Chapter Eight

Someone was knocking on Annabeth's door. Very loudly. And if they didn't stop, Annabeth was going to introduce her fist to their face, because she'd only had about four hours so for fuck's sake could they not shut up?

Her eyes were still closed as she groggily stumbled towards her bedroom door and swung it open. She squinted, seeing no one there, but still hearing knocking. It was coming from the front door. Goddamn. Grumbling, she blindly made her way to the peephole and peeked through.

Shit.

Annabeth's eyes went wide as she threw the door open, revealing a girl with tanned skin and choppily cut brown hair, braided at either sides of her head. Annabeth covered her mouth, worried about her breath. "Piper! I'm so sorry, I completely forgot –"

"I figured," Piper said, looking as though she was trying not to laugh. "I'm sorry I woke you up, but like I said before, I don't have much time next week so if there's any time I could look around for a few minutes –"

"Of course," Annabeth said immediately, ushering her inside. Annabeth had been studying at the library when she overheard a couple of people talking about needing housing for September. Through them, she'd met Piper, who was entering her second year, like Annabeth, and didn't smoke or do any drugs. It seemed positive, but unfortunately, Piper had a busy schedule and only had time to come over that Sunday morning. Right before the funeral.

Naturally, Annabeth's mind had been a little preoccupied.

"Piper," she said nervously, "what time is it? I don't want to rush you, but I have to go to a funeral right after this –"

"So do I," Piper interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Is it – is it Percy Jackson's?"

Annabeth's jaw fell open.

"Yeah," she continued, "my boyfriend is a friend of his. They were on the same swim team. I'm going with him."

"Wow," Annabeth stammered out after she'd recovered from the shock. She smiled a little, noticing Piper was in all black. "Small world, I guess."

Piper laughed. "You can get ready and we can head there together, if you want. It's only 9:20, anyway."

Annabeth breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad she was already getting along with Piper, since it seemed that if Piper liked the place, they were rooming together. "That would be amazing."

Piper inspected the bathroom as Annabeth stuffed a toothbrush in her mouth and dug out her only black dress from her closet. She gave Piper the Wi-Fi password for her phone before Annabeth went to take a quick shower. She was a little nervous leaving a stranger in her apartment, but Thalia was there (sleeping), and really, she had to trust Piper if they were going to be roommates.

She was, however, a little worried about the impression she made on her potential future roommate. Annabeth was usually a more organized person, but thoughts of Percy and the funeral had kept her tossing and turning the entire night. Combined that with helping Thalia sort out her move back to California the following month, Annabeth had been too tired to fall asleep.

When she had finished her shower and dressed, Piper was looking around the kitchen, looking at the stove. Annabeth gave her a smile as she approached her.

"So what do you think?" Annabeth asked. "I don't cook much, but everything seems to be working fine, and we've been pretty clean."

"It's a great place," Piper said genuinely, turning to Annabeth. "I'd like to live here."

"Seriously?" she replied, almost surprised. That was lucky; it was rare that the first person that looked at the apartment also seemed like the ideal roommate. Especially one that decides after only fifteen minutes of looking at the apartment. She couldn't believe her luck.

But maybe, for once, life was giving her a break.

Right then, she was going to be okay.

Annabeth grinned. "I'll get the landlord to send you the papers."

More people were at the funeral than Percy thought there would be.

Grover came, of course. Annabeth was there. Grace was there. His friends from his former swim team – Jason, Leo and Nico – were there, along with Piper, Jason's girlfriend. He wasn't surprised to see that Gabe hadn't bothered to show up, but he was surprised that his biology professor, Paul Blofis, had.

But honestly, Percy thought that he, Grover and Annabeth would be the only ones there. He hadn't really kept up with his teammates since school ended, but he had a sneaking suspicion Grover had been the one to invite them. How Paul knew, however, he hadn't a clue.

Percy'd never owned a suit before, and about fifteen minutes after wearing one while walking to the funeral home, he realized why everyone said it was itchy. It also insulated the summer heat, so by the time he reached the funeral home, he was sweating. Once he saw Annabeth, his heart was pounding, too.

She immediately went to him, taking his hand in hers.

He didn't really acknowledge anyone else other than a nod with his head, and no one really approached him. Percy and his mother were never very religious, and the service was quiet. Grover was the first to approach the open casket. Whispered goodbyes filled the room, no one really knowing what to say. No one had really known her.

Annabeth was the second-last to go, before Percy. She placed what seemed to a handwritten letter into the casket and backed away. Percy swallowed heavily before reaching into his pocket for the pictures his mother had kept next to her bed. One was of her and Percy, the other of his mother and father. He placed them gently beside Annabeth's letter before his eyes focused on his mother's face.

