Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Chapter 5: Heart Break Warfare
Percy's POV
I ran to my cabin, I heard Theseus and Athena call after me, but there was know way I was going to stay there. I was so mad I knew if I stayed I would say something or mpre importantly do something that I would regret. Did I just break up with Annabeth? It sure sounded that way. Did I really want to end our relationship over her lack of trust? I wasn't sure, I knew I still loved her deeply, but something about her lack of trust just made me mad. As I entered my room I slammed the door to my cabin. I just sat on my bed with my head in my hands. At first I didn't cry I just couldn't believe what happened. Finally, I guess the realization struck me because the tears started to roll out of me uncontrollably. I wondered if Annabeth was as upset as me, I thought. I leaned back on my bed and cried myself to sleep, I was so tired, exhausted actually.
I woke up the next morning early I felt a little better, except for my broken heart. I didn't know what to do, so I just stayed in my cabin all day long. I sat at my desk and surfed the net looking at ship designs and reading articles on marine biology. I know it sounds boring, but I loved the sea and one thing I found out by designing the three boats was that I loved naval architecture. Yes, me the seaweed brain liked to design ships, I guess you could call me an architect, gods forbid. I walked over and sat down at my drafting table and began to design a catamaran, I poured myself into the design and tried to forget about my broken heart. I looked out my window and it was dark, I heard a knock on my bedroom door.
"Come in!" I said. The door opened and in walked Theseus. He smiled at me and said, "We need to talk brother."
"I know, I apologize for running away like that yesterday, but I was upset and getting mad. I felt the lake start to rise and I took off, I didn't want to hurt anyone." I said.
"I know Percy, I felt the water start to rise, you could have flooded camp, but you did the right thing in running to the cabin. I'm not here to talk to you about that." Theseus said.
"So you're here to talk to me about Annabeth." I said.
Theseus just looked at me and I saw the concern in his eyes.
"I will if you want to talk about her. What I really came to do was to tell you to come to the big house and get yourself something to eat. I also wanted to tell you that the ships are complete." Theseus said.
"They are, that's great. I'm sorry about leaving and not helping Tyson finish the boat." I said.
"Percy, please stop apologizing. I think you've done enough of that. Annabeth learned a lesson yesterday, a hard one. She needs to apologize to you. I know Athena will talk to her soon." Theseus said.
"I think I can talk about her if your still willing to listen." I said.
"I'm always here for you, you know that." Theseus said.
"I do. She just upset me so much yesterday. She didn't trust me, then she sent Nico to find out what I was doing, instead of just asking me directly. I guess I should have just told her that you gave me a job to do and that it was a secret." I said.
"Do you think that would have worked?" Theseus asked.
"I don't know, I think she would have been curious and she would have poked around to try to find out the secret job." I said.
"Would you have done the same thing if Annabeth had a secret job to do?" Theseus asked.
"No, I would have trusted her to tell me when she was able. I know sometimes we're given secret missions or jobs. That's part of being a demigod." I said.
"See that is the lesson she needs to learn. Also, she needs to respect people's privacy." Theseus said.
"I know, but her fatal flaw is pride and she has problems trusting people because of all her problems as a kid." I said.
"Well pride is not a fatal flaw that requires you not to trust someone nor does it make you violate someone's private space. I know she has trust issues, but she needs to overcome them, just like you overcame your concentration issues. You see our fatal flaw as you well know Percy is our strong loyalty to friends and family. As part of that we trust those we care for very much and if someone we care for doesn't trust us, then we have a problem. You and Annabeth need to trust each other in order for your relationship to work. I knew that the two of you were soul mates the first time I saw you both together, but you both have to trust each other or your relationship will be continuously fraught with difficulties. Do you understand?" Theseus said. I knew he was right, I just couldn't believe how logical it all was until he said it.
"I know your right, but how do I fix this?" I asked.
