Well, Hello! Here I am again…and I have brought to you another terrible story. This is dedicated to one specific friend. She will probably never read this, but shout out anyways. YOU ARE AMAZING JENNINA! Enjoy the story my readers….review and tell me what you think! J

Ω Annabeth Ω

"I love you."

The words sent a thrill through her even now. She was in love, and every time he told her that, it felt like the first time. A warm glow spread over her, starting at her chest and flowing down to her fingertips. She closed her eyes and leaned against his chest.

"I love you more, Seaweed Brain." She mumbled into his shirt.

He smelled of salt, and waves, and sun. He had his arms around her and they were lying comfortably on the sand.

It was a sunny summer day in which Annabeth and Percy had decided to go on a date on the last day of summer vacation before they would have to return to school.

He tugged on her hair. "…definitely not."

She laughed and stood. "I'll go change."

He nodded and smiled, his eyes lighting up at the thought of going swimming.

She spun around and walked up the hill towards the girl's restroom. She turned to look at Percy midway. He was lying back looking at the sky. She glanced up too and saw one lone cloud. As she stared at it, it grew darker and darker until it started raining, only from that single cloud.

Percy closed his eyes and let the water rush over him with a small smile.

He was controlling it! But how? That was Zeus's territory. He shouldn't be able to do that. Fear rose in her as the sky rippled with silent thunder. Campers all looked towards the heavens. Percy lay there oblivious in the confusion.

Pretty soon the sky went back to normal and campers continued on their way. Percy extinguished his cloud and stood, walking towards the ocean.

Annabeth turned and walked, determined not to ruin their date with the pool of dread that was settling in her stomach. Annabeth prayed to all the gods not to take Percy away. After him almost dying in Tartarus…she wouldn't be able to stand it.

She opened the door to the restroom…and screamed.

≈ Percy ≈

Percy sprinted up the hill.

It was Annabeth, and it wasn't a scream of pain…it was horror. If it was a monster, that scream of pain would come soon enough.

Percy uncapped Riptide and kicked open the door. "ANNABETH?" he called.

"I'm fine." Her voice was small and weak; it was coming from one of the stalls.

He sighed in relief and stuffed Riptide in his pocket. "What happened?"

"Nothing…girl problems." She replied, evasive.

Percy suddenly felt uncomfortable standing in the girl's restroom.

"Uh…do you need me to bring someone? Piper or—

"Yes!" she cried in relief. "Nico…bring Nico."

"…Nico?" Percy was confused. "I thought you said it was girl—

"Please." She cut him off again, her voice quiet.

"Okay." Percy was a little hurt that he couldn't help her and that she wanted Nico instead of him.

"Make sure the Camp directors or dryads don't see him come in." She sounded relieved, and even a little desperate.

"He won't come." Percy protested.

She hesitated at that. "Tell him…Tell him he owes me."

Now what could she mean by that?

Percy rushed out, wondering what type of girl problems could Nico help in. Or maybe she was lying. That was more likely. But why didn't she want Percy's help? Maybe Percy couldn't help…but then how could Nico help? He sighed and opened the door to the Hade's cabin. He knew that knocking will probably do him no good. The son of Hades will either ignore him or lock the door if he wasn't in the mood.

"Ni-

Percy cut himself off when he saw Nico asleep. He looked like, well…an angel.

Percy snickered and took out his phone to take a picture. Truth be told, the Son of Hades looked like a doll. Perfect pink bow lips, long black lashes, and his skin, it was smooth, and it shined a little.

He poked him.

Nico swatted his arm away, instantly awake, and rolled out of bed. Looking groggy, he frowned, distorting his doll-like features. Now he looked more like he was going to punch him than invite him to a tea party.

"What?" He leaned against his bed post and fumbled for a cigarette, his fingers still clumsy from sleep.

Percy didn't like the fact that he had decided to start smoking. It was unhealthy, but more, it showed how…off, he was. And plus…lung cancer. He decided to speak his mind.

"I wish you wouldn't do that. It's unhealthy."

Nico raised an eyebrow, avoiding Percy's eyes, sparing him only a glance.

"What's it to you?" he asked gruffly.

Percy gracefully plucked it from his lips.

Nico blinked. Surprised, then he glared at him.

He reached over and reclaimed his cigarette. Only instead of placing the lighted roll into his mouth, he turned it over and pressed it to Percy's wrist.

Percy flinched and tried to pull away, but Nico merely tightened his grip on his arm. The son of Hades kept his eyes level to Percy's.

He seemed to be trying to say something. Nico's eyes were desperate, searching his. Percy couldn't understand. What was he trying to say? What could he be trying to say by burning Percy's arm?

What? Percy's eyes seemed to say. What is it?

Nico finally averted his eyes and let Percy go. "What do you want?" he muttered.

"Annabeth needs you in the girl's restroom." He replied. He stared down at the pink, raised flesh on his wrist. Percy thought that if a remora were to suck on him, it would probably look like that. The thought cheered him up a little.

"Thought that's why she had you. Since when is it my job to amuse her?" he had a smirk on his face and Percy glared at him.

"She said you owed her." He replied.

He frowned a little at that. Cocking his head in that bird-like way of his, he suddenly blushed.

"Right, um…" he scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably. "Where'd you say she was?"

Okay then…that was fast. Now Percy really wanted to know what had happened between them. It must've been something embarrassing from the look that Nico's face got.

"…girl's bathroom."

"No. The dryads would never let me go in there. "

"I know. That's why we're swinging by the Aphrodite cabin first."

ΩAnnabethΩ

Annabeth shivered. What was taking him so long? She knew that he had only been gone for a couple of minutes but she was cold…and scared. She pressed herself against the wall and blew on her hands. Her fingers were trembling and Annabeth couldn't seem to get rid of the tears that we're now streaming down her face. She slid down to the dirty bathroom floor and wrapped her arms around herself.

What was wrong with her? What was happening? Did this have something to do with the lightning?

These questions swam around in her brain. She wanted to think this through. She knew she could…but the fear. It was there, and it was growing, clouding her judgment, sending her into taking short panicked breaths.

A sob escaped her.

Percy? Mother? Anyone?