CHAPTER 12
LET GO
-Percy-
When I was on the garden top with Annabeth, it was literally the best day of my life. The night before her birthday, I saw this really pretty sea shell on the beach. I automatically thought of her. I grabbed the shell, strung it on a chain, and put it in a box. I wanted to show Annabeth I wasn't the same jerk.
That I've changed.
When I took her in the garden, I just let my feelings out. Told her everything. Let me tell you, it took courage. I had all these questions buzzing around in my head: What if she doesn't feel the same? What if she rejects me? What if we'd never be friends in my life? I would rather have Annabeth in my life that not at all.
And that's what I tried to say. Finally, I leaned in, and we kissed. It was the best feeling ever. I don't mean to sound all mushy and cheesy, but it was true. A magical moment, I guess you could say.
At the end, it was kind of like a Cinderella ending. Happy ever after.
I was stupid to think that. I was stupid to think that even for a second.
Secrets are something that can never be hidden.
After I kissed Annie on the garden during lunch, I was happy all day. Not just happy, I couldn't really think of a word that could describe how amazing it all felt. Annabeth Chase is my girlfriend. I couldn't help but smile at that thought.
We've been through a lot with each other; even if it has only been a few days.
And if my day could get any better, I got a B+ on math quiz today. Mrs. Leshman told me that she was impressed with my work and if I could keep it up, I'd be outta the 10th grade.
Today, I thought, was the best day of my life.
I should've known better than to jinx myself.
The next morning, I was still hyped up from yesterday. My mom told me that I smiled so much that it looked like someone glued a hanger in my mouth. But, hey, I was guy in love.
I said bye to my mom and headed outside where Thalia was waiting in her truck. And Annabeth. My heart still jumps when I think of her.
I got in the truck and greeted the 2 girls. Then I looked at Annabeth. She was wearing a loose blue shirt and ripped jeans with her Converse. And the necklace I gave her. I smiled, glad that she liked her gift so much. I wasn't sure at first, but I know now.
"Hey," I said to her.
"Hi," Annabeth responded with a smile.
We just looked at each other for a few seconds until Thalia groaned and rolled her eyes, "God, if you 2 want to make out, do it in the backseat. I don't want to barf in my own car."
That's where Annie and I blushed and turned away. I gave my cousin a glare which she returned with an even more deadly one. She scares me sometimes.
When we finally got to school, I followed Annabeth to her locker.
"So," I started. "What's up?"
"Nothing." She shrugged as she was getting her books, "Well, actually, I'm getting a new stepmom."
"What?" I asked confused. And that is when she told me that her dad proposed to his girlfriend last night at her birthday dinner. That was really surprising to me. I couldn't really read Annabeth's expression. I couldn't tell if she was excited or not for this new change in her life.
"Are you cool with that?" I asked her, "With your dad getting married to someone else?"
"I don't know. I mean, I'm not in love with the idea, but whatever makes my dad happy." Annabeth replied.
I nodded and decided to drop the subject. When we walked to class together, I couldn't help but feel guilty. If my dad didn't kill Annabeth's mom, then her dad wouldn't marry again. I know it isn't my fault that Mrs. Chase died, but I still felt bad that I wasn't completely honest with Annabeth. She'd ask me a few times what my dad had done to get himself locked up in prison, but I refused to answer.
I thought that Annabeth would hate me forever. That she couldn't stand to look at the son whose father had killed someone she loved. I understand that, too. And that's why I swore to myself I would never tell her.
It was really selfish, I know. But I couldn't lose her. Not after all of this. I thought that she would never find out about who killed her mother, since only 3 people know: mom, dad, and me.
I was sure that Annabeth wouldn't find out about this. I would make sure she wouldn't find out.
Unfortunately, that's not how life works.
After school, Annabeth came over to my house to tutor me some more because she was doing pretty darn good with me already. She told me she was proud that I got a B on my quiz. And I got a kiss for my reward. I like this tutoring.
After an hour or 2 of studying, we got pretty hungry. I couldn't cook anything and my mom didn't come home till 7.
"How about pizza?" Annabeth suggested.
"Good idea." I grabbed the phone and ordered from Pizza Land. "What do you want on your pizza?" I asked her.
"Pepperoni."
After I hung up the phone when I ordered, Annabeth asked me, "Is that your dad?" She was pointing to a picture of my dad and mom in their high school years. I know why she was confused. When she saw my dad a couple of days ago in the police department, he looked older, somehow. More grown up. In the picture she was pointing out, he looked like a completely different person; young, handsome, his eye were full humor and life.
I nodded, "Yeah. That was when he was like, 18."
