Gone | Percy Jackson

GONE | PART TWO

A doorbell ringing. Percy shoot up from the couch and nervously ran a hand through his hair, trying to comb it somehow. He'd decided to not dress up noticeable better, after all this was just a meeting between friends. No date. It'll not become a date, Jackson, he thought to himself. Don't lose your composure, once you see her. Don't lose-

He opened the front door and almost yelped in surprise. A blonde hurricane flew towards the apartment and crashed him through the doorway. Something surrounded his chest, squeezing so tightly he almost couldn't breath. Wild, curly hair slapped into his face as he stood there, completely shocked.

Then Annabeth released him and took a step back. Percy could almost hear his jaw hitting the ground. She looked like . . . the ultra goddess or something. Her slim, long legs were pronounced through a blue, faded skinny jeans. She'd put on a blouse in the same shade as his blue cookies, he once offered her. Her hair lay freshly washed, open and shiny, neatly in curls on top of her gray coat. Her stormy gray eyes shone with relief and joy.

But after that, he noticed it. Her eyes had deep, dark blue bags under them. He could see them, even though she put on some make-up to hide them. Her cheeks were shrunken as if she didn't eat a thing since he left her. He was sure, she could still fight and glare her enemies into the ground, but she seemed pretty weak on her legs. As he removed her coat and hung it over a armchair in the living room, he noticed her figure unhealthy slim.

She watched him staring at her with a knowing, sad smile. "I know. I thought you don't want to talk to me after . . . the war and that took my appetite a little."

"Oh gods, Annabeth," he whispered. His chest tightened and his heart felt heavier than any time before. She was definitely not doing good. This was his responsibility. His blame. His absence didn't do any good to either of them. Not to her and definitely not to him. Could he let this happen? Was this keeping her safe or just putting her in other danger and even more suffering? Could he do this to her?

"I'm so sorry, Wise Girl," he mumbled and pulled her into a hug. She hugged him back just as tightly and passionate. Gods, how he loved this girl. Beautiful, all knowing, sweet Annabeth. Could he stand this absence from her life anymore? It felt impossible to leave her again.

"Don't be," she mumbled into his shoulder. "It's not your fault."

"Of course it is," Percy said, wanting to beat himself up for not looking after her. His heart fluttered with hope, with love, with concern, with rage, with disappointment, with so much emotions, he felt like he would explode, if he didn't tell her about everything right now. "I know it. Oh gods, I - Annabeth, I -" He was interrupted by a stomach rumbling loud. Part of him was disappointed, but he was mostly relieved, he didn't tell her. He had to think about this first.

"Look, who does have appetite now," he said playfully, sounding light, but forcing every word out of his mouth. "I'll get something to eat." He wanted to close his mouth, shut up and just think. Think about telling her or not. Obviously, he couldn't protect her from danger through being away, but could he risk protecting her from danger through being with her?

In the kitchen he first grabbed the pancakes his mother made him to lunch. Of course he didn't eat them, because he was to nervous to meet Annabeth again. That turned out to be his luck. He put them in the microwave and searched again for food. They had cookies, cheese, cornflakes, some apples because Paul loved them, a little bit bread, honey and chocolate. Exactly why his mother was out today. She and Paul were buying food and a few outfits for them, because of some party they have to go to with his mother being a author and everything.