This was it.

She looked very much how she looked when she'd fallen asleep for the last time. Percy's eyes pricked as he realized that this would be the last time he could see her face. He already missed her hugs, her laugh, her voice. Without realizing what he was doing, he reached down to take her cold hand in his.

His eyes ran over her thin brown hair, the wrinkles around her eyes, the curve of her jaw. Trying to memorize it. Pictures never did it justice. Percy wanted to reach down and wrap his arms around her.

More than anything, Percy wished he had more time. There was so much he still didn't know about his mom, so many things she wouldn't see. He hated that she'd had such a difficult and short life, full of pain and little moments of happiness. She spent her last week re-living her favourite memories with him, always smiling when she could.

He spent the last week thinking of her. Wondering if she was happy now, maybe with his dad. Wondering if she was at peace. Wondering if the pain was gone. Wondering if she was watching him, scolding him for not really eating vegetables this past week.

Percy slipped his hand out of hers and gripped the side of the casket tightly. He didn't ever want to say goodbye. He wasn't ready. He didn't get enough time with his mother. He wanted to give more to her. She gave everything to Percy, even when she didn't have anything. Not even time.

If Percy was threadbare, he got it from his mother.

After Percy went home to change out of his itchy, sweaty suit, he went to Starbucks to a very angry-looking boss. Grace was ready for him behind the counter, hands on her hips, knowing that he'd only worked this past week to avoid moping around.

To be honest, he thought that was fair.

"Grace," he started wearily, his hands going to tie his green apron around his hips, but she snatched it away.

"Nope," she said defiantly. "You're going to have your favourite cappuccino and go sit with Paul over there. Then you're going to take a walk, because it's a beautiful day outside, and you can use the fresh air."

"But I –"

"Am going to listen to my boss," she insisted, grabbing his shoulders and twisting him around. Sure enough, Percy saw his professor sitting at a table, sipping his drink and reading the newspaper. "Go make your coffee."

Percy closed his eyes, smiling. "Fine, fine."

"Good." Grace turned him back and gave him a long hug. It felt motherly, and he nearly started crying again.

Percy quickly made his drink and went to sit down across from Paul, who was still reading the newspaper. It suddenly occurred to him that Grace mentioned putting up a note on the obituaries in the newspaper for his mother, and Paul may have seen it. Despite this, and being one of Paul's closer students, Percy wasn't really sure why he'd been at the funeral, much less at Starbucks.

Well, it may have been due to the fact that Percy had all but run away from the cemetery.

"Hi," Percy said, sitting down as Paul put down the paper and smiled in greeting. "Grace said you were here to speak to me."

"I did," he replied, nodding. "I want to offer my condolences."

"Thank you."

"I only met her once," Paul told him, taking a sip of his coffee before crossing his hands in front of him. "We were in a long grocery line once, a little more than year ago. She mentioned you, and then you were in my class the next semester, a month later."

Percy frowned. She hadn't mentioned that. But it was before the cancer. "Oh."

"She was very spirited," he said. "I'm sorry for what happened."

"It's fine."

"Where's your father?"

"Passed away before I was born," Percy said, shrugging. "I have a step-father, but he's a deadbeat. I moved out." Saying this, he suddenly realized he was an orphan. He felt a pang in his stomach.

Paul frowned, his thick eyebrows furrowing together. "How are you managing things? Do you need a place to stay?"

"No, no," Percy declined, shaking his head. "Thank you, but I'm fine. I can't go back to school, but I have enough to get by."

"You're a good student," Paul argued. "I'll see to it that you get a scholarship to come back."

"Why?" Percy asked before he could help himself. "I mean, I know I went to a few office hours, but I hardly know you."

Paul shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. "I liked your mother."

Percy's jaw dropped.

"You – what?" he spluttered.

"I liked Sally," Paul said, a little sadly. "She was a beautiful person. Very selfless. You don't see a lot of people like her, and there's a lot of her in you."

Percy's mouth was dry, despite the coffee, and he was pretty sure his eyes were prickling again. Damn that prickling. "Thank you."

They spoke a little more then, telling Paul about Gabe's alcoholism and how he'd tried to pay for his mom's treatment. Paul was more than a little shocked of Percy's situation. Before he left, he asked for Percy's number, and they exchanged information.

"Don't ever hesitate to call for anything," Paul told him as he drained his cup and stood, gathering and folding his paper. "I'm going to confirm that scholarship. You shouldn't have to go through loans after going through so much – excuse my language – shit."

