Graduation Day

Annabeth: 18 years old

Graduation day finally came. Annabeth of course, graduated top of her class and got a special scholarship in Harvard University for a course of Architecture. After the ceremony, the tossing of caps in air and the tearful goodbyes, Piper ran up to Annabeth.

"Hey, Annabeth," she said breathlessly.

"What's up?" she said.

"Well, Jason said a Frank invited him to a their house for a graduation party and said you, me, and Thalia can tag along. Wanna come?"

"You know I'm not a big party person, right?"

"I know," Piper pouted, "But it's our last year in high school, and...this may be the last time we get to party together."

She stared at her, unconvinced.

"And I heard Will Solace will be there," Piper sneered.

That made her stop to think. Will Solace was a new student during their Junior year, and Annabeth had been his first friend. She wasn't attracted to him at first but as it turns out, they had a lot in common. They both love Math, they ace their tests without breaking a sweat, they love criticising horrible movies, they're both blonde, and she liked watching him in his archery practice, especially since he can knock three consecutive arrows through the bullseye without even blinking.

In no time he became her nerdy bestfriend. He even took her to the Prom for her junior year and senior year, and that's when she realized, she's fallen for him. And ever since, she's been waiting for the right moment, to tell him what she feels.

After much consideration, Annabeth sighed, "I'll think about it."

"Yes," Piper said and suddenly Jason walked up next to her.

"Bye, Annabeth," he said.

Annabeth smiled without enthusiasm and waved at them before going to her parents, who were waiting in the car.

"Hey, sweetie," her dad said as she dove into the back seat.

"Hi, Dad. Hi, Mom." She thought for a moment, "Hey, Mom?...Dad? Can I go to a party later?"

"Of course you can honey," her mom said without even hesitating.

"You're not gonna stop me?"

"Hon," her mom turned back to face her, "You're eighteen now, you have to learn how to decide for yourself. We can't always choose for you."

Annabeth groaned and slumped back in her seat.

Zhang Mansion...

10:00 PM...

Annabeth walked up the steps onto the marble patio of Frank's place. She heard loud music playing inside and disco lights shone from the windows. She was about to ring the doorbell when one side of the huge oak doors creaked opened and Piper stepped out.

"Hey, glad you made it," her hair was disheveled and she looked tipsy.

Annabeth leaned towards her and sniffed, "Have you been drinking?"

Piper smiled and leaned against the wall, "I've had about four shots and I already felt dizzy so I just came out to get some fresh air."

"Is Will there?" she asked, suddenly changing the subject.

Piper nodded and hooked her arm around Annabeth's, "Come on, I'll lead you to him."

They went inside and immediately were greeted with a lot of bodies bumping against them, a lot of kids that she saw were either dancing, fighting, drunk or making out with somebody. Finally, Piper dragged her to the mini bar where Jason, Will, Thalia and an emo kid sat. Will seemed to be still sober despite the hundreds of shot glass on the table in front of him, Thalia had her face in her hands and was mumbling something incoherent. Meanwhile, Jason and the emo kid were laughing deliriously with bottles of liquor in there hands.

Will spotted her and waved, she sat beside him while Piper dragged drunk Jason outside.

"Wow, Annabeth. I thought you hated parties." He had to yell to be heard over the booming music.

"Yeah well," she shrugged, "I thought I'd try something out of my comfort zone."

He nodded then turned to the emo kid before turning back to her.

"This is Nico di Angelo," he gestured to the boy and Nico smiled at her, his eyes hazy.

"Pleasure to meet you," he thrusted his hand forward and she shook it reluctantly.

"Hi, I'm Annabeth Chase," she said.

"Will has told me a lot about you."

"Really? What does he say about me?"

"Uhhh...I don't know," Nico's words slurred, "That you're smart and a cool friend...or something."

He shrugged then took another swig in his bottle, before joining the other kids on the dance floor. Annabeth glanced at Will who grinned sheepishly, then turned to Thalia and patted her head...

"Hey Thals, you okay?" She asked.

Thalia mumbled something about Jason and stupid contests, then her head fell face-first on her arms and began to snore.

"She had twenty-seven shots you know," Will said, "Jason challenged her and she refused to let him win."

"That much? How many did Jason drink?" Annabeth asked.

"I'm not sure but I think he let Thalia win."

c"Why?"

"Beats me," he said then leaned towards me, "Do you want to go to the balcony? It's much quieter there."

"I thought you'd never ask."

Will led her upstairs into the balcony over looking the lights of the of the neighbourhood. The fresh, cold night air helped her brain think much clearer. She leaned back against the railings and inhaled deeply.

"You okay?" he asked.

"C-can I tell you s-something?" She forced herself to say.

"Sure, anything..." He gave her an encouraging nod.

Their eyes met and she felt like she's swallowed her tongue. His brow were knit, the way they always do when he's worried and she's always found that adorable about him. She focused on looking at his chest so she can speak.

"Will, I-I... I like you...more than just a friend," there she said it.

There was a long and awkward silence between them, she even finished the whole Alphabet song in her mind before he spoke.

"Oh," she heard him say.

She blushed then forced a laugh, "I guess you don't feel the same way, huh?"

"No," she was surprised when he pulled her into a hug. She was happy for a moment and thought that this may finally be the day... but as usual she was wrong.

"Look, Annabeth," Will pulled away and rested his hands on her shoulders,"I like you too and care about you, and you should know that I will never ever do anything to hurt you..." he looked down, ashamed. "Believe me, I have nothing against you... it's just that... I'm gay."

Annabeth stared at him, shocked but part of her expected it. It's not that she was used to being rejected, but she suspected so. Why he never talked about girls he liked, why he seemed to have that dreaming look on his face that one time when they watched the swimming championships in their school: with the dudes in their fitted swim trunks and having those hunky wet look. And that's why he preferred to hang with them girls than be with the guys.

"Annabeth, I-..." he started to say.

"Hey Will," Frank suddenly appeared at the doorway of the balcony, "Your boyfriend just passed out on the dance floor."

"Okay, tell them I'm on my way," Will sighed but he never looked away from her.

Annabeth rubbed her arm in discomfort, "Boyfriend?"

Will scratched the back of his head, "Yeah, it's Nico."

She nodded, "You should go help him, now."

"Okay," he walked for the door then hesitated, he glanced back at Annabeth and planted a kiss on her forehead, then he went back to the party.

Annabeth should've been thrilled that she got atleast a consolation prize, but she barely felt the kiss. Her whole body felt numb, instead, the kiss felt insignificant because Will Solace will never be more than just a friend.

Please comment if you liked it or if you have suggestions! Thank you. Happy New Year! :)