Time Running Out

As they walked hand in hand along the beach, Percy's favorite place, Annabeth could just tell that something was wrong with him. He seemed nervous and fidgety, well more so than usual.

"Percy, what's up?" Annabeth asked, "You seem really distracted."

He just shrugged. And of course, she didn't accept this as an answer. "There's no point trying to hide something Seaweed Brain. You know I'll figure it out."

"Fine." He sighed after a moment or two, "Listen, Annabeth, I've got something to talk to you about."

Her heart quickened. Could this be it? Is he finally proposing? Her mind was racing and she was internally screaming but she kept her face calm. "What is it?" she asks with her most charming smile.

She looks up, expecting to see him smiling too, but he's not. He looks sad and....guilty. Okay, she thinks no need to panic. But now her heart is beating faster and for a totally different reason.

Percy tries to bring himself to do it. He knows that he has to be honest, but he doesn't want to break her heart. He needs her to know that it isn't her fault, that it's nobody's fault.

"Percy, you're starting to worry me." She tells him, concerned, "What's going on?"

"Annabeth," He says, his voice straining because he know's he's about to cry, "I need to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?" She questions. "What's going on? Is it another quest, because if it is you know I'll be right by you side."

“You don’t understand do you!” Percy screamed, taking both of them by surprise. They both heard his voice crack with emotion, but now Annabeth was getting angry too.

“Then explain, Percy! Tell what I’m not getting here!” Annabeth yelled back.

He closed his eyes trying to fight the tears that were threatening to fall from his face. He couldn’t let her see. Couldn’t let her know the truth. “We’re through Annabeth!”

She stood there in shock. Not understanding. Barely breathing. Surely he couldn’t mean this. After everything they went through; the titan war, the giant war, Tartarus and countless fights with countless monsters. Now he was abandoning her. She just couldn’t see, what had happened to make him think this?

“Percy?” She asked, letting him know that she just can’t comprehend this.

“I’m sorry Annabeth but I don’t love you anymore!” He shouted, “You know what, I don’t think I ever did.” And with that he turned his back on her. The love of his life.

Annabeth collapsed on to the floor, a waterfall coming from her eyes. She hugged her knees rocking herself back and forth, this was it, it was really over. Percy Jackson, the only person she thought she could trust with her life, the only one who she’d ever opened up to, left her there crying by herself on the beach.

As Percy walked away he let himself cry silently. He couldn’t let her hear him. If she knew he was upset then she would know that he lied to her. She’d figure it out. She was his Wise Girl after all. No. He shook himself mentally, she wasn’t his anymore. And she never could be again. This was the last thing he wanted; he loved her more than life itself. Heck, he gave up immortality for her! But he had to keep his resolve.

He knew that soon there’d be questions and he wasn’t planning on sticking around long enough to hear them.

He turned on the spot, Annabeth was out of sight now but he could still hear her crying from where he was stood. All he wanted was to run back to her and take her in his arms. But he knew it was better this way, I mean, he only had two weeks left to live.

Notes