Disclaimer: No, I don't own PJO. We all wish we did, and if we did Rachel probably wouldn't exist at all (damn that redhead!). Anyway, on with the story! Read and Review :)

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"Yeah right, Wise Girl, like I would ever do that."

We were finishing one of our sarcastic conversations, the ones where she always ended up winning and I always ended up feeling stupid. It always felt like I was the stupid one, the one who didn't know anything and didn't know what to do at the right time. I waited for Annabeth to retort, but she just sat there, silently, looking up at the trees.

"Why do you call me that?" She finally said, her eyes curious.

"Ummm...because you're smart?"

She paused before answering, and looked up at the trees again. A faint crease formed between her eyebrows.

"But wise and smart aren't the same thing."

"Well, you're looking at the guy who nearly got you killed last year." I noticed her shiver slightly. I tried not to think about how I'd felt when Annabeth had disappeared. "I'm not the brightest bulb around."

"No kidding."

"Can we get back on topic?"

Annabeth sighed and looked at me with her critical grey eyes. "Wise and smart aren't the same thing, though. You can be wise and barely know how to read or calculate. Wisdom is something that comes from...your soul, not your brain."

"So?"

"So, I'm just saying that that nickname doesn't make much sense. Unlike Seaweed Brain, of course. We all know your head is full of kelp."

We sat in silence for a few more seconds, and then I asked her the question on my mind.

"So, you're saying I'm stupid?"

"Well, sure. In the smart way."

"You're being ultra supportive today."

"You didn't let me finish. I said, in the smart way." Annabeth looked at me again, her expression obviously telling me that I was supposed to get it.

"I'm sorry, I don't get it. You're gonna have to spell everything out to me."

She rolled her eyes, a symbol of my hopelessness. Then she sobered up slightly, and timidly said, "I guess you're not smart. But...I think that you might be wise."

I waited for her to continue.

"Even though you usually don't do the clever thing, you always do the right thing. And I do have confidence in you. You're going to choose right, however the Prophecy predicts it." She sighed and put her head on my shoulder. I cautiously put an arm around her, gauging her reaction. I took it as a good sign when she didn't shrug it off.

"I still think you're pretty wise."

"Oh really?"

"I'm not the only one who's always right."

Annabeth snorted, and I laughed. I had to admit that the phrase was pretty ironic; imagine that I'd be right and she'd be wrong.

The forest seemed to echo in silence, but it wasn't awkward, it was peaceful. We sat there, listening to the calls of birds and the rustling leaves, holding each other. Slowly, Annabeth looked up. I saw that her eyes seemed sort of confused, and frustrated. Like when she couldn't figure anything out.

I asked, "What's wrong?"

"I don't know. It just seems like life has been messing up lately. I mean, look...there's Kronos...and Luke. And then..."

"What?"

"I don't know. Something doesn't feel right, but I don't quite know what it is."

"There's a first."

"You always say the wrong thing at the wrong time, Percy."

"I thought I was always right."

I could almost see her rolling eyes.

"Oh well. I guess it doesn't matter right now. A few moments of perfection."

"Perfection?"

"I'm with you, aren't I?"

We gazed at each other for a few seconds, and then a small smile spread across her face. Slowly, I leaned forward, and our lips met. Personally, I couldn't believe I had the guts to do this, but when we broke apart, the smile on her face had widened. I sat back, contented, with her head on my shoulder and my arms around her.

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Those endings that we love :) Ok, before I overload on the smilies, just have to ask for you to review!