Percy POV
"Are you even listening to me," Piper said, irritated. "Oh my gods, if you and Annabeth could stop making lovey dovey eyes for just 1 second, maybe, just maybe we could get back to camp in time for dinner.
"How can I look away from those hypnotising grey eyes…" I said dreamily. That was it for Piper. Throwing her hands up in frustration, she pushed me away, and began a very long ramble about how much of a third wheel she felt like. I opened my mouth to respond, but closed it. Piper is someone to never argue with, especially when she's in a bad mood.
"Okay Piper, you have both of our attention," Annabeth said, stifling a laugh. I glared at her. For a moment, Piper looked deeply at Annabeth, before turning around.
"I can't even remember," she muttered, storming off back to camp.
As soon as Piper was out of range, Annabeth fell to the floor, rolling in laughter. I scowled.
"It's not like Leo cracked a joke or anything," I mumbled, but Annabeth just wasn't stopping. When she finally shushed, her face was red. All it took was one glance at my face and she burst back into hysterical laughter again. Grabbing her hand, I half walked, half dragged her with me back to camp. Who knew Piper could be so comedic? I thought to myself sarcastically.
Today was another Tuesday for me. Over the past few months, I had established a routine that for the first time, I actually enjoyed. Each day, I woke up, got ready and met with Annabeth at the dining pavilion. She was always overjoyed to see me, and I was always overjoyed to have the most delicious stack of pancakes, and not just any pancakes, but mesmerising, deep blue pancakes that made my taste buds dance with delight. Oh and I was happy to see Annabeth, but you know what they say. Pancakes before girlfriends. After that, it was self time. Annabeth, being the incredibly busy person she was, went back to her cabin to draw up new plans for Olympus. I… Well, I did whatever I could do. Sometimes I would spar with whoever I could find in the arena. Other times, me and a few others would hang out, perhaps by the beach or in the woods. And then of course, there were the quests. Once a month or so, we would be recruited by the entire Hermes camp. Me, Piper, and whoever else was free would need to travel through lands untraveled before, fight monsters that would make most men shiver in their boots, and remain out of sight for miles at a time, until finally, we were able to hijack the entire Walmart's supply of coke and sneak it back into camp. We were praised for our efforts and even given a discount on all of the Hermes' cabins items, as well as a neat salary that would make Chiron jealous. At around 4:30 PM each day, everyone else kept having their chill time, but not me. This was the time when I would race to my cabin, jump into the shower, put on my mother's favourite cologne and knock at Annabeth's cabin. She always answered and never failed to meet me in the most gorgeous, mind blowing clothes, before smiling and going on a walk with me. We'd spend the evening snuggled up together, watching the sun kiss the sea as Apollo's chariot was slowly replaced with Artemis', before heading back to our respective cabins (or mine if we were feeling a bit… concupiscent). The food was good, the fighting was better, but the love… It was the best.
"Don't start," I warned Annabeth as she looked at me, biting her lip to refrain from bursting out again. She held her breath, waiting five seconds, before speaking.
"Anyone ever mentioned you're adorable when you're frustrated," she smirked. I sighed.
"I think you've said that before," I groaned.
"Really?" she asked, feigning surprise. I nodded, still walking.
"Probably seventy or so times by now."
"The things we do for the people we love," she giggled, slinging her arm onto me.
The conch horn blew, a deep sound that signaled the start of dinner for every camper.
"Food," I grinned, picking up the pace.
"Ugh, the only thing you'll ever be on time for," my girlfriend grumbled, now jogging to catch up with me.
"It's the one thing that is universally understood, isn't it beautiful. No matter who it is in the world, give them an apple and they'll know it means food. Can you think of anything else that amazing?"
"Umm, water, oxygen, fire, there's quite a bit actually," she said, her voice playfully dripping with sarcasm.
"Not the point," I muttered. She laughed, a beautiful sound that made my hairs stand on end.
As we approached the pavilion, the mouthwatering aroma of smokey chicken and tender brisket wafted towards us, and my stomach grumbled in anticipation. Piper was two steps ahead of us, waiting with her plate piled high with succulent meats and a colourful array of other delectable dishes. Just looking at it made me tingle with excitement.
The smell of the food was too tempting to resist. For a moment I froze, thinking about what to eat, before smiling happily and sitting down opposite Piper. The daughter of Aphrodite looked up at my plate, before nodding in approval.
