'ISN'T THAT ANNABETH?'

'That doesn't look like her.'

'She looks older?'

'I thought she was a god now.'

'She is. She's a minor goddess.'

Whispers fill the camp as I decapitate another dummy and the morning light hits my eyes. Grabbing a towel, I wipe the sweat from my forehead and pull on a shirt.

Looks like Annabeth's here, I take a drink of water and run to Half-Blood Hill where all the campers are gathered there along with Chiron.

'Annabeth, Lady Athena, it's nice to see you again.' Chiron announces, telling the campers to move back. As I reach the front of the group, my mouth drops open.

Not in awe, well kind of... But mostly in shock. She looks so different, I haven't seen her for a few months since she's adjusting to being a goddess and I have high school. Never thought I'd say that, "Oh yeah, I couldn't see my girlfriend because she's a goddess now."

But really, her hair is put up in a messy yet elegant sock bun instead of her usual ponytail, her jeans have been switched out for a long, tulle dress, sneakers gone and replaced with some matching heels and she's wearing a bit of makeup.

She looks like a goddess.

She is one.

Gods of Olympus... Wait, does that include her now? Maybe, I don't know. All I know is that she looks beautiful.

To me, she will always be beautiful.

Her chin is raised high and honestly, the bold red lips and just the aura of, "I'm powerful, you should know your place" is everywhere.

I laugh under my breath, that aura has always been around Annabeth Chase. Let me tell you, you do not want to mess with her.

She's smiling a little at the campers as Athena steps forward and tells everyone to leave. They all scurry off to their classes as Athena's eyes land on me.

'Lady Athena, wonderful of you to grace the camp with your presence.' I say, forcing a smile. I don't exactly like Athena but she isn't so bad either, I guess.

'Are you not one of the campers here, sea spawn?' She asks me, giving me a glare which rivals Annabeth's. I click my tongue to the roof of my mouth in annoyance and wave a goodbye to Annabeth who hasn't said anything this whole time. I see her grimace slightly and I just smile at her.

'I am, Athena. I shall be leaving.' I say, turning on my heel and running back to the practice grounds, removing my shirt on the way there. I need to take a shower.

Eh, I'll take one later. I resume slashing at the dummies, occasionally wiping the sweat from my body as I hear someone call my name.

'Annabeth, hey.' I say, smiling. 'It's been a while.'

'Yeah it has. Mom just won't let me go, we've been working on some blueprints and she's been teaching me how this whole thing works.'

'Right, that's cool...' I trail off as a silence settles between us. Great, my girlfriend and I don't even know what to talk about. 'So, how are things on Olympus?' I ask, pocketing Riptide.

'It's different. Being on Olympus as a demigod and being on Olympus when it's your home... Two very different things.' Annabeth says as I pull on my shirt.

'Makes sense, wanna go for a walk?'

'Yeah, sure.'

***

Who in their right mind wears high heels to a camp? Whether it's a mortal camp or a demigod one... There's obviously going to be grass, mud, sticks, leaves... So again, WHY WOULD YOU WEAR HIGH HEELS?

Annabeth, apparently.

Technically Aphrodite, though.

After stepping on some mud, Annabeth grimaces and snaps her fingers. Her high heels are instantly replaced with some sneakers as I chuckle a little.

'What are you laughing at, Seaweed Brain?' Huh, it's been a while since she's called me that.

'Oh nothing, just the whole "Aphrodite put me in high heels" thing.' I reply as she punches me on the shoulder. 'Ow!'

'You deserved it.'

'Oh shut up, Wise Girl.'

She turns to me with a flirtatious expression, her arms crossed. 'Make me.'

Ah, the age-old cliche line. I roll my eyes and press her lips to mine. We break apart after a few moments, savoring in the taste of each othe- Gods, who narrates like that?

Oh... me. Anyway, we kiss, hold hands blah blah blah. You get the idea.

After our stroll with some small talk and bickering, she heads back to the Big House to discuss something with Chiron and I head to the Dining Pavilion for lunch. We don't see each other much for the rest of the day and all I can think about is the fact that she's right here. And yet so far away.

I love her with everything that I am, yes. I still think she looks beautiful and always will. Kissing her still sends a wonderful shiver down my spine. I love her with every fiber of my body, every cell flowing through my veins... and yet, after everything, I can't help but feel as if something's off.