"Smile!"

Cameras flashed as Percy threw an arm around Annabeth and leaned in to kiss her, taking off his mortarboard. The other students whooped and catcalled but Percy and Annabeth, lost in the moment, ignored them. Sally smiled, wiping a stray tear from a corner of her eye as Paul put an arm around her waist. Next to her, Dr. Frederick Chase stood with his wife and sons, looking on with approval.

"I did it, mom!" Percy said, pumping a fist in the air as he made his way back to Sally. "Can you believe it? I actually graduated!" He gave a shout of laughter.

"Calm down, Seaweed Brain. You still have four more years of college," Annabeth pointed out, folding her arms and smirking at her boyfriend.

"Aw, come on, Wise Girl. Was that necessary?"

Sally hugged her son. "I'm so proud of you," she said, as Percy relaxed into her embrace.

Annabeth turned to her father, who patted her on the shoulder and nodded. "Baby steps, Annabeth. First high school, then college. You will learn a lot in college, trust me."

Mrs. Chase leaned forwards and pulled Annabeth into a quick, awkward hug. Annabeth had chosen to attend Goode High with Percy and put up at the Blofis-Jackson household. Thus, she hardly saw her father and the rest of his family, who were in San Francisco, though she did write to him often.

"Four years of college in New Rome doesn't seem so bad, though," Percy said, as he and Annabeth took a stroll around Goode. They hadn't exactly completely enjoyed their time there, what with the frequent monster attacks, but they had had each other and thatwas good enough. "I mean, four years with no monsters! How awesome is that?" Percy's green eyes shone.

Annabeth didn't reply. She lowered herself onto a bench, a distant look in her stormy grey eyes. Percy flopped onto the seat next to her and gave her a small nudge. "Hey, what's up?"

Annabeth's brows drew together. "The college in New Rome," she said. "I've never really thought about it up till now, but do you think they would accept just about anyone? What if they have a special selection criteria, and if we don't fulfill those, we wouldn't gain admission even if we were demigods? Plus, we're Greeks."

"Nah, there won't be such a thing," Percy said, waving a hand dismissively. "Besides, even if there is, I'm pretty sure you would meet all the criteria."

"We don't know-"

"Hey." Percy sat up and looked at Annabeth. "If you don't meet whatever criteria they have, then I'm betting three-quarters of the entire University of New Rome do not belong there."

Annabeth smiled. "Thanks, Percy. Anyway, have you decided on what you're going to take?"

Percy grinned. "Sur-"

Annabeth gave him a look. "Not a time to fool around, Seaweed Brain. There are no courses on surfing. Perhaps oceanography? Marine biology?"

"Do I look like the type of person to take marine biology?" Percy said.

Annabeth laughed. "What about..."

Percy leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips, silencing her. "Don't worry about me. I'll find the right thing, I'm sure."

#

Annabeth rubbed her eyes and read her personal statement again. Fortunately, with some guidance from special needs teachers, she had managed to overcome her dyslexia, but still retained her ability to read Ancient Greek. She had managed to fit as many of her accomplishments as she could into the essay, which she had written in Latin (having taken Latin in Goode High). Perhaps there would be a better chance of her getting in if she wrote it in New Rome's official language.

"But Reyna once told me that the university doesn't really care if you've been in a thousand battles or gone on a hundred quests," Annabeth said. "Tons of legionnaires do it every year. It's no big deal, really."

"Hey, we helped to defeat Gaea and save the entire world," Percy called from where he sat curled up on his bed. He and Annabeth had been sharing the same bed since she moved in, but they hadn't exactly done anything. Percy doubted his mother would be happy about it anyway. "But if it has to be related to Architecture, put in the bit about you rebuilding Olympus after the Titan War. They'll be begging you to enroll."

Annabeth glanced at the line in her essay. The gods bestowed upon me one of the highest honors- to rebuild Olympus after the Second Titanomachy. It was both educational and exhilarating while it lasted, which was until the beginning of the Greek-Roman conflict. It seemed impressive, but it was short, and could be lost in the huge amount of text about her adventures with the crew of the Argo II.

Tapping her pen on the desk, she pressed her lips together and frowned as she studied her personal statement. She wouldn't have a problem getting into an Ivy League, but Annabeth specifically wanted to attend college in New Rome, where she would be near her father in San Francisco, and more importantly, spend four peaceful monster-free years with Percy. Or as the Ancient Greeks put it, philtatos. Most beloved.

She felt warm hands, slightly calloused from the years of sword-fighting, resting on her shoulders. "Don't fret too much about it, Wise Girl," Percy whispered in her ear. "Sleep on it."

Annabeth reached up to touch one of Percy's hands, and suddenly it all seemed worth it. Whatever she had to go through to get into the college in New Rome, it would all be worth it as she would continue being with Percy.

Well, that was if...

"Hey!" Annabeth whipped around. "Have you finished your personal statement, Seaweed Brain?"