Previously in Half Blood High~~

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

"But I know you're in good hands. With… with Percy." Luke breathed out. "Annabeth. Take care."

He closed his eyes and Annabeth heard the monitor beep faster. And faster.

And then it stopped.

Annabeth sat outside the room with Thalia and Percy. The rest of the gang had left. There was still school in the morning. Thalia had called her father about Luke, Percy had his mother's permission to stay with the girls and Annabeth had called Luke's father, Hermes.

When Hermes heard the news, he came immediately. He was a doctor in the next town, but he managed to get to Half Blood hospital within an hour. He had been in the room for a while now, and nobody wanted to tell him to leave. His weeping was silent but it proved that he did truly love Luke.

Annabeth blinked hard. Her eyes felt so swollen and puffy. She looked like a total mess.

After a couple more hours, the sun was rising, and doctors wheeled Luke's covered body out of the ICU. When Hermes finally came out, he looked at the three kids and gave them a small, sad smile.

"Thank you, Annabeth. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too Dr.," Annabeth started.

"Luke was emancipated about 3 years ago... and I know you guys were close with my son, but I will be burying him in the town I'm living in, where the rest of his family lies." Hermes looked away for a brief second, then gave them a small nod, and left.

Thalia cried again, and Percy led the girls out.

•

Annabeth and Thalia didn't go to school. Zues "Okay"ed it, so Percy stayed with them. They walked Thalia to her dorm, hugged her, then Percy and Annabeth headed to Annabeth's dorm.

She slowly opened her door and walked in slowly, Percy holding her hand.

"Annabeth, you should get some sleep." Percy said caringly. Annabeth gave him a weak nod and headed to her room. "Go change and brush your teeth, I'll make you some tea."

But Annabeth didn't move. She stayed with him. She watched Percy let go of her hand slowly, walk over to her cabinets and open each one, finding the tea bags. When he found an Earl Grey, he got a cup, poured in some boiling water and put the tea bag in carefully. Ever so often, he'd look back and see Annabeth watching him with empty eyes.

Those grey eyes he had grown to love so much were so dead right now. The sparkle she usually had wasn't there. Her eyelids were puffy and half closed. Her long, thick eyelashes drooped slightly; they didn't have their usual curls. And her cheeks were colorless when they were usually a rosy pink. Her lips were chapped and pale. Her hair was wild and messy. Half the hair was falling out of the ponytail, and the crinkled white t-shirt she had on was stained.

Andy Percy thought she still looked absolutely beautiful. He extended his arm, giving her the tea. She took small sips out of it and when she had finally drained the cup, she sat and stared into nothingness.

"I don't think it's really hit me until now… that Luke…. Luke is…. He's gone. Forever." Annabeth almost whispered. But she had run out of tears. Percy got up and hugged her, then carried her into her bedroom. She lay there sniffling and feeling helpless as she watched Percy pick out a pair of bright green Hollister shorts and an oversized black hello kitty shirt.

"I should take a shower. It might make me feel better." Annabeth murmured and Percy nodded. While she showered, he took her clothes to the laundry room and set them to wash. Then he went back to her dorm, washed the tea cup and straightened her room.

As he walked around, he noticed lot's of stuffed owls sitting on shelves. The shelves were mostly filled with books. Tons of books. Percy wanted to smile, but then his eye caught something else. Photo frames were sitting all over the tables and cabinets. There were a couple photos of Annabeth and her step brothers at LA Disneyland… there was one of Thalia and Annabeth in Halloween costumes, making faces and laughing at each other… a couple of her mother and father and a photo of Luke, Thalia and Annabeth when they were a lot younger. Luke didn't even have the scar yet. The three of them had wide grins. Luke's was more kind, Thalia looked positively impish and Annabeth looked like an overly excited kid. The three of them stood in front of the Half Blood Middle School.

"I remember that day." Annabeth's voice called from right next to him. Percy jumped a little. Annabeth was too tired to make fun of him. "We were best friends, the three of us. But I was the baby of the group. The two of them were a lot closer, but we always had good times. Them pranking other kids and me just following them. They were good days."

Percy turned, expecting tears in her eyes, but instead she was smiling the same way as she did in the photo, years ago.

"Luke doesn't want us to cry about his death. I know he'd rather we celebrate his life." Annabeth said, side hugging Percy. He couldn't help it and turned to face her directly and wrapped her up in his arms tight. He didn't even care that her hair was dripping wet.

"You are amazing, you know that?" He breathed into her hair, smelling it. It smelled of coconuts and lime.

They stood like that for a while until Percy felt Annabeth's legs buckling. He swopped her up into his arms and carried her to bed. He tucked her into her covers and looked at her bedside table. There was a photo of him and Annabeth at the town fair a couple days before the New Years Party.

"Hey. It's us." He picked up the photo and smiled.

"Yeah. It was a great day." Annabeth said, smiling too.

-Flashback-

"Oh my gods! That was fun." Annabeth laughed, tripping over her feet. Percy caught her in his strong arms, laughing with her.

"Dude, I was just about ready to puke! It was way too fast and loopy for me." Percy exclaimed. "I don't understand your definition of fun."

