PERCY

It was my first day back after I had food poisoning. I had half a block of ambrosia so I was better, but they wouldn't let me come back to school. I got a message from Nico. he had to take me to the underworld with Thalia for an emergency. Hades was using his sword against the gods. I was NOT happy to be back there again. without Annabeth there to keep me from doing something stupid, I almost died. Nico was sure to take every precaution to keep me alive. he said I had been through too much to just die in the underworld when I had been through much worse. next thing I know, Nico has got me wadding into the Styx. "You can't die here. We've already seen Annabeth going into depression whenever you were missing, imagine what would happen if you died." he told me. so I jumped in and did the same thing as last time. but now, the experience was different. instead of seeing Annabeth pull me out of the lake, I saw every single time we kissed, hugged, and told each other how much we loved each other. I saw the future, Annabeth and I getting married, our kids playing together by a Christmas tree, it was beautiful, I wished it lasted longer but I couldn't breath anymore, I was sinking. I grabbed the edge of the river and felt Nico and Thalia pull me out. We fell on the ground to catch our breath.

<<>>

I tried my hardest to get my mom to let me stay home, but she wouldn't give in. So Paul took me to school and we did our usual routine. me, avoiding Mira- some chick that bullies everybody and wants to date me but no one likes her and she is only friends with new kids because they don't know her - and Paul, going into the teachers lounge to get his morning cup of coffe. everything is different now that I have the curse of Achilles back. I wasn't as tired, when I would occasionally stub my toe, I had to fake pain. it was better with it, I felt more at home, like I was more connected to my Greek side.

Then Matt came to talk to me at my locker. "what are you thinking about?" he asked me. "yesterday, and a few other things." "I won't even ask." Matt said with his hands up in surrender. "So what's with that weird tattoo on your arm?" he asked. "when I was sixteen, I hit a rebellious streak." I answered. "that explains why you were out of school for most of the year last year."

We walked into first hour and took our seats when she sat in the seat in front of me. She had blond, curly hair and that's all I needed.

I whispered, "Annabeth?"