Percy stood as well to shake his hand. "Thanks. I really appreciate this, honestly. I didn't think I'd ever be able to go back."

"I'll call you by next week," Paul promised. "Make sure to sign up for some labs with me next semester."

"Will do," Percy said, grinning. He sat down again, watching Paul leave, sipping his now-lukewarm coffee. He was feeling a little hopeful about his future now. His mom always wanted him to finish his degree and make a good living for himself – doing what he wanted to do.

After so many years with Gabe, Percy had trouble trusting most adults, and to be fair, most of them had never given him a good reason to. But then there was Grace, and now Paul.

Maybe Percy just grew up too fast, always on the edge, trying to figure out how to survive. He didn't really want to be a full-time adult yet, but he had to admit that maybe there was a perk to being a forced adult at twenty years old.

For once, Percy could decide what he wanted. For himself.

"Do it."

"No."

"Do it, Annabeth."

"You know you want to."

"No."

"Come on."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

Piper groaned and threw her hands up, frustrated. Annabeth remained at her place, leaning against the wall outside Starbucks, arms crossed tightly in front of her. Piper might be mad at her, but Annabeth wasn't budging.

Sure, she wasn't a hundred percent sure why she was so nervous, but it didn't mean she wasn't. After the funeral, Percy had all but run out of the cemetery without speaking to anyone. Everyone knew he was crying, and they let him go.

It was after the funeral when Piper had asked why Annabeth and Percy had been holding hands, and she'd told her about their sort-of relationship. One thing led to another, and in the end, Piper dragged Annabeth to Starbucks and was trying to convince her to talk to him.

"He wanted space," Annabeth repeated for what seemed like the billionth time. She peeked through the window before guiltily glancing away. "I should respect that."

"Didn't he say for a week?" Piper asked.

"Yeah, but –"

"No buts. It's been a week." Piper gave Annabeth a meaningful look, to which she rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. You're going to have to figure this out sooner or later, and sooner is always better."

Annabeth bit her lip. "Maybe, but –"

"Annabeth?"

"Percy!" Piper greeted cheerfully as Annabeth shot off the wall, face red. Percy had just exited Starbucks, confused to see the two girls just outside the door. Piper glanced at Annabeth. "We just came to see how you were doing."

Percy tore his gaze from Annabeth to Piper. "Oh, I'm fine. Thanks for coming to the funeral, it means a lot."

"No problem." Piper glanced at Annabeth, giving her another look. "I'm just going to get some coffee and get back to work. Finals and all." She gave both of them a quick hug and disappeared into Starbucks.

Annabeth was suddenly very fascinated with her shoes.

"So," Percy said awkwardly, clearing his throat, "Grace stole my shift. Gave me the rest of the day off." Annabeth didn't say anything. "It's a nice day out, if you wanted to talk a walk with me. You know. Around campus, or a park… find grass somewhere around here."

Annabeth's lips twitched, and she finally met Percy's gaze. She forgot how adorable he could be.

Percy grinned. "That's so a yes."

"That's only a yes if you hug me."

"Whatever you want," he said sincerely before engulfing her in his arms. She pressed her face into his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck. He smelled like coffee and men's soap.

She felt Percy bury his face in her hair and sigh. "I've missed you."

"You also got sappy," Annabeth joked. She felt as though the ice had been broken.

"I've always been sappy," he said, reluctantly letting her go. He threaded his fingers between hers. "Thanks for coming today."

"I came for both of us," she said gently. They began walking, swinging their hands, and Annabeth felt her heart skip a little. "It really is a nice day."

"My mom's favourite kind of day," he said, and to her surprise, he was smiling. "Sunny and warm."

"Did you two ever go for walks?"

"Mostly when I was younger." Percy sighed and squeezed her hand. "Grace gave me a huge raise this morning, and a bonus. Not out of pity. She thinks I deserve it."

"You do," Annabeth said playfully, nudging him with her shoulder. "That's great, Percy. Now you can pay your rent and stuff. Speaking of which," she added, "Piper's moving in with me in the fall."

"She is?" Percy asked, surprised. "What about Thalia?"

"Moving out," she replied as they turned a corner. "We've patched things up between us, but now that she got everything out about Luke, she wants to go home, go back to school…" Annabeth kicked a rock on the sidewalk with her shoe. "You know. New York was only a distraction. She wants to start over."

"I feel as though I'm doing the same." Annabeth gave Percy a questioning look, and he shrugged. "I moved out… my professor – you know, from the funeral this morning – offered to help me get a scholarship back to school."

"You're re-enrolling this fall?" she asked, and Percy grinned. She reached up and kissed his cheek quickly. "You really are starting over."

