Percy walked through San Francisco, trying to forget the past. Ever since Annabeth had cheated on him five years ago, he had wandered all over North America trying to forget. The problem with that was, he still loved her, even after she had done that. He didn't want to, but he couldn't help it. Suddenly, he heard something behind him. He whipped out Riptide and turned around. Standing behind him was unmistakably Aphrodite.

"Why are you here?" Percy asked.

"Percy, the gods have made a unanimous decision about your future." Aphrodite said, firmly.

"What, am I supposed to return to Camp Half Blood and live happily ever after? I've already tried to have that life and it didn't work! My girlfriend cheated on me and it all fell apart! So if you want to take me back to Camp Half Blood, you're out of luck!" Percy screamed.

Aphrodite took a step back. She was obviously shocked.

"Jackson, love can be used for good and bad. For you, right now, its bad. I am not here to convince to love Annabeth again. I am here to tell you that you are very important to the gods, so much so that we will do everything in their power to prevent you from doing what Luke had done." Aphrodite explained.

"So, you're here to tell me to return to Camp Half Blood because you think I might turn on you like Luke." Percy said.

"In short, yes." Aphrodite said.

"Ok… I guess I'll go back."

THREE DAYS LATER

As Percy walked up the dirt path to Camp Half Blood, he couldn't help feeling nostalgia. He remembered the way he would wait all summer just to smell the pines. Things were different now. As he passed through the gate people turned and gasped.

"Is that who I think it is? The Titan Conqueror?" one asked.

"I think so!" exclaimed another.

Chiron rode up quickly.

"Mr. Jackson! I don't think I've been so happy to see a demi-god in my entire life!"

"Its good to see you too, Chiron." Percy said, happily.

"No-one beside Tyson has been in your cabin." Chiron said, while they walked.

"Well, that's a relief." Percy exclaimed.

"One more thing. Annabeth has been… sad ever since you left."

"I don't want to talk about this Chiron." Percy replied.

"I understand Percy. Its good to have you back." Chiron said as he galloped off.

Percy proceeded to his cabin, while receiving high-fives from various campers. After greeting almost all of Camp Half Blood, he arrived at his cabin door. Immediately after entering, he was hugged by his half-brother Tyson!

"Good to see you too, bro." Percy said.

"Why did you leave? It's been 5 years!" Tyson said.

"I had some… problems. But that's passed. I'm here now, aren't I?" Percy said, slowly.

"That you are!" Tyson exclaimed as the horn for dinner sounded.

"We better get going!" Percy said.

As they approached the mess hall, Percy saw a painful site. The Poseidon table where he had kissed Annabeth for the first time stood solidly in the moonlight. Painful memories that he had tried so hard to forget flooded back.

"You know buddy? I'm not that hungry. I think I'll just go sleep in the cabin." Percy said, choking back the tears.

"Ok. Its good to have you back brother." Tyson said as Percy walked away.

As he walked back, he remembered how in love he had been. He realized that he was still in love with Annabeth, despite what she had done. That thought made him stop dead in his tracks. He started shaking. Was he still in love? He looked around for anything that could distract him from the truth and realized he was in front of the Athena cabin. He broke down into tears. As he sobbed, a million thoughts flooded through his brain. Had what they had been fake? Was it all a lie?

"Percy…" said a trembling voice behind him.

Percy swung around and saw the thing he had hoped never to see again. Annabeth was standing behind him.

"You… Why Annabeth? Why did you do it?" Percy said in a trembling voice. This was harder than fighting any monster.

"Percy… I wasn't thinking! Please! Let's be together again!" Annabeth pleaded.

"No. That's over. You made your choice. We can't just click a reset button, Annabeth! It could've worked. I would've gone to Tartarus and back for you, but you obviously didn't give a shit about that! I LOVED YOU!" Percy shouted.

Annabeth began to sob.

"Percy… Please…" Annabeth said, between chokes.

"No. We're finished." Percy said defiantely.

Percy ran into the forest with only Riptide and the clothes he had on. He had no idea if he would survive or if he would enrage the gods. All he knew was that he had to get as far as he could from Camp Half Blood.