A/N: Short drabble I wrote on Annabeth's thoughts post Battle of the Labyrinth. I think we missed out on a lot that would have happened during the school year following their unpleasant departure. So here it goes. I don't think it's my best, but I was already tired when the idea hit me and I didnt want to go to sleep before I finished. Please review! They mean everything. I'm still taking requests for Percabeth moments from Annabeth's POV, I'll try to post one of those at least every couple of days. If you haven't already read them, you should check out Captivated and Completely Irrational on my profile. Hope you enjoy

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians, as much as I would like to; they belong to Rick Riordan.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Annabeth's POV

Annabeth ponders Percy during the school year following the Battle of the Labyrinth.

It's times like these when I really miss my Seaweed Brain. I can't help but think this after yet another late night attack by a monster. At least when Percy is around I'm not alone. Well, technically I'm never really alone; I'm always surrounded by people whether it be at home or at school, it's just that I've never felt more alone than I have these past few months since camp ended.

I should have heard him out. I should have stayed long enough to listen to what he was trying to say. I should have given him a decent goodbye that day on Halfblood Hill. But when you're a demigod, there's no time for "should haves" and "what ifs". No, being a demigod means that my chances of even reaching age 30 are slim to none. It means that in my life, there is only time for the present. And presently, I'm very much missing the past.

Everything was just so much simpler before last summer. Being friends with Percy used to be as easy as breathing. That is, until that stupid mortal got in the way: Rachel Dare. Oh how I loathe that name. Why did she have to be able to see through the mist? Why couldn't he have accidently crossed paths with a normal mortal? Now she's slowing filling my place by his side, and I'm letting her; all because of my prophecy.

Maybe that's another reason things were always so much simpler before last summer. Never before last summer had I been forced to confront the horrors of what Luke had become. And what gave Percy the right to push me into telling him the last line of the prophecy? Lose a love to fate worse than death. After we'd destroyed the Labyrinth, I'd at least been sure who that last line of the prophecy was about: Luke, of course. But lately, I'm not so sure that's still true. Lately, it feels like I've lost both loves to fates worse than death; just in different ways. Luke I'd lost to Kronos who now possessed his body; obviously a fate worse than death for Luke. But Percy, Percy I'd lost to a mortal; leaving me to live a fate worse than death.

I can't bear not talking to him until next summer. Even if he can be incredibly ignorant and a Seaweed Brain, he's still my best friend; maybe even more. Perhaps that's what led to the current rockiness of our friendship: the kiss. Why did he have to be so blind? I'd done everything I possibly could to make my feelings known, short of spelling them out in front of him. I'd kissed him for crying out loud! Of course there was that two week period when he was missing after the explosion at Mt. St Helens, but I still expected something to be different between us when he got back.

I did promise him I would keep in touch, and I really do miss my Seaweed Brain. It seems like I'm not going to be able to get any sleep until I've fixed things with him. Maybe I can iris message him; he could still be awake struggling through Algebra, or some other subject that makes absolutely no sense in the mind of a demigod. The more I think about just talking to him, even if for a mere few minutes, the more I realize just how much I need him. I just need to see him, need to look at his sea green eyes for just a moment, need to hear his voice telling me that he still hasn't broken his promise; and that he never will. That he'll never leave me.

I get out of my bed as quietly as possible, careful not to wake up my dad. He already thinks there's something going on between Percy and I, the last thing in Hades I need right now is him eavesdropping while I have what I predict is going to be a very personal conversation with Percy. Grabbing a Drachma from the entry way as I make my way outside, the sun hasn't been down for more than a few hours so the sprinklers will still be running. After a moment of collecting myself, I toss the drachma into the spray and ask Iris to accept my message.

After a few minutes, the image of Percy, drooling on his open English book, appears. I have to stifle the laugh so threatening to bubble up in my throat.

"Percy!" I whisper, hoping he hears me. It takes so long for him to wake up that I'm on the verge of hanging up and messaging him tomorrow instead. Finally he moves, and there's an audible grunt as he sits up, facing me with still closed eyes.

"Percy!" I try again, this time he immediately opens his eyes, confusion written on his features, followed my alarm, and finally somewhat of a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

"Wise girl. Long time no see, eh?" The fact that he isn't angry with me after I've been neglecting to call for so long, almost brings tears to my eyes.

"No, but what I do see is the entire first act of Romeo and Juliet drowning in your drool puddle." This time we're both smiling, smiling for what feels like the first time in a long time. But I can't sit here forever, staring into his eyes via Iris message, I made the call for a reason. And so it begins.

A/N: Sorry it's so short but still... review review review! Hope you enjoyed.