Percy

Annabeth and I raced back to my apartment, in excitement for our friend to be there waiting for us. I still had to tell Annabeth about the whole thing with the styx, but I wasn't planning on seeing her. I was afraid that she would just casually bring it up, but I didn't think Annabeth would be too mad.
I decided I might as well tell her now, with Thalia being the blabber mouth she is.
"Hey Annabeth," I said grabbing her at the elbow to slow us down to walking speed, "I need to talk to you, but I couldn't tell you in front of everyone in the school." I started.
"What did you do?" Annabeth asked knowing I probably screwed up again, or something crazy.
"Ummmmm, I don't really know how to say this, but the other day, I got an iris message from camp."
"Is something wrong?" she asked worried now that her Athenian brain was putting together Thalia's important call and my iris message.
"It's okay now, Nico, Thalia and I fixed it-kinda- but we had to go back to the underworld."
"Why didn't you take me with you?"
"I thought you were in California, because I haven't heard from you. but anyways, you know how I told you about the whole thing with hades and his sword? Yeah, he was using it against the gods. We had to go back down to the underworld, because apparently, when you make the god of the underworld swear on a river in the underworld, it doesn't take much effort to break the vow. So, the children of the big three had to talk Persephone into getting him away from the sword so that we can take it. long story short- I had to back into the Styx so that I could survive sword fighting with one of the big three."
Annabeth punched me in the stomach, and when I didn't flinch, she laughed. "the only reason, I'm mad is because I didn't get to see that, so now you owe me."
"I knew you would understand." I said throwing my arm around her walking back home. I stopped in my tracks. "we're going the wrong way" I said with frustration putting my face in my free hand. "don't worry, I live in that apartment building" Annabeth said pointing to my apartment complex. a wave of realization and embarrassment flashed over her eyes. "I guess even I have blond moments" Annabeth said taken aback. "I live in the apartment across from you."
We both laughed until we got to the staircase.
"I forgot to do this earlier" I said before kissing her passionately. she automatically kissed me back, our lips moving in perfect sync. sure, I gave her a few kisses in between classes, but none of them meant as much to me as this one. I was absolutely in heaven with her here and no monsters attacking.

I spoke to soon.

"No time for chit-chat, gotta catch it!" said a black and silver blur putting an arrow in place to fire.
"I didn't see anything." I said confused, Thalia would most likely be chasing a monster, but there isn't one in sight.
Then we heard a howl. We bombarded through the doors and ran upstairs to the source of the sound, Annabeth with her dagger and me with riptide- sword form- in hand.
Thalia was standing over a small hell hound. The hellion was about as tall as Thalia's bow with red slashes all over its back, looking like it was bleeding red glow.
"It. Was. fast." Thalia said panting, putting up her bow. Annabeth and I started to do the same with our weapons and went through the usual "how did it go?" Routine. we didn't have to ask if she was hurt, she rarely ever was. It slowly started fading to golden dust as we walked away, strange, but we didn't think much of it.
We walked up to Annabeth's apartment and sat down on her sandy, leather couch.
"How's mortal school?" She asked us.
"Dramatic" "boring" we said at the same time.
"Don't be to specific" she said sarcastically. Annabeth and I silently agreed not to talk about school to much, knowing we would rather be at camp, and if we talked about it, Thalia would think we like it and would tell Chiron to send us to college after this year. I mean, school is nice, and it makes me feel normal, but camp is where I belong. I was born for swordplay.