Annabeth's Point of View

I recalled the meeting even though it hurt so much.

~Flashback~

I froze. I could not move any muscle in my body. It was almost like someone had purposely planted me there on purpose. I was in a daze. I could not hear the calls from the cashier person yelling "next in line!" When my limbs regained function, I sprinted to the nearest exit, but not without her noticing me.

Thalia's eyes widened,"Wait!"

I didn't listen.

~Flashback End~

I leaned my head on Percy's shoulder. His silence was enough of a reaction for me.

I stood up," I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess of my life."

When I almost put my left foot in front of the other, I heard a feeble voice call out.

"Wait."

~Timeskip~

For once, I did not want to go to school. It's not that I don't like learning, Luke would be there, and I couldn't stand to look at him. Thalia, Luke, and I had been friends since we were little. I didn't understand. Why would he keep from me? My family. Why would he keep my family away from me?

I tried ignoring him for the day, but try going somewhere with a guy following you everywhere. It's not fun.

As soon as the bell rang, I practically ran out the door with Luke on my tail. He caught up to me and put his hand on my shoulder. I shook it off and turned to face him.

Luke sighed, "Annabeth, I can explain-"

"What's there to explain? That you were secretly hiding my "dead" best friend from me when you knew I would be devastated without her?" I asked, bluntly.

There was a school crowd forming around us, and some of them were even recording. I didn't care. I just wanted to give Luke a taste of his own medicine.

A familiar mess of black hair stepped out from the crowd and shouted, "What is wrong with all of you? Can't you mind your own ****ing business?"

The crowd departed, and I knew he was serious. Percy usually didn't curse. He walked over to where Luke and I resided.

Percy stepped protectively in front of me, "What do you want, Luke?"

As much as I don't want to admit, Percy looked pretty intimidating. He stood barely an inch taller than Luke, but he glowered at him. His eyes showed an emotion that I thought would never fit well on his  face. Anger. An anger that revealed the hidden hatred he had for Luke. I was surprised that Luke was glaring straight back at him. Percy was about to say something but I put my hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

"I can fight my own battles, Percy."

He looked at me, and I saw the concern in his eyes. They were like a hurricane. A mass of strong winds of emotions and feelings. It was like everyone but me were in the storm, swirling outside the eye. It was like the eye of the storm had only enough room for me. He reluctantly let me handle the situation.

"I wanted to tell you, I really did, but something stopped me. I'm- I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" I casted a scandalous look at him. "If you really were sorry, you would not have kept her from me! She was my family. You were my family. You can't expect to waltz back into my life, telling me that somebody stopped you from telling me that Thalia was alive? Ridiculous. I loved her. Did you think that you could just take that away from me?"

"I-" Luke tried to interrupt.

I scoffed, "Save it. She was my family. She was our family. Do you remember, Luke?"

He stared at the floor.

"Family, Luke. You promised."

Revenge and Anger were so desperately trying to claw its way out of the depths of my soul. For a split second, I wanted to release them and show Luke the pain he had brought me, but I did not. I would be the wiser one. I'd show Luke that he meant nothing to me. That I didn't need him.

Percy guided me out. I looked at him, and I knew. I knew that I truly didn't need Luke anymore.