Annabeth's POV

Every muscle in my body told me not to get up. I was so exhausted, I wore myself out so much from all the pain and the crying. Every fiber of my being told me that letting him in would be the worst thing to ever happen. He hurt you. Do you really want to feel this way again?

Yet, I couldn't help but feel the ache that was digging into your chest. It hurt so bad and really the only way to appease the pain was to let him in.

I walked over to the door and I unlocked it. Immediately, he rushed inside and embraced me. Wow, I really am such a push over. I shouldn't be letting him touch me after everything. Oh well, it felt so good. After what felt like minutes, but was probably seconds, he let go of me and started pacing.

"Annie, I'm such an idiot. I swear, I'll never do anything like that ever again. I can't believe I let this happen to you and just did nothing. I want you to know that I've never felt this way about anyone before you and...I know this isn't a good excuse...but I need time to figure out what this whole healthy relationship thing is because I'm not good at it at all. Please, take another chance on me because I will never let you down again. I'll be there for you all the time and I will defend you and keep everything evil away from you."

Wow. That was a lot and I could feel the energy that he was exerting crash over me.

"Percy..." I don't know why I'm going to say this, "I was never really mad at you because I didn't know what you did. And you really didn't do anything bad, but you didn't do anything good either—"

"—but"

"I'm not mad. I'm really not. I'm just tired and confused and hurt. I didn't want you to defend me or try to figure out who did this. I wanted you to be with me and hold me while I cried. That's what a boyfriend does right? I mean, I don't really know because I've just had one crappy example and..." I didn't think it was possible, but somehow I managed to cry some more.

Percy immediately ran towards me and held me in his arms again. It felt so right and he led me to the bed and we just lied there for a while.

Percy's POV

"So where are your parents?"

"They went to an architecture event. I was supposed to go but I wasn't up for it."

Oh that's why she couldn't come over tonight. It's hard to believe that that was just this morning. Not even 12 hours had passed.

It felt like hours passed. I was just holding her in my arms while she cried. And eventually she stopped and we were just lying there. It wasn't awkward at all, it was the most goddamn comfortable thing in the world. This is exactly how the world was supposed to be.

We were meant to run into each other that night and we were meant to catch feelings for each other. I'm not the type of person to believe in fate, but it felt so right. Like two puzzle pieces had been put together.

It was way too early to admit this out loud to her, but I loved her. I had never felt this way about anyone else before in my entire life.

"Annie." I whispered and I shook her a bit, but she had her eyes closed. She looked so peaceful that I pretended that she wasn't upset with me and I just let us rest there.

Annabeth's POV

When I woke up, it was dark outside. I shot up fast and I managed to crash into Percy, who was immediately rushed awake and groaned.

"Morning sunshine," he smirked like and I couldn't help but smile.

I got up and we faced each other. Even after everything that's happened, I still care about him and I really want to be with him. It wasn't fair for him to be this confused. And I knew him so if I didn't tell him everything he would be beating himself up until I did. He deserves to know the whole truth.

"Percy, I think it's time to tell you about my past. And why I reacted the way I did..." I told him everything. About my dad, Luke, my freshman experience. I even told him about my friends. I explained to him what Luke did to me and how it's hard to trust anyone. I told him about our toxic relationship and about why my grades are so important to me. I let him in. I let him see the dark and twisty parts of me.

I expected him to look scared and disturbed by my past, but he seemed strangely open and listened to everything I said with a welcoming expression.

When I finished, he looked at me with those sad, baby seal eyes. And then he said something I wasn't expecting, "why don't we run away."