My Side of the Story

The Return

Luke's pov

  Things were quiet without Annabeth around, threatening to slit someone's throat if they did anything to upset her.

  I sigh and look out at the camp from my place beside Thalia's tree. I set a hand on the rough, uneven bark. "Why am I still here and you not? What purpose do I have?" I ask, looking up the White House Christmas sized pine. A cold wind blows through the upper branches.

  "Thals, you could handle this so much better than I..." I sigh heavily, leaning my head back against her tree.

  I close my and just sit there, thinking.

  I hear the soubd of a car, but I don't think much of it until it brakes to a stop.

  "Annie! Can we start over!? Your mother is sorry for everything!" I hear a man shout after two car door slams.

  "It's Annabeth! And that woman is not my mother nor is she sorry! After the first attack she looked murderous!

  I'm sorry Father, but I will not do this any more!"

  I stand up in time to see Annabeth running up the hill, away from her father. I feel a weight lift off my shoulders that I didn't know I was carrying.

  As she gets closer, I realize that she's crying.

  "Annie please!" He father yells.

  Annabeth shakes her head and keeps running, a backpack hitting her back on each bound.

  She runs to me. I open my arms and she litterally collapses there. Tears stain my CHB shirt, but I don't care.

  It seems that her father had just about given up but he shouts one last thing. "I'm sorry... and I love you." The last part sounds like a line in a play he forgot and the director had quickly given him the line. In other words, fake.

  Annabeth freezes. She slowly turns towards her father, tears streaming full throttle down her face. "If you loved me, Father, you would never have pushed me away. We wouldn't be in thos situation because we would most likely be laughing 'round the dinner table. You sound forced. You sound rehearsed. You sound fake.

  "I will not accept the apology of a fake man." Her voice doesn't shake even though he shakes all over.

  Mr. Chase sighs and gets back in the car. He drives away slowly.

  Annabeth stands perfectly straight until he's out of sight. Then she sinks to the ground, more tears falling.

  I sit beside her and comfort her. "What happened?" I ask once she'd calmed down considerably.

  "I never should have gone... only more disappointments and tears and arguing and bullying." She whispers.

  A/N I suprize myself sometimes ... night friends!