I was seated in a chair, next to hundreds of other seniors. Annabeth was somewhere by the kids with the same letter last name. I didn't have anyone I knew near me, so I sat there, twirling the weird black robe.

As each of my friends got up, I cheered. Reyna, Calypso, Annabeth, Rachel, Nico, Jason, Thalia, Will.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the kids on the right start to get anxious; after a minute, one of them stood. They were calling in the Js now.

"Perseus Jackson," the principal announced, and I got up. Happy that I didn't have to wait in anticipation but terrified I have to stand in front of the entire ceremony. I walked in front of a few kids before walking down the aisle. I felt my heart hammer in my chest as I repeatedly repeated, Don't trip, don't trip, don't trip, don't trip.

I walked up the small set of stairs and breathed a sigh of relief, and sent a prayer of thanks to the stair god. I walked up to the principal, and she shook my right hand while handing me my fake diploma.

She smiled to the side while continuing to shake my hand, so I did the same. I turned my head and smiled as cameras flashed in front of the stage. The principal let my hand go, and I walked off towards the other side of the stage.

I made it down the last set of stairs and almost hopped with joy until my shoes caught on the last stair causing me o trip. However, in my experience, I managed to keep from face-planting and hopped to regain my balance. Thankfully the ceremony had drawn the audience's attention, so no one saw me almost fall flat on my face. 

I uneasily returned to my seat and cheered when Piper, Hazel, Will, and Frank went up. Soon the valedictorian was called up, and of course, it was Annabeth.

The Monday after prom, she got her final scores back, and they were all in the 95-100 range. We had a celebratory party at Rachel's house since she got valedictorian. We all ended up sleeping over and skipping school the next day, though we had to tie Annabeth to a chair for the first hour or so.

The rest of the week was pretty lax, mostly just teachers telling us to find a job, go to college, and take care of ourselves.

"Now, on behalf of the staff, we would like to congratulate a very hard-working student. Since her freshman year, she has had amazing grades, and so with pride, we announce Annabeth Chase as valedictorian! Annabeth, if you would please come up to the podium and deliver your speech," the principal finished and led the applause as Annabeth walked up to the podium.

Even from my row, I could see her smiling. She cleared her throat and began her speech. I tried to listen; I really did. But things like speeches and assemblies and ceremonies tend to put me to sleep. Every so often, I'd pick up a word, but other than that, it just went in one ear and out the other.

I heard her voice lower a bit and then yell out, "Congrats, class of 2019!". All the graduates around me stood up like they were trained to do so from the moment they were born and cheered. They threw their hats in the air.

I sighed, glad that the ceremony was over. As the graduates moved towards their friends, I went to the podium where Annabeth talked with her Architecture teacher. I waited patiently and leaned against the stage as I watched families rush to their kids.

I smiled as I saw Leo literally hopping with excitement. I felt that; the ceremony was long. The group was pretty much all together besides Jason, who was sitting in his chair, stunned. Though I have no idea why.

The assembly hall was filled with raining caps, and honestly, I think some of the graduates were throwing the ones on the floor into the air again. As I watched the hall, I felt myself go off into a daze, and I smiled to myself. I imagined what I would do after this. Probably get a job, maybe go to a community college wherever Annabeth is moving to. Maybe do Marine Biology or something.

I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I looked up to see Annabeth squatting down next to me.

"Hey Rusticitas, nice job not falling on your face," she teased as she hopped off the stage to stand next to me. I playfully scowled at her as she grinned.

I sneakily held her hand while saying, "Soo, what's the plan now?"

She smiled at me while turning her body to stand in front of me. "Well, since I got accepted into Princeton University, I'll be moving to New Jersey," she started.

"Oh, that's great! Are you living in the dorms?"

"No, I'm not. I was thinking of getting an apartment nearby, though," she shrugged. It looked like she was hesitant about something before asking, "So, what are you going to do?"

"Hmm? Oh, I was just going to live wherever you went and then probably find a job and maybe do an online class or go to community college. But the number one on my list is keeping up with you" I grinned at her and squeezed her hand.

Her face broke out into a huge smile, and she leaned in and pecked my lips. I scowled at her, and she laughed.

"Hey, since you're coming with me, wanna split the rent?" she asked nonchalantly, but her ears turned red with embarrassment.

I smirked at her, "Sure, if I can actually get a real kiss and not whatever you just did." She laughed at me and pecked my lips again. I pouted at her.

Then surprising her, I grabbed her left wrist and pulled her hand towards me, throwing her off balance. I kissed her. She was shocked at first but kissed me back. I deepened the kiss and let go of her hands to hold her waist closer.

She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I reluctantly pulled away. Her face was tinted pink as she looked into my eyes.

At that moment, I knew I was going to stick by her, no matter what. I wouldn't leave her for anything. She was my lifeline, my tether to the earth. Without her, I wouldn't even have been able to graduate, much less sing in front of a huge audience.

Without her, I wouldn't have made it through the weeks that Gabe was at his worst, the times of my attempt, I would have probably still been sitting in my bed, paralyzed with paranoia. As I looked at her, I knew that Hell would have to freeze over for me to be taken from her.

It's taken me a while, but now I know exactly what that mysterious emotion that's been swirling in her beautiful gray eyes. It's her stubbornness, her determination, and her resolve. The love she feels for me, the acceptance of every bad part I loathe.

Sometimes the love she gives me scares me. The same way that the overwhelming happiness I feel when I'm around her does. But I know that I would face that fear if only to keep that warmness around me.

With Annabeth, I might be able to start accepting the parts I hate about me. I know she'll stand by me no matter what, and that's all I want. As long as I have her, I can get through this. I lean down and kiss her again. She pulls herself closer to me as I wrap my arms around her waist loosely.

She pulls away, and I pout. She smirks at me and then grabs my cap, throwing it into the air. "Congratulations, Clumsy, you made it."

I scrunch my eyebrows together. Clumsy? Why the sudden change in nickname? What happened to Rusticitas? Ohh, wait.

I saw her smile smugly at me as I came to the realization. Then she pulled me into another kiss. A real one this time, not one of those short pecks on the lips. I felt my heart warm, and my chest filled with happiness as I smiled into the kiss. The world fell away around me, and as the only thing that mattered was in front of me, and I wasn't going to let her go.