The Chosen One (Earth 7)

CXIX) Hurt.

"Hold it, even though it kills you slowly. Explosions, even when we're in the open. Keep on smiling until it's over. Hold it, even though it kills you slowly."

Torture :(

***

"Why did you break up with me?" He asked.

Annabeth just stared at him.

Though he was genuinely curious, he didn't know if he could handle her answer.

"It felt right," she said finally.

His gaze intensified, "What did?"

"We weren't happy," she said. "Not for a while."

He looked at her attentively, "Are you now?" He asked.

Her eyes were never red in the little situations where he was close enough to check, but he could've been mistaken.

She stayed silent, but he didn't know what to make of that.

"I'm okay," she said after a while. "Not dead, that's better than nothing, right?"

She had said it sarcastically, but a part of him was hit hard by the comment.

"I guess," he said, remembering why this had happened in the first place. Why he was letting this happen.

"What about you?"

He stayed silent for a while too, before sighing, "I don't know what you want me to say."

"The truth," she said before whispering, "That's all I ever wanted."

But he couldn't give that to him. He couldn't tell her his problems, share his burdens. He couldn't do that to her.

"I'd say I'm about the same." He said.

He had lowered his gaze to the ground but Annabeth just watched him, trying to read his actions.

"I've been struggling," he said. "With things in general."

He scratched the back of his neck, where Annabeth remembered where the scars were.

"Bad dreams?" She asked.

He grimaced.

She took that as a yes.

She wanted to move closer but she didn't know how.

"Nothing's been good for a while." He whispered.

She wanted to comfort him. He looked so troubled.

"Everyone else is happy, though," he said, "That's something."

"I'm not," she said.

He looked up at her, almost as if he'd forgotten she was there, but how could he do that when her presence affects his so much?

She bit back her pride for a moment, sighing. "I regret breaking up," she said, closing her eyes.

She looked up to see her reaction, hoping to see a small smile, some glimmering hope in his eyes, anything.

But she just got that intense look he had, almost as if he was glaring at her.

She stood up, walking towards him, "Is that so bad?" She asked. "That I miss you?"

He stared at her blankly as she made his way to him.

"Is it bad that I still love you?"

"Yes," he said.

Her heart thundered in her chest and she wondered if she'd just made a huge mistake or not.

"But I'd be lying if I said I didn't love you too," he said. "But we can't do this."