OCC. No gods or Demigods, major PERCABETH fluff :D
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++_+++++++++++
I twirl in the mirror and wonder whether I look alright for a casual coffee date, if the skirt makes it look too formal, like I'm trying too hard. My hands twist nervously in front of me as I study my reflection, golden curls escaping rebelliously from my ponytail, and doubt whether I really should be doing this anyway. It's been eight months since my last date and that had obviously gone so well (anybody notice the sarcasm?) Everyone had told me I should move on at the time, they think I already have but I know I'm still hung up on him. I still remember how it felt when my heart beat faster as he walked past me, or that smile that I could have sworn he saved just for me. I remember how he would occasionally bring me presents for no reason at all, how his voice sounded as he whispered in my ear that he loved me, how his lips tasted when he kissed me. I'm pretty sure I'll never find anything like that again.
Just as I'm about ready to send a text to call the whole thing off, my best friend knocks on the door and lets herself in. Wolf whistling ensues. "Hey hey, look at my sexy Annabeth. He won't be able to take his eyes off - what are you doing?" She leans over and snatches the phone out of my hand just as I'm about to press 'send'. She quickly scans the text and shakes her head at me, frowning. "No, no, no, no, no, no and no! You are going on this date Annabeth! You're not going to let him stop you from doing this. Not when he's taken so much away from you already."
"Look, I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm ready for this yet." I pull my hair out of its ponytail.
"If you wait until you're completely comfortable going out you'll be single for the rest of your life. Now I'm confiscating your mobile while you choose some shoes. I'll give it back to you just before you go out the door," she says in a tone brokering no argument, before turning on her heel and leaving. Shrugging as I realise there is no way out of this, I start to rummage around at the bottom of my wardrobe for pair of half decent flats.
My hand hits a pair of gorgeous red stilettos that would match my top perfectly, concealed under a mountain of footwear. I dig them out and slip them on. I had kind of forgotten about these, despite their perfect fit. High heels had always been a love of mine, making me feel confident and powerful when I wore them but he had never been particularly tall so when I had worn heels, I ended up being the same height as him. As a particularly insecure member of the male species, he liked having power over me and being the same height made us seem like equals. To exercise said power, he had demanded I didn't wear them and I had acquiesced, wearing only flats for the period of our year long relationship. Since then, I had spent every evening either working or mooching on the sofa in a pair of trackies, feeling sorry for myself and eating pizza. I had had little chance to wear a nice pair of high heels.
Taking a deep breath and one final glance in the mirror, I stride out of my bedroom and towards the front door, grabbing my iPod on the way and putting it in my handbag. "Thalia! I'm leaving now. Can I have my phone back yet?" My rather unladylike bellow reduces in volume as she comes into view. "Thank Thals." She hands me the phone as she pushes me out the door. "Alright! I'm going. I'm not going to run away, nor am I planning to be late. I'll see you later - cook me some dinner and I might give you some details!"
…
By the time I'm at street level, I'm already plugged into my earphones and listening to music. Christina Perri's 'Jar of Hearts' comes on and I sigh, realising that almost everything I do reminds me of him. I remember one time in the car this had come on the radio and he had changed stations almost immediately. I asked him why. "Why?" he had said. "Because it's depressing and all she does is boast about how she so strong now she won't give in. I don't get why anyone would like it." I had kept quiet at the time, of course, but I remember disagreeing with him in my heart, how I had actually cried the first time I had listened to it. And that was before my heart was broken. Now I identified with it more than ever.
