Teenage years

Percy

I hoped Leo was done with the inscription. I was sweating bullets, tonight was the biggest night of my life, bigger than the time I faced Kronos's army, bigger than the time Annabeth and I made it through Hell, I needed tonight to be perfect for the most perfect human alive. It turns out Grover came up with the same plan as Frank and I. We were all going to propose to our respective girlfriends tonight at the fireworks show. I had asked Leo to give an inscription on the ring in ancient Greek that said I love you- Percy. Just as she had with my necklace. I raced to the forge to find Leo sweating with tiny tools over my ring. 

" Is it finished it's almost time for the show" I said my nerves breaking through my voice.

" almost I just need to finish the last part," Leo said through gritted teeth. Leo was the new captain of the Hephestus Cabin after I disappeared last summer. He had dark curly hair and was extremely energetic. 

"finished," he said picking up the ring and putting it back in the box, he tossed me the box and we ran to the beach together.

" You owe me big time Percy," He said grinning.

" I know thank you so much I promise you I'll make it up to you," I said as I avoided eating dirt by jumping over a tree log. We reached the beach and went our separate ways. I found My beautiful Girlfriend staring at the moon, the light reflected In her hair and eyes her green dress sparkled, she had put together an amazing day for my 18th birthday.

" Hey there wise girl," I said, a smile forming on my lips

" Hey there handsome boy," She said smiling back

" Handsome boy, that's a new one, I like it," I said smirking as I sat down.

"It's only true tonight," she said rolling her eyes. She put her head on my shoulder and for a few seconds, everything was perfect. Then the show started. I didn't realize that the sounds of the fireworks triggered flashbacks for me to the day Kronos attempted to invade New York, with the spells from Hecate. I started to shake my brain not on the beach with my lovely girlfriend but in New York watching everyone I knew give their all to stop the titan. I heard Annabeth's voice but it was muffled, it grew louder until 

" PERCY!" she shouted, I snapped out of the trance and looked at her, she had fear in her eyes.

" Percy are you ok, you just started shaking and you wouldn't stop, I heard you mumbling, what's going on?" 

" I had a flashback to the day Kronos invaded," I said blinking back tears

"Aww Percy come here" She opened her arms for a hug and I obliged. I knew that day was difficult for both of us to talk about but we had each other. As the show rolled on around us Annabeth put her head in my lab looking at the show as I stroked her hair. As the show wrapped up I got my nerves together and decided now was the time. 

" Annabeth there's something I need to ask you," I said 

"What is it Percy?" she replied. I stood her up and got to one knee, her hands moved to her mouth as if trying to cover a scream.

" Annabeth Chase, you are the love of my life, Every day without you is a day wasted, I would do anything for you, I only ask one thing and that is for you to put up with my stupidity for as we both shall live, Annabeth chase will you marry me" I said grinning. Annabeth was silent crying, she moved her hand from her mouth and said " Of course, I will Percy!" she shouted. I stood up and put the ring on her finger before I was covered in a big hug and kiss. As the show wrapped up we made our way back to the mess hall I saw Frank and Hazel walking back, a ring on hazels finger, I tried to find Grover who was with Juniper, I saw her with a ring on her finger as well and was happy my friend's proposal had gone so well. We all reached the mess hall and one by one we shared the story of our proposal, we left out the part of me having a trauma attack from the fireworks. After we were done Chiron Declared he was tired and that our curfew was 2:30 and for us to enjoy ourselves. Then Leo pulled out the most Leo thing ever from his tool belt, 3 bottles of vodka, whiskey, and some other thing I couldn't read. You may be wondering how on earth Leo was able to fit all of that into a tool belt, the answer was it was a magic item that allowed him to carry anything. Leo pulled out some classes and more drinks before one of the Apollo camper turned himself into the DJ. The first couple of songs were all super hyper and fun, and then he decided to switch things up. " this one for all the couples out there" He declared and put on some slow dance music.

"May I have this dance, Madam?" I said in my English accent to Annabeth, holding out my hand

" Why of course good sir" She replied in her accent while holding my hand. We made our way to the dance floor before I put my hands on her hips and she put hers around my neck. We danced like that nose to nose, with a kiss here and there for the next 3 minutes before the DJ switched up again and made everyone start jumping. I led Annabeth out to the drink station.

" You are the best Girlfriend ever," I said as I kissed her

" I know," she said smirking at me "You're the best boyfriend ever," she said

" Well actually we are engaged so I guess it's fiance now," I said

" Oh my gods your right," SHe said a smile creeping across her face.

" I have to go to the bathroom be right back, love you," I said as I raced to the bathroom. I hadn't had any alcohol yet that night and wasn't sure if I wanted to. When I was a kid my evil stepfather Gabe drank all the time and beat me. It was awful and I never wanted to drink after my time with him. Although I supposed It was my 18th Birthday and Having just one drink couldn't hurt. I finished washing my hands and raced back to the party. I found Annabeth at the same place as left her except she had two cups in her hands.

" One for me and one for you," She said smiling at me " Happy birthday Perce" She raised her cup to mine and we took our first sip. She handled it a bit differently than I did. Mine went down smoothly and hers came right back up in the form of many tiny water particles right into my face.

" oops," She said sheepishly while trying to to laugh

" You are so lucky I was paying attention and didn't let myself get wet," I said trying to put on my best fake angry face.

" Oh shut up Percy" she teased and chugged the rest of her drink, which was impressive.

"wow there wise girl easy," I said

" Oh gods that burned," she said gasping for air " Gods why do people think that tasets good" I looked around and it would appear many of our fellow campers thought that way. As I went to turn back to Annabeth I was pulled into the 'newly engaged man circle which was just three people but I was surrounded by other people dancing around. I continued to dance and enjoy my 18th birthday while drinking from my cup. Annabeth was right it didn't taste good but the dopamine hit my brain right away and I couldn't stop. The party went on for about 3 hours before we realized it was 2:15, By this time I was way too drunk to form proper thoughts and stumbled my way to try and find Annabeth. I found her talking with Hazel and Piper perfectly sober. It took her a while to notice her fiance slowly crawling his way in zigzags to her but she finally noticed me.

" Oh gods Percy you look awful let's go back to the cabin," she said squatting down to me.

" burr I wan un more drinker," I said looking at her

" No more drinks Percy, you drunk lets go"

"ughdhf fine paty popper," I said before falling on my face

" oh my gods Percy," she said before picking me up with the help of Piper and Hazel. The three of them hauled me to the cabin before Piper and Hazel left Leaving me stupidly drunk and Annabeth with a hammer fiance. She dragged me into the cabin and the bed. She brought a trash can over and got some water for me, knowing At any moment I would start throwing up. She was right. I started hurling as soon as she set down the trash can. This continued for a while, as she stroked my hair. It was the second time in 3 days this had happened although different circumstances for the first one. I threw up one more tIme before I blacked out.