"You can't go wrong with a classic NYC style burger with chips." I winked at her, before eagerly digging in.
Annabeth, chuckled at my enthusiasm and placed a hand on my arm. "Slow down, Seaweed Brain," she teased. "There's enough food for everyone."
"Of course there is," I mumbled, my mouth full of food. "It's magic, duh."
"Whoa Percy, your mother never told you not to talk with your mouth stuffed with food?" Piper giggled.
I paused for a moment, feeling a little sheepish. "Sorry," I said, grinning. "I just can't resist the smell of smoked meat."
We all laughed and continued to enjoy the delicious feast. The smoked beef was tender and juicy and the lamb was perfectly cooked with a delicious blend of spices. The colourful array of sides was just as delicious as we remembered from last time. I savoured each bite, enjoying the company and the feast.
"So when's Jason coming back?" I asked Piper. She shrugged.
"I don't even know what he's doing at this point. Last I checked he was booking a flight to Singapore." I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Singapore is near Italy right?" I barely managed to finish my sentence before Annabeth wacked me on the head.
"Hey!" I yelled, getting the attention from a few nearby campers. I rubbed my head, muttering, "It's not like I passed geography or anything."
"Has he told you when he's coming back?" Annabeth asked, completely ignoring how she'd just slapped me.
"Jason should be back in a few weeks, he just needs to visit a minor god."
"Ah, don't let Jason hear you calling them a minor god, or he'll blast you sky high," I snickered.
"Shut up Percy!" The two girls yelled at him, mildly irritated.
After finishing our meal, the three of us had dessert. Fortunately, Piper actually had good taste in dessert. I had never eaten such a gorgeous tiramisu before. It was honestly mouth watering. The array of cakes, cookies, and pies was tempting, and we each grabbed a slice of our favourite. The rich chocolate cake tasted almost divine, and the warm apple pie with a dollop of whipped cream was the perfect end to the meal.
Once we had all successfully crammed as much food as possible into us, the conversation soon turned towards architecture. Something neither of us had known was that Piper was actually fascinated by the designing of buildings, and Annabeth of course was more than happy to indulge in conversation with her. Soon enough, the two girls were droning on and on about it.
"Have you ever seen the Parthenon in Athens?" Annabeth asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "The way the columns are arranged is just incredible. In my opinion it's one of the most iconic examples of the Doric style." Piper nodded eagerly.
"I've always been drawn to the Gothic style," she said, gesturing with her hands. "The ornate details and dramatic designs are just so beautiful."
Annabeth nodded in agreement, a small smile on her face. "That's definitely a classic style," she said. "But personally, I prefer the clean lines and simplicity of the Modernist movement. Buildings like the Lever House in New York City are just breathtaking."
I was half listening to their conversation, but part of my mind did begin to wander off. Gazing up at the twinkling, starry night sky, my thoughts began drifting to the gods. It had been a while since we last heard from them. In fact, ever since the end of the giant's war, I don't think I have received a single message from any of them other than Mr D. At this point, I'd love to see any of them. Heck, I'd even talk to Aphrodite just to get a gauge of what's happening up there.
"Are you gonna answer or keep staring at nothing?"
"Uh, sorry," I said, a little embarrassed. "What's up?"
"Nothing much," Annabeth said, stirring her glass of mojito with a spoon. "Piper was suggesting we should do something tomorrow."
"Sure," I said, letting a yawn out. Piper giggled.
"I was saying we should try and set up another capture the flag. It's been a while. Maybe get some of the Romans involved as well." I shrugged. After all, it's not like I was doing anything.
Absent-mindedly, I nodded and the girls went back to girl talk and I went back to my thoughts. I was so deeply lost in my mind that I almost missed him.
"Is this really what you do these days?" A bored voice came from behind me. My reflexes kicking in, I stood up abruptly and did a 180 to find myself facing a tall, lean boy with shaggy, messy black hair that fell over their forehead. His olive skin had paled since we had last talked, and his dark brown eyes studied me with a mix of curiosity and mirth. Annabeth was of course the first to react. Practically leaping up, she enveloped the boy in a massive bear hug.
"Is that really you Nico!?" Piper squeaked, rushing towards him as well.
"I hope so," he mumbled.
"Alright alright, let the man breathe," I interrupted, gently prying Annabeth and Piper's hands off him, before hugging him myself.
"Nico my man, how long has it been?" I asked, motioning for him to sit down next to me.
