Charles Beckendorf swiftly made his way down the street towards the dance studio. His watch said the time was 8:14pm so he knew his best friend would be in the studio. He also knew she would probably yell at him when he walked in there but he didn't care. He couldn't wait for her to call him later. He needed advice now and in person. Beckendorf opened the door to the studio and headed toward one of the back rooms. He could see her stretching through the window. He knocked on the glass, waving frantically to make himself known. She looked up and motioned for him to come in. But he could not ignore the glare of death she was sending him. If they hadn't been best friends for so long and practically immune to her looks he was sure he would have sprinted for the exit instead of going inside.

"Can I help you?" Annabeth asked, fixing her ponytail.

"I need advice." Annabeth groaned and turned her music back on.

"No, we discussed this before I went to dance this morning. I am busy today but after I finish up I will send you a list of things to do to impress Silena." Beckendorf reached over and shut her music off, earning him a glare from the blonde.

"But I need more than just a one time list. Please can we talk?" He put out his lip like he had seen Percy do when he tries to convince Annabeth to do things. Annabeth rolled her shoulders continuing with her stretches.

"Fine, but on one condition."

His head resembled a bobble head as he nodded. "Of course anything."

"If you are going to be bothering me for advice during my studio time then you better understand that you are going to have to stretch with me and be my audience whilst I practice routines and such." His mouth betrayed him.

"Deal."

Annabeth stood up straight, crossing her arms and examining him. "Since you so rudely interrupted me today you will have to wait until tomorrow for advice." She looked down at his outfit. "Wear something comfortable. No jeans." He nodded again and started to back out of the room. Annabeth yelled over her shoulder. "8pm SHARP Charles Beckendorf."

Beckendorf walked into the studio at 8:01pm the next day, earning him a stern look from Annabeth. Same as yesterday she was stretching.

"You're late," she said over her shoulder as she stretched over the bar. He looked at the clock.

"But it is only 8:01."

She stood and looked at him. "Exactly. That is late. If you are going to want my help you are going to need to be on time. I only get an hour of studio time and you cutting that time short will not be tolerated." Beckendorf nodded in response, worried that if he spoke she would start lecturing him again. He knows because it has happened multiple times throughout their friendship. "Well don't just stand there, you agreed to work with me in exchange for my help. And I don't need you injuring yourself so start stretching." Beckendorf stood a few feet away from her, spun three times and reached for his toes. Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Okay clearly you need a lesson on stretching. Just… follow me." It took Beckendorf a moment to start copying her movements as he got distracted watching her make it all look so effortless. He did pretty well expect for almost falling when trying to raise his leg up in the air. Annabeth had laughed at him, but said he just needed more practice, while she raised her leg perfectly straight above her head. He stared at her.

"How?"

She brought her leg down, "I've been dancing since I was 3 Charles." He wrinkled his nose at her words.

"Don't call me that."

She took a sip of water, tossing him his. "Oh riiiiight. Only Sileeeeenaaa can call you by your first name. I forgot."

"Shut up." He took a sip of his water and watched her do pirouettes. "Soooo, speaking of Silena."

"Oh yea." She finally ended her turns. "You need to actually, you know, talk to her. You always get tongue tied and just stare at her and nod while she talks."

Beckendorf blushed. "She's beautiful."

"Well you are lucky that she thinks your awkwardness is cute." She resumed practicing her turns.

"S-she does." Annabeth nodded and looked at the clock.

"We have half an hour more and if you help me work on a routine I will give you more insight today okay?" Beckendorf agreed and Annabeth started the music. She pointed to him and then towards the wall. He complied by going and sitting on the floor. "I have part of a routine planned out but I'm not sure how it is turning out. Can you critique me?" He silently nodded and she got into her starting position waiting for the beat. She performed her choreography and he tried to formulate critiques as he watched. She spun and jumped and did a lot of other things that Beckendorf knew had fancy names but couldn't remember, before stopping suddenly.

She rolled her ankle while gazing at him exasperatedly, "I get stuck right there. I don't know what else to add and I keep messing up my variation and-" He felt lost listening to her rant in ballet terms. "Well?"

"Umm," he shifted uncomfortably, "I mean from what I could actually tell you were slightly off beat towards the end half but you just said you keep messing up… whatever you said, but you just. Well."

"Well what B?"
"Annabeth I have watched you dance for years now and you are technically perfect almost 100% of the time but watching you right now you just didn't look excited about anything you were doing." She nodded and he could see her fingers tapping rhythmically against her thigh. After a few moments she spoke.

"You are right. I'm not happy with it. I just don't see myself doing this routine I had planned. Thanks B."

Her smiled confused him. "You're welcome?" Annabeth started packing up her belongings, humming to herself. She shrugged on her cardigan before returning her attention to her best friend.

"I have decided I will not be doing a solo routine. Instead I will be doing a duet AND… You will be helping me choreograph it." She grinned proudly and sauntered out the door. Charles Beckendorf sat dumbfounded at her words. She wanted him to choreograph a routine with her. Him. The guy who has no dancing experience and spends too much time around machines. He stared at the door she walked out of processing her words, until he realized she left without talking to him about advice to his predicament.

"ANNABETH!" He sprinted out the room after her.