Heh… I killed Annabeth… whoops.

~GoGreen52

PS: DON'T STOP READING THIS STORY!

Chapter 22- The News

-Thalia POV-

She's dead.

Oh my God.

She's really gone.

How could this happen?

Wait…

Her mother- never caught-

Oh.

Oh.

I was sobbing. There were no more tears that would come out, and I was dry sobbing. There was nothing I could do now, my best friend was dead. Taken away from me. Taken away from me while I didn't even get the chance to say sorry.

It's hard to not ignore the fact, that just hours before she was murdered- I had practically ruined her soul. Knowing Annabeth, she probably was very stubborn with whoever did this, and usually she would have fought back. But there was no defensive wounds.

She wanted to die.

That thought made the usually tough, sarcastic spirit… scared.

I was in my apartment, laying on the couch, holding a picture of Annabeth and I. She was toned, where she had good muscles on each arm, and I bet her stomach was perfectly flat. Not that I pay any attention to that kind of stuff, but from her complexion, it was.

So, how could someone like that not have any defensive wounds? Four words: She wanted to die.

Maybe, if I didn't go to her house, dragging Juniper along with me for the ride, and if I would've just stayed in my business, then… maybe she could still be alive. She would've held out for the ambulance and police that arrived just a mere minute after her time of death.

Because of how Annabeth was the Percy Jackson's girlfriend, and just days after their break-up, she was murdered, the press were all over this case. I knew that New York's finest were on the case, and that still didn't reassure me.

The press would probably get the word out, which reminds me- I still haven't given the news to the boys. The press will probably releasing it out tonight, and I don't want them to figure it out like that. No doubt he already has gotten phone calls and texts from the press asking him questions.

But I knew I couldn't make that phone call alone.

Juniper was already on her way over to my apartment… we were going to plan her funeral. I'm sure Mrs. Jackson would like to help too, but I haven't had the heart to tell her yet. But I will… as soon as Juniper gets here.

A few seconds later I heard a knock on the door, and then the sound of it opening. Only Juniper had a spare key… I took one from Annabeth after our fight.

Her voice sounded rough and tired, "Thalia?"

"In here."

I sounded like how I was feeling. Juniper and I both knew what had happened, and we both knew that we had to tell the boys… probably one of the worst tasks of the history of mankind. We know that Percy obviously still likes Annabeth… from hearing how he could barely leave through Nico and Grover's texts.

"I wish we didn't have to do this," Juniper said, looking at the phone I had in my hand. She had some tears crashing down her face, while I was emotionless.

"But we owe this to Annabeth- she wouldn't want them to figure it through the press." Juniper nodded, and I dialed the number.

-Percy POV-

Grover and Nico were hanging around in my house when I got the call.

"Hey Percy, how about we go to your theater room for a movie?" Nico asked, his mouth stuffed with chips.

"Sure, why not?"

I was a changed person when I came back to LA. I apologized to the people who worked for me, and they forgave me. Well, it took Athena awhile to forgive and forget, but she ended up forgiving me, which I was grateful for.

We walked out to the movie room, after having made popcorn and grabbed some cokes, and sat down to watch the movie. The movie was just getting interesting when we heard Nico's phone ring. Grover and I groaned when he shrugged and walked out of the room to take the call.

We continued watching the movie, until we heard a cry, and in a snap second, Grover and I went running to see who did it.

When we got to the source, I saw Nico's eyes wide in disbelief, and some tears falling down his face… as if he lost someone close. Immediately I thought of Thalia, and if she would be alright, and I was going to take the phone from his hands, Grover beat me to it.

"What's going on?" he asked, fear evident in his voice. I heard some sobs come from the other end of the line, and some mumbling. Grover's eyes got wide, and he just looked at me with utter disbelief and sadness. As if he was apologizing to me.

"Grover… what happened?" I asked, looking at my two best friends who were just laughing and watching a movie, and now were looking like they just got hit by the bus of depression.

"T-Talk to Th-Thalia," Grover stuttered, not from his tears, but from disbelief. He was shaking his head, as if he was trying to clear it. "I'm so sorry, man."

Confused to what Grover meant, I snatched the phone from his hands. "What the hell is going on here?"

"P-Percy, it's so horrible!" Thalia cried, unable to keep herself calm. There was another sobbing sound in the background, and I couldn't pinpoint who it was.

"What happened, Thals?" I asked, becoming more worried.

"Sh-She's dead, Percy," Thalia said, her voice becoming more clear.

My eyes went wide. Tears started streaking down my face. In my heart I knew who it was, but I still had to ask. "Wh-Who's dead?"

"Annabeth, Percy… Annabeth's dead."

And that's when I think my heart stopped beating… well my emotional one.

I cried out in despair, and the phone dropped from my hand.

Annabeth's dead.

Annabeth's dead.

Annabeth's dead!

The sullen thought kept going through my brain, getting louder each time. She's really gone.

"H-How?" I asked, my voice weak.

"Percy, she was murdered," Thalia told me, her voice becoming strong, as if this were her duty. "She was murdered in her apartment last night."

Murdered.

My Annabeth was murdered.

Wait… my? You broke up with her, remember?

"Tell me how," I demanded, though my voice was still weak.

"Someone broke down the door, beat her, then shot her in the chest. She lived for a few moments after that, but a minute before the responders could arrive, she died." Thalia's voice went an octive higher than normal at the end.

