesn't deserve you."
I cracked a smile at that, averting my eyes with a blush dusting my cheeks.
"Look at us." He sighed amusedly. "We've both lost the people we love most in the world. What are we gonna do now?" He asked, staring at the empty floor.
With a half-hearted smile, I rested my head on his shoulder. "I don't know." I sighed. "Take it one day at a time I suppose."
His shoulder shook with his soft laughter and then he was lacing our fingers together in his lap. Neither of us said anything further as we sat in silence but somehow the unspoken word was the most healing of all.
Time passed but I hardly noticed.
Piper poked her head around the door. "We're starting." She said softly as if she didn't want to disturb us.
"Okay." I said. "We'll be there in a sec."
She gave me a heartfelt smile before disappearing inside and we weren't far behind.
When we walked back into the classroom together, the teacher was already assembling everyone.
"Come together, come together! Let's begin!" A middle age woman called, clapping her hands and gliding about the room. Just from her walk you could tell she was a dancer. She wore black leggings, a long blue tank top and looked like the lively, eccentric sorts.
There was a chorus of groans as we all grouped together in the middle of the floor in front of her. "Less of the attitude and more smiles people!" She said in a high-pitched sing-song voice as she smiled brightly. "My name is Miss Caroline. Now." She clapped excitedly. "Shall we learn to dance?" She clicked her fingers at the side of her head in a Spanish sort of way.
We're not learning the salsa... What is she doing?
"I'd rather listen to Leo's dad-jokes on repeat." Grover scoffed and everyone sniggered at that.
"So like...we're thinking maybe we could put in some backflips and a few—" Travis started with a grinning Connor.
"Absolutely not!" Miss Caroline cried. "This is a simple, romantic dance. I shall have none of that." Practically every boy in the room groaned but including Thalia. "Now, find a partner and let's begin." She smiled and my heart stopped.
Crap, I forgot I'd actually have to dance with someone.
I panicked a little, not knowing what to do or who to ask or whether to just sit this one out, when Beck nudged my shoulder. "Chill, Annabeth, you can be my partner."
"Who said anything about me wanting to be your partner?" I teased.
"It's an honour, really." He said. "You should be grateful."
I rolled my eyes and he sniggered before the instructor was organising us into lines, girls on one side and boys on the other, standing opposite one another.
Jason obviously went with Piper, Travis with Katie, Leo with Calypso, oddly…had they become a thing? Grover was familiarising himself with a pretty but shy Junior named Juniper. Connor and Reyna reluctantly went together but it was all fun and games really, while Rachel and Drew went with some random seniors who were more than happy to partner up with them.
Where was Thalia? You might ask. Well, she had bailed. Typical Thalia. I expected nothing less of her. But she seemed edgy just like the rest of us and it wasn't just because Silena was gone but because Percy was gone too. I swallowed at the thought of that, trying to push it aside. I'd been doing my best to forget him recently since he wouldn't return any of my calls or texts.
"Now...in order for you all to be ready to perform this in three days, you will need to pay attention in every class." Miss Caroline started.
"There's more than one?" Grover grumbled, making everyone laugh again and Miss Caroline had to hush them all. Then she began rambling. Beckendorf rolled his eyes and mouthed her words with a bored expression making me giggle.
"I'm sorry, am I disrupting you two?" She frowned with her hands on her hips as she glared at me and Beckendorf.
"Not at all." He chimed with fake enthusiasm. "Please, do continue."
I couldn't help snorting at his humour before managing to compose myself again.
"Simmer down!" She ordered at the sniggers running through the room, clapping her hands. "The quicker you learn this, the quicker you can all go." She turned on a CD player and some classical music began to play. "Now step forward and honour your partner. Gentleman bow, ladies curtsy."
Everyone did so, reluctantly, and Beck and I smirked at each other as we followed orders. He fully went for it, in a mocking fashion though, and I tried very hard not to laugh.
"Good. Now hold your right hands up, a few inches from your partners and circle each other." She called and we all did exactly that. "Flirt with your eyes." She added eagerly.
I squinted my eyes at him a little teasingly and he grinned. When we finally got back to our original places we had to go around with our left hands up this time.
"This is ridiculous." I giggled softly as we circled each other and began to go around with two hands up for the third time.
"That's only because you don't know how to do it." Beck smirked.
"Sorry, I didn't realise you were the expert here, drama queen." I raised an eyebrow.
"Ouch." He grinned, grabbing my hand and spinning me around as I giggled happily. It was nice to just mess around with him for a moment and forget about everything else. We had both been needing this and it was just nice that we had come together to do it.
"Oh no...no no no." Miss Caroline called. "There's no touching during this part. It's about the simple intimacy of the near touch." She said coming over to us and we separated, trying not to laugh. "Very nice." She smiled at Calypso, who smiled back at her brightly, as she walked back to her original position.
"If you ask me, the near touch is totally overrated." Beck grinned as we circled each other with our right hands up again.
"You seem to be in a good mood." I smiled.
"Would you prefer me not to be?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, I'm not complaining." I giggled shoving him playfully.
"No touching." He frowned and I rolled my eyes as we continued to do this ridiculous dance.
Healing, we are now. Slowly healing.
~xXx~
So what did you guys think?! I'm honestly a bit scared for Annabeth, she is going through a lot right now. Poor girl.
