Chapter 7

Loud, jovial laughter woke me up.

As it faded, silence returned, broken only by distant chatter. I lay in my empty cabin, replaying last night's storm and the confessions that lingered. Unlike the storm clouds, my conversation with Thalia wouldn't just drift away.

Bright light streamed through the windows. It felt wrong, like it should still be raining or at least cloudy. I wasn't ready for a day this bright—it seemed unfair given everything I had been going through.

Another burst of laughter came from nearby. Laughter, after the freak storm? It didn't make sense.

I glanced at the corner of the room where I had stood last night. The photo of Annabeth and me still lay where I'd dropped it. I could just make out our smiles by the canoe lake in the background.

A shiver ran down my spine. I swear it had fallen face-down. The tightness in my chest returned as the image triggered doubt. After deciding to move on from Annabeth the night before, this photo felt like a trap, holding me in the past. No, it must've been a draft that flipped it over.

I gave the picture one last look—our frozen smiles, sun-soaked hair, the light in our eyes. Then I quickly turned away, knowing if I kept staring, I might never move forward.

I opened my cabin door and blinked against the bright sun. The storm had left its mark on camp—patches of ice scattered about, fallen trees from the force of the wind, and dirty mud replacing the once-beautiful snow. The camp looked as ugly as the storm had felt.

In the distance, wood nymphs and satyrs worked to clean up the mess, but there was no urgency. Five satyrs were playing king of the hill on a fallen tree, their joyful shouts echoing through camp. Their carefree attitude stood in stark contrast to the storm's aftermath.

Near the Big House, a few demigods cleared the path to Half-Blood Hill with shovels, moving debris casually. They seemed at peace, despite the chaos left behind by the storm.

I couldn't understand how everyone could be so calm. My eyes drifted back to the satyrs. The last two were wrestling, and with a triumphant shout, the final player pushed his contender off the log. The winner raised his arms in victory, and the others quickly rejoined him, exchanging brotherly slaps and high fives, smiling as if nothing was wrong.

I caught myself smiling. Despite the storm, there was a bright side for them. Maybe there would be a bright side to my own storm, too.

My pensive train of thought abruptly ended when I heard a fellow demigod call out, "There he is!" My attention was drawn to a group of demigods near the Hermes cabin, among them were Clarisse, Malcom, and Finn. Once they saw me, they excitedly began walking towards me. They all had smiles on their faces. Their heads were raised high as if they had enough confidence to make a one-way trip to the underworld. I offered a weak smile back and cautiously started walking to meet them in the middle.

When we were close enough, they gave me encouraging slaps on the back and high fives. Their countenances were nearly as bright as when I had first stepped outside.

"Can you believe it, Percy?" One of the campers eagerly asked me.

Before I could find out what she was talking about, another camper chided in, "Your plan was genius! We won! Are you sure you're not my half-brother?" Malcom asked.

"You mean, it worked?" I'm sure I looked as surprised as I felt because a friendly burst of laughter rushed through the group like a refreshing ocean wave on a hot summer day. I had been so focused trying to navigate my internal struggles that I had completely forgotten about the capture the flag game. When the storm had first hit, I had thought that we had already lost or the game had been cancelled. Thalia's plan had worked.

I think we could both use a win right about now. Thalia had told me as she explained her master plan to me. She couldn't have been more right. My eyes became wide with disbelief.

"How did it work?" A hesitant smile crept up on my face, as I eagerly yet cautiously tried to emerge from the shadows of last night's angst.

Clarisse stepped forward among the campers and began recounting the story to me, though the campers were so enamored with the turn of events last night that they were just as focused as the first ten times they had likely heard the retelling. They were ready to relive the victory once more through her words. Clarisse's face gleamed with pride as she began, her voice, usually commanding and severe on the battlefield, carried an uncharacteristically uplifting cadence.

"When Chiron blew the war horn, we charged onto their side, moving fast and together, just like you said. We got deep into their territory when the first arrow zipped past us. We quickly formed up and pushed to where it came from.

