PLAYING THE PLAYER:
Annabeth's P.O.V:

"Say something I'm giving up on you. I'll be the one if you want me to. Anywhere I would've followed you. Say something I'm giving up on you. And I, am feeling so small. It was over my head, I know nothing at all. And I will stumble and fall. I'm still learning to love, just starting to crawl. Say something I'm giving up on you. I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you. Anywhere I would've followed you. Say something I'm giving up on you. And I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you. Anywhere I would've followed you. Say something I'm giving up on you. And I, will swallow my pride. You're the one that I love, and I'm saying goodbye." -Say Something, Christina Aguilera ft. A Great Big World.

EPILOGUE:

The days moved by quickly, as if caught in a blur.

Mondays soon turned into Tuesdays, and mere minutes spiraled into hours, then days.

The side of my stomach ached every time I shifted around in my bed, but Thalia was up and about already, and although Malcolm didn't have enough strength to get out of his wheelchair, he still managed to roll into my room, making jokes and attempting to lighten the mood. I wasn't happy. I was far from it, actually. I barely spoke, and when I did, it was usually one-word answers rasped out quickly and out of the blue. I had lost a lot of blood and had to undergo surgery, along with emotional trauma that I knew I would never shake, but other than that, there was nothing eternally ruptured. I seethed in pain whenever I had to move, biting my tongue to keep from crying out and worrying my family and friends further.

If there was one positive thing that came out of all this, the relationship between my mother and I seemed to spike upward, as positive as it had ever been. I should almost die more often, really. She only left my side to bring back food or a nurse. I had seen Athena cry in the past, but never over me. Every time she looked at Malcolm and I, tears would moisten in her grey eyes. Instead of her words being firm and stern, they were soft and gentle, kind and comforting. I always wished that was how my mother was, but now, I realized that it just wasn't who Athena was. My mother was strong and controlling. I knew I couldn't let her completely control me and bash me whenever I made a decision, but I didn't want this frail woman to be my mom. She just couldn't be. Judging by this year, I definitely needed control in my life, something I had been too naïve to see. I couldn't blindly make choices, but I couldn't be forced to do something either. I think that when it's all over, my mother was an influence that caused me to behave so wildly. Once I had broken free of her grasp, it was my first taste of freedom, and I admit, I got too drunk over it. I made choices that strained everyone, including my mother. But now I understood her in a different light. She loves me. She loves Malcolm and she loved Fredrick, the man I used to call my father.

And once he left, she was frightened we would leave too. So she started taking control of every aspect of our lives. Once I finally stood up to her, Athena didn't know what to do. I was going to leave, as was Malcolm, so she shoved us away to think. But there was nothing to think about. We weren't her babies anymore, though I knew that's how she would always remember us. We were going to college in the fall. Where? I had no idea yet.

My father had ran. It was two days before he was caught, quickly and efficiently, being put behind bars the very night he had tried to sell me. They did a psych evaluation, and he failed. My father, my dad, Fredrick Chase, was admitted to Wastfield's Mental Institution for teenagers and adults. It was a low blow, leaving me gasping and searching for air when I heard the news, but it was better than my father being perfectly sane and still wanting to sell his daughter as some kind of pathetic sex slave.

Malcolm had taken everything to heart, yet he covered his emotions quickly, but not before yelling at me for making up some atrocious story just because I held a grudge. My mother was stiff about the entire thing, nodding numbly at everything I told the police. She looked horrified throughout the story...but not surprised. Everything I claimed, Calypso and Rachel backed up. Helen had taken it the roughest, but the tides were already getting difficult in their relationship. Her expression was relieved that he hadn't done this to me for no reason, but when it had eventually settled in, my Step-Mother had excused herself to the bathroom, leaving the twins with her brother and his wife. When I followed her, I heard her heartbroken sobs. I wanted to tell her that it wasn't true. I wanted to believe that it wasn't true. But it was. I couldn't even bring myself to make myself known, so instead slid from the bathroom, trying to contain my own.

Nothing I could say or do could fix anything. And that wasn't just for that, it was for everything and everyone. I couldn't fix Helen, or my mom, or my best friend, or my brother, or anyone else involved. I could only fix myself. And that...that would take some time. It would be a long time before I could look at Rachel or Piper and not think of what had happened. It would be a long time before I could glance over when Bobby or Mathew cooed, and not imagine that they would have to grow up with their father in a mental institution.

Gabe, Luke, Ethan, and everyone else involved was taken into custody. Luke, Drew, and Ethan, without a trial upon their insistence were going to three separate juvenile detention facilities. One in Florida, and two here. Luke and Drew were staying in New York, much to my disappointment. Silena was released with a two-thousand dollar fine, though I testified for her case defensively, claiming that they were beating her to keep quiet.

