Chapter 16

Time flies

Annabeth's POV

It has been four months since the world tour had begun and I thought that I would be over Percy by now. But that didn't happen and I'm more stuck up than before I'm afraid.

After a few horrible dates and a lot of support from my friends I am buying a ticket to go to one of the concerts in San Francisco as I was visiting my family. I needed to talk to Percy.

I had been in contact with Jason for almost everyday, we talked about other things, but mostly about Percy. Jason at first didn't want to, but he wanted to help Percy and he said to me that Percy missed me too.

Even though Jason told me that Percy missed me too and he also was miserable, the band dropped some new songs. Two with the names 'The Scientist' and 'Let her go'. And as Jason confirmed that Percy had written them I wasn't actually planning to go.

But I needed to see him. Actually I wanted to run to him, hug him and never let go. Except that would be a little creepy as we had broken up. But I need to talk to him and at least ask him if he can forgive me.

And it came out perfectly, they had been in Asia and South-America and now they were back in the states for a month and after that they were going to Canada and Europe at last.

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"Welcome! Nice to see y'all!" Percy said to the crowd. I was sitting in the middle but he wouldn't expect me here. So he probably wouldn't see me.

"Hey, are you nervous?" Piper whispered. Piper had insisted on coming and I was glad that she did now.

"Yes. Maybe he doesn't even want to talk to me. And I feel so stupid. And dependent and stuck up." I squeezed my eyes shut realising that this was a stupid idea. I couldn't even hear their songs without crying or feeling miserable and depressed.

"Well you're not dependent and stuck up. You just love Percy and he loves you. I'm sure of that. He hasn't deleted any pictures of you on instagram and otherwise Jason would've told you. So have faith and squeeze my hand if you need to cry or let some frustration out. And if you don't make any noise it's okay. But they are starting now. And I actually like their music, so...." Piper gave me a smile and looked at the band.

"Hey Pipes, you really are a good friend you know." I whispered back.

------

Multiple songs passed and there was now a break. So the last part was coming and I was even more anxious than before. I told Jason that I would come and he came to talk to me during the break.

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Jason asked and quickly hugged me. We'd walked outside so that there weren't any fans.

"Uhm, holding up. Has any seen me?" I asked while pacing around.

"No, and I don't think they will. Nico and Percy are both busy and especially Percy isn't searching for someone in the crowd and above all, he needs to play the guitar and sing."

"Okay, and what are you planning for me and Percy to talk?" I actually had left that part up to Jason, as I was thinking of what I needed to say to him.

"Yeah, I can bring you backstage and you can talk in private. But I don't know how he is going to react. Percy can be reckless as you know." Jason let out a laugh. "But that's my problem, he would never get mad at you."

"Okay, thanks by the way for doing this." "Of course, everything for my cousin and you're my friend Annabeth."

I felt a bit guilty for maybe getting Jason into trouble, but he wanted it himself. "So, how's it being on a world tour?"

"Really nice, I love the relaxer times, but this is amazing. We are now halfway and I'm really excited for the other half..."

Jason and I talked some more until I needed to ask the question.

"And how is he?"

"Oh, he is holding up. Drowning himself in work and he skips all the parties. But that isn't really a surprise. Percy doesn't really like the drugs and alcohol part of the job. And he misses you although he doesn't really talk to us about it anymore." Jason looked at me and smiled sadly. " But it will be alright if you guys can talk, he's still wondering why you did it. But you can talk about that later. How's therapy?"

"Fine, I think. It's therapy so not really great, but it has helped a lot. I'm less stressed and don't want to run away all the time anymore. I'm even here to talk things out with my family. That's why I'm here."

I had been going to therapy for two months now. After Percy and I had broken up I was not really in the mood for anything, so I began overdosing myself on work. It ended with me almost having a burn out. And I needed to confront my problems.

"Hey Annabeth I gotta go, but meet me here again okay?"

"Okay, thank you Jason!"

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"Hey as you know we dropped a new album during the world tour -" Percy told the crowd and smiled anxious. "And well, this was one of the songs that I wrote. Hope you like it." And he grinned and started the song.

As they were doing the intro, Percy looked straight into the crowd and it seemed as if he saw me. However it also could be my thoughts.

Well, you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you're missing home

Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go

He looked me in the eyes and I was sure that he saw me now. Percy kept looking at me. Those sea green eyes burning into mine.

