AN: This is a collaboration between MerAngel and Percyjfan.
French Braid
Annabeth Chase was completely absorbed in her book. It was about architecture. Annabeth found it fascinating. She had tried to talk to Percy and Grover about it, but they made fake yawns behind her back when they thought she wasn't looking.
"Hey Annabeth," said one of her siblings. She looked up. "There's a call for you at the Big House." Annabeth got up and jogged through camp to the big blue farm house. She passed a couple campers playing volleyball. They looked happy and carefree, but Annabeth knew they were full of worry. Their smiles were like the ones the newscasters plastered on their faces. 'How could Percy's sixteenth birthday be so close?' she thought. It was only a week away, and the aura of it was hanging over camp like a fog.
She entered the coolness of the Big House. Chiron was sitting in wheelchair form by the phone. "Ah," he said into the phone. "Here she is." Annabeth took the phone as Chiron wheeled out of the room.
"Hey Annabeth! Remember me?"
Annabeth clutched the phone and gritted her teeth. Remember? She wished she could forget that voice! "Hello Rachel," she said coolly. "Annabeth," Rachel said. "I need your help. There are four hoof marks on the hood of Paul's car! Percy and I were just driving out to the beach when this guy on a Pegasus landed on it! How do I explain this to Paul?" Annabeth almost screamed, "Percy was driving? I wouldn't trust him as a rider in a bus." Her mind raged with words like, How dare he go somewhere alone with Rachel?
"Any way," Rachel said. "Percy went with the guy and I kissed him goodbye and they flew off." Annabeth's fist curled tightly. "Goodbye Rachel," she growled and slammed the phone onto the receiver.
Annabeth walked stiffly out of the big house, an argument raging in her brain.
How could he? I'm his friend. How could he go on a date with someone as…How could he?
Well, you're only his friend. He can go out with who he wants to.
Yeah, well. He's only known her for about a year.
Well that doesn't really matter does it? You don't like him like that do you?
Well I…?
"Annabeth!" Annabeth jumped at the sound of that pretty voice. Silena Beauregard was running toward her, black hair flying. "Annabeth," she called again. "You must let me fix your hair. I could make you pretty." Annabeth shook her head and started to turn away when Silena grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the Aphrodite cabin. Annabeth tried to protest but sadly, Silena had a death grip on her arm.
Silena's bunk was decorated with a mirror on the wall. There was a bunch of fashion designs pasted here and there. There was also a letter. As Annabeth leaned forward to read it, Silena ripped it off the wall, blushing. "No need to look at that sweetie." Annabeth smiled smugly and said, "Love letter?" Silena flushed crimson and sat Annabeth down on her bunk. She pulled out a hair tie and a comb and began to braid Annabeth's hair.
"So how has it been going? I sense some anguish in your love life."
"I can't talk about it."
"I'm sorry. I won't tell anyone. You can talk."
Annabeth suddenly felt as though she could trust Silena. It was strange, but it was if there was another influence.
"Well, last year, Percy met this girl called Rachel. She goes to his highschool."
"Oh that's bad."
"He was suddenly her friend and she wrote her phone number on his hand. Then he remembered it!"
"What a jerk! You're his friend!"
"Yeah. I feel…replaced."
"Not jealous?"
"What?"
"Nothing. Your hair is done."
Annabeth looked at herself in the mirror. Silena was pretty good with hair, Annabeth had to admit. She got up from the bed and marched outside. "Don't you have anything else to confess?" Silena asked, following her. Annabeth shook her head. Silena stopped, smirked and waved a hand.
Images flashed at high speed in front of her eyes. She was standing over a sleeping Percy; she was crying on his shoulder at Siren Bay, she was kissing him at Mt. St Helens. There were a bunch of other things like that. When they stopped, her eyes felt like they were spinning in their sockets. "What did you do?" she panted. "Neat power huh?" asked Silena. Annabeth flushed scarlet. "If you ever tell anyone…" she growled. Silena just looked up and nodded. "Percy and Charlie are here."