Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or any other characters related to him. All rights go to Rick Riordan.

Percy POV

"Truth or Dare?"

Leo Valdez, son of Hephaestus, narrowed his eyes at Annabeth, daughter of Athena. She was notorious for her merciless tasks and questions that she gives, which is one of the main reasons why no one wanted her to play. She's only in the game because everyone could tell that I wanted her to play.

My girlfriend smirked. I was glad to be on her good side and not one of her enemies. Or in this case, not one of the people who has to go against her in Truth or Dare. I was glad that our relationship made it through the Titan War back in my preteen years and this last war with Gaea. Ever since tumbling into Tartarus and tumbling right back out through the Doors, the things we saw, the things that were said to us, the pain we went through, just brought us closer to each other.

I felt a pang of guilt when my eyes trailed to the spot that she took Ethan's sword for me. Why wasn't I there to stop him? Even though Annabeth keeps telling me that I've repaid her over and over again, I still feel guilty.

As if sensing my guilt, Annabeth reached back and held my hand, calming me down a little.

Finally, Leo sighed. "Truth."

Annabeth brightened as if she expected the answer and cleared her throat. "Do you like Thalia?"

Leo's breath seem to catch in his throat. Thalia looked up from sharpening her arrow, which didn't make her look any more inviting. Jason and I stifled a laugh as we watched Leo carefully.

He sighed. Nico rolled his eyes. "Just say yes and get it over with."

Thalia whipped her head towards him, scaring him off his log and onto his back. Everyone started to laugh, but I heard a quiet, "Yes."

I turned towards Leo and he was clenching his jaw. He just answered Annabeth's question, but Thalia, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Frank and Hazel were too busy laughing to hear his question, while Nico was too in pain to concentrate.

He looked at me, as if just realizing that I heard what he said. He seemed to plead with his eyes, Don't make me say it again.

I just grinned and nodded my head. When everyone else recovered from their laughter, they all turned to Leo. I spoke up. "He already answered. You all just missed it."

Annabeth cocked her head as if she didn't hear me right. Her gray eyes pierced through me. "What do you mean he already answered? Are you sure that you didn't imagine it, Seaweed Brain?"

I gave her my crooked smile, and I could swear that I saw some pink rush to her cheeks. "He answered your question, and I am not repeating it. There's no rule that says we have to answer it so everyone hears it. As long as someone hears it, it's valid."

Annabeth looked as if she was going to explode; she wasn't used to not planning for all the loopholes in something that she does. It was kind of funny, but I knew that I was probably going to have to pay for it later.

Thalia looked long and hard at me, then shook her head as if trying to clear her mind of some strange idea. "Anyway, Leo, it's your turn."

Leo blushed a little. I figured I was safe since I just saved his behind from endless teasing and embarrassment. Leo turned to Jason. "Jason, truth or dare?"

Jason looked up from caressing Piper's hair. Ever since the adventure with Gaea, the couples that made it through the battles were showing much more affection than usual because we missed the normal chances that we had to be normal.

"Dare."

Leo grinned. "I dare you to kiss Hazel."

Frank's jaw dropped to the ground, as Nico widened his eyes in realization of the task given. Thalia looked at Leo as if getting ready to kill him. Annabeth raised an eyebrow, I looked at Jason, who had gone white in the face. It was a strange look for him, the rugged son of Zeus who looks like he just saw a ghost (which, with Hazel, he probably was.)

Piper coughed suddenly, and cleared her throat. "I think I hear Chiron calling us to the dining pavilion."

Leo, having too much fun with the dare, held up a finger at Hazel and was too busy watching Jason.

Jason's jaw clenched and got up. Everyone watched him as he walked over to Hazel and kissed her on the cheek. He grinned cockily at Leo. "You want to use loopholes? We can do the same, Flame Brain."

We heard hooves clopping and we looked back, expecting to see Grover. Instead, we see Chiron. "Why are my nine counselors not at the pavilion?"

Piper looked at us, holding Jason's hand. "Told y'all."

I personally wondered if she used some advanced form of charmspeak to have that happen. Annabeth leaned over to me and whispered, "I wonder if she used some form of charmspeak to call Chiron over here."

I leaned back and smiled. "I was just thinking that."

She rolled her eyes and punched me in the arm. "We both know that you're called Seaweed Brain for a reason. Don't lie to yourself."

I sighed. I got up, following everyone else, but I felt a light tug on my arm. I looked back to see Annabeth pulling me towards the water. "Come on, Percy. I have to talk to you about something. And it's important. But first you have to promise me that you'll still talk to me and be friends with me."

I looked straight at my girlfriend as my mind processed what she just said. What could she have to say that would make me not want to talk to her and be friends with her? I just clenched my jaw and walked up towards the most peaceful spot at Camp Half-Blood for me with Annabeth at my heels.

I heard my father's voice in my head. The two words that he sent me on my birthday back when I was turning fifteen. Two words that didn't help my swirling thoughts about what the daughter of wisdom had in store for me.

"Brace youself."