Hello! PinkChocolateBunny here. So just a background description: this is a story set at the end of the Last Olympian but the kiss never happened, and Percy and Annabeth never got together.

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO or any of the characters.

ENJOY. READ. REVIEW!

Annabeth POV—at the end of TLO

47 . . . 48 . . . 49 . . . 50! I silently counted the books on the bookshelf of Cabin 6. Okay, this is so not helping. I roll over on my bunk and groan. Today was the day after the day we had won the war. It had so much fun yesterday, laughing with all the other demigods as we celebrated the end of the war. Of course we were devastated at the number of deaths and casualties, but Nico had popped over to the Underworld this morning (with a list of all the demigods and hunters that had died in the war) to make sure that all of them were safely chilling in Elysium for all their hard work and sacrifice, and returned at lunch reporting that everyone was there, including Luke, Selina, and Beckendorf.

Luke. I missed him already. But of course I was relieved that he had returned to the good side and finally realized that he was a good person. But I love Percy . . . more than anything. And I want him to know it. I sigh, again. I want him so badly, but I can't work up the courage to talk to him and confess. It takes all my willpower not to throw my arms around him and kiss him.

"Ugh!" This was so not fair! I wanted him to love me so much, but I was even more afraid. What if he laughs at me? What if he insults me? What if this destroys our friendship? What if he doesn't love me back? A hundred questions tumble through my mind as I lay uselessly in my bunk.

I imagined Percy's mesmerizing sea-green eyes, his perfect face, and chiseled features. And. His. Lips. Ooooooh! I recalled the way they froze against mine when we kissed last summer. It was the softest, smoothest thing I had ever touched. The kiss had only lasted for about five seconds, but it had been the most incredibly amazing five seconds of my life. I'd give my soul for another kiss from him. I missed the heavenly blissful feeling and the way my heart sped up to the speed of a jet and my breathing hitched.

"Okay! I have had enough!" I sit up and put a determined expression on my face, then slap myself three times, just to make sure I was awake and walked out of the empty cabin. I take a deep breath. I'm going to tell him how I feel, no matter the consequences. I think to myself. Now where would he be? Hmmm. Percy's favorite places to chill were normally were his cabin, the beach, and the canoe lake. I decided to check the beach first.

I walk slowly towards the beach, preparing my words along the way. After a few minutes, I gave up. I'll just have to wing it . . . wow, Seaweed Brain is really rubbing off on me! Slightly nervous, I make my way over the sandy dunes of the beach and my eyes scour the area for a familiar orange camp T-shirt and raven colored hair of my best friend. A few moments later, I spotted him—his back was to me, laughing. To his right was a familiar girl, her frizzy red hair flying in the wind, giggles echoing in the wind. She leaned against Percy's shoulder for support and he wrapped his arm around her, chuckling.

They look so happy together. A perfect match. I smile sadly. Percy and Rachel were so . . . easy. They never really fought and they just flowed smoothly into everything. I don't think that Percy and I were really meant to be. I think softly. But I still want to tell him. And Rachel is a pretty nice girl. I shouldn't hate her just because Percy chose her over me.

Even though it tortures my heart, I sit down and lean against a huge rock flat to my left, staring at the sadness of it all. I ignore the tragic tears spilling from my cheeks and with a shock, I grasp the fact that the last time I cried was just yesterday, and before that—those two weeks that Percy was supposedly dead.

The hot tears were a million times more painful when I remember how utterly heartbroken she had been. Almost as much as I am now. I shut my eyes tight, trying to shove away the horrifying memories of myself—lying down in my bunk, sobbing and crying my heart out for him. My eyes grew red and puffy, my heart ached, and my throat was as dry as a desert. I remember, the first week, I didn't speak, and I barely ate.

Stop it! Stop it! Just, STOP IT! I got up unsteadily, unable to stand seeing Percy and Rachel together like this, and sprint back to my empty cabin. I lie down on my bunk again and let the tears flow freely into my pillow. I can't take this anymore. It's killing me.

YAY! First chapter is done! Tune in soon for the second chapter. Please review and comment. I HATE spelling mistakes so please notify me if you see any. I'll try to update soon. BYE!

-PinkChocolateBunny