Chapter 4
I'm sitting at my desk in the Athena cabin, drawing plans for what can never happen, but I like to daydream about Camp Half-Blood having a New Athens, Like Camp Jupiter has New Rome. But there's nowhere to build, so my daydream stays a daydream. But I can Picture Everything. I would model it after the first Athens, but of course I would update everything. A new Parthenon would be built, and my Mother's statue would stand in the center like it did in ancient times.
"Hey Annabeth. What are you looking at?" My older Brother Austin asks as he walks into the Cabin. Judging by his being drenched in sweat and smelling like Smoke, I'd say he just got back from the climbing wall.
"Nothing much. Just designs." I say. He comes over and looks at them. I gag at his smell.
"Hey, I don't smell that bad!" He says.
"You're right. You smell worse." He wrinkles his nose at me.
"Fine, I'll take a shower." He says. I work on some more drawings. He comes out of the bathroom a few minutes later with a fresh Camp Tee Shirt and jeans. He gives me a hug from behind and looks at my plans. Austin and I are closer than most of the demigod siblings. He joined camp the year before Percy and I left for New Rome, and we just clicked. Sometimes I feel like He's my real brother that I grew up with, not my Half brother I met last year.
"Are these for Olympus?" He asks. I shake my head.
"No. It's for New Athens here at Camp. But it can't ever happen. There's nowhere to build."
"This is a great idea though. But you're right. Entire camp is taken up, and we can't get rid of anything."
"Just Wishful thinking. You want to go do something?" I ask him.
"Like What?" He asks.
"Volleyball? I bet you Andrea from the Apollo cabin is there." His ears turn red.
"Uh, Who?"
"Don't Play stupid, Austin. I know you like her."
"Yeah, Yeah, whatever Sis. Let's go."
...
"So. Austin showed me your New Athens Plans." Percy says. We're eating lunch with Jason, Frank, Piper, Hazel, and Leo. The Seven are back together. We're eating outside at the picnic tables, where anyone can sit with anyone.
"Yeah, then Percy showed them to us. They look awesome." Hazel says. She starts playing with her bracelet.
"Thank you, guys. But I was just bored. There's nowhere to build, so It can't happen."
"Yeah, That is a shame." Piper Says. "I especially liked the Aphrodite Park. My mom would have loved it."
"Yeah, and the Thundercloud Statue? That was awesome." Jason says.
"Well, I was trying to do Something for each Olympian. And Hades of course." I say. "But enough of wishful thinking. What's been up with you guys?"
"Well, I've been helping Start a branch of the Legion here at Camp. Only a few people have enlisted, But it's coming along. I've been talking to Chiron about making a rotation between The War Games we had back at Camp Jupiter and Capture the Flag." Jason says.
"Yeah, and I've been helping design new Chariots, both Flying and Regular." Leo says.
"I've started training Pegusi. And giving lessons of course." Piper says.
"Hey Jason, Have you guys thought about maybe adding a Navy to the Legion?" Percy asks.
"Actually, yeah. There's been talk about it anyways. Why? I thought they let you out early for the whole Gaea thing."
"They did, but I've been thinking about maybe I shouldn't have left. It's really the only career path I can see myself on. Being a solider, I mean."
"Dude, you were discharged less than 2 months ago, and you already miss it?" Frank says. "You're Crazy. I've been thinking about an Early discharge myself, as soon as my pratership is up."
"So that position is up for grabs, then?" Percy asks.
"Possibly. I haven't left yet." Frank Says.
"And whose to say I won't be the one to take it if it is?" Jason raises an eyebrow.
"Girls, Girls, you're both pretty." Hazel Jokes, feeling an argument coming on. "Can we not just have one meal together without you boys starting a fight?"
"Nope!" Jason replies happily as Percy Puts some ketchup on his burger. Leo laughs and lemonade comes up his nose. That makes all of us laugh.
"So you are all going to the Fireworks in two weeks, right?" I ask them.
"Hephaestus and Apollo's Cabins are working together on it. You can't miss it. And Baby, It will be the most epic firework show of all time." Leo says. Percy smiles. Piper raises an eyebrow at him and he blushes.
"Okay, I'm getting tired of you guys doing that. What do you know that I don't?"
"Something for us to know and you to find out." Piper tells me. Percy Blushes, making all of us laugh.
...
"It's just the fireworks, Piper! I've been a thousand times. Why do I have to get dressed up now?" I ask her as we sit in the Aphrodite Cabin, Her and her sisters about to give me a clean up and a make over. Against my will, I might add.
"You're going with Percy. That's why. Annabeth, trust me. You want to look your best."
"Does this have anything to do with the secret everyone knows except for me?"
"It has everything to do with that."
"Fine. But no shorts so short they're basically bikini bottoms." I know Piper wouldn't do that to me, but her sisters are another story.
"Deal." Piper says.
I go to the bathroom and take a shower. Lucy gave me very specific instructions on what products to use and when and in what order. When I get out I put on my Sports-bra and compression shorts so I can go out in front of them with a little dignity.
"Alright, Annabeth. First things first. Bikini waxing." Drew tells me.
"Excuse me? I don't think so."
"Annabeth, trust us." Piper says. "Just suck it up and let us do what we need to."
