Annabeth's stormy eyes matched the sky outside her rain-streaked window. Her bored eyes followed the raindrops as they rushed to join the others that were already collected on the bottom of the window pane.

She sighed – perhaps for the fiftieth time now.

Annabeth was waiting. She had been waiting for a while now, sitting on her windowsill, attempting to read a mystifyingly complicated book on philosophy, whose words seemed to elude her brain. She had given up on the book about twenty minutes ago, when the first thunderous roar had startled her from her confused reverie. Since then, she had been glancing at the wall clock repeatedly, which might have caused time to pass slower that it usually did. She scanned the familiar room again and again, also. It was full of atrocious furniture Annabeth had picked out impatiently, and therefore, not pleasing to look at.

Annabeth let out a long, low sigh, once more, exasperated, tired, bored…annoyed.

She reminded herself that she should be used to this by now, and perhaps shouldn't have gotten ready so early, especially if she knew how distracted and unpunctual Percy was.

But she couldn't help it.

She wanted to see him, to hold him, to look into those sea-green eyes, and tell him, for the millionth time that she loved him. At least, she wanted to do all of this an hour ago. Now…she wasn't so sure.

"Don't think that, Annabeth." She scolded herself, unwillingly glancing at the clock again. "It's not his fault he has a girlfriend who's nearly paranoid about time and punctuality." She had made herself smile, at least slightly.

She continued to sit there, willing herself not to peek at the time, which, in her mind, would only make it worse. "At least he'll be in a good mood." Annabeth said softly, as she watched the lightning streak across the gray skies, paired with the flow of pounding rain. This was his favorite weather. Maybe it would soften the news she was going to give him…assuming he cared at all.

Distracted by the weather and her never-ending thoughts, Annabeth hardly noticed a sleek, black car sidle up to the curb of her apartment. If she had seen it, she would have bolted downstairs, and tackled Percy in the lobby of the apartment building. If she had seen it, he would've never had to come upstairs, fatigued by his day. If she had seen it, perhaps they would have never started the conversation that began the end.

Her doorbell rang suddenly, making her jump up from the windowsill. Just like her, her heart leapt to her throat, making her pulse race. She rushed to the door, making an effort to clean the mess around her home as she did so. It was to little avail. In the end, she simply swung the door open to reveal her boyfriend of several years.

Percy seemed tired, exhausted even, to Annabeth's well-disguised disappointment. All the same, the sight of his tousled black hair, and somewhat vacant green eyes sent excitement through her.

"Hey, sweetie." Annabeth said eagerly, smiling up at him.

He looked down at her, and grinned sleepily. "Hey, Annabeth." He pulled her close with an arm wrapped behind her back, and kissed her softly.

"How've you been?" Annabeth asked when she pulled back, smiling contently.

Percy groaned. "Oh, please, don't get me started." He let go of her suddenly, and entered the apartment, navigating through the mess expertly, even in his state. He plopped onto the uncomfortable couch with a huge sigh. Annabeth's eyes followed him, her eyebrows furrowed. She took the path he had created, and sat next to him on the couch, snuggling up to the completely dry shirt that was stretched across his torso. It smelled of sea air, and the cologne she had gotten him for Christmas.

"Why? What happened?" Annabeth mumbled into his chest.

"Gods, too many things." Percy closed him eyes, and ran his free hand through his hair, a habit he executed often.

"Aw, is college getting to you, Seaweed Brain? It's almost over, just two weeks." Annabeth smirked up at him, and quickly stopped, finding that he wasn't amused.

"Why do you always have to call me that?" Percy stood up, irritated with his girlfriend.

"Oh, come on, Percy, you know I'm kidding." Annabeth stood too, worried and confused.

"It's not like I don't already feel stupid enough with all these college classes, and then my own girlfriend is calling me Seaweed Brain. Have you ever thought about how makes me feel, Annabeth?"

"I've called you Seaweed Brain since we were twelve, Percy. I'm not going to stop now." Annabeth was firing up, her eyes blazing, but relaxed soon, seeing the innocent hurt in his eyes. "It's my special nickname for you."

As another bolt of lightning shot through the clouds, Annabeth turned Percy around, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Well, it's not nice." Percy pouted, attempting to stay angry at his girlfriend, but failing miserably as he leaned in for another, more proper kiss.

"Is this nice?" Annabeth let her lips slide over his gently, smiling into his mouth. She felt him laugh into her lips, as he kissed her back.

