I'm baaaack! Thanks for all who reviewed on the past chapter. VOTE FOR MY POLL AGAIN! Everyone's wondering what the kids are planning with Percy. But I think you will all love it. This chapter left me hanging. So yeah, it's a cliffhanger. When I was rereading this chapter, my reactions keep changing from 'Why?' to 'What the hell did I just do?' Well, anyways… Let's get on with this.

Oh yeah, some people had recognized the scene from High School Musical 3 on the past chapter. And I'm glad that people still remember that movie. I love the movie. But I also do not own it. You'll also get to have a glimpse of Percy's and Annabeth's past—their parents.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that Rick Riordan owns.

"What do you intend to do next?" Annabeth asked.

"Let's watch the sunset for now." Percy said.

Annabeth still felt that some piece of knowledge about Percy was still missing. She was still lacking the knowledge of Percy's parents. She would always think about why he was staying on his grandmother's. And she decided that this moment was the best to ask her the question, "I've been meaning to ask you a question, Percy."

"What is it?" Percy asked curiously.

"Why do you stay with your grandma? I mean don't you have parents to live with?" Annabeth asked, choosing her words carefully.

"This is a very long story, Annabeth." Percy didn't want to talk about it. He didn't want to mention his father.

"I'm willing to listen." Annabeth said.

Percy made a mistake on gazing at Annabeth's eyes. He just can't resist those pleading eyes. "Okay, fine." Percy took a deep breath. "My mom's dead already."

"Oh, I'm—I'm sorry." Annabeth said regretting her question. "You should forget about my question. Pretend nothing happened."

"No, I think you deserve to know."

"Are you sure?" Annabeth asked worried.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Percy smiled tentatively.

"Okay, go on."

"Well, she died four years ago. Before she died, I was already here in Italy. I was here because nobody was with me in the house because my mom and dad went to Hawaii for a vacation. They also stayed there for a year because dad's family lives there. Not much happened there, my mom said. Dad was always gone. My mom was suspicious about his actions, though. Then she followed my dad when he was driving and then she discovered that my dad was having an affair with another woman. They had a son already. My mom wanted a divorce, flew back to New York leaving my dad. But-" Percy's face became more sad, "—she didn't make it out alive. The plane crashed for some reason. I blamed my dad for everything that had happened. From that day on, I flew here to Italy rather than stay with dad and his new family." Percy explained.

"Oh, what a sad story. Sorry, if I asked." Annabeth said.

"You know, I'm jealous of your dad. Because he spends time with you, and takes care of you when your mom's not there." Percy said.

Annabeth's face darkened, "We all have different family problems, Percy. I may have a loving and caring dad. And I think it's because it was his responsibility as a parent and not because he loved me."

"What do you mean by that?"

"My mom and dad got the divorce after the year I was born. Mom gave me to dad because she was 'too busy' with her work. Dad said the same. But mom wouldn't take no for an answer. Dad and I were alone for five years. He got remarried afterwards, had two sons. He actually forgot about me by that time." Annabeth had a sad expression but she was wearing a smile.

"Oh."

Silence fell as they were staring at the gorgeous sunset, while seeing the view of Southern Rome. The two were thinking about their lives. "The sunset's nice isn't it?" Annabeth mused.

"Yeah, indeed it is." Percy agreed.

Their silence made Percy hear rustling leaves nearby and looked at the direction of the noise. He saw Jeremy poking through the bushes, he suddenly remembered why they were there. "Can you wait for me here, Annabeth?"

"Uh, sure."

"Thanks." Percy said rushing to the kids that were hiding on the bushes.

"Are you all ready?" Percy whispered to the kids.

"Yes!" the kids answered.

"Well then, go to your formation. I'll just get ready."

"Yes, sir!" the kids exclaimed.

The kids took their formation, a single line extending from east to west, from the tallest until the smallest, all facing Annabeth. "Percy, where—" Annabeth faltered when she turned around to see the kids and Percy grinning stupidly at her.

She looked around to see if there were people giving dirty looks at them, but so far she had seen none. "Percy, what are you doing?" she asked with wide eyes.

"You can turn around now, kids." Percy said nervously.

The kids turned around enthusiastically. Each had a paper plastered on their backs, together they form five words: 'Will U B My Girlfriend?'

Percy approached Annabeth while Annabeth stood completely frozen in her spot. "So, uh… yeah that… uh… will you?" Percy stuttered, afraid of what she will say.

Annabeth had her eyes wide open in shock, "I don't know." She muttered to herself.

People have started gathering around them. Some were amused at what's happening between them, some were just there to see the commotion. The kids too have broken their formation with the papers still on their back, they were curious of Annabeth's response.

