Chapter 22

Athens

Percy's POV

"We're back together!" I exclaimed as I walked back into my apartment. I knew that Jason had to be somewhere. And Nico was probably there somewhere too.

"Why do you scream if you don't know for sure if anybody's home? And why are you even here? Annabeth has an apartment." A grumpy Jason asked as he walked into the living room.

"Hello to you too. Why so grumpy? And I thought that our mister meddler would be happy that we're back together. And we're here because I wanted to sleep in my own bed in the short time that we're here."

"Yeah, yeah, great and all. But it's 11 pm jerk. I need sleep."

Then Jason came over to hug me and Annabeth and murmur out a 'congrats'.

"Thanks Jase, and come on you're 23. Go live or something. Normal people don't sleep at 11 pm."

"Thanks for the advice Percy. But I need sleep and we have a concert tomorrow. And you're the one who said that he wouldn't do the rock and roll thing."

I wanted to argue again, that hanging out with my girlfriend wasn't rock and roll, but Jason had already walked off.

"And Nico's away by the way! Don't know if he comes back!" Jason shouted over his shoulder and then shot the door of his room.

"Well, that was Jason." I stated and looked at Annabeth again. And I couldn't help but smile and feel the butterflies in my stomach. She was amazing. And for the first time in five months seeing or thinking about Annabeth didn't hurt in some way.

"Shall we watch a movie?" Annabeth asked, grabbing my hands and smiling. "I really missed watching movies with you."

And so we did. We actually watched 'Notting Hill'. And I had missed watching movies with Annabeth too. I had missed the feeling that we were pieces of a puzzle that fitted together perfectly.

But more than that I had missed to fell asleep with Annabeth with me. How we could spoon and I could hold her.

"Love you." I whispered as I was falling asleep. The last thing that I heard before drifting off was Annabeth whispering it back.

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"Okay, so is this a one time thing? A hookup? Or are you back together?" Nico blurted, confusing written over his face, while pointing between me and Annabeth who were eating breakfast as Nico came into the apartment with Will.

Suddenly he broke into a laugh as I was about to explain. "Just kidding. Jason texted me. Congrats. And your face was worth it. So what do we have here?" And Nico and Will went to sit with us.

While eating breakfast and talking to Nico and Will I stared at Annabeth for most of the time. And when she would glance up at me, I blushed which was stupid. But Annabeth seemed to be enjoying it.

"You're cute when you do that." Annabeth whispered to me. And in response I grew even more red and just kissed her cheek.

"Gross!" Jason exclaimed as he walked in while making throwing up noises. "You're worse than you were before. All whispery and kissing. And then there are Nico and Will, just sitting." Jason said frustrated and sat down next to us.

"Love you too, Jase." Nico and I said in chorus and high-fived each other.

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"Goodbye. I'll miss you." Annabeth said to me as we hugged at the airport. After a few days in New York we had to go on with the tour.

"I'll miss you too. But only for two months. Then we're done with the tour and you won't get rid of me." I joked to cheer her up. My head resting on top of hers.

She laughed lightly and hugged me again.

We stood there for what seemed like forever but was over too soon. I needed to board the plane and I kissed her one last time for a long time. Then I waved and turned around the corner.

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"Wish, you could be here. Europe is amazing. Can't you take a week off and come?" I asked while I was Face Timing Annabeth.

"I wish I could, but I can't. Work." She groaned.

"Sucks, but at least we have FaceTime." I smiled weakly.

"Yeah, you're right. Tell me about your day."

"They're nice. We haven't really had a free day, only a couple. And mostly doing interviews on them. But they are okay. But I have a question. Do you have a problem with me telling in an interview that we're back together? Because I would really like to tell the world. And we're not breaking up anytime soon, so..."

I was a bit nervous for Annabeth's answer. I didn't want to fight again on FaceTime. And I don't want to force anything on her. But maybe girls (and some guys) will back off. That was the subject of our last fight. A girl had tried to kiss me and I hadn't realised it until her lips were on mine. I hadn't kissed back and pushed her off of me, but Annabeth didn't think that it was as funny as Jason and Nico.

"Yeah, that's okay. If that's what you want. I'm fine with it. I actually told most of my friends and family so the whole world can know. And we're definitely not breaking up any time soon."

I gave Annabeth a grin. And the best was that she smiled back.

"We're going to Athens in a week. Unfortunately you can't come." I had given Annabeth a ticket for Athens and bought a plane ticket for her, but she hadn't mentioned it again so I assumed that she had thrown it away when we broke up.

"Yeah, too bad." Annabeth bit her lip, looking like she was hiding a smile but I was probably just imagining it. "When's the interview?"

"Tonight. Really looking forward to it..." And for an hour we rambled on about everything and nothing. Until I had to go to the interview.

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"Welcome! So glad that you're here." The host told us.

"We're glad to be here too. It's been a long time since the last time." Jason replied for me and Nico. We took turns in talking the most in interviews.

"Yes, the last time was on your previous world tour, how old were you guys?"

"I was 18, Nico was 17 and Percy was 19." Jason told them again.

And then something came that I already feared. On the scream came a picture of us sitting on the same couch as we were sitting on now, in the same studio, only then five years ago. And I wanted to dig myself a hole and crawl in it.

I knew that people don't see it, but when I looked at myself I only saw a stupid boy from 19 who was still realising everything around him. I remembered that Rachel and I had broken up a few months before this.

"-'ve you been?"

"Sorry?" I asked confused. They had talked on without me while I zoned out. The audience laughed and I smiled in response.