Staring at the bottom of your glass

Hoping one day you'll make a dream last

But dreams come slow, and they go so fast

You see her when you close your eyes

Maybe one day, you'll understand why

Everything you touch surely dies

He gave me a little wave and I waved back it seemed like it was only me and him in that moment, even though there were about a million people here.

But you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you're missing home

Only know you love her when you let her go

Staring at the ceiling in the dark

Same old empty feeling in your heart

'Cause love comes slow, and it goes so fast

Well, you see her when you fall asleep

But never to touch and never to keep

'Cause you loved her too much, and you dived too deep

Percy shot me a smile, like he was apologizing. And all the time he didn't tear his eyes away from mine.

Well, you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you're missing home

Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go

Oh, oh, mm, oh

And you let her go

Oh, oh, uh, uh

Well, you let her go

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you're missing home

Only know you love her when you let her go

People began to sing along for the last part and I sang along. While other people were waving with lights I sat there with teary eyes singing along with him. While smiling sadly and brightly at the same time.

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you're missing home

Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go

By the end some tears had fallen. Piper asked what was wrong, I explained and went to listen to the rest of the show. I looked at Percy the whole time and he looked back. But I couldn't quite read his expression, confusion mostly but he also seemed happy and maybe a little bit sad.

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"Hey, you ready?" Jason asked as he walked up to me.

"He saw me." I blurted out.

"Yeah, he told me. He's kinda in shock. But I needed to get you, so he talked to Nico about it. But he wants to see you. He even said that he was going to search you."

"Okay, then he isn't angry or anything. Hey can Piper tag along? She's here with me and-"

"Yeah, of course. Let's go."

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Piper and Jason seemed to hit it off and get along fine. I on the other hand wasn't. I don't really know why, I have spoken to Percy a million times, but I was still nervous as hell.

"Hey, Jase. You're back!" Percy shouted as the door opened. "Oh, hey Piper. What are you doing here?" He asked, confused now.

"Percy I thought that you really should talk to Annabeth. And I kinda invited her here. But you already saw her. So..." Jason began explaining and almost dragged me into the room.

"Hey." I said, looking down.

"Hey, we should talk. Come we can walk." Percy said after a brief silence.

-----------

"Okay. Uhm what did you want to talk about?" Percy asked a little awkwardly, his hands shoved in his pockets.

"Okay, I will get to it right away." I took a deep breath, stopped walking and touched Percy's arm lightly so that he would look at me. "I am sorry Percy. And I wanted to explain things. I haven't been honest to you, and frankly I haven't been honest with myself."

"Uh, what." Percy stared back at me. "You lied to me? About what? Why now?"

"I did not totally lie to you, I only did not tell the whole truth, but for the what part. I, uh, I mean when we broke up. About the reasons for that. All those things that I said the second time I said were true, but I was most scared of you leaving. I figured that out when I was in therapy and I was scared that you would leave me sooner or later. I thought that if I left first that you couldn't leave. And that I wouldn't get too attached, but that, uh, that backfired."

Percy didn't reply and he just looked at me. Urging me to go on.

"For the why now part, well you were on a freaking world tour to start and I didn't really want to admit it. Only now, after therapy I really realised it. But Percy, I, I missed you. A lot. And not to scare you, but I still love you too. And I made a mistake, a terrible mistake. Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me? And could things ever go back to the way things were?" I sighed, relieved, but still anxious. I had said what I wanted to say.

"Uhm, that's a lot to take in. I understand Annabeth and I am sorry for you and glad that somebody helped you, and I can forgive you. I was never really mad at you. But I- you really hurt me Beth, and I almost went under because of the break up. And I don't know if I can handle it if you ever decide to leave again." Percy explained and it felt like everything shattered.

"But you said it yourself, if we love each other we can get through anything. And the thing about holding on- I can't, I can't let go of you Percy."

"I love you too, Annabeth I always will, but I can't hold on to you. Not if you decide to leave again and break my heart. I don't think that I can get over it for a second time. I finally don't break down crying and am not so depressed any more. So, I'm sorry but now is not the time for me."

I bit my lip, tears streaming down. "Okay."

Percy hugged me and we stood there hugging.

A/N

Happy new year guys! 

I'm sorry for the depressing stuff, but things will get better. I actually have really great ideas for new books and I can't wait to start, but first I'm finishing Famous. So, happy new year, my love and  peace,

- S