(A/N: There are some quotes directly from the book that I changed a bit to fit the story better, sooo... keep that in mind.

I don't own these books, I'm not creative (or old enough) to have done that. Thanks!)

ANNABETH POV:

"But you'll be killed!" I argued with Percy. There was no way I would let him stay alone here against all these monsters in a freaking volcano. He was not only my best friend, but I loved him so much. I don't know what I'd do if he got hurt.

"I'll be fine. Besides, we've got no choice." he responded.I glared at him, hatred bubbling up inside of me. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stay angry at him. The anger would get intense, then die down as I saw his sad, scared eyes. He was just as nervous as I was. I just had to trust that he could get out of here alive. As I looked into his eyes, I got a weird feeling inside of me, and before I could stop myself, I kissed him.

In my head, I was screaming "You idiot, did you just kiss him!?" But now I just had to act casual and roll with it. "Be careful, Seaweed Brain." I said. He looked like he'd just seen a ghost, his eyes wide and his face pale… I guess I caught him off guard. I put on my Yankees cap and vanished. I looked back once and saw him start to regain his wits and start forming a plan in his mind. Maybe he'd be okay. Maybe.

I followed the spider back to Hephaestus and told him what was going on, and finally I made it out of the Labyrinth. I took a plane back to Manhattan, and the entire time I was nervous that Zeus might strike me out of the sky, but yet I made it back alive. When I got back to camp everyone seemed to be talking about something serious. The mood of the whole place seemed off. Chiron galloped toward. "Annabeth! Great to see you back! Where is… where is the rest of your group?"

"Well…Tyson and Grover went off on a separate quest when Grover claimed he felt the presence of Pan. Percy is at one of Hephaestus's forges working on some stuff."

"Oh, okay."

"Hey, what's going on? Something around here seems a little off…" I asked. Chiron swallowed.

"Well, there has been a recent eruption at Mount Saint Helens, just a few hours ago, and that meansTyphon is stirring…"

"Wait. At Mount Saint Helens?"

"Yes, child."

"No. Oh gods, no. Chiron, that's where Percy was at!" I collapsed on my knees. This couldn't be happening. Percy was my best friend, my whole life. I couldn't lose him. I just couldn't. I started to cry. Yes, it was embarrassing to cry in front of Chiron, but the guy I loved was inside of a volcano when it erupted. No, not "loved", "love". I had to keep hope that he would be okay. I can't lose faith in him. I watched as Chiron's face shifted to sadness.

"He couldn't have survived that. No matter how strong he is, he can't survive something like that."

"Stop! Just stop!" I yell. "We can't give up hope. He'll be fine." I knew Chiron thought I was wrong, but still. How can you just give up on a best friend; an amazing and strong demigod? No way. But a week passed by, and I knew that it was over. He hadn't returned. I spent my days crying, not talking to anyone. I had worked so hard to gain him as a friend, when I usually can't accept people. He was the first person I had grown to love… romantically. I started to imagine our future together. Yes, I know that cliche, but I didn't care. I'd found someone worth loving, someone that wouldn't abandon me like Luke did. But now… no. I couldn't think about it. He was going to come back. I knew he would.

Chiron escorted me into the Big House, leading me into a room with a single computer– the only technology we could risk without monsters coming to attack us. He opened a news report. I saw a news reporter come on screen. "San Francisco had a devastating volcanic eruption just a few hours ago this morning. We have first responders evacuating the city because air conditions aren't safe. The eruption was catastrophic, and there have been 5 deaths reported of tourists near the volcano at the time of eruption. There may be more. We send our hope to the city of San Francisco, and we're waiting to hear more." There was a video of the eruption. I started to tear up seeing the smoke and lava, knowing that's where Percy was. But there was the chance he wasn't in the volcano the time it erupted. I just don't know for sure…

"We have to hope that Percy returns within a few weeks. If not… Well then, we would have to pronounce him dead. I'm sorry, Annabeth." Chiron said. I grit my teeth. No way could he be dead. He's stronger than that. But still… he's human- sort of- and humans can't survive heat and lava like that. I didn't know what to think. But he must've known that it would happen. He told me to go. Maybe he was trying to protect me. I'm not sure. One week passed, and still there was no sign of Percy. That's when it hit me. He wasn't coming back. He was dead.