"Ah I've lost track," he said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"You don't write, you don't call, you're like a ghost these days," Piper said, stacking a plate full of meat and shoving it towards the son of Hades.
"Ah Piper, I've already eaten, there's honestly no need to-" Piper gave him a glare and once it was obvious there was no arguing, Nico gingerly took a piece of chicken and ate it. A few minutes later, he was wolfing down steak after steak.
"I can see why you and Percy are such good friends," Annabeth muttered, rolling her eyes. I gave her a light punch on her arm.
"He simply appreciates the beauty of food."
"You can say that again," Nico said, his mouth full of food. I laughed, slapping him on the back.
"So tell me Nico, what brings you here?" Annabeth asked. He paused, swallowing his bite before answering.
"I was actually passing by Trenton and figured I might as well pop by for a couple of hours."
"Couple of hours is nonsense," Piper stated. "There's no way you're not staying the night here."
"Honestly Piper, I would love to, but last I checked the Fields of Asphodel were a mess." When I raised my eyebrow, Nico continued. "Thanatos decided to go to Miami on vacation, and the souls decided that was their sign to rebel." I shuddered. The last thing we need is for the entire Underworld to decide it's time to come up to the Overworld and throw a party.
"Don't make me call Hazel here and tell her to give your dad a talk on how you need to socialise-"
"Nooooo, not socialising!" Nico yelled in mock fear, and everyone nearby laughed.
"Well at least it's nice to know you have some humour now," Piper said and he grinned. For a moment, it looked like Piper was going to say something else, but Nico had other ideas.
Nico's devilish smile made my heart sink as he began to speak. "So I just have to know," he said, gesturing towards me and Annabeth, "how long have you two been like this?"
"What do you mean, 'like this'?" Annabeth asked.
"I mean making lovey-dovey eyes with each other," he smirked.
Suddenly, Piper stood up, slamming her spoon down. "SEE!" she yelled. "I knew it wasn't just me!" Nico raised an eyebrow.
"So this has happened before?" he asked, to which Piper nodded furiously. "Well then, Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon, how is life with Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena?" Nico asked, grinning from ear to ear. I shot Nico an icy glare.
"How many times have I told you not to call me-"
"Oh, stop being so grumpy and answer the question!" Piper interrupted, her eyes also gleaming with interest. I shifted my weight from foot to foot, feeling slightly uneasy at the sudden conversation of my love life.
"Well," I began, "it couldn't be any better. I mean Annabeth is practically perfect. She's always so kind, beautiful, and basically what every guy dreams of." Nico let out a whoop, pointing at Annabeth, who was blushing furiously.
"Oooooh, she's blushing haha! Looks like someone's got it bad."
Annabeth scowled at him, but she couldn't hide her very obvious smile. Piper on the other hand leaned forward, her eyes shining with curiosity.
"Now it's your turn, Annabeth. What do you think of Percy…? Oh no, don't look at Percy like he can save you now. When I ask a question about the two of you, it's gonna be answered." Annabeth hesitated for a moment before answering.
"I mean, Percy is cool and obviously a nice person." Piper let out a frustrated sigh.
"You're so boring. Give me some details. What about his looks?"
Annabeth's cheeks turned a deeper shade of crimson. "Yeah, he's hot, I guess." Nico raised an eyebrow.
"You guess? You don't sound so sure."
Annabeth looked at the floor, quiet. In the span of five seconds the atmosphere had changed. There was an awkward silence as everyone looked at Annabeth, waiting for her to speak.
"Ooooh, Percy," Nico said, giggling. "Looks like Annabeth is fancying someone else. C'mon, tell me. Is it Jason? Oh, it must be Frank, right?"
"Ugh, Nico, you're so irritating," Annabeth said through narrowed eyes, but her stern expression quickly gave way to a small smile. "Although, I have to admit, Frank does have really nice arms."
I could feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment. This was not the kind of conversation I wanted to have in front of my friends, especially not with Nico and his mischievous nature. I looked at Annabeth, trying to figure out what was going through her mind. Was she really interested in Frank? Or was she just playing along with Nico's teasing?
"Piper, Nico, can we change the subject, please?" I said, hoping to steer the conversation away from Annabeth's possible interest in someone else.
"Wait, Percy, you think we're being serious?" Piper exclaimed, clasping a hand around her mouth to prevent her fit of giggles.
"What?" I said, feeling confused.
