June 2019

"Congrats, you guys!" Piper said and raised her glass in a toast. "Annabeth, deep down we knew you would be Valedictorian but we're still happy for you. And Percy, we're glad you made it."

Percy grinned. "True, true, true."

"To Percy and Annabeth!" Piper said in a sing song voice. They all repeated the phrase and clinked glasses.

Piper, Jason, Percy, and Annabeth all sat around a table in a cheap New York style pizza joint. They were in California and it wasn't the same, but it was close. They had still dressed up and adorned themselves with fine accessories for the fun of it. They were graduating, after all.

"You two are so lucky," Jason said and took a sip out of his chipped glass. "Pipes and I still have a year left to go."

"I wouldn't wanna be you," Percy replied and shuddered.

Annabeth smiled. "Thanks for taking us out tonight."

"Of course! You two are graduating tomorrow, you deserve this," Piper said. "I still can't believe it. You two are, like, full fledged adults."

Annabeth laughed. "Yeah, right! We're the opposite. Last night someone dared Percy to eat a slice of pizza we found on the road."

"Did you do it?" Jason asked.

Percy blushed. "I'd prefer some privacy on this matter."

"You did not!" Piper yelled.

"Oh yes he did," Annabeth said, a wide grin appearing on her face. "No matter how much we objected."

"Let's stop shaming me, Miss Couch on Fire," Percy sneered.

All the color drained out of Annabeth's face.

"What?" Jason asked. "Annabeth, the responsible one! What happened?"

"Tell us! Tell us!" Piper and Jason chanted.

"I think we should get going," Annabeth said and started clearing their table. "So should we split the bill, or-?"

"Oh, come on," Percy said. "You can't not tell them now!"

"I can and I will," Annabeth said and smiled weakly. "Now, how are we covering the bill?"

"It's our treat," Jason said and picked up the bill. His eyes widened and he swallowed. "Uh... can we split it?"

Annabeth laughed. "Sure."

She paid their half and left a tip. "Ready to go?"

Percy took her hand and smiled. "Now let's get heading home. We need to actually stay awake tomorrow. Especially you, valedictorian."

"It's Miss Valedictorian to you," Annabeth replied. Percy rolled his eyes and stuck his hand in his pocket and gripped Riptide, which was in pen form. It was growing dark and Percy had a small worry of monsters in the back of his mind.

After a short walk they arrived back at the New Rome Campus. As they slipped into their dorm (they had convinced Reyna to let them share one) they noticed how empty it felt. Most of their stuff was packed in boxes or in a storage room somewhere where they were keeping their stuff until they found an apartment. They had applied for a few but no one had responded yet.

Annabeth slipped off her heels before heading into the bedroom. Percy followed her in.

"What ya up to?" he asked and crashed on the bed as Annabeth pulled out her computer.

"I'm practicing my speech," she replied matter of factly. "Please don't bug me too much."

"Me? Never!" Percy said as she sat up. She smiled before she started working. After a dedicated five seconds Percy was bored.

He stood up and stretched. Then he started pacing the room. Then he started to hum something. It started off as a small hum under his breathe that turned into a full concert.

"Could you stop?" Annabeth asked politely.

"Oh, sorry," Percy said and laughed. "I didn't even realize."

"Hmm," Annabeth replied as she deleted a portion of her speech.

"Am I in it?" he asked.

"In what?"

"The speech."

Annabeth sighed. "Yes, after I thank all my professors and wonderful education plan I marvel on about the miracle that is Percy."

"Seriously?" Percy asked skeptically.

Annabeth burst into laughter. "No!"

Percy stuck his tongue out at her before crashing on the bed again. Then his phone from the other room started ringing. He bolted up and ran to go get it.

"Hello?" he asked as he answered the phone.

"Is Annabeth with you?" his mom's familiar voice asked.

"No, but I can get her if you'd like," Percy said

"Is she busy?"

"Not at all."

He placed the phone on speaker and walked into their room.

"Congratulations!" a chorus of voices yelled. "This is Sally but Paul and Estelle are on, too!"

"Thank you guys!" Annabeth said and smiled.

"Thanks, where are you guys right now?" Percy asked.

"We just settled into our hotel," Sally responded. They had offered to find space in New Rome, but Sally, now a successful writer, could afford to stay at a luxury hotel nearby.

"We're excited to see you tomorrow," Paul said. "Estelle especially."

Estelle, Percy's five year old half sister, hadn't been to California yet as Percy and Annabeth often traveled back to New York. Since she was young she was over excited.

"We can't wait to see her," Percy said, a grin appearing on his face. He loved his younger sister more than almost anything. She was adorable and whenever he visited her his heart melted.

"Well, we better let you two get some rest," Sally said. "Big day tomorrow, especially you Annabeth! We can't wait to hear your speech!"

"I'm glad, Sally," Annabeth responded, a warm smile on her face.

"Bye!" Percy and Annabeth said in unison. Then Percy hung up and placed his phone down on the nightstand.

"Do you think I could get Leo to make me a new phone?" Percy asked as he examined his phone. "I've kinda cracked mine."

Leo, another demigod and friend of theirs, had made them phones that didn't attract monsters but could do the same as regular phones.

"Probably. Maybe it could be his graduation gift to you," Annabeth responded. "Now let me work."

"Alright, I will," Percy said. Then Annabeth's phone started ringing from her pocket. She took it from her pocket and read the name.

"It's my dad," she said. Percy nodded and left as she picked it up. "Hey, dad."

"Hello, Annabeth," Fredrick said. "So nice to hear from you. I just wanted to congratulate you on graduating."

"I haven't graduated yet," Annabeth said. "What are you still doing up? It's nearly midnight."

"I know you haven't graduated yet, I just want to wish you luck. Oh, and I could ask you the same thing," Fredrick replied. "Don't you have to be ready for your speech tomorrow? Get some sleep!"

"I will, dad," Annabeth promised. "You get some sleep, too. Don't fall asleep during my speech."

"I won't, I won't," he promised. "Well, get some rest. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, dad," she replied and hung up the phone.

After a few more dedicated minutes Annabeth couldn't stand being alone again. She missed Percy, even though his bugging was relentless.

"Percy!" Annabeth called sweetly. "Could you come here for a moment?"

"Why?" Percy called back, his mouth full.

"I want to practice my speech in front of you!"

Percy sighed and made his way to the bedroom, still clutching a bowl of ice cream. He sat down and Annabeth started.

Percy tried to focus on the speech but he couldn't. His mind quickly got distracted on Annabeth's beautiful appearance.

"So?" she asked as she finished. "What did you think?"

"Amazing, ten out of ten," he replied.

Annabeth smiled. "You're ridiculous, Seaweed Brain."

"And that's why you love me."