•Chapter 16•

So sorry guys for last updating in 2016! I got a new semester change and everything was really hectic, and I'm going on a two-week school trip to China really soon so I'm frantically packing, planning, and making sure I have everything in order. (Plus, the teacher who's leading this trip is the most disorganized teacher ever, so we're really on our own.)

I am hoping I can upload another chapter before I leave, but no guarantees.

Again, so sorry for the wait!

Happy reading!

2012

I gripped the handle of the umbrella tighter, my knuckles turning white. Glancing at the watch on my wrist, I saw that I, for once in my life, was early. Looking around at the crowds in Times Square, I silently wondered whether or not I'd ever find her. I mean, there were hundreds of people here, and it was rush hour, which made it even worse.

"Oh, hello. There you are," a woman's voice said behind me. Or, at least, I think it was a woman. It was sort of hard to hear, with hundreds of voices chattering around me. "I've been looking for you."

I whirled around, hoping to see Annabeth behind me. Instead, it was a redheaded woman in her mid-twenties, talking to a female of around the same age. I turned back, disappointed.

I looked around again. Swarms and swarms or people approached the area I was standing in, and soon left afterwards. Time and time again, I thought I had caught a glimpse of the curly blonde hair I had seen so many times, in photographs and both on my phone and computer screen.

I looked at my watch again. Only ten minutes had passed. The face now displaying 8:55 as the time, I watched as the second hand made its way back to the 12; each tick, to me, was getting slower by the second. My fingers tapped on the handle impatiently.

Sudden movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. What I saw next brought a smile to my face. In front of me stood a young woman, her back to me. She let out an audible grumble as the wind ruffled her long, blonde curls. She held her phone in her right hand. The young woman was clad in a pair of light blue jeans and a black hoodie. Just as Annabeth said.

I stepped closer to her. As I uttered her name, I reached out with a gentle hand and tapped her on the shoulder twice.

She turned around.

2013

Flashes of memories.

A gentle kiss there on her cheek, her body snuggling against mine. Tears falling onto my shirt after she found out her beloved grandmother had passed. My arms around her, comforting her. Laughter, as we watched our favourite TV show together. Yells of mock anger, as we pelted each other with water balloons. A rush of anger, as we fought. Quiet voices, as we said "I'm sorry" to each other. Our profession of love to each other. Silence, as she fell asleep beside me. Warmth, as we huddled under a blanket and watched Star Wars together. Our voices, singing off-key to songs on the radio, amidst shouts of laughter. Our fingers, linked together. Tears, as our time together came to an end and her slim fingers left mine as she entered security at the airport.

She had already stayed behind for another four months after her father had returned to San Francisco. She would've stayed longer if she could, but she really needed to return home. Why, she didn't say.

Missing her every day after that. Missing the hole in my heart I had found, but had not known before meeting Annabeth Chase.

I knew she was going to be the last woman I'd ever date, if she agreed.

(Half a year later, she did.)

2014

I'd gotten the idea of my proposal from How I Met Your Mother, Annabeth's favourite TV show.

Annabeth loving that show was surprising. She never really seemed like the type to love romantic comedy sitcoms, especially one about finding your ideal soulmate. But she loved that show, and that became one of my many things I loved about her—she was so unpredictable. Once I thought I had her partially figured out, another surprising thing came out, which led to a whole new mystery. Annabeth, it seemed, was a never-ending mystery.

We were so different, but we worked well together. She was full of spunk and spitfire, while I was the calm one. Her passion for architecture, that ever-growing flame of love for that particular field was intoxicating, almost. The way her eyes sparkled when she explained something architecture-y that I never quite understood, the way she completely lit up like a Christmas tree when she found someone who shared the same passion for her, the way she dreamed becoming an architect … "But after I fight overseas," she'd always tell me. "I want to protect those children from danger. They don't deserve to live in fear like that. No one does. My dream of being an architect can wait, Perce. I have years ahead to do that. But there's so much danger over there right now … that can't wait."

