A/n Thanks for the sweet reviews!

Annabeth's POV

On the way to lunch, Thalia meets me at my locker.

"I've been dying to ask all day, how'd it go with Percy?"

"It was fine." I answer vaguely.

She prompts me. "So he took it well?"

"Well...um..." I shift uncomfortably. "I made an executive decision to postpone telling him."

"What?"

"Instead we did...something more fun."

Thalia makes a face. "Gross. Why didn't you tell him?" Her voice takes on a whining tone.

"It's just," I sigh. "It's just that I like how nice and smooth things are. I didn't want to mess that up by talking about graduating early and moving 2,567 miles away. Believe it or not, that might've put a damper on things."

"Annie..." Now there's pity in her voice. She shakes her head. "You've got to tell him. He deserves to know."

"It's not for sure yet." I mumble.

"You sure? Because it sounds like you've already made up your mind. And if you want my two cents-"

I try to interrupt her; she ignores me.

"-and you do, I think that you should graduate early. Take the position at Stanford. Do you know just how big of a deal early enrollment is? So many people try to get in, and are either rejected or wait-listed. You've already been accepted into the program. I don't think you should waste this opportunity. Yes, you love Percy, and yes he loves you. But the cold hard truth is, that it most likely won't last forever. You're going to fall in love again. You might even meet the man you're going to marry. And honestly, I don't think that man is Percy. High school sweethearts rarely last. I don't think you should throw away this amazing opportunity for something that won't last."

I gape at her. We stand in silence for an immeasurable amount of time, easily ignoring the bell as it rings. Finally, I speak. "That was really harsh."

She shrugs. "I'm a very straightforward person."

I take a deep breath and walk to the lunchroom. Thalia waits a bit before following me. We're held up by the staff member waiting at the door, who gives us each a tardy. Being as late as we are, the table is filled; there's barely room for Thalia and I to squeeze in right across from each other.

"Hey." Percy slides his arm around me. "What took so long?"

I begin to answer, but Thalia beats me to it. "Annabeth was having a hard time making a decision, so I was offering some insight."

I shoot daggers at her with my eyes. She's messing with the whole situation, a very delicate situation! My stomach starts to hurt as everyone looks at me with interest.

Piper perks up. "What kind of a decision?"

"Maybe we can help." Percy adds.

"You know Annie? That's a great idea! Why don't you tell Percy and everyone else the options you've been tossing around." My stomach churns. "You guys will love this." Thalia gestures to me and the table's attention turns in my direction. Why is she being so cruel? She's definitely not acting like my best friend. Percy looks at me with expectant, helpful, innocent eyes. As I consider what I'll have to tell him, the contents of my stomach begin making their way back up.

I meet his gaze with a startled expression and jump from the table. "Excuse me!" I put my hand over my mouth and make a beeline for the nearest ladies room. I barely make it into a stall before I'm vomiting. I gather my hair with one hand and grip the toilet with the other, my body convulsing. Approximately three seconds later, Piper bursts in behind me.

"Oh Annie, you poor thing." She takes over holding my hair and rubs my back as I continue to throw up. Tears gather in my eyes, tears that have little to do with my getting sick.

I wait until there's a break in the sickness before attempting to speak. "I'm sorry." I gasp. "I'm sorry, I-" My voice is suddenly rendered useless as another wave of sickness crashes over me.

"Sssh, Annie. It's alright. You've been working so hard lately, you're bound to get the stomach bug at some point. Besides, it's really cold outside. I think a day at home will do you some good."

"I'm not going-" My protest is quickly cut short by the arrival of the school nurse.

"Oh dear." She tuts. "Looks like another one is down."

Piper gives her a look at her choice of words, but I do my best to ignore her.

"Sweetie, do you think you're done?" The nurse asks in a kind voice. I check myself. I don't feel like there's anything more in my stomach left to throw up, so I give a hesitant nod. "Okay, let's get you up." She and Piper help me stand, both of them gripping me tighter when I wobble. The nurse touches her hand to my head. "Well, you don't feel like you have a fever...but you definitely look and act sick. I think you should go home, sweetie."

I want to protest, but then I think about it. If I were home, I could have a few more hours to sort this awful situation out. Alone. I nod. "Pipes, do you think you could take me home? Percy drove me today and both my parents are busy at work."

Piper shakes her head apologetically. "Sorry Annie. I have a huge test next hour. I was up all night studying for it."

I nod. "Okay. Maybe Jason, or-"

"Percy will probably take you."

