I returned late from my meet up with Annabeth. Sharing my problems with Annabeth felt like lifting a weight from my shoulders. To know someone has listened to you and wants to help making plants just felt so good.
Also I was exciting about meeting her boyfriend, Percy. She told me so much about him in such a mix of compliments and jokes that I knew this was true love. Also someone who survived to greek apoliptics sounded like such a cool guy?

But I also felt sad leaving so soon. I wish I could spent more time with Annabeth, I wish our parents hadn't broke contact.
I walked through the elevator doors of floor nineteen.
I had missed dinner (which was sad) and also tonights battle (which wasn't so sad).
I guessed everyone was asleep already, when the door to X's old room, which now belonged to Alex opened.

We haven't talked much since the last time when I asked her if she wanted to join coffee with Sam and I, she was still mad at Sam.
I blinked surprised at her and noticed Alex seemed more like a he tonight.

Alex leaned his hips at his doorframe and crossed his arms.

"Hey.", I greeted. I didn't want to push my luck saying "Hey, dude". Maybe I was wrong. I could be wrong.
Alex nodded at me. "I heared the elevator and figured it was you. You weren't at the battle."
Alex glanced at the floor before looking up at me again. "Missed your funny screams when you get killed."
"Gee, thanks man." It just slipped. I mussed have looked like a deer in the headlights, cause Alex started laughing at me after an awkward moment of silence between us.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't meant to.. I mean… misgend-"
Alex waved at me. "You know,", Alex started "It is pretty nice having someone not to tell what to call me. You're pretty good at guessing."
"I guess", I said while flushing deeply. I hated how I was always so easly embaressed. Especially by Alex. But I was glad I wasn't wrong. The last thing I wanted to do was insult Alex by misgendering him.

I guessed our conversation was over and I started walking past Alex when he asked. "Were have you been?" Ok not so good at guessing.
"Oh I met with my cousin, she want's to help us."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah, I haven't told you about her yet. It's all a bit confusing.", I said.
"That's alright." Alex replied. "I have time." And with that he moved back into his room, leaving the door open. I followed him inside.

I closed the door behind me. Alex was wearing a large faded pink shirt and green shorts for pajamas, he had already proceeded and laid down under the giant tree in his room. It was very similar to my own.
The potted items had increased and some had already been delicately painted. Thin ornaments covered bowls and I resisted to touch them. I was sure Alex wouldn't appreciated it.

I crossed the room and laid down next to him, leaving enough space between us and stretched my arms out.
The sun was setting above us and I could see the first stars through the petals. I felt myself relax, finally resting after the long day.
I heard Alex's breath next to me calm and regularly.
We laid there in comfortable silence for a while.

"You know", Alex started. "It's weird being back here after all what's happened. I feel like we should DO something but we're living day by day eating and mock fighting. It feels wrong"

Alex sounded really frustrated. I haven't realized how involved he had been in the mission. It had always seemed like he was doing it for fun but now he was all serious.
"Well we have to wait till midsummer before we can continue the mission but that doesn't mean we can't do nothing."

Alex shifted his head towards me. I did the same. It suddenly seemed like we were laying a lot closer.

I swallowed down the lump that had suddenly formed in my throat. "My cousin, Annabeth, she is really clever. She wants to help us figure out a strategy. She is sure her boyfriend can help us."
"You're sure your mortal cousin can help us? How did you tell her all this without making her brain explode?"
"She is a lot like us." I smiled. I was wondering how Alex would react to the next thing I had to say:" She and her boyfriend are also demigods"

Alex abruptly sat up. "You're shitting me right? What is wrong with your family?"
"Gee thanks again!" I said. And I realized I dropped the dude this time. I looked at Alex.
"Can I ask you something?"
Alex nodded raising an eyebrow in confusion of my sudden change of mood.
"Are you a girl right now?"

Now Alex frowned. "How do you now?", she asked. I looked away, studying the grass next to my face. "It's like… I don't know your aura? I can't explain it…"
Alex said nothing.

I wondered how it worked. The first time I met Alex I thought it depended on the day. One whole day girl another day all boy. But it happened before that Alex changed gender in the middle of the day. My head hurt from thinking about this, but I thought it was a lt harder on her. Was it annoying having to correct people the hole time? Would people get angry at Alex for doing so?

"Is it okay for me to ask? Or does it bother you?" I looked at her again. Now it was her turn to look away, but she chose the stars. She looked different in the soft light. My heart skipped a beat. I didn't understand anything.

