The two of them sat huddled together in the blissful shade of an oak tree, arms around each other, as they took in the views of the school grounds at lunchtime. Leaves spiralled down from the tree canopy to the ground. Dry grass crunched beneath them when they moved. This, with the fading colour of the plants, provided evidence of the rapidly approaching autumnal season. A light breeze whipped through the yard, shifting Percy's hair into that rumpled mess that was equal parts endearing and shockingly handsome. The sun cast shadows and patterns into his eyes, ripples in the calm of the sea.
Annabeth could have gone and bought food easily in the canteen- she had money, and she was undeniably hungry. However, she was apprehensive of venturing to that part of the school for numerous reasons. Firstly, a visit to the canteen would mean leaving Percy and this beautiful spot that they had found. She wasn't anxious for that. Secondly, school cafeterias were the rendezvous for all groups. Regardless of social standing, a simple trip to purchase food was, especially as a newcomer, where you were most likely to get ambushed with the relay of questions, taunts and snide remarks that people would throw out until they understood you. She wasn't anxious for that either.
Beside her, Percy stretched out on the ground, his elbows propped up beneath him. He smirked over at Annabeth as he caught her gaze and held a hand out towards her, which she took gratefully. He pulled her hand and held it over his chest- right where his heart was. The gesture warmed Annabeth in such an inexplicable way, it brought tears to her eyes. It took some people years to find the love of their life. Some never found theirs. Instead, here she sat, having lived just seventeen short years, and beside her was the one she knew the Fates had chosen. The realisation pumped her heart with a multitude of emotions. Gratitude, Love, Joy, they all churned inside her, and she realised that as long as she was here with Percy, those feelings would never abandon her; they would keep her burning bright for all eternity.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Percy glanced at her, amusement sparking in his eyes, much like Jason's lightning. "So," he shut his eyes and tilted his face up to the warm, beating sun. "You coming back to mine after school or...?" In the second it took her to properly assess what that would mean for her, the prospect of spending another night at Percy's attracted her. For a moment, she was tempted to damn the consequences and allow herself another blissful night of empty sleep. Then she called back the Athena in her and forced herself to see reason. That option was impossible- It would only add fuel to the fire that she had created.
Lightly, she punched Percy on the shoulder. "Seaweed Brain, you know I can't." Percy looked a little crestfallen, but it was obviously what he had been expecting. He just shrugged and nodded. He didn't push her- Percy understood her need to be home tonight. Instead, he settled back down on the grass and squeezed her hand. With a contented sigh, she joined him. They spent the rest of their lunch time like that, lying there, an easy silence between them, staring up at the dappled light that shone through the leaves.
By the end of the school day, Annabeth was getting restless. The past six hours had worn her down significantly, each hour of work taking more and more of the unquenchable energy that she had felt that morning. By the time the clock had reached 3 o'clock, she was more than ready to pack up her stuff and be done with this school day. She wished that she didn't have to go home though. Her dad and his family didn't scare her in the least. She wasn't worried about the argument that would occur that evening. It would be just another fight, her against the four of them. Nothing different, nothing that she wasn't used to. It was really just the bleak prospect of another night spent in her bedroom, that she dreaded. Another night wrestling with the memories and visions that plagued her, the things she would forever struggle with- alone, as long as she stayed in that house.
So many times, she had speculated returning to camp- even before starting school again. The only thing now that was stopping her from doing so was Percy. If she went back to camp, she would no longer be seeing him everyday. With most of the rest of the Seven also doing other things with their life for the start of the school year, she knew that camp might be boring now without her friends- without most of the campers actually, summer being over and all.
Annabeth gazed down at the text before her. The words did not register at all. No matter how many times she read over it, the meaning of the article slipped away from her, like trying to hold on to smoke. She supposed she wasn't exactly making much of an effort to understand what she was reading. Her mind was far too clouded with other things. Things like keeping at bay the surge of memories that kept trying to wriggle up through her mind and overwhelm her with an onslaught of pain and terror. Sometimes, that took so much concentration that she wouldn't be able to focus on the smaller things, things that should matter, but could never become a priority to Annabeth.
She glanced up and noticed the teacher halfway through a lecture. It seemed a matter of great interest for the man, who waved his arms with great enthusiasm, movements so out of control that the students in the front row faced great danger of being slapped in the face, and were leaning back so far that their backs met the desks behind them. Annabeth could hardly remember what subject she was sitting through. The words of the professor flew in one ear and out the other, and she found herself gazing at the clock, willing time to move faster. Ten minutes until half past. Just ten minutes. She could sit through that.