I started to cry. Again. I knew it was over. I was completely alone. I'd finally made a friend, a potential romantic partner, but now he was gone. It was like the world wanted me to be lonely and depressed. I would never see his smile again. His amazing bravery, his trouble-maker eyes- I couldn't see that anymore. He was gone for good. I knew it in my heart, but I still didn't tell Chiron that. He suggested we burn his shroud- he knew he wasn't coming back too. But I wasn't ready for that. But then another week passes.

"I'm sorry, Annabeth, but he's not coming back."

"No. I don't believe you… I… we can't just give up on him that easily. He's our only hope!"

"And your only hope."

"W- what?"

"I can tell, Annabeth. Ever since Luke betrayed you, you've been broken inside. Percy keeps you sane. You've lost so much… you don't know if you could stand losing another person you love, to death or to the enemy."

That's when I completely broke. He was right. I knew he was right. About Percy, about me. I hated that he could know such a thing about me, such a secret… but he did. I guess training heroes for years really taught him something about emotions.

"I-is…" when I heard my voice it didn't sound like my own, more like some heartbroken teenage girl's voice. "Is there nothing else we can do?"

"I'm sorry, Annabeth. It's too dangerous to look for him in the volcano, we could get hurt or die. And besides, with that kind of explosion… we probably won't even find him."

"How are we supposed to win the battle against the Titans without him?"

"As a team, Annabeth. Always as a team."

"Please, Chiron. You know Percy, just as I do. He's done the impossible. If he can hold the sky, he can survive a volcanic eruption."

"That's really not how it works, Annabeth."

"Why not?!"

"Ehm…those are two very different things. One is achievable with strength and effort, once is inevitable death. A death you cannot prevent."

I finally told Chiron to plan Percy's shroud burning, and walked off dejectedly, having just lost an argument.

An argument that proves my best friend is dead.

The next day was beautiful, with the sun shining, and not a single cloud in the sky. Long Island Sound was calm, and all seemed well with the world. Except for the giant gaping hole in my heart. The whole camp seemed down, now knowing that the person they considered their leader- the person they looked up to more than anything- was dead. He had been killed in a volcanic eruption at Mount Saint Helens. And there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. Whenever there had been a problem in my life, I had always been able to come up with a plan to solve it. I was a child of Athena after all. But I could never bring Percy to life.

Sure, I could march down to the underworld and scream at Hades to release him back into the above world, but he would never agree. The only thing I would accomplish is getting myself killed, and that wouldn't help me at all. But you would be with Percy. I told myself. No. I was not going to go on a suicide mission just to get myself killed and see Percy again. Stop thinking that way! You can't solve any problems by just giving up and getting yourself killed! Not all for a son of Poseidon! I finally pushed thoughts of death out of my head and wandered around.

Few campers were outside. The conch horn for breakfast would sound in 5 minutes. I sat on the beach, imagining Percy suddenly appearing out of the water with his signature smirk.

"Miss me, Annabeth?"

"Yes. More than you'll ever know, or should ever find out."

And I'd smile, and we'd go back to being best friends, just as it always was. But did I really want it to be that way? If Percy came back, would I only want to be his friend? Or something more?