"Percy, there is nothing you need to do to fix this, its up to Annabeth. She needs to overcome her trust issue, its her problem." Theseus said.
"I love her, I want to help her." I said.
"Well, give her some time to sort things out and then be there for her and be your loyal self, that's all you need to do. I need to go, I love you brother. I hope everything works out. Oh, before I forget, tonight we are going to show the sail boat off at the lake and tomorrow morning we will show off the two sailing ships by the sea. I want you there for both ceremonies, you did an incredible job on the designs." Theseus said as he smiled and then disappeared in a golden light. I was very happy that he liked my work it made me feel very good.
I walked out of my cabin and walked to the big house. I looked at the Athena cabin, I was temped to go find Annabeth, but Theseus's words came back to me about giving her some time first. So I just made my way to the big house. I walked into the house and headed to the kitchen, I saw Chiron there making some grilled cheese and tomato soup.
"Well, I see that you followed your brothers advice about coming here for some food. I thought you might, here you go Percy." Chiron said as he handed me a bowl of soup and a sandwich. I took the food and sat down at the table. The food was very good and I was hungry. After I finished Chiron stood next to me and I could tell that he had a question.
"Well, I guess you know that I heard about the scene at the lake yesterday?" Chiron asked.
"Yes, sir." I said.
"I'm sorry that Annabeth didn't trust you. I know you understand why." Chiron said.
"I understand about her trust issues." I said.
"Its not just about her trust issue its more specific than that son. She has a problem with getting too close to someone. She always feels that they are going to leave her. I know you don't want to hear about Luke, but she loved him like a brother and he kept secrets from her and then betrayed her and the rest of us. I think deep down she still expects those she loves to betray her. I know you would never do that and I believe she knows that as well, but sometimes it's hard to overcome those deep seated feelings. Do you understand?" Chiron asked.
I looked at him and I understood what he was saying, but I was confused.
"How can someone overcome feelings that are so strong and so rooted in who they are?" I asked.
"They certainly can, but they will fail now and then. They have to learn from their mistakes and they must be reminded of those past failings so they can avoid them in the future. Annabeth is very smart. Give her time to sort through her problem and be there for her." Chiron said.
"That's what Theseus said." I said.
"Well your brother is pretty smart too." Chiron said.
"Chiron, I'm going to go back to my cabin, thank you for the food it was good." I said as I walked out of the kitchen and then out of the house. I walked back to my cabin and I saw Thalia sitting in front of her cabin. She avoided my gaze as I walked to my cabin. I hoped that she felt bad for encouraging Annabeth not to trust me. I went to my room and opened my window. Cool air was blowing in from the lake and it felt incredible. It was about an hour before the sailboat unveiling, so I decided to get in some practice.
Annabeth's POV
I had been in my room all day crying off and on. I didn't sleep last night at all. I was tired and I looked a mess. I didn't eat except for a sandwich that Thalia brought me around lunchtime. I had told her what happened yesterday and she felt almost as bad as me. I knew that no one could feel worse than me. My room felt a little stuffy so I opened my window to let in some air. I looked out my window and I forgot that the Athena cabin was at an angle to the back of the Poseidon cabin. I could see a part of Percy's bedroom. I saw Percy go to his window and open it. He looked pretty tired and his eyes were puffy. I guess he had been crying. I didn't know if I should feel good about that are not. I didn't want him to be upset, but if he hated me I doubt he would be crying, would he? Then I heard it, a small strum of a guitar and then a few more like someone was tuning their instrument. Then I realized it was coming from Percy's room. I guess he was going to practice. I stood near my window leaning to the side to get a better view and in order to hear. The music began to play. I recognized the song immediately as Heart Break Warfare by John Mayer. Then I heard Percy start to sing. I forgot how good a voice he had. I just stood there and listened to the words.
