Losing Games

9.

9.

The Breakup

~*~

Annabeth POV

"Hey, Wise Girl," Percy greeted, a full-on smile on his face.

My smile was a lot more reserved as I nodded.

"Well, I made your favorite pizza," he said, motioning to the picnic at my feet.

I smiled. "Thank you, Percy."

"So how's it going?" he asked, trying to make conversation. 

Three days after the... 'thing'--where he told me about his past, I wanted to go out on a date--but it wasn't just any date.

Percy said he spent the whole afternoon trying to make food that I liked. 

He almost burned his hand in process but luckily his mom was there to save him.

He was really trying to make our relationship work. I had been his whole life and he loved me so much. 

But there was something I needed to tell him.

"It's going okay," I answered. "I'm writing new music."

"Really?" he asked. "Let me hear it."

"I want to hear yours first," I said. 

"Mine?"

"Yes, yours."

"Who said I had a song?" he asked, a teasing smile on his face.

I shoved him gently. "You're Percy Jackson... aka a try-hard. You always have something when you put your mind to it."

He laughed. "I'm not a try-hard."

"Uh-huh. Maybe not in school, but in music."

"I'm not!"

"Just show me your song, Percy."

I hope he didn't notice I wasn't calling him Seaweed Brain today.

If I made a list of my flaws
Well, I'd be up right 'til the morning
All of the things that I'm not gonna be

"I used to think I'd go to space Now I'm not sure that I'll make it. It's hard to let some things slip away... from me."

'Cause I get lost
Thinkin' about all the things I have to be for you
I get lost, 'cause...
I know I'll never be perfect
So I'm not even gonna try
You see me smile on the surface
But you only notice the highs
And just 'cause you can't see me hurting
It don't mean it's all black and white
'Cause you see me smile on the surface
Might look like paradise
That's just life

"I'm not so different from you," he sang softly. "I'm just as broken as you."

"I don't think you're broken," I said. "I think you're perfect just the way you are."

Percy couldn't help but laugh. "You don't know me, Annabeth. I'm broken beyond repair. Broken a long time ago."

I was silent and then I guess he felt bad for ruining our night.

"Let's hear your song now," he said, changing the topic.

I nodded as I started to sing.

"Sit in your car, wait in the dark, radio is up and so is your guard," I sang.

Percy smiled, flashing me a thumbs-up. "Sounds good so far."

You're faking a smile, you say that you're fine
And maybe it'll all work out in time
You've always been good that way