All Her Life

Chapter 39 - SAVE HER

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Percy woke up gasping for air in a desk at Goode High School. There was a sick feeling in his stomach. Quickly, he got out his phone checking the date.

It wasn't real... It was just a dream...

"Percy, are you planning on staying here all night, or do you wanna go home?" He looked up as Mr Pluto laughed.

Where was Annabeth? Why hadn't she woken him up...

"No... No, no, no!" He stood up, almost forgetting his back pack, and took of running.

The halls were almost abandoned. She was long gone by now... But when he hit the streets, he still yelled out her name, desperation burning in his stomach. "Annabeth!"

There was no reply, but he hadn't been expecting one in the first place. He turned on his heel, in a circle, before starting off at a jog towards the bridge, breaking into a run shortly after. He couldn't lose her. Not again... Not for real. She was his whole world... Losing her would mean losing everything. He refused to risk that.

He wanted to ditch his pack pack at home, but there wasn't time for that. He had to get to her, to get to the bridge, before she jumped.

He wasn't even sure if what he saw would happen, but he was terrified he would lose her because of his own ignorance.

He got to the bridge, but there were so many people. He couldn't get past.

'Where are you!?'

Percy pushed people out of his way, ignoring their curses. He still couldn't see her.

'I love you.'

His stomach dropped. That's exactly what he saw in his dream. Percy dropped his things and his cell phone on the walk, running forward, pushing people out of his way, telling her name. "Annabeth!"

He slammed into a tall man, falling backwards, the air being pushed out of his lungs. He hit his head and closed his eyes, tearing up in pain. "No... Annabeth..."

A hand grabbed his and hoisted him to his feet. "Watch where you're going, stop to smell the roses every once in a while." The man he ran into said, patting him on the back. It was... Confusing. It would've been if he hadn't hit his head, too. He continued forward, eyes searching desperately for her.

He almost missed her. She was about to climb over to the other side of the railing. She was lifting herself off the ground.

"No!" Percy yelled, his voice breaking.

He ran towards her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her down, turning her and holding her to his chest. She was sobbing. She didn't fight him. "What were you thinking...?" He whispered, holding her to his chest. People had started to surround them.

"I... There isn't anything left... Without you..." She already knew it was him. She moved slightly, and, in fear that she'd slip out of his arms, he tightened his hold on her, pulling her even closer to him. Percy felt tears building behind his eyelids.

"I'm sorry... Gods, I'm so sorry... I love you so much..." Percy sniffled, tears falling down his cheeks. "I'm taking you home, okay?" He put his hands on the sides of her face. Her eyes were closed, and her breaths were shaky. She wasn't okay... He just wished he'd noticed sooner. Percy sighed, kissing her forehead. He hugged her again, his arms around her shoulders, eyes closed. He pressed his forehead against the top of her head. "I love you... So much. More than anything in the whole world."

She didn't say anything. Percy sighed, bending down and picking her up bridal style. She put her arms around his neck without speaking. Someone, a random bystander, picked up her phone and bag and handed it to Percy. He took them, still holding her close. Percy got his backpack and phone from where he dropped them before taking her home.

He set their stuff on the ground and carried Annabeth to his room. She'd fallen asleep as he carried her. Percy laid he down on his bed, pulling the blankets up around her. He didn't know what to do...

He'd almost been too late. She was almost over the railing when he got to her. She'd almost slipped out of his fingers. Percy sighed, laying down beside her, under the blankets, pulling her close to him again. He wouldn't let her go like that again. There was no way in hell he would risk it. He loved her too much...

Percy fell asleep pretty quickly after laying down, his arms around her small, frail frame.

***

A couple hours later, Percy woke up to Annabeth crying. She was gripping his shirt, still asleep, panicking, calling his name in a weak, scared voice.

Percy rolled onto his elbows, laying her on her back. "Baby, baby, wake up! Annabeth, you're safe! You're safe! I'm right here. Annabeth, wake up, please! Please, Wise Girl, I am right here!"

He hugged her tighter, burying his face in her neck. She was still crying, hugging him so tightly he almost couldn't breathe. He didn't want to breathe if she wasn't okay. She suddenly gasped, her body going still. Percy quickly pulled away from her, putting his hand in her hair. "Annabeth?"

She blinked up at him, looking scared. "Percy...?"

"Hey..." He whispered, leaning down to press his forehead against hers. He closed his eyes, tears falling. He felt her hand on his face, her thumb wiping his tears away.

"I'm sorry..." She mumbled softly.

"No. Baby, don't be sorry. I should have noticed. I should've known." He kissed her forehead and closed his eyes, relaxing. Percy laid back on his side, keeping his arms around Annabeth. She clutched his shirt, and he held her. He didn't care what had been said, what had almost been done, what hadn't been said. She was safe, close to him, in his arms, and that was all that mattered to him. "I should have known what you were going through... I've seen it, I've been through it. I should have noticed it..." He nuzzled her neck. "I love you... God, I love you so much."

"Why aren't you bad?" She whimpered.

"Why would I be mad?" He whispered, kissing her forehead. His breath shook. "I'm the one who fucked up."

She shook her head. "I didn't want to tell you, because... I wanted Hazel to be in a better place before I told anyone what had almost happened. She doesn't deserve unnecessary publicity just because I talked her down."

"Baby," He whispered, tilting her chin up so he could look into her eyes. "It's alright. I promise, I'll take care of you. I won't make another fucking impulsive decision. I swear." He whispered, voice shaking.

She kissed him lightly. Percy sighed, tightening his arms around her and closing his eyes. "I love you, my beautiful, amazing Wise Girl. I always will." He whispered lovingly. Percy rubbed her back. He was crying again.

"Percy, you're crying more than me." She whispered.

He couldn't help but laugh. "I thought I lost you. You won't believe it... I saw it all. What happened to you... What happened to me, your mom, mine, Piper... All of it. I felt it. I thought you were really gone... The- The last thing I remember was looking at a picture of us... And my phone going black... God... Then I woke up in our last class." He shook his head. "I didn't understand why you didn't wake me up. Why you were gone... Then it all came back to me... I ran straight to the fucking bridge. I couldn't lose you a second time."

Annabeth looked up at him. "But... You didn't even lose me once, baby?"

"It felt like it." He whispered. "I felt like I was going to lose you a second time, and I didn't want to go through that again."

Annabeth pressed her face against his chest. "I love you so much." She sighed softly. "And I am so sorry I did this."

"I don't care. All I care is that you are safe and in my arms."

They were silent for a while.

"You had a premonition." Annabeth whispered, sounding like she might cry. "You saw what would happen if you didn't save me-"

"I don't care about some fucking premonition." Percy growled, his voice stuffed up from crying. It shook like a leaf. "I care about you. Only you. If it was a premonition, then fuck it. If it helped my save you, then okay... But screw that fucking word. Screw that fucking dream. I. Don't. Care. I care about you. You're alive. That is all that matters to me. That is all that fucking matters."