I take that back; the beds weren't worth the questions after waking up, especially if you're disorientated.

Annabeth looked up from her book seconds after I blinked my eyes open. She must have a sixth sense or something. I noticed the Frank guy wasn't here. Was I out for that long?

"Hey, how are you feeling?" She asked as I sat up. I wasn't sure why I needed help earlier. I've had worse beatings; maybe I was just being lazy. I groaned into my hands. Why did I rely on her again?

"I'm fine. Where's Frank?" I asked, looking around. "I wasn't out for that long, was I?" Annabeth just smiled warmly at me.

"No, you were only out for around twenty minutes, but he kept looking at his watch, so I told him that I could wait for you on my own. He wanted to make sure you were ok when you got up," Annabeth explained softly. I nodded.

"Alright, so, what do you want to do?" she asked, and I shrugged. I didn't really feel like getting up; I just wanted to sleep. She sighed.

"How about this, we head to your house and hang out. I'll text my parents that I'm staying over?" she suggested, and I nodded. I didn't really have a better plan, and chilling out sounded great.

I stood up, legs wobbly. I scrunch my eyebrows together. Why was I so shaky? I felt Annabeth come up to my side and place my arm over her shoulders.

"The nurse said you had some degree of a concussion, so you're going to be a bit disorientated" I nodded at her, though the moving of my head now around 6 feet in the air made me dizzy. I stopped nodding. Then I shakily walked out of the basically deserted school to her car.

After she made sure I wasn't going to fall on my face getting into the car, she slid into her driver seat. I did the same, though a lot less gracefully, resulting in me banging my head on the door frame, which just made my brain feel worse. I blinked through the pain as we put on our seat belts and drove off to my house.

The car was quiet until I turned on the radio. The Reason by Hoobastank was playing, and I smiled. I haven't heard this song in a while. As the music played, nostalgia gripped my gut as I stared out the window. I felt a pinch on my arm and whipped my head around. Regretting it as my brain spun, I waited a few seconds before looking at Annabeth.

She sighed, eyes trained on the road, and asked, "Sing for me?" I felt butterflies in my stomach as I turned to face forward.

Why was this so nerve-wracking? I sang in front of more than a hundred people two weeks ago! Yea, but I actually care what Annabeth thinks. She said she liked it when I got off stage. I internally beat the negative thoughts with a bat. She wants to hear me sing; I'll do my best to sing! I thought angrily.

I jumped in at the chorus.

I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

And the reason is you

And the reason is you

And the reason is you

And the reason is you

I'm not a perfect person

I never meant to do those things to you

And so I have to say before I go

That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

And the reason is you

I've found a reason to show

A side of me you didn't know

A reason for all that I do

And the reason is you

I finished with the song, putting underlying emotion into the lyrics. Annabeth was exactly what Hoobastank sang about for me. The reason. I smiled a bit as I looked over and saw her with a massive grin on her face.

"Thanks, Perce, I needed that," she said as the car pulled up to my house. She needed that? Why?

I was about to ask when she got out of the car. I snapped my mouth shut and rushed to the front door. Pulling out my keys, I unlocked the door and opened it for her. She shook her head, rolling her eyes as she walked in.

I put my keys back into my hoodie and grabbed her hand. Dragging Annabeth into my bedroom. She laughed at me as I fell dramatically on my bed and closed my eyes.

After a few seconds, I felt the bed dip a bit. I opened one of my eyes to see Annabeth watching me as she sat on the bed, a small smile on her face. Her eyes held that mysterious emotion again. I grinned at her and pushed myself up. Then I leaned up against the back of my bed and grabbed the remote on the nightstand.

I was about to turn on the TV when I felt her hand on mine. I paused mid-action as she took the remote carefully out of my hand and placed it beside her on the bed. Then she cuddled up into my side, her head on the joint of my right shoulder. I slowly moved my right arm to go around her shoulders and laid there.

I was a bit confused—just a bit.

