Annabeth sat there on his bed. Her eyes were red, her hair was a mess, and she had not even bothered to change out of her pajamas. She was holding his picture of them like she had done so many times since he disappeared. The half-empty box of Kleenex that sat next to her had been full this morning.
How had things gone so wrong? Did the Fates just hate her? She looked down at Percy and her own war-torn, smiling faces. First Luke, now Percy… and he was so much more than Luke.
He not dead, the optimistic voice in her head said.
"He might as well be. Even if we find him, he won't remember me," Annabeth muttered to herself.
Jason has remembered some things. Maybe Percy remembers you too, the voice said
"Jason is with Piper and thinks he might have a girlfriend back at his camp. What if Percy is the same way?" Annabeth countered. She knew how retarded it was to talk to herself, but it helped somehow.
Hera is the goddess of marriage. She knows how perfect you two are for one another, the voice replied.
"Hera hates me," Annabeth said dejectedly. Why was Valentine's Day so depressing? Annabeth asked herself as an unwanted image of Percy entangled in the arms of a faceless, unpleasant Roman struck Annabeth's mind.
Annabeth could not hold it in any longer. She threw the picture against The Poseidon Cabin wall. She heard the glass break and felt an odd happiness at the sound as she threw herself down onto Percy's bed. This was the last place he was known to be… this was what was important… this was where she felt closest to Percy.
Annabeth had not even realized she had dozed off until she felt a warm hand shake her shoulder. "Wha- Percy," Annabeth said stupidly. She kept her head firmly in his pillow, hoping this time it really was Percy.
"No, Annabeth, it's me," said a familiar voice. Annabeth had to sit up to see who "me" was.
"Malcolm," Annabeth said disappointedly when she saw the tall form of her brother.
"Sorry to disappoint," he growled.
"I- um- I didn't mean it like…" Annabeth stumbled helplessly. Malcolm just laughed.
"Don't worry, Annabeth. I was called here to get you for a meeting of the counselors," Malcolm said jovially.
"Do you know what it's about?" Annabeth asked. Malcolm just shrugged.
The game room was packed with the usual motley crew, counselors from each cabin except for Hades (Nico was still away), Artemis (the hunters were too), Hera (obviously), and Poseidon. Annabeth felt a knot form in her stomach as she looked at Percy's deserted chair.
"I've remembered something," Jason said to the group of teens. A collective anticipation grew in the room. Annabeth's was greatest of all.
"What?" she asked, only realizing how desperate her voice sounded after she said it.
"The camp," Jason said simply, and Annabeth felt her heart leap. Maybe Valentine's Day was not so horrible after all, Annabeth thought as Jason revealed the location of The Roman Camp.