I wasn't crying anymore, but I was just emotionless, as if my whole life disappeared right before my eyes. And the worst thing was: it really just did.

"Percy?" her voice sounded worried. But I still couldn't answer.

Nico straightened himself out, and took the phone from my hand. "He's just in shock, Thalia. We all are."

I heard some mumbling on the phone, and made out a few words like back, flight, New York, Funeral.

"We'll take the next flight out to New York," Nico said, closing his eyes. "I just wish it wasn't for this reason."

"Love you."

He pressed a button on the phone, making it hang up. "Percy, we need to get packed. We're going back to New York."

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

I found myself going through all the motions, drowning in all of the depression. It felt horrible, knowing I was the one who probably caused it. I knew Annabeth might not be dead right now if I hadn't have left. She would be living with me, and that would have kept her safe.

When I was packing, I heard the door bell ring. I paused for a second, then continued packing. Whoever it was could wait.

Then, I heard whoever it was let themselves in, and followed by a click clack of high heels. They sounded similar to the ones Annabeth would wear.

That's weird.

I stepped out of the room, and was met face to face with… Rachel. Great. Just what I need.

"You know, Annabeth wouldn't want you to sulk around," her snotty little voice said. I scoffed, and continued packing. Just ignore her Percy. Just ignore her.

"She'd want you to get over her death. Get over her. She'd want you to move on. To someone like me."

"No way. I do not like you. Not now, not back then, not ever." Will this girl ever give up? Someone please tell me when so I can count down till then!

She stomped her foot. "Well, why not?"

"I just don't! Now get out of my house!"

She took one look at my face and took off running out of the house. All the while screaming, "YOU'LL REGRET THIS PERCY JACKSON!"

What will I regret? Looking at her mad? Weird.

I started packing again, and my mind became blank. I really didn't know what to think, and what to think for. Sure, I had millions of fans, millions of girls who would kill to be my wife. Man, how did my life come down to this?

-Thalia POV-

( t h e n e x t d a y )

The boys arrived in town today. I still can't believe she's gone… it's like I'm waiting for that telephone call that's never going to happen. And it's scary.

I didn't get any sleep last night. Juniper and Nico kept calling me, crying about memories, or seeing if I was okay. And I wasn't okay.

Annabeth was my best friend. We met like any other person, but we hit off, and were attached to the hip. I remember that day like it was yesterday…

Flashback:

I walked into the new bookstore that I heard was pretty cool. You know, a place for secret nerds like me to hang out, and not have to look over their shoulder while they're reading? Yeah. Apparently that's the place.

My friend Juniper Busche recommended it for me.

As soon as I walked in, I was in love. Books, computers, music, the place had everything. And it wasn't that stupid Pop music that everyone listens to. It was like Three Days Grace, All American Rejects, Skillet, Green Day, Linkin Park. Those guys.

"Thanks Miss," A man said, grabbing what I'm guessing his newly bought items were.

"You're welcome. Come back some time soon," the girl behind the counter said. She looked like an athlete, but her startling grey eyes told another story. They held wisdom… far more wisdom than the average person has.

I have a feeling I'm going to like this girl.

-End Flashback-

My eyes started to tear up at the thought of that. Great, now I'm becoming a sap!

"Thalia?"

I turned to see who it came from. I saw the boys and Juniper standing there, but Grover and Juniper were hugging each other. Percy looked like hell, (which was a complete understatement) and Nico looked surprised.

"Nico."

He grabbed me in a hug, and kissed the top of my hair. He held me like he never, ever wanted to let go. c

"We have to plan the funeral," I started, looking at my friends… or at least what's left of my friends. "She would want that."

"Yeah," Juniper said, her voice sounding hoarse, "I talked to the NYPD today, and they want us to have a closed casket funeral. Annabeth had already decided to be buried next to her mother, so we're doing that… but the NYPD put their foot down, saying no wake, and no open casket."

Her head was down, and she was sniffling. Grover hugged her again, doing the same thing Nico just did to me mere minutes ago. Percy was standing there awkwardly, a look of jealousy and pain evident on his face.

So, being the friend I am, I walked up to him and gave him a hug. Percy looked surprised at first, but then it all caught up to him and he broke down. It really kills me to see him like this. Someone so… strong looking so beaten down. I had no idea he loved her like that.

"I'm sorry, Percy," I whispered to him, trying to get him to calm down. I knew Nico would understand.

"I-It's m-my fault," Percy sobbed, trying to gain control of his breathing.

"No, it's not your fault, Perce. How would it be your fault?" Grover asked, stepping in now. He was Percy's best friend, no matter how much Nico meant to him… Grover was always a little rank higher.

Just like Annabeth was to me. Like a soul sibling.

"I-I could h-have not brok-ken up with her… she would have been safe with me in my penthouse," Percy said, slowly gaining back his calmness. But now we all knew what he was holding back… and by the looks on our faces, we were worried about him.

"Percy, you couldn't have known that," I said, taking a step back away from him. He closed his eyes and shook his head.

"I could have been more forgiving… and just being there with her could have made a difference- given us more time to get help."

"Could've, would've, should've. We all have that happen to us."

"Sure. But for none of you, no one had died. Especially not the love of your life."

I'm just going to end here- I could have gone another 2,000 words, but you'll just have to wait until next update for those. But please, don't stop reading this story-

"Death is only the beginning."

-GoGreen52