Luke Castellan stood on the deck of his ship, staring out at the ocean. Lately, he'd been doing this a lot, just staring at the ocean and thinking about his past. Specifically, Camp Half-Blood. He thought about the people he'd left behind and betrayed. Annabeth, Thalia, Percy, Chiron.... But mostly he thought about one person; a girl. Cassy. She was been his sun and moon, his whole world. How could he have left her like that? And now that he was sworn to Kronos, he could never go back to her. And she would never betray her friends... She was too sweet, too kind...Too perfect. As he looked at the sea, his thoughts turned to the first time he met.

The golden-haired girl had walked into cabin 11 uncertainly, looking like she owned the place and lived here all her life. He, as usual, got up and greeted her. Luke couldn’t stop thinking about how beautiful she was. That night, as he sat beside her, cracking jokes and making her laugh, he realized how amazing she really was. He loved making her laugh, loved seeing that smile creep up slowly on her gorgeous face and her eyes light up in joy so suddenly when he made a face. Then, in the middle of him teaching her the lyrics to one of the songs, she was claimed. It happened during the campfire.

She was laughing when suddenly she was wearing a floor length white gown. Her gold locks hung perfectly in ringlets and her electric blue-eyes shone under very light makeup that she didn’t need. It hit him then. She was a daughter of Aphrodite; of course. There was no other explanation for her. She was so beautiful, so poised...So perfect.

When she was moved to Cabin 10, she kept coming back to cabin 11. They even gave her the bunk next to Luke’s; she stayed there so often. They were the best of friends, but Luke couldn’t help but feel like he wanted something more. In fact, he felt more than admiration for her, he felt love. He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her. Kiss her like he was out of air and she was the only oxygen in the world. But, how could he make sure she felt the same way.

Finally, after three weeks, Luke worked up the courage to ask her what he had wanted to ask since the day they had first met. To be his. He found her where she normally was when not by his side, sitting on the porch railing of cabin 10, reading. He walked up and sat beside her, letting her nestle into him and kissing his cheek. After she finished, she smiled and put down her book.

"Hey Luke, what’s up?"

"The sky, Sass. Just joking!” He laughed, shaking his head at her hurt pout. “Honestly, I just wanted to ask you something."

“Really,” She broke into that giant, brilliantly perfect smile of hers. “What?"

“Well, i was wondering.. you see... I-"

At that very moment, Connor and Travis Stoll appeared, and started throwing water balloons at the two, chanting ‘Lovebirds, lovebirds!’ Cassy shrieked in laughter. Luke was also laughing, covering his face and blocking Cassy from their aim. He may have be smiling, but on the inside, Luke was cursing their timing. They couldn’t have attacked them *after* he asked her the question. Silena Beauregard opened the door and yelled obscenities at the Stolls, who ran off, laughing. Silena smiled apologetically at Cassy and Luke and headed back inside, shutting the door and shouting about what the Stoll’s did to her siblings.

Luke couldn’t help but sigh. Everything was going wrong and getting worse. Even now he could see the Aphrodite kids heading towards the window, noses pressed to the glass and staring at them. Defeated, he got up, wiping the water off his face. Cassy saw him get up and frowned. "That was fun but what were you going to ask me?"

Luke turned away, running a hand through his hair.  "It’s nothing, Sass..."

Cassy got up and took his hand, pulling him close to her. "Luke Castellan, don’t you dare tell me its nothing; I know you like next season’s Saks catalog.”

Luke sighed and took a deep breath before before blurting, "CassI’velovedyousincethefirstdayImetyouandIdon’twannaspendanotherminutewithoutyoubeingmygirlfriend."

Cassy just stared blankly at him, not understanding a word he had said. "Sorry? I don’t really get fast talking...I mean, I’m from London and all, but even we didn’t talk that fast...”

Luke took another deep breath and repeated, slower this time. "Cass, I really like you. No, I love you. I have since the day we met. You're so bubbly and sweet and amazing... You can take care of yourself, unlike them." He jerked his head toward the cabin where the Aphrodite kids ducked their heads quickly. "You’re smart, studious and just...perfect. And, I was just wondering if maybe we could go out sometime?"

Cassy was so shocked, she just stared at him. Luke turned away, mistaking her blissful shock for displeasurement. "Forget it,” He mumbled. “I’ll just-"

"No." She whispered, darting forward and kissing him; right on the lips. At first Luke was so shocked he didn’t know what to do. But then he realised what was happening. She was kissing him. Then he leaned in and kissed her back, letting her arms wrap around his neck and he slid her arms around her waist as they kissed. You could hear the Aphrodite kids gasp as they kissed. Too soon she pulled away. just long enough to whisper "Yes." before kissing him again.

Luke snapped out of his flashback as the ocean spray hit his face, drenching him to the bone. On instinct, he reached into his pocket and took out the photo he always kept of her, wanting, needing it to be safe. He pressed his finger to his lips softly, remembering the feel of her lips on his sadly. He’d never feel her touch ever again.. Then lets his fingertips graze the photo. "Help me be strong..." He whispered, wishing she was there next to him, even now. Feeling her soft embrace against his skin. Sadly, he tucked the photo back in his pocket and walked back to Kronos; away from Cassy forever.