They'd been fighting again.
February 13 and they'd been arguing like hell.
She'd gone on for ages about how insufferable he was and how she simply couldn't stand him. He'd stayed silent. He'd found it was always the best option when she went off on him like that.
Then, things went from bad to worse.
She'd made him a list—a list—of a thousand reasons why their relationship didn't work—in writing.
Percy thought it would've been less painful if she had shouted how much she hated him and then dumped him in front of everybody.
A Thousand Reasons Why, she'd titled it.
FML, Percy thought. On the day before the most romantic holiday ever, she'd sent him a list explaining why they couldn't be together.
And the worst of it is… he'd had such a beautiful day planned for her.
This couldn't be the end. He wouldn't let it be the end.
He had to admit though, the list was impressively extensive. There were no repeats that he could find, which meant he had at least a thousand flaws.
Exactly how long had she been keeping a list of his every mistake?
He had to fix this. He knew he wasn't perfect and that he made mistakes. He knew their relationship was fragile and he was always afraid that the current argument would be the end of them. But—
A mischievous smile pulled at his lips. That's it, he thought.
"Fine, Wise Girl," he muttered. "You've given me your list. Now, it's my turn."
He wrote her a list of a thousand and one reasons why their relationship did work.
The next morning, Percy left his list and a dozen white roses on Annabeth's nightstand. Then, he went to wait for her on the beach.
He didn't wait long.
"Seaweed Brain waiting for me on the beach, in a suit, on Valentine's Day. Is this your way of apologizing to me?"
"Percy scoffed. "No. "
She raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I just didn't want us fighting on Valentine's Day. This just seemed like the better option. Did you get everything I left on your side table?"
Her eyes filled with unspilled tears. For a second, Percy thought he had done something wrong. He tried to it back immediately… whatever it was. "Hey, hey. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. I just—"
She flung her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. He hugged her to him tightly as understanding flooded through him.
"Thank you," she whispered. "You really are the most fantastic boyfriend ever."
"Anything for you, Wise Girl. I love you."
"I know. You tell me every day."
"I just don't want you to forget."
She looked up at him with sincerity in her eyes. "I may get angry at you, Percy, but I will never ever forget."
Percy couldn't help but smile.
"There's that smile again," Annabeth muttered.
Percy didn't know what she was talking about at first. Then she kissed him and he understood.
She pulled away and he grabbed her hand. "Would you, Annabeth Chase, do me the honor of accompanying me to breakfast?"
She laughed. "It would be a pleasure!"
So, together, they walked to the pavilion and it was the best Valentine's Day ever!