… "Annihilate. Turn to rubble."

I felt my insides freeze – and suddenly it was all too much. Everything that had happened over the last four years – the quests, the monsters, demigods defecting … losing friends … Beckendorf … and she knew. After all of it … I was going to die.

I looked her dead in the eyes.

"You knew."

She flinched – and that was weird. Annabeth Chase was a fighter, she was proud – she did not flinch.

"Percy, I –"

"You knew this whole time." I didn't give her the chance to explain. How could anything explain this? I'd been angry, and hurt, and scared before. But this was new.

"I didn't want –"

"Oh now you want to talk?" I knew I was being cruel but I couldn't help it. Sometimes, when you try and hold the sea back … the dam breaks. But I could hear the crack in her voice and I knew where this was going and it couldn't happen here, not now, not like this, and definitely not in front of everyone.

"I don't want to hear about it."

Maybe this didn't make complete sense – I knew Chiron knew the prophecy too, and it wasn't like he'd been sitting there with a sign saying "Ask me about the Great Prophecy! Free information here!" – he'd been just as tight-lipped about it. But Chiron wasn't my best friend. He was a great mentor, but he'd also left me on my own more than once – never teaching me about controlling the Mist, never even showing me that fucking induction video which would've explained everything. Like he expected me to know it all anyway. Like I was his best student.

But Annabeth?

I was angry. At the gods, the Fates, the stupid fucking prophecy, and at her. And at myself. But behind that I was shaken … why wouldn't she tell me, this whole time?

And suddenly I couldn't be in the same room with her. Pasting a smile on my face, which I'm sure fooled absolutely no one, I tried to make my voice sound more confident than I felt,

"Guys, look, I know that sounds bad. We knew we were in for the fight of our lives – and we're gonna win it. There is something specific I want to talk to everyone about. But before we continue I'd like a short break if that's okay?"

I turned to look at her as I finished my question – it was obvious that no one would say no, but I knew she understood when she nodded, even though she wouldn't meet my eyes.

Annabeth and I needed to talk – but I needed to cool down first.

As I turned and left the rec room, I thought I could hear a few sighs – like no one knew if I was suddenly going to lose it and try and kill them all. Great, just great. About to die and everyone thinks I'm booked on the insane train anyway.

I stalked off towards the creek, feeling calmer as I got closer to the water. As I stepped into it, I could feel the anger leaving me, carried away by the water as it ran past my legs. If only Thalia could do this with air – she'd never be angry again. Then again, if she wasn't angry, she wouldn't be Thalia.

It was weird really – ever since I'd first come to camp, all those years ago, I'd met and grown to love so many people and in every case, our paths had diverged not too long after. Thalia the Huntress. Grover the Lord of the Wild. Nico the Ghost King.

Well, in almost every case. Of course, she and I were still on the same path.

"Percy."

I stiffened a little, but mostly kept myself under control. I don't think I've ever heard her so hesitant before. Not saying my name, anyway.

"Chase."

"Can we talk?"

At that I turned and faced her.

"Why?" Was all I could bite out.

"I didn't know … I didn't know how to tell you, or when to tell you. Back when we first met, I didn't think it was going to be you – and even after I learned who your father was, I found myself hoping, wishing it wasn't you. We were already friends by then and I didn't want to lose you to it. And there were so many chances for it to be someone else – after we brought back the Fleece, I thought it would be Thalia. But to be honest, the real reason … I thought you'd leave. If you found out, and you thought it was your destiny … I didn't want to lose you."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Annabeth Chase, who'd been by my side as I'd fought a god, who'd kissed me goodbye in Mt. St. Helens, who'd helped me do a hundred stupid, crazy, impossible things … thought I was a coward. My best friend thought I was going to run away.

"You thought I was going to run away."

I don't think I've ever sounded more hollow. She had the decency to look ashamed.

"It's not like that, I … What if you'd wanted to give it all up? You have friends in the mortal world, something to live for there."

"So that's what this was about? Rachel?"

Her face darkened, and I felt a bit of vicious satisfaction. I can't be angry at a sad Annabeth. Much easier if we're both angry.

