Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or other aspects of PJATO or HOO, Rick Riordan does. And, last I checked, I'm not an awesome middle aged guy named Rick. I only wish I was that cool.

- Fashionably Late: Percy's POV -

Events take place the year after The Son of Neptune

I stand nervously on the dock at the Canoe Lake, bouncing on my heels and checking my watch every few seconds. I'm so excited, since this is Annabeth and I's first Valentine's Day together, since I had been missing during the last one. I spent the entire week obsessing over what to get her, where to meet her, what kind of flowers to get her, if she would even want flowers...

I'd finally decided on a bouquet of blue flowers, since it was one of her favorite colors, and also mine. I tied them together with a silver ribbon, Athena's color. I'd also gotten her a silver locket, with an owl engraved on the outside and two pictures of us on the inside. I put it in a little silver box, with one of those little stick-on blue ribbons like you put on birthday presents. It was tucked into my pocket.

I'd also put up candles on the edges of the dock, it reminding me a little of a runway. They flicker softly in the light, and I briefly have a flash of the dock catching on fire. Then, I remember I'm right next to water.

I check my watch again. 6:59. She would be here any minute now, since I asked her to meet me at seven. I start grinning, imagining the look on her face when she sees what I'd done for her. I want it to be perfect for her. I wait a few more minutes.

7:06. Okay, she probably couldn't decide how to fix her hair. Girls...

7:10. Fashionably late. I can handle that.

7:17. Maybe she got a late start on dressing, or the time slipped away.

7:35. Malcolm probably got her caught up in some project. She'll be here in a few minutes.

7:50. Okay, it was a really big project. Malcolm doesn't know about our date, after all.

8:05. Maybe she thought I said a later time...

8:35. I bet Piper got her caught up in a conversation. She loves Valentine's Day.

9:02. It starts raining. The candles flicker out.

9:30. I sit down on the dock, still waiting.

9:45. I'm still sitting there. Maybe she's toying with me.

10:06. The flowers are wilted in my hand. I set them down beside me.

10:32. The flowers are a wet pile of mush on the dock.

11:01. I finally accept the fact that she's not coming.

I get up stiffly, and started collecting the candles, shoving them into the cardboard box I'd brought them in. I scrape the destroyed flowers off the deck and into the water. Maybe the naiads will want to weave the ribbon into something.

Dejectedly, I scoop up the box of candles, and start walking back to my cabin. I can feel the locket bumping against my side as I walk.

Okay, I posted this story, like, an hour ago and already I have people asking for more parts. So, I'm going to fulfill that request. Yay! Thanks for the reviews, by the way. I appreciate them. :)