Annabeth's Point of View

The Sea of Monsters - A Champion's Kiss

I don't like this one much because I feel like you guys were expecting more from it, but there was no way I could extend the kissing scene. So... sorry. Anyways, people have been asking for this scene since the beginning of this fan fiction, so I decided that this will be by newest upload. Again, sorry for the let down.

I watched with bated breath as Clarisse draped the Golden Fleece over the lowest bough.

It was like magic, which I knew existed. The moonlight over our destroyed camp seemed to brighten, bathing the large pine tree in a liquid silver glow. Thalia must love the attention she was getting at the moment; she always did like being a leader, an appreciated one.

Almost as though she were showing off, the tree's branches rustled and rippled, giving the camper's a perfect view of her healthy green needles and strong branches. Around her, everything else seemed to intensify. The firefly's light magnified, the smell of the strawberry fields wafted through the clearing, the sound of waves crashing against the beach's shores filled everyone's ears.

Thalia, and their camp, didn't look sickly and blighted anymore. They were beautiful.

As everyone around me cheered, I smiled and lifted my head to the sky, sending a 'thank you' to my mother for her wisdom and guidance and, secretly, to Poseidon, for Percy.

I chanced a glance towards my best friend. Percy was cheering along with the crowd, roaring as loudly as he could like all the other boys. Even he seemed to intensify when the Fleece worked it's magic. His sea green eyes were luminous, his dark hair the color of ink, and his tan skin glowing with health. His large, boyish smile made me smirk a little – even after everything we've gone through, he would never change.

I felt someone elbow me, and I glanced over to see one of my step siblings smirking knowingly at me.

I felt heat rush up to my face. “What?” I breathed, trying to sound defensive.

“Just kiss him,” she insisted, with gray eyes similar to mine looking down at me.

I forced my blush down and turned back to Thalia's pine tree. “I don't know what you're talking about,” I said evenly, but making sure I kept finality in my tone. I was the head of the cabin, after all, they had to listen to me.

They did listen to me, and they rushed with the rest of the campers to honor Clarisse with a laurel wreath and a lot of celebrating around the campfire.

XXX

Where is that Seaweed Brain? I thought, searching around my chariot, making sure everything was in place. Tyson already did the check up, but two eyes were better than one.

Seeing that everything was in it's place, I hopped inside the chariot and searched over all the heads. Chiron was at the starting line, ready to blow the conch, and Percy was a few feet away, talking to Tyson in what seemed like a serious conversation – which, in my eyes, could wait after we win.

“Percy!” I called, gaining his attention. “Come on!”

Percy glanced at me and then at Chiron, before looking uncertainly back at Tyson. They exchanged a few more words and, finally, the son of Poseidon climbed in and got in position.

Chiron blew the conch horn, and the horses shot forward. I stumbled, almost out of the chariot, but then I grabbed hold of the rail and watched as we past a few chariots.

Tyson and I were a great mechanic team. The rails were firm, and the wheels glided beautifully. We easily past the other chariots – even the Ares cabin, where Clarisse was fighting off a javelin attack from the Stoll brothers.