"Hey, Nico." I say, trying to be as friendly as possible to the son of Hades on the way to te canteen of Camp Half-Blood.

I never really get Nico. I try to be friends with him all the time, but to no avail, Nico just seems to hate me. Nico scowls in response, as he always does.

"What is it with Nico?" I ask Jason, who just tries to hide a smile and replies with, "I dont know."

It's mid-december and all the christmas decorations are up. The Greek half of the seven had all decided to stay at camp year-round because after going to the medeteranian, monsters would attack us much more in the mortal world. Jason had decided to stay at camp half-blood rather than going to camp jupiter for Piper, besides, he'd given the role of praetor to Frank at the House of Hades so he's not needed there anyway.

Jason and Nico and I enter the canteen just as Piper starts telling everyone about the Christmas party she'll be having at her house.

"oh, hi Jason, Percy, Nico" she says, "Good timing, I'm just about to tell everyone about the party"

She explains that the party will be happening at 8:00 pm on the 23rd December, so that everyone can see their own families on Christmas Day etc. The dress code will be smart-casual (like you might wear at the theatre). Her dad won't be there so everyone is allowed to drink, regardless of age (which annabeth said was a stupid idea because it's illegal, but we all told her to shut up).

"this is a stupid idea, percy, you're not actually going through with this are you?" annabeth exclaims.

"actually, i think this'll be fun"

"i can't believe you! You think everything's fun, i bet you thought tartarus ws fun, too!"

"what?-annabeth-i-"

"i've had it with you, percy!" she says, exsasperated, "goodbye, and no we cannot still be friends!" she promptly storms out the room, leaving everyone in a stunned, confused silence-especialy me.

"what was that all about?" leo is the first to speak, his arm wrapped around calypso's waist. They've been like that since leo saved her, and, to be honest, it's quite awkward with me around, since i once went to calypso's island and had wanted to stay. I once said she'd always be my biggest what if? But now i know the answer: if i'd stayed with calypso, leo would never have met her.

"actually, i think i know," calypso speaks for the first time, "im sorry, percy, you won't like this," she says, holding the room in suspence, "it's...um...it's...well...she's been...cheating on you."

"WHAT!?" i exclaim and follow annabeth outside, calypso tagging close behind.

"you have to admit, for a girl who's been deserted on an island alone for two milennia, and the daughter of a titan; that girl has amazing people skills!" i hear from the other side of the door before leo follows his girlfriend outside.

"percy!" i hear annabeth's voice from the other side of long island sound. It's past curfew and im drinking a coke one of my friends from hermes stole for me.

"i thought you said we coldn't be friends." I say when annabeth comes near enough to hear my choked-from-crying-voice. My eyes are filled with tears, but they're not yet falling down my face.

"i'm really, really sorry about earlier," she sits down next to me, her hand grabbing at mine out of habbit, but quickly flicking away as soon at it makes contact. "i just sort of...burst."

"look, if there's something you wanted to say, sayit. Or leave." I say, taking another sip of my coke.

"actually, there is..." she says, "i've been...i've been seeing someone else."

I get up and start walking towards the water, but she grabs my hand before i can go anywhere, but i tear it free and don'twalk, but don't face her either.

"percy, just hear me out okay?" she takes a deep breath, "im sorry i never told you before, but im...im gay. I've been fighting it, and if there's anyone who could've turned me..percy...it would've been you. However, i... i just can't keep up this pretence. At first, i did love you...on the argo II, that was real. But percy it was just a phase...and every little girl has...has to grow up." I start running to the water, my tears a waterfall down my face, but just as i get to knee depth, i turn around.

"Annabeth!" i shout, "who was it?"

"it...it was reyna!" i choke up as i submerge and don't even try to breathe, i figure my dad must be helping me, but right now, all i want is to drown.