"Oh, come on, Percy, we're just messing with you." Annabeth said, rolling her eyes. "You really think I would fancy Frank over you?" She shook her head, still chuckling.
Nico snickered. "You should have seen the look on your face, Percy. Priceless."
I let out a sigh of relief, feeling embarrassed but also glad that they were just joking. "Yeah, well, it's not exactly funny, you know."
Piper grinned at me. "Oh, lighten up, Percy. You're too serious sometimes."
"What! Me, serious, are you out of your mind?" The three looked at me.
"Okay, only on Tuesdays," I sighed, which got a good snicker out of Nico and I could feel the tension break
Annabeth looked at me, her eyes meeting mine, and gave me a small smile. "Percy, don't worry. You're the only one for me," she said, but I couldn't help but notice her voice holding a hint of hesitation. Or maybe that was just me being paranoid. I smiled back at her.
"Same goes for me," I replied and Nico clapped.
"So now that we've sorted that out, can I please go back to eating?" Nico asked, motioning at his still full plate.
"Jeez Nico, how does Hades afford to keep you fed?" Annabeth asked. "At the rate you're eating, we're gonna need another table, forget another plate."
"He doesn't keep me fed, that's the trick," Nico winked, before giving the steak all his attention. "Oh I've missed you my precious." Piper couldn't help but spit out her water and laugh at Nico's choice of words, to which he again grinned.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen, it's time for me to excuse myself from the table, " I said, standing up from my now empty plate.
"Aww, did we make incy wincy Percy too sad?" Piper teased. I made a face at her, before kissing my girlfriend on the cheek (Nico is lucky he's still alive after going 'oooh').
"Piper, it's getting late, look, we're the only people still eating. Everyone else must be asleep already. Now Nico, come here." He stood up and we both hugged, before I turned around and walked towards my cabin, hands in pocket.
"You better still be here in the morning," I yelled to Nico as I walked into the night.
I trudged through the grassy ground. Aside from the odd rusting of leaves, it was unexpectedly quiet for Camp Half-Blood. I could hear my heart beating like a drum in my chest. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. I took a lungful of air, closing my eyes. Pine and damp earth filled me, making me feel even more drowsy. Gods, I definitely should reconsider how much I eat for dinner… and for lunch… okay and for breakfast.
The walk from the mess hall to the cabins wasn't too far. Only a few minutes later I was facing the door to Poesidon's cabin. It truly was a marvel of architecture. A long, solid structure carved from only the finest stone. It was my father's cabin, and every inch of it reflected that fact. The outer walls were made from rough, grey stone with pieces of seashell and coral embedded in a beautiful arrangement. The roof was made of weathered shingles that blended in perfectly with the surrounding nature. Oh gods, I must sound exactly like Annabeth.
As campers, we weren't meant to have gardens, but Chiron had made a small exception for me when I explained why I wanted one. Grudgingly, he gave me the tiniest space outside where I would spend a lot of time beautifying. I wasn't a child of Demeter, but I did what I could. After countless hours tending to the plants, carefully cultivating a mix of seaweed, sea grass, and other oceanic flora, I had something of a beautiful garden. It was so nice that even Katie Gardner had popped by and given it her nod of approval, talking about how much of a natural I was, and even offering her help if I ever wanted it.
Almost midnight, the last thing I expected was a woman standing in my tiny garden, watering one of my Saffron Crocuses, which let me tell you did not come cheap and involved an incredible amount of bargaining with the Stoll brothers. She was tall and slim, with long flowing hair that glistened in Artemis' moonlight. Immediately, I was on my guard, although it was Camp Half Blood so statistically speaking there was a very small chance that this woman actually wanted to harm me. That didn't stop my hand from going straight to my pocket and clasping Riptide.
For a while, I just watched the woman as she almost caressed the plant. It took a while for her to finish, and eventually, she turned to face me.
"Hello Perseus," Aphrodite, the goddess of love said to me. I bowed out of respect.
"Lady Aphrodite, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Instead of answering, the goddess simply smiled.
"I see you're no longer affected by my beauty," she said with a little smile. I shrugged. To be honest I didn't even realise that my mouth wasn't wide open with drool coming out.
"It happens. When someone finds true love, my beauty doesn't even faze them, although it is rare I must admit. True love doesn't come as often as you'd think it would." I nodded.
"With all due respect, Lady Aphrodite, what are you doing here?" The goddess looked at me, studying me with her gorgeous eyes.
