A/N: From now on, I've decided I'm going to try to post semi-regularly on Friday evenings (obviously not tomorrow, since I'm posting today). I just wrote a CaptainSwan fic which will have a companion piece, so that will be coming soon for all you Oncers out there!

Disclaimer: All characters, plot, and dialogue belong to Rick Riordan.

"Annabeth, it's time," I heard Malcolm's voice say. I looked up.

"I'm coming," I said. I didn't really want to go. I knew I was going to cry, and I hated people seeing me cry, but I couldn't just not go to my best friend's funeral.

I followed Malcolm out of the Athena cabin towards the campfire pit, all the while berating myself for leaving him all alone at the forge. I shouldn't have listened to him. I shouldn't have left him to fight all those telkhines by himself. I was stupid. I was the reason he had died. Tears streaming down my face, I brushed my hand against his my lips, remembering kissing him just before I left. I tried to wipe my eyes with my already soaked tissue. Chiron had asked me to say a few words, so I had to try to pull myself together. Why hadn't I told him how I felt before? Now it was too late, and I'd never get the chance to see his green-blue eyes sparkle, or hear his goofy laugh, or call him Seaweed Brain again. I missed Percy so much that I could feel it with every breath I drew, as if reminding myself that I was alive and he wasn't. Stop it, I told myself fiercely.

Malcolm and I reached the campfire, and I almost fell apart again when I saw his shroud, which was green silk embroidered with a silver trident.

"I am sad to say that, after two weeks with no word of Percy Jackson, we assume he is dead," Chiron said. "After so long a silence, it is unlikely our prayers will be answered. I have asked his best surviving friend to do the final honors."

Everyone watched me as I picked up Percy's shroud and put it on the fire. I turned to face them, willing my face not to cry.

"He was probably the bravest friend I've ever had," I started, talking around the lump in my throat. "He…" I looked up, and thought I saw Percy behind the rest of the campers. I had to be imagining it, right? His face wrinkled in confusion, and I knew I definitely wasn't imagining it. I felt dizzy. "He's right there!"

Everyone's heads turned. People gasped. I was so shocked that all I could focus on was that he'd heard me call him brave. Thank the gods I hadn't gotten any farther-that could have been very embarrassing.

"Percy!" Beckendorf said with a grin. Campers crowded around Percy and clapped him on the back. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Clarisse roll her eyes.

"Well," Chiron said, obviously relieved. "I don't believe I've ever been happier to see a camper return. But you must tell me-"

I had been frozen where I stood, but I couldn't take it any longer. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" I interrupted, shoving my way through the other campers. I hugged him as hard as I could, then realized everyone else was silently watching us and pushed Percy away. "I-we thought you were dead, Seaweed Brain!"

"I'm sorry," he said. "I got lost."

My shock and relief turned to anger. "LOST?" I shouted. "Two weeks, Percy? Where in the world-"

"Annabeth," Chiron cut across my rant. "Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere more private, shall we? The rest of you, back to your normal activities!"

Before I had time to protest, he picked Percy and me up, slung us onto his back, and galloped towards the Big House.

A/N: I would love it if you took the time to review! I know in the past I've not responded to reviews, but I just found the button and will definitely start making an effort to reply.

Thanks for reading!