final chapter, just want to say thank you for all the reads! it's been so fun writing this:)

"What the hell happened to you?" Percy asked. Annabeth walked over to Thalia slowly, who looked up at the two with wide, embarrassed eyes. The usual electricity in her blue irises were gone and in their place was a sadness so unlike Thalia that Annabeth could've mistaken her for a different person.

"Just leave me the fuck alone," she barked.

"I'm not leaving."

"Annabeth-"

"What happened, Thalia?" There was a beat of quiet in the room, Percy's eyes flickering between his cousin and Annabeth. The only sound was the creak of the bed when Annabeth sat down next to Thalia on it.

"Y-You got your fucking wish, okay? I caught Luke with some other girl. They were making out at..." She broke down sobbing, so horribly that her head fell into Annabeth's arms, where she hugged her, all past fights forgotten.

"Hey, shhh, it's going to be okay."

"N-No it's not," Thalia choked out. "I was such a fucking slut, Annabeth. How could I date my best friend's ex? And now..." She looked up at Percy. "I lost all three of you. I really thought he had changed."

"You haven't lost anybody," Annabeth said, surprising even herself. Thalia sat up, looking her in the eyes. "I know how Luke can be."

No one said anything for a few moments before the two girls embraced in a hug. Nothing needed to be said; they knew that the fight was over. Percy shifted on his feet awkwardly.

"Hey, and..." Thalia said, pulling back, "I fully support you guys. It was stupid and childish of me to say you two couldn't be together. I see how happy you are, and honestly, you both deserve each other. I'll be here every step of the way." Hearing those words from her made Annabeth's heart soar. She got the feeling that...maybe everything would be okay.

Percy walked over to them and gave Thalia a fist-bump. He kissed Annabeth's cheek and they all smiled at each other. 

Yeah. Everything would definitely be okay.

***

Percy really hoped this would work.

It was a few days after they'd all made up, and Thalia pointed out that neither him or Annabeth had actually asked the other one out. He decided to do something big, partially because he was a huge romantic, but mainly because Annabeth deserved the world.

Percy texted Thalia to bring Annabeth out to the shore just as he finished writing be. He continued using the stick to finish writing my GF and a question mark. He added a heart just 'cause. He stepped back to admire his work.

Will you be my GF? It read. He heard a gasp and turned around, ecstatic.

Annabeth was wearing a white blouse and jean shorts along with her usual back high tops, but she looked like a goddess. Percy's heart almost popped out of his chest when he saw the look on her face.

And then he heard the sound of a wave, and turned just in time to see his writing washed away by the water.

"Fuck!" he cried. "No, no, no. I fucking suck." He felt a hand slip into his own.

"Hey, at least I read it," Annabeth said. "And, for the record, yes." When she kissed him, he felt like he was flying, which was weird because he was usually terrified to fly. But this—this felt fucking amazing. He held her face in his hands and heard the click of a camera. They separated to see Thalia with a polaroid in her hand and a smirk on her face.

"I'll let you have your moment," she winked, starting to walk back to the house. When she was out of earshot, Percy was going to say something cheesy like, "where were we?" but Annabeth must have anticipated it because she crashed her lips into his before he could. He wasn't exactly complaining, though.

As Percy stood on the beach kissing Annabeth, he told himself it wouldn't be easy. With a girl as amazing as Annabeth, he would definitely have to get through some shit, but he knew it was worth it. She was worth it. He remembered a time where she had told him all about how she loved architecture, and made a silent promise to take her to Rome someday to see the Colosseum. Maybe if it was late enough in the future, he could even propose there.

((Percy kept his promise.))

This was really fucking fun to write, and I'll be entering it into the 2019 Wattys :)

thank you for everything, seriously

-reyna