When It Fades To Black: Percabeth AU

Tell No One

(All story line rights go to ChasingFreedoms)

Annabeth POV

I made it to school with five minutes til the bell, which for walking with a broken ankle in a large and heavy boot, I found very impressive. I took the elevator up to my wing because stairs were to be avoided if possible, and then head to class. Percy shows up a minute or so after me and sat down. Mr. Chiron announced a group project and I turned to Percy because he was new. I also don't like some of the people I've been paired with before. "Partners?" I ask, every syllable making pain shoot through my ribs as I breathe. I pretend I'm fine of course. 

But Percy's sea green eyes bore into my stormy gray ones and I couldn't break the gaze. Finally Percy said, "Sure." That's it. I'm so confused. For a moment I felt as though his stare was ripping apart all my secrets and shattering all the walls I'd built between me and the world. And then he just says sure. But I still feel like he's doing it. Ripping my defenses to shreds.

Suddenly, all the emotion I've held in all these years boils over and I just feel so... angry. I don't know why, but suddenly I hate Percy Jackson for ripping up my lies. What gives him the right?

Percy POV

Annabeth looks at me and I can't help but stare straight into her eyes. She looks so sad, like she's bearing a burden that no one else knows about. I know, deep with in me, something is very wrong in Annabeth's life, and I also realize she's told no one. So much pain in those eyes. Too much for one person. How has no one seen it?

I slowly become aware that I should probably respond, and say,"Sure." Annabeth looks confused but slowly the expression morphs, and she is glaring at me. Is she angry with me? Luckily for me, her phone goes off and she glances down.

She curses quietly as she reads the text before her. "What?" I ask, semi-afraid she'll kill me. But when she looks at me, the rage is gone like a diffused bomb. I inwardly give out a sigh of relief.

Annabeth, to my surprise, answers. "Piper can't drive me home is all, and I don't know what I'll do."

I shrug casually, even though my brain is working over time with excitement. "I could give you a ride."

Annabeth looks at me and smiles a bit. "Thanks." She tells me, looking relieved. I think she was planning to walk home, even with her ankle. Jason was right. She is stubborn. 

I just nod and we start on our project. After making it through gym and history, Jason and I head to lunch, meeting Piper and Annabeth on the way. The two girls seem to be having a heated discussion that abruptly cuts off when they see us.

Piper POV

Our science teacher tells us the rest of the class is ours. Annabeth keeps hugging her ribs when she thinks I'm not looking. Her breathing is shallow and unsteady. Her dad has done it again. She's never told me, but of course I know. I'd be a terrible friend if I didn't. I've never told the others because Annabeth would never forgive me. 

Over the years, I've tried to get her to admit it to me, but she just brushes it off and changes the subject. Gods, my best friend was being beaten and there was nothing I could do short of calling the police. And she'd hate me. There were days though, when I wondered if it would be worth it. Her hating me for her safety. But then I think of how angry she would spend the rest of her life, and how she'd be put in a foster home.

It killed me to not know which would destroy her more. We left science and I asked if she'd go to the bathroom with me. She nodded and we went into the bathroom. It was empty, exactly how I'd hoped. Suddenly, I lunged at Annabeth and lifted up her sweater. I almost threw up at what I saw. There were bruises all up her side and bandages taped to her back. She shoved me away and pulled her shirt down again. 

Before I could say anything, she just said, "I'm fine."

 I shook my head. "No, Annabeth you're not." She blew through the door but I followed her and grabbed her arm.

She shook me off and said, "Piper, this has happened so many times, maybe if you weren't so self absorbed, you would have noticed!"

I sigh in frustration. "Annabeth, I always knew! I always tried to get you to talk about it, but you never would!"

She shoots back, "Maybe I didn't want to!" I begin to say something but abruptly cut off when I see Percy and Jason coming towards us.

Annabeth POV

I don't talk much that meal, and I can feel my friends' concern in the air. I don't care anymore though. Piper knew, this whole time, she knew. And he hadn't done anything. Somehow though, it made me love her more. She hadn't called the the cops without my consent, hadn't told anyone, just loved me and tried to make me happy. Today though, I was glad it was today that she looked. It's not as bad today. 

The rest of the day flew by and I met Percy in the parking lot. I dreaded going home but there was nothing I can do. I have nowhere else to go. I step into Percy's five or six year old Jeep Cherokee and give him directions as we go down the road. We arrive at my house in less than five minutes and Percy gets out as I open my door.

I look at him confusedly and ask, "What are you doing?" He shrug as and says, "Being a gentleman. Walking the young lady to the door." I roll my eyes at him and walked to the door. He's still standing next to me, so I shoo him away.

"You walked me to the door," I said, "Bye." He looked kind of hurt, but I didn't care. He walked back, and I opened the door . My dad was waiting for me. He raised a whiskey bottle over my head. 

Percy POV

I heard a shatter of glass and then meaty smack as I got into my car. I jumped out, afraid Annabeth's ankle boot had caused her to fall. I ran over to a much more horrifying sight. Annabeth's father was hitting her. Her head was bleeding, and I saw a broken bottle in his hand.

I ran forward, and he slammed the door, leaving his daughter on the threshold bruised and bleeding. I ran over to her and before blacking out, she whispers, "Tell no one."