Okay, so we have gotten a few ideas for one shots and I want to thank all of you who have given us ideas. This is not a one shot inspired by anyone's idea, but I have been bouncing it around in my head for days and I just wanted to write it. I also want to clarify that this is a collection of one shots. It is not a story, so each chapter is a new story that does not connect to the previous one. Enjoy!

Message in a Bottle

I walked along the shoreline, letting the waves wash over my feet as they came in. It was late at night, maybe ten, and the beach was completely empty. I shouldn't have been here either, but I just needed to get away.

I had had to climb a fence to even get onto the beach, but for once I didn't care about breaking the rules. My mom's boyfriend, Gabe, had come in super drunk earlier and had started shouting at my mom and I before he had passed out.

I had hated to leave my mom there, but she had told me to leave, to go clear my head, knowing how much I hated Gabe.

So I had come here. It was a newer beach, so I hadn't been to it before, but water always calmed me down, especially the ocean, and I needed calming.

I thought back to my life before Gabe entered the picture. It had been quiet and peaceful, even if my mother and I had some financial struggles. We went to the beach all the time, neither of us being able to stay away from the ocean, and we had been happy.

Now I was stuck with Gabe, who I knew for a fact didn't love my mom. And she didn't love him either. I had confronted her once about it and she had said that he was a good thing for us, before leaving quickly. But he wasn't good for us. He was terrible. He didn't bring in money, just added another person to have to pay for. His gambling and drinking habits often kept him out much later at night than he had come in today, and much drunker.

He was also violent, always shouting at us and calling me pathetic and useless. I was constantly scared for my mom, who spent all day with him, because I thought that I would come back from school and see her lying on the floor, Gabe having had too much to drink and hitting her. I was surprised he hadn't already.

I sighed and stopped walking, letting the water lap at my toes and ankles, before something shimmering in the moonlight caught my eye. I walked toward it, pushing all thoughts of Gabe out of my mind, trying to actually calm myself down, knowing I would have to go home to him soon.

I reached the object and saw that it was a glass bottle. I scoffed, Gabe leaving my mind for now. And I bet there's a message in it too. Sure. I picked it up though, thinking I would throw it away. It was still a glass bottle on the beach, and I would care for the beach as long as I lived.

I began walking toward the blue garbage cans near the fence, but when I swung my arms something in the bottle jangled around.

I picked up speed, running back to the fence and hopping over, before I raced back to my mother's and my apartment. I had hoped to stay out later, but now my curiosity was peaked and I needed to be able to see what was in the bottle. Maybe it was a message.

When I got into the apartment I stopped in my tracks, taking my shoes off so I didn't wake anyone up, before continuing. I moved further into the apartment, into the main room and saw Gabe asleep on the couch. Good for you mom, I thought. I kept going until I hit what was our kitchen.

I set the bottle down on the counter, before rummaging into the cupboard for some of the blue cookies mom had made for me. If I was going to stay up and see what was in that bottle then I needed fuel.

"Ugh. Bring me that bottle boy!" Gabe half shouted and half groaned from the couch, pointing to my bottle.

"It's not filled with beer, it's just an empty bottle," I told him, trying to stay clam at his demands. It didn't matter though, because he had already fallen asleep and was snoring.

I took the blue food and crept by my mom's room, not wanting to wake her up from her hard earned and well deserved sleep. Then I was at my room. Well, more like a large closet, but it worked for my purposes.

When I got into my room I carefully shut the door behind me, locking it for extra measure. I then flopped down onto my bed and took a bite out of a cookie, savoring the sweetness of it. I ate a few more cookies before getting down to business.

I held the bottle in my hand, an opaque green glass bottle, probably meant for decoration. I shook it a few times, pressing my ear to the glass, trying to hear what was in it. I could hear a small metal object clanging around and a softer rustle, probably paper.

Well damn. I guess there is a message in it.

When I tried to open it though, that is where the problem came. It had a beer cap kind of top to it, but not the easy twistable type, so I couldn't get it off with my hands.

I left my room again, trying to be quiet as I returned to the kitchen, planning to grab a bottle opener and retreat back to my room again. But no, because someone high up in the universe, maybe the god of misfortune, decided that my life wasn't hard enough already, so when I entered the kitchen guess who was there.

If you guessed Gabe than you are smart and reasonable. But who ever said life was reasonable? Gabe was there, yes, but my mother was too. Shit.

I tried to back up, hoping that neither of them noticed me, but nope. There goes the gods again. Why do they hate me?

"What are you sneaking about for boy?" a very hungover Gabe shouted at me, his beady eyes squinting at me. This caused my mom to turn around and look at me. She looked surprised to see me home so early, probably not having expected me to be back for a few hours. That was what I usually did.

"Answer me boy!" Gabe shouted again, getting impatient with me. Mus not be that bad of a hangover if he can shout.

Now I was stuck. Mom was here so I couldn't just say I was looking for a bottle opener, because that would make it seem like I was trying to sneak a drink. I couldn't explain it to them either though, because then Gabe would start shouting that I was lying and made the whole thing up to cover up an empty bottle that I had drunk.

Shit, shit, shit.

