Hey everyone! Sorry for the late update, I've had writer's block. Anyway, the next couple of chapters will be song filled so be prepared. And I sometimes put small sentences during the song and it makes it's hard to see if it is a part of the song or not so I'm going to put it in bold to help you out. Enjoy.

Stuck In My Head: She's Kinda Hot by 5 Seconds of Summer

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the PJO characters or any of the songs used in the story.

Chapter 14: Stay

My world pretty much ended when Nico asked me an unexpected question.

"The band or Annabeth?" He had asked.

I stood still like a statue and I couldn't breathe. I never thought there'd ever have to be a time where I'd have to choose between them two.

Before I continue, I should probably tell you what had happened.

Four days and she still hadn't woken up.

At first, I couldn't get into the hospital since I was only 17 but Leo helped me out with that by getting me a fake ID. I didn't think it was going to work but it did.

I sometimes regretted visiting her. I couldn't stand to see the pain she was in. She had an everlasting wince stuck on her face and she would groan in her sleep.

It was Friday and I had just gotten off of school. I walked into the hospital with Annabeth and I's shell bracelets in hand. Some of the shells were cracked when she fell to the ground but they still stayed intact. I flashed the woman at the front desk my fake ID and went down the familiar trail to her room.

I heard talking in the inside.

"-Wake up?" A woman asked. I was more than positive it wasn't Annabeth but she sounded similar. I walked in slowly and saw a woman who looked like an older duplicate of Annabeth. She looked up intently at the doctor from the seat she sat in by Annabeth's bed.

"Should be soon. She took a really harsh hit to the head and it gave her a major concussion, not to mention the amount of blood she lost so it's gonna take her a while to wake up. And when she does, her head is going to be in a lot of pain." The woman nodded but then stopped when she noticed me by the doorframe. The doctor followed her eyes and saw me.

"Hey there, Jackson." Dr. Brunner greeted. I gave him a tired grin and glanced at Annabeth's doppelgänger. He looked in between us then at Annabeth.

"She still hasn't woken up." He informed. I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed.

"Is she doing okay though?" I asked. He nodded and gestured to the manila folder in his hand.

"Well, I better get going. I need to update her medical papers." He saluted at both of us and left us alone. The woman pressed her lips into a line and clung to Annabeth's forearm.

I took a seat on the opposite side of her and held onto Annabeth's deathly pale hand.

"I'm guessing you're Percy?" The woman with Annabeth's grey eyes spoke up.

"Yeah… Who are you?" She chuckled and smiled.

"To every guy, we're usually know as their worst nightmare. In other words, I'm her mom." I laughed a little and held out my hand to shake.

"I'm Percy Jackson, you're worst nightmare." She smiled and shook my hand.

We talked about everything regarding Annabeth. When she was born and how it was a struggle for her mom to give birth. And how her first word was architect. And then how we met. I left out the part where I lied about being the same age as Annabeth.

"Hey, I haven't eaten lunch yet. You want something from the cafeteria?" She offered, getting up and beginning to walk out. I waved it off and shook my head.

"No its fine. I already ate." Her mom nodded and said bye before leaving. I wish she didn't leave.

She was the only thing that kept my mind off the fact that Annabeth was in a coma. Now that she was gone, the dread took over. And it hit me like a brick.

A tear made its way down my cheek when Annabeth groaned for the umpteenth. I hated seeing her in pain. It really made me feel like I was in pain with her.

Music, I thought. Music will help. I took my phone out of my pocket and put my headphones in.

I put my music on shuffle. Unfortunately, a sad song came on. It only made me feel ten times sadder. I kissed her cold hand and softly sang the words to her.

(Fix You by Coldplay)

"When you try your best, but don't succeed. When you get what you want, but not what you need. When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep. Stuck in reverse. And the tears come streaming down your face. When you lose something you can't replace." I took a deep breath and struggled out the next words.

"When you love someone, but it goes to waste. Could it be worse? Lights will guide you home. And ignite your bones. I will try to fix you." I continued to sing to her. One line in the song stuck to me though.

"I promise you I will learn from my mistakes." I had barely gotten that out before I broke down. I ripped the headphones out of my ears and put my hand across my forehead. The music rang out of the headphones and softly played in the background. I leaned my head against the bed and controlled my sobbing. I ended up falling asleep.

I woke up to someone shaking my shoulder.

I thought it was Annabeth's mom but instead I saw a familiar face.

"Dude! What are you doing?" Nico whisper-yelled at me. Annabeth's mom was back and eating a small box of fried rice with a fork. She didn't listen to our conversation and talked on a Bluetooth.