"Come with me for a walk," she said sadly.
For a while, the two of us didn't speak. I was trying to prevent myself from staring at Aphrodite's flabbergasting dress, and she was humming a little tune that I didn't know.
"The course of true love never did run smooth," the goddess said after a while. "Love is like a rollercoaster, with ups and downs and unexpected turns, but it's the ride that makes it worthwhile." I stared at her. There is no way the love goddess decided to bring me along for a walk just to spout random lovey dovey quotes. Ugh, I hate that word.
"Aphrodite, what is it you want to tell me," I asked, failing to keep patient. After all, it must've been past midnight and it didn't seem like I was getting any sleep soon at this rate.
"Ah, always so impatient you demigods are, I forget. Then again, I too would be impatient if I realised I was going to die in a hundred or so years." Again, the two of us walked in silence, listening to the breathing of the other.
"Percy, how do you feel about Annabeth?" Aphrodite suddenly asked, turning to face me. I don't know why the question took me by surprise. She was the love goddess after all.
"Uh, amazing. I love her from the bottom of my heart." Aphrodite looked at me sadly.
"I did tell you that your love life would be a rollercoaster, and unfortunately, another turn is coming." That was all I needed to hear for my heart to dip six feet under. My whole body suddenly felt really hot and clammy despite the cool breeze around.
"You see Percy, and I assure you this is the last thing I wanted, but… ah there's no way to put it down lightly so I'll just give you the blunt truth. Annabeth's feelings for you have sort of… died down. She still loves you, but more as a brother than anything else."
Quietly, the two of us continued walking on. As the words settled in my mind, a seething anger began to simmer inside me. Reality setting in, I gritted my teeth, struggling to maintain my composure.
"So you're telling me," I growled, my anger slowly bubbling. "Despite all the hardships I've gone through, for Olympus, you gods still think I've been having it easy this whole time and think that now, as a routine comes into my life, one that I enjoy, now is the time to make my girlfriend dump me."
"No Percy, no one is dumping you," the goddess said gently. "Annabeth loves you so much she doesn't want to break your heart, which is why she's still with you, but I know you've been seeing her hesitance." I reflected back to earlier dinner. Initially I thought it was Nico just teasing us and waved it away, but was it really something more? And if so, why had no one warned me before? Anger came surging back to me again, and it took a lot of willpower to not start screaming.
"Why are you telling me now?" I hissed. "Months without any contact from the gods and suddenly, you decide to come and drop this… bombshell on me." She hesitated for a moment, averting her gaze as she searched for the right words to explain. Her eyes darted around, landing on a nearby patch of flowers before settling on the ground. After a few moments, she let out a heavy sigh and looked back up at me, her expression pained.
"Let's just say," she started slowly, "I might've had a little effect on it-"
"You what!" I roared, forgetting for a moment who I was talking to.
Aphrodite's eyes quickly turned a shade of pink, and she gave me a cold stare.
"Listen Perseus Jackson," she said quietly. "I am being very kind by coming and telling you in the first place. Us gods aren't meant to do that, but because of how much you did for Olympus, I made an exception. Annabeth's feelings were an accident. Do you know how complicated love is? It's like strings of thread, all tangled up with each other, and I am responsible for every string being happy. Once upon a time, I did ask Annabeth whether her love for you was romantic love or simply family love. How would I have known what it would lead to? Am I the Lord of time, capable of seeing the past, present and future?" Her voice started angrily and ended in a sarcastic tone. "Oh and don't try asking me to change her feelings myself. Do you really want your love for each other to be synthetic? Imagine waking up every morning knowing she doesn't love you for who you are, but for who I am."
"Fine," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. "I won't ask you to change how she feels, but... can you at least tell me why?" I continued when she raised her eyebrow. "Why did she stop loving me just like that? I-I never did anything wrong. I treated her how my mother always taught me to treat women. I never cheated on her or… or anything like that." By the end of my ramble, I was breathing rapidly.
"I know it's hard to hear, Percy, but I believe that Annabeth's changing feelings towards you have to do with everything that's happened to you both over the past few months," she said. "You've been through so much, and Annabeth has been by your side through it all. Neither of you ever had the chance to properly think about your relationship before another mid-life Olympian crisis came knocking on the door. Your whole love was so rushed."