Lightning strikes
Inside, my chest to keep me up at night
Dream of ways
To make you understand my pain
Clouds of sulfur in the air
Bombs are falling everywhere
It's heartbreak warfare
Once you want it to begin,
No one really ever wins
In heartbreak warfare
If you want more love,
why don't you say so?
If you want more love,
why don't you say so?
Drop his name
Push it in and twist the knife again
Watch my face
As I pretend to feel no pain
Clouds of sulfur in the air
Bombs are falling everywhere
It's heartbreak warfare
Once you want it to begin,
No one really ever wins
In heartbreak warfare.
If you want more love,
why don't you say so?
If you want more love,
why don't you say so?
Just say so...
How come the only way to know how high you get me
is to see how far I fall
God only knows how much I'd love you if you let me
but I can't break through at all.
It's a heartbreak...
I don't care if we don't sleep at all tonight
Let's just fix this whole thing now
I swear to God we're gonna get it right
If you lay your weapon down
Red wine and ambien
You're talking *shit* again, it's heartbreak warfare
Good to know it's all a game
Disappointment has a name, it's heartbreak, heartbreak.
It's heartbreak warfare.
It's heartbreak warfare.
It's heartbreak warfare.
When Percy finished, I noticed the tears falling from my eyes again. It wasn't a breakup song it was a song that I hoped meant that he still loved me, but that he wanted to get back together. I prayed to the gods, that was the case. I knew I had to apologize and beg his forgiveness, but Theseus's words about a lesson kept replaying in my mind. I needed to fix my trust issues I now understood what he meant. Percy's fatal flaw is loyalty and I basically told him that I didn't trust him. That he wasn't loyal to me. How could I be so stupid? That would be like me telling him that he couldn't control water or he couldn't breath underwater. I basically told him that I didn't believe in him, that I thought he was a fake, a fraud. I know why he ran away, if anyone else had told him that he would have destroyed that person, then and there. I noticed Percy's light go out and then I saw him walk down to the lake by the boathouse. I have to go talk to him, but before I could leave a light appeared in my room and dissolved into my mom. She looked incredibly disappointed.
"Annabeth, we need to talk." Athena said.
"Mom, I need to apologize to Percy." I said urgently.
"That can wait for a moment." Athena said as she raised her hand and motioned for me to sit down.
"I know what you're going to say mom, I didn't trust Percy and that was the worst thing I could do to someone with the fatal of flaw of extreme loyalty." I said. My mom just shook her head and smiled.
"I knew you were a fast learner, but you even surprised me." Athena said.
I couldn't help but smile at that, it's not everyday that the goddess of wisdom tells you that you surprised her. "Mom, I'm so sorry that I disappointed you." I said.
"I was only disappointed because I know how important Percy is to you and I don't want you to lose him. I know how horrible I felt when I thought I lost Theseus, I would never want any of my children to feel that pain. Percy loves you incredibly and even though I don't always agree with Aphrodite, you and Percy share true love." Athena said.
"Mom, thank you for caring so much about me. I promise I will work on my trust issues and I will never doubt Percy's loyalty again." I said.
"Good, now you may want to go down to the boathouse because they're getting ready to unveil the sail boat, you know the one named after my favorite daughter." Athena said as she gave me a hug and then she dissolved into a golden light.
I ran down to the lake just in time to see Theseus standing next to Percy. Then I heard the boathouse doors that faced the water open and I saw the sail boat move forward. The boat stopped next to the dock and the lights on the dock came on and the lights on the boat turned on as well. The lights allowed me to see the sailboat it was beautiful. The boat was pretty large for the lake and I guessed it could hold twenty people or ten people very comfortably. The hull of the ship was white with a sea blue-green stripe down the side. There was a smaller mast in the front of the boat with a blue and white sail. Another much larger mast was in the center of the boat and it had a large green and white sail attached to it. Percy, really could design I couldn't believe that the seaweed brain had designed this boat. It was perfect then I looked at the back of the boat where the name was written in ancient Greek. Of course it was my name and I couldn't help but smile.