Percy was getting impatient, so he decided to take things on the next level. "Annabeth, I'm going to ask you the same question—" Percy knelt, "—Annabeth Chase will you be my girlfriend?"

Some of the girls on the crowd giggled. "Just say yes!" Jeremy said.

Everybody turned their heads to the innocent little kid who wanted to get this over with, and go home. "Just say yes, just say yes." The crowd started chanting.

Annabeth was tempted to say yes, but part of her was hesitating. Percy smiled at the support of the crowd, and somehow he started chanting too, "Just say yes, just say yes."

Annabeth started to chuckle at the crowd. She was amused by the chant and it got her saying, "Fine, yes."

The crowd became silent.

"Yes?" Percy wasn't quite sure if he heard right, but he was smiling already.

"Yes." Annabeth said with finality.

"Yes?"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes!"

"Yes?"

"Don't make me change my mind, Jackson." Annabeth warned.

Percy stood up shakily out of anticipation. "She said yes." Percy grinned an ear-to-ear grin.

"Yeah, I just said yes." Annabeth smiled.

"Yey!" the kids cheered. The crowd cheered too. And Percy got what he wanted.

Percy and Annabeth were walking hand in hand at the hotel lobby. Annabeth noticed that some of the people were giving her dirty looks. Percy also noticed it, but he didn't know why. Annabeth let go of Percy's hand, missing the warmth it gave her. She actually knew why they were given dirty looks.

When they were waiting for the elevator to come down, Annabeth heard some girls' conversation: "Isn't she Luke's girlfriend?" one had asked.

"Yeah, but why is she with that handsome guy?" the second commented.

"Maybe she's cheating on Luke. Does that guy even know she's taken? Do you think she's a slut?" the third sniggered.

"That guy didn't know who he dealt with."

"Yeah, the owner of this hotel's girlfriend." They all sniggered.

Percy clenched his fist upon hearing the conversation. "This was part of Luke's plan." Annabeth whispered to Percy.

"And I hope he's satisfied."

They both entered the elevator together with the girls who had taken a liking to Percy. "If I see that bastard again, I will kill him with my bare hands, chop him with an axe, crush him with a steamroller, and if Pokemon were true, I'd let a Charizard burn him..."

While Percy was ranting on ways to kill Luke, Annabeth noticed the girls batting their eyelashes at Percy, as if Percy sees them. It was Annabeth's turn to clench her fist. The elevator doors dinged open, it was their floor. "Bye bye, bitch." The girl whispered, and they all snickered as if mocking Annabeth.

Annabeth dragged Percy out of the elevator while he was still ranting. "Will you please just stop?"

Percy suddenly closed his mouth. Annabeth marched her way towards her room. "What's wrong?" Percy asked.

"Oh, you don't know?"

"Don't know what?" Percy asked curiously.

"The girls were flirting at you."

"Really?"

"You didn't notice?"

"No. Wait... Are you actually jealous?" Percy smirked at the realization.

"Me? Jealous? No!" Annabeth said.

"Then why are you like that?"

"I'm like this because—because you're—you're—you're oblivious! How come you didn't notice them? It was disgusting seeing them batting their eyelashes at you, and you didn't even bother waving them off." Annabeth turned her back to Percy.

"It's basically because you're the only girl I notice." Percy said solemnly.

Annabeth turned to face Percy, "What did you just say?"

"I said—" Percy took Annabeth's hand, "—that you're the only girl I notice."

"Really?" Annabeth turned pink.

Percy used his other hand to brush away the hair that was covering Annabeth's face. "Yeah, really." Annabeth turned pinker.

With Percy's right hand with Annabeth's left hand, he pulled her in for a hug. Annabeth took in Percy's smell. In spite of all the sweat he produced, he still smelled the same. Like the sea. Annabeth hugged him back, feeling Percy kiss her head.

"I love you." Percy said.

"I love you too." Annabeth said in a muffled voice, since her face was still buried in his chest.

Percy pulled away quickly, "What did you just say?" Percy asked though he heard it the first time.

"You heard it."

"Say it again. Please for me." Percy begged.

"I. Love. You. Too." Annabeth repeated.

Percy smiled. "I'll bet I'm the luckiest guy right now."

Percy leaned in for a kiss but someone interrupted him, "Percy, is that you?" someone from inside asked.

Percy sighed, "Yes, grandma it's me. Why?" Percy replied.

"Can you come inside and help me here?" Alice asked.

"Just a minute, grandma."

"Okay."

"So, uh..."

"You'd better go in."

"Yeah, I better do."

Annabeth turned her back to open her door but Percy stopped her by grabbing her hand. "What?" Annabeth asked.

"Good night." Percy said.

"Oh, good night."

"Sweet dreams."

"Yeah, sweet dreams."

"Don't let the bed bugs bite."