I couldn't help but feel an unpleasant knot form in my stomach as Aphrodite's words sank in. We'd both been so caught up in battles against monsters, gods, Titans and giants that our relationship had always been in the backseat.
"Annabeth needed time to think about things, and I believe that's when she realised that her feelings for you had shifted," Aphrodite continued, her voice gentle. "What she feels now is a deep, brotherly type of love for you. Believe me, it gets confused with romantic love much more often than you'd think. It's not that she doesn't care for you anymore, Percy, just that her feelings have changed."
Confusion and frustration washed over me. Ever since we'd shared that moment in St Helios, I had always seen Annabeth as more than a sister, and the thought of her only seeing me in that way cut me deep. Perhaps the worst part was when I thought back on all that we had been through, I couldn't help but see the truth in Aphrodite's words. Maybe we never really had the chance to explore our feelings fully, and the two of us had just misinterpreted everything.
I nodded to Aphrodite. It was a relief to know that at least I hadn't done anything wrong to end her love. Still, I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. Things were never going to be the same between us. There was no way we could continue like this, in a relationship out of pity. No, I could never blame Annabeth for any of this. She is simply perfect, and it's not like either of us did anything. I guess Aphrodite is right, and after a while, feelings can just dissipate.
Aphrodite stopped near the beach. It was surprising that we had walked that far in such a short time. The goddess gazed at the moon.
"It's beautiful isn't it," she sighed. "The moon and sea create some of the most extravagant silhouettes. How easy is it to just get lost in the reflections?" I nodded , although I wasn't paying much attention to her.
"Lady Aphrodite, I think it's time I went to bed," I mumbled. She nodded.
"Farewell Perseus, and I truly am sorry. It's not often a goddess admits their mistakes, but when she breaks up her favourite couple since Helen and Paris, they do need to take some responsibility." I clenched my fists shut, using every ounce of willpower to not retaliate. Even now, Aphrodite still acted like it was all a game, which it probably was to her. After taking a few deep breaths, I was finally calm enough to see myself back to my cabin.
"One last thing Perseus," the goddess said. I stopped abruptly. "I don't want there to be any bad blood between you and Annabeth. It isn't her fault any of this happened. You do what you want with what I've told you tonight, but if you truly love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours. If not, they never were." I turned around to face the goddess, only to be met with the sight of a desolate beach. Her voice still ringing in my head, I took my time walking back to my cabin, having a very long thought about my future.
"Percy!" Annabeth said cheerfully knocking on my door. "Piper said you wanted to talk to me." The rapping on my door didn't stop. "Open the door Percy! I know you skipped breakfast so I still brought you your fav! Cinnamon rolls!."
Even though I'd spent half the night planning for this conversation, it still didn't stop the knot from forming in my stomach as I walked towards the door. Hands trembling, I turned the doorknob, pulling it open.
"What's up?"Annabeth casually said as she strolled into the room. "Want a pastry?" She gestured to the pile of savouries she'd managed to sneak out of the mess hall, grinning. I swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words. It was harder than I thought it would be.
"We need to talk," I finally managed to get out. My girlfriend's smile faded, replaced by a look of alarm.
"Percy… Is everything okay?" Annabeth's voice suddenly went soft, it felt like my heart was melting. For a brief moment, I hesitated. It felt like my heart was running a marathon.
"No," I managed to get out. "Everything is not okay."
My girlfriend quickly sat me down on the edge of my bed, sitting next to me.
"Talk to me Percy." I nodded. Mustering all the courage I could, I began to talk.
"I-I know all about your true feelings for me," I said bluntly.
"What?" Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion and annoyance, almost as if I was playing a prank on her. "Percy, I told you once and I'll say it again, my love is for you and only you." I shook my head sadly. Later on, I'd probably reflect on this moment. The last time Annabeth Chase told me she loved me.
"Aphrodite visited yesterday," I told her solemnly. Annabeth's eyes widened in shock. The girl just stared at me, mouth wide open, stunned.
"Why didn't you just tell me in the first place that you'd lost your connection to me," I whispered eventually. She covered her mouth. For the first time, her calculating eyes seemed to be lost. My once girlfriend struggled to find the words.
"Percy, I'm so so sorry," Annabeth eventually got out, before suddenly going on a long ramble. "I loved you for so long, it felt like we were just meant to be, but I just couldn't keep loving you. The more I look at you, the more I realise we were destined to be siblings. The sister you never said." She caressed the side of my cheek. "I never wanted to hurt you, and I still don't." My eyes shone at the flawless girl next to me.
