Chapter Seventeen

So, you might want to know what happened next. Well, for one thing, the welcome back dance was a lot better than I thought it would be. After Athena visited Annabeth at school, she's going to live with her. I could tell that Annabeth was very happy. She got to see her brothers, her dad, and her mom again. They went to the grave sites of the neighbors and said their blessings. Annabeth and I have started dating for years. It actually turns out that Stephan and Cay like each other. I think they deserve each other. But, it's been years since that has happened. I actually got through college. I went to Michigan State University and it's been a blast. After I graduated, I'm going to take over my dad's company, which has been dormant for years. But the marine animals need help. Especially with pollution and global warming. Annabeth went to architecture school and she got a huge job at the Empire State Building, designing some companies' lobbies, rooms, and offices.

Thalia came back from school and she is part of this group of girls that help protect nature and wild life. Auntie Grace and my mom have been great friends and they both work together at a book company. Paul is still teaching at Goode High, but I know that he loves it there. After so many years, that one painful memory has still crossed my mind from time to time. But I need to forget about my past and get on with my future.

I called Annabeth and told her to meet me at Camp Half-Blood, the restaurant that we ate at when Annabeth 'lost her memory.' Right now, we're 22 and have been dating since we were seniors. When I got there, I saw Annabeth with a yellow shirt on, with Bermuda shorts, and gladiator sandals. We talked a bit about what's been happening.

"So, Seaweed Brain, what's the occasion." A spark in her eyes lit. It felt just like the one I had seen when I first saw Annabeth. They were still as electrifying.

"No occasion." Her face fell. But there was an occasion. I put my hand into my pocket. My fingers circled around the velvet box. I knew that if I do this, it'll have to be perfect. Well, as perfect as it can get anyway.

"Oh, than why are we here?"

"What? I can't talk to my girlfriend of five years?" I gave her a teasingly look and she looked at me with one eyebrow raised higher than the other. Her smile came back when I winked at her. The waitress came over and I ordered a hamburger with cheese fries and coke. Annabeth just ordered a cheeseburger with sprite.

"Girlfriend. I love how that sounds out of your mouth," she said. The truth is, I liked how I said it too. Annabeth, my girlfriend. It makes my feel like my life is complete. After we finished, I suddenly saw someone that I had not in a long time. Luke. He still looks like his old self, but he's taller, has a stubble, and he has a scar running down his cheek. But I know that Luke has changed.

"Hey, Percy." He stuck out his hand for me to shake. I was reluctant at first, but than, I stuck out my arm for him to shake. He turned his attention to Annabeth. "Hey, Annabeth."

"Hi, Luke." She gave him a smile. Luke stepped back and looked at us.

"You know, you two make a perfect couple. I hope that everything will be okay for you guys." He turned around and walked out the door.

So, right now, I'm walking down the sidewalk in the moonlight, hand in hand with Annabeth. I had my other hand in my pocket, circling around the velvet box. Annabeth broke the silence.

"Percy, do you ever think about what would happen if I had never met you?" She looked up at me with those beautiful eyes of hers. I thought about that question. It had never crossed my mind before now.

"I think that I wouldn't have gotten kidnapped and had to save you from that creep," I answered jokingly. She lightly punched my arm.

"Seriously, Seaweed Brain."

"Fine, fine," I laughed. "I think that I would not have met the most beautiful, wonderful, most spontaneous girl in my life. I think that I would have been missing out on most of my life. I think that I would have been a complete wreck without you. But you changed that all." Her eyes glittered and shimmered as a single tear ran down her cheek, onto her huge smile.

"Thank you, Percy." Her big smile kept me awake for nights. It could make anyone want to come over and hug her. Without thinking, I kept talking.

"I think that without you, my life would have just been incomplete. I love the way your hair always smells like apples. I love the way your eyes would analyze things very carefully. I love how you would laugh at all my stupid attempts to impress you. I love how you gave me the nickname, Seaweed Brain. I love how you're afraid of spiders. I love how you have to scream my name for me to come and kill it. I love the way that you're not scared for standing up to something. I love it when times get rough, you always make it better. SO to sum that whole thing up, I love you." I got down on one knee and pulled out that velvet box out of my pocket. The street lights made all the diamonds stand out, but it made the center one stand out the most. It was a gray and green blend, thanks to Beckondorf's dad. "Annabeth Chase, would you marry me?" Her hand was over her mouth. Tears ran even faster down her face. There were a few seconds of silence. And panic. What if she doesn't say yes?

"No." What?

"What? Why?" I thought that I was going to run. I just told her that I loved her.

"I'm joking, Seaweed Brain. Of course I'll marry you." Relief spread through me.

"You almost made me run away! You are such a Wisegirl." I slipped the ring onto her finger and got up.

"Yeah, well, you love me for it." And she was right. We kissed under the moonlight. Everything was fine. I loved today. I know that I'll always look back to this day. I'll always look back at my memories, the good and the bad, but I know that everything will turn out fine. And I know that I will never turn back.

*sniff, sniff* This was the last chapter. But no worry, I'm going to start a new story after I finish Once In A Lifetime. I'm sooooo sorry that I haven't been uploading. I had tests, but this week is better because I have spring break!