Don't get me wrong, I love it when she wants to be held, but with the weird atmosphere, I felt that she wanted to talk about something. I had a feeling that it wasn't going to be something I wanted to talk about. Either that or it would be uncomfortable.

"Percy," she started. I hummed, mentally preparing myself for what she was going to say.

"What's going on?" I scrunch my eyebrows together. That was vague.

"Um, what do you mean?" I was still confused. I felt her shift a bit, and I knew she was looking at me. I turned my head to see her stormy gray eyes. I felt guilt gnaw at my heart as I saw the worry swirling in her eyes.

"I know it's not just the jocks. There's something else you're not telling me. I'm not going to push you, but I just want you to know I'm all ears for whatever you need to get off your chest," she explained, and my breath caught. She must've felt it because she turned her head away from me and leaned back onto my shoulder.

I didn't know what to do. My mind was racing. What do I say? I really really want to tell her everything. My insecurity about being her boyfriend, how dependent I feel on her, how I was terrified about her leaving but knowing that she'd be better off without me. I wanted to spill my guts about how that word was still running rampant in my head and how stupid I feel for making her worry.

I closed my eyes and sighed. All these thoughts were running around and around in my head, and I couldn't stop them. My brain was working overtime, and I was starting to panic a bit. The negative emotions I beat into a corner were coming back.

Worthless piece of garbage, who do you even think you are? Annabeth is just pitying you; she'd better off with someone worth her while. All you ever do is pull her through your own stupid problems. You're just being selfish. She's going to leave you anyway, so why not let her free sooner. Besides, we all know you're just a weak waste of space.

I shut my eyes tighter, so dark spots danced across my vision. My mind was growing darker and darker, spiraling down, and I couldn't stop it. I just wanted to curl up in a ball and die. No one would have to see me again; no one would miss me. I should just-

My brain went blank. My eyes snapped open in surprise. Then I realized what was happening. Annabeth was kissing me. I slowly returned the kiss. Melting into her lips as I closed my eyes.

To kiss me, she had turned onto her knees and turned my face towards her. My right arm was securely on her waist, so I moved my left arm and grabbed her hips. Pulling her onto my lap fully as I deepened the kiss.

We pulled apart slowly, and she placed her forehead on mine. I opened my eyes as I caught my breath.

Suddenly without thinking, I blurted out, "Am I too clingy?"

Now that made me feel like shit just saying the words. For one, I blurted them out, making me beat myself up that I couldn't think things through, and two, because I just asked Annabeth an impossible question.

I heard her breathe in deeply before hugging me. My breath hitched as she whispered softly into my ear, "No." She pulled back and looked into my eyes. She searched them for a bit before grinning.

"Honestly, I think it's adorable," she smirked as I felt my face grow hot, then she sighed and finished," Plus, if you weren't, I probably would've never slept last week." I nodded but still felt her gaze on me. I looked away; a little bit of the suffocating weight on my chest eased with her answer.

"But that's not everything you want to say, is it?" she inquired, and I felt her move my chin to look at her. I kept my eyes cast downward, not wanting to meet her stormy gray eyes. "Rusticitas, what's wrong?" she asked, voice laced with concern.

I felt my walls crumble at the nickname. I really couldn't keep anything from Annabeth. I don't even know what the nickname means, and it makes my heart weak. I sighed internally and looked into her eyes. The emotion I couldn't place swirled in them as I looked at her.

"Um," I took a deep breath, now or never. I steeled myself and spoke quickly," I feel as if, if you left that I wouldn't be able to function at all, and it scares me because I know that I'm nowhere near good enough for you. You've got a great group of friends, and your smart and pretty and funny and cute. But all I am is the worthless loner in the back who acts as the football team's punching bag. I just." I paused." I know for a fact that I don't deserve you, and I'm terrified that once you realize it, you'll leave and then" my voice caught, but I continued," I just, I don't know what I'd do if you left. I know I'm so touch starved that I'm probably the clingiest person alive, and I can't even walk without tripping." I paused and looked away from her, not able to focus on anything but keeping the tears in.

