Chapter Text
"I just don't get it," Percy whined, leaning over, and holding his head in his hands. He was sitting on Annabeth's bed, and was, at the moment, very confused.
Annabeth looked at him, and sighed. "Look, I know this may be hard for you to grasp, but this really isn't going to work out!" Percy was confused. He thought everything had been going great. After all, he and Annabeth had been going steady for years now, why should they stop?
"But I, we've been together for so long. Listen we've been through other things before, I'm sure we can work this out! Right? You haven't even told me why you want to do this anyway!" Percy's tone was getting desperate, but he was looking for something to hang on too. Anything.
"You know why I had to do this Perce..." Annabeth's voice started to trail off, and her eyes filled with tears. Though her voice was laced with sadness, Percy could also sense something underlying, desperation for him to understand.
"Look," Percy reached over and placed his hand on Annabeth's cheek "I know that you think this is over. But, you're not going to be happy without me, and I won't be happy without you."
Annabeth sniffed, and half giggled, glad for Percy's stubborn determination. "I don't think it's over," she said, pulling herself from Percy. "I know it's over. And gods, if you haven't even realized why this is happening... you're denser than I thought, Seaweed Brain." She stood up, and started to walk towards the door, blonde ponytail swinging as she walked.
"Annabeth, wait!" Percy called after her. Annabeth paused and turned, then sighed and shook her head.
"This is how it has to be." Her tone was hard and cold. "I know you don't get it Percy, but you'll see sooner or later." Percy's expression remained befuddled as he stared at Annabeth.
"But you...I... listen we can work it out...."
"How many times have I had to say it!" Annabeth half yelled, frustrated. "This is how it has to be, okay Percy? Gods, I'll still be your friend! And I can't believe you haven't already sensed the turn our relationship has taken anyway!" She opened the door, and with one last look back, muttered under her breath, "Strictly platonic."
"Wait, what?" Percy called after her, but she was already gone, leaving him to deal with his conflicted emotions. What had she meant by, "I know you don't get it, but you'll see it sooner or later?" What in Hades was she talking about? Did she think that Percy had feelings for someone else? Percy didn't. Or at least he didn't think he did. The only person his whole heart was devoted to was Annabeth, and he thought it would always be that way. Yet, their relationship was no longer. He needed to talk to someone.
"Listen, I think I know what I'm talking about more than you," Piper said, carefully. "After all, my mom is a famous love column writer. As well as a celebrity, not that it matters..." she trailed off.
With every word coming out of Piper's mouth, Jason became more bewildered. "Are you saying that you think we should break up?" he asked, running a hand through his blonde hair.
"Yes," Piper emphasized, leaning back against her chair. "And you may think I'm crazy, but like I just said-"
"And you don't think that we can work it out," Jason interrupted.
"Yes," Piper repeated. "Don't you know why?" Jason shook his head, his glasses starting to slip down his nose. Piper reached over to push the frames back up, sighing. "Come on Jase, you're supposed to be smart..."
"No, I don't get it. Maybe I would understand, if you would actually just tell me. We've been together for this long, and if we can't work this out, can't you at least tell me why you're breaking up with me?" Frustration wormed it's way into Jason's chest, and he blurted out, "Gods, Piper. Don't you trust me?"
Piper crossed her arms. "Of course I did! Have we not established this? But I just know you know what I'm talking about. If it's any hint, I think that our relationship has definitely become more platonic over the past months, yeah? And what do you think caused that?"
"We were just drifting apart?" Jason said. More of a question than a statement.
"Gods, you're dense. No that's not what I meant! I meant that maybe you... started having feelings for someone else," Piper groaned.
Jason's mouth fell open. Gaping, he said, "No way. You can't possibly believe that! Who do you think I have feelings for? Everyone in our group already is an a relationship Piper! And I don't even talk to anyone else outside the group, really."
"That's not quite true, actually," Piper said, a bemused grin on her face.
"Which part?" Jason asked.
"Not everyone in our group is in a relationship," Piper stated.
"Yeah, they are! Unless you count Thalia, but eww, she's my sister." Just then, Jason's phone pinged in his pocket. Piper nodded, and he fished his phone out, and turned it on.
Percy Jackson (Bro): Jase, when you're done at Piper's can you come over please? I need a pick-me-up from my best bro. :)
Jason Grace (Bro): Sure, man. What happened? Don't be too upset, I'm here for you. :)
Percy Jackson (Bro): Tell you when you come over. :P
Peeking over Jason's shoulder, Piper laughed. "Bro? Come on? Really, that's his name in your phone!"
"What? That's how I'm in in his phone," Jason retorted, cheeks burning, as he put the phone back in his pocket. "But uh, sorry Pipes, but I have to go help Percy. I don't know what happened... It doesn't seem like he is too upset, but I know him better than that..." Jason frowned. "He always tries to make stuff seem like not a big deal.. I should go help." He walked to the door, grabbing his wallet off Piper's kitchen counter. Before he left, he looked back. "You're not upset, right?" he asked. Piper had yet to utter a word.
"I'm fine Jase!" she really did seem perfectly fine. Happy, actually. "I think that you're starting to get it now, maybe," she said cryptically.
"O-kay," Jason said, dragging out the 'o' sound. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Still friends, right?"
"Still friends," Piper confirmed, grinning as Jason shut the door behind him.
Jason hopped into his car, and shifted it into reverse. Time to go help his "bro."