Troubled

52

chapter fifty-two
annabeth

I was all alone.

After handing me the letter Athena stomped off to her home office, claiming she had business she needed to attend to.

I rolled my eyes as I made my way up to my bedroom. Well, it wasn't really mine, I was simply living there.

Athena's apartment was huge and when I arrived she told me to simply pick a guest bedroom and that it would be mine. I chose one with a view of the city. It wasn't the largest, but it was cozy.

After double checking that the door was locked, I made my way to the desk. I shoved all the papers off it and set my computer in the drawer.

The letter looked small as I set it down on the desk. My hands trembled as I forced it open, pulling the piece of paper out of the wrecked envelope.

The paper was torn off a notebook. There were several pages, all of them looking as if they were filled front and back with writing.

I couldn't help but smile as my eyes scanned the pages, Percy's writing filling my head. Even with all the grammar and spelling mistakes, it was the best thing I'd ever read because it was from him.

'Dear Annabeth,

I know that sounds really formal, but I've never really written a letter before and that's how they usually start it in the movies and stuff.

You probably won't even get to read this, and if you do then I just wanna say I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I can't be with you, I'm sorry that I missed your birthday. I'm sorry that we got caught.

I'm not sure what happened that day. I'm not sure how you were found or what has happened to you, but I hope you're safe and happy, wise girl.

I'm going to college as planned. It'll be hard to get through without you, but I have hope. I only assume you'll be starting your dream and going to Columbia. Maybe one day I'll read about you or hear about you in the news, changing the world.

My mom got engaged. To Paul, as expected. They seem really happy together and they're getting married as soon as possible. It's all moving very quick, but I know they'll be happy together. I only wish that you could come to the wedding and we could slow dance.

Too cheesy? Alright, fine, wise girl. But I do miss you. I miss you every day. Fine, I'll quit being cheesy but I'm serious. New York doesn't feel the same without you.

I assume that we've broken up, but I hate that fact. I may never see you again and all I can think about is you.

I hope you're doing well wherever the hell you are. And if you want you can write me back if they allow you to. My address is at the bottom in case you don't have it.

And if someone else is reading this like Annabeth's family, kindly fuck off and give the letter to her. Thanks.

Anyways, I love you, wise girl. I hope to see you and speak to you again, not only through unanswered letters.

Love,
percy.'

What was I going to do? He sends me this amazing letter, one that I read over and over again. Yet I can never see him again. At least I have little hope that I will.

I checked the back of the paper, where his address was written. Perfectly intact was his address, which made my heart skip a beat.

Even though I knew for a certain my mother would never allow me to write him back, I did. I wrote him a letter, several pages front and back.

I filled the pages with responses, heartache, and even some hope when speaking of my new internship, which was alright.

And as I finished I set the pen down and read his letter again. And again. And again. I allowed his words to play over and over in my mind, smiling at every spelling mistake and grinning every time he called me wise girl.

Only for a moment, it felt as if he were actually here.