She didn't let fear and failure dictate her life. She was scared of failure, but she was determined not to let that win. So what if she was scared of being rejected by Harvard? She'd try to apply, anyway. What if her brothers would get injured, playing rugby? She'd drive them to the field, anyway. She always said that life was no fun if you don't try everything. "What if, in an alternate universe, I make it into Harvard? I'll never know, in this world, because I was too scared of being rejected. That could open a whole lot of doors for me, doors I'll never be able to go through, because I closed all those doors before I had the chance to open them."

She was so wise, my Wise Girl. That's why I called her that, I suppose. Pretty much everything that came out of her mouth sounded so … inspirational, and wise.

"Where are you taking me?" my girlfriend asked, laughing.

Grinning, I answered her, "Not telling you. It's a surprise."

"I suppose you aren't going to take me to the middle of the woods to kill me and bury me?"

"Oh, no, you've got me." I faked a disappointed sigh. "Well, guess I've been found out. Better do it here, before you scream."

I had a feeling she was rolling her eyes, despite the fact I couldn't see it because I'd covered her eyes with a sleeping mask. "I'm so scared, I want to cry. Please don't kill me!" she said in a sarcastic tone.

"Maybe I won't. Depends on if you impress me enough to change my mind." I drove into the parking lot, searching for an empty space in the sea of black, white, blue, and silver cars. "You're lucky I haven't found the perfect killing spot yet," I told her. "'Cause when I do, you'd better kiss this world good-bye."

"You haven't found it yet because it's your first time in San Fran. You haven't gone out and looked at anything."

I snorted as I turned the wheel. "I've looked at the stuff around your house! I've seen some of San Fran already, on the drive to your place!"

My girlfriend sighed. "Yeah, but that's not everything here. You haven't, you know, gone out and actually been in the city."

"Don't pick on me. During your first time in New York, you got lost, remember?" I shot her a look. "I don't even know how you can get lost. All the streets are blocks. Literal blocks. They're shaped like rectangles!"

"That was on my first day! And I was six!" she protested. "You've been here for a few days already, Percy!"

(I really didn't have a good response to that.)

After a while, I found a parking spot that wasn't too far from the front door. Pulling into the space and parking the car, I told her, "Okay, here we are. Stay and don't move a muscle."

She paused, her mouth slightly parted. "Soooo …" she drawled out. "I can't move my heart? That's a muscle too, and an involuntary one at that."

I rolled my eyes. "You know what I mean." I got out of the car, and walked over to Annabeth's side. Helping her out, I told her not to remove her mask yet. "We're almost there," I promised.

I led her inside the restaurant. Earlier, I had already made an arrangement with the head waiter to give us two glasses of sparkling white wine, with a little bit of a modification in Annabeth's.

"Um, h-hi," I told the person at the front desk?, hoping Annabeth didn't notice my stutter. Annabeth had ears like a bat and was as observant as … whatever was the most observant animal around, so knowing her, she probably did. "I made reservations for two under Percy Jackson."

She traced her finger down the list. "Percy Jackson?" she asked, an Irish lilt to her voice. "Right this way." She picked up two menus and gestured for us to follow her.

Placing my hands on Annabeth's shoulders, I steered her in the direction that we were going in. The waitress stopped at a secluded table near the side of the restaurant, against one of the brick walls. "Here you go." I directed my girlfriend to sit in one of the seats, and sat in the one opposite to her. The waitress handed us the menus. "The waiter you have requested will be here shortly, Mr. Jackson. The both of you, enjoy."

"Okay, now you can take it off," I whispered, excited.

She lifted off her sleeping mask and looked around, her eyes widening. "Is this—?"

I grinned. "Yep."

She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Oh my gods! This place … its reservations need to be placed six months in advance!"

"I know. But I have connections here."

"Wow." She looked around, stunned. "Thanks, Perce," she said, smiling at me.

