I'm fine - 5

   Annabeth's POV

    I took Percy downstairs, and then to a balcony that was downstairs. I held the railing and closed my eyes, feeling the wind in my face. He hugged me from behind and kissed my cheek.
    – I missed you – he whispered.
    – How did you miss me if you didn't remember me?
    – I felt something was missing. And I'm happy for finally getting out of that camp.
    – Why?
    – Don't like their style.
    I smiled and turned to him. I put my hands on his chest and leaned my head on his shoulder. Gods, how awesome it was to have him back hugging me, messing with my hair, kissing the top of my head.
    – So, how are things at camp? – he asked.
    – You'll see.
    – Wait – he faced me. – I thought we were going directly to Greece.
    – We're gonna stop at camp to sleep, and then tomorrow you'll be off to Greece.
    – But then we'll be wasting time. We don't hav... Wait, did you say "you'll be off to Greece"?
    I kept quiet. He grabbed my chin and upped my head until we were facing each other's eyes. He knew it was very hard for me to lie looking right into his eyes.
    – Those things you said about Enceladus – he began –, about Reyna not being able to come with us... – he paused. – You weren't including yourself... were you?
    I took a deep breath. I couldn't look into his eyes, so I tried to look away, but he followed my glare until I gave up and stared at him.
    – I need you to come with me – he said.
    – Percy, I can't. I'm not one of the demigods of the prophecy.
    – I've survived through all these years only because you were always by my side to tell me what to do. The only time I was without you, I exploded a volcano and released Typhon. I can't do it without you. I'll get killed in the first day.
    – You can't get killed.
    He frowned.
    – What you mean? Of course I can.
    I stared at him frowning as well. He didn't remember he had the curse of Achilles?
    – No – I said. – You can't.
    – I'm not invincible – he opened a worried smile.
    – Yes, you are.
    – No, I'm not. What are you talking about? Just because I'm good with swords, it doesn't mean I can't get killed.
    I looked around searching for something sharp. I didn't find anything, so I grabbed my knife and held out his arm.
    – Annabeth, what are you doing? – he asked.
    I closed my eyes and downed the knife on his arm, and for a while I thought the worse because he yelled me to stop, but I opened my eyes and noticed that his arm was perfectly normal.
    – See? – I said. – You can't get killed.
    – How did you do that?! – he said looking at his arm.
    – You really don't remember dipping on River Styx?
    – No... – he upped his eyes to me. – You mean, like Achilles did?
    – Yes!
    – So my heel...
    – No, it's not your heel.
    I explained to him about the whole thing.
    – You can only get killed if someone hits you here – I put my hand on his back, on the spot he had showed me one year ago.
    – It's tingling.
    I took my hand out and he automatically held it.
    – I... – he began. – I remember seeing you there...
    I frowned. He had never told me that part.
    – I remember now. When I was underwater, I saw you... Nico had told me to think of something that keeps me anchored to the mortal world.
    – And you thought about me? – I said with tearful eyes. It was so cute!
    He smiled.
    – If it wasn't for you, I'd be just another selfish god – he paused. – See why I need you?
    I sighed and looked away. I really wanted to go, and it was heartbreaking to hear him begging me, but I wasn't one of the demigods of the prophecy, I couldn't go. I had thought what could happen if I just went along and stayed on the ship, but I decided not to go against a prophecy; bad things could happen.
    – Please – he said.
    – Percy, I wanna go...
    – So...
    – But I can't – I cut him. – We don't know what could happen.
    – I won't let anything happen to you.
    I shook my head.
    – I can't. You have to go.
    – I'm not going without you.
    – Yes, you are. They need you.
    – They have Jason, and according to them, he's "so powerful" that can defeat the giants by himself.
    – It's not true.
    – Oh, it is. You have to hear the Romans talking about him.
    – We talk about you as well! You two are the two most powerful demigods of now, he's not more important than you.
    – People think he is.
    – They think wrong! – I took a deep breath to not yell at him. – They need you for when you'll be sailing. Jason can't fly the ship 'till Greece.
    We stayed in an awkward silence for one minute and so. Percy hugged me again and I leaned my head on his chest.
    – I love you – he whispered.
    – I love you, too – I whispered back.

