The Email

Percy POV

I cannot believe that I confessed my feelings for Annabeth. I told her I loved her, but I also told her that I wasn't ready for a real relationship.

Wise Girl deserved the best in the world, and I wasn't that right now. Even if I was my best self, I wasn't confident in it. I wanted to be the best for Annabeth because when I start a relationship with her, I don't intend to stop. Ever.

"All right, Percy, you're done with your February chemo cycle. You must be relieved," Dr. Solace said.

"Yes, I am very relieved," I said earnestly.

"That's good. Straighten your leg for me," she asked. I did as I was told.

I was having an orthopedic general check-up with Dr. Solace. I usually had a general check-up every few months. These checks were to make sure that I still had full function of my right leg, which I fortunately did.

"Dr. Solace, do you think that the new intense regimen is helping?" I asked.

"We started the regimen in December, so it's been 3 cycles, Percy. I have been looking at your x-rays, but I want to see your next one in March before confirming any results with you."

Dr. Solace said this while smiling. I was gonna take that as a good sign.

It was a good sign, and I was hopeful.

"Thanks, Doc."

"So, how's school going, Percy?"

"It's fine, but I hate school," I said honestly.

My doctor started laughing. "If you can believe, I was the same at your age. Anyway, Will tells me that you have a girlfriend, now."

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. I wasn't sure that Annabeth and I could be classified as a couple. However, I liked the idea.

"Yeah, I guess so, but we're not official or anything."

Dr. Solace chuckled as she continued with my exam. I was so glad that the torturous chemo cycle was over last week. Annabeth was such a great help with getting me through it. I found comfort and relief from her by simply being around her. The physical stuff was a great bonus, though.

However, we didn't even get close to sleeping together.

I was the one who was holding back. I didn't want Annabeth to think that I was just physically using her for alternative pain relief.

"All right, Percy. You are good to go. Tell your mom that I'll call to update her in the next few hours," Dr. Solace said.

"Thank you so much, Doctor," I said.

I was so grateful for the medical professionals (doctors, nurses, and hospital staff) that were helping me right now. Without them, I don't know how I would get through this. They work so hard to support me and take care of me.

***

"Hey Bro, why are you always late in the morning?" Grover asked as I got into his car.

"I'm not even that late," I exclaimed.

"Percy, I was waiting here for ten minutes. You were up there applying makeup weren't you?" Grover asked chuckling.

"Bro, I don't need makeup to be beautiful. I already am," I said sassily.

Grover continued to laugh as we drove to school. We didn't have to pick up Juniper today because she was out of town visiting her grandparents.

We continued to talk and fool around for the rest of the ride.

"G-man, it's so weird. I feel like the days without chemo go by so quickly. I literally have a chemo session this Friday again," I said as I groaned.

My best friend looked at me with sad eyes.

"Yeah, it sucks," he said firmly.

I decided to change the subject quickly. I hated seeing Grover upset, which he got a lot when word of my cancer came up.

"Bro, I freaking hate Mondays."

"You and me both, Perce. At least today is macaroni Monday," he said cheerfully.

I laughed as we got out of the car.

Only Grover would see food as the bright side of the school. However, he loved macaroni and cheese almost as much as he liked collecting soda cans. Don't task.

The parking lot was packed with students heading into our school.

I noticed that something was seriously wrong as soon as we started walking towards the school. Everyone quieted down and stared at me as we walked past them. I could hear the buzzing whispers in the background.

"Grover, why are people staring at us?" I asked.

He shook his head in confusion. "I don't know, Percy."

As we walked through the hallway, I immediately felt on edge. My smile and good mood faltered away. People were staring and talking about me, but I didn't know why.

Grover and I were at our lockers when my phone buzzed.

I couldn't answer though because Chelsea started walking directly towards me. She was one of my ex-girlfriends.

Grover's phone was also buzzing, and he lifted it.

I watched as Grover's expressions changed to horror and shock. Before I could ask him what happened, Chelsea stopped in front of me.

"Hi, Percy," she acknowledged me softly.

"Hey, Chelsea, it's nice to see and talk to you again," I said.

Chelsea was one of my ex-girlfriends who got serious about our relationship. As such, like Rachel, things were tense between us. She was wearing a serious and guilty expression.

"Percy, I'm so sorry about the way I treated you, especially considering everything that you're going through. I was awful to you," she said.

I froze as I stared at the brunette.

Grover was simply staring at me with sadness written on his face.

"Um, what are you talking about?" I asked nervously.

"You're bone cancer, Percy. I had no idea, and I was terrible to you after we broke up. I'm sorry," she said again.

I was simply staring at her before my gaze flitted around the hallway. People were staring and talking about me, which means that they all knew. My cancer secret was out.

Shock, pain, and depression slowly washed over me.

I simply nodded at Chelsea, hoping that she would leave, which she did.

I immediately turned to Grover. I think my conflicting expressions were all he had to see before Grover quickly pulled me into a hug.

"G-man, everybody knows. They-"

I choked on my words as tears stormed my eyes.

"It's okay, man. You're all right," Grover said firmly as he patted my back.

I pulled away from him.

"Grover, how the hell do people know? What's going on? I can't be here right now," I exclaimed as panic took over. I didn't want to be at school at all anymore.

Before he could respond, another girl interrupted us.

"Percy, oh my god, Percy," Katie called out as she and Travis came running up to us. "Bro, please tell me that it's not true," my friend said with emotion welling his eyes.

I could barely speak.

"How does everyone know?" I asked in pain.

"Percy, we received an email saying that you are living with bone cancer. You get chemotherapy every month, and that's partly why you miss school. Everything was revealed in the email. Is it actually true, Percy?"

I nodded as I gripped my backpack tightly.

Too much chaos was happening right now. An email went out to everyone. What?!

"Oh, Perce," Travis said as he hugged me. I pushed him away without meaning to.

"I don't understand. I- I have to get out of here," I said.

I started to run out of the school, but Katie caught my arm.

"Percy, I get that you want to leave, but there's something you should know. The email only went out to 43 people, specifically the 43 people that you apologized to a couple of weeks ago. Everyone else found out through gossip and rumors."

"Wait, the email was only sent to my ex-girlfriends, the ones on my list," I said in shock.

Katie nodded sadly.

I had given that list to Annabeth, but she would never.

As my gaze flitted around the hallway, I started to rush out of the school. I grabbed Grover's keys out of his hand before leaving. I couldn't be here. I couldn't break down here.

My worst nightmare was coming true today.

I brushed a teardrop off of my cheek as I got into Grover's car. I smashed the steering wheel hard with my palm as I felt the emotions breaking me. I was gripping the wheel so tightly that my knuckles were turning white.

My forehead pounded against the wheel.

Again, I punched the wheel hard in anger and depression. Even though I was a guy, I wasn't afraid to admit that I had sad feelings. I felt awful.

I noticed Annabeth getting out of Thalia's car several yards away.

Thalia, Piper, and Annabeth were laughing as they walked towards the school. She looked so beautiful and happy. Annabeth could not be the one who shared news about my cancer. However, she was the only person that I had given my list to.

I pulled out of the parking lot quickly as the tears overtook my eyes.

Why was my life so screwed up?