From Annabeth's POV

First kiss

Pg. 191-192 of BotL

"Annabeth!" Percy yelled, his scream piercing the silence.

"Shhh!" I whispered harshly. "Do you want to get us killed?" I clamped a hand over his mouth and wrestled him behind a big bronze cauldron. He groped the air before his hands landed on my head and ripped my Yankees cap off.

How much stupider could he get? Revealing where I was! "Percy, what is your problem?"

"We're going to have company!" He quickly described the monsters he'd seen.

"So that's what they are!" Everything fell into place. "Telkhines. I should've known. And they're making...well, look."

Percy's hips pressed against mine as he peered over the cauldron. I followed suit. In the center of the platform stood four sea demons, but these were fully grown, at least 8 feet tall. Their black skin glistened in the firelight as they worked, sparks flying as they took turns hammering on a long piece of glowing hot metal.

"The blade is almost complete," one said. "It needs another cooling in blood to fuse the metals."

A chill ran down my spine.

"Aye," a second said. "It shall be even sharper than before."

"What is that?" Percy whispered.

I shook my head, trying to think. "They keep talking about fusing metals. I wonder-"

"They were talking about the greatest Titan weapon," Percy said, hesitating. "And they... they said they made my father's trident."

Of course! "The telkhines betrayed the gods. They were practicing dark magic. I don't know what, exactly, but Zeus banished them to Tartarus."

"With Kronos."

I nodded quickly. "We have to get out-"

No sooner have I said that than the door to the classroom exploded and young telkhines came pouring out. They stumbled over each other, trying to figure out which way to charge. I scanned our surroundings, trying to find an exit route, anywhere-

"Put your cap back on," Percy screamed over the telkhines' thundering. "Get out!"

"What?" I shrieked. "No! I'm not leaving you!"

"I've got a plan. I'll distract them. You can use the metal spider-maybe it'll lead you back to Hephaestus. You have to tell him what's going on."

What was he doing? Defeating the telkhines would be a suicide mission without me. And Percy's sorry butt was not going to die in front of my eyes.

"But you'll be killed!"

"I'll be fine. Besides, we've got no choice." His eyes kept wandering to the exit, silently urging me to leave.

He knew it. He was going to die right here, saving me. My eyes burned. Stupid, stupid Percy. Stupid bravery. Stupid loyalty. I wanted to punch him, to knock some sense into his dense head. I couldn't leave now! Not when we had such a pointless argument, not when I'd never see him again, not when I didn't have the time to say goodbye...

I kissed him.

"Be careful, Seaweed Brain." I put on my hat and ran into the distance, praying to the gods he'd be okay.