"You can ask if you want to. Or you can keep guessing since you've been right the last few times. I will correct you if I have to"

I looked up at the stars as well.
"So," Alex spoke after a few minutes of silence "Who is your cousins godly parent?"
"Her mother is the goddess Athena", I said "and her boyfriend is the son of Poseidon. That's why she thinks he will be helpful with the whole sailing the ocean thing"

Alex blinked at me "wait Athena? Poseidon? Those aren't Norse gods. Those are-"
"Greek" I confirmed.

She let herself fall back into the grass again.
"This world is so fucked up", she muttered. I silently agreed with her. After one or two minutes of silence I started talking about Annabeth's adventures. It had helped me calm down a bit to know someone had similar or even worse experience.

I was in the middle of talking about Tartarus when Alex interrupted me.
"You should go now."

I realized it must have been the middle of the night maybe 2 in the morning, but when I turned my head towards Alex I saw something like tears in her eyes (though I would never say that aloud to her).
I remembered how Annabeth had cried when she told me about the awful days down in Greek hell and how I had only barley been able to hold back my own tears. Maybe talking about Tartarus wasn't the best idea to calm someone down.

I slowly stood up brushing the grass off my pants. I felt the strange urge to stay.
Alex stayed on the ground. I looked down at her.
"Goodnight then", I said in a weird quiet voice. Then I left.

Back in my room I threw myself down on my bed and immediately fell asleep.

The next morning I was woken by harsh knocks at my door. I sleepily went to open it.
I heated a discussing outside on the floor, then, at the same them I opened the door someone had already took swung for an especially loud knock and almost punched me in the face if I hadn't duck fast enough.

Outside my door stood my floor mates TJ, Mallory, Halfborn (the one who had almost broke my nose) and behind them Alex, already cracking with laughter.
"Nice bed hair.", Mallory said also starting to laugh. Since my drastic hair cut I always had the worst cow lick when I woke up. I tried to smooth it down but it didn't helped.

"You were late for breakfast so we came to pick you up.", TJ said.
Without changing my cloths, I figured I could shower later I was awfully hungry, I followed them down to the hall.
Alex was trotting beside me and I eyed her sideways. Or him? I considered Alex a minute longer and decided I couldn't tell. Alex noted my stare but only said:"you need to work on your bad habits."
"It's just.", I started. Today Alex was wearing a pink skirt with grey leggings and a green pullover. It looked like a very cozy look.

"I can't tell today", I said.
Now Alex looked up at me.
"I'm surprised you didn't take the skirt as a hint.", Alex said.
I huffed. "I don't think a piece of clothing identifies ones gender. I saw lots of boys in skirts and dresses while living on the streets"
Alex looked pleased when I said that. "You're really not that bad Magnus Chase."

Alex took a seat at the table and looked back at me. "It's she today", she smiled.
And just like the first day we met at the dragon battle when she said she was a she, she very obviously was a girl.

I took the seat next to hers and our friend settled around us.

I shoveled french toast on my plate and began inhaling it. Halfborn and Alex started a discussion if you could get fat in Valhalla or if the daily fighting prevented that for you.
I heaved some scrambled eggs, bacon and waffles on my plate and continued eating. Man I loved breakfast, I could eat it the whole day (except when there were falafel nearby, obviously).
I ate and drank and pretended not to notice every time mine and Alex's arms brushed against each other's. I decided not to think about what that possible meant.

When we finished breakfast we stood up in union. TJ said his farewell first, he had a knitting class to attend. Mallory and Halfborn disappeared shortly after, probably to some romantic killing walk through the forest of deadly dangers.

"See you later", I said when we arrived at Alex's door but she stood there uncertain not entering her room. I didn't leave either and waited for her.
"I hate to ask for help", she finally started "but I want to be able to communicate with Hearthstone. Can you teach me ASL?"

I have to admit I was supprised by her request. I figured she would somehow teach herself and never mentioned how she learned it or that it was difficult. I would have never imagine she would ask me for help. I still wasn't sure that she even liked me as a person.

"Please close your mouth. Yes or no?" she said annoyed.
I had been staring again. I really had to work on that habit.
"Of course!" I said.
"Alright." She headed off to my room.
"Wait where are you going?", I asked.
Alex had never been inside my room.

"I have pots that need to dry and you're always so touchy."
I got the feeling she was also talking about the breakfast as if I've done it intentionally. Before I could protest she was already inside my room. I followed her and found her staring at my tree.

"Why do our rooms look the same? ", she asked judgingly. She didn't seem to like the fact. I felt awful.
"I don't know" I admitted.
"I've been in Halfborn's room, it was completely different."
"You what?"
She turned towards me. "Halfborn is great to talk to I often visit him"
I don't know why that buffered me but I turned my head.

"I need to take a shower thirst. I feel sticky." I lifted my hand sideways above my head and opened and closed it again, the sign for showering.

Alex was already sitting down under my tree.