Annabeth curled up in her chair. All better than me. She thought, looking at her friends. Surely, that's what they all think. That they're better than me.

They're smarter. She told herself, looking at Frank.

Prettier. More useful. She looked between Hazel and Piper.

Funnier. Leo had just cracked a joke, and everybody was busting a gut.

Much more powerful. Percy and Jason.

Maybe I should just leave for good. They don't need me. They're probably better off with-

Piper pulled Annabeth from her thoughts. "Annabeth, are you okay?"

"Fine." Annabeth managed a smile, but it probably wasn't very convincing. "I have to go."

She stood up, and walked out of the meeting room. She could feel eyes trained on her but she did the best to ignore them. Annabeth walked down to the pegasi stables, just wanting to be alone for a while. She curled under a blanket in one of the stalls.

It didn't take long before she heard somebody coming in.

The stall opened and Percy walked in. He sat down next to Annabeth and pulled her into his lap.

"What's wrong?" Percy asked.

"Percy," Annabeth said in a whisper. "Do you think I'm smart?"

"No." Percy said without hesitation.

"Do you think I'm useful?"

"Nope."

"What about pretty?"

"Absolutely not."

"Funny?"

"No."

"Do you even like me?"

"I don't."

"So if I left, you wouldn't even cry?"

"No."

Annabeth felt even worse now. She made a move to get up, but Percy held her down and pressed his lips to her ears.

"I don't think you're smart or useful. I know you're smart and useful. Without you, everybody would be dead a hundred times over. And you're not pretty. You are absolutely, completely, one-hundred percent drop dead gorgeous. Even right after you wake up and haven't had the chance to shower, or brush your hair and teeth- you're still beautiful. And you're not funny. You are side-splitting hilarious. And I don't always laugh, but that's because it goes over my head sometimes. I mean, I am a Seaweed Brain. And I don't like you. I am absolutely, positively, totally in love with you. And if you ever decided to leave me, I would die before you could walk out the door."

Annabeth leaned more into Percy. "Are you just saying that?"

"Of course not." Percy promised. "Why would I?"

Annabeth just shrugged and relaxed into her boyfriend's arms. She yawned and he held her close. "Stay with me." Annabeth whispered, just before she fell asleep.

Annabeth wasn't sure if it happened or not, but she thought she heard Percy say one word.

"Always."

Feel like the end kind of hit a wall :/

Just a one-shot.

Favorite. Review.

~Tom