Memory 8: Eyebrows
Annabeth struggled to open her eyes. The pain in her shoulder was excruciating. The Athena cabin was clustered around her, muttering anxiously. She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat was dry, like she'd stuffed a handful of saltine crackers in her mouth.
She sighed happily when Percy pushed through the crowd. She was glad he'd gotten back okay, at least. "Annabeth…" he stuttered, scanning her pale face and looking horrified when Will Solace unwrapped her bandages.
"Poison on the dagger. Pretty stupid of me, huh?" She grinned lazily up at Percy, and his eyebrows creased further.
Will went about tending her wound. She gripped Percy's hand tightly, shouting out in pain while nectar was poured on the cut. Annabeth spaced out a bit from the pain.
She focused when everyone began clearing off the terrace, save for Percy and Silena. Silena mopped Annabeth's sweaty face will a cool cloth, muttering, "This is all my fault."
Annabeth shook her head, confused. "No. Silena, how is it your fault?"
She mumbled something about not being good at camp. Annabeth closed her eyes while Silena and Percy spoke. When she opened them, Silena was hugging Percy tight. She pulled away quickly, though, glancing awkwardly at Annabeth. "Um, sorry. Thank you, Percy! I won't let you down!"
Percy nodded at her, then crouched beside Annabeth and felt her forehead. His eyebrows were practically switching places on his face. "You're cute when you're worried," she mumbled. "Your eyebrows get all scrunched together."
Annabeth spoke with him, not really paying attention to her words. She shivered when Percy took her hand and placed it in the small of his back, where his Achilles spot was.
Electricity pulsed in her veins.
She decided to tell Percy what happened the previous year, when Luke had come to visit her. She hadn't really planned on saying anything, but she knew it was important.
When Conner Stoll came to get Percy, she thought she would feel relieved. The story had taken a lot out of her, and it was hard, telling him. Instead, she leaned her head back and cried quietly, wishing the war away.