"How have you been?" The host asked again, clearly amused that people were laughing.

"Ohm uh, good. On a world tour, Europe's been great. Love the people here." With that the people started clapping enthusiastic.

"Yeah, did you have many one night stands with girls or even some guys? Maybe a new love?" The host asked, hoping for some fresh news and rumours.

I grew red, which was probably not in my favour. "Actually I'm back together with my girlfriend again for a month now and a half now."

The audience grew silent and the host grew silent. The host was probably happy that he had the news as the first one. I smiled at the camera and waved, hoping Annabeth was watching.

"And when we were broken up I had no one night stands either. Not really my style." I added which was more my ADHD after a long silence.

"And what for you guys? Any news?" The host asked after the silence.

"No, no still with Will. Why don't we talk about music?" Nico answered.

"Good idea, so how many shows do you have?"

"Not that much really. We're almost done in only three weeks. It's crazy actually but I can't wait to go home. Even though I'll miss the touring." I answered, and it was true that I would miss the touring.

"Especially because we don't know how relevant we will be in a couple of years. And if people still want to listen to our music." Nico added.

"Our motto is: 'Enjoy it while it lasts and do what we love to do.'" Jason added too. "We said when I was 17, when we first got discovered and here we are. Still here." I added with a growing grin.

"Yeah, can't get rid of us that easily." Nico added, smiling.

And the audience clapped.

"I think that you'll be relevant for a while." The host added smiling and we continued talking about music, thankfully.

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"Looking cute." Annabeth had texted me I saw as I looked at my telephone after the interview.

I groaned loudly and texted her back asking her if she could call. Nico and Jason had ditched me to drink somewhere at a bar while I was walking to the hotel alone.

"Sure." And I called her.

"Hey."

"Hey, I must be really wanted if you call me two times on the same day." Annabeth joked.

"Haha, can't I call my beautiful girlfriend? And you watched the interview I assume?"

"Yeah, you were really inspirational. And you were so cute as a nineteen year old boy."

"A part of me just died Beth. But thanks. Even though I looked so stupid and confused on that picture."

"And who says that you've changed? You are still quite oblivious and dense I'm afraid."

"Yeah, especially when someone's kissing me." I tried for a joke. Bad choice.

After a long silence I thought that Annabeth had hung up on me. "Not ready to joke about it yet Perce. But yeah especially then."

"And about your 'motto', is that why you guys have that stupid poster with it on it in your kitchen?" Annabeth asked, ignoring what she said before.

"Yeah, and it's not a stupid poster. It's the first thing we ever bought for the apartment. So it has sentimental worth. And if we're ever going to live together than I'm taking the 'stupid' poster with me." I froze at what I had said. Live together. I was sure Annabeth was going to hang up on me now for sure.

"Come back, Seaweed Brain, then we'll see." Annabeth replied and I did a little happy dance. She couldn't see me anyway.

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"Hey Athens! Glad to see you! Hope you like it!" I shouted at the crowd. We were finally in Athens meaning only two more weeks of the tour.

And we did the usual. A few songs and mostly after that we skipped the planning and did whatever song of ours that we liked to do at that moment.

And then the break came.

"I have to go!" Nico exclaimed frustrated, flailing his arms. "Will's in the hospital!"

Will was traveling with us for the last two weeks and had come yesterday.

"He can't go alone. I'll drop him off and then come back super quickly. We can finish it together. As long as we have drums and guitar. And you can play the piano and I the guitar a bit. Nico can't focus. If it was Annabeth you'd be already out the door." Jason proposed and I just nodded. I could do it and finish the second half with Jason.

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"Hey, there's a problem backstage. So it's just me and Jason's gonna come back soon." I told the crowd who were eying curiously at me. "I wanted to play this song alone anyway."

And I sat down at the piano. I had written and thought of the melody myself so I could play this one easily on the piano.

"You know I wrote the song while I was broken up with my girlfriend." I told the crowd while getting the right position.

I still remembered how and when I wrote the song. It was in our new album and it was only days after I wrote 'Let Her Go', the inspiration and need to sing was undreadable not to do anything about it. More than usual.

"So here it goes." I whispered to myself and started the song.

How can I just let you walk away

Just let you leave without a trace?

When I stand here taking every breath with you

You're the only one who really knew me at all

How can you just walk away from me

When all I can do is watch you leave?

'Cause we've shared the laughter and the pain,

And even shared the tears

You're the only one who really knew me at all

So, take a look at me now

Well, there's just an empty space

And there's nothing left here to remind me

Just the memory of your face

Take a look at me now,

Well, there's just an empty space

And you coming back to me is against the odds

And that's what I've got to face

I wish I could just make you turn around

Turn around and see me cry

There's so much I need to say to you

So many reasons why

You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now, well, there's just an empty space

And there's nothing left here to remind me

Just the memory of your face

Now, take a look at me now 'cause there's just an empty space

But to wait for you is all I can do and that's what I've got to face

Take a good look at me now 'cause I'll still be standing here

And you coming back to me is against all odds -

It's the chance I've got to take

Take a look at me, now

Take a look at me, now

By the end I had tears in my eyes. Even after the fact that Annabeth had come back. I felt like how I felt back then.

I don't know if it was a special thing that I could spot her in a crowd, when she wasn't supposed to be there. But that didn't make me didn't less surprised.

Because there, in a crowd of thousands of people there she was. Annabeth.

A/N

I'm not finished, only two more chapters. And I'm sad that it's almost finished. But make sure to check my new book out. And listen to the song above that's how I imagined it.