Chapter 8

The cool, fresh air of London suddenly felt strangely peaceful, after all the chaos that happened yesterday – I'm glad to be home. Though, as I walked down the busy main street, there was a feeling a trepidation crawling its way down my spine...people were staring at me bug eyed as I passed, pointing at me with cynical expressions. Great. Perfect start to the day.

I pushed open the grand double doors and entered the sparkling hallway and followed the corridors down to the orchestra pit, my violin hanging safely in my hand.

Music has always been a way to escape – a place to go for comfort. No matter what language anyone speaks, no matter what background they come from, music stays the same. It is a language of its own. And right now...I honestly need an escape from the real world.

'I got bored of you'

Percy had said; cold heartedly with vehemence and disgust in his voice. But...that wasn't true was it? I know him and I know his heart is in a better place than that. That isn't the real reason, I'm sure of it. But what could be so bad that he couldn't tell me? I wouldn't care about the reason...I just want him back, that's all. As a friend. I've got Luke now.

The violinists in my orchestra were sitting around in the seats, hunched over something and giggling, whispering in their usual annoying voices. I turned away and got out my violin and tightened the bow quickly.

A shadow fell over me and I looked up into well aged serious eyes that morphed into crinkles at the corners. Chiron. Wonderful, now I'm into even more trouble.

"Where were you yesterday? Don't you know that the concert is in less than a week?"

"I'm sorry sir, I should've told you."

He grunted with displeasure. "Don't do it again."

"I won't," I replied hurriedly.

"Oh, and Annabeth?"

"Yes sir?"

He looked with concern at the group of giggling girls. "Just be prepared ok?"

"What for?"

He gave me a wry smile and turned away without answering, going back to his music stand and flicking through the sheets of manuscript. Sighing, I made my way over to the seat and fiddled awkwardly with the hem of my shirt.

"So what were you up to yesterday?"

I titled my head lazily and gazed into the eyes of Drew, second violinist, who glared right at me with murder in her expression.

"Uh – "

"Don't even think about lying, honey. We all know where you were," she gestured to her friends, who promptly surrounded me with vicious grins.

"What are you – "

She thrust a newspaper in front of my face, covered in the foul scent of her perfume. "Look at the picture."

Hesitantly, I pulled back the creases and stared into the large picture on the front.

World famous pianist, Percy Jackson, was caught yesterday morning taking the well known violinist, Annabeth Chase, into his house, Manchester. Is this a start of a new relationship – or just a one night affair? Find out more on Page 3...

Blood rose to my cheeks. God, what was that doing on the front cover. No...oh god, no please... a picture of Percy letting me inside his house stared back at me, he was in his running gear, looking as good as always and I... I looked like a prostitute.

So this was the reason they were giggling and pointing. Wow.

"You're one little slut, aren't you?" Drew spat. "Shagging the most famous person you can find – Percy Jackson no less. Who would've thought that the sweet and innocent Annabeth was a complete w-?"

"Shut up!" I burst out, tired of her constant insults and taunts. This wasn't the first time it had happened. "I didn't shag him – and you better take a look at yourself before calling anyone a slut."

She laughed off the insult. "Yeah, but I don't sleep with guys for attention."

Her gang members – Lacy – started bawling all of a sudden, muttering things like 'that's my future husband' to 'you monster!'

"I'm seriously not in the mood for this, so if you value your already disfigured face, you'll step away right now," I growled under my breath.

"And if you value your job, you won't lay a finger on me."

I shrugged carelessly. "Some things are worth sacrificing."

She scowled and started to back away, when she stopped suddenly and a strange look passed over her face. "Percy Jackson has a four year old daughter, you know that?"

Don't let them find out the truth. Don't let them find out the truth...

"So what?" I answered evenly.

Drew grinned. "After all these years, no one has found out who the mother is. He must've been young when the baby was conceived – eighteen? Seventeen?"

"And what are you trying to suggest?"

Drew smirked and folded her arms, stepping closer, reeking of rose petal perfume. "Well, you're the right age. You've never told us anything about your past life – apart from the fact you didn't go to university because of some...disturbances. All the evidence points to you."

I stiffened, my fingers clenching on the neck of my violin. "And what then? What are you gonna do about it?"

She was interrupted suddenly by Lacy's crying; that had just raised another volume. Chiron marched over to us with annoyance flashing in his eyes.

"First and second violinists, can you please take your seats – we are trying to begin. And Drew, I don't appreciate you harassing anyone here and Lacy, do use a tissue."

"Sorry sir."

I let go of the breath I was holding as Drew and her gang sat down in their seats, though I could still feel their piercing gazes burning in my back. Stupid newspaper. Stupid paparazzi. Stupid Percy for being so damn famous. You're over him. You're over him, don't even think about him.

"Hi Annabeth!"

I turned round and grinned suddenly at the girl who sat down next to me. "Hi Hazel."

"Sorry I'm late," she whispered, as Chiron stood up with his elegant baton and raised his hands. "Traffic hold ups – where were you yesterday?"

"Um...I – "

"Am I interrupting you?" Chiron said irritably, raising his eyebrows at us as if to say 'I've had enough for one day'

Drew sniggered from her seat, her violin held up to her chin and an expression of pure smugness on her fake, tanned face. I took a moment to scowl at her before muttering an apology to Chiron.

The music started and my solo part sung over the orchestra, light and melodious.

