June 25th

Jason was right about the girl not posting anything that day. Annabeth had almost let herself believe they'd gotten away with it, but alas, the morning came and it was all over her twitter.

It was actually a sweet photo. Jason was the only one that had spotted the camera but the image was snapped before he'd processed it so he didn't look too frustrated. Piper, the only other person facing the character, was laughing at something Leo had said and looked radiant, the highlight that she'd dusted over her cheekbones (or maybe it was just her natural glow) sparkled and her lips were opened and spread into a wide smile. The backs of her and Leo's heads were recognisable but not very interesting. What she was really drawn to though was the way Percy was looking at her. The photo only included his side profile as he'd sat with his back to the camera, but it captured his small smile perfectly. She hadn't even known he'd been watching her.

She sent the post to Percy and typed a message.

absoluteannabeth like what you see? ;)

The word 'Seen' appears below her message and suddenly her phone is ringing, a Facetime call.

"What do you want, Seaweed Brain?" She rolls her eyes as his face appears on her screen.

He's clearly just woken up and she feels her face flush when she catches the muscles of his bare  shoulder ripple as he rolls onto his front. "Just needed to see you first thing in the morning so that I could remember you don't always look like a goddess." Annabeth is definitely pink now. "But I see that you're already awake and beautiful as ever."

"You flatter me, Jackson, but you're lying. I've just got back from a run, I look like a tomato."

He rolls his eyes and runs a hand through his horrific bed hair. "Shut up, Chase, you know you look gorgeous."

She wants to believe he's joking, he's certainly exaggerating that's for sure, but the look in his eyes is so sincere and gentle that Annabeth feels her brain melt.

Lately, she's been trying to pretend that they're not head-over-heels in love with each other. It's difficult to ignore when he takes her coat at the restaurant or when she offers him a foot rub when he gets stressed from his album deadlines (Annabeth is very thankful that he doesn't take her up on it) and they're just so devoted to making each other more comfortable. It's sickening when she reminds herself they've only known each other a month. The sappy part of her that grew up on romance and revolutionary YA novels wishes it was more of a slow burn but the ADHD in her wants to start shopping for a white dress.

The next few months of Annabeth's life are dedicated to her music career. Of course, her content is still thriving and the subscribers that are there for the dog footage, book reviews and advice videos are kept satisfied - Annabeth could never neglect that part of herself - but it's nice to have a creative outlet and music had always been her secret passion. By the end of July she's posted a total of 17 covers ranging from a sweet ukulele rendition of 'La Vie en Rose' to a broadway worthy performance of Anastasia's 'In My Dreams'. On many occasions everything had all been lined up to post on her laptop but Piper had been summoned to hit 'share' before Annabeth could talk herself out of it.

Amidst working on his next album, Percy had been able to convince her to try out for open casting calls when she had the chance. They both new her dream was broadway and many late night confessions revealed that Annabeth and Sally Jackson shared a mutual love over 'Waitress' and also that though she'd love to play Zoe Murphy, she would actually prefer to play Heidi Hansen when she was older.

She had begged him one night to sing a duet with her, not to post - she was selfish and wanted him to herself for now. Though Annabeth would never be egotistical enough to gloat about the sound of her own voice, she didn't refrain from listening back to the recording of 'Seventeen' and marvelling at the way she sounds lighter over the rich tone of Percy's tenor. From then on, Annabeth would send him links to songs she needs him to learn because she wants to sing them with him. It's every theatre girls dream, isn't it? To have a duet partner handy whenever they wish.

He'd used it as a birthday gift. Percy had taken her out to dinner, just the two of them - neither of them had said the word 'date' out loud but they didn't need to. He had it all planned out. After dinner, they'd gone to his apartment and he'd given her the present he'd bought: a new microphone for her recording equipment and a treble clef charm to go onto her necklace. Honestly, she felt a bit like Gabriella Montez when she asked him to add the charm and clasp the necklace round her neck but she supposed that there were worse characters to identify with. They'd spent the rest of her birthday just singing and, as promised, he'd learnt every duet she'd sent to him. Although he didn't consider himself a fan of musical theatre, Annabeth did try to convince him that their rendition of 'What You Mean To Me' was good enough to rival Alfie Boe and Laura Michelle Kelly.