At that moment, a guy with spiky blond hair approached our table. "Hello! I'm your waiter today. Have you decided on what you want yet?"

"Nope, not yet," I told him. "We've barely sat down. Give us a minute. Or five," I added in a stage whisper. "I'm kind of indecisive, remember?"

He laughed quietly. "I totally remember. Well, I'll be around in ten."

Annabeth's curious grey eyes were watching me as he left. I could see her putting the pieces together. "You know him!" she exclaimed quietly. "You two were really close too, I'll reckon. Maybe met in high school? Or swim meet?"

"Actually, no. He was my middle school best friend, until he moved away."

"What's his name?" She titled her head to the side, her intelligent grey eyes never leaving mine.

"Magnus," I answered. "Magnus Chase."

"Huh." Annabeth looked thoughtful. "Huh," she said again. "I have a cousin named Magnus Chase. His mother and my father are siblings. He was born in somewhere in Boston, moved to New York when he was nine, but my dad lost trace of Magnus and Aunt Natalie once they moved out of New York and left no forwarding address. They moved around a lot. Had to do with his father's job somehow."

"Wouldn't it be weird if it was the same guy?"

She gasped. "What if it was? That'd be so weird! Okay, Magnus is coming this way. Quick, decide on something."

"Annabeth," I whined. "You know I suck at making snap decisions."

Sighing in exasperation, she waved her hand impatiently. "Just do your best."

Magnus came over and took our orders (well, actually, I just ordered the first thing I saw on the menu). After we were done, just as he was about to leave, Annabeth piped up. "Actually, Magnus, I have a question."

"Yeah?"

"I have a cousin named Magnus. Magnus Chase. Our parents used have us have playdates together, but we hated each other. I don't know why, but I think it had something to do with me complaining your Lego building was ugly. Every time."

He laughed a little. "Oh, man, I cried for half an hour every time after you left. I was proud of every building I built." Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Wait, what? Annabeth?"

"Magnus?" she responded in question.

"Are you the daughter of Uncle Frederick?"

"And you the son of Aunt Natalie?"

They gasped at the same time. "Oh my gods, this is so cool!" Magnus exclaimed. "We really should catch up later. I have to go take care of my other tables now, though. Percy, can you give my number to Annabeth? Thanks, man." Then to Annabeth, "Long time no see, Cuz. Enjoy, you two!"

"Woah," Annabeth breathed after he left. "This is ... this is astounding! I met my cousin just now!"

"I know, right?"

At that moment, the head waiter approached our table, a glass in each hand. He greeted us with a smile, then set them down. I could only hope that he remembered to place the correct one in front of the correct person. "Sauvignon blanc, sir and madam."

"Thank you."

"Ooh. Never tried this kind before." Annabeth smiled as she picked the glass up, her hand frozen halfway to her mouth. "There's something at the—" she started to say. Then she gasped. "Oh, it's a—oh," she breathed. "Percy." She carefully reached into the glass and plucked the ring out, wiping it dry with the napkin on her right. "Um," she said hesitantly, not sure what to do.

But I did.

Reaching over, I picked up the ring from her palm, walked over to her right, and bent down on one knee. "Annabeth Chase." I heard her gasp as I grasped her left hand in mine, my right holding the ring between my thumb and index finger. "I was going to say a whole lot of cheesy stuff, but I think I'll just stick to one. I've told you once, and I'll tell you again: If there was a void I knew not about before, I know now, and it can only be filled by one Annabeth Chase. You're the light in my darkness, and every moment spent with you feels like an eternity, and if I may have the honour to spend the rest of my life together with you, that will become an insurmountable number of eternities, and that is what I want. Whatever comes, hell or high water, I don't care, because as long as you're by my side, my love, everything will be alright. You're my anchor, my love, and the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. So, will you marry me?"

I thought I heard an almost-audible gasp coming from Annabeth, but I wasn't sure. She looked calm. She stood there, watching me, her hands clasped, not moving, not saying anything.

