Percy's POV

I'm freaking out. Absolutely having a mental breakdown. Why is it so hard to ask the person I trust most a simple question? Ugh! I think she's onto me, too. Well, at least she knows something's up. She's starting to act a little hurt, which kills me. But I can't risk giving anything away.

I don't know what's wrong with me. All the doubts are fogging up my brain. Maybe she's not ready to be married? Maybe she doesn't even want to get married? I keep thinking about that one fight... The real first fight we ever had as a couple. Sure, we bickered all the time but this was different. It was horrible. I can't even remember now what started it...

We were shouting at each other, trying to overpower the other's voice.

"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM? YOU'RE ACTING RIDICULOUS AND DRIVING ME CRAZY!" I screamed.

"IF I ANNOY YOU SO MUCH, YOU SHOULD HAVE LET ME FALL TO TARTARUS ALONE!"

I immediately froze. All the anger left her face as she realized what she just said. I started to agree with her, but with a ton of self control, I turned and walked out the door before I said something terrible that I would regret. I slammed the door, hard, but not before hearing a crying Annabeth say my name.

I started running, with no idea where I was going. My feet were just moving on their own. I tired out quickly because of my emotions, but I forced myself to keep running because I was too afraid of my own head and heart to stop. Finally, when I couldn't take another step, I collapsed on the ground. Fortunately, I had crashed in a grassy spot. Unfortunately, it was near Terminus, who yelled at me.

"Jackson! Do you feel that? It's my feet kicking you out of my grass! Get up! Shoo! Now I'm smacking you, feel the pain!"

I barely acknowledged him before getting up numbly and walking away. I didn't realize where I had gone until I sat down. The fountain that looked over all of the Romans' territory. I started to put my hand in the water to calm down, but fell in instead. I just stayed there, my torso and head in the shallow fountain with my butt up in the air like the real dignified hero I am.

Let her fall into Tartarus alone? Did she really mean that? The fall would've killed her almost for certain. And if it didn't...? I know I couldn't have done it alone. So did she mean she didn't want me?

It was hard to tell if I was crying or not underwater, but I couldn't remember being this upset in a long, long time. I might have stayed there forever, wishing I could drown, but I felt a tug on my arm. Not sure if my instincts kicked in or if I was hoping it was Annabeth, but I shot up so fast it hurt my back. It wasn't Annabeth.

"Percy, what's wrong?" asked a very alarmed Hazel. Frank looked at me questioningly.

"I was looking for pennies." My voice cracked with emotions.

"No you weren't, what's wrong?" Hazel demanded.

"I... We... She..." Then I promptly started crying into Hazel's shoulder. She hugged me while Frank awkwardly patted my shoulder. I calmed down in a few minutes enough to have a civilized conversation. Hazel hugs were great... but not as good as Annabeth's.

"We had a fight about I don't even know what, then we were yelling and... and I walked out and slammed the door and Annabeth was crying and I feel bad but she's mad at me and it's probably my fault and..."

"Percy," Frank interjected, "you should go back."

"But she's mad and probably doesn't want to see me," I replied miserably.

"If she was crying when you left, she's probably not mad anymore," Hazel pointed out. "Plus, she's probably worried about you and scared. She's alone, and it's getting late. You know she doesn't like to be by herself in the dark since, you know..."

I did know. The exact place she told me I should have let her go alone. But Hazel was right; I'd left her afraid. Now I felt even worse.

I took a deep breath. "Okay, I'll go." Hazel gave me one last squeeze and Frank waved, unsure of what else to do. "Thanks guys."

I started walking back to our apartment, the one that Annabeth said was the perfect location: easily accessible, off campus but close to it, and close to all the good coffee shops. And away from Terminus. I shuffled my feet, walking slowly. I picked up my pace, realizing for the first time how dark it was. I didn't care for the dark much anymore, either. By the way, what were Frank and Hazel doing out here...? I'd have to ask them later.

I reached our front door. I hesitated for a moment before gently opening it. The coat rack was lying on the ground from when I slammed the door. I paused and listened. There was no noise coming from anywhere. Fear grabbed me by the throat. What happened? I almost called out her name but then I saw her: curled up on the couch. Relieved, I walked over and knelt in front of her. Her eyes were still swollen from crying and she was wearing my swim team sweatshirt. She was shivering.

I wanted to wake her up but I was still afraid she was mad at me. Banking on the fact that she was exhausted and was in a deep sleep, I picked her up as carefully as I could and carried her to our bed. She stirred and her eyes fluttered open, but she realized who was carrying her and went right back to sleep. Evidently her sleepy brain didn't remember the fight. I set her down and tucked her in. Then I went back over to the couch to go to sleep myself.

I woke up when the couch dipped around my legs because someone sat on it. I opened my eyes to see brilliant gray ones staring back at me.

"PercyI'msosorryIyelledatyouandIdidn'tmeanitIloveyousomuch-"

"Annabeth, it's okay, I Iove you too, I know it's my fault and I'm sorry and-"

"Okay, let's not talk about it, then. I love you, that's all that matters."

I pulled her into a hug and mumbled into her hair, "I love you too."

Yeah. We loved each other, more than anything. We were definitely getting married.