Okay, maybe it wasn't as good as theirs. But it was beautiful nonetheless.

She should've sensed that things were going too well.

There'd been a recent open audition for ensemble in a limited run of 'Sister Act' and Annabeth had been so close to getting in, possibly even a second cover of Maria if she crossed enough fingers in prayer, but she'd hit a bum note at her callback and they'd realised that she wasn't much of a legit singer anyway. So she'd skulked back to her apartment feeling pretty crappy about herself. Percy was there, because he always was, and he'd swept her up in his arms like a regular old Prince Charming offering cookies and a hot chocolate.

"It was just so awful, I literally saw their faces drop. I feel terrible."

"Hey, it's no bother. There'll be other auditions, right?" His words were reassuring and so Annabeth nodded, still rather frustrated with herself. "Hey, I've got a cousin who's a patron at a few big named theatres, maybe he could give you a boost? Stick your name on a few lists to get your on the radar?"

Her soft expression turned steely. "No."

Annabeth tries to avoid hitting him when he mumbles "Gee, okay, I was only trying to help."   under his breath like a moody, impossible teenager.

"I appreciate that, I do, but this is something I have to do by myself. The industry's difficult but I want to know that I'm good enough. That's never going to happen if I use all your contacts to sneak my way in."

"With all due respect, Annabeth, maybe that's what you need to do. You said it yourself: the industry's difficult. You're gonna need all the help you can get."

Her eyes narrow as she lifts her head to look at him. "You don't think I'm good enough." It's a statement, not a question. From the way his eyes settle on her face and eyebrows draw together, he knows he's hurt her.

"Beth, don't be so prideful." Percy rolled his eyes. "I never said you couldn't, but why would you turn away help? You'd still get to where you wanted to be. No one would give you the part if they genuinely thought you weren't good enough."

Annabeth was swallowing down the tears that were threatening to fall. He's still talking, probably trying to back himself out of the corner he's trapped in.

"No, Percy, it doesn't matter. Screw you and your fancy contacts. I can do this on my own."

It's impossible not to meet his eyes when they're boring into her like they are now. He blinks a few times before he speaks again.

"What are you doing? I got you half of these auditions, you know? You're being rash, you couldn't do this without me."

Oh, that was the wrong thing to say.

"Get out."

There's a pause in which they both try to process what she's saying, she catches on before he does.

"Get out of my apartment." There are tears fighting in her eyes but she doesn't notice for the anger that bubbles in her gut. "I'm not a baby, Percy, not some little side project for you to work on whenever you've had enough of your day job. I can do this on my own, I'm not stupid. I know my way around the industry and I don't need you and all your friends to name drop me in order to get a callback."

He's finally caught on. "Annabeth, what? Don't- don't cut your nose of to spite your face."

"Clever idiom, Percy, bet you couldn't spout that without me. Guess we're both useless without each other!"

Annabeth's senses are on hyper speed. She notices the way he swallows, the way he tucks his hands into his front pockets. His head tips forward and he doesn't meet her eyes, he couldn't anyway for the layer of his hair that forms are barrier between them, the blackness concealing the green eyes that had drawn her in to begin with, before they were even an option. It's like watching him shrink, he's slouching to protect himself and make himself smaller. He'd never done this before, but then again, they'd never fallen out like this before.

There's a moment of silence when Percy takes a deep breath and then he nods. His head is still facing the floor so the nod looks a little broken and pathetic but she doesn't care.

He leaves and Annabeth is left staring at the closed door behind him. She knows that maybe she's overreacting, maybe he didn't mean to call her useless and suggest she needs help to achieve anything, but the way the words replay in her head and echo everything anyone she loved had always told her makes her feel sick.

You're useless, Annabeth. I always have to help you. You're a big girl now, do it yourself.

You're not going to be able to do it alone, you know? Just let me.

You wonder why everyone hates you? Because you're full of yourself! You think you're so much better than me? Fine, go ahead. You'll only get it wrong without me.

The tears are burning tracks down her face so Annabeth wipes them away quickly. She can't let Piper find her like this.