She thought for a moment. My heart was pounding. I was so sure she was going to say yes. But what if she said no? My heart dropped at the thought. If she said no ...

"Hm," she said, arching an eyebrow as she stared off into space. She rubbed her hand on her chin. "Well, everyone knows that that girl from the café near your apartment has a massive crush on you. Maybe you can ask her instead?" She shook her head. "Nah. Better not let that happen. You're too amazing for her. She's ... kinda ... well, how do I put this nicely? Not your type, I guess."

I swallowed. "Well?" I whispered.

She rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. "Of course, you idiot. Of course I'll marry you." She stood up, and her face broke into a blinding smile.

I breathed an internal sigh of relief and stood up. "Thank the gods," I muttered under my breath. "I was so scared she'd say no."

Annabeth, having the ears of a bats', turned to me. "What, thought I'd say no? Who else would put up with this disaster that is Perseus Jackson?" My now-fiancée (How strange—it sounded so foreign in my mind, yet so comforting at the same time!) whispered into my ear, "You know, Percy, that was more than one cheesy thing you said, and you got the 'hell or high water' phrase wrong."

"It doesn't bother you, you know that. Besides, since we're going to get married, you'll have to get used to a lot of cheesy stuff coming out of my mouth."

"I know." She pulled back from our embrace. "I already have."

Our food got cold as we briefly kissed again and hugged for what felt like forever, but it didn't matter: She was finally mine.

I'll never, ever, let you go, Annabeth Chase.

2015

I sit by her bed again, her hand enclosed in mine. "Remember the time I proposed, Annabeth?" I ask softly. "You were so surprised, you almost dropped the Sauvignon blanc. It you did, that would've been … a disaster. Poor thing would've let out a little whine of pain. Pun totally intended, of course.

"You know, Annabeth, I really wasn't sure how I'd like to talk to you. You know, when we first were paired up for that penpal project. I even complained to my friends about it. And you knew that I wasn't too keen on that." I stop and think back on those first months of begrudging letter-writing. "And when we talking about those two 'star-crossed' lovers who fell in love a few months after they started writing to each other? Who could've guessed that it would be you and me who ended up like them? Granted, it took us longer, but … same ending, right? Or maybe they broke up after we graduated. I don't know."

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"I'm glad we took that step. I'm glad I risked ruining our friendship and told you how I felt. Our lives would be so, so different if I never took that leap. Between the days I sent you that email and your response, I was a nervous wreck. I think Piper got so annoyed at one point, she threatened to tie me up and lock me in a room." I smile at the memory. "I'm pretty sure I deserved it, though.

"I'm pretty sure I was so annoying and so tense, if I could, I'd go back in time and tie myself up. That'd be cool, you know. Travel back in time. Maybe you could make the machine and I'll be the first person on it. Funny thing, Annabeth," I add after a while. "Talking to you isn't so hard anymore. It's like I've gotten used to it."

I pause, a sudden jolt of realization shocking me. It no longer is awkward and halting, complete with difficult silences, when talking to Annabeth. I no longer long to hear her response. I don't need that anymore. I am getting used to her being gone, getting used to her silent, getting used to her … a breathing corpse. I have adjusted to the fact that she is in a coma, and I'm … even comfortable in it.

I shoot up from my chair, my heart pounding. No. No. I can't do that. I can't let myself be okay with my fiancée in a coma. I can't, I can't, I can't.

I bolt from the room. I slide to the floor and take a long, shuddering, breath in the hallway, forcing myself to calm down. Breathe, I tell myself. Breathe. Leaving the hospital, I head to my car, and, my hands shaking, unlock the door. I drive away, not looking back, not even once.

I don't come back for days.

I'm sorry, Annabeth.

ANNABETH FINALLY MAKES AN APPEARANCE IN THE FLESH! WOO HOO! Also, special thanks to my friend Chandler Skywalker for reading the proposal scene and assuring me it wasn't too sappy and cliché.

Reviews:

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- K