Chapter 24 - Alexia

Before reading this chapter, you should know that Annabeth is a character of – you guessed it – the Percy Jackson books. She's the main character's girlfriend, and they are inseparable. They love each other unconditionally and always will. I had to explain 'cause she's mentioned at the end. Enjoy!

I kind of anticipated Luke's reaction after reading the letter. Not that exactly, but I knew that he was going to do something about it. Only I didn't know it was going to be so intense.

After he left, I felt really bad about myself. I probably broke his heart, but… god, I don't even know anymore.

What do I want? Do I want to be with Luke? Yes! Do I love him? Of course! Do I want to be with him? Absolutely! But do I want to be with someone that doesn't trust me? No…

I'm just afraid. To get hurt again, to have this horrible feeling in my chest again that refuses to leave. I hoped that after a while the pain would fade away, but if anything, it's getting worse. Every day I spend without being able to talk to him, to be with him, to kiss him… it's torture. Then why am I so hesitant in letting him back into my life?

Stop. My brain said You're driving yourself insane.

I took three deep breaths and pushed those thoughts away, then tried to actually concentrate on the lessons. It worked for a while. I paid attention to the teachers, I took notes, I participated in class, but that sinking feeling in my stomach didn't recede.

Finally, after P.E, I went home and took a shower. When I got out, I put on some baggy clothes and slumped on the bed. I opened my book and read a few chapters. About an hour later, my mom called me downstairs.

"Alexia, are you okay?" she asked. "Your English teacher called and told me you looked sad this morning."

What? Mrs. Depree called?

"I'm fine, mom."

She looked at me. "No, you're not."

I sighed. "Mom, don't worry about me. It's my problem and I have to deal with it."

"But I'm your mother," she insisted. "It's my job to help you out, whatever it is."

"Mom, seriously," I said, starting to get a little irritated. "I'm fine."

"Alexia please let me help you. It's okay to need help in life," she explained.

"But it's my life!" I snapped. "It's my life, and I think that I should be able to decide whether to accept your help or to refuse it. So, please, leave me alone!"

I ran upstairs and slammed the door to my room. I threw myself on the bed and started punching my pillow. (Tip: if you're mad, punch your pillow. It really calms you down. Honest.)

Then I started to really think about what had just happened. Did I just yell at my mom? Why? Just because she wanted to help me? God, I'm such an awful person. I thought of an apology in my head, and a few minutes later, I walked back downstairs to the kitchen.

"Mom, I'm sorry," I said. "I'm just really overwhelmed right now. From homework, school, tests, Luke…"

"Luke?" my mother asked, suddenly interested.

I nodded, then proceeded to explain her everything: how we had broken up, what happened with Vanessa, with the red-head, and then I told her about the little episode in the broom closet.

She was shocked. "Man, you're strict," she joked, "But you did the right thing, honey." That cheered me up a bit. I was constantly asking myself if I was overreacting and if I should just forgive Luke. But after my mom told me that she thought it was the right thing to do, I felt comforted.

For a whole week, Luke was like a ghost. He came to school, but it really seemed like he was hiding from me. He would sit far away from me, eat alone in the corner of the cafeteria, walk home instead of taking the bus… I was getting worried.

So on Friday, I decided to go talk to him but, just my luck, he didn't come to school. I was kind of bummed but didn't think much of it.

When I finally got back home from school, I found a white rose placed on the doormat. I picked it up and noticed a note stuck to it. It read:

Where I would never go without your permission.

L.

Uh, okay.

I figured that L. would be Luke. But what did the first part mean? My house? No, I don't think that's it. Maybe it's somewhere inside the house? Like a room or a… bedroom. I laughed out loud. The answer was "bedroom".

I unlocked the front door and walked to my bedroom. Sure enough, on my desk was another rose with a note:

Where we watched a MARVEL movie together.

L.

That would be the movie theater. We had gone to see Ant-Man and the Wasp. I honestly wasn't really in the mood to go to the movies, but I was kind of curious about where this would end. So I decided to go on this little adventure. I prepared a bag with my phone, my wallet, some tissues, and my book (I never leave home without it). I walked to the movie theater, but I couldn't find anything. I looked all around the entrance, but nothing. So I walked in and went straight to a cashier.

"Hi, excuse me, but have you-" I started to say.

