Forever- a Percabeth story.

Chapter 34

Annabeth

It felt insanely good to be back in my own room. I thanked god that my parents didn't see Luke's car before he drove off.

I had been talking on the phone with Thalia when Percy called. She was telling me about what last night was like after she left the bathroom.

"Hey, why so quiet I just said something incredibly interesting" Thalia asked, I had zoned out, watching Percy's contact picture as it continued to ring after I silenced it.

"Sorry, Percy called. I'm not going to pick up though. What were you saying?"

"You sure you don't want to talk to him?"

"No, no it's fine." I said, even though I was pretty sure all I ever wanted to do was talk to him.

"You know Annabeth, hanging out with Luke might have been a temporary distraction, but sooner or later you're gonna have to face the music." Thalia said. I had filled her in on what I had tried to do with Luke, and how poorly it had gone.

"Says who? I'm perfectly capable of getting rid of this crush. He'll never have to know."

"Are you trying to convince me? or yourself there?" Thalia asked, annoyingly intuitive.

I leaned my head back on my pillows. "I don't know what I'm gonna do, Thal." I sighed. "On one hand, having this secret is killing me, but on the other... I know things will never go back to the way they were if I tell him."

Thalia seemed to hum thoughtfully on the other line "Who says they have to? I mean, don't you want things to be different?"

Did I want things to be different? I had spent so much time lately wishing we were just kids again so I wouldn't have to deal with my feelings. I hadn't really thought about what it could potentially be like if I did deal with them...

"I mean I guess I would want things to change, I'm just..."

"Afraid?" Thalia finished for me. Not an ounce of teasing in her voice, and for that I was grateful.

I closed my eyes. "Yeah. Afraid things will change because he won't be comfortable around me anymore. Afraid he'll reject me, or worse reject and me and resent me for wanting things to change."

"Caught between a rock and hard place." Thalia said

"That fancy private school education and yet your metaphors are sub-par at best." I joked.

"Is Annabeth Chase deflecting emotion with humor?" She asked me.

I laughed "Yeah, sorry. Spending too much time with Leo I guess."

"Look Annabeth, if you keep up with this Luke charade not only will Percy have no idea how you're actually feeling, but if there's a part of him that likes you like that... well he'll assume you're not interested. You're kind of shooting yourself in the foot here." Thalia explained.

"Geez, again with a crappy expression." I said, but Thalia just ignored me.

"Besides, won't the risk be worth it if he does?" she asked me.

"He's literally dating Rachel."

"Only because he doesn't know how you feel!" Thalia exclaimed. "I mean for crying out loud Annabeth you guys have been inseparable since you were kids, Percy would do anything for you."

Even with Thalia's explanation in my ears I couldn't help the doubt and fear swelling inside of me.

"He's my best friend Thalia. I can't lose him." I said quietly.