I couldn't deny my feelings for him. But I couldn't admit them either. It's like being trapped in the middle, not saying you don't love him, but not saying you do. My mind was thinking other things. I knew I loved him. But I couldn't ever tell him. I knew that he only thought of me as a friend. How could he possibly think of me any other way? Most of all, why did I care so much? Percy is the son of Poseidon, and my mom's Athena. How could I miss someone who's supposed to be my sworn enemy? I was supposed to be thinking with my brain, not my heart. And yet, all I do is the opposite with Percy. I never think. I don't use logic. Percy's dead. That's a fact. And yet I can't say it. I can't even bear the thought of my best friend being gone. The only thought that puts me a little bit at ease is him being in Elysium. Seeing his fallen friends, wandering the beautiful fields. He deserved it. But he deserved being on Earth even more.

I finally heard the sound of the conch horn, and I headed to the dining Pavilion. All around the tables, campers stared at their food and said nothing, paying respect and honor to their fallen leader. Mourning the death of their best friend and noble warrior. The newest campers looked around, seemingly confused on the low spirits, but going along with it and remaining silent. And they were wise to do so. Much to everyone's surprise, I sat at the Poseidon table. Clarisse joined me. Then Silena, the Stolls, Will Solace, Katie, Miranda, and Malcolm. Silena smiled sadly at me.

"How are you holding up?"

"What do you mean?"

"He was your best friend."

"And? I've had a best friend leave me before."

"I saw the way he looked at you."

"So?"

"And I saw the way you looked at him."

I stayed silent. I didn't know what to say. She put an arm around my shoulder.

"No matter how much you don't like to admit it, Annabeth, you loved him. And you miss him."

"Look, Silena. Am I sad that Percy's dead? Yes. But I'll move on, just like I did with Luke betraying me."

"You have not moved on from the betrayal of Luke, Annabeth. I know you know that."

"Whatever, Silena." I hated that she knew all about me, just because she was the daughter of Aphrodite.

"Hey, Prissy was annoying anyway." Clarisse mocked, smirking a little. Malcolm elbowed her in the stomach, hard, and then turned to me.

"It'll get better, Annabeth. You can deny all feeling for him now, and that's okay. We all know that you loved him, and honestly we all did too. He's done so much for us."

I ignored his words of encouragement and turned to Clarisse.

"You always say all these horrible things about Percy, but I know you care for him at least somewhat. He's done so much for all of us, and that includes you. Could you say something nice about him for once? He's dead now, Clarisse. You won't have to even speak of him ever again, but you don't have the heart to say something nice about him once, while the whole camp is mourning his death?" I fumed. I left the pavilion feeling stares of pity, and one set of eyes glaring daggers at my back. Namely, Clarisse.

I walked into Percy's cabin, and it was just the same as it had always been: clothes strewn across his bed, and was honestly just a complete mess. And it was so him, I wanted to cry. On the wall next to his bunk were several pictures taped to the wall. Him and his friends from school; him and Rachel (I hate her), him and his mom and Paul; him and his friends from camp. And of course: him and me. Us on the beach, us sparring, us on movie night, just us doing everything we used to be doing.

It used to be us.

And now it's just me.

Time passed so quickly, and all the sudden I heard the conch horn for lunch. I skipped it. I couldn't go back in there. I just couldn't see all the pitying and sad looks of the other campers. As the day got closer and closer to the time of Percy's memorial, I felt more and more hopeless. Percy didn't appear. And he wouldn't, either. I knew that in my mind and in my heart.

Then it came. The ceremony I had dreaded ever since I'd heard the news of the eruption at Mount Saint Helens. Chiron stood up to the podium in the amphitheater. Percy's shroud lay on the ground next to him: a blue piece of fabric embroidered with a trident.

"Today I regret to inform you that Percy Jackson has been declared dead. He was a noble leader and loyal friend. There are very few heroes that really catch my eye over the years, and Percy was one of them. He didn't just fight because he had to, he fought because he wanted to. And because he honestly cared for the cause he was fighting for. Of course his happy-go-lucky and humorous personality was the most memorable thing about him. He stayed happy and put everyone before him, despite all he's been through. No one at this camp will ever forget you, Percy." After Chiron spoke, I was surprised to see Clarisse go up to the podium. I prayed to the gods that she wouldn't say something cruel or stupid at Percy's freaking memorial, but how much can I really expect of her?

