Shattered to Pieces |Percabeth Story |

6

Annabeth

A Month Later

I drop into a seat opposite Percy at the lunch table we adopted in the school cafeteria. "Hi," Percy greets before taking a huge gulp from his can of coke.

"Hi," I reply as I unpack my small lunch.

"Are you okay?" Percy asks. He asks me the same question about five times each day.

"Sure, I guess," I offer, weakly. I should be great. Ben hasn't laid a finger on me in over a week. I think that's a new record but my good mood from earlier has disappeared since Rachel Elizabeth Dare decided to open her big mouth.

"Who was it? Actually, don't tell me." Percy pretends to think. "Rachel." I nod. "What did she say?" Percy asks.

"The usual- that I'm a fake actress and that I'm a stupid little liar. Normally, I just ignore what she says but... I don't know. Today I got a little mad," I admit.

Percy frowns. "What did you do?"

"I punched her in the face," I whisper.

"What?"

"I punched her in the face," I say a little louder.

"I heard you the first time, Annabeth. Why the hell would you do that? What if the principal calls Ben?" Percy asks, worriedly. Knowing he cares makes me feel weird. Something flutters in my stomach and my head feels light.

"She just angered me so much and when I punched her she yelled that I probably hurt myself to get attention or something. And about Ben: it's too late."

"You mean Mr. D already called Ben?" Percy hisses. I nod. "Great. That's just great. What are you going to do now?"

"Nothing. That's all I can do," I whisper.

"Why don't you fight back?" Percy asks; leaning over the table a little so only I can hear what he's saying.

"You wouldn't either if you were in my situation. He threatens to kill me, Percy," I hiss at him.

"Maybe he just says that to scare you. He's never actually tried, has he?" Percy questions. I look away. "Oh my god. He has. When?"

"It was a year ago. He stabbed me in the stomach. I nearly bled to death," I whisper. Just thinking about that day makes my hands start to shake. I remember how much it hurt, how loud screamed.

"He didn't take you to the hospital?" Percy asks, horrified. I shake my head.

"No. He left to go to the pub. I found a first aid kit and I tried to sow myself up. It got infected but Ben didn't care. He told me to stay home for a few weeks and he left me in my room where I couldn't move to get downstairs for food because I could barely move a finger I was so weak."

Percy's face is now pale. He pushes his lunch away from him and buries his head in his hands. "I think it's time we called the cops."

"No."

"Yes," Percy snaps.

"No. You promised you wouldn't!"

"A lot of people break promises, Annabeth," Percy says, looking up at me.

"Please," I practically beg, ignoring how weak I sound. "I'll do anything."

He stares at me and the look in his eyes tell me that once again I have won. "Fine." I sigh before Percy adds, "But..."

"But?" I repeat.

"You invite Rachel to stay at your home for a month. She was all over me in Science and told me that her mom and dad were going away for their anniversary and they want her to stay with someone. I think she was waiting for me to offer to let her stay with me," Percy replies.