Chapter 5

Annabeth.

I hold the paper cup in my hands, letting the warmth seep through my skin. I'm sitting in a coffee shop – the Espresso Room, Great Ormond street. The cafe is full of people, chatting, laughing, and catching up on life. It was a nice atmosphere to be in.

A young man – about my age – came and sat down next to me. I looked up and frowned, taking in his ruggedly handsome appearance. Blond hair, blue eyes and broad shoulders.

He was the sort of person I tended to avoid – the sort of person that might randomly beat up a child on a street or smoke weed outside pubs late at night.

I raised an eyebrow and shifted myself away from him slightly, but he kept staring at me as if I were an interesting butterfly that he was unsure of whether to examine it or let it go.

"I'm Luke, Luke Castellan," he held out his hand.

I eyed it with a blank expression and turned my head away, uninterested. I've had plenty of guys hit on me before, this one was no exception.

"I saw you playing the solo part in the BBC Concert orchestra the other day – it surprised me to see you here," he carried on. "You were incredibl – "

"Save you compliments for someone who cares," it was probably harsh of me, but this 'Luke' guy was honestly getting on my nerves.

Luke shrugged off the comment and continued, his tone still light and breezy. "Can I buy you a drink?"

Was he ever going to stop? I put down my cup of coffee and pushed back a strand of hair that was in my face.

"If you haven't noticed, I've already got one. And if this is some pathetic way to ask me out, then it's already a 'no'."

He gave up after that and stood up from his chair, though the smile never left his face.

"I'll see you around."

"I doubt that," I muttered and didn't bother to watch him leave.

It was a long time since I ever had a proper relationship and I had promised myself never to get into another. They only ended in broken hearts and tears.

My mind drifted back four years ago. When I was seventeen, finishing my A levels and looking forward to a bright future ahead of me.

I had a boyfriend. Persues Jackson. Or Percy for short. He had black hair and captivating green eyes that seemed to haunt me even until now. I saw his face every night I went to sleep, I could almost taste his lips upon mine.

But he was gone. Gone like the wind would disappear into nothing.

I stared into the open newspaper on the table, but my eyes didn't focus on any of the words. Instead I found myself, back in the North of England. Back in my home with my Dad, sitting on the sofa with my knees pulled up to my chest.

That was the day everything changed.

XXX

My father paced up and down the room with a murderous expression on his face, his hands were clasped tightly behind his back until his fingers had turned white.

I felt fear rising up in my heart, wondering what could've made him so furious. Maybe he knew what happened last night?

"You slept together, didn't you?"

I wasn't surprised at the question, but it still brought a burning heat to my cheeks.

"Answer me."

I didn't want to meet his eyes...afraid of what I might see.

"Answer me."

"Yes!" I burst out. "Yes, I slept with him. Is that such a big deal?"

Dad sat down in the armchair across the room and laced his fingers together. "You're seventeen. You're too young to be getting involved with all of this."

"I'm at the legal age, Dad. You know that I'm mature enough – "

"And what happens if he suddenly leaves you?" he demanded. "You've given him something that can never be returned."

"You mean my virginity? I gave it up because I love him – truly and honestly love him. Not one of those tacky romance films. And I know that he loves me as well."

"You should've waited, Annabeth," he said in a quiet voice. "I'm so disappointed in you."

I was silent, unable to answer through the lump in my throat.

Feeling his glare on my back, I ran up the wooden staircase and up to my bedroom. I slammed the door behind me and collapsed onto my bed.

My breaths were shaky but I forced myself to remain calm. Almost hesitantly, I reached for my phone on the bedside table.

I found Percy's contact and pressed 'ring'. I decided that I didn't care what my Dad had just said, he knew nothing about us. He had forgotten what love felt like and let his judgement cloud his mind.

I lay back on the bed, waiting for Percy to pick up.

"Hello?"

I sighed in relief at his voice. "Hey Percy. I was wondering when we could meet up – you know, go to the park...the woods."

He was silent for a moment before replying.

"I'm busy."

It felt like a stab to the heart.

To hear him say that so dismissively and coldly...it was almost as if I didn't matter to him at all. He would never say things like that. And if he did, he would explain and apologise.

