"This is so hard in the pouring rain!" Percy shouted while laughing.

"Fun though right?" she yelled back, also chuckling. They were paddling through the lake and laughing hysterically the entire time.

"You know what's cool?" he asked.

"What?"

"I haven't thought once about how I could possibly get pneumonia from this."

She laughed. "Well you weren't thinking about it until just then."

"Can you even see where we're going?"

"Nope." She said.

"Me neither."

"It's a lake though so… we really can't go anywhere."

Percy suddenly felt really stupid and laughed.

"What?" she asked.

"I don't know I just feel like this is something we would've done back in the day."

"I know. Do you remember when you made me play that stupid Nargles tag game when we were like 14?" she asked.

"Yeah, not my best idea. I don't think we've ever run so fast before."

"Or when you decided to go alligator fishing and I had to fish you out of the water?"

"Okay, okay I wasn't a thinker back then."

"Now you think too much."

"This coming from the girl who used to rearrange her grocery list in alphabetical order."

"I had OCD okay?" she exclaimed.

"It was cute." He mumbled and she looked up.

"I guess your stupidity was kind of cute too." She said.

Percy sighed. "I guess we're not cute anymore then."

She rolled her eyes. "No you're still cute."

He felt his face blush even through the cold rain. "Really?"

"I just called you stupid you know."

"I know, but you also called me cute."

"Whatever, Seaweed Brain."

"I think we're paddling in circles." He said.

"Who cares? Nobody's watching and if they were they wouldn't be able to see in this rain."

He chuckled. "Point proven as usual."

"So where do you live in the city?"

"42nd street." He said. "You?"

"23rd."

"Man that would be a long walk." He said.

"Ever hear of the subway? Or a bus? Or a cab?"

"I hate you." He said.

She laughed. "So Grover was telling me you've been kind of down on yourself."

"I was, but you know being here has made me feel better. I think when I go back I'm definitely doing something more than just work and sleep."

"That's good! A person can't go through life just doing those two things. It's two boring… and stable."

"Well stable's nice isn't it?"

"I wouldn't know now would I?"

Percy felt somewhat guilty for that. He was one of the failed relationships Grover listed. He was the one who told her they'd make something permanent. He failed her. Or did he?

"I know. It is nice though. You feel safe and everything. It can be fun, but comforting."

"I bet." She said softly.

"Annabeth?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry…." She repeated.

"For um… 10 years ago…"

"Oh Percy that was like ages ago! A whole decade. We were young and… and I totally understand now."

"You do?"

"Completely. You didn't think I was still mad about that did you?"

"Well I've heard of girls who harbor feelings for people for that kind of stuff."

"Okay I was upset for a little while, but you know, it was a teenage romance. Plus, we're Demigods. It was doomed to fail."

He nodded. "Back then right?"

"What?"

"I'm just saying, teenage demigod relationships are doomed to fail?"

"That's what I said isn't it?"

"Just clarifying."

She smiled. "You look different you know that?"

"Is different good?" he asked.

"Percy, just an hour ago, you used the word a thousand times without clarifying if it was a good or bad thing. Let me have my turn."

He sighed. "If you must."

"Oh I must. Anyway, you do look different. You're more grown up looking. You don't look like the little wimp I met 16 years ago."

"It's been 16 years?"

"Yeah, I guess it has." She paused for a moment then looked back at him. "You look like the type of guy to go have fun with your life and to live it to the fullest. Not waiting for wife to come."

He sighed. "Harsh!"

"I'm being honest, Jackson. You need to learn to enjoy your status. Represent."

"Teach me?" he finally asked.

"How do you know I'm single?"

"Are you?"

"Yes." She laughed.

"Okay then, teach me."

"Alright. Call me this week after we leave camp and you and I can go around town as a single couple. It'll be fun."

"It's a single-date."

"We need a more creative term but it'll do for now."

"I'm still working on something better than Wise Girl so it's on you." He said and she laughed.

"Deal. Oh, and I pick the places."

"Really? I'm the guy!"

"I'm the girl. Now that we've got that cleared up, I'll start deciding where we go."

Percy just realized it was still pouring rain.

"You know after a while you start to not feel wetness when you're completely numb with coldness."

"Hey this was your idea."

"What? No it wasn't!"

"You had to go canoeing didn't you?" she smiled smugly.