"Yes." He whispered.

And here was another moment to add to their book of memories that they would carry forever.

"Why were you late, Percy?" Annabeth asked when they were seated again after a rather dizzying five minutes.

"Grover."

That one word seemed to explain everything. Annabeth laughed. "What happened this time?"

"Gods, I was trying to finish that paper for Biology, and he came barreling through the door, crazed practically – "

"Sounds like Grover." Annabeth slipped in, making Percy grin.

"Well, yeah. He was mumbling something a naiad that stole his shoes, and he had to get home with his hooves exposed and what not."

"Oh, Gods." Annabeth muttered. "I warned him about naiads."

"I know…" Percy agreed, shaking his head. "Well, then I had to abandon my paper and help him find some shoes that fit normally, and he was being all picky and Grover-y."

Annabeth nodded, understanding, but growing bored by the familiar story – things like this happened basically every day.

An unfamiliar beeping noise went off, muffled. Annabeth perked up, as Percy uncomfortably reached into his pocket for his phone. His face fell as he read the lengthy text.

"I'm sorry, Annabeth, but I think we're going to have to cancel today's date." Percy sighed and stood up, leaving Annabeth to collapse onto the couch.

"But – " Annabeth started.

"I'm sorry, but Grover's going crazy about something. He needs me, sweetie." Percy took her hands, and rubbed them softly with his thumbs. He leaned in and kissed her cheek, while Annabeth remained motionless, her eyes empty.

Percy was nearly out of the door, before Annabeth broke the silence with a small, tensed voice.

"And I don't?"

"What?" Percy glanced back, as his hand landed on the doorknob.

"I don't need you?" Annabeth's voice was tiny, but it was no weaker than usual. Her cloudy gray eyes turned icy, as they always did when she was angry.

Percy stood there, one hand caressing his hair confusedly. "Well, Grover –"

"It's always Grover." Annabeth interrupted. "We haven't had a proper date in weeks, Percy."

"But we went out to the movies –"

"Yeah, four weeks ago." Annabeth said loudly, running over Percy's protests. "Percy, I don't know if you don't…don't like me anymore, or if you like to be with Grover more, or…" It was obvious she had been thinking about this for quite a while.

"No, honey, of course not." Percy rushed over to her side, and scrunched until he was at eye level with her. Annabeth avoided his gaze, looking away, her lips pursed together. "Gods, you know I love you so much."

"Well, it'd be nice if you showed it, Percy." Annabeth turned away from him and faced the window that mirrored her.

"Annabeth, understand…my friend's in trouble, and I have to go help him." Percy pleaded to the back of her head, his eyebrows scrunched, his mouth set in a frown.

"Well, I think I have to get away from this for a while." Annabeth said suddenly, whipping around to face him. There were no tears in her eyes, but rather a fire that Percy didn't understand.

"This?" Percy asked warily. "What is this?"

"You. Grover. This place." Annabeth said, in a small, quiet voice. This wasn't how she wanted to tell. She wanted to tell him over a nice steaming cup of coffee, holding hands and looking into his eyes. "Percy, I'm going back to New York for the summer." Annabeth hesitated. "And I don't know if I'm coming back."

"What about college? Me? Us?" Percy said incredulously.

"What about me, Percy? I'm sick of you not paying attention to me, and always coming second to whatever else you need to do. I'm your girlfriend, Percy. I want to be treated like one. And college is almost over, anyways. We're graduating in two weeks and after that…" Annabeth's voice trailed off, drowned by the tapping of the rain.

Percy was at a loss for words. The silence stretched before them, with Annabeth staring at the ground, and Percy gazing blankly at her. "I – I –"

"I'm sorry, Percy." Annabeth strained to say those words.

"When are you leaving?" Percy's voice cracked.

"Tomorrow morning." Annabeth replied softly, exhausted from the conversation.

"You had already booked the tickets?"

"That's kind of why I was excited to have a date today. It was going to be our last one for a while."

"We can still –"

"No, Percy, it's too late." Annabeth said curtly.

After several awkward moments, filled with sighs and ruffling of hair, Percy turned to leave. Before he stepped out of the door, however, he faced her one last time, and said, "I love you, Annabeth."

"That's nice to know, Seaweed Brain. I'll see you in a couple months." Annabeth smiled sadly, and shut the door behind him.