Maybe he was tired...maybe there was nothing strange about it.

"Oh," I said in a small voice, trying to hide my disappointment. "I'll see you another time, then."

He didn't say 'goodbye', he just merely hung up.

I dropped my mobile on the bed and curled up into a foetal position.

There was a nagging feeling in my mind...

Maybe he was one of those guys...the sort of person that made friends with a girl, slept with them and then dumped them the day after.

No. Percy wasn't that sort of person. I was sure of it. I know him better than that. I know his dreams, ambitions, every single fault in his life. I know his face better than my own.

XXX

The days passed into one week. I was scared to call him again, I was scared of what might happen.

But it was on a cold and wet Tuesday morning when I saw him at last. Walking through the park, between the trees with his dog, Leala. He looked the same as ever. Tall, muscular, with a grace of an athlete as he made his way down the trodden dirt path.

I ran up to him, with my violin held tightly in my hand. The rain turned into a light drizzle with every step I took.

"Percy!"

He turned around at the sound of my voice, his lips tilting upwards in a radiant smile. Until the smile faded, as if he were remembering something.

"Annabeth?"

"How are you? It feels like ages since we've spoken to each other."

Percy stuffed his hands in his pockets and avoided my gaze.

I felt my heart beat irregularly, knowing that this was not a good sign.

"Percy?" I said again. "Are you alright?"

He looked pale and his eyes looked almost dead.

"Please, Percy. Say something," I pleaded, longing to see his smile again and to see his features relax into his usual carefree expression. "Is it about...that night? I'm so sorry, I should've waited – "

"No," he interrupted hurriedly. "Of course it isn't about that."

"Then what is it?"

He finally summoned the courage to look into my eyes.

"I..." he hesitated. "I think this isn't working out."

My blood went cold.

"You're lying," I whispered, shaking my head slowly, unable to comprehend his words. They were yet to sink in. "That's not true..."

"It is true, Annabeth. I – I don't love you, this won't work out."

This wasn't happening. This wasn't actually happening.

I couldn't speak, but my lips were parted slightly and my hands trembled by my sides.

"All our time together..."

"It meant nothing," he insisted with more force. "I was a fool to not tell you from the start."

Stabs of pain shot through me, like injections feeding me poison. How could he say this? How could he do this? I gave him my life, I told him every secret – every single personal thing.

And he stole it all. Along with my heart.

"Annabeth, I – "

I cut him off. Not with words. No words could tell him even one inch of the pain trapped inside my body.

He stumbled backwards, pressing his hand to his cheek. The skin underneath was red and saw. He didn't retaliate or even glare at me. And somehow it only made the pain inside worse.

I realised that I didn't want to argue with him, I didn't want to embarrass myself. And if I truly love him, I should let him go.

But why...after all this time, why would he suddenly change his mind? He had seemed completely fine before, relaxed and carefree. With clear shining eyes and a smile that felt contagious.

"I – I'm sorry," I tried to say, wishing that I hadn't just slapped him. "I wasn't thinking."

Percy looked away and mumbled something under his breath. It was muffled and unclear with the sound of rain in my ears. But I somehow knew what he said.

"I deserved it."

He started walking away, pulling Leala along with him.

I stood and watched him go with tears streaming down my face, half concealed by the storm that had now turned for the worse.

He had betrayed me. But what could I do except forgive and forget?

XXX

Even to this day, at the age of 22, I still don't understand the reason Percy left. Our relationship was perfect, immune to the world around us. We had gone through fights – big ones, but we had never given up.

So why had he suddenly ended it?

There must be another reason.

I flicked through the page of the newspaper and immediately stiffened at the picture on the next page.

Blood rushed to my face and my heart felt a familiar pang of longing. It was Percy. The entire country knew about him now – a piano prodigy, they would say. Other's said he was lucky to get into concert playing and fame so easily – yet even they couldn't disagree with the incredible talent he possessed.

In a few short years, he had somehow managed to capture the hearts of his audience, which sent him rocketing to fame at the young age of eighteen. I wasn't sure how it happened, but I was happy for him. That I was sure of, above all things.