"Huh," Annabeth looked sideways at the picture. "You know, he looks just like you."
"Really?" I looked at the picture again. Dad had jet blown black hair, sea green eyes. Just like me. I never really studied the younger pictures of dad because before I had forgiven him, I couldn't stand to look at him. But now that I see the picture, I realized Annabeth was right. "He does look like me."
I didn't know that I said it out loud, but Annabeth just nodded. I kept glancing at the other pictures of our family. Realizing how different my life was.
After a few minutes of silence, Annabeth asked slowly, "You never really explained how you dad got into jail."
My eyes suddenly widen, I was hoping I could just avoid this question. But my mind was racing; thinking of all the ways I could lie. I honestly didn't know what to say. I couldn't just come right out and say it, it would hurt Annabeth and then she couldn't bear to look at me.
I wasn't sure how to start this. I took a deep breath, "Look, he did something that was horrible. Something that was just… unforgivable."
"But you've forgiven him." Annabeth pointed out.
"Yes, but the victim couldn't have forgiven him. Their loved ones couldn't have forgiven him." I made myself stop before I could blurt anything else out.
Annabeth put her hand on top of mines, "I don't get it, Percy. What did he do? Who?"
My heart was going 800 miles. I was panicking, I didn't know what to say, I didn't know what to do.
To this day, that night, that conversation, was a blur. All I remember saying was: "He-he, he killed. He, he was drunk at night. And he killed. He was really drunk…" I started to hyperventilate, I was to blurt out everything.
Annabeth just looked at me, "He what?" I wasn't sure if she was frightened or she felt pity or what. But she just kept holding my hand, comforting me. She doesn't know who killed her mom. Yet.
"Percy, what happened?" She pleaded. It looked like she was worried. I wouldn't blame her though. I was on the verge of crying.
I calmed down a few seconds later. After everything that had happened these last few years, I thought I had a crappy life. Then Annabeth came and it was like she helped me through a lot of hard stuff. Vice versa, if possible. I loved Annabeth, but that won't mean anything if I kept a huge secret from her. This secret involves her, so she deserved to know. She has every right know. And it wouldn't be fair of myself if I didn't tell her.
I gathered all my will power, everything I had. "Do you know who killed your mother?" I asked Annabeth slowly and gently.
She raised her eyebrows, I could still see a bit of sadness in her beautiful gray eyes, "No. I never knew." She said it so quietly, it was a whisper. "What does that have to do with anything.?"
I couldn't just come out and say, 'My father killed your loving mother.' I couldn't say anything. But Annabeth was smart enough to put the pieces together.
"No, no, no, no, no." Annabeth kept repeating. It was like she was under a spell, only saying that. She shook her head like she couldn't believe it.
"Annabeth-" I started, but she interrupted.
"I gotta go." She packed up everything and rushed toward the door.
"No, don't go! I just want to-" I begged.
She turned to me one last time, she looked like she was in danger. Her eyes were wild. "I can't look at you."
And with that, she slammed the door in my face. I thought about running after her, but my legs didn't work.
'I can't look at you.' She'd said. I knew this was going to happen. I thought I did the right thing by telling her the truth. But what's truth when it hurts everyone around you?
The rest of the night, I stayed up in my room. I kept replaying the last words she had said.
I didn't know what to do, I felt helpless. No hope at all.
Why does life have to work this way? My life is evidence that life can never be a fairy tale. There's no such thing as happily ever after or any of that crap.
I had to learn that the hard way.
HEY GUYS! SORRY IT WASN'T THE BEST OR LONGEST CHAPTER SO FAR, BUT I'LL WORK ON IT. YOU MIGHT BE DISSAPOINTED IN THE ENDING OF THIS CHAPTER BUT DON'T WORRY; THAT'LL CHANGE. LIKE THE TITLE OF THIS STORY.
SORRY I HAVENT UPDATED IN A WHILE. THIS WAS THE WEEK AFTER SPRING BREAK AND I HAVE WAY TOO MUCH HOMEWORK. LUCKILY, I DON'T HAVE WRITERS BLOCK, SO I KNOW EXCACTLY HOW IM GOING TO PLAY THIS STORY OUT. THE EPILOUGE WILL BE KIND OF PREDICTABLE AND CHEESY, BUT, HEY, WHAT ENDING ISNT?
ANYWAY, THERE WILL BE ABOUT 2 OR 3 MORE CHAPTERS LEFT AT LEAST.
AND OF COURSE, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE REVIEWED, FOLLOWED, AND FAVORITED. I REALLY AM GREATFUL OF ALL OF YOU. IT MEANS A TON TO ME.
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NEXT CHAPTER COMING UP!