The Player's Proposal

33: The Resolution

Annabeth POV

I woke up to strange rasping. I rubbed my eyes in exhaustion while pulling myself into a sitting position. The sound was permeating throughout my room. I groggily looked at the clock, which read 2:17 am.

Suddenly, my attention snapped towards my window. 

What in the world?

Percy was knocking on my window. He was sitting on a branch of a tree outside of my bedroom. He knocked again before tightly clutching the tree branch. 

I ran towards the window and pulled it open. 

"Seaweed Brain, what the hell are you doing?" I hissed. I immediately grabbed his shirt aand dragged him through the window. 

He landed on the floor with a loud thud. 

"I came to see you. I have something to ask," Percy responded. He arched his back as pain contorted his face. I guess I pulled him too hard. 

"Why are you here in the middle of the night?" I asked as I crouched next to him. 

I stared into his glistening eyes. I gently placed my hand against his cheek. His eyes closed slowly as he leaned into my touch. I could see the pain dissipating away. Thalia explained some things to me over the weekend. 

I have an amazing stepmother, Helen, but not everyone could be like her. Percy has a very bad step-dad. Sex helped him with pain relief and distraction. 

Even my touch was soothing him. It illustrated how much pain he must've been in the past three months during the proposal. Yet, he gave up sex for me. It made me feel so satisfied, but I felt guilty at the same time. 

His eyes sparkled as I gazed into them. They were so beautiful. I simply got lost in them. 

"Run away with me," Percy whispered. 

I chuckled even though his expressions were serious. "Wait, Seaweed Brain. What are you talking about? You're can't just run away from him." 

"I meant, run away with me for the night."

"EXCUSE ME?" I snapped as I shot up. My cheeks burned red at his innuendo. While I admit that I like Percy Jackson, I wasn't ready to sleep with him. 

"No. Wise Girl, I didn't mean it like that. Ugh, dirty mind," Percy stammered. "I want you to come with me to Montauk. I'm going there tonight with Grover. I want you to come with me." 

I relaxed before laughing in relief. 

"You're such an idiot sometimes." I smiled "Come on. Take my hand." 

His warm hand clasped around mine while I pulled him up. We settled next to each other on my bed. Our hands were still connected, and our fingers intertwined. 

"Why are you going to Montauk right now?" 

"I-"

Percy faltered. He took a deep breath before facing me. His sea-green eyes locked onto mine, and the pain dulled the color in them. Shadows swirled around us since it was nighttime; the only light was coming from the moon and stars outside. 

I gently rubbed his hand with my thumb. 

"Do you need a break or something? Did Gabe do something to you?" I asked quietly. 

"He's always doing things to me. However, I need to go to Montauk because I have something to do there. Please come with me," Percy expressed. 

While logic dictated that I shouldn't randomly go out of the city in the middle of the night, I couldn't say no to Percy. I had to be with him.