Rachel had gotten off with nothing, because although we hadn't discussed it, I couldn't bring myself to confess to the police that she used to be majorly involved and attempted to kill Percy and I more than once. Thalia was angry, refusing to even hear Rachel out, crying through enraged screams as I told her gently what she had done for her now dead sister, Rebecca Dare. I could understand why she had done it. Her sister had terminal cancer and her parents refused to help. I would've done the same thing.

Still, something just didn't add up. Something didn't make sense about Rachel's story. She was either leaving a piece out of her story, or lying altogether. But I truly believed that she was sorry for what she had done and forgave her. Thalia and Malcolm were another story, refusing to step in a room if Rachel was in it. Since Calypso didn't know Rachel very well, she didn't hate her, but she didn't like her either. Callie and I grew close as her visits increased, and I couldn't say I didn't come to love the bubbly fifteen-year-old fangirl.

Gabe Ugliano, Sally's husband and Percy's Step-Father was going on trial. The problem was, no one knew when. Unbeknownst to my mother, I borrowed her laptop and checked out information on trials. Apparently accused felons in New York City might have to wait over two years for a trial to be even heard in court. When I explained the matter to Percy's father, he stated that it was true, but with his influence on others, he told me that he wouldn't let that monster go without one for long.

Aaron Samuels. He visited me multiple times, still guilty that he hadn't managed to see the gunman in time. I assured him that he had no need to feel 'bad' over the incident, but he insisted on getting me food from the vending machine and bringing me back meals.

Unfortunately, no one knows who shot me. Not everyone at the pier got caught. Some of Gabe's people got away, though the majority was sent to prison. It made me nervous. Was it really over? Would they come back to kill us? Poseidon highly doubted it. The men and girls that got away were underage teenagers, or young adults, most-likely too frightened to attempt anything. Just in case, he told my mother to get locks for the house, and a gun to be placed near her bedside. It was an odd feeling. Not always looking over my shoulder. I still felt fear, but I knew I shouldn't. I kept having to remind myself that it was over, but it didn't feel that way. Not yet, anyways.

Then there was the matter of Percy.

He hadn't visited me. Not once. He had ridden in the ambulance with me to the hospital, then stayed with me overnight, then the next day. When I finally breached into consciousness and started to wake up, he stopped coming. I didn't know why. Everyone had seen me, even strangers that I only briefly knew at Goode.

"Want me to knock some sense into that boy?" Thalia had demanded as we both caught up on school work.

I shrugged, tugging at one of my strands of golden curls. It hurt. What was more important? I knew Sally and him were going through a difficult time with the arrestance of Gabe and the reappearance of Poseidon Jackson, but I just thought...

I thought he would've at least returned my calls that went unanswered.

The silence was deafening and every time it went to his voicemail, my heart sank a little bit lower.

"Don't worry too much about it," Aaron had told me when I shared my worries with him. "He's just busy with his mom. He'll come soon." I didn't like the way Aaron's eyes flittered away from me when he stated the next sentence, but I couldn't bring myself to pry.

He never came. Maybe it was pathetic of me to think that things would go back to normal; maybe he couldn't bring himself to care about me anymore.

But his words kept ringing over and over in my ears, thoughts that never ceased. "I love you." He didn't mean it, did he? It was only because I was lying there, bloody and moaning in agony, my chest shuddering in his arms, and the life fading from my grey eyes. I had survived, however, by some miracle. My hands kept fluttering around my chest, feeling for the necklace that Percy had given me as a source of comfort, but always finding bareness. The piece of jewelries absence was almost as worse as Percy's. It was a part of my boyfriend, (if that's what he still was) as well as a part of me. I had worn it for so long that I longed to fiddle with it, or at least run my thimble fingers along the silver latch.

I was released from the hospital on Wednesday.

There was still no word from Percy.

. . .

And two weeks later, everything was just a memory. The aftermath of that night was still there, but faded in a way. Like a person without glasses; you could see what it was, but bits and parts were lost to you. Helen had filed papers for divorce and Sally did too. Thalia was helping me pack, Calypso on the side of her. When Percy still hadn't called or showed up to see me, I had gone up to Percy's apartment. He wasn't here. I checked every room, just to make sure he wasn't just avoiding me. The sheets had been ripped from his bed, and a majority of his clothes had been taken from his dressers. The revelation was shocking and as soon as I broke past Sally's grip, I had been out on the street, crying.

He couldn't have just...left.

"Oooh, this is hot, Annabeth," Thalia grinned, holding up a frilly, cut-off black shirt. It snapped me right out of my depressed thoughts, which seemed to be Thalia's mission for the day. At the sight of it, I blanched and snatched it away from my goth best friend. Drew had bought it for me, back when I was supposed to play Percy. It seemed like a life-time ago, and I really did not need any reminders. "Come on!" She protested, her stomach swollen and large. It was hard to believe that my niece and nephew were residing in that mischievous girl. We weren't entirely sure if the babies belonged to Malcolm, and even if they were Luke's, no one was going to check their DNA after they were born. Everyone was just better off...not knowing. "You want to get laid, don't you?"

