Lost

1

August 2020

My day was the same as always. I woke up, showered, got dressed, and tried not to think.

Breakfast was normal, as usual. My mom served me and my little sister, Estelle, breakfast and Paul, my stepfather, attempted to get me to talk, which I barely did anymore.

My mom would ask me if I was feeling alright and then offer me an extra serving of breakfast, which I always declined.

A year ago I would've agreed. I would've been more than happy to talk to Paul at the breakfast table and maybe even help out with Estelle.

But now I was just numb. Loss can do that to a person, at least that's what Chiron had told me before sending me home for the school year.

I had begged him to let me stay at camp, but he was convinced I should graduate high school.

When my mother saw me for the first time after I came home from Camp, she tried her best to cheer me up with no avail. She even decided I would be switching schools, just for a change.

"Perce, honey, would you like me to drive you to school today?" my mother asked as she ruffled her hand through my hair.

"No, I can walk," I replied.

She frowned at me and shook her head. Then she reached for her car keys. "It's the first day, I don't think being late would be a good first impression. I'll drive you."

I didn't argue with her, although I wanted to. The whole car ride to school was silent until the very end.

"Have a good day, Percy," she said as she parked the car. "Do you want me to go in with you?"

I shook my head. "No, mom, it's fine. I'll walk home tonight, okay? I don't want to bother you."

She bit her lip. "Percy, it's no bother, really. I can even have Paul come if you want. He has to pick up Estelle anyways."

"Mom, I said I was fine."

My mom peered down at the steering wheel. Her voice sounded as if it were about to break. "Percy, you can't keep going on like this. Being alone, insisting you don't need help...it's not what she would've wanted...."

Her words stung like a knife to the heart. I quickly grabbed my book bag and opened the car door. "I'll walk home, okay? It's no big deal, really. And you don't know what she would've wanted, because she's dead."

And it's my fault.

The words weren't there, but they were true. My girlfriend, Annabeth Chase, was dead.

We were meant to grow old together. Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase, partners in crime, best friends, and meant to be.

I slammed the car door and forcefully slammed my hands into my pockets. I could tell my mother hesitated before heading off, but she eventually left once I reached the building.

After figuring out where my first class was, I made my way across the school. It was boring and I couldn't seem to pay attention. I couldn't even pay attention before what happened.

I had several more classes and then lunch, the only part of my day I didn't mind. I could just sit there and eat, not being bombarded by everyone else's questions.

Halfway through lunch I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned to see someone familiar.

"Hazel?" I asked, staring at her in astonishment. Hazel was short but had a sweet face. Her eyes were golden yet fierce and she always wore a smile on her face. "What are you doing here? I thought you and Frank went back to New Rome."

Hazel and Frank has fought alongside me against Gaea and were set to go back to New Rome for the school year.

"No, we cancelled last minute, and Chiron said we could live at camp," she explained. "Frank and I go here now. The commute isn't great, but Chiron lets us borrow a camp van. I'm surprised he didn't tell us you were going here."

I shrugged and offered her the seat next to me at my empty table. "I haven't had much contact with camp. I practically begged Chiron to let me stay there, but he forced me. I moved back to New York a few weeks ago."

"Frank should be here soon, I promised him I'd save him a seat," Hazel said. "How are you adjusting?"

The last thing I wanted to do was have an emotional talk with Hazel about our feelings and how much I missed Annabeth because I knew I'd start crying, but I was saved by Frank, who was just as shocked as Hazel to see me.

He greeted me and then completely ignored the subject of Annabeth or the war entirely, except for filling me in on where everyone had landed.

"Piper's in some high school back where her dad lives. Jason's out there, too," he explained. "Still no sign of Leo, although camp got a letter from him saying he was okay. I still can't believe him."

Hazel nodded fiercely. "Putting us through everything, ugh! I could kill him! And he still owes me an explanation, I thought he was—"

Frank glared at Hazel. She promptly closed her mouth and stared down at the floor.

"It's....it's okay," I told them weakly. Hazel peered back up at me. "You can mention death. And A-Annabeth, if you'd like."

My voice was scratchy as I said her name, so Hazel and Frank didn't appear to be so convinced. Hazel quickly changed the subject again and blabbed on about her morning classes.

"Well, it was great to catch up. I'm glad someone we know is here," Hazel said as the lunch bell rang.

Then she pulled me into a bone crushing hug, which was strange since she was about two heads shorter than me.

"I'm okay, Hazel," I lied. "And I'm glad you're here, too."

I wish Annabeth were here.