End of the Line

#38 - Candles

Chapter 38 - Candles
published: Wednesday, 16 October 2019

Tck, tck, tck.

Annabeth muffled a grumpy groan with her pillow as she rolled into her other side.

Tck, tck, tck.

Someone was knocking on her door. They had to go away. She wasn't ready to wake up yet.

"Psst, Annabeth," someone hissed.

Realising that her short beauty sleep was over, Annabeth groaned as she flopped out of bed and stumbled over to the door.

"Mmph, Hazel?" she slurred sleepily. "What?" Her frizzy-haired friend was at the door, with Piper at her side. Both were dressed and freshened up, which made Annabeth feel like a disgusting slob.

"We need to come in," Piper insisted, shoving past her as they slipped inside and shut the door behind them.

"Are we under attack?" Annabeth demanded.

Hazel shook her head.

"Any imminent danger?" she continued.

"No, but—"

Annabeth snorted. "Then why the hell did you wake me up?"

"Frank's planning to propose to me," Hazel exploded frantically.

Annabeth felt her jaw drop as she sat down on her bed suddenly. "Oh my gods," she whispered. "Oh, of course," she said again, this time with an irritated tone. "How did I not realise this?"

"Not the point," Piper reminded her. "Hazel doesn't know what to do."

"I saw the speech on his desk," Hazel explained worriedly. "Do I ask him about it? I'm afraid he'll get mad at me for finding out. I'm sure he wanted it to be a surprise."

Annabeth studied Hazel's face. "Yes or no?"

Hazel blinked. "What?"

"Yes or no?" Annabeth repeated. "That's the question, isn't it? Do you want to marry Frank or not?"

Piper and Hazel exchanged looks.

"I don't know," Hazel admitted. She sighed. "I love Frank, I really do. But we're so young — what if we're making a mistake?" she said in bewilderment. "What if I'm wrong about this?"

Piper grabbed Hazel's hands. "Don't care about the future. That isn't your worry," she said firmly. "All that matters is now." Piper swallowed. "As hard as it is to admit, in a week's time, we could all be dead. If that happens, will you regret that you didn't marry Frank when you had the chance?"

Annabeth stared at the back of Piper's head. Something about her words struck a chord with her. If she died next week, would she regret anything?

Percy.

The first thing that slipped into her mind was Percy.

It set off alarm bells and Annabeth had to hold in her panic. She couldn't believe that she was still having thoughts like these. Percy had cheated on her, and yet he'd returned and somehow burrowed his way back into her heart.

Damn you, she added silently in her head towards him. Why do you have to be so...Percy?

Annabeth hesitated. For all their tension and moments of quiet, they'd never once brought up the issue of him kissing Rachel before he disappeared. He probably didn't even know she knew.

Annabeth wondered if he regretted it. Or if he was just waiting to get back to Rachel at camp. The thought of it actually, physically pained her.