"Do you think I'm blind, Percy?"

I felt my blood go up.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know what the fuck I mean. The two of you. There's something there – and don't even try and pretend like there isn't."

"Considering you've apparently seen me 'run away' for the past four years, yes I do think you're blind. Or maybe stupid. Or both, Wise Girl."

We'd gotten closer – but also louder. I was crossing a line and I knew it – it's funny how a nickname can bitter and sweet in equal measure.

"Oh fuck off, Jackson. We both know you've run away from plenty before. As a matter of fact, I do think you're a coward. We showed you the prophecy and you couldn't wait 10 minutes before running out of the room scared."

"I'm glad you've finally got the guts to say it to my face. Bit hypocritical, don't you think? It only took you four years to get there. So I guess we're both cowards."

"Go fuck yourself."

As we had stood there, yelling, some part of my brain couldn't help but think … this is Annabeth. She's spent a whole life feeling unwanted, abandoned and left behind.

Her father, Luke – even Thalia, though she hadn't meant to, had left her behind twice. More importantly, this is Annabeth. I knew she'd always be it for me.

I took a breath, and my face scrunched up. Percy Jackson, the demigod of the prophecy – about to break down into tears because someone didn't like him. How pathetic.

"Don't you get what this feels like? I don't care that Chiron didn't tell me till now. I don't care what anyone else thinks. I can't be okay with you thinking this."

She looked shocked. I guess it made sense – while we were best friends, I'd never really been vulnerable with her on this level before. Not about herself.

The anger between us had dissolved into … something. Something less sharp, that couldn't cut as deep.

Now she took a breath.

"Listen, Percy, that got out of hand. I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for all of it. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, I'm sorry for not believing in you. I'm sorry I called you a coward – I don't think that, you're the bravest demigod I know. And the best. I'm so so—"

"You know I would have stayed, right?"

"What?"

I could see the thin sheen of tears over her eyes as she bit her lip. I sighed.

"If you'd told me … if I knew … I would've stayed here. I would've wanted to spend every minute of every day this summer with my best friend. I –"

She started sobbing,

I opened my arms and as I was letting her cry into me, I knew:

Annabeth Chase was, and would forever be, the love of my life

She'd thought she was going to lose me. She wanted to distance herself – to protect herself.

"Shh, hey, it's okay, it's okay Wise Girl."

Funny how a nickname can bitter and sweet in equal measure.

"I'm sorry Percy I, I didn't –,"

And now I was in tears too. For all we'd lost. For all we could've been.

"It's okay … I won't pretend I'm not hurt. But I get it. In your position, I'd have done the same thing."

She laughed through the sobs.

"Don't lie to me, Jackson. If you'd heard a prophecy about me dying, you'd have grabbed my hand, told the gods, Titans and Fates to fuck off, and not let go till you knew I was safe."

She was right. I would have. Even if that letting go meant giving up my own life.

"It doesn't matter now. It's okay. Whatever will happen will happen."

By this point she'd dwindled down to sniffles. I smiled. Annabeth was always a fighter – nothing kept her down for long.

I gently moved put some distance between us, I needed to look her in the eyes when I said it.

"Listen, Wise Girl, if I do die –"

"Percy!"

She cut me off sharply.

"No! No. Listen. If I do die … I want you to know something."

I wanted to tell her everything, how I loved her in every way possible, how being around her sometimes made me feel like there was a storm inside me. But I knew it wasn't the right time. I lowered my voice a little.

"If I do die … I want you to know now. I would not have rather had anyone by my side, for whatever the hell the last four years have been. You're my Wise Girl. I know people have made promises to you before but Annabeth Chase, I swear on the River Styx to you now. I will never leave you behind."

"Percy!"

Her voice was softer now, and full of shock. The clouds rumbled overhead as the Fates heard my vow.

"Percy … thank you."

I felt like she had more she wanted to say too – but I think she knew it wasn't the right time either. We still had a war to win. But as we looked in each other's eyes, we say the promise of something more.

And I knew I had to live to see it.