But though my eyes were focused on the conductor and the music, everything suddenly felt...

I don't know...

It just feels empty.

That's all.

No sadness, no depression. Just a cold, hollow emptiness that devoured every inch of me.

Maybe it was the music. Music always reminded me of him. We met through music; five years ago at the concert, and somehow when I saw him for the first time, there was a click.

Like something had fallen in place and could never be dislodged. Love at first sight? Yeah, that's what happened. But where has the love gone now? What did I get out of it? My Dad hates me, I had to give up my daughter and everything was a lie.

"I got bored of you"

No. He didn't mean that. How can he? He's not like that – he's not that sort of person.

I opened my eyes as the music stopped, only just realising that I had shut them somewhere within the piece. Chiron nodded and started rambling on about timing issues and dynamics.

The rehearsal went smoothly enough, although even by the end, I could still hear the group of violinists gossiping about Percy and I, spreading untrue rumours around the orchestra.

At the doorway, Hazel ran up with her curly hair bouncing around her shoulders and a curious look in her golden eyes.

"I just heard that – "

"If it's about Percy Jackson, then I'm not interested," I snapped, then suddenly feeling bad about it when Hazel's expression crumpled slightly. "Sorry, everyone has been going on about it."

She looked at me with only kindness etched upon her face and an aura of gentleness swirling around her. "Drew has been saying some pretty nasty stuff – I just wanted to...know the truth."

I didn't reply and looked out the glass doors and onto the busy road outside.

"You don't have to tell me," she quickly said, noticing my discomfort. "It's none of my business anyway."

Shrugging carelessly, I downcast my eyes to the ground with a small tentative smile on my face. "If you want the truth – there's really nothing special to it."

She waited patiently for me to continue.

"Ok, I was seventeen when I met Percy," I started. "It was at a concert – he was playing a piano solo and I was the violinist in a quartet. Love at first sight – that's what happened. We started going out and all that stuff..."

I caught myself smiling, remembering all his little habits. The way he rubbed the back of his neck when he was nervous or the way he never said much, but put his words into actions.

"We slept together once and then the following week he broke up with me," I said finally, dropping the bomb and letting it fall.

"Oh my god...I'm going to kill him," Hazel's hands flew to her mouth in horror, her eyes wide with anger and concern.

I bit my lip and smiled a small sad smile. A smile I had grown to remember. "It's fine now. But not then. A short while after that, I realised I was pregnant – "

"Percy's four year old daughter...you're the mother."

"Yeah, I'm the mother."

"Why did you leave the baby with Percy if he broke up with you?"

"The usual reasons. I was poor – I had to live with my grandparents because my Dad kicked me out – "

"Oh Annabeth..."

"It's in the past, I'm ok now," I reminded her, but I felt like I was trying to make myself believe that. "My grandmother wanted to put the baby up for adoption...but I couldn't do that. So I gave Ebony to Percy – "

"How did you know he wouldn't abuse her?"

The rain started pouring outside and the pedestrians doubled their speed to get out of the weather. The puddles on the ground rippled and splashed with every drop and the skies ahead darkened dramatically, gusts of wind blowing through the buildings and howling through the trees.

"During the days I've known him, I knew that he wouldn't hurt her. He's got the kindest, gentlest, heart I know...no one can fake anything like that."

And above all, that was the hope I hung onto. The light when I was trapped in darkness, I would remember those months we spent together; the kindness and compassion. That's what I remember. Even if I live to a hundred, those months will never leave my mind.

"You must have a lot of faith in him."

"I have."

She paused and her expression suddenly turned serious.

"You still love him, don't you?"

I looked away and saw Luke in the distance, hurrying through the rain towards the large glass doors. This was the question I had asked myself over and over again. The question I usually answered with my head instead of my heart; but how was I supposed to know what my heart says?

"I can tell by the way you speak about him," Hazel carried on softly. "He must've been really special to you."

"He was," I said quickly. Too quickly. "I mean, I don't regret anything we did...our relationship taught me that life isn't worth living without something to live for..."

"Then what are you living for now? What makes you happy?"

Luke. That's what I was supposed to say. But I couldn't say that. I can't say that Luke is the one thing that makes me happy, because in reality, I'm living a hopeless life. A life with fake smiles and lies.

"I'm living life for Percy."

And that's the truth. Just knowing that he is safe and well is good enough for me. I don't care if I was just one of his toys – which he threw away after he took what he wanted. I...love the person he is and I love our daughter dearly. That love in my heart...that's why I'm still living.

"Then don't let anything stop you. And if he's the one who makes you happy, fight for him – because all the time I've known you, you've always had a sadness in your eyes and when you think no one is looking, your smile drops. I guess I've just found out the reason."

Fight for him...

The words played over in my head.

What about Luke?

"You're a good friend Hazel," I answered quietly, watching Luke open the glass doors. She smiled and waved goodbye, leaving the hallway with her violin held in her left hand.

Luke strolled up to me and lightly pecked my lips, sending a tingle down my spine.

"How was your rehearsal?"

"Fine, thanks," I said, putting on a smile for him. "Where are we going now? My place or yours?"

"Shall we go to my place? We can just hang around there for a while."

"Sounds good to me."

We walked out of the doors holding hands like teenagers.

And a new spark lit up inside of me; a fire that I never knew I had. Percy may no longer be my lover but I still consider him as a friend; because that's a friendship worth fighting for.