I left the coffee shop and made my way back home. My life had recently started improving as well. I was in a steady well paid job, my house wasn't the biggest and grandest of all houses but it was enough for my needs and more.

As soon as I entered the front door, I knew what I had to do.

Grabbing some extra money from the cupboard, I quickly left the house again locked the door firmly. My next door neighbour waved and greeted me as I went past. I smiled and replied lightly, trying to keep the sorrowful tone out of my voice.

I bought a return ticket on the London Underground, pushing past the crowds of people that milled around noisily, holding the hands of their children.

The ride would be long and I wasn't entirely sure what was going to happen at the other end, but I kept my hopes high and squeezed my eyes shut momentarily.

Another memory hit me.

Two months after my break up with Percy – that was when I truly needed guidance.

XXX

I sat dazedly on the bathroom floor, staring at the white shimmering wall in front of me. I had been down to the chemists earlier this morning...and here I was.

Staring at a small plus sign.

It took me a while to let the news sink in, before the tears finally crept over the edges of my eyes and trickled slowly down my face onto the tiled floor.

I was seventeen. Young and ready to start university. I had always told myself that I was never going to get pregnant before the age of 25 and definitely not below 20. But here I was, betraying my own promise.

I knew who the father was without a doubt. The only person I had ever slept with was Percy. And...And we were no longer together.

I couldn't tell him. Nothing in the world would make me tell him. Not after his betrayal. Even though I still loved him and probably would for the rest of my living days...I was scared. I was scared of what he might say; I was scared that he would break my heart even further.

Taking a deep breath, I exited the bathroom and slowly walked towards the music room, where my violin lay on a table at the edge of the room.

A new sense of confidence flooded through me and I knew that I wasn't going to give my child up. Not for anything. There is a human inside my stomach, a living human. My baby was a part of me and a part of Percy. So maybe, there would be a chance that I would always have a beautiful reminder of our former love.

It was a few days afterwards that my father found out. He had noticed the used pregnancy test lying dejectedly in the bin. I could never forget the amount of fury on his face that day. I felt as if he was seconds away from hitting me, his arms shook and trembled and his pupils were wide and dilated.

I remember shouting back at him, with tears streaming down my cheeks. He told me he was ashamed to have such a foolish daughter, and then demanded for an abortion. The harsh words fell from his lips with venom lacing into the air and it broke my heart to hear him say it.

With equal determination, I refused. Simple as that. I may have been seventeen, but that was ok. School had finished and university was round the corner, somehow I would be able to manage. I was not going to let down the baby inside of me, even if it meant going against my father's wishes.

We argued and fought continuously until I was both physically and mentally drained. Stay strong, were the words that raced through my head breathlessly.

Then the final verdict.

He sent me upstairs to pack my bags. His anger clouding every part of his judgement for him to even realise what he was doing. I never thought in my entire life that he would send me out on the streets, in the early stages of pregnancy, completely alone and vulnerable.

I bit my lip to stop crying since I had shown enough weakness already. My hands trembled as I slowly put my clothes in a suitcase, wondering if this could possibly be a nightmare and I would wake up soon with my life going smoothly as usual. I pinched my arm and tried blinking a thousand times, but nothing could rip me away from the torture I now face.

The sun was shining brightly that day, the golden rays making the trees lighten and the grass glow brightly. I made my way through the small village, ignoring the looks from the pedestrians as I passed.

I stopped outside a large Victorian mansion, with ivy climbing neatly up the walls and baskets of flowers hanging from the wooden porch. My grandparents live in this house – they were kind gentle hearted people that always could bring a smile on my face in any scenario.

I knocked on the door and tried to pull my hair back so the curls didn't look as messy.

"Annabeth, my dear," my grandmother greeted me with a beaming smile. Her snowy white hair was short and curly and her feature's were aged but still beautiful. "It's so good to see you."

She let me in and shut the door firmly behind her.

"It's good to see you too," I managed to say in a normal tone. Though it was difficult to hold back the sobs in my throat. "I'm sorry about the short notice..."