"You're Alexia, right?" the guy told me. I scrunched my eyebrows. Well, this was a surprise.

"Yeah," I answered.

"Here." He gave me a white rose and a note, identical to the last two.

"Uh, thanks," I said.

The guy nodded, then I walked out of the door and read the note.

Where I told you my birthday.

L.

Wasn't it at Jamba Juice? Yeah, I think it was. We were waiting for our order and just started talking. This adventure was getting better and better. I took my about five minutes to reach the smoothie place, and this time I wasn't fooled. I went directly through the doors. Immediately, two employees asked me my name, and after I told them, one of them gave me another rose and the note.

"Thank you!" I said.

"Bye!" they said in unison.

I read the note:

Where I made a stupid mistake that ruined our relationship.

L.

This one was a little confusing. Did he mean the thing with Vanessa or the red-head? Wait, no. He still didn't know that I knew about the red-head, so it must be Vanessa. I hadn't been there that day, but I heard it happened in the school gym. I walked and walked, eager to finish this. Not because I was bored, but because I wanted to see what would be at the end of it all. The gym was closed, so I looked around the entrance and found the flower under the steps.

Where I first saw you.

L.

That I definitely remember. The first time I saw his stunning sea-green eyes, his muscular body, his soft lips… okay, sorry, getting distracted.

That had been at the mall. You know the drill by now: walk all the way there, look for the rose, and read the note. Repeat.

This time the rose was on the fountain. I was surprised to see that there was no one guarding it. What if someone had took the rose and I wouldn't have been able to finish this treasure hunt? Maybe someone was keeping an eye on it from far away? Anyways, I picked it up and read the note.

Where we had our first dinner together.

L.

Switzerland? No, probably not. Then I remembered. It was one of the best days of my life. We had visited Santa Monica and finished our tour at the Pier, where we ate some burgers just as the sun was setting. The memory brought warmth all through my body. I ran to the Pier, desperately wanting to find that next piece of paper. I stopped in front of the burger place, but it was closed so I didn't really know what to do. I thought I would've had to ask the employees there, but apparently there weren't any. I was thinking of where it could be when I felt a small tap on my shoulder, I turned around to see an old lady with a white rose and a note. She gently gave them to me, without saying a word. I thanked her, but she just nodded. The last note:

Where I realized that you were the most awesome girl in the whole world and that I hoped that someday you could be my girlfriend. (Tip: we were almost naked)

L.

Awww. That's so sweet! Except for the last part. What was that about? I've never seen Luke almost …Oooh. Bathing suits. He meant when we were at that party on the beach. So the answer must be… the beach?

I wasn't sure, but I took my bag and the roses and headed for the beach, specifically where the party had been. I arrived next to one of those huts, but I couldn't see anything. Not a rose, not a person… nothing. Maybe the wind had covered the other flowers? I didn't know.

Suddenly a lovely melody started playing from the hut's speakers. "Alexia!" I heard a yell. I turned around and saw Lisa, popping from behind a trashcan.

"You? You did this?" I asked.

"No, but I helped," she told me.

"Uh..." I shook my head, trying to put the pieces together. "Can you tell me something? What is this exactly?"

"Declaration of my love for you," a masculine voice said behind me. I turned around to see Luke, dressed in a suit, looking as handsome as ever. He had a red rose in his hands, the most beautiful flower I have ever seen.

"What?" I asked, still a little shocked.

"I know I messed up with Vanessa, and-" he said.

"And the red-head," I interrupted.

"And the re- wait, you know about that?" he asked, dumbfounded.

I nodded. "Kind of saw you through the window."

"Oh. Well, I can assure you that nothing is going on between us. I actually pushed in the pool two seconds later."

"Wow, really?" I asked. He really did that? Aww.

"Yeah, Anyways, you told me to prove that I trust you. This doesn't really prove my trust, but it does prove my love for you. I love you, Alexia Bates, I have never loved anyone as much as you. You make me happy, and I can't imagine a future with someone else other that you. I promise never to hurt you again. And I want to assure you one thing," he paused. "The next time Vanessa does anything to hurt you or to break this relationship, I will personally get her expelled from the school."

"You can do that?" I asked, surprised.

"My dad is pretty rich," he explained, "In conclusion, I want to be with you and help you in anything you may need. What I'm trying to say is…" he paused again. "Will you be my Annabeth?"