"Thalia!" I shrieked, utterly mortified. My cheeks burned at her words. Percy and I had never gone too far in our relationship, and the fact that I was still a virgin was as obvious as my blushing cheeks. Callie giggled from the side of me, grabbing the lacy shirt and holding it up for all of us to see, like it was a famous monument. She gave it a once over, nodding in approval.

"Take it," she folded the black shirt neatly and placed it in my suitcase. Then, as shy laughter escaped through her lips, she questioned in a low tone, "Are you a virgin, Annabeth?"

"Yep," Thalia announced loudly. "You can tell, too. She reeks of virginity."

"Okay! Enough! I do have a mother two rooms down, thank you very much."

"Who reeks of virginity?" Without knocking, per usual, Malcolm stood at the door, a crutch around his shoulder. I really needed to consider getting a lock for my own door, but I supposed it didn't matter. I wouldn't see my bedroom until summer. Yes, I was still going. My mother had pulled some strings and I was going. My mother and I decided that it was the best thing to do for me. If the car crash with Thalia and Malcolm hadn't happened, I would be there now. and after summer, I would be away at college. My grades had slid from As and Bs to Cs and Ds. The transfer to my new school was going to be difficult to adjust with. Needless to say, I needed some serious catch-up time if I wanted to get into a decent college, much less pass the year.

Rachel had briefed me on what I had missed, much to Thalia's despair. She hated Rachel. There was no lingering feelings of any friendship between the two. To Thalia Grace, Rachel was dead to her. I had forgiven her, and Thalia had lectured me, claiming that I had accepted her apology too easily. Had I? Shouldn't I have held a grudge? Shouldn't I have left her in her puddle of tears and refused to acknowledge her repentance? It would've been difficult, but would it have been right? Was it the right or wrong thing to do? Was it the right or wrong thing to do for Rachel, or for me? My most doubt came with not telling the police. Should I have let Rachel face her punishment? Or should I just let it go altogether? Thalia was keen on latching herself onto pure detestation, while I just wanted to forget.

I wanted to forget my father. I wanted to forget Gabe. I wanted to forget Thalia and Malcolm's accident. I wanted to forget this entire year.

The only thing I truly wanted to remember was Percy Jackson, and all the positive and negative aspects that came with him. His recklessness, his obliviousness, his misanthropy, his inability to let someone in without struggle, and all the scars and abuse that Gabe left over. I wanted to remember how he let us in, slowly, one at a time, starting with me. I wanted to remember how he learned to love again.

I scoffed, glowering at my brother. I reached over and chucked a pillow at him. "Get out, lurker. This is girl time. How many times do I have to tell you not to interrupt girl time? And where's your wheelchair?"

"Your darling sister," Thalia explained to his previous question, walking over to my brother and pecking him on the lips. I cringed and shielded my eyes while they embraced, Calypso squealing from the side of me. When they pulled apart, Malcolm shot me a meaningful look, pointing at me.

"And that's how it should be, Annabeth. Sisters are just not meant to...do those kind of things." He shook his head, disgusted by the very idea of me having a sex-life. "The words 'sex' and 'sister' should never go together in a sentence. Ever. And I decided that I'd rather try out crutches instead. Grover's been a big help in that department."

"The words 'Thalia's pregnant' and 'brother' should never go together either," I retorted. "And you look ridiculous. Those crutches are way too big for you, midget." Thalia scowled at my first response, but was grinning at the next.

"That's different," Malcolm proclaimed, walking across the threshold. "I'm a guy. You're a girl. And I am not a midget. I'm plenty taller than you, Annie."

"Annabeth," I corrected his childish nickname. "And I don't see any difference."

Callie giggled at our banter, unzipping my second suitcase to place in more clothes.

"When are you leaving?" Thalia asked me, Malcolm's unbroken arm wrapping around her waist (stomach?) and pulling her into his chest as best he could. I let out a puff of air, blowing up my messy bangs.

"Tomorrow morning."

"And..." Calypso seemed hesitant and I beckoned for her to continue, knowing what she was going to ask. "No Percy?"

My hand pulled into a tight fist as I fought back unwanted tears from the mention of my boyfriend's name. "No Percy."

. . .