"Oh uh yeah, ditto." Annabeth smiled at Percy's childishness.

Annabeth turned her back again but Percy wasn't finished yet. "Ahem."

Annabeth looked to see Percy pointing repeatedly at his cheek. Annabeth rolled her eyes at her boyfriend and kissed him in the cheek. "Satisfied?" Annabeth asked.

"Very." Percy said contented.

Annabeth entered her room and heard Percy say, "I love you."

"Yeah, I know you do." She said as she closed the door.

As soon as she closed her door, her smiling face turned into a face of regret. She did love Percy and all, but she didn't want to break his heart. But either way the damage has already been done. Whether Annabeth says yes or no to Percy, it would definitely break his heart. She was to leave on the morrow. And she knows deep inside her heart that she can't handle a long distance relationship. She cannot fathom how many girls Percy would be hooking up with him while she was gone. She knew Percy wouldn't do such thing like cheating on her but it was a possibility. She can't even handle people leaving her, much less her leaving someone behind. The guilt will kill her. But Percy was home, and she wasn't. She can't just break up with him; they haven't even reached a month together much less a day. An idea struck her, and immediately grabbed a paper and a pen and started writing.

Annabeth entered Percy's room, and saw him still sleeping. Alice was seen nowhere. Probably downstairs drinking coffee. It was ten o'clock and Percy was still asleep, with drool hanging on his chin. 'What a Seaweed Brain.' Annabeth chuckled silently. She placed the letter she wrote last night on his bedside table, kissed Percy on his forehead, muttered, "Goodbye, Percy. I love you," and left.

Half an hour later, Percy woke up still feeling groggy. He wiped the drool on his chin using the back of his hand. He went to the bathroom, took a bath, brushed his teeth, and dressed up. It took him forty five minutes to do all of that. He saw something peculiar on his bedside table.

A folded piece of paper.

He was slightly curious about the paper's content and willingly opened it. What he saw was two things: a picture of Annabeth and a letter. The picture of Annabeth was beaming at him which he found very beautiful. The letter was full of words at which he knew Annabeth had written. Of course, it was her handwriting. He was beginning to be nervous, and with that he read the letter:

Dear Percy,

I know that you are reading this letter because you found it on your bedside table. And if you're having suspicions about reading this letter, don't go bother looking for me because you'll find yourself disappointed to see no trace of me. I'll predict that by now you are panicking because this letter is signifying that I'm gone.

It's so ironic that we met just because of a letter and said goodbye with a letter. I love you, Seaweed Brain. Deep down you know that. But I can't handle a long distance relationship. I'm not even sure if this is considered as breaking up with you. I'm sorry. You can see my picture pinned to this paper for you to remember me by.

Oh yeah, I've also talked to Luke earlier this morning. He didn't do anything to me. But he apologized to me. And he told me you were lucky to have me. I didn't believe that though because I left you. And maybe you are torn to pieces just because of this letter. This stupid letter. I am not even sure if I can or could come back to Italy anymore.

But I want you to promise me something. If you do love me or still love me you will do this because I'll be doing the same every night. I want you to go outside every night and stare at the sky. You'll see stars. Well, obviously. In each star, I want you to remember all the times we were together. Me? I'll probably do this too on the Empire State Building, so I'll be closer to the stars.

My flight leaves on one in the afternoon. You might be even reading this two hours before the flight. I can imagine you chasing me on the airport, screaming my name, seeing me, and running towards me to kiss me and say goodbye like what they do on the movies. I don't regret saying yes to you yesterday. It was actually the best decision in my life. Like I said, I love you, Percy Jackson. I love you so much. But for now, I have to go.

Goodbye and love lots,

Annabeth Chase

(Wise Girl)

Normally at this situation he would run after her already. But he was stuck sitting on his bed with tears streaming down on his face. He was stuck in his room sinking in Annabeth's words. She talked to the dickhead, Luke. But she hadn't even stop and talk to him. It broke Percy's heart. Then he heard his grandma's words on his head 'Don't wait thirty five years like I did.'

And with that he abruptly stood up, ran all the way to his car, and drove at speeds that would give his grandmother a heart attack. After thirty minutes, he rushed inside the airport, and looked at his wristwatch. He only had a few more minutes left. The security guard didn't let him in, and they argued for a while. The security made an exception to him and let Percy in. He looked furiously for Annabeth. As he was about to scream her name, he heard the speaker, "The plane leaving for New York has left the premises."

With those words, he felt the world crumble. He was too late.

I don't know what to feel. Oh no, the joy of Percy was short lived by Annabeth leaving. I don't know what to say anymore. Oh yeah, since we're almost—I said almost—coming to an end, please vote for my poll. It would the decision about my next story. But I'll let you all review now.

-BE18