We had just raced to the beach of long island we both were out of breath, I hadn't paid attention to any of the race but I just pretended that I knew I won. Annabeth was panting hard and fast as she had her hands on her knees making her hair cover her bright face. I was panting to at the same pase but I was paying more attention to Annabeth's breathing rather than my own. After a couple seconds of heavy breathing she finally swung her hair back and looked at me with those happy gray eyes she has, and like always when her eyes are like that she'll say something sassy and giggle to her little joke.
"This is fun," She said then laughed. I was half right. She sat Indian style on the shore of the beach and stared longingly into the gleaming sunlight. I didn't know whether to stare at her or with her.
"Seaweed brain," Annabeth said soft and gently looking up at me.
"Yeah Wise girl," I said back with the same gentleness that Annabeth gave.
"I was ,aybe wondering if maybe your best female friend-" I interrupted.
"Best female friend forever," I said with a grin.
She smirked and blushed at the same time, but I couldn't understand the flash of anger on her face when I said *friend* but I let that moment pass.
"Yes best female friend forever," That look of happiness that she had gave me butterflies especially when she said *forever* and she continued.
"I was wondering if your BFFF could accompany you to the dance this evening." She said with a gulp.
I was surprised when she asked me I thought I'd be in trouble with Dionysus but just like a wise girl she's one to get me outta trouble.
"You mean it wise gal, you'd do that for me," She looked surprised after I said that but continued like that was her plan.
"Yeah sure well I needed to go with someone too," She said blushing.
She leaned back and held herself up with her hands while looking up at the sun. I did the same but missed and accidentally grabbed Annabeth's hand. We both immediately blushed, but neither of us let go until Annabeth gripped my hand stronger, then we blushed a lot more.
I turned towards Annabeth, and Annabeth turned toward me, we were both trapped in each other's gazes.
"Percy," Annabeth said with one breath.
"Yes," I said as our faces got closer.
"Annabeth was getting closer but she said everything piece by piece.
"I'm. glad. you're. Here." After she said that both our eyes were closed and we kept getting closer to each other, I could feel her breath on my lips, when I heard someone behind me.
"Uh, Percy can I talk to you," Nico asked.
Annabeth and I broke apart, I think she was more upset about it then I was, I had half a mind to kill Nico, but the other half heard the dark bleak depression in his voice, something we haven't heard from in weeks. Annabeth looked sadly back at the setting sun as I got up to talk to Nico.
"Nico, not a good time, I was just about to-" He cut me off while looking at the trees to his right.
"I know I know 'Kiss the girl," he intimated a certain crab.
"No man it wasn't like that," I had my back turned to her but I could sense her sadness plus I heard her sigh.
"Whatever I don't care about you and owl head's time right now, I need to talk to you about something," he pouted.
He looked pretty up beat and paler than usual, his face was barely holding onto his normal look and was about to burst out into sadness. I was silent waiting for his story.
"Sindy...turned me down," When he said that he turned away trying to stop a tear.
I understood why he was upset, rejection hurt...a lot, that's basically why I don't like to ask many girls out to the dance.
"Man, it's okay there's lots of other girls who want your company," I said with one girl in mind. Starts with a M ends in an io. Anyway he couldn't be that over a girl he had just met a couple of weeks ago.
"I know, I guess I'm gonna go find another date before the dance," He ran away like he was excited, but I knew what rejection was like with a girl you want, all that happens is you cry.
I sat back down with Annabeth who wasn't in anything of the talking mood, but was still holding onto my hand.
"Annabeth, I'm sorry about that back there." I wanted to smooth back and say
'Now where were we,' but that's not how it goes she's my best friend and I won't think like that ever.
"It's okay Perc," She sounded sad which made me kind of mad at Nico.
She was quiet for a while which made me nervous.
"You're silence is killing me, come on tell me what you're feeling." When I said that she flushed and took a glance at my chest, I tried not to notice.
"I'm having the best and worst day of my life, alright," she huffed at me. "I was with this guy and just when we were going somewhere we kept getting interrupted."
Now that's what was going on with her, she wanted a date with another guy but she didn't get it. It made me mad that I guy wouldn't ask out a girl like Annabeth she's awesome and anyone who didn't ask her out within the first days of meeting her is an idiot.
"Yeah, but at least he didn't reject you," I said suddenly.
She sighed and looked at me.
"Actually he kinda did," she said and gave me a sad pleading look.
I tried to understand but it wasn't working.
She saw the mystery in my eyes and looked away, but before she looked all the way around I caught her chin and pulled it back facing me. There was a small tear that I caught with my finger on her face, I never wanted to see tears from this girl ever.
"Don't cry."
She inched her head toward mine as if she had something to whisper, but backed away at the last second, I knew why.
"I got to go get ready for later you going to your cabin," I said to her. She got up and just stared at me before nodding.
We both walked away with sadness in our hearts.

It was hours before the dance and I had no idea what was going to happen.