There were cracks in the ceiling. I stared unblinkingly up at the white layer of paint, where long, jagged cracks stretched from one side to the other. I could spend hours contemplating where they came from, but I chose to ignore it. Just like I chose to ignore everything else. Calypso and Thalia were on either side of me, their eyelids shut, curled up inside their sleeping bags. I could feel warmth radiating from them and I curled tighter against my friends, a few silent specks of water cascading down my cheeks. After a few more minutes that felt like hours, I decided to give up on sleep and accept the fact that now I was an insomniac. Rubbing my tired eyes, I got up. It was three in the morning, and I was departing at six. Stretching my sore muscles and seething when my stomach jarred with pain, I climbed from my sleeping bag and walked from my room. I leaned my head in halfway to my brother's room, and seeing his sleeping figure, I smiled gently before padding downstairs. I had become accustomed to checking my family members whenever nightmares wracked my body.

Rolling my stiff shoulders, I turned on the light and gasped, stifling a surprised scream. "Mom?" She was sitting there, coffee mug clad in her hands. I placed a hand on my racing heart. "You scared me. What are you doing sitting in the dark?" She glanced at me, her grey eyes ringed with darkness.

"Thinking." I blinked in response, grabbing a cup from the side of the dishes. I filled it with coffee, added a few hearty drops of creamer and sugar before taking a seat next to her. "What time is it?"

"Three." I took a sip. I didn't like coffee- it was too bitter. But it woke me up, and that was what I needed. It burned my throat, and for once, I didn't mind the heat. "What are you thinking about?"

"It's a who, rather than a what." I stiffened at that, my frame tensing up with an abrupt feeling of pain. I had forgotten...almost. "I'm sorry for bringing him up. I know it's been tough on you." She bit her lip, and I knew she would be tending to a bloody lip the next morning. "You told the police what happened, but you never told me." I laughed- not amused, but in disbelief, raking a hand through my blonde hair. "You don't have to tell me. I know you saw...a lot. I just feel guilty. It was my fault. I shipped you off to that man in the first place. I should've saw the signs. I should've knew he was unstable." I winced. She was referring to Fredrick more and more as 'that man' rather than 'your father.' Maybe she couldn't see him as a dad anymore, not after what he did to me. I was having difficulty with that too.

I cleared my dry throat. "It's fine if you want to ask me...stuff. I won't mind." I would, but I owed some facts to her. Some that I had kept out purposely. "And it's not your fault. There's no point in playing the blame game. It would've happened eventually, without my dad or not. Gabe would've just went on without him."

"Gabe...he's the man that abused Percy?"

I stared down at my coffee. "Yeah."

"How long?" Athena whispered. "How long did he hurt him?"

My eyes darkened. "I don't know the exact day that it started. Right after Sally and him got married, I suppose."

Athena flinched. "I thought...I always thought Percy Jackson was just a bitter, heartless delinquent. I never knew..."

"Neither did I," I cut in. "And I blamed myself for quite some time, not being able to understand why Percy transformed to such a cruel boy. He finally told me. I should've guessed. I should've read the signs. There was no way of knowing. The point remains- it's over and it's done with. There's no point pondering what could've happened. There's only moving forward."

"When did you get so smart?" When I looked back up, I thought I saw pride flashing in my mother's eyes.

I shrugged, the corners of my lips tilting upward.

"Did it hurt?"

"Did what hurt?"

"Being shot," she explained quickly. "Obviously I know it hurt, but how badly?"

I took another drink, trying to avoid glancing at my mother. "On a scale of one to ten, probably a nine." I suddenly remembered reading a story where the narrator had cancer, and while struggling to even breath, she called her pain a nine. She later explained that she was saving her ten, for something different entirely. I always thought that was one of the bravest things I had ever read about, even if the character herself was fictional. "I'm just thankful to be alive."

"I thought you were going to die," she stated. Her voice didn't crack, but when I finally met her gaze, gauging at her reaction, there was pain swimming amongst them. "And I was just sitting in the hospital, wondering what I did to deserve two of my children being on the brink of death."

I frowned, "Mom-"

"No, let me finish. Malcolm was in a car accident, you were abducted and shot, it just was a lot to take in." I heard her breathing become raspy again. As much as I enjoyed finally being able to get into Athena's thoughts, I didn't want to see her cry again. It's a deep blow, seeing one of your parents cry in front of you. Because you know that they're weak enough to withhold a brave face for you.

"And I realized something. I'm not a good mother. Not to two teenagers anyway. I did fine when you were children. You needed someone to take care of you, to tell you the difference from right and wrong, and that was easy. But as you grew older, you grew more adventurous and reckless. You wanted freedom. And I was afraid to give you even the slightest sliver. All I wanted was best for you." I swallowed. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry... "And I knew then that I was doing what was best for myself, not for you. I thought you were being stubborn. I should've known that something bigger was going on. I should've known that Percy was better for you than I ever could be. I'm sorry. I've been a true idiot, blinded by my own hubris. I deserved having two children in the hospital, because I hadn't taken good care of them. Malcolm got Thalia pregnant," she smiled a little, "Which I'm still trying to process how my baby boy is capable of having sex." I smiled back. That made two of us. "What I'm asking you is, I'd like a do-over. I'd like a second chance of being a good mom."

