Annabeth POV

CLANG! CLANG! Our swords collided with each other as we sword dueled each other. Well, Percy's sword and my knife, that is. I don't know why, but I never liked using swords. Knifes were more my thing. CLANG! Percy's sword struck my breastplate. Yes! I thought. My advantage! I quickly thrust my knife upward then right, disarming Percy. Scooping up his sword, I knocked him to his knees, then formed an X around his neck with my blade and his.

"And that's your head". I said in triumph. I was finally able to beat Percy in his own game: swordplay.

"Okay, tone down a bit, Skywalker". Percy said with a chuckle. "I was going easy on you".

"Sure". I laughed. Percy laughed too. Man, I love this guy. I thought. I handed Percy his blade back, and he put his pen cap on it's tip. Instantly, it shortened into a pretty normal looking ballpoint pen.

"Good match" he said, holding out his hand. I shook it.

"Victory is mine" I said, once again, in triumph.

"Ok, Wise Girl, have this small victory. I'll take you down next time."

"Bring it on, Seaweed Brain". He chuckled.

"Hey, you want to walk along the beach before dinner?" Percy asked. Being my boyfriend, he knew just about everything that made me happy.

"Sure" i said. He took my hand, and together we walked down to the beach.

Until I met Percy, I never really saw the beauty of the beach at dusk. It has just about every element to make your heart stop. It truly was our favorite place.

"Seaweed Brain?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you"

"I love you, too Wise Girl". It felt like nothing could break this bond we had. But what happened next could sure set it in a new direction. I suddenly felt a wave of nausea, like I hadn't slept in days. My knees buckled, but, thank the gods, Percy was able to catch me before I was able to find out what sand tasted like.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked, a clear hint of worry in his voice.

"Yeah" I mumbled. "I don't know what happened"

"Did you work yourself too hard?" He asked me skeptically.

"I don't think so" I told him. It wasn't a lie. Usually I know when I overwork myself, and today wasn't one of those times.

"You want me to take you to the infermary?" He asked.

"No, I think I'm good" I admitted. "Although my cabin mates aren't going to make tonight easy for me, especially if this nausea happens a lot. Malcolm has been fighting with the new Athena kids, some of the boys like to throw footballs around, and it just...ugh!" I grunted. I wasn't sure what Percy thought of me now.

"Annabeth?" He asked sweetly.

"Yeah?" I answered halfheartedly.

"Would you like to spend the night in my cabin?" My head shot up and whipped around to look at him. See? This is why I love him. He always knows how to make me feel better.

"I...I'd like that a lot, Seaweed Brain" I admitted. Then, he brought his lips down onto mine, and we kissed each other hard. Man! I thought. I want to do this all the time! And we probably would've if the eavesdropper hadn't spoken up.

"Yo! The Lovebirds are at it again!"

"Yo! The Lovebirds are at it again!" I knew that voice anywhere. Although this time, Clarisse wasn't trying to show it to the entire camp.

"Well, well ,well" she said.

"Sup, Clarisse" Percy said like he was some kind of McJagger.

"Just came to tell you dinner is starting". She said pretty calmly, which was sort of unusual for her. In fact she seemed to have changed her entire personality. Usually she hates me and tries to beat Percy to a pulp on a daily basis, but tonight, she seemed...friendly. Definitely not a key trait for the daughter of Ares.

"That's it?" I asked skeptically.

"Well" Clarisse started. "Dinner did actually start a few minutes ago, so technically...your late."

"Ok, well thanks...I guess." I said. I really didn't know what else to say to Clarisse. That again, who does? As Clarisse hurried of to the cabins to corral more late campers, Percy and I decided we'd race to the pavilion.

"Whoever loses gives the winner half of their dessert" Percy challenged. I knew I was faster than him if I wanted to be, but secretly, he didn't know that.

"Accepted" I said. "Ready to lose to me the second time today?"

"Well" Percy said sarcastically. "Someone is full of herself." I laughed.

"We'll see who wins, then make judgements." I suggested.

"Agreed" Percy said, and we shook on it. After I said go, we both sprinted at top speed down the hill toward the pavilion. Percy seemed to be taking the lead, so I switched gears. I went full speed and into the pavilion.

"I hear dessert tonight is cake. That's your favorite, right?" I teased Percy as he came in panting.

"How...do you...run...that fast...without...stopping...or...panting?" Percy asked between breaths.

"Six years worth of cardio and cross country" I said.

"Good grief". Percy panted. "Well, hope you enjoy half of my dessert."

"Hey, just be glad we didn't settle on the other person's entire dessert!"