As Long As We're Together
Annabeth
"Maybe if we send the Demeter cabin around back as a decoy," Malcom suggested.
"No," I said sternly. "If we do that then the Hermes cabin is uncovered."
"So we send the Aphrodite cabin around back?" Joey asked.
"Yeah, I hadn't thought of that, but it works." I said.
"We have to be careful though." Devyn said. "Percy teamed up with Hephaestus, Apollo, and Ares!"
"Yes," I said. "They only have three cabins and Percy, but they also have some of the more skillful cabins. We have Hermes though and they are still the largest cabin."
"So," Malcolm addressed our team, "everyone know their positions?"
The group dispersed. We had Hermes, Demeter, Aphrodite, Dionysus, and all of the minor gods.
I had Devyn, Joey, and the Stolls guarding the flag.
I remembered the first time I had played Capture the Flag. I had been a seven year old child. Now I was a twenty three year old adult. I had been here for sixteen years.
I pulled on my Yankees hat and ran towards the flag. I couldn't just grab it. Percy had actually been smart for once and put an Apollo camper and two Ares campers on guard.
Where was that decoy from the Aphrodite cabin?
Piper and her cabin ran into the clearing. Now was my chance. I grabbed the flag just as Percy ran in.
I ran.
"Get her!" Percy yelled.
The small group tried, but Piper managed to hold them up. Percy alone, chased me.
The boundary line was a hundred feet away. Fifty. Ten.
Cheers broke out from my team. We had won.
"I win again," I bragged to Percy.
Chiron blew the conch and the rest of the campers ran back.
"You're right, Annabeth." Percy said smiling. "You won again. Maybe you could let me win just one thing."
"I'm never letting you win Capture the Flag," I said laughing.
"That isn't what I meant," Percy said. He got down on one knee and pulled out a small box. "Annabeth, will you marry me?"
The camp silenced.
"Yes," I said, "of course, Seaweed Brain."
Cheers ensued, even louder than before.
Percy pulled out the ring. It was a gold band with a small diamond. On the inside, five words were etched, As long as we're together.
He slipped the ring on my finger.
"The lovebirds need to cool off!" Clarisse shouted.
"The canoe lake!" Connor Stoll agreed.
The campers smiled even the ones that didn't see this the last time. They hoisted us up on their shoulders and carried us to the lake.
Then they dumped us in the water.
Percy made an air bubble at the bottom.
He smiled at me. "As long as we're together, Mrs. Jackson."
And it was pretty much the best underwater kiss of all time.