A tear spilled over. Traitor. I brushed it away quickly. "I just don't understand...?" Real intelligent, Annabeth.

"I know I don't deserve another chance, but instead of forcing you, I'm asking you. Will you give me another chance? Will you still allow me to involved in your life?"

I blinked rapidly, trying to conceal more and more waterworks. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah. I think I can do that."

"And I'd like to apologize to Percy for the way I treated him in the past. As well as Thalia. After all, Percy is going to be my son-in-law and Thalia my daughter-in-law."

I nodded, grimacing at her words. "I think Thalia'd like that."

"And Percy?" Athena seemed confused that I failed to mention him.

My grip on the cup tightened. "He's gone."

She blinked, eyes widening. "What do you mean gone?"

"I mean," my voice was thick as I spoke. "He packed a bag and left. I have no idea where he is."

My mom's hand reached over the table and grabbed mine. "I'm sure there's a legitimate reason. If there's one thing I can say, not many boys would charge in with a gun to rescue their girlfriends."

I snorted, but the thought made me smile a bit. "Yeah."

"He loves you, right?"

I nodded.

"So he'll come back." She stated it as if it was the most simple thing in the world.

"But-"

"Annabeth," she emphasized my name, her grey eyes suddenly light. "He'll come back to you. Whether it be days or weeks or months or years, Percy will come back."

I couldn't help but believe her.

. . .

Three hours later, I was packed and ready to go. Thalia was crying. Again, I'll repeat that; Thalia Marie Grace was crying. She kept blubbering about how I was leaving for so many months, and how she couldn't possibly survive her pregnancy without me there by her side. And as quickly as she sobbed, she abruptly shifted moods and kept reprimanding herself for being such a baby. But then she was back to tears, engulfing me in multiple hugs even when I wasn't even close to even stepping out the door yet. No word from Percy, but my mother's words had comforted me. He had to come back. If not, I'd hire a private investigator and hunt him down myself. I was allowing myself another half an hour to stay relaxed. If he didn't show up at my front door before I left, I was going to be massively pissed. And if he didn't show up at the airport, chasing down my plane like in all the other romantic movies, I'd be...how do I put this lightly? I'd kick his ass.

"I can't believe I'm crying," she choked out, my shirt wet from her tears. "I'm such a pussy! What's the matter with me? But y-you're leaving! My best friend is going to be leaving for-" she paused to do the math, and I tried not to laugh when she began counting on her fingers. "Four and a half months! How can you leave me with this dolt?" She threw a look at Malcolm, not at all subtle, and Callie giggled from beside my brother.

"Offended," Malcolm grumbled, but I could see his lips twitching.

"So?" I asked. "You two went to get the gender done. What's the genders of my nieces or nephews?"

Thalia heaved a deep breath, locking her fingers with Malcolm's. My mom stood near us, her grey eyes flashing upward as they prepared to deliver the news. "It's a boy and a girl."

I gasped, while my mom hugged both of them and murmured genuine congratulations. "Really? I'll get a niece and a nephew?"

"Yup," Thalia admitted proudly. "And we've decided on names too. Artemis and Apollo." (A/N: Thank you SerGregorClagain for the suggestion!)

"Like Greek Mythology?" Calypso inquired, her almond colored eyes bright with cheerfulness. I honestly never knew how that girl could be so happy all the time, but I was full of gratitude for that. I didn't know what I'd do without her optimism that seemed to run never-ending, 24/7.

Malcolm beamed, "Yes."

"I'm so happy for you guys!" I squealed, throwing myself at my brother. "So, so, happy!"

My happy mood was cut short when I heard the doorbell ring. It resounded through the house and I froze, peeling away from my brother, smile fading instantaneously.

Percy.

"What are you waiting for? Go check." They all edged me on, leaving me privacy as I approached the entryway. I held my breath as I twisted the knob and pulled open the door, coming face to face with the one person- the only person- that I had needed all these tough days. Percy Jackson. He was standing in front of me, his green eyes flickering up to meet mine, the sides of his hair trimmed to a reasonable amount. "Annabeth," he breathed, like my sudden appearance had winded him. I just took him in. I drank from the expression in his eyes, gauged in his reaction, then flew into his arms. He smelled like Percy, though I didn't even know what his actual smell was. All my anger, all my resentment for him abandoning me the past few days, seemed to dissipate as I took him in. Slowly, like he wasn't sure what to do, his hands came up and wrapped around my back. "Annabeth," he repeated, his voice suddenly small and weak. "Annabeth."