"Annabeth, do you want to be in a romantic relationship with me?" She couldn't look into my eyes. Gazing at the foot of my bed, she subtly shook her head. I nodded. Even though it was what I had been expecting since last night, my heart still broke in two.
"If that is what you truly desire, there is no reason for me to stop you," I said sadly.
"Percy," Annabeth began, her eyes shimmering, but I cut her off.
"I would never force someone to stay in love with me. It's your decision, and the reason I know it's the right decision is because of how reluctant you were to break it up with me, out of the pure goodness of your heart.
Annabeth did something unexpected. The daughter of Athena suddenly crushed me in a hug, squeezing me until I was seeing grey.
"Never forget that I'm your best friend," she said, her voice shaky with emotion. "You ever need a statue of yourself constructed, I'm first on the list, got it?"
"Got it, "I affirmed, smiling slightly at the comfort of her embrace. Perhaps change isn't as bad as it sounds.
"Oh, gods, Piper is going to be hysterical when she hears how we've broken up," Annabeth muttered. I groaned, remembering exactly how my friend acts. I wouldn't be half surprised if she burst into tears there and then.
"Come on Seaweed Brain," she said, pulling me out of my cabin. "Let's have one last 'date' at the beach."
It was Nico who we first bumped into. Despite the sun shining brightly, the poor boy seemed lost.
"Oh Percy! Perfect timing." Nico's eyes lit up and he visibly relaxed when he saw us. "While I did love the overnight stay, I'm afraid it's time for us to part ways again and- oh." He paused, noticing Annabeth's teary face.
"Am I interrupting?" he asked uncomfortably. I shook my head.
"Nah Nico, you're good, and how come you're going already!?" I said, trying to break the awkwardness. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry man, but Hades always has assignments for me to do. I think the next one involves travelling to Alaska. Gods know why Thanatos loves chilling there." I shuddered, remembering my own experiences of that state.
"That's a dangerous place Nico, are you sure you're gonna be okay?" Annabeth asked worriedly. He shrugged. It was a thing for everyone to treat Nico as their younger brother. I'm not surprised seeing as none of us really had any proper siblings. Well there were the godly siblings but those didn't count.
"Why don't I come with you," I suddenly blurted out of nowhere, surprising even myself.
"Percy, we need to have our date," Annabeth said in a sing-song voice, playfully punching me.
"No, I'm being serious. Annabeth, perhaps this is what we both need." I held her hand in mine, squeezing it. "This is gonna be a big change for us. Maybe some space will help smoothen the feelings out."
"Guys, I think I'm missing something," Nico said awkwardly. We both ignored him.
"Are you sure Percy?" she asked. "I don't want you to have to completely change for me." I shook my head.
"Perhaps change isn't really that bad, " I started. This time it was me caressing Annabeth's cheek as she looked at me with concern.
"Yep… definitely missing something," Nico interjected, getting ignored again.
"You better iris message me at least once every week," she grumbled. "If you don't, I will force Chiron to send every camper we have to search under every rock for you, and when I find you, you'll be wishing you met Kronos again instead." I gave a nervous chuckle.
"You're joking right… ah, not joking, I see."
"Percy, Annabeth, I hate to break the party up, but Lord Hades reeeaally wanted me back last night, and I've already delayed it by a day sooo…. I gotta make a move basically now." The boy was shifting his weight between his legs.
"Annabeth, come here," I said, pulling her in for one last hug. Only now did I realise just how sudden this was. I didn't know when the fates had destined for us to meet again, which scared me. Aside from the small blip with the Romans and school, Annabeth had always been with me. "Tell Piper I miss her and I'm so sorry I couldn't say goodbye. Oh and last thing Annabeth, do me a favour and keep this a secret please. For now, I want to keep my life somewhat of a mystery."
Sighing, I took Nico's outstretched hand, preparing yet again to shadow travel. I spent my last minute at camp soaking in all the details. Unlike Nico, this had been my home for so long. I wasn't sure if I was ready to leave it. I knew I would be missing the camp. I'd miss Annabeth's hugs and Piper's pecks. I'd miss the all you can eat buffet style breakfast and the Capture the Flag games.
But sometimes, change is necessary.
And sometimes, it builds us, bigger and stronger.
First chapter is done, with many more to come. Please do like, read, and of course, review.