"Things are falling into place," he said. Annabeth had never seen him look so… light. Like all the weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Suddenly, he gripped her hand and stopped walking, turning to her. "Annabeth, we need to talk."

Maybe not all the weight.

"We are talking," she said. Percy opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off by pulling him towards a nearby park. She dragged him into the shade under a tree. "Let's sit and just…"

"Figure this out?" Percy finished, sitting down on the grass next to her. Their knees were touching, and it was very distracting. "I've been thinking about it this past week."

"Me too." Annabeth sighed. "You were right."

"Really?" Percy said in surprise. "But I thought you were angry with me."

"I was." Annabeth lay back in the grass, and Percy followed suit, taking her hand in his again. "But the space did us good. We really needed to relax. Things were too intense."

Percy chuckled. "Granted, it wasn't really your fault."

"I guess."

"I never meant to drag anyone into my mess," he explained, playing with Annabeth's fingers absent-mindedly. "I never even told Grover about my mom, but then she fainted while you were over…"

"You had to tell me."

He looked at her. "My family life has always been a secret. My parents never married. We were doing really badly before Gabe came along, and then as soon as he and my mom married, he started hitting us. Even Grace doesn't know, though she's guessed, so many times."

"Percy," Annabeth said gently. "You are so incredible for going through all that."

"I didn't have a choice."

She turned her head and pressed a kiss to his shoulder. "I was so worried about you going through this alone."

"I'm fine." Percy stared at her, releasing her hand to touch the side of her forehead, at her hairline. "I'm sorry I was jealous."

"Of Luke?"

"Yeah." He ran his finger along her hairline, down to trace her jaw. "I trust you."

Annabeth felt a rush of gratitude. "Thanks, but… he's gone. Out of my life. Out of my phone."

Percy laughed. "What happened?"

"I kicked him in the balls."

"Really?"

"No." Annabeth chuckled. "I yelled at him, though. For being a shitty friend."

"Can't say I'm not pleased," Percy said, and Annabeth could tell he was trying very hard not to sound smug. His smile faltered. "I'm sorry he made you feel so bad for liking him."

Annabeth shrugged. "No lasting effects, I think."

"I've been thinking," Percy said, sounding as though he was struggling to say something, "about what you said last week."

"What?"

"That I'm threadbare." Annabeth could feel herself turning red, but Percy had turned back to staring up at the tree above them. "There's a lot of truth in that. I spent so long doing things for other people. I've never felt so worn down in my life. This last week, I just…"

"Got a break," she supplied. "From life."

"From life," he confirmed. "I slept a lot."

Annabeth snorted.

"But I was thinking, and… I'd like to be normal, for once." Percy glanced at her again. "I told you were the most normal part of my life, and it's true. But I just really don't want to be threadbare anymore."

"You should do what makes you happy," she said softly. "I mean, you're going back to school now, and you're living with your best friend."

"And I have you."

"You are always sappy."

"Always." He was staring in her eyes, and as intimidating as it was, she couldn't look away. "I want to be a little selfish, I guess. If you're okay with that."

"Why wouldn't I –"

"Because I know you were in love with someone else," he said, leaning close now, and she could feel her stomach tighten. "I know that, but I love you." He chuckled. "Can't help it, really."

"God," Annabeth breathed, closing her eyes. "That would've been a really good time to kiss me, but you kind of ruined –"

His lips stopped hers, and she smiled against his mouth. Percy held the sides of her jaw, almost leaning on top of her, but Annabeth really didn't mind. At all.

She leaned her head back, breaking the kiss. Her fingers had found their way to his hair, and it was thoroughly messy now. She was smiling as she tried to flatten it again. "You're stupid."

"Am not."

"I'm not good at saying this stuff," she told him, pressing her forehead to his. "I've never needed to compare him to you. You don't compare." She kissed Percy soundly, her worries completely gone. "You're a better person. I couldn't love anyone like I love you."

He was trying not to beam, but the grin was stretching from the corners of his mouth.

When he spoke, he spoke against her lips. "You're cheesier than me." And before she could protest he was kissing her again, sinking into the grass, being as selfish as he wanted to be since he met her.

Sometime later, Annabeth leaned back for air. "Percy?"

"Mmmhmm?"

"I'm really afraid of bugs crawling in my ears."

Percy laughed, making Annabeth laugh as well. He stood, giving her a hand up before they brushed themselves off of grass and any stray ants. He offered his hand to her again.

"First date?" he suggested breathlessly. His cheeks were pink. "Finally?"

Annabeth took his hand. "Finally."

THE END