Seeing that I couldn't argue with her without raising suspicion, I nod. The nurse and Piper let me wash my mouth out and then lead me out of the restroom. Percy is waiting outside. He rushes over and takes the nurse's spot. I'll admit, it feels nice to be leaning on people who love me. "Awh, Annie." He brushes my hair behind my ear and looks at me with pity and concern in his eyes. I try to smile at him.

"Do you think you could take me home? My parents are both at work, and I didn't drive." He's nodding before I can get both sentences out.

"Of course." He turns to the nurse. "I'm gonna take her home. Can you excuse me from my next two classes?" The nurse looks a bit skeptical, but I sway unsteadily again and she quickly agrees. By now the rest of my friends have joined me, and Percy runs off to my locker to fetch my things, leaving Jason to take his place supporting me. I do my best to ignore Thalia, who is leaning against the far wall, arms crossed. Percy's back before I know it, and he walks with me to his car and helps me into the passenger seat. He gets in quickly, and pulls slowly out of the parking lot, obviously trying not to upset my stomach. After a few silent minutes, he glances at me. "How are you feeling?"

I try to answer honestly. "I still feel weird, but I think I'm done throwing up."

"Weird how?" There's a hint of anxiousness in his voice.

I shrug sadly, and he looks at me like I'm pitiful. Soon, we're at my house. He takes my key from me and goes to open the door before helping me out of the car. I can walk better on my own now, but he still keeps and hand on my waist and back, just to be sure.

"Do you want to set up on the couch, or in your room?"

"My room please."

He nods and smiles as we trudge up the stairs. He leaves so I can change into pajamas and brush my teeth, but I invite him back in once I'm dressed. I climb into bed and gesture for him to join me, scooting over to make room. He slides next to me easily, sliding his arm around my shoulders and hugging me to his chest. The action is so simple, yet so kind and filled with love, that I suddenly feel sick again. I'm keeping something huge from him. I think. Here he is, loving me even when I'm sick and disgusting, being so kind to me when I've been grumpy and distant, and here I am hiding something from him that affects both of us. In that moment, I know I have to tell him. I sigh and pull away from him, scooting back so we're facing each other. He looks at me with confusion, but doesn't say anything.

"Percy…" I start. Wow, this is going to be really hard. "Percy, I...have something to tell you."

His eyes turn wary when he hears my tone, but he otherwise doesn't react. He just waits for me to continue.

"Well, you see…" I take a deep breath, steel myself, and let the truth run out in a rush. "Percy, I've been accepted into Stanford. They want me there in time for spring semester, so if I accept, I'll be moving two thousand miles away in a few weeks."

He stares at me in shocked silence. I meet his stare with an anxious one of my own. There's hurt in both of our eyes, though I can see he's trying to conceal it. "W-wow Annabeth." His voice is unsteady. "This is what you've been working for for so long. I'm really proud of you." Even though I can tell that he's hurt and scared, I can see that he means it. I throw my arms around him in a hug, burying my face in his neck. He holds me just as tightly.

"I haven't decided yet." Even as I speak these words, I know they aren't true. He pulls back and gives me a half-hearted smile.

"Haven't you?"

Tears well in my eyes as I look at Percy. My Percy. Percy, who loves me just as much as I love him. I can't stand this. "I don't want this to end." My voice breaks in strange places.

He grabs my chin and stares into my eyes. "It won't." He says fiercely. I stare back in surprise. "We were going to have to deal with this anyway in a few months. I mean, come on Annie," he chuckles, "did you really think I would be accepted into Stanford?"

I laugh and he wipes tears from my cheeks. "You could've done it."

He smiles at me, real pride and love shining through. "You did do it."

We stare at each other for a minute, soaking in each other and our new situation. "So what will we do?" My voice is quiet.

"We'll call. And text. And send e-mails. And write letters!" I giggle at his enthusiasm as I try to imagine deciphering a letter in his handwriting. "And when we can, we'll fly. I know it's expensive, but we'll be able to make it sometimes. We'll make a point to see each other as often as we possibly can. Heck, if I need to, I'll swim to Stanford!" I giggle again and grab his hand. "Anything to get to you." This causes more tears to spill over.

"I love you so much."

In response, he wraps me in another tight hug. "We can do this Annabeth. We're going to be fine."

My sadness at leaving him hasn't been erased, not in the slightest. But now, the sadness has had to move over to make room for a new emotion; hope.

A/n Well, hi there guys! Okay, yes, I know I suck. It's been literally a year since I've updated. But I am determined to finish this story, I promise! I'm sorry it's been so long, but if you're still reading, I love you! Xx