I shut my eyes tightly, masking my reaction. I didn't want him to see me so distressed, but I was overflowing with different emotions. I couldn't contain them all, and most of my sadness and desperation leaked into my voice. "Where have you been?" My words were muffled into his shirt, but I knew by the way he tensed he could hear me. "You never showed up at the hospital."

"I know."

"Why?"

"I was," his words cracked, like it was a difficulty to force them out. "I was trying to work up the courage to see you."

"Courage?" I tried not to sound baffled, but I did. "Are you- are you afraid of me?"

"I'm afraid of my guilt. I didn't know how to deal with you being shot. I thought you had died and when I found out that you were okay, I couldn't bear to see you again. I thought you would hate me. I thought you would hate that I wasn't there to protect you. That I couldn't save you that time." Again, like clockwork, the pained expression returned. It hurt me, seeing him so refrained and remorse ridden. "So I ran. I ran like a coward and I'm sorry."

"You better be sorry." My voice was angry now. Just because he was hurting didn't mean that I wasn't either. "You just took up and left! You promised me- you promised you would never leave me again. I thought that you had left for good. That you didn't want me anymore."

His hands suddenly gripped my shoulders tightly, staring into my eyes with such an intensity that I found myself unable to look away. I couldn't move. It was like paralyzed. "I will always want you, Wise Girl." A whimper like sound escaped through my dry lips. I grabbed his hand, my thumb brushing over his hands, similar to the way I had done that night. Hesitantly, I led his hand to my stomach and placed it on my wound. His face hardened like stone as his hand came into contact with my bandage. I shivered at the sudden touch, but it didn't hurt. Granted, it still stung sometimes, but it was quickly healing. I would forever be stuck with a scar, but some scars were worth carrying. "D-does it hurt?" I shook my head, releasing his hand after a moment. "Why did you do that?"

"Because. I need to find a way to live with it, Percy. I need to find a way to live with knowing that my own father betrayed me. And I need you to find a way to live with me. I need you to find a way to live with this scar, because it is always going to be there." He nodded, turning away from me. I wished I could see his face, wished I could hear his thoughts the same way I could decipher his green eyes. My eyes narrowed in on the envelope clasped tightly in his hand. "What's that?"

He tilted his head to gaze at me, and when he did, his green eyes were dark again. "It's my goodbye to you. I can't say it out loud without breaking down, so I want you to read it instead."

"You owe it to me," my voice came out raspy and bitter. "You owe it to me to tell me to my face."

He shook his head, tears clouding in both our eyes.

"Perseus Jackson," I was startled at how my voice sounded. I softened my voice before finishing up, shaking harder than I had that night. "Read it to me."

Slowly, with trembling hands, he began to open the envelope. It felt like time had stopped as he unfolded the lined paper. He glanced up at me, one time, before he looked back down at his paper. "Dear Annabeth," his voice already broke on the first line and his hand clenched, pulling up to his lips to compose himself. "I want to be your everything, the way you were almost mine. Your smirk, your smile, your smugness- everything about you- lights up my entire day. I want to tell you what I feel, and how-" he stopped suddenly, and I stood in front of him and grabbed onto his arm, silently telling him to continue. "I think everything you do is perfect." I smiled, but it was a weak one. Those words were far from the truth. Everything I did was imperfect. "You're amazing. I know you're scared that I'll get bored with you, but honestly, I could think about you for hours and never grow tired. Back when Gabe was still in my house, beating my mother and abusing me, you were my drive. You were the one thing that kept me going when my life was just meaningless. The worst part about this is you'll never know how I feel until after reading this letter. For now I have to fall silent, and I must stand alone when I know I'd rather be with you."

I swallowed tightly, my knees shaking.

"I-" he looked up at me, finally taking me in instead of permanently gazing at the paper. "I can't be with you, Annabeth. I can't put you through something like that again. You've taught me to be brave when my life was in tatters. You've taught me that making people as miserable as I am won't make me any happier. I feel guilty for hurting Rachel and Piper and Silena. I feel guilty for hurting you. I want to make things right, with everyone I've hurt, although I know that everyone won't forgive me. Annabeth Chase, you may have lost the bet, but you've truly played the player." I was crying now. But unlike the multiple times before, these tears were silent. Sobs never were heard. Cries never existed. I gripped onto nothing for balance and slowly sat down on the patio, my heart twisting in a mixture of pain and relief, happiness and sorrow, and Percy needed to stop talking. He needed to stop reading or else I was going to lose it.

But this wasn't just about breaking up with me. It was about something else entirely. It was about moving on. It was about accepting that it was time to.