"Oh no, it's perfectly fine," she ushered me into the spacious living room that overlooked the garden.

I was silent for a moment and stared blankly at the fountain through the patio doors.

"Can I ask you a favour?" I started timidly. "I mean, it's not just any favour..."

"Anything for my favourite grandchild."

A small smile pulled on my lips, knowing that I was her only grandchild. "It's a big ask and probably a lot to take in...But I have no other place to go."

Grandma frowned in confusion and settled down in the armchair by the roaring fire place. "How do you mean?"

"I...I'm pregnant," I stammered, feeling a wave a guilt wash over me.

She gasped and clasped her hands around her mouth. "Oh, Annabeth..."

I gazed deeply into her eyes, with as much seriousness as I could muster. "My Dad has kicked me out of the house and the father of my baby...is...well, he's gone. And I just wanted a place to stay...I know it's a big ask, but I have nowhere else to go."

My grandma laid a hand on mine and gave me a tearful smile. "Of course you can stay with us. We would never abandon you. Never."

I hastily wiped a hand across my eyes. "You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you so much..." I trailed off and rubbed my eyes again, feeling the tears beginning to fall.

"On one condition though."

I looked up, ready to accept anything. "Yes?"

"When your child is born, give him or her up for foster care or adoption."

The blood drained from my face. "I can't. I w – "

"Think about it Annabeth," Grandma pleaded. "You're so young to carry a baby. You have your whole life ahead of you – you need to go to university and carry on with your future plans. Your Grandfather and I have lived life in this world to the fullest. We aren't going to be around much longer to help you."

"But adoption?"

"It's the best way, Annabeth. Your child will live a happy life with a stable family, Isn't that what you want?"

"Yes, I suppose so," I whispered quietly, though my heart was sinking inside.

Then the deal was made and there was nothing I could do about it.

XXX

I stepped off the train and onto the platform. It occurred to me that the journey I made would be in vain. But this time, I couldn't stop myself. My heart was longing to be whole again, but I would never find the missing piece all the way back in London.

So here I was, walking through the long noisy polluted streets of Manchester, bracing myself for whatever might come next.

There was a sudden tap on my shoulder and a familiar blond haired man started walking next to me.

The same guy from the coffee shop.

Great.

"Fancy seeing you here," he said as if it were some massive coincidence.

"So you're a stalker as well as a pervert, huh?" I fired back.

He placed a hand over his heart, mockingly. "Me? A stalker? I'm merely visiting my parents – is that such a crime?"

"It's strange, isn't it? That a few minutes after meeting each other in The Espresso Room, we both suddenly go to the train station?"

"Good luck, I guess," Luke shrugged the comment off easily. "I was wondering if you wanted to go clubbing with m – "

"I don't do 'clubbing'," I wrinkled my nose up at the sound of the word. "Partying in high heels and stupid skimpy dresses, trying to show off to boys and getting drunk until unconsciousness...hmm, not my cup of tea."

"Then let me take you out somewhere different," he carried on, undeterred. "I can buy you a drink somewhere or take you for a walk around a park."

I could almost laugh at his persistence. "You know, you're the first guy I've met with so much determination. Not every man would travel almost 200 miles to stalk a girl and ask her out."

"So is that a 'yes'?"

I considered it and realised that I was missing the feeling of being loved. I wasn't one of those girls who could get over a relationship easily and carry on with life single and happy. I did want someone to depend on...someone to laugh with, someone to be myself around.

Luke wasn't really a bad person, and I did find it pretty impressive that he managed to stalk me across the country, just to take me for a coffee.

But what about Percy? An inner voice nagged at me.

I sighed and pushed away the thought. Percy was history, just a bunch of disorientated memories. And I knew in my heart that I should move on.

"Yes," I finally answered, turning my attention back to Luke.

"Sweet. Shall we say four o'clock tomorrow? My parents are expecting me soon."

I laughed. "I thought you made that up – the bit about your parents."

"Nope. Not at all," he replied breezily.

"You're crazy," I told him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and hurried off down the road, with him standing in a daze holding a hand to where my lips once were.

Though as I crossed the street, I couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal...

A betrayal to Percy.