black winged angels // pj

twelve

It was Annabeth and Percy. Percy and Annabeth. You and I. Me and You. Cappuccino and Latte. 

It had been that way.

And it wasn't going to change. 

And that's why on June 6th, 2017, Annabeth Chase and Perseus Jackson turned around, right after crossing the border into California. 

They'd had a long discussion about this the night before. 

It took me a long time to realize another person was right. 

Percy was long asleep, but it didn't stop me from lying alert and awake.

It was hard not to, when you realize you've made quite possibly the dumbest decision in your life. Other than maybe not running in front of Thalia. 

Good fucking job, Annabeth. Did you want to sleep?

I did miss Bristol, though. The big town of Somers nearby, and the tiny towns and villages surrounding us.  Who would've thought, the town that ruined my life and I'm running back to it.

That's small towns for you.

I've caught up with myself. I am writing this in an old notebook I got from Chapters years ago, 'STORY OF MY LIFE' engraved on the front. I couldn't think of a better title myself. Apart from maybe something about angels, since they always were a peculiar topic to me. Percy is complaining behind me, saying it's my turn to drive and we need to make it back soon. 

We've been speed driving through most of the journey, just crossing into Minnesota now. We have eight hours left until we reach Bristol.  We were graduating in exactly two weeks.

<.>//<.>//<.>//

It was June 12th, my final track meet. We had made it back to town, no surprise parties or 'thank god your home!!!', but a wave of relief from both of us. It was a piece of shit, but it was home.

Percy had made a huge sign saying,

'ROSES ARE RED VIOLETS ARE BLUE DON'T TRIP CHASE CAUSE THE BLAMES ON YOU'

I wasn't sure if I should laugh, be flattered or offended. But it was probably the best I was going to get. 

While most of the team was popular, the rest of the nobodies were loved on the track. They didn't really care who you were, but as long as you were a Bobcat you were cheered on.

I knotted my double knotted running shoes one more time, just in case. I tried to crack my neck and knuckles, both I could clearly not do. I jumped one more time, and Percy shouted 'NICE BUTT CHASE! MAKE SURE NOT TO TRIP!' one more time just to make sure everyone in all of America knew what he was saying. 

I stuck my tongue out at him, and got into the crouch to start the 200m sprint. 

The gun went off and I wasn't even thinking about anything related to the technique, I just wanted to love myself. 

Silly enough, that's the hardest thing you can do.

_=__=______=___==

And now it was June 20, the day I graduated from Bristol District High School. No more Bristol Bobcats, just the pressure of your future and a once hopeful glance at University. That was trampled quite quickly, as I realized the only money I had was a 100$ bill I was planning on spending on my Grad dress.

Percy and I were waiting at the entrance, glancing nervously at the huge banner placed across the two weird shrubs we had at the entrance, screaming GOOD LUCK, BOBCATS. They also painted it bright orange, which didn't really help with people's Instagram feeds. 

I waited for everyone to be done with pictures, since the only pictures I took was a really blurry picture of Percy tripping over a bush and me laughing hysterically, and a couple pictures taken by Jason, until he decided he wanted to join our pictures, and it continued like that until we had a train of people on us. 

Soon enough the whole ceremony had started, and I had never been so happy I wasn't a W but a C, so I could easily graduate without falling asleep first.

The Valedictorians gave their speeches, and I found myself on the stage, awkwardly hitting the microphone. I smiled at the parents crying and the other graduates, looking at me like I had three eyes.

I sighed, and began what eventually was a speech. 

"So, if you don't know me as anything but 'whore', 'slut', or 'bitchface', my name's Annabeth Chase, and I have a story to tell."

And I found myself telling the whole story, from Thalia, Luke and I running away, to a brief description of Percy trying to kill himself. I just went on and on, no real meaning but wanting to say it all anyways. 

I had finished, and all the kids were looking away, or were nobodies and looking at me with horrific wide gasps. 

I smiled nervously, and concluded the whole thing. "So, I guess the whole point of this all is that I'm okay with it all. Don't be throwing me flowers or giving me hugs, and if you didn't want to anyways, tell your Mother that it's really okay. I want to thank you all for giving me a chance later on, and because driving all the way to California probably helped me. If you go on and end up having a really good time in life, or going to some University or something, remember me. Not necessarily by name, but remember that girl who was given shit at your high school. Also to Thalia and Luke, wherever you are today, I love you."

And with that, nobody even remembered the girl who everyone hated. I was the girl who made our high school years interesting, and a good friend.

I threw my hat up in the air, surrounded by the applause of my accidental speech, and as I saw all the other hats go up I couldn't help but smile.

::..::::..:::

It was the after party at Lacy's house, a rather large mansion with a beach in the backyard.

I was sipping my cocktail rather fondly, when I felt some rather familiar hands pick me up and dash outside, and dump me onto the sand. 

"What is it, Jackson?"

He replied with an extremely deep voice. "I'm not Jackson. I'm your worst enemy."

I laughed, and looked at him confused, considering he was being rather giddy. 

"What is it, Percy."

He shoved an envelope at me, rather aggressively. "Open it."

"Perseus Jackson! I didn't buy you anything cause I thought we weren't buying each other anything! This is unfair!" I said, angrily.

"I couldn't help it. And it's not like it's a boat or anything."

 It was a letter accepting me into Princeton U. 

He looked at me, anxiously. "I applied for you, and you got it. I paid for it too."

I started to cry, and kept crying when Percy kissed me. 

The kiss lasted for what felt like forever, and we only broke apart when all the drunks ran out from the house and threw us both into the cool water. I could hear Ethan scream 'Hurry up then, lovebirds!'

And although most of the promises made that night would probably fall apart, and everyone would have a killer hangover in the morning, it was my favourite forever so far.

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