The Violin That Started it Again

Part 4) Chapter Twenty-Four

I know it's been like a decade since I updated, and "sorry" isn't going to really cut it. I got around to messaging all of the people I left with no reply yesterday, and I just finished Special A, so my inspiration is pretty good. Now I'm rewatching and reading the manga for Kaichou wa Maid-sama because I'm shit who loves high school romance animes.

Hopefully this chapter is as emotional as I want it to be (I suck at emotions. But let's just skip to the actual chapter now, shall we?)

...

Nico di Angelo

"Percy?" Silena whispered so quietly I had to strain my ears to catch what she muttered. I couldn't even see Percy's expression, but it was as if I could feel his fury and rage from where he stood in front of me.

Someone tugged on my hand and I glanced to the side. Tyson was there with wide eyes, and a man on the other side of the store seemed to stare intently at us.

And why did that man look like an older version of Percy? Was he Percy's real father?

"Hey, Silena," Percy said in a frightening levelled voice.

"Percy? I-I didn't..." Silena's eyes were wide in horror as she attempted to construct an actual sentence. "You know I'm--"

"On my side?" Percy's voice was laced with so much malice that it didn't even sound like him at all. Was this really Percy? How much had he changed since I last saw him?

"If you didn't care about anyone," I heard Percy's voice in my head, "then why did you cover my mouth for the kids? Didn't you say because you thought I would care?"

"What of it?"

"If you covered my mouth because I would care, then doesn't that mean you care about me?"

How much happened since then? Hasn't it been only a few hours? Why did Percy sound like he was ready to snap everyone's neck in under a couple seconds?

My talk with Percy just a few hours ago... It sounded as if he were fine. I mean, sure I knew deep since that he was depressed and/or desperate for obvious reasons, but angry?

My gaze eventually led towards the older man who seemed to be staring intensively at me that resembled Percy in various ways. Was he part of the reason as to why Percy was so angry?

That person... Was definitely Percy's real father. I remember Percy telling me a little about him on my birthday. But why was he back? And what happened to Paul?

"Percy..." Silena's voice quivered. "I really am. I-I didn't know you were there."

"Even if you were on my side, you wouldn't betray me if I was there or not there," Percy snapped with hatred. "I already know you're trying to help him more than me, but this? I wouldn't have expected any of this from Silena Beauregard. What happened to Beckendorf, Silena?"

To my surprise, I spotted tears forming in the corner of her eyes. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably, and her eyes darted everywhere but Percy's face.

"Percy you know I'm--"

"Sorry isn't going to cut it for me," Percy interrupted her with a cold tone of voice. "I learned that the hard way. And now you're going to--"

"Percy that's enough."

My eyes widened at the sound of a new--but familiar--voice.

"Annabeth!" Silena practically sobbed her name, clinging to her as if her life depended on it.

"I don't know what happened just now." Annabeth glanced down at Silena worriedly. "But Percy, be a bit easier next time on her."

"Life isn't just 'easy' you know," Percy growled, and I didn't have to look at him to know his venomous glare directed their way.

"Percy, we do care about you." Annabeth began to approach the situation more carefully. "Please--just calm down."

"You expect me to calm down after what I just saw?!" Percy yelled. "Do you really believe I'll calm down after that? Do you know how long I've tried to get over him? Do you have the slightest idea as to what I've been through? Every single fucking night to every single fucking day I've only had one thing on my god damn mind! I've experienced the most painful breakdowns throughout this week, and you expect me to calm down? I've been working my ass off trying to gain his trust again, and here Silena goes stealing his heart in two seconds flat. Calm down? What a fucking joke! 

"I promised him I'd spend my whole life with him. Hell, I even told him I wouldn't have to worry about breaking up with him for someone else! I know I fucked up--I know I did. All I want is another chance, but life isn't simple. I know there are people out there suffering even more than me, and maybe I'm just overreacting, but I've had enough to deal with today." Percy's fists unclenched and his shoulders slumped downward. 

He exhaled deeply. "Sorry, Silena, and I know it's not enough. I don't... I don't even know what I'm doing anymore." He chuckled half-heartedly, running a hand through his black hair. "I just love him so much. I want to hug him again and whisper loving things in his ear and tease him like I used to in the past months. I want to joke around with him and see if him smile even if we just went back to being friends. I don't want him to ignore me or avoid me or anything. I just want to be with him again, and I don't care if I sell my soul if it's the only way to be with him." Percy chuckled once more. "Love is such a fucked up thing, don't you think?" He sighed. "What am I even doing here? I'm sorry, again, Silena, for yelling at you even though I'm not even dating him anymore. I mean, I should love him enough to a point where I'd allow him to date whoever he wants as long as he's happy right? We're not even together anymore, so what's the fucking point?"

I smiled softly to myself. Tyson tugged on my arm as if urging me to say something.

I hesitantly opened my mouth to say something, but Percy beat me to it.

"Let's go Tyson." He turned around, and my eyes widened at how much pain Percy's sea-green eyes held. What hurt the most was the fact that he had a smile across his face. It was as if I were looking at my old self--the person who pretended to be happy and that it didn't hurt to be around Percy. Now it was the opposite, but Percy couldn't hide it from me.

"Okay Brother." Tyson released my arm and followed Percy after nodding to me, as if to say Go get him!  The older man that resembled Percy followed them shortly after, and everyone in the coffee store began to resume what they were doing before that event had happened.

"Nico." Annabeth called to me, but I was half-listening to her. I was staring out the window of the cafe's front door where Percy was. He looked as if he were trying to explain something to the older man in a desperate way.

I gulped when I reached a decision in my mind. I took a deep breath and thought to myself, Here goes nothing.

I left the cafe. Annabeth called my name once more in a shocked but curious sort of way, but I didn't bother turning around. I felt the door shut behind me and the wind from it blew my hair and clothing around. I heard Percy's voice but my mind didn't register anything that he was saying. The only thing my mind knew was what I planned to do, and that Tyson was even trying to get us back to the way things were before. 

Percy turned to me and had a frightened expression across his face. His breathing hitched and he stepped away from me. Was he afraid of me? Didn't he just announce to the whole store how much he loved me?

I raised my hand and he flinched. His teeth gritted together as if preparing himself for whatever pain he predicted to appear in the next second. But that wasn't what came.

I slid my hands across his cheeks before standing on my toes and pressing my lips against his in a passionate kiss. How long had it been so I felt Percy's warm lips against mine? Percy's ocean scent wafted around me as I pressed my body closer to his. I smiled when Percy began to respond, moving his lips sensually against my own.

When we separated for air, I stared into his gorgeous eyes which I have loved for so long and asked, "Why would I want to spend time with someone who already sold his soul?"