Hey, Everybody!

So, I was planning on updating my House of Hades, but I got this idea for this story in my head, and I had to type it before I lost it, and since I had it done, why not update it, right? That doesn't mean I won't update my HoH, but...yeah.

Enjoy

Chapter 9

One Week Later

He pulled into a parking space in the main parking lot of the grocery store.

"Okay," he said as he pulled the key out of the ignition and the car died. He turned to me. "I'll get the food and you get the movie?"

"No, you get the movie, I know exactly what I want you to make tonight," I replied. I smiled and I kissed him. We got out of the car and we walked past the beautiful fountain before entering the store.

"Meeting you by the door when you're done," I said and I kissed his cheek one last time before grabbing a basket and walking off to the meat section.

I was looking for the steak I wanted when someone came up next to me.

I looked over at the tousled black hair and sea green eyes I thought I'd known so well.

"Annabeth," he smiled at me. "Haven't seen you in a while."

"Yeah, I've been hanging out with Luke at home," I replied.

"Still, huh?" he asked.

I nodded. "Absolutely."

"Hey, Babe, what did you say you wanted again?" Rachel bounced in suddenly and attached herself to his arm.

"Just a gallon of milk," he replied.

"Okay. Can I borrow twenty dollars?" she asked sweetly.

"Sure," he pulled out his wallet and handed her a twenty. She kissed him on the cheek and ran off down one of the isles.

That's not the milk section, the voice popped into my head again.

I know, I replied.

Now is the best time. Exactly how we practiced, she prodded.

"You know," I looked at him seriously, "every time I see you, she keeps borrowing money from you."

"Yeah. So?" he asked.

"If I were you, I would seriously be thinking about whether or not she really likes you, or if she's just in it for the money, you know?" I turned away and looked through a couple other steak packages until I found the one I wanted. "And you and I both know that that's not the milk section. Who knows, maybe she's seeing someone on the side," I dropped the steak in my basket and looked up at him. "Just like you were."

I started to turn and walk away, but the voice erupted in my head, Don't forget the last part.

I turned back around and said, "Just being honest."

And then I walked away, toward the spices and vegetables. The angry and confused look on his face was a look I was never going to forget.

And it made me smile.

Great job, Annabeth, the voice said happily.

"Thanks," I replied.

Luke and I were watching a movie while eating country fried steak with salad on our couch, when there was a knock on our door.

"I'll get it," I put my plate down and I got up and answered the door.

Percy's eyes met mine as I pulled the door open.

"Annabeth, I have a question to ask you," he said. "I was thinking, and Rachel and I have been together for a while, and-"

"Only, what, three weeks?" I asked.

"Don't forget the time we were together while we were together. Which was, like, three months," he informed me.

I thought I was going to be sick.

But I kept it together with a simple, "Ah. Okay. Go ahead, then."

"Well, I was wondering, would think it was weird if I gave her the same ring I gave you?" he asked.

"Annabeth, who is it?" Luke came up behind me and wrapped his arm around my waist.

"Oh," Luke said. "Hello."

Percy's eyes seemed to cloud over a little bit as he looked at Luke. His words weren't exactly friendly as he replied, "Hi."

I was shocked. I was hurt. I didn't think he would be that heartless as to give away my wedding ring. I should have kept it. I should have thrown it in a river. I should have run over it with my car.

And he had the nerve to come ask me about it?

He's more ruthless than I thought, the voice said. That's a little much. Is he even thinking about Rachel anymore?

"Do you really think she'd want the ring you gave to your ex-fiancé?" I asked.

"Well, sure, I mean, it's beautiful, just like her, and I wouldn't want to waste it. I mean, I would have to resize it, make it small enough to fit an average girl's finger, but…yeah, it could work." He turned it around in his hand.

Had I heard him correctly? Did he just say I had fat fingers?

Oh hell no.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"What?" Percy asked. "I was just being honest. I assumed we could still be honest with each other, Annabeth."

"How about trying to be civil," I snapped, and I rolled my eyes, pushed Luke's hand off my waist, backed up, said, "Yeah, I'm sure she'd love the ring. I love giving my used toys to the less fortunate," and I slammed the door in his face.

"Actually, Annabeth, I'm going to head back into the hall and have a chat with him really quickly," Luke started to open the door.

"No," I said. "Don't fight my battles for me. Let's just…finish dinner, and the movie, and then…I don't know. I might take a walk."

"Okay," Luke sighed. We sat back down on the couch, and I picked up my plate. I was eating, and my eyes were on the screen, but I wasn't really into it anymore.

Hey, you still in there? I asked.

Yeah, I am. She popped in. I know about what just happened between you and Percy. That was rough.

Tell me about it, I thought. What do I do now? Why the hell is he out to get me, anyway? Wait…I stopped myself. That's exactly what it is, isn't it? He's out to get me. He wants to kill me, doesn't he?

It seems so, she said sadly. Annabeth, what are you going to do now?

I don't know, I replied. I was having dinner. He had the nerve to try to kill me in my own home. Wait a second, a thought struck me. He doesn't know where my house is. He'd never been over here while we were dating. Ever. How does he suddenly know where I live?

Do you think he followed you home from the grocery store? She asked worriedly.

Yeah. Yeah, I think he did, I replied. Oh my God. He really wants to kill me, doesn't he? But why? Why is he after me like this?

He doesn't like seeing you with anyone else, she said. He doesn't like seeing you happy. And if he can't have you, no one else can. He still loves you, Annabeth.

I love him, too. I realized. We love each other.

Yeah, I guess you do.

So why does he want to kill me? Why does my loving boyfriend want to kill me, Mom? I asked.

I don't know, Annabeth, the voice, my mother's voice, sighed. I really don't know.

Thanks for Reading!