When Percy tells me that he needs to talk to me in a very serious voice, I usually don't take it very lightly. Yes, I, Annabeth Chase, panic. A lot.

It was a regular day at camp with the Stolls pulling pranks on the Demeter cabin, Apollo kids showing off their aim, Ares being barbaric, and the Hephaestus cabin working on something in the forges: a demigod's usual day to kick back and relax.

But I couldn't do that. Percy told me to meet up with him later in the day and it got me really worried. Is Percy gonna break up with me? I kept thinking.

It was as if time stood still, the afternoon never approached. Finally the lunch horn sounded and I made my way towards the Athena table. I chanced a glance at Percy but he didn't meet my eyes, his expression was unreadable.

I scooped a portion of my pizza into the brazier and absent-mindedly prayed to my mom. I sat back down on the table and finished up my lunch.

"Annabeth?" Percy's soft voice spoke, "Um, can you come to my cabin for a second?"

"Oh, um, sure. Okay." I said, getting up. As we walked down to the Poseidon cabin, I was thinking that things were never this awkward between us.

"Sit?" Percy gestured to his bunk.

After we both sat down, Percy took a deep breath. "Listen, Annabeth, Paul got a great job offer and…we're moving to Los Angeles."

"Oh. But it's no big deal, you'll come to camp every summer right?"

Percy shook his head.

"But… camp is the only safe place for demigods…you cant…"

He sighed. "That's what I thought, Wise Girl. But Chiron said I could handle it well enough, plus coming to New York every year takes a whole lot of money."

"So…what? Are you gonna break up with me now?" I blinked back tears.

"It's not like I want to Annabeth. Long distance relationships never work."

I nodded. "Yeah, you're right. You'll probably meet some pretty mortal and start going out with her."

"What? No! I can never do that! I…I love you too much." he met my gaze. "I just think you'll meet someone better than me, I mean, 5 years is a pretty long time."

I shook my head. "I love you too much to do that. If you're willing, I'll still be with you when you come back five years later."

"Really?" Percy asked.

I nodded. Percy got up and tore a piece of paper from a notebook. He rolled it up and tied the edges together. He put the paper ring on my finger, and looked up to meet my eyes. "Here's my promise."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him long, as he kissed me back and held me around the waist.

"I love you Percy," I breathed when we broke apart. But we still had our arms around each other.

"I love you Annabeth" he kissed the top of my head. "And I promise I'll keep my promise."