I Was Percy Jackson (A Percy Jackson Betrayed Fanfic)

Chapter 43 || Turning Back

PERCY JACKSON

I got out of bed, ignoring the ache in my bones and casts as I bulkily walked over to my drawer. I pulled out a velvet box, opening it to see the ring inside. Silver with a color-changing gemstone from sea-green to gray. Just like our eyes. And on the inside, was engraved I'm your Seaweed Brain ~ Percy. I guess I really was her seaweed brain. And I wanted to stay that way.

"Percy!" Luke said when he saw that I was awake, "We're gonna leave in... like... a week. Just so we make sure there's no follow-up attack, even though I doubt it."

I nodded and barged out of the cabin, ignoring the questions my army was throwing at me. I needed to do this, even if I had no clue what I was doing. I had to do this immediately. My heart was pounding like a hammer in my ears. My hands felt sweaty and clammy for the first time in forever. I could feel my breath coming in quick and shallow. I'd never felt this way before.

I took one look at them and immediately ran in the little section between each cabin, hiding and slinking down the wall when I was on my butt, head to my knees. I couldn't do this. I could feel the tears starting to build up as the painful memories of being alone piled up inside me. I could feel like my whole soul was being sucked into a vacuum of loneliness...

And like a spider when it reaches a vacuum... there's no way out.

There's always a way out...

I looked up to see Hannah's spirt sitting just like I was on the wall of the other cabin.

"Hannah?" I whispered.

"Percy," she moved and sat next to me.

I could smell mangoes on her and she rested her head against my shoulder, even if it felt like nothing was there.

"Percy, I got out of Order's reign. Who said you can't get out of your loneliness?"

"But... it's painful!" I sighed, looking her straight in her orange eyes, now faded with becoming a ghost. "Every time I look at them, I can only see bad memories!"

Hannah looked me intensely in the eyes.

"And you think leaving Order, the one person I actually trusted... leaving you, the one person I actually loved... was not painful? All I see when I look at you is what we could've had, Percy. All I see when I look at all the dead spirits of my former loved ones, I see bad memories. But I'm happy. It's possible. Live happily. For me."

She disappeared and I was left staring at the black wall of the Hades cabin. I glanced back to see a Poseidon camper curiously looking over the edge of their windowsill to get a glimpse of me. So I looked up, scaring the shit out of them. But instead of running, they continued watching, curious as to why no anger showed on my face. So I smiled and waved, again, scaring the crap out of them. But they smiled back and ran off.

I was ready.

I took a deep breath, getting up, gathering myself, blocking out all the emotions and memories... And I walked over to where the seven, Nico, Thalia, Clarisse, Grover, and Reyna were. They all froze and looked at me.

"Thalost--" Frank started but I cut him off.

"Shut the f**k up. Don't call me an assassin's name. Call me... Percy."

They all stared at me for a long second before their faces broke out in grins. Even Nico.

NICO.

WHAT. THE. F**K.

"I... I was hurt, I have to say," I said, struggling slightly as the memories threatened to come through and wash me away from my past, "But... I forgive you. Thoroughly. JUST NEVER DO IT AGAIN," I glared at the last part but grinned.

It felt nice to finally smile. They all hugged me so tight, I couldn't breathe... well... for this, I'd die. They finally let go and I tossed Annabeth the box.

"I'd do it, but I can't kneel and I can't speak right now because... again... I'm a seaweed brain. I didn't prepare."

Annabeth opened the box and gasped at the ring inside.

"Look," I cut her off before she could say anything that started with 'no'. "I know it's only been a little while since... well... we uhm..."

"Kissed?" Annabeth laughed lightly.

"Yeah," I felt tears coming to my eyes, "But... I loved you the thousand years I was gone. I didn't stop. And I don't think it's gonna need another thousand years before I finally propose so... will you?"

"Why'd you think I'd ever say no?" Annabeth sobbed, leaping to me, breaking down in my chest.

I tried to keep it all in, but Nico stared at me with a knowing look. Even Thalia.

"Let it all out," Thalia said and I did.

I sobbed. I cried all the water I had in my body out onto the floor until it was a soggy, dusty puddle. This had to be the saddest thing I'd ever done. Because the war was over with tons of people I loved dead on the floor, never to take another breath... and there were the people I once loved... and had to rediscover my love for them again.

As I cried, I could feel hot and wet tears on my shirt from Annabeth, then Piper as she ran up and hugged me. Then, Hazel. Then, Frank--though Frank's cry was really cute--then Jason. Leo, of course, broke down sobbing after trying to hold it in before his flaming hair was put out and dampened by all the tears he was producing. Next came Nico, then Thalia, who had given up on her tough look with her electricity. 

Grover flung himself at me, clinging on for dear life as he poured all the water and emotions out of him. Reyna was next, hugging me. I glanced over to where Clarisse was standing, staring at me with an expression devoid of emotion. But I could see her lip quivering. So she let out a sob and gave me the most aggressively sweet hug I've ever had from her. Well, she hasn't even given me a hug before. So this was the best thing I could've ever gotten.

Hannah was right. It was possible to turn back.

Well, I guess for the first time... I was right.