"Wha'?" I murmured sleepily. Nico glared at me and shook my shoulder harsher when I tried to go back to sleep.

"Percy! We need to go! The gig starts in an hour!" I groaned softly and rubbed my shoulder.

"Will you calm down?" He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the room.

"I'll be back." I told Annabeth's mom before Nico hauled me out, shutting the door behind him.

"Seriously, Nico?! What is your problem?!" I whispered angrily at him. Nico put his hands in his pockets and kept his shoulders elevated as if he were stuck in a shrug.

"We told you to be at the hall two hours ago!" I frowned.

"What hall?" I asked dumbfounded. Nico threw his hands up in frustration.

"Well maybe if you were listening to us at lunch the other day instead of thinking about Annabeth, then you would know about the gig we have. I mean seriously Perce, I know she's hurt and all but you don't have to think about her every second of your life. Dude, she's just a girl." I pushed him against the wall. He looked scared for a second but then he looked angry. He tried to remove my hands from his shirt but I held on tighter.

"Don't you ever say that again." I spat. Never in all the years I had known Nico, had I ever laid my hands on him. Even when he had angered me, I never was physical. But this was different. This was Annabeth we were talking about. She was in a coma where she could possibly die and here he was telling me that I shouldn't be worrying about her as much as was.

"That girl is the woman I love and I will worry about her whenever I want to." I hissed. I let go of his shirt. He shoved my hands off of him and fixed his shirt.

"I'm sorry. I just really miss when you actually talked to us." He said through his gritted teeth. I realized what I had did. I rubbed my face and softly pulled my hair. I sighed,

"Oh gods. I'm sorry Nico. I've just been very frustrated lately-"

"Haven't we all? Perce, we've been practicing the song you wrote without you. You've been here," He gestured to Annabeth's hospital door. "The whole time while the guys and I are trying to go somewhere in life. We need you!"

"And so does Annabeth!" I argued. Nico grunted.

"I don't like this, Percy." He said quietly.

"Like what?" I asked exasperated.

"I don't like that she is taking you away from us. And she isn't even awake. You promised that she wouldn't come in between us." He paused before continuing.

"I didn't think I'd have to do this but you need to choose Percy." I frowned.

"Choose? Choose what?"

"Between the band and Annabeth." He said simply.

"You want me to choose between my best friends and my girlfriend? Do you realize what you are saying is really selfish?" He sighed through his nose and began to back up.

"I may be selfish but this is going to be a decision that will change your life so choose wisely." He turned around and walked away.

My heart stopped.

It took me a while to unfreeze. When I did, I opened the door to Annabeth's room and came face to face with Athena.

"Whoa." She whispered while flinching. I backed away and moved out of the way.

"Sorry." I gestured for her to go ahead. She waved bye and said that she had some business to attend to.

I left the door ajar and sat back down by Annabeth.

"Please help me." I whispered to her.

I couldn't choose. I wanted to be with her every step of the way. I wanted to be here when she woke up. But then I also wanted to be there for the guys. I mean I was the lead singer for the band.

I made the decision. And I didn't know if I was going to regret it or not.

Nico's POV:

The show was about to start.

We were going opening up for Drew Tanaka's birthday party. She said she would pay a lot of money for it. She also never specified on what tempo the song should be so we made a sad song, in honor of Annabeth and her incident. The guys and I practiced the song and who'd be singing what. Percy was singing most of the song since it was his girlfriend but I think that was going to change since he wasn't even here.

"Is he coming?" Leo asked hopefully when I walked backstage. I shrugged and grabbed my bass guitar.

Leo sighed sadly.

"You know you have to take over his part, right?" Beck said. I nodded and tuned my guitar.

"Now we just need someone who can play the piano." I said.

"I can." Percy popped in. Our faces brightened.

"Percy! You came!" I said. He didn't even smile. I could tell he wasn't on the greatest terms with me. I didn't mind. I knew he would get over it. As long as he came, that was all that mattered. He greeted Leo and Beck.

"And here to open up the party are… the Demigods!" Beck and Leo walked onto stage. I held Percy back.

"You know what to sing and what not to sing right?"

"I'm the one who wrote the song remember?" He walked pass me and onto stage. I didn't like looking in his eyes. He looked like he was on the verge of tears. And I had a feeling singing this song wouldn't help with that. No doubt he wasn't going to break down in the middle of the song. I sighed and put on my guitar.