I looked up and saw Percy staring at me. At first he had a serious look on his face, but when he saw me smiling at the boat, his mouth turned up into that smile I adored. Percy boarded the sailboat and looked around. I knew that look on his face. I got the same look and feeling when I first entered a building I designed. It was a wonderful feeling and I was very happy that Percy could experience that. I felt very close to him at that moment, even though we broke up yesterday and I hadn't even told him I was sorry yet. The rest of camp was incredibly excited.
"Heroes, as you can see we have a new dock and boat house courtesy of Lord Poseidon. We also have a sailboat for the lake. I want to thank Percy for designing this boat and my little brother Tyson and his craftsman for building her. Tomorrow, we will have a unveiling of two other ships designed by Percy, but this time on the beach near the ocean. Lord Poseidon has graced us with our own camp pier and a very large dry dock for our two ocean going sailing ships. I hope everyone has a chance to sail this boat, but first you will have to learn safety, sailing and navigation. Percy has volunteered to conduct classes starting the first official day of camp next week. Thank you all for coming out tonight and I look forward to seeing all of you at the unveiling tomorrow morning." Theseus said.
Everyone left the lake, except Percy who stayed on the boat and of course I stayed on shore. I walked up onto the dock and approached the sailboat. I didn't know exactly how to start this conversation, but I had to say something.
"Percy, can I talk to you please." I said sounding like a nervous little girl, but that's how I felt at the moment.
"I guess so, why don't you come aboard?" Percy said.
"Alright." I said.
I boarded the boat and I noticed the beautiful wood inlay and the plush seats as well as the incredibly elaborate steering wheel and instrument panel. The boat was even more beautiful than I thought.
"How do you like the boat?" Percy asked curiously.
"I think it's beautiful, you did a great job." I said.
'Thank you, so you wanted to tell me something." Percy said cautiously.
"Yes, I wanted to tell you that I was incredibly sorry for not trusting you and for invading your privacy. I have no excuse other than I was stupid and I let my insecurities get the best of me." I said.
Percy just looked at me with those beautiful sea green eyes, but his stare was nothing like I had seen before. He was analyzing me the seaweed brain was actually looking at me as if I was a puzzle that needed solving. It was very disconcerting. This was usually the way I made others feel, but now the tables were turned. I guess I deserved it.
"I will accept your apology on two conditions." Percy said. I couldn't even think what the two conditions could be.
"What are the conditions?" I asked curiously.
"First, you need to work on your trust issues and I will help you as much as I can." Percy said. I couldn't believe he wanted to help me.
"Agreed and what is the second condition?" I asked.
Then I saw that beautiful smile of Percy's and my heart melted.
"Go sailing with me tonight." Percy said. That took me by complete surprise a smile crept across my face.
"I accept! Does that mean we're back together?" I asked.
"I never really broke up with you officially, but yes your not going to get rid of me that easily." Percy said. He walked over to where I was sitting and leaned down and kissed me. The kiss was so sweet and tender that after we broke apart it took me a minute to focus again.
Percy untied the boat, set the sail and stood near the wheel controlling the rudder. The boat pulled forward and we slowly moved away from the dock. The lake was incredibly calm and Percy navigated the boat efficiently and beautifully. I stood up and walked to Percy and put my arm around him. He was so happy steering his boat that I just wanted to be close to him. He was so warm that I didn't need a jacket I just needed to be near him. I looked at him intently and he said, "Is there a problem, are you cold?"
"No, I was just thinking how perfect this feels and how stupid I was to think that you would leave me." I said.
"I'll never leave you wise girl, I love you more than anything in this world." Percy said as he smiled brightly at me.
"I love you too, seaweed brain." I said and at that moment I vowed to always trust Percy and to never let him go.
I hoped you all enjoyed this chapter, I just can't allow them to be mad at each other for too long. Next chapter will start the real plot of this story, so hang on!