"I forgive you. I've forgiven you a long time ago, I've just never said it. I forgive you for trying to make me fall in love with you and then break my heart. But I have to tell you that you succeeded. You did change my ways. You did break my heart. And while doing so, you also mended it. You made me stronger. You made me into a good person, and I can't tell you how thankful I am. In return, I hope you can forgive me. I used you, broke you, toyed with you, and could never give you enough. I couldn't bring myself to say those three words to you until I thought I would never get another chance to say them. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me too."

"I did. A long time ago." My voice was never so quiet, but I knew Percy heard me.

"I'll always love you. I think you'll always love me. But we're on separate paths. You're going to San Francisco. I'm staying here. I know you can't stay. I know you need to get away from here. I know you need to move on. I know that I do. I also know that you're my future, and as corny as this sounds-" he sat down beside me, staring me directly in the eyes. "Although we need to leave each other now, I know we'll find our way back to each other. But right now, I need you to move on. So move on. Live. Breathe. Love. Love someone other than me. And when you're ready, and when I'm ready, and when we meet again, we'll try. We'll do things better the next time. Because next time around, I know that there won't be anyone around to hurt us or more importantly, to hurt you. We won't argue as much. I'll try and listen to you better. I will not be the same person I was before. I will not push you away."

"I'm letting you go, Annabeth. For now. From, your one and only, Seaweed Brain."

I grabbed the note from his hand, gingerly, and bringing my blurred grey eyes up to the words. My hands played with the note. Everything's numb. I couldn't feel anything. Nothing. It felt as if something had reached in, tore my heart from my chest, threw it on the ground, stepped on it, then put it back. The pain was so deep, so agonizing, so intense. And then another part of me seemed to grow. Happiness blossomed in my chest. Our romantic relationship was over, but it wasn't for good. I somehow knew that. I thought about how many times we had fought and he had left. The two differences about this time was, I was the one leaving, but this time Percy was saying goodbye.

I shut my eyes, resting my head on his shoulder. "I love you, Percy."

"I love you too, Annabeth."

Another object was placed in my mind. The necklace. The owl necklace. I ran my fingers along it, staring up at Percy. "Just something to remember me by." He grinned, and I couldn't help but smile back, even as my world was being pulled upside down.

. . .

I remembered all the things we had been through. All the tears, all the fights, all the kisses, and even all the hospital trips. I remembered Percy's closet, the one that he used to bring girls into, and I recalled a time when Percy and Rachel were in love. Senior year was nearly over, but our story wasn't.

In fact, it seemed like the beginning.

. . .

He pressed his lips against mine. It was quick, and I wanted to hang onto it, but as soon as it started, it ended. I wiped my tears away as we both climbed upward. I squeezed my necklace tightly, watching as he walked away.

"I'll see you again, Seaweed Brain!" I called, my voice void of any sadness. "I know I will!"

He smiled, just like he had smiled at me countless times before. "You know it, Wise Girl!"

"I love you!"

"Love you too, Chase."

And just as quickly as he entered my life, he was out of it.

But only temporarily.

. . .

"Ready to go to the airport, Annabeth?" My mother asked me, pulling out of the driveway. A bittersweet smile laced on my face as I watched my brother and my friends waving to me, Thalia still crying. I was coming back for her due-date. There was no way I would miss my niece and nephew being born. I rummaged through my purse until I felt a thick wad of paper.

I shook my head. "No. There's still one more stop I'd like to make."

My mother's eyebrows furrowed in disapproval. "Annabeth, if you're late to this flight, then imagine how it would look to the board?" I sent my mother a meaningful look. "Fine," she relented. "You may have this one stop. Only because I'm trying to give you a little control over your life." I nodded, smiling in acceptance.

"Thank you."

. . .

I ran my fingers along the utility closet's door. Percy's closet. It seemed like ten years ago, rather than only a few months. I opened the door, looking inside. I expected there to be panties or condom wrappers lying around, but there were none. There was no foul stench of sex, nor was there any evidence that showed Percy had ever been in here with any girl. I smirked, remembering how flustered I had been when I had knocked on the door while Percy and Drew had been busy. Taking one last look at it, I turned off the light and closed the door. Some other player would inhabit it, I'm sure. And hopefully, some girl would teach him a lesson. I sighed, leaning against it. It seemed impossible that it was over. The bet, the big plan, and everything else. I would never graduate here. I would receive my diploma at the school in San Francisco. Maybe one of my friends would write a speech about me. Maybe Percy would. I grinned at the thought before making my way down the hallways.

It was a long shot, but somehow I knew he'd be here.

I knocked before entering, smiling brightly when I saw him sitting there. "Mr. Brunner," I greeted with a small smile. "How are you?"

He was seated at his desk, looking over papers and grading them. "Annabeth," he seemed surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I guess you heard by now. About my father and Gabe."

He nodded gravely. "Percy told me at one of our sessions. I'm truly sorry, Annabeth."

I let out a deep breath that I had been holding. "But that's not why I'm here."

"Oh?"