If only Percy could just grow a pair and come see her! Jokes, we all know he's out saving the world ;)
I honestly love building Annabeth's relationship with the boys. Girl x boy friendships are the cutest. I hope they felt real to you guys. I really want to bring the group closer together as a result of Silena's death. That's the aim anyway.
Oh! Did anyone notice the TVD scene reference I threw in at the end? I loved that part in the series. I miss Stelena...
Song Tributes:
I Found - Amber Run ~ Requested by abidoodle.e.
Thanks girly, I think this song gave real meaning to the scene with Annabeth x
amazingAwesomeness - Okay, I'll admit it, I was grinning like an idiot at your review. I was just giggling every time you said the word "hate" :)) It really got to me when you said my characters are well thought out and that they have layers because I've been trying so hard to do that. And then I was sad when you were talking about how my story is going to end one day :'( Aaaw. So I just wanted to say thank you and that I definitely don't think you're a troll ~ AWG
greekdemigodwannabe - I MISSED YOU TOO GIRLY! I'm honestly so happy you liked that Annabeth x Grover moment, I wasn't sure if it felt real enough but knowing it made you cry was really heartwarming. Aaw. I actually love you. Thanks for always understanding when I don't update on time and always being there to encourage me and just being the sweetest person ever. And I will definitely take you up on your offer if I ever need to, you can always talk to me too you know. Talk soon chica, love ~ AWG
DatWriterGirlz - Hey girl, welcome to the sequel! A lot of people made them same mistake, lol ;) Sorry, I know it's really hard to let Silena go but I promise it was for the benefit of the plot development. A lot of the character's wouldn't be able to grow in the way they do if she was still alive. I'm so glad my story lifted your spirit, I sincerely hope it continues to do so ~ AWG xoxo
Penny - You're welcome girly! Yes, I just felt like it was too out of character for Percy to kill Octavia. There will be a bit of feisty Annabeth in the next chapter ;) Aaww, I hope you'll find your confidence someday. We'll both have to. I know what it's like to feel like no one understands you. Don't forget to remind yourself how amazing you are too! Love ~ AWG xx
JustAnotherFan - You. You are one of the nicest reviewers ever! No please, ramble on! It's really interesting listening to what you think about my story :)) God, finally, someone who's on the same wave length as me. Sixth form is torcher, I totally agree. I get days like that too and music is also my escape as well as writing. I really like George Ezra, Budapest is such a great song. Thanks for everything ~ AWG
Selfie Addict - AAAH! DON'T WORRY GIRL, I'M OKAY! I know it's kinda insane how we're all in different worlds. Like if someone disappears, you have no idea what happened to them and sometimes you'll never know. Freaky. Anyway, I agree, Annabeth has suffered a lot and in the next chapter, you'll see her happy again. I'm not entirely sure where the reunion is going atm. I wrote it a while ago but I'm thinking about changing a couple of things. LOL. Sorry for making you cry so much over the last few chapters. Dreams really has been rather depressing compared to Memories. Aaww, I love that you're trying to give something back with story ideas. Oh and please don't EVER apologise for long reviews, they make my day! SENDING HUGS AND KISSES ~ AWG xx
DemonicKillJoy - Yes, thank you! I felt exactly the same way about the Coldplay song. It's so unlike all of their others, I was mind-blown. Oh my gosh, just thank you for everything you said about my story, it really means the world. And I love what you said about how it's easy for readers to get caught up in the story and forget the author's human too because I understand why they do that but it's also tough to keep up with. You're one of the first people to acknowledge that and I'm so grateful to you for it. I hope your tests are going okay. I know how you feel, I'm also excited to get them over and done with so it can finally be SUMMER! Thank you so much Raegan, I loved this review more than I can say ~ AWG
Stargazer1300 - Thanks girly! It's wonderful to be back too. I hope your SAT went okay. I love what you said about Percy, I totally agree that he needed to find himself for the story to progress. I took up your suggestion about Beckendorf, particularly with this chapter. Originally, they were just going to dance together but thanks to you everyone got that scene by the window. So thank you! Love you ~ AWG
ZEMDO6 - Hey Zoe, thanks for understanding! I really don't take that for granted. I'm so glad you liked Ch. 14. I've made a note of your songs, I'm not sure whether I've used 'Sorry' and 'Happier' before or not. But I really like 'Can I Be Him', I hadn't heard it before so thanks for introducing me to it! Love ~ AWG
05112005 - Oh my gosh! Thank you so so much! I shal try my very best not to go MIA again ;)
PeriwinkleLuv9 - Hey Jilly! I'm sorry to hear that you had a bad week, I hope you're okay now luvy. I hear you, I love dark Percy but I'm gonna be rather relieved to have sweet, adorable Percy back in the next chapter. I have already written the third book but I'm still making changes so this might become a trilogy, yes ;) Aaaww, it makes me feel so happy that my writing actually causes people to feel emotion. The fact that you cried at the Annabeth x Piper scene is making me cry. Love you ~ AWG xx
BethnPercy - Please don't ever apologise for rambling, I love your reviews. I can't believe my chapter made you cry, is it bad that that makes me happy? I seriously need to catch up on Forgotten Paradise, I'm very far behind. It's kinda hard to write and read fanfiction at the same time. Anyway, thanks for everything ~ AWG
Okay so the next update will either be this Sunday or next week - Monday, Wednesday, Sunday.
I'm sorry my Wifi is being pretty unreliable right now and I have to start revising for the REAL exams because I have been procrastinating ALL holiday.
Lots of Love,
~ AWG