" I'm just a weak, worthless nobody. And I know it. I don't even know what I was thinking when I thought that you would be my girlfriend. I'm so happy that I'm scared. I just know that something terrible is going to happen, and it'll be my fault. I don't want to lose you, but" I stopped when I forced down a sob. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing down my cheeks. Weak, that's all you are. Why can't you even manage to keep your tears at bay? As much as I struggled to get a hold of myself, I couldn't; the tears wouldn't stop.

I felt Annabeth hug me, but I didn't move. I didn't deserve sympathy; I didn't deserve anything, especially not her.

"Hey," I heard a soft whisper trying to get my attention. But I wouldn't look at Annabeth. No matter what. I couldn't let her see me like this. Even if I just spilled my guts to her, I didn't want her to see me in my lowest state, a sobbing mess.

I felt soft fingers on the bottom of my chin. I sniffled as I felt my resolve and will crumble. I really wanted a hug, I really did. I just wanted to cry it all out without any regrets. But I knew that couldn't happen; I'm just feeding the demon by crying.

"Rusticitas look at me" I allowed her to turn my head, but I kept my eyes downward. I was terrified of the look I'd see on her face. I wanted to believe that she would try to cheer me up or be accepting. But I knew that she'd probably agree with me and leave.

"Percy look at me," she said with a gentle tone. Her voice broke a bit as it came out, and I felt my heart clench. I steeled myself for the heartbreak.

Looking up, all I saw was sympathy and that mystery emotion. Annabeth smiled at me softly and held my face in both her hands. She shifted in my lap, so she was straddling my waist.

"Listen closely, ok? No interruptions," she whispered, and I nodded a bit.

"You are not a worthless nobody" I opened my mouth, and she moved her right hand over it. Shutting me up." You are the strongest person I know. And guess what? I'm never going to leave you. Never. Do you know why?" I shook my head since her hand was still over my mouth. Her smile grew.

"Because I love you. Also, the small points that are your looks, personality, and quirks. Personally, I think your clinginess is adorable, as I said earlier. And your clumsiness is one of your best qualities. I don't want to know what you did to the stairs in your previous life to make them hate you so much" She chuckled at her joke. Then her eyes returned to my face and laughed again. I must've been red.

"You don't have to worry about me. Nothing will be able to take me away from you, well, maybe finals, but you solved that problem already" Annabeth grinned and removed her hand. Then wrapping her arms around my neck, she hoisted herself up straighter.

"Got that Rusticitas?" she asked teasingly. I nodded. And she sighed, " I need to hear it."

"I got it," I confirmed, and as soon as I finished the sentence, she pulled me towards her and crashed her lips into mine. This time I didn't hesitate. I returned the kiss immediately.

I felt all the weight on my chest dissipate as I kissed her. Annabeth really loved me. She really cared. She didn't think I was worthless, a nobody. She wanted to be my girlfriend. I grinned as we separated, not able to wipe it off my face.

"What's got you so smiley? Oh, snap, I never knew you had dimples! Add that to your best quality list" Annabeth laughed, poking at my dimples. I looked at her weirdly.

"Best quality list? There's a list?" I asked incredulously. She just laughed.

"Of course there is" I felt my face heat up again, and I turned away, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. Now, what are we going to watch?" Annabeth sighed reluctantly and tried reaching for the remote.

I interrupted her and grabbed her hips, pulling her downwards as I shifted onto my back, laying down. Then wrapping my arms around her so she was flat against my chest, I closed my eyes.

"Percy?" I felt her say into my chest, and I chuckled a bit as it tickled me.

"Yes?"

"Let me go."

"Aww, but I thought you liked my clinginess," I whined playfully at her. She groaned.

"Not at 2 pm! There's still like 5 hours of daylight left!"

"Doesn't matter. We were going to hang out here anyway," I pointed out. I heard her grumble, and I knew that I won that small battle.

I sighed contently and kissed the top of her honey-blonde curls. I breathed in deeply and felt my lungs fill all the way. I smiled and drifted off, holding a grumbly Annabeth.