Percy sat on the piano bench and cleared his throat. We got into our positions. The sadness came out when he sang the beginning and made the song twenty times sadder.

(Stay by Mayday Parade)

(P) = Percy (P, N) = Percy & Nico (N) = Nico (A) = All

(P) I need some time just deliver the things that I need for now

Everything that I feels like a warm deep calm casting over me

And it's taking me to somewhere new

If you believe that everything's alright

You won't be alone tonight

And I'd be blessed by the light of your company,

Slowly lifting me to somewhere new

Beck and I joined in.

Oh can you tell, I haven't slept very well

(P, N) Since the last time that we spoke,

(P) You said

"Please understand if I see you again

(P, N) "Don't even say hello."

(P) Please

Some violins played on the speakers to go along with the song. Percy was about to break and I could tell.

(P) What a night it is, when you live like this

(P, N) And you're coming up beneath the clouds,

Don't let me down

(P) All the love's still there I just don't

(P, N) Know what to do with it now

(P) You know, I still can't believe we both did some things I don't

(P, N) Even wanna think about

(P) Just say you love me and I'll say, "I'm sorry, I don't want anybody else

To feel this way"

(P, N) No, no, no

(P) Oh can you tell, I haven't slept very well

(P, N) Since the last time that we spoke,

(P) I said

"Please understand I've been drinking again,

(P, N) And all I do is hope"

(P) Please…

Stay!

(N) (Please!)

(P, N) Stay!

Percy's tears glistened on his cheeks as he sang with his eyes closed.

I'll admit I was wrong about everything

Cause I'm high and I don't wanna come down

(P) All the fun that we had on your mothers couch,

(P, N) I don't even wanna think about

(P) I'm not strong enough for the both of us

What was I supposed to do

(P, N) You know I love you

(A) Whoa-oh

(P) Please stay

(N) (Stay!)

(P, N) Stay!

Percy and Beck played together for a while.

(N) (Stay)

The song ended with Beck drumming. Everyone in the crowd either looked sad or impressed.

"Thank you." Percy's voice cracked when he spoke into the mic. He wiped his face and stood up. He walked backstage as fast as he could. Some other music started playing and the somber looks left everyone's faces. We all followed Percy and found him putting on his jacket.

"Perce." I softly called. He wasn't showing his face. He never liked when people saw him cry.

"Yeah?" He croaked.

"Are you okay?" I asked concerned. Percy kept his head down as he talked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just the song got to me and stuff. I'll see you guys later."

And with that, he walked away, back to the hospital, I'm assuming.

Percy's POV:

You idiot! Why'd you cry in front of all those people?! Now they're going to think you're a big cry baby!

I cursed at myself. I picked up my hood and kept my head down. I bit my lip to keep from crying any further but it didn't work. Thankfully, it had started to rain so no one could tell if I was crying or not.

I let my legs take me wherever they went. I just needed to get away and think.

I love Annabeth, I really do. It's just that someone once told me that you can't look a woman in the eye, say I love you and lie about who you are.

She needs to know the truth.

I made my way into the park. I glanced at the secret spot Annabeth and I had our first date and felt guilt overflow me.

I quickly looked away and sat on a bench, not caring if I soaked my pants. I watched as couples laughed and ran away together in the rain. As two teenagers danced in the rain, I felt obligated to punch myself. If I wanted a girlfriend, I should have found one that was my age and that would have made things a ton easier.

"Sickening, isn't it?" A girl asked from the other side of the bench. I jumped and she laughed.

"Whoa, there. Calm down. Just trying to strike up a conversation. You looked like you really needed someone to talk to." I shivered from the cold rain that soaked my clothes and took in her appearance.

Her blue hair was wet and her eyes were this emerald green. She smiled, showing off her perfect white teeth. She wore and black jacket over a white shirt that said, "Good Girls Are Bad Girls That Haven't Been Caught". She looked cold in her black skinny jeans and black converse.

"Sorry, I was just… caught off guard." I said slowly. She shrugged.

"I'm known for popping up out of nowhere." I snickered.

"Names Ashely Warner," She held out her hand.

"But most people call me Ash." She concluded. I shook her hand.

"Percy Jackson." She smirked and let go of my hand.

"You want to get out of here?" She asked when she saw people running home. Then she blushed.

"Oh I didn't mean it like that. I just meant get out of the rain. Not if you wanted to go out, I don't even really know you. Oh well, I'm pretty sure you're a nice guy but I don't know that. But then I still-"

"Ash." I called her to stop her rambling. She stopped and bit her lip.