    Jason's POV

    It was eight pm when I finally saw Camp Half-Blood under us. I was almost sleeping, but I managed to land the thing on the beach. I couldn't wait to enter the cold Zeus Cabin and rest. If there's a word stronger than exhausted, that's the adjective for me.
    All the campers plus Chiron were waiting. When Percy Jackson got out of the ship, people began to run towards him and ask questions and what the SPQR campers did to me. Annabeth went after him smiling ear to ear and got lost in the middle of the mess. Leo took Gwen, Hazel and Bobby to Chiron. When I realized, there was only Piper and I on the ship, and she was five steps away from me. I began to walk towards her, but she just looked at me with total pain in her face and got out. My heart sank and I closed my eyes. She's never gonna forgive me.
    I got out as well just in time to hear Chiron saying louder than everybody:
    – Okay, okay; let him breathe! Heroes! – he called the seven of us. – Tomorrow you'll be off to Greece at six o'clock, so I think you better go to sleep to be prepared!
    I nodded, but I wasn't really listening. My glare was locked on Piper. I couldn't believe what I had done. I had totally hurt her. When she began to walk towards her cabin, I followed her. She began to walk faster when she realized she was being followed, but I didn't stop; I needed to talk to her. She entered her cabin and shut the door behind her before I could hold it.
    – Piper – I called. – Let me talk to you.
    No answer.
    – Let me enter.
    No answer again. I knocked on the door.
    – Please.
    – Go away – I heard her voice saying. She seemed to be crying.
    – Let me explain.
    I heard steps, and suddenly she opened the door and stared at me with her bloodshot eyes.
    – What are you gonna explain? – she said. – How you knew you had a girlfriend and just played with me? – I opened my mouth, but she cut me. – NO thanks, I don't wanna hear, Jason Grace!
    She tried to close the door, but I put my foot on the way and held the door.
    – She's not my girlfriend. She just... thinks she is.
    Piper tried to close the door again, but I stepped forward and got in the cabin.
    – Get out of my cabin – she said in a dangerous tone.
    – No – I stepped forward again. – I didn't want to meet her, because I knew she would try to do something like that.
    – You let her. Get out of my cabin!
    – I had no choice, she came to me.
    – She didn't make your arms hold her. Get out of my cabin!
    – Piper, I...
    – What are you still doing here? – she paused a bit holding the tears. – I hate you! Now get-out-of-my-cabin!
    – But...
    – Get out – but this wasn't Piper.
    I turned around to see Leo leaned on the wall holding the door.
    – What are you... – I began, but he interrupted me.
    – Get out.
    I closed my expression to him and got out, but stopped in front of the cabin. I could hear Piper saying thank you, then Leo closed the door and turned to me.
    – You're not angry at me too, are you? – I asked.
    He came to me with zero expression.
    – No, I'm not angry – he said. – But you should leave her alone. After what you've done, it's the least you can do.
    He went towards Gwen, leaving me totally alone in front of Aphrodite cabin. Yeah, definitely he's not angry at me.

   Percy's POV

    Oh my gods, how was great to be home.
    First thing I did when I managed to escape from everybody, was going to my cabin and throwing myself on the bed. I closed my eyes and smelled the sea. It was great to be home.
    I slept soon, and I finally didn't have any dreams. I mean, any, ahem, bad dream. I woke up with someone knocking on my door.
    – Jackson! – nothing better than waking up with Jason's voice.
    I got up and went to the door. It was still dark outside, so I was totally sleepy. I opened it to find an angry Jason yelling at me.
    – Man, it's fifteen to six, what the hell are you still doing there?
    – What?!
    Wait, it was 5:45?
    I closed the door on his face and changed clothes quickly. Then I ran to the Big House and grabbed some food there. I went to the beach – where almost everyone was – while eating and got there by 5:56. Just in time.
    Annabeth was there holding a backpack, that she handed to me. She wasn't smiling or looking at me. I wanted her to go, I really wanted, and I needed her to go. I mean, even with the curse of Achilles and stuff, what if I did something really wrong and ruined everything? If she went along, there wouldn't be the possibility of this happen. Last chance to try to convince her.
    – Come with me.
    She looked at me, but didn't say anything; just hugged me very tight. I hugged her back.
    – Be careful, Seaweed Brain – she said. Wow, I did miss that nickname.
    – Come with me, please – She faced me. – Please, we need your plans.
    – You guys can make up a plan.
    – I can't do it without you.
    Her eyes were tearful and she was making a big effort not to cry. She put her hand on my cheek and kissed me. I kissed her the most passionable way I could; it could be our last kiss, but I tried not to think like this. We broke apart and put our foreheads together.
    – And what if I die? – I asked.
    – I'll die with you.
    – I wouldn't be fine with you doing this just because of me.
    – Life would be meaningless.
    I put one hand on her cheek and made her stare me.
    – I'll go without you, but only if you promise that, if something happens to me, you'll be fine.
    – But I wouldn't be.
    – Promise.
    She took a deep breath and this time she couldn't hold it; she began to cry.
    – I love you – she whispered to me.
    – I lov... – I was brutally interrupted.
    – Jackson! – Jason yelled. – C'mon, you're gonna make us be late!
    – Coming! – I yelled to him and backed my attention to Annabeth. – I love you more than everything. You're my life, so even if I die, I wanna know that a part of me is still here.
    She looked away for a while, and then backed to me.
    – Okay – she said. – And whic...
    – You're not coming! – Jason yelled again.
    – Geez, wait a second! – I yelled back.
    – Which part of you would stay with me, just for me to know – Annabeth asked.
    I kissed her cheek and began to walk backwards while answering.
    – My heart.