Touched by Love

Annabeth Chase had many memories of her life, but there was one that no matter how hard she tried, she could never forget.

Percy. Her Percy. The boy that had changed her life forever. The way she felt when they touched. The feeling that their hands were meant to hold each other for all eternity. She slipped her hand into her pocket and touched the polished silver coin that lay there. She had carried it with her ever since the day when her heart broke into a million tiny pieces that could never be brought back together.

Percy touched Annabeth's cheek as the sea rushed behind them. She felt the familiar tingle down her spine that was always associated with Percy's touch.

'Don't go Percy, don't leave me.' Annabeth had been begging him for hours not to jump aboard that boat that would take him away from her forever.

'I have to Annie, I don't have a choice. I have to save our country, for the citizens, and also for you. I'm doing this to keep you safe.'

'I'll never forget you, Percy. You will live in my

heart forever, and you will always be my one true love.'

'And you will be mine. You are the only person that will ever be right for me. You couldn't leave me, even if you tried.'

'How will I live without you, Seaweed Brain? You are the magnet that holds me together. I'll fall apart without you.'

'It's time, sir, I'm afraid.' The captain of Percy's boat called him. Percy kissed Annabeth, and she drank in his scent, taste, the feeling of his lips on hers. Percy ran to the boat and climbed aboard. As it started to move away, a tear ran down Annabeth's cheek. Percy reached inside his pocket and pulled out a coin. He threw it to Annabeth, and she caught it hastily, the cold metal shocking her skin. She looked down at the coin, and saw that a wave pattern was engraved on it. Percy had always loved the sea

'To remind you of me. I love you Wise Girl.' His last words were ripped out of his mouth by the wind and Annabeth fell to her knees, shaking with sobs. Percy was gone. She would probably never see him again.

Annabeth felt a lump in her throat as she recalled the day when Percy had left to join the Navy. Three years ago today, and yet she still hadn't got over

Percy. She hadn't heard from him since he left, so she expected the worst. She let the sea breeze sweep her face one more time before turning her back on the ocean and walking home.

Two weeks later, Annabeth's annual nightmares and flashbacks about her life with Percy were just about over, when she heard a knock at the door. She rushed downstairs and greeted the postman. He handed her two letters and then went back to his bike.

The first was a weekly letter from her mother, who was in France on holiday with her father. Annabeth

read through the letter and smiled at the stories of how her father had gone to an ice-cream stand and tried to order in French, confusing the shopkeeper so much she asked him to leave.

She put it to one side and she saw an official-looking brown envelope with a presidential stamp on it.

Her heart stopped when she saw the address. The letter had been posted to Percy's parents, who Annabeth was still good friends with, and it had been forwarded to her. All she knew was that the news couldn't be good. Her hand shook as she felt the paper crinkle beneath her fingers. She read through it, trying to keep her breathing steady, and that was when she saw it. The black ink

burned into her eyes, and tears fell as she read the line over and over again.

'Percy Jackson is missing in action and is presumed dead.'