The Love

Annabeth POV

"Annabeth, he cleaned out his trailer," Piper said excitedly for the fifth time.

"Oh my god, Piper, you repeated that five times already. What is the big deal?" I asked. Piper was an incredible friend, but it was annoying when she kept saying something like there was a hidden meaning. Of course, I didn't get it.

"It's pretty obvious, Annie. I thought you were the smart one," Thalia said with a smirk.

"Don't make me smack that smile off your face Thalia. Also, stop calling me Annie."

Piper and Thalia were both staring at me with bright smiles, but I was still waiting for an answer. Piper sighed as she took out her phone, opened the photo app, and showed me.

"Piper, you freaking to pictures of me?" I asked in shock.

"No, I took pictures of both of you when you were painting his trailer. Look at how he's looking at you. I know love when I see it," she said dreamily.

This was true. Piper was so good at analyzing people and their emotions.

"And now, Percy completely redid his trailer for you," Piper squealed.

"Oh my god, this doesn't have to do with me," I said as I gave her phone back. However, even I didn't believe the words that came out of my mouth. I knew that Percy had feelings for me, and cleaning his trailer had to do with me too.

"Annabeth, Percy likes you, and he wants you to be different/special from all the other girls. Percy is changed and redoing his trailer is one way of showing it," Thalia said.

"Plus, when he finally gets you, Percy wants to take you to your own place. Not someplace that he brought all his girls to in the past," Piper continued.

Honestly, what they were saying did make sense. I felt the blood rise to my cheeks slightly at the idea that Percy was doing all of this to make me special. However, I honestly didn't need material things myself, but if it made Percy feel better (then, it was okay).

"Aww, Annie is blushing. Who is this girl?"

"Shut up," I exclaimed while laughing.

Our conversation in the hallway died when the Queen Bee stomped over in her loud, high heels. Makeup completed caked Drew's face today, making it incredibly hard to decipher her expressions. Maybe that's why all the cliche high school demons padded their faces with makeup and arrogance.

"Hello, Annabitc-"

"What do you want, Drew?" I snapped before she could finish.

I wasn't going to give her of all people any satisfaction of insulting me.

"You stole my man away from me," Drew said maliciously.

"Which man, Drew? We all know you have dozens of them," Piper said slyly.

Drew and Piper glared at each other for several seconds. They had a rivaling history due to Drew's obscene interest in Jason. Drew was honestly gross in how she thought about relationships, boys, and love.

Drew turned her glare in my direction.

"You took Percy Jackson from me, and I don't appreciate it."

"Get over it, Drew. Percy is not interested in you. Besides, Percy isn't some doll that belongs to a person. He can choose who he wants to be with," I said firmly.

Drew's glare intensified as she stepped closer.

However, I wasn't scared of Drew.

"I always get my way Annabeth. You and Percy have been warned. I can make his life and consequently yours a living hell," she said dangerously.

A part of me actually believed her.

My voice lowered to the same tone she was using. "You cannot come in between me and Percy, Drew, so screw off."

I could see the anger and shock in Drew's face as she backed up. Her glare intensified once more before she walked away. I noticed the silent, dangerous determination in her eyes. Whatever she was planning, it would not be good.

However, I meant what I said about me and Percy. We wouldn't shatter.

***

I was exhausted from school by Saturday. It was like all of my teachers wanted to put tests and exams in the same week just to torture us. I mean couldn't the teachers talk to each other so that students didn't have to do all of that work in one week.

Anyway, I was heading over to Percy's house today. He didn't come to school for the last two days, so I wanted to check on him in person.

We had been talking on the phone, but I wanted to see him.

Percy was in this current chemo cycle till Friday of next week, so he was about halfway through his February chemotherapy regimen.

I rang the doorbell and waited.

Sally opened the door, and a smile came onto her warm face when she saw me. "Annabeth, dear, it's so good to see you," she said brightly.

I happily embraced her hug.