"After deflecting a few arrows, the hunters came out to take us head on. But their numbers weren't half their team. We took them on and pushed deep into their side of the forest. They didn't expect such a big push from the north. By the time enough hunters had fallen back to try start repelling us, it was too late. We were there at their base.

"And that's when we saw it," Clarisse said as if she was reliving the moment. "Nestled between the roots of a great oak guarded by the remaining Hunters.

"As we tried to push forward and win the game we took a lot of casualties. "By the time we had reached their last line of defense we barely had a numbers advantage. Our offensive was losing momentum. We were so close to getting their flag, but they were holding. Then we spotted Finn, behind the defensive lines of the Hunters, hidden from sight."

"Just as we were about to start retreating, a huge boom filled the forest followed by rain. We pushed forward, distracting all the remaining hunters. Finn sprinted out of the bushes, grabbed the flag and ran back to our side. The Hunters realized what was going on too late. Finn disappeared into the rain while dodging arrows and crossed the line just before Chiron ended the game!"

I was so captivated by Clarisse's retelling of events that it was hard for me to not join with the rest of the group when they cheered at the conclusion of the exciting retelling.

"We couldn't have done it without you, Percy." Finn said as the cheers and excitement died down. There was a wave of similar affirmative words from the others in the group that came my way. It felt like they were singing me happy birthday and I didn't know where to look or what to do. Fortunately, I didn't have to stand there like that for too long.

"You never fail to disappoint, Jackson." Clarisse said. "One way or another." She added as she chuckled to herself. "We were going to go the Big House to just hang out and celebrate if you want to come with?"

"Yeah," I smiled, forcing myself to forget about my worries. "That would be good. I have to finish getting ready, but I'll meet you there?"

"Sounds good, Jackson." Clarisse said as she and the group of demigods turned and started walking away. "Thanks again for your plan." She smiled.

"No problem." I said as I parted ways with the group. I started walking towards my cabin. My mind once again felt at ease, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a smile still on my face as I entered. It was going to be a good day, and I genuinely looked forward to spending time with the other demigods, hearing their stories from last night's game.

Inside the cabin, I changed into fresh clothes, feeling the warmth of the sun streaming through the windows. As I splashed water on my face, I heard a faint rustle, like a whisper of movement. I paused, listening intently, but the cabin remained silent.

As I stood there, the silence of the cabin felt heavier than before. My heart began to race, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't alone. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and called out, "Hello?"

For a moment, there was no response, just the gentle sound of the gentle splashing water from the fountain. I felt a chill run down my spine, and my mind raced with possibilities. Was it just my imagination, or was someone really here?

Just as I was about to dismiss it as my imagination, a soft, familiar voice broke the silence. "It's just me, Percy."

I quickly turned around, and there she was—Annabeth Chase. She stepped out from the shadows, her expression unreadable as she held her Yankees hat that could make her invisible.

My heart skipped a beat, a mix of emotions flooding through me. I felt like a rug had been pulled from underneath me. My heart fluttered with a mix of surprise and happiness. Her presence filled the room with a familiar warmth that reminded me of my emotions that I thought I had set aside for good.

"Annabeth?" I blinked, surprised to see her standing there. Her name came out in a rush, mixed with a little of the hurt I'd been carrying. "What are you doing here?"

She hesitated as her eyes met mine "I wanted to talk with you."

I glanced down at the photo of us lying face down on the ground. "How long have you been here? Did you... flip the picture?"

Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "What? No. I didn't even know that was there. I've only been here since you left this morning," she replied softly. "I sneaked in while you were talking to Clarisse. I uh… didn't want to attract any attention to myself. I figured the whole camp would know about us. I'd rather not have to deal with that right now."

I felt a flush of embarrassment. "So you saw me... change clothes and everything?"

Her cheeks reddened slightly. "I… Sorry, Percy. I was going to say something, but it would have been a bad time to have a conversation when you were… getting ready. I just thought talking in here would give us a chance to open up and not worry about any interruptions." she said as she sheepishly scratched the back of her head.