I handed him my stapled paper. "Percy and I's assignment was to write about the characters from The Odyssey and how they affect and relate to our day-to-day lives. You were supposed to look through the textbooks and gather evidence, but I'll admit, I found myself straying from that path. I just couldn't relate to the characters. So, I didn't exactly follow the assignment, but I hope you'll still give us a good grade regardless."

I caught him hiding a smile. "And how did you answer my assignment?"

"I wrote about Percy and how he affected my life. It's like a book or a narrative essay. I haven't really decided yet."

His warm brown eyes seemed to twinkle at that. This time, he didn't bother hiding his heart-felt smile. "I see. Well, I think I can make an exception." He took the papers from me, and as he did so, he grabbed my hand. "I'm proud of Percy and you, Annabeth. You've grown up. You went from being immature to adults. It was a long voyage, just like in The Odyssey, but a needed one. I hope you learned from it."

"I did. And Percy did help with the assignment, so give him half credit? He was kind of like my muse for everything. When I wrote about him, it just seemed easy."

"You write what you know," Chiron stated. "I look forward to seeing you again, Annabeth."

I chewed on the bottom of my lip, my grey eyes bright. "You too. And Mr. Brunner?"

"You can call me Chiron."

"Thank you for uh, being there for Percy when I wasn't."

He leaned foreword on his desk, staring at me softly. "You know what I always believed? I believe that people meet one another for a reason. The reason is not always obvious, and sometimes it hurts people more than it helps them, but it always has an outcome. Sometimes things just don't tie together like they do at the end of movies. Sometimes things end on cliffhangers. Sometimes things end up terribly wrong. As a therapist, I've seen many outcomes. Suicide, self-harm, overdoses, people's minds break, run-aways...sometimes it's not always the best outcome. Sometimes you have to have hope. Sometimes you just have to push on, even you're doing everything wrong. This day isn't good, but it isn't bad, either. Take that to heart, because their will be days when you wished the bullet would've killed you. When you wish that you could've just died on that pavement. When you wish that the bullet hit you an inch to the left so it would've stopped your heart. You feel like you're immortal in school. Even me, at my old age, still thinks that I have so much time left. There's only so much time the door remains open, yes? So promise me that even when things don't end up as a happily ever after, don't wish that you were dead. If you're at the bottom, there's only one way you can go. Up. If you promise me this, I'll promise you that the rest of your life is whatever you make it. Just don't waste it."

I smiled, even though I couldn't quite process his words. "I promise. Thank you, Chiron."

Before I left the room, I took a mint off his table.

. . .

I walked from Goode High School, then in twenty minutes, I boarded a plane.

I didn't cry at the idea of leaving everything I had ever known, but instead I smiled for the present and moved on from the past.

I smiled at the future that I knew would include Percy Jackson.

I touched my necklace, and stared out the window.

And then the plane took off.

A/N: That's the official end to "Playing The Player," folks. I can't tell you how much I appreciated every review, follow, favorite or just read I got. It helped me get through a tough year and I will be forever grateful- just how Annabeth is to Percy. The epilogue was difficult to write, but not in a writer's block way. I knew what to write, and I knew how to write it. It was just sad, seeing this story end for me. I hope I did well on the epilogue and met all your expectations.

I know Percabeth broke up. But I LOVE Percabeth. Whenever will they get back together? *Cough* sequel *cough*

The sequel will be titled, "Playing With Fire" and will be all the after effects of "Playing The Player." In the sequel they will either be starting college, or ending High School. I'm still debating. You can drop in a review to which you think is better. "Playing With Fire" will focus a little more on Rachel and her insight, as well as Gabe's and Annabeth's father. There will multiple court trials where Percy and Annabeth have to testify against Gabe, so they'll definitely be seeing each other again. There will be a new antagonist to the sequel, one that isn't Gabe or Fredrick, but the unknown person who shot Annabeth. There will be Caleo love, Silena angst, and Thalia's twins. Keep in mind, Thalia still doesn't know who the definite father is to her children. Annabeth will get a new love interest, and Percy won't be too happy about that. Aaron will be in the story, as will Xander, who was briefly introduced in the last chapter. "Playing With Fire" will be posted around September, which is only around a month away. I just need a quick breather on this AU.

Any questions you have, review it or PM me. I'll most-likely be doing a Q/A (question/answer) part of the story, where you ask questions about the story or the future sequel and I'll respond in the best way.

This is my first lengthy story that I actually completed. I'm glad I didn't wimp out half-way through, because writing "Playing The Player" has been really, really awesome, thanks to all you guys.

Until next time,

Jaimee.

Ps. I'll post a new chapter when I have published the sequel. The date I release it will probably be September 2nd. And because it's a month away, I'll be dropping sneak-peeks in "Unfinished Stories."