Chapter 2

I ran into Annabeth's room once the doctor, who was one of Apollo's highly-praised assistants, let me know I could see her. He grabbed me by the collar and whisper-shouted, "She's still tired. Go easy on her. No big questions, alright?"

I had a million questions for Annabeth, and the ADHD wasn't going to help. But I nodded anyways.

My heart practically stopped when I saw her. Her curly blonde hair was matted with blood and broken twigs. Her face was sweaty and layered in grime. The gray streak in her hair seemed darker than ever. I hadn't realized how much blood she had lost, especially since she'd already taken the sword for me during the war. Why had I let that happen?

"Percy," she said faintly, smiling. I took her hand, not caring that I was probably blushing. "This just isn't my lucky day, huh? Ethan Nakamura, Hera's statue, Silena... Luke. And now this. I'm just glad you're still here."

"That just proves we'll survive this. We always do."

Annabeth smiled again. "A team. Always will be."

I opened my messenger bag and pulled out her NY Yankees cap of invisibility, which was covered in monster blood. "This fell out of your pocket after you went unconscious," I explained. She wiped it off and put it on for a second, as if to make sure it still worked. "Thanks."

I took a deep breath, praying that Annabeth wouldn't shut me out when I asked her this: "So... I mean, with Luke... I know he's going to Elysium, but... I-I just wanted you to know I'm sorry. All these years, I never trusted you."

I expected her to snap at me, but she only said, "It's done. It wouldn't be wise to keep thinking about it." Not even an I told you so. Just a glance down and a sad expression. I knew she was remembering a time before I was in her life. I wondered which was better.

Annabeth coughed. "By the way... I meant to tell you back at camp, but... everything was so hectic, and it didn't seem like the right time. The last few days have been the scariest of my life. I came so close to losing everyone, and you. Especially you."

My heart flip flopped at that. "I know what you mean," I replied. "I don't want to lose you. But being a half-blood means you can know when that could happen."

"We might not have as much time as we once thought," she said.

"Better make good use of it."

Then, I made an impulsive decision. There, in sky blue Demigod Room 2A, where I could hear a son of Demeter being born and a Party Pony medicated, I leaned in and crashed my lips against my best friend of four years. With my luck, it should've been awkward, and uncomfortable, but I guess Aphrodite was finally letting me off the hook after months of screwing with my so-called love life. Because it was perfect. And when we pulled back, I knew that in a way, nothing had changed. All these feelings weren't new, they were just surfacing now. It was a beginning, of the best time of my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way.