I swallowed, the awkward tension settling in between us like an unwelcome guest. "Right."

There was a pause, the kind that felt too long. I shifted from one foot to the other, trying to shake the nerves building up inside me. "Why didn't you come, Annabeth? I was waiting for you at the camp's entrance right until sundown." My eyes searched hers for answers.

Annabeth sighed as her eyes were filled with regret and frustration. "When we said goodbye, I had butterflies in my stomach. I was as happy as I had been in a while. But I had fallen behind on a couple of things for work that needed to get done real soon. When I asked the council if I could leave Olympus, they insisted that I needed to catch up before I could go. I tried to reason with them, but they wouldn't budge. I worked as hard as I could late into the night, Percy. I left straight to camp the second I finished." Her eyes searched mine, as if waiting to see if I'd understand.

"So... you were excited to see me?" I asked, the question feeling strange in the air between us. I didn't mean to sound doubtful, but after the past month, I couldn't help it.

"Yes, Percy. I truly was. I'll skip the small talk and just go right into it," she said, taking a deep breath as if she was about to perform something she had practiced a hundred times. "I've had a lot of time to think. About where I was when we… you know. I want you to understand why things happened the way they did. I wasn't thinking right. I was so absorbed in my new job I failed to see how it was impacting me. It was overwhelming, intense. I was always under pressure, more than any other quest I had ever been on. I was always busy, racing against time. Often times I felt like I never had a chance to breathe."

She paused, her grey eyes locked onto mine, a hesitance I hadn't seen before. "I got so focused on proving myself that I lost sight of... everything else." Her voice softened, like she was realizing it for the first time. "The stress, the pressure—it took over. I knew I wasn't being the partner you needed."

Her eyes began to gloss with unshed tears, regret written clearly on her face. "I thought breaking up was the only way to manage it all, like if I didn't worry about us, I could handle everything else. But I was wrong, Percy. I'm so sorry."

I stood there, her words settling heavily on me. Part of me felt relieved, but it didn't erase the hurt I'd carried. I'd replayed this conversation in my mind so many times that now, standing here, I wasn't sure what to say. The silence stretched, thick and awkward, memories—good and bad—rushing back as if they'd just happened.

Annabeth stepped closer, her voice trembling slightly. "I missed you so much, Percy." Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and I could see the vulnerability in her expression. I had never seen Annabeth be so open about her emotions like this.

Her words resonated with the familiar ache of what I had once wanted so badly—to be with Annabeth, to make things right. But in the back of my mind, an image of Thalia kept intruding. Her blue eyes, the kiss we shared, her unwavering honesty when we talked beneath the pine tree. She wasn't like Annabeth. Thalia was bold, more intense in her feelings, and there was something liberating about how real everything felt with her. With Annabeth, everything had history, weight, responsibility. But with Thalia... it was different. It was something new, something unexpected.

Could I really turn my back on that?

"I've missed you too," I admitted, my voice low as I looked into her eyes. It was the truth, but saying it out loud felt... heavy, like it carried all the weight of the last month, all the things I hadn't been able to say. "It's been... really hard," I continued, my eyes drifting to the ground. "Everyone here knows about the breakup. It feels like the whole camp's talking about it, and it just makes everything worse. Like no one really gets it. I've felt... I don't know, isolated. Alone."

Annabeth's eyes filled with a deep sadness as she listened to my words. She took a step closer; we were within arm's reach. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea it had been so hard for you. I never wanted you to feel like you were all alone. I can't believe I let it get to this point."

Her expression was filled with genuine regret, and after a brief hesitation, she reached out and gently touched my arm. The moment her fingers brushed my skin, I felt a rush of warmth, the kind of comfort I'd missed so much. It was familiar—like something I'd been waiting for—but there was also a slight awkwardness to it, like we were both trying to find our footing again.

