Can We Go Home?

Percy POV

Pulling away from Annabeth's kiss was one of the hardest things I had to do. The kiss was only supposed to be 3 seconds, but I pulled away after like 7 seconds.

That was my first mess up of the show.

Currently, the crew members were performing the scene where the Barnum building was getting burned down by rioters. I was backstage, behind some shutters, changing into my black pants and blue shirt outfit. However, my mind and body were filled with sensations and perceptions of the kiss.

"I thought I warned you, Jackson."

I was still bare-shirted as I turned around to face Luke.

"Luke, you don't scare me."

"I told you what would happen if you went for her, Jackson." His goons showed up behind me and quickly grabbed my arms to stop me from moving.

"Luke, we were literally just performing a scene," I tried. If they kept this up, I was going to be late for my next scene.

"I don't believe that Jackson. You have feelings for her, and I don't like that."

"Screw you, Luke. I love her, and you can't do anything about it."

"You're right, Jackson, and your feelings mean nothing to me. But, I can make you suffer for one last hurrah." I just stared at him. Never before had I projected an image of Gabe onto another person. Gabe was too horrible of a person, but Luke came very close to Gabe. "So, Percy, it's your choice. Will you take an attack or miss your performance?"

The choice was a no-brainer. I couldn't let everyone down by not finishing the show.

"Attack," I spat helplessly. As Luke came towards me, I decided to distract myself. My mind wandered to Wise Girl and our kiss.

It was a kiss where she wasn't intoxicated. However, I wasn't sure if it could count as a real kiss. We were staged to do the kiss. She didn't kiss me because she wanted to. She kissed me because she had to, and I hated that thought. Our first real kiss wasn't supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be a promise: an action to solidify our feelings and commitment for each other. It was supposed to be-

All thoughts were knocked out of my mind as Luke kneed me hard in my side-abdomen. I could feel my ribs bruising immediately as I crumbled to the ground while coughing.

They left snickering while I wore my blue shirt quickly. Pain swirled in my body and clouded my mind, but I didn't have time to think about it.

The rest of the show was torturous. I had to wipe away tears during From Now On because the emotions were too much to handle. Luckily, emotionalism matched the flavor of the song. However, I physically couldn't spread my hands out while singing the extended notes. The pain was there as I sang, but I ignored it. However, I could not stretch my chest/abdomen because that would've been too much pain to ignore.

***

I gestured Jason off stage as soon as my turn was down to sing The Greatest Show. Now, it was Hazel's turn to sing before some background music played, and we danced for a while.

"Bro, what's up," Jason whispered.

"Jason, you have to sing the rest of my part." I felt awful as I saying it. It felt like I was letting people down by not finishing my role, but I physically couldn't anymore, especially since I have a Districts swimming competition tomorrow.

"Percy, what the hell-"

"Jason, please," I pleaded sharply. He must've seen the emotions in my eyes because he nodded quietly.

"Okay, you gotta go," I said as I pushed him back to the stage.

As Jason started to sing my part, I made my way deeper backstage. I found the minifridge in no time. It housed water bottles and food for the crew. However, I went for the ice pack. I was worried about the competition tomorrow. I could barely stretch my body right now so how was I supposed to swim competitively.

The show ended pretty quickly after that. I knew because of the lack of music, and the presence of cheers and claps. I was hidden away in a prop closet with my shirt off and an ice pack against my chest.

"Please welcome the cast members of The Greatest Show," Apollo announced loudly.

I groaned in pain. I totally forgot about that. The crew members were gonna be announced and allowed to bow by the level of importance, starting with the minor cast members and moving into the lead roles and me at the end.

I quickly put my ringmaster costume back on before making my way to the stage.

"Mr. Jason Grace playing Phillip Carlyle," Apollo announced. Damn, he was already at Jason. That meant Annabeth was next and then, me.

"The beautiful and wonderful Annabeth Chase who played Jenny Lind and Charity Barnum." Cheering erupted as Annabeth walked onto the stage. She looked amazing in the infamous Jenny Lind gown. However, she let her blonde hair flow, which only emphasized how beautiful she was as herself.

"Last but definitely not the least. Please welcome, the one and only leading man, Percy Jackson!"

I walked onto the stage as I welcomed the cheers and the applause. For a second, I forgot about my bruised ribs/abdomen, but as I bowed, it came back. I turned on a fake smile as I waved.

People surrounded me as the crowds swept around to congratulate the crew. I was as polite as possible as I made my way towards my parents. I managed to find my mom.

"Percy, honey, I'm so proud of you. You were absolutely incredible," my mom exclaimed as she hugged me. I winced before pulling away.

"Mom, can we go home?"

"Percy, don't you want to celebrate. You were amazing."

"Mom, please."

She looked at me, and she seemed to see something. My mom nodded as she grabbed my hand to take me home. I needed to go home, and I needed to make sure I'm okay for swimming.

Swimming meant the world to me. Swimming was what I was best at. Swimming was how I made myself an identity. Swimming was how I had my best memories with my father, and it was also how I got over him leaving me and my mother. I've always had swimming, and I'll always want to keep swimming.

***

The next morning, I found myself at the swim meet. My mom didn't want me to compete today, but I wasn't backing down. However, I wasn't really confident right now.

I walked into the pool room after the rest of the team. Only the best swimmers on the team can compete in the upper-level competitions. While the rest of the team was only in their swim shorts, I was wearing the swim shorts and cap that Annabeth got me as well as my Goode High swim hoodie. I didn't want to answer questions about my clearly visible bruise before competing.

"Alright Jackson, are you ready for this?" Coach Hedge asked surprisingly softly.

"Of course, Coach."

"Your mom spoke to me, Jackson."

I sighed. Of course she did. "Coach, I'm fine. I can swim and compete."

"Percy, listen to me. You don't have to be excellent. For once, listen to me about this. Just be good enough today because it's not worth risking your health and safety."

I listened to my coach intently. He was right. I only had to rank in the top 20 in the district to qualify for regionals in two weeks. Top 20 should be an easy feat considering I was projected to be 1st. However, it was sad to think that I'd probably not even enter the top 5 in today's competition, especially since I got 2nd last year in this same tournament.

I sat on the bench with the rest of my team. As I said, I was never nervous about swimming, and I wasn't nervous now. But, I was tired, and I was bruised.

To make things worse, I noticed a few people walking towards me from the stands.

I couldn't believe some of my friends were here, especially Annabeth. The one time that I would've preferred them not showing up to support me at my competitions.

I sighed before walking over, but I really wasn't in the best mood.