"I…uh…I was just coming in here for a…fork! Yeah, a fork. I need it for my uh…food," I managed to get out. I don't even know if you can consider that English. I figured I might be able to open the bottle cap with a fork if I pushed hard enough.

"Oh. Okay honey. Here," my mom replied, handing me a fork from the drawer. Thank the gods for her absolute trust. I did feel bad for betraying it though.

I then practically sprinted back to my room with the fork, eager to get out of there. Smooth Percy. Real smooth.

When I was finally in the safely and relative comfort of my own room I jammed two of the forks prongs under the cap of the bottle and pushed the handle of the fork down hard.

The cap popped off, flying against the wall of my room and making a loud zinging noise followed by a thud. Shit.

"Percy, dear? What was that noise?" my mom called from the other room.

"I just tripped is all mom," I replied, cursing myself over and over. I don't know why, but I really didn't want anyone to see the bottle. It just seemed…wrong for someone else to have it. I might just be going crazy though.

"Are you okay then?" my mom called back, still in the kitchen.

"Yeah, I'm fine mom!" I shouted through the thin walls, wanting her to stop calling to me so I could see what was in the bottle.

"Shut up! Both of you!" Gabe shouted, his deep voice joining ours in the apartment. My blood boiled at someone telling my mother to shut up but I took a few deep breaths and calmed down.

Then I turned back to the bottle and dumped it upside down over my bed. The little metal object fell out right away, but I had to use my fingers to pull out the piece of paper.

The metal object turned out to be a small key, like the kind a diary would have.

The paper intrigued me though. It read, in a neat cursive: Hello to whoever is reading this. I'm not actually sure if anyone will read this, but I am giving it a shot anyway. If you do find this than text or call me at 732-789-5647. I await your correspondence. And in the meantime, the key opens the gates to Camp Half-Blood, the camp I go to. I thought you might want to check it out sometime if you are even somewhat close. Maybe we could meet there. Bye!

I read over the note again. This was real. A message in a bottle, telling whoever found it to get in touch. And she lived near me, assuming it was a she, although from the amount of exclamation points I would guess it was. I knew Camp Half-Blood too. I went there a year ago, during the summer. It was really close and was only ages 15-17, so it meant she was around my age. Shit.

I took out my phone and typed in the number on the paper, planning on texting the mystery girl.

Hey. I found your note. Thanks for the key, I loved that camp. I'm Percy, and I think we live near each other. I'm sixteen. Text me back when you get this, I guess.

I hit send and then wished I could undo it. I'm so stupid. It could be a cute girl and I just texted her that. And I probably shouldn't have told her that much about me, but oh well. If she wanted to rob me then she would be disappointed with what there was to take.

Then I fell asleep. It had been a long day.

Time Jump – The next morning at school

"Grover! Dude! You will literally never guess what happened yesterday!" I shouted at my disabled friend as I ran after him in the hallway.

"What?" he asked, now that I had caught up to him. I preceded to tell him all about the bottle and the note and the girl. His mouth slowly gaped wider I as told my story, obviously not believing me.

"Dude. Shit. If that's true you could have a serious babe on the other end of your line!" he said when I was finally done. I just rolled my eyes. Idiot.

Then my phone and I binged. I grinned when I looked at the screen, seeing that it was the mystery number.

Hey Percy. I'm Annabeth. And yeah, I guess we do live close to each other. That's so cool, and you found my bottle too! I should have listened to my friend and done that a while ago. Either way, use the key and meet me at Half-Bloods obstacle course Wednesday at six. By the way, I'm sixteen too.

I showed Grover the text and his eyes got really wide. "Totally a babe," he finally said. I ignored him and typed back: Awesome. I'll see you there Annabeth.

Today was Monday, so I only had to wait two days. Easier said than done.

Time Jump – Four Years Later

It was my wedding day. Damn. Honestly never saw this coming.

That Tuesday night turned out to be the best night of my life. Annabeth and I hit it off right away and now, four years later, were getting married. Damn.

I was having some serious butterflies in my stomach, but when I saw Annabeth walking down the aisle they all disappeared. She looked amazing. There weren't even words.

She approached the alter and I grabbed her hands. I missed everything the officiant said, I was so focused on her.

We had decide to keep out vows super short, seeing as this was not a big ceremony at all. We might as well have eloped. Only my mom, having finally gotten rid of Gabe, and her father were there.

"I am so glad you sent that bottle out that day. I would have missed out on the most amazing girl if you hadn't. I love you Annabeth," I said, Annabeth was crying, happy tears, and she began her vows.

"I think I fell in love with you the moment I met you. You were standing shyly by the lake, and I remember thinking, 'That is the most beautiful person I have ever seen.' I wish I had met you sooner, so I could have had even more time to spend with you. You are my forever Percy. I love you." I was crying now too.

"I now pronounce you man and wife!" The officiant said. "You may kiss the bride." I didn't waste any time, swooping in to kiss her. Then we laughed, ready to start our lives together.

So please review, we love your suggestions. I am currently working on an awesome archery suggestion that was requested and I am excited for that. My co-author is also working on something, so stay tuned. Till next chapter! Bye!