I felt a shiver run through me, but this time it wasn't from discomfort. It was more like a reminder of how things used to be, of the closeness we'd had before everything got so complicated. Her touch stirred up memories and feelings, and part of me wanted to sink into it—to just let it be simple again.

But there was still a knot of sadness in my chest, reminding me of how I'd waited for her yesterday and the sadness I had felt. As good as her touch felt, I couldn't shake the lingering hurt.

Annabeth looked into my eyes, and I could see the same longing I was feeling mirrored in hers. Despite the tension, the bond between us was still there, and it was clear she wanted to make things right. The closeness was real, even if there was still some awkwardness hanging between us.

"It's okay," I said, my voice coming out softer than I expected. "I… I'm just happy you're here now."

We smiled at each other, a little uncertain, like we couldn't quite believe this moment was actually happening. There was relief, but also a hint of disbelief—almost like we were both still testing the waters, not entirely sure how to be this close again.

"Percy," she started, her voice gentle but unsure, "I want this. I want us to work. You mean so much to me, and... I've missed you. My life feels off without you." She paused, her hand still resting on my arm, searching my face. "You don't have to decide right now, but... would you want to try? To see if we can make this work?"

Her hand was warm against my arm, and for a second, I hesitated. "Yeah… I mean, yes. Of course I do, Annabeth. After everything we've been through." I tried to sound certain, but my voice wavered just a little.

At my words, Annabeth's face lit up with relief, though a trace of uncertainty lingered. Her hand slowly slid down to grasp mine, and I felt a wave of comfort at her touch, even as a sliver of doubt tugged at me.

"I'm so glad you feel the same way," she said softly, her voice full of sincerity. "I know it won't be easy to get back to where we were. There's a lot we need to work through, and we'll have our ups and downs. But I'm excited to try. I want us to be better than before."

""Me too, Annabeth," I said, mirroring her smile, though my mind felt caught between happiness and hesitation. "I mean… it can't be harder than defeating a titan lord, right?"

She laughed, a beautiful laugh that filled my ears with warmth. "I don't think anything can be harder than that."

For a moment, we stood there, hands intertwined, the tension gradually softening but not completely gone. Her hand in mine felt comforting and solid, like an anchor, and our connection, though gentle, felt a little tentative.

As Annabeth's gaze met mine, her grey eyes held a mix of affection and vulnerability. I could see the weight of the past month reflected there, but also a glimmer of hope. Slowly, maybe, we could rebuild this.

Annabeth's expression turned thoughtful, and she hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Hey, you know… you've been cooped up here at camp for so long. Dealing with everything. I was thinking it could be good for you to get a change of scenery."

"What do you have in mind?" I asked.

She looked at me with a hopeful smile. "How about coming to Olympus with me for a bit? I know it's not exactly a vacation, but it might be a good change. You can see what I've been working on and get a break from the camp."

"That actually sounds really nice." I admitted.

"Great, we can spend some time together away from all this stuff at camp. I've found a couple of relaxing spots on Olympus I can show you. I think it'll be good for us."

We both smiled. I could feel my pulse quicken, and I noticed how Annabeth's breath caught as she subtly shifted closer. The space between us seemed to shrink with each passing second. But even as my heart swelled, part of me wondered: What would Thalia think of this?

For a heartbeat, time seemed to stretch between us. I felt a familiar pull towards her, a magnetic force that had always been there, drawing me closer. Her eyes flickered down to my lips and then back up to my eyes. Annabeth slowly closed the remaining distance between us. Her gaze was steady, her eyes reflecting a deep, unspoken connection. I felt her breath against my face, warm and gentle, and I leaned in to meet her.

When our lips finally met, it was... strange. Familiar but also distant, like a memory that didn't quite belong to me anymore. It wasn't bad by any means, it was soft and warm, everything a kiss with Annabeth should've been, but it didn't feel the same.

As we pulled apart, her eyes searched mine, probably looking for reassurance. For a promise that everything would go back to normal. But I didn't know if that was something I could give.