Nights at camp have felt so empty after Percy left you, he pulled away because of his guilt, the fear of getting you hurt. But it doesn’t change the fact that it’s eating you alive. So there you both stood, the cold wind breeze giving you a reminder of all the memories, all the memories you were stuck in. Percy stood infront of you, his back faced towards you.

“Why are you doing this?” you finally ask, your voice cracking with a mix of frustration and hurt. “You act like you don’t care, like you don’t need me. But I’m here, Percy. I’m always here.”

He turns slowly, eyes stormy with emotion. “I can’t keep dragging you into this. You don’t get it. I- I can’t hurt you!”

“But I’m already hurting,” you whisper, voice shaking. “I’m already hurting because you keep pushing me out. You think it’ll make it easier? It won’t.”

The space between you is suffocating, your hearts pounding in unison, but neither of you are willing to take the final step.

“You deserve better than me,” Percy says, his voice quiet but firm. “You should hate me for everything I’ve put you through.”

You take a deep breath, stepping closer, but he doesn’t move. “I don’t hate you, Percy. I’m angry and tired and restless and sad! I’m stuck in the moments i swore we had! And i’m not sorry for loving you. I’ll never be sorry for that.”

His eyes flicker to yours, raw with emotion, and for a moment, you think he might reach out. But then, he turns away. “I love you… But i can’t do this, to you.”