Yes, of course I do not own PJO... Please enjoy the story and review (hopeful) :P

"Did you... did you love me?" If he had the strength, he would have covered his mouth immediately. Gods, did he just ask Annabeth that question, because he was hell sure it wasn't meant for her. Once he said them, he knew that he could not take them back. If he had said, oh, just joking, Annabeth would be thoroughly disappointed. Not that he cared. It's just that Thalia's last wish was "keep Annabeth happy"

And oops, that definitely came out wrong. He cared, like a brother but she wasn't the one he meant to tell this to. He just wanted, needed to know whether she loved him or not because he knew he certainly did. His memory flashed to the time when he had kissed all those waitresses and salesperson to steal. It wasn't actually necessary because he was the son of Hermes (this time he didn't feel angry about it), he could steal without that.

It wasn't that he wanted to do it either. It was just simply that he wanted to make her jealous, make her admit she loved him. Except it never happened that way. She never seemed bothered by it but then again, she never seemed bothered by anything. Oh well, just his luck he fell for a girl who takes hiding her emotions as a good sport.

But he really wanted her. He remembered the time he had injected those poison into her. It had truly been the worst day of his life, or the second worst day, because the one where she pushed him of the cliff hurt more. It wasn't because he fell since Kronos had Atlas to make sure he landed safely. His heart ached at the fact he actually fought with her and she had pointed a spear at his throat and kicked him off the cliff.

That was only half of his pain. Her words, those terrible words was what really got him depressed, made him give up all hope of ever returning. She told him he was a traitor, something he already knew but it felt worst when she said it. If anything could be worst, it was her expression when he had called her 'old friend'. Sure, he said some pretty nasty things he didn't mean but did she have to look so disgusted, like she never wanted to remember the times they had together.

Then he realized that she could have come here, say a final goodbye. He knew Percy and Annabeth wouldn't object. Neither would Grover. But she didn't. She wouldn't even see him on his dying breath. The times they had laughed together, watched the stars and even murmur promises meant nothing to her, even if it was his everything. It didn't matter to her that her best friend was dying, if they were ever best friends.

His mind wondered to whether they even were friends. Did she ever cared about him? Because he distinctive remembered her saying she would leave him if he didn't tag along to Camp Half-Blood. Did she mean it? His mind, soul and body was crumbling. He was not in a state to think but he realized he wanted to... no he had to. He had to let her know how much she meant to him, even if he meant nothing to her.

"Thalia," his lips formed but barely a whisper came out. No one heard him. The world was blurring too fast. He didn't have time. He had to but he knew it was over. The message could not be conveyed. But she didn't care... she joined the huntress. Before his soul left his body, there was only one thing he could think of. All those time he had hoped was love wasn't even close. All one-sided.

Just a Crush.