I Ruined My Bestfriend's Relationship (A Pipabeth Story)

Piper POV 1

I heard it again. Commotion from Athena Cabin. The trip to Tarturus had been hard on Annabeth. So hard that she often woke up in the night. She'd wake crying, shaking, and sometimes on her worst nights she would be screaming in her bunk. I got out of bed and threw on some socks and shoes as quickly as I could, then ran to Cabin 6. Percy used to help her, but he was at his mother's, and honestly? I think he found it a bit annoying, how often she woke up like this... But I was okay with helping her when it happened. She was my best friend. Maybe more, but I wouldn't want to get between her and Percy.

I ran in. Her siblings all moved aside, letting me through. They knew to just let me in at this point, especially because the first time I went to help, one of them tried to stop me and I broke the boy's hand. "Annabeth, Annie. Hey... It's okay, I'm here."

Annabeth was on her bunk crying and shivering all over, I spoke with the most gentle tone I could muster. I decided to mix in a little charmspeak as I was trying to talk her out of it to help her calm down faster. Even then, it took about five minutes to get her to stop crying. "You okay, Annie?"

She stayed quiet, she just shrugged, which, I guess is understandable. I don't think I'd completely love the idea of having a conversation either. "You need to get some more sleep. Okay?"

"I'd rather not..." She mumbled so only I could hear her.

"I'll stay with you until you do, okay?"

"Okay..." She was still shaking a bit, but she lay down. I lay down next to her and pulled the blanket onto us both. Usually, someone might complain that it was against the rules or something, but her siblings knew by now not to worry *too* much about that when it came to making sure Annabeth actually gets sleep at night these days. The Cabin went dark, and the others all went to sleep.

"Pipes?" She whispered in the dark.

"Yeah, Annie?"

"Did I wake you up again..?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, you could wake me up at, what time is it? Midnight? A thousand times, I'd still come running to make sure you're doing okay."

"You're a good friend, Pipes."

"Thanks, Annie, now get some sleep."

"Alright."

She said I'm a good friend. That was a compliment. So why did it hurt that that's how she saw me?