I still can't believe it. Ever since I was seven, I dreamed of this. For two years Kronos had
been dead and I had managed to save Luke. All of Olympus and Percy had vouched against him.
It took a lot of energy and time but I finally managed to spare him. He thanked me by asking me out
four days later.
Unfortunately, Luke had changed so much since before what the whole of Camp Half-Blood
has taken to calling "The Abduction". He would try and flirt with other girls as they walked past,
and would skip a date to go beat up some new camper with the Ares Cabin. Saturday night was
movie night.
The whole camp crowded onto Half-Blood hill and turned to face the big house. A huge
white sheet had been strung between the house and a tree on the other side of the strawberry
patch. I was determined to make things right tonight. I plopped down on a blanket by Luke. The
projector clicked and Oceans Eleven started playing. Luke leaned back and started laughing in all
the wrong places. Even though it was a warm summer night, I wrapped my arms around myself
and shivered.
"This movie is so lame," Luke criticized, still engaged.
"Luke, I'm cold," I whimpered.
"I TOLD you to bring a jacket."
I sighed and laid my head on his shoulder. Luke shrugged uncomfortably and inched away.
I watched a couple campers lose interest and start chatting or creep over to the snack table. I
closed my eyes sleepily and cuddled close to Luke, curling my arms around his. "I'm tired," I
whispered, burying my nose in Luke's t-shirt.
"Anna, if you're so tired, go back to your cabin." Luke pushed me off and scooted away.
"Hey Castellan," some Ares campers shouted, getting a few shh's, "You wanna play poker?"
"Hey, SHUT UP," Travis Stoll yelled.
"You shaddup!"
Luke jumped up and ran off with the Ares kids. I sniffled and pulled my knees to my chest.
Lady Antebellum's song Need You Now played in my head. I heard a rustle next to me but I didn't
really care who it was. "Let's go for a walk," Percy said gently, "I've seen this movie."
I got up and followed him. "How's luke," he asked.
"Oh, y'know." I mumbled.
"No I don't, he's your boyfriend, not mine," he chuckled
"Oh, y'know, okay...I guess. You've gotten taller, Seaweed Brain."
"You notice things when you ignore a guy for two years, huh?"
I socked him on the arm and shivered. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Percy take off his
jacket. He held it out to me. I smiled and wrapped it around me. It hung down to my knees. "I
hate this," I confessed suddenly.
"What?" Percy looked confused.
"I finally get what I've always wanted, and it turns out to be worse than the Grey Sisters' taxi."
Percy stopped walking and faced me. His green eyes shone in the dim moonlight. His
hands were cool as he cupped them under my chin. "Annabeth Chase, I love you. I always have
and you don't know how much it hurts me to see you with that jerk." he whispered
"Percy..." I started
"Shut up and kiss me, Wise Girl."