She woke up, looking over to the other side to give Luke a good morning kiss, but he was gone. She ran through the house, calling his name until she found the note on the table. "Vanessa, this past year has been one of the best in my life, but it's time for me to move on. I'm going back to Camp Half-Blood. I don't love you anymore. Luke."

She sat up suddenly, her mouth open in a silent scream and tears pouring down her face. "What's wrong?" Luke asked, sitting up beside her and putting an arm around her.

"It's nothing, Luke, really. It was just a nightmare." His touch made her flinch and she pulled away from him. "I'm going for a walk."

She threw a light jacket on and crept through the house, smiling at Percy and Annabeth cuddling on the sleeper sofa as she opened the door. The early morning air felt cool on her legs, running alongside the sea until she couldn't anymore. She doubled over, panting, and stuck one bare foot in the water. She plopped down with her legs outstretched in front of her, the waves lapping over them. Jason's long legs appeared beside her after a few minutes. "Bad dream?"

She nodded. "Yup."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Nope."

He sighed, leaning back on his elbows. "Thank you for yesterday, by the way."

"No problem."

"I'm going back to Camp Jupiter when we leave here. I miss it."

"Cool."

His warm hand gently turned her face to his. "What's the matter?"

"Luke left, in my dream, just like Venus said he would." She watched the sun finish rising over the water. "What if she's right? What if you and I truly do belong together and Luke's just a toy she placed in my path? She could've killed you last night, Jason! Do you know how I finally woke you up? I had to kiss you, like in Snow White. She probably got the poisoned red apple thing from that movie too. And, she made Hermes take Luke somewhere else."

He tugged her to a standing position. "Come on, let's go eat breakfast. Percy and Annabeth are awake now."

"Chocolate chip waffles do make things better." She said, smiling a bit. "Come on, Sparky, I'll race you." She took off, running in the tide.

He laughed and chased after her. They reached the porch at the same time, out of breath. "It was a tie."

"No dice. I win." She opened the door, letting him in. "Go eat, Grace, and get your arrogant ass out of my house."

"You're calling me arrogant?" He asked indignantly. "Seriously?"

"The difference between you and me, Jason Grace, is I know exactly how I am. You deny being an arrogant, big-headed, egotistical jerk. I, however, know I am an arrogant, egotistical, cocky bitch."

He snorted. "You got the bitch part right."

Luke looked up from his breakfast as she sat down across from him. "Are you alright?" He asked, his eyes flickering to Jason suspiciously.

"I'm fine, Luke." She kissed his cheek.

"When you finish eating, I need to talk to you."

The fear from the dream flooded through her at those words. She motioned for him to come with her to her room and she locked the door behind him. "What's up?"

"I've been thinking about going back to Camp Half-Blood."

All the color drained from her face and she sat down hard on the bed. "Why?" She managed to say.

"I miss it and the kids, the undetermined and Hermes' other kids, need me."

"Okay."

"Hey what's wrong, Ness?" He reached for her, but she stepped back.

"Nothing." She lied. "Have fun at Camp Half-Blood."

"Wait, you're coming with me, right?" He grinned, his lips curling up attractively. "I need my girl with me."

Relief swam through her body and she kissed him suddenly. "I thought you were leaving me."

"Why would I…Vanessa, listen to me. I love you, okay? I meant what I said to Aphrodite last night. Is that what your dream was about?"

She pressed her face into his chest, trying to hide. He hadn't said he loved her until then, not directly at least. He stroked her hair but didn't say anything until someone knocked on the door. "Hey, Vanessa, I think we're about to leave." Leo said.

She pushed Luke away gently and followed Leo out to the Argo. Percy hugged her first. "Keep in touch, sis."

"You too."

Annabeth also gave her a hug, which surprised her. "Take care of Luke."

"Always."

Leo awkwardly shook her hand. "Take care of your ship, Leo. She's a keeper."

Jason was the last to say goodbye. He glanced over to Luke, as if to judge his reaction. Suddenly, Jason's arms wrapped around her, bringing back the memories of their many nights together. She couldn't speak, for fear of saying something stupid. "I'm going to miss you." He whispered.