"It's fine. I know what you meant." I said while laughing. It started raining harder.

Ash and I looked up at the sky and then back at each other.

"Yeah, we really should get out of here." I agreed.

We both ducked our heads and ran to the nearest place. The bell above the door rang throughout the whole small retro themed restaurant we ran into. A group of teenagers sat in one corner of the restaurant and an elderly couple sat in the other.

"There. Out of the rain." I sighed in content. Ash took off her wet jacket and slung it over her shoulder. We took our place in the back. Our wet sneakers squeaked against the black and white checkered floor. The table we sat at was oval shaped and the seats were a red leather with a white streak going down the middle. I bounced when I jumped onto it and scooted more inside. I leaned my forearms against the table. Ash put her hair up in a ponytail, showing off the small tattoo under her ear.

It was a tattoo of the omega sign. I pointed to it.

"What's it stand for?" I asked. She pointed to it and raised her eyebrows.

"This? It's just an omega sign." I twisted my lips and gave her a look of doubt.

She sighed and gave in.

"Okay, it means something." I smirked and nodded in victory. She snorted.

"Geez, if I knew you were this nosy, I wouldn't have talked to you in the first place." I put my hand on my chest in faux hurt. She laughed and waved it off in an I'm just kidding way.

"Alright, so, when I was 16, I ran away from home." She said slowly.

"And I stayed alone for weeks. I had little money and no friends. I ended up having to go back home. But not before getting this tattoo to remind me of the lonesome time I had when I ran away. I promised myself that I would leave that shithole once again but when I was prepared."

"Can I ask why you left?" She leaned her head against the palm of her hand and sighed.

"Because I was being abused. And me coming home after running away didn't help any of it. It actually got worse. I ran away a couple weeks ago and I even got myself an apartment and job." I smiled.

"And you're how old?"

"18." She said simply before grabbing the salt shaker and dumping some salt on her hand. She tossed it over her right shoulder and put the salt shaker back in its place.

"So what's your story?" She said while dusting off her hands to get rid of any salt. A waiter came over before I could ask what she meant. She and I ordered our drinks and then continued our conversation.

"What do you mean?" I asked. She crossed her arms and rested them on the table.

"I mean, since I told you my story, what's your deal? Why were you looking so sad at the park earlier?" She inquired. I scratched my chin and proceeded to tell her. It felt good to get everything off my chest. Even if I was telling it to a complete stranger.

"Wow, that's quite the story you got there, Jackson." She took a sip of the soda they had brought mid-conversation.

"Yeah, I guess you could say I messed up, huh, Warner?" I mimicked her actions of calling her by the last name.

"It's not that bad. You just fell in love with someone slightly older than you." The waiter came with the food we had ordered earlier.

"As long as you didn't have sex with her, then it's all fine." She said grabbed the fries from the waiter's tray.

My face flushed. The waiter looked uncomfortable for a moment before walking off.

Ash ate a fry.

"You didn't have sex with her, right?" She asked cautiously. I blushed and looked down at my food. She twirled her head around like she was trying to wrap her head around the situation. She slammed her hands on the table.

"Oh my god, Percy!" An elderly couple that sat by us shushed her.

"Oh shush yourselves!" She defended. The couple got up and went out of the restaurant, muttering about how outrageous this was.

"Now, you really messed up. How could you not know that having sex with someone over 18 while you're still a minor is illegal?!" She whisper-yelled.

"I-I-I'm sorry! I didn't know!"

"Dude, she could get arrested and thrown into jail for this, you know!" I swallowed down the fear I felt for Annabeth. I basically made Annabeth a sex offender. Ash was right. I really really fucked up.

"Ash, what do I do?" I asked desperately. She rubbed her face.

"Well, first, you're going to tell her the truth. Okay? And then you're going to break it off with her!"

I didn't know why I was taking advice from someone I had barely met but Ash was different. It felt as if I had known her all my life.

"As much as I appreciate that you had a plan, I can't do it. I wouldn't be able to bring myself to do it. Plus, I promised that I wouldn't leave her." Like her ex, I silently added.

That wasn't my story to tell.

"But will you at least tell her? She has the right to know."

"I'm already planning on telling her when she wakes." Ash sighed and popped another fry into her mouth.

"That's gotta be the worst thing to wake up to. 'Hey babe, so happy that you're awake but there's something I have to tell you. I'm 17!'." Ash joked. I didn't pay attention though. My phone had started ringing. I immediately answered.

"Nico?"

"Perce, the guys and I came over to the hospital after the show and we found out something."

