If I was yours (Percabeth selection)

Chances

At eleven, I could have hardly imagined that I would grow up to wear silk dresses and proclaim my love from balconies. Had someone told me, I would have burst into laughter.

And at thirteen, if someone had told me that I would kiss Percy, I would have rolled my eyes.

And at fifteen I would have never believed that I would join the Selection, or fall in love.

But now, if someone had told me he was my soulmate, I would agree. But even soulmates don't always get happy endings.

And it seems like we don't.

Maybe this is how our story ends. With me walking down the steps of the castle, alone. And yet, despite everything- I don't regret it. And to think- all of this started with Helen.

* * *

8 months earlier

It was a calm evening in the middle of September, less than a week after I had come back from the prissy boarding school I had spent the last 6 months in when I got the news that would ruin my life. My fork dropped from my hand, hitting the table with a loud thud.

"I'm sorry, what?!" I squeaked out.

"You're old enough to understand why we're doing this. Think about your brothers, they aren't thriving in the city. The move will be good for everyone." Helen set down her own silverware calmly, clasping her hands as she glanced at my father, then back to me. I looked from Dad to her, willing him to say something, laugh, and tell me this is all a joke. Eyes downcast, he places a hand on top of mine and says:

"Honey, this is for the best. We've lived here for four years and Helen has always longed to leave. Perhaps it's time, with the unrest and everything." I couldn't tell if he was purposefully ignoring the fact that I had lived here for seventeen years or if Helen had really convinced him I'd only existed for four. My father had never been this meek with my mother but Helen had wrapped him around her pinky years ago. I stared at Helen, waiting to see what she would do. 

"Mum? Can we leave?" Bobby said eventually, clearly uncomfortable in the growing tension. 

"Of course honey. Why don't you and your brother go play upstairs." The boys scampered off, released from the prison that was this dinner table. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before I started screaming. 

Digging my nails into my palms and through gritted teeth, I said:

"I don't understand why we are doing this now. I'm 17 years old, I have one year left before I go to university."

"We're concerned about your education, that's all" Helen's voice was like honey, sticky and suffocating. My father nodded a little too hard, making it seem like it had been his idea all along.

"My education? I am taught by the tutor of the Prince. If it's good  enough for the royal family, it's good enough for me." Clearly, this had already been discussed because Helen rolled her eyes immediately. 

"That boy, Percy? When has he ever cared about schooling? You spend all your time fooling around instead of acting like a lady. It's disgusting, quite frankly." 

"Your opinion on my friendship is unnecessary" I snarled at Helen, who seemed quite unperplexed.

"Annabeth! That is not the way you speak to your mother. You enjoyed the boarding school last summer, I really don't see the issue here. " 

"Helen is not my mother, and she never will be. And I won't go." I spit out. How dare he call her that? I was twelve when they got married, old enough to understand why she hated me so much and why my father needed her. Helen laughed humorlessly. 

"Unless it magically becomes illegal, you're going. End of story".  She slammed her hands on the table and I stood, anger searing throughout me. 

"I. won't. go." 

"We leave in two weeks" Her tone smug, it was clear that I had lost this fight long before it started. Lucky for me, I was already wearing my shoes and  was out in a minute, the slammed door cutting off my father's gentle "Annabeth-"

It was cold outside, much colder than I expected and I immediately regretted not grabbing a jacket. But I was proud and haughty and would rather freeze than go back. The town was certainly pretty, with September green leaves and a handful of people on the streets. one of the perks of a townhouse was being close to the center of the city and even closer to the restaurants. Angry tears started rolling down my cheeks and I pushed them away, shoving them back into the pockets of my jeans. 

It was then I realized that in my rush, I had left behind my phone. I stopped at a tollbooth, chewing on my bottom lip as I tried to remember which phone number was his. We had a special one for just the two of us, but I doubted he was still at the castle. Punching in the numbers, I prayed that he had brought his cellphone with him. 

After two rings, he picked up.

"Hello?" My stomach dropped slightly at the sound of his voice, deeper than I had expected. I hadn't spoken to him on the phone since last January, since the boarding school only permitted handwritten letters. Seriously, handwritten letters. There weren't any computers in that place at all. 

"Hey it's- Annabeth." My mouth was dry and I stumbled over the words.

"Annabeth!" He repeated and I could tell he was smiling through the screen. 

"I'm sorry it's been so crazy and you know how Helen is about me calling and-"

"Woah, slow down wise girl. You came back, what, three days ago? I figured I could wait three more days to see you. Do you-"

"I'm downtown. Do you want to go to the usual pizza place?" It felt so awkward, a staccato of back and forth and cutting each other off mid-sentence. 

"I'd love to. I'll be there in 10." I hung up, leaning back against the wall and letting the smile break out over my face. No one would see me looking like a love-struck fool here.

I practically skipped the way down the street, feeling elated and light and so, so happy. That was before I came by the central government building, which was clad in bright posters with one word on them: SELECTION BALLOTS DUE 07/02

I read the words over and over again: SELECTION BALLOTS SELECTION BALLOTS SELECTION BALLOTS... or simpler still, PERCY IS GETTING MARRIED.

I paused at the steps letting it all hit me like a wave. I'd been isolated in the middle of the woods, so of course, no one had bothered to tell me that the Selection was taking place. And Percy he- well for one, was getting a wife and secondly, neglected to mention anything in his letters. Things had been weird and awkward and tense for a while, but I thought we had been doing better. Maybe I was wrong about us.

"Miss, are you here for the Selection ballot? We're closing in 5 minutes." A short, dark haired woman was standing in the doorway of that building, holding a clipboard. 

"Uh, yes?" 

"Well come in then, and hurry. I don't have all day." She pushed the door open further and I clambered up the stairs inside, the door swinging behind me.

A clipboard was shoved toward me, with a brief: "Fill this out, now". My hand was shaking as I scribbled in my name, birth date, and other random various medical information. 

"Done?" I nodded, still a little out of it. What was I doing? The woman, having picked up the clipboard must have seen how terrified I was. She shot me a sympathetic smile. 

"You look, beautiful dear, the picture will be fine." Picture? Before I knew it, I was sitting on a chair and a camera was in my face. 

"Don't be so tense, think about a happy moment. And smile, on 1, 2, 2..." I gave my best smile, thinking about how I would see Percy in a few minutes. 

"You're all done, good luck!" And then I was out on the street again, rushing downtown to see Percy. Percy, who was going to be married in less than two years. Percy, for whom I had just applied to be a Selected. 

What exactly did I sign up for?