"Despite how much I have shown that I despise Percy, he has done a lot for our camp. He has been nice to me several times, and I'm embarrassed to admit what he did to help me last summer, so I won't. Percy's a better guy than he gets credit for, honestly. He's forever the Persassy of this camp, I guess you'd say." I was surprised to say that Clarisse's speech was somewhat nice. I figured she'd done that so I'd forgive her for what she said about Percy this morning. Or maybe, under all the hatred she had, she actually had a heart.

I was up next, and I had never been so nervous of making a speech in my entire life. He was my best friend. This was supposed to be easy for me. But it wasn't. I walked up to the podium, still contemplating what to say. I knew I probably looked horrible, as I'd been crying for the past 2 weeks. But I really didn't care. Finally, I said weakly, "He was probably the bravest friend I've ever had. He.." That's when I saw a pair of sea-green eyes looking at me from the back of the room. Was that really him? Or was I just hallucinating? "He's right there!"

All the campers turned toward him, completely stunned. I saw Beckondorf jump up. "Percy!" He shouted. All the campers circled around him. I felt myself surge toward him shoving through the crowd of awe-struck half-bloods.

"Well," I heard Chiron say with relief, "I don't believe I've ever been happier to see a camper return. But you must tell me-" I interrupted Chiron mid-sentence.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" I aggressively hugged him, feeling a sense of pure happiness and relief to see him return, but also pure anger for making me feel hopeless and sad and lonely the past two weeks. Every camper around us fell silent. "I- we thought you were dead, Seaweed Brain." I shoved him away from me, a little embarrassed by the looks I got from the demigods surrounding us.

"I'm sorry." He said, his eyes sparked with amusement, and a little bit of nervousness. "I got lost."

"LOST?" I yelled. "Two weeks, Percy? Where in the world-" Now it was Chiron's turn to interrupt me.

"Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere more private, shall we? The rest of you, back to your normal activities!" He picked up Percy and I, like we weighed nothing, and galloped toward the Big House. Percy told us his story, and I felt myself calm down, but I still was a bit shaken up from Percy's sudden appearance.

"You've been gone two weeks. When I heard about the explosion, I thought-" Percy interrupted me.

"I know. I'm sorry. But I figured out how to get through the labyrinth. I talked to Hephaestus."

"He told you the answer?" He told us his idea. I hated it, to say the least. Why did everything have to include that Rachel girl? He was right, but no way was I going to admit that to him.

"Percy, that's crazy!" I said.

Chiron sat back. "There is precedent, however. Theseus had the help of Ariadne. Harriet Tubman, daughter of Hermes, used many mortals on her Underground Railroad for just this reason."

"But this is my quest. I need to lead it." I knew I was being self-centered, but I couldn't just let that girl Rachel go and take my quest from me.

Chiron looked uncomfortable. "My dear, it is your quest. But you need help." Did I need help? Yes. Did I care? No.

"And this is supposed to help? Please! It's wrong. It's cowardly. It's-"

"Hard to admit we need a mortal's help." Percy spoke. "But it's true." I hated when he was right. So what did I do? Deny, deny, deny. I would not be involved with Rachel. I glared at him.

"You are the single most annoying person I have ever met." And with that, I stormed out. How's that for a warm welcome? I would get a D-, if it were a graded activity. I felt bad about being mean to Percy, but honestly what kind of idea was that? And why did it have to include Rachel Dare?

But either way Percy was back now. Little did I know at the time, Rachel was no competition to worry about. Percy was already mine, even though I didn't know it yet. I may have just angrily stormed back to my cabin because of one thing Percy said, and I hated it was because of how much I loved him, and how jealous I was of the girl that Percy had taken a fascination to. Now, looking back on it, this specific time in my life really made me realize how much I loved and cared for Percy, and I'm glad it happened. Without these events, maybe Percy and I wouldn't have been together today.

Who knows?