"Hahaha. Oh, gosh! Look over there. It's the snapshot of the ride." Annabeth said, pointing to a screen. Percy had his terrified green eyes wide open, his nostrils flared and his mouth wide open. His hands gripped the handle of the cart tightly. Annabeth in contrast, was laughing next to him, her hands in the air. Her blonde curls loose and flying behind her. Her cheeks were flushed and her nose was scrunched a little from excitement.

They had later bought giant cotton candy clouds and were walking over to another ride when a photographer popped out of nowhere and snapped a couple candid shots of them. Later, before they were leaving, the photographer caught up with them and handed them a printed copy of the photo of the two of them from earlier.

"A gift. I couldn't help but take a photo of the happy couple. Have a great day!" The photographer said, smiling cheekily.

"We're not—"

"We aren't—"

"Oh whatever. She left." Annabeth said, chuckling. Then they looked at the photo. The two of them were walking side by side, with the right foot in front of the left. Annabeth was holding fluffy pink floss and Percy had blue. He was saying something to Annabeth while Annabeth ripped some of her cotton candy to eat, but she was laughing. They did look like a couple. But neither of them said that. "I'll be keeping this." Annabeth smiled and put the photo carefully into her bag.

-Flash forward.-

The two sat in silence, looking at the photo, reminiscing that day.

"I… I should go now." Percy said quietly, getting off her bed.

"N-no. Stay, Percy." Annabeth reached over and grabbed his arm. So Percy willingly obliged. He kicked off his shoes and climbed into the sheets. He lay facing the ceiling and Annabeth had turned onto her side, her right arm on his taut stomach. Pretty soon, Percy heard her breathing slow down and become soft snores.

And Percy realized, moments like these were to be cherished, because before you know it, it'll be too late to make the memories. Rather, have fun and make the best of every waking moment of you life.

He tightened his arms around her and fell asleep too.

•

"Percy."

"Mmmph."

"Percy, wake up."

"Let me sleep for a while more, mom." Percy murmured, half asleep, tightening his arms around something and moving his head into a comfortable nook.

"Percy! You're hurting me. You're squeezing me too tight!" Percy bolted up from the laying position he had been in.

"Annabeth! Oh gods! I'm so sorry. Are you okay? I'm sorry." He said worriedly.

"Calm down, Seaweed brain. I was kidding." Annabeth laughed. Then her laughter faded out.

"Thinking?" Percy asked, rubbing her arm.

"Yeah." She sighed. "It's real. It really happened." Annabeth lay her head on Percy's chest. The two of them stayed there, Percy comforting her.

He later left when Annabeth told him his breathe stunk and she need to get ready for school.

Chuckling, Percy asked "Hey, let's go for dinner today. 'Kay?"

Annabeth smiled. "See ya later Seaweed brain."

•

After he had left, Annabeth changed, ate cereal and a banana and got ready for school. But she still had about 45 minutes before 1st period. So she grabbed a piece of paper and started writing.

Dear Luke,

I'd just like to say sorry first though.

Sorry, Luke Castellan. I'm so sorry we didn't get to spend enough time together. I'm sorry you had suffered so much in life. I'm sorry you didn't tell me about it so that I could've helped you. I'm sorry about May and Hermes. I'm sorry that you were so sad. I'm sorry that it led you to where you are today. And I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you when you needed me most.

I was a horrible girlfriend, I know. But I think I was a good friend. We had so many good memories. We shared a lot of fun times together. I remember when we first met. You and Thalia were running away from your homes and I was at the playground. And then I thought you guys were playing spy, so I asked to join in. You and Thalia stopped and pretended to be doing what I thought ya'll were doing. It was sweet that you stopped what you were doing and opened up your time for me, a mere stranger.

And then you guys realized you missed you families and went home. I'm glad I helped with that. But I'm mostly glad that we met. I'm so happy we became friends.

Remember you, Thalia and me running around, pranking kids. Well, I know it was mostly you and Thalia. But I was an accomplice. I would be the innocent face that distracted teachers while you two worked your mischief.

By the way, Hermes came over to see you. But you were away. I just wanted to let you know.

Anyway, about your last words to me, thank you for the blessing. Thank you for letting me go. This sounds so incredibly cliché and cheesy, and I know I spent years making fun of movie characters for these kind of lines, but I guess I understand them now: Luke, you'll live on forever in my heart.

Luke, you've only been gone for a couple hours, but I miss you so much already. But at the same time, I'm overjoyed that we spent those last hours together. I love you so much Luke. Thalia is your family. I'm your family. The crazy lunch gang and the football team is your family. You do have a family who loves you.

Knowing you, you're probably watching over me in Elysium. Like a guardian angle. You've always been my protector and my rock. I guess I'll have to find a new person to be clingy with. Say sorry to them for me in advance. Haha jokes.

Thank you for all the great times, Luke.

I'll see ya soon Scar-face (:,

Grey Eyes

Reviews please! xoxo

BTW I won't be upload very fast because I've got a unit test in Biology coming up! Sorry! But I hope you'll like the chapter 3