Snowfall

Jewel

Annabeth was in love with Percy. It was a well-known fact that the whole camp knew, even Percy himself. Of course, he did, they were dating. But she wasn't sure if he loved her.

They would go on dates frequently, usually have a dinner date and maybe see a movie afterwards. She loved it, being able to talk with him and hold his hand and rest her head on his shoulder. She especially loved being able to cuddle with him afterwards, when they occasionally stayed at Sally's place. She'd figured out she loved to touch.

Her favourite part of him was his eyes. They were his gems, sparkling and truly beautiful compared to what was considered a normal 'eye.' A glinting sea green, shining like a jewel. Probably the most attractive part of him.

The only problem was that he never seemed into it. His eyes didn't light up when they saw her like she noticed they did when he saw her, a smile didn't appear on his face every time he greeted her like it did when he greeted her. He didn't just casually throw an arm around her shoulder like he did when he was with her.

If she wasn't mistaken, he wasn't in love with Annabeth. He was in love with her.

Her. Thalia Grace. Ex-huntress, mentally somewhere around twenty years but physically seventeen. A perfect match in age, that was for sure. He was only a year older. Annabeth, she was the same age as him, but, of course, that didn't mean anything. In fact, logically, someone of the same age might even be less appealing.

Another thing about her: Thalia could relate to him. More than Annabeth, at least. Both were children of the big three, having suffered the same treatment by campers, gods, and most likely even mortals. Annabeth, she'd never experienced the same admiration they had, the same seclusion. She'd always been sort of like a model for a typical Athenian camper, which was intelligent, more on the lonely side and normal. Percy and Thalia had been regarded as if they were royalty.

Thalia was also beautiful. Annabeth had been told she was pretty, with stormy grey eyes and princess curls in the brightest of blondes. She'd also been told her eyes would scare away any men, her hair would blind any who looked at her. Thalia's eyes were as beautiful as his: sparking blue, flickering with lightning and looking like someone had just rolled up a storm and shoved it into her eyes. They were fierce, making you afraid but at the same time pulling you in. Her hair expressed her dramatic personality perfectly, shining like the darkest of nights. A queen next to Annabeth's princess.

Percy had never seemed to enjoy how much Annabeth liked to touch. Thalia had always seemed like she would be against touching, but with Percy, she shared the same affinity and he always seemed happy to oblige. It hit her like a bullet, straight to the heart.

She watched every day as the two would constantly join each other at their tables, sometimes at Poseidon, sometimes at Zeus. Nobody ever commented on it, and Annabeth doubted they would stop even if someone did. He would say something and she would laugh, she would steal some of his food and he would shove her shoulder playfully. It was something that seemed so easy for her, but in reality, was so far away.

Thalia would sometimes press a quick kiss to Percy's cheek after campfires or whenever he gifted her with something. Neither thought much of it (or so it seemed) but Annabeth felt a pang in her heart every time it happened.

Life was painful. But she clung to him in hopes he would grow to love her the same way she loved him.

Something told her he never would.