"Thank you, Sally, I hope you don't mind me here," I said politely. I didn't tell Percy that I was coming today.

"No, no worries, honey," Sally said warmly.

Sally Jackson seemed like a great mother, especially since she also acted as a mother figure to every one of Percy's friends. I liked her a lot.

"Where's Percy?" I asked as we walking into the living room.

"He's in his bedroom. Actually, Percy's been awful these past couple of days. I hope that your presence can cheer him up," Sally said softly and sadly.

I felt bad for Sally. It must've been hard.

"Is it all right if I go to his room?" I asked.

"Of course, Annabeth," Sally said warmly again. I said hi to Mr. Blofis on my way to Percy's bedroom.

I expected Percy to be sick or doing work, but he was simply sitting on his bed. Percy looked emotionally sad and physically ill, and I immediately felt the terrible atmosphere of the room suffocating me. A trash can was right next to his bed with some vomit in it.

I put on a smile and walked into the room.

"Percy, what the hell? This room is a freaking mess," I exclaimed brightly.

Percy looked up for a second before looking back down at his hands. His skin looked paler than usual, which was evident in his face.

I sat down next to Percy on the bed whilst facing him.

"Percy, what's going on?" I asked.

He looked up again. "I feel freaking awful, that's what's going on, Wise Girl," he said sharply.

"It's all right, Seaweed Brain, to feel this way. You're going through a lot."

"I hate this, Annabeth," he said softly as he looked down again. I could see how broken he was feeling right now. I realized that Percy didn't even have his usual form of alternative pain relief. Percy told me that sex with other girls wasn't helping anymore.

Thalia said that this was partly because of me, which I felt bad about. I mean it was good because it proved that Percy liked me. However, he was also in pain.

I moved closer to Percy.

"Seaweed Brain, look at me," I said firmly.

Percy looked up as my hand went to his neck brushing it softly with my fingers. He froze at first but quickly relaxed. I could practically see the relief and relaxation.

Percy looked directly into my eyes.

"You don't have to do this just because I'm sick. I don't want that," he said softly. I could hear the regret and hesitation in his voice.

I leaned forward and planted a kiss on his jaw. My lips moved over his jawline and cheek before my trail of kisses moved down to his neck. His skin was warm because of the chemo, but I still liked how he felt.

Percy groaned sensually as his body relaxed on the bed. His head leaned back against the bedrest as my lips trailed his skin softly.

I paused after a minute and gazed at Percy's face. It was strange to see how relieved and comforted he looked. The color in his eyes and body had slightly returned as well.

Our eyes locked when his eyelids opened.

My hands gently moved to his neck as I kissed him softly.

He kissed back passionately. I still couldn't get over how good and right kissing Percy felt.

"Seaweed Brain, what are we?" I asked after leaning back.

He sighed. "I don't know."

"Do you have feelings for me?" I asked softly. My heart was racing, and I was pretty sure he could hear it.

Percy looked at me. His beautiful sea-green eyes were sparkling.

"Yeah, I - I'm in love with you, Wise Girl."

I stared at him in shock. His voice was very firm and genuine. Percy had a hopeful look in his eyes and a nervous smile.

I didn't expect Percy to tell me that he loved me.

"But, I'm not ready for a real and loving relationship. I'm living with cancer, Annabeth, and it's so hard to love somebody right now," Percy said softly.

"Percy, I-"

"When I start a relationship with you, I want to make sure that I can be real and loving. I want to be my best self for you," he said genuinely.

I nodded as I kissed him passionately. It was a single kiss of affection.

We hung out for a few hours as I helped him feel better. I managed to get him out of his room. We went on a short walk before enjoying dinner at his home. Sally was an excellent chef. I instantly felt at home in Percy's house.

My mind was buzzing as I drove home. Percy loved me. He just wasn't ready yet. We wouldn't be official until he was ready. Percy was going through a lot, but he worth waiting for.

However, I wanted Percy to realize that (in my opinion) he was already his best self.