"I'll miss you, too, Sparky." She smiled up at him, forgetting her boyfriend stood behind her.

He leaned in instinctively, almost kissing her but he thought better of her. "Take care, Nessie." His use of his old pet name for her made her blush.

He left her to say farewell to Luke. "If you ever hurt her, by the gods, I will bring the fury and wrath of Jupiter upon you, son of Hermes, along with my personal vengeance."

Luke laughed. "Duly noted."

She turned away as they left. "Come on, we should pack." His voice was oddly calm.

Vanessa followed him wordlessly.

Two weeks, later, she sat alone on Half-Blood Hill, watching the sunset. An old memory from her Camp Jupiter days played through her mind like a movie. Jason boldly took her hand, leading her to their secret place. They reached the edge of the creek quickly. He turned to her, tickling her until she fell from laughing hard. He supported himself above her, amused. "You're ticklish, Sharky."

"So?" She said defensively, hoping he couldn't hear her heart beating too rapidly.

He gently pressed his lips to hers, intertwining their fingers as he rolled onto his back to where she was straddling him. "Why do you have to be so beautiful?" He murmured, his hands gripping hers tightly, as if he was fighting the urge to explore her.

"You okay, sis?" Percy's voice snapped her out of her daydream.

"Yeah." She blushed, hoping he couldn't tell what she was thinking. "Where's Annabeth?"

"Some of the gods came to visit their kids. Dad's here." He held out a hand to help her up. "He's in our cabin."

They were headed for cabin three when she spotted her: a tall, punk-haired girl. She was scanning the crowds for someone when Luke appeared in front of her. She could tell he was excited to see her, but then he did something completely unexpected. He kissed her, his hands pulling her to him. She froze; her vision tunneled. That was all she could see. Hot tears poured down and she ran, vaguely aware of Percy running after her.

She slammed the door to Poseidon's cabin, looking for her sword. All she wanted to do was run it through both of them. "Hey, chill out Vanessa. You are pissed."

Neptune looked at her worriedly. She glared at him, Golden Death in her hands. Percy finally wrenched the door open, stopping at the sight of the sword. "Vanessa?"

She wearily dropped it back onto her bed. "Hi Dad."

Neptune visited them for a few minutes, but she wasn't paying attention. This was exactly what Jason did to her, except he knew she saw it. When he left, she didn't move from her bed, as she was still picturing Luke's head on a silver platter. Only Luke himself standing in front of her brought her out of her thoughts. "Hey, I've been looking everywhere for you. I want you to meet someone." He dragged her out of the cabin and away from her sword, right to the girl he'd kissed. "Thalia, this is Vanessa."

"It's great to meet you." Thalia embraced her and Vanessa suppressed the urge to punch her in the face. "Luke told me you know my brother, Jason."

That caught her attention. "I went to camp with him."

Luke laughed. "Thalia and I have a lot to catch up on, so would you mind hanging with Percy?"

The next day, she went to breakfast to find everyone whispering about something. Annabeth raced up to Percy, furious. "Why didn't you do anything?"

"What was I supposed to do?"

She scanned the tables for Luke, but didn't find him. "Percy, I'm going to find Luke."

"Vanessa, wait!" He called but she was racing toward cabin eleven.

It didn't matter that he kissed her; she was probably an old girlfriend. After all, how many times had she wanted to make out with Jason since seeing him this last time? She knew it was an accident, that he loved her. However, there was just an envelope on his pillow, addressed to her. "NO!" She screamed, feeling every word as a knife in her heart.

Vanessa,

You were without a doubt the best thing in my life since I almost died, but seeing Thalia made me realize I love her still. I need some time to figure out who I am and Thalia can help with that. I loved you, I really did, and I'm sorry for hurting you again. Thank you for everything you gave me. I will never forget you.

Love,

Luke

She folded the letter back up, placing it in her pocket, walking out of the cabin. The look on her face sent younger campers scattering as she made her way to the Aphrodite campers, were the goddess was eating breakfast with them. "He left. I hope you're happy, Venus. Now stop meddling in my life." She left before she got her response, to tell Dionysus, Percy, and Annabeth she was leaving for Camp Jupiter that afternoon.