"What is it? Is she okay?"

"Yeah, but she's awake, Perce." I didn't wait any longer. I hung up and beckoned over our waiter.

"What's wrong?" Ash asked.

"She's awake." I said simply.

"Can we have two to go boxes please?" The waiter nodded and went to go get them.

"Now's your chance! You can tell her!" I nodded and took the boxes from the waiter when he got over here. I hurriedly put my food inside of it. I handed Ash the other box.

"What's this for?" She lifted it up in questioning.

"You're coming with me."

"I am?" I nodded and shut the box.

"Yeah, whether you like it or not, you're now a part of this." She playfully groaned and began to put her food inside. I let out a quick laugh and slid out of the booth.

Ash and I rushed to the hospital. All my friends (Including the girls) gathered around outside Annabeth's room. Nico started walking towards me when he noticed I was here.

"Perce, hold-" I patted his shoulder and handed him my food box before walking pass him to her front door. Ash stayed calm and chill as all my friends looked at her weirdly. Ash followed behind me. I opened the door and expected to see my girlfriend sitting up and perfectly fine but no. That's not what I saw.

She was still asleep. I got spun around.

Nico put his hands on my shoulders.

"How could you lie to me?" I glared at him.

"Listen, calm down. She was awake when I called you but the doctor went in and we got kicked out. When he came back out, she was back to sleep." He explained. I got out of Nico's grip on my shoulders and walked to her sleeping body.

"Nico and Ash, can you guys come in?" My voice cracked. Nico looked at Ash cautiously as they both walked in.

"Close the door." I told Nico. Ash took a seat on the opposite side of me.

"So this is sleeping beauty, huh?" I chuckled and tried not to disturb Annabeth sleeping. Nico wasn't one for talking to strangers or around strangers so he kept quiet.

"Nico, this is Ash. Ash, this is Nico." I introduced. Ash waved and grinned. Nico nodded in acknowledgement.

"So, not to sound rude or anything but, why did you call us in here?" Nico asked.

"Because when she wakes up, I'm going to tell her." Nico's eyes widened and Ash stayed expressionless since she already knew this.

"Are you sure?" He questioned. I shook my head and put my clasped hands on top of my mouth.

"No. I'm not. But I have to and that's all that matters."

I was left alone after she started stirring.

I wasn't going to lie, I was terrified. I had no idea how she was going to react. I grabbed ahold of her hand as her eyes fluttered open.

"Percy?" She croaked. Despite what I had to do, I was ecstatic that she was awake. I laughed out of joy and kissed her forehead.

"Yeah, it's me." I smiled widely.

"Go slow." I told her when she started getting up. She clutched my hand and struggled up. She winced as her head started hurting. I gently gave her a longing kiss. Her lips were dry but I still enjoyed it.

"I love you." I told her. I placed my forehead on hers.

"I'm so sorry. You know that I didn't mean any of what I said right?" Her smile faltered for just a second.

"Y-" She stopped and put her hand over her throat. I leaned back.

I grabbed the cup of water on her bedside. I held it up to her lips and slowly poured some into her mouth. Just like she did for me a couple weeks back. She squeezed her eyes shut and let the water cool down her dry throat.

"It wasn't your fault." was the first thing she said.

"Yes it was. I'm the one who insulted you and I'm the one who got you hurt." I argued.

"No no." She said softly, grabbing my hands.

"You can't blame yourself for this. I was the one who got you drunk in the first place." She said quietly.

"Yeah but I still caused you to get hurt."

"It's like you want me to hate you." She let go of my hands and gave up. I looked away from her.

"Better now than never." I whispered, hoping she wouldn't hear. She did.

"Why would I ever hate you? I love you." I grabbed her hand. Taking a deep breath, I began.

"You know, when we met, I had said I was… the same age as you, 22?" She nodded and raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah, what are you getting at?" I was scared to death. But I manned up.

"I-I'm not." She frowned.

"I still don't get what you're trying to say, Perce." I choked out the words.

"Annabeth, I'm not 22… I'm 17."

Haha. Cliffhanger.

Anyway, apologies again for the late chapter. A lot has been happening for the couple of weeks (besides the writers block). For one, my uncle passed away. And then I got into a (Verbal) fight with these guys because they were making fun of my gay best friend. And then school is about to start and I needed to get ready for that.

Oh and one thing. For an upcoming story, I'm going to ask the following question:

Reynabeth, Thaliabeth, or Pipabeth?

I wanted to ask because I can't choose between them.

Bye!

R&R