Okay, now... this is my first time writing something angsty, so I don't know if I'm very good at it yet.

Eh.

This is the first part to a two part prologue, which gives us the back-story and such. So... yeah. ON WITH THE STORY!

I'm so smooth.

Prologue1: What Could Go Wrong?

"Perce, you'll be fine. What could go wrong?"

"Oh, I don't know, she could say NO?"

"But she won't. I can tell she feels the same way about you."

Annabeth Chase was Percy Jackson's first demigod friend, first crush, first kiss and he was also pretty sure she was his first love. It only seemed fitting that she should be his first wife. And last. That's definitely not what he meant. Anyway, it was only a promise ring, but the thought of being able to wake up next to her every morning filled Percy with hundreds of emotions he couldn't keep bottled up for any longer.

So he was going to do it.

They weren't even dating. It was a big jump: being friends to potential-fiancées, but that jump was one Percy was willing to take. He had invited Annabeth out to a seemingly innocent dinner to catch up, but he intended for it to be the best night of both of their lives. Hopefully.

He ran his hand through his unusually tame hair. "Do I look okay?"

"Man, you look like at least a million bucks. I would turn for you. Seriously." Grover chuckled.

Percy tried to shake away that disturbing thought. "Um, please don't turn for me. I don't think Juniper would like that very much."

"Just kidding. Go get 'em. Tell me all about it when you get back." Said Grover as he handed Percy his jacket.

He felt like he was walking to his death as he stepped out of his mother's apartment. He'd never been this nervous in his life, even when he'd had to take his SAT's with dyslexia. His hands literally shook as he pressed the elevator button.

Be calm. Be cool. This is Annabeth, your best friend. He chanted this like a mantra, again and again in his head for minutes, hours, days, he didn't know.

The cab screeched to a halt in front of the restaurant. Percy's hands fumbled as he opened his wallet, and handed the cab driver the wrong amount of money four times before the cab driver got… needless to say, kind of annoyed before he sped off .

It was the best Italian restaurant in the town, Percy made sure of that. He'd even been here before on a trial run during the many weeks he'd been planning the night. Annabeth had seemed surprised when he'd told her to meet him her. He'd usually never splash out money on a restaurant like this, but if this wasn't the right occasion, he wasn't sure what was.

The waiter led him inside and sat him down at a table for two. The waiter was in on the entire plan, of course. He was the one who was supposed to serve Annabeth her dessert, with a cherry on top- and a ring.

Percy sat down in a daze, too preoccupied in his own thoughts to admire the intricate décor. It had taken four years for Percy to realize he liked Annabeth, and another three for him to realize he loved her more than anyone had ever loved anyone before. She was beautiful, funny, and beat the crap out of him when he did anything stupid. He wouldn't usually be this theatrical, mushy and all around stupid, but Annabeth had that effect on him. He didn't know how or why, but he hated it and loved it at the same time.

She was a minute late. Now two. Now ten. Percy bit the inside of his cheek in nervousness until it bled.

The automatic doors swished apart and Percy locked eyes with her as if in slow motion across the restaurant. She was as stunning as ever- no, more stunning than he remembered. She seemed to glow like a goddess, even in a simple white dress like she was wearing then. Suddenly, Percy felt at ease, like he always did when Annabeth was around. She was here, he would give her the ring, she would say yes, and they would both head off to college together. Yes, they both got into the same college. One of life's little miracles.

"Oh gods, Percy, sorry I'm late!" wheezed Annabeth as she plonked down in her seat.

"Where were you? Off with one of your many boyfriends?" Percy teased. Breathe in. Breathe out. Be cool.

She pulled a face at Percy. "Hardly. I left the airport," She checked her watch. "Thirty minutes ago. I just came in from San Francisco."

"Wait. Does that mean you're in New York for the rest of the summer?"

"Yes, genius. Can't miss camp. Camp Half-Blood. Ring a bell?"

"Wait. That does ring a bell. Tell me more about this... Camp Half-Blood?"

"You get funnier every day, don't you, Seaweed Brain? Camp Half-Blood. You know, the camp where we met and just so happened to become best friends. The camp where we're both spending our last summer in before we go to NYU together?"

"Aah. Now I remember. Thank you for jogging my memory."

"Sometimes, I wonder- scratch that- I wonder all the time how you even got into NYU. Bribery? Trickery? Blackmail?" Annabeth deadpanned.

Is she insulting me? Percy thought. Oh. Wait. Joke. Okay. Breathe in, breathe out.

"Didn't get it for what's up here," Percy pointed at his head. "Got a scholarship for swimming. The scout says I was born for the water, which, of course, is true."

"More true than he will ever know." Annabeth grinned.

The waiter came, right on cue. (Percy arranged for him to come out right after the small talk ended) Percy and Annabeth proceeded to talk about everything under the sun- from secret fears they both had about college to the latest camp gossip. The pasta came and interrupted them only briefly. This was why Percy liked Annabeth so much. She was so easy to be around. He didn't have to fake anything like he sometimes did with his other friends.

It was just him joking around with her, just like when they were twelve, except now, he actually noticed the way her body bent and curved in all the right places, the way her hair caught the light, and the way her stormy grey eyes sparkled when she'd won a debate with him.

"So- what's the occasion?" Annabeth asked abruptly.

"Occasion? There doesn't have to be an occasion." I said incredulously.

"No, seriously. You complain about how McDonald's is too expensive. Why are we at a fancy restaurant?"

"Okay, fine, there is an occasion."

"See? I know my best friend."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. The whole 'best friend' thing."

"What do you mean?" she asked, still smiling.

"Annabeth. I like you more than as a friend. I love you, even. I've been denying it for so long so it wouldn't ruin our friendship, but I think I will literally die if I have to go another day pretending that I like you as a friend, and I was hoping you'd feel the same way." Percy wasn't nervous at all now. The words rolled off his tongue like he'd been preparing them for months, which he kind of he had.

The waiter walked up to Annabeth, and served her dessert, upon which the pristine ring lay. The smile was wiped off Annabeth's face and her mouth was open in shock instead. Her eyes widened.

"Its… just a promise ring, don't freak out. I want- no, I need, to marry you when I'm older." Percy looked into those stormy grey eyes which he knew so well.

The whole restaurant was looking at them now. Annabeth took what seemed like forever to reply.

"Percy," she whispered, her voice cracking.

"I was going to tell you… I have a boyfriend."

OOOHHHH... THE PLOT THICKENS! Or the plot begins...

So, review and follow/favourite, all that jazz. Don't be afraid to be critical, because I've never written like this before. Plus, I'm twelve and I don't think my writing style has fully developed yet.

Anywho, SEE YA!

-YouCanCallMeSir