"And this is why I was born of Athena and not Aphrodite." I say but lay down on Piper's bed for Drew to torture, I mean wax, me anyways. To say it was painful doesn't exactly cover it. Every area of my body except eyebrows and scalp were covered in wax and then ripped off of me. And I do mean every area. All of them. That dignity I was talking about earlier, gone. My body is soft and smooth and pinkish afterwards. And I think Drew enjoyed it more than she should have.
"Time for hair." Piper says. "I'll be doing that myself. So let's see here. Blond hair, electric grey eyes, and tan skin. Messy fishtail will work." She says and gets started. She finishes drying it and starts straightening it. Then she starts at the bottom of my head and braids it into one fishtail braid down my back, and lets some loose hairs hang around my face.
"And Perfection." She says. Now let's pick out your clothes. By now everyone else has started working on themselves to get ready for the fireworks. She walks over to an enormous closet and looks at a chart. "Okay. Blond hair in a fishtail. Tan skin. Grey eyes and an athletic build. your colors will be navy blue and grey." She looks through the closet and picks out a few outfits. "Try these on."
I take them and go into the closet. I try on the first one, which I swear on the river stix never to wear. It's a navy v-neck with a grey skirt that is barely half way to my knees. I walk out and Piper immediately Shakes her head. "
No way. Not you at all. I don't know what I was thinking."
"Thank you. I already swore on the Stix never to wear it again."
I walk back in and pick up the next outfit. Navy jeans and an electric grey shirt. I walk out and Piper considers the outfit.
"You look hot, but it's going to be like 90 degrees tonight. I think the last one will work."
I try on the outfit, and Yeah, you could say it works. It's a pair of grey cut off shorts that come halfway to my knees, but they don't look trashy. The shirt is a navy v-neck, but it doesn't come down far enough to look sluty. I walk out and Piper gasps.
"Yes, Annabeth! Yes. You look like you could be my sister on my mother's side."
"I really like it. Thanks Piper."
"You're welcome. And remember, Diamond Coral." She says as she sits me on a vanity stool and starts with my make-up. When I'm finally done, She puts some ocean breeze perfume on my neck, wrists, and behind my ears.
"Thanks, Piper." I say as we walk out of the cabin to go meet Jason and Percy. "Are you and Jason going to sit with us?" I ask and she shakes her head.
"Naw, we have something planned for tonight. Percy has a special place picked out for the two of you anyways. A place only for two." We walk down to the lake and see the guys waiting for us. Percy looks great. He's wearing a blue tee shirt with a green trident on the middle and some shorts. His black hair is combed but not styled. His green eyes are striking. Jason doesn't look too shabby either. Piper smiles and takes his hand.
"Ready? Fireworks will start in ten minutes." He smiles and kisses her cheek.
"Let's go." He looks sideways at Percy. "And, uh, good luck bro." Percy smiles and they leave.
"So where are we sitting, Seaweed brain?" I ask as he kisses me. I take his hand.
"By the beach. And I pulled a favor with Dad and there's going to be a huge wave along the back of the shore so we can sit alone."
"What's the occasion?" I ask him.
"Something Special." He says. We walk to the beach and immediately a wall of water appears behind us. I smile and he lays the blanket down. He grabs a picnic basket by the shore I assume he packed earlier.
"Strawberries, burgers, Contraband Coke-a-Cola, oh, and an Annabeth special. Ham and Cheese." He says and hands me my sandwich and a can of Coke. The fireworks start before long. We lay down on the blanket with my head resting on his shoulder.
"Beautiful." I say as he puts another Strawberry in my mouth.
"You really are." He says.
"I was talking about the fireworks, Percy." I tell him.
"And I was talking about you." He says. We sit in mostly silence as the rest of the show goes on. There's pictures in the sky of George Washington, the American Flag, and The battles in the Titan war and the Giant war. I love the ones of me and Percy in the stables of the Argo II.
"That one's a good one." Percy says as it shows a trident in the sky, then an owl. The symbols of Poseidon and Athena. "And by the way, I have a question. He says and sits up. I sit up and face him.
"Anything to do with Diamond Coral? That's been driving me nuts for a long time."
"It actually does. And it has to do with this." He says and pulls out a little box as another firework booms above us. He opens it and inside is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen in my life. It's on a white gold band with two Diamonds in a diagonal figure 8. There's a ruby in the center of one and coral in the center of the other. My eyes start tearing up.
"Percy, are you..." My voice trails off. He switches from sitting to kneeling.
"Annabeth Chase, I have been in love with you for a long time. I've been wanting to ask you this for a long time, but neither of us were ready, but we are now. I think your ceasefire with Hera came at a perfect time. Will you Marry me, Wise-girl?" I'm smiling so wide I can hardly speak, but I manage a yes then he leans in for a kiss.
"I love you so much." He says when he pulls away.
"1 month." I say.
"What?"
"We're getting married next month. I won't be able to wait any longer than that. On our annaversery. That way we'll have one, for both when we got together and when we got married." I say and he nods.
"My Birthday too." He says and smiles. "It's going to be a busy month, but we can get it all ready." I kiss him again.
"Percy. We are getting married!" We kiss again and the water wall behind us falls, hitting everywhere except where we're sitting. It's the best moment of my life.
...
"Let me see! Let me see! Let me see!" Hazel chants as Piper stiffels a laugh.
"Hazel you made the ring. You know what it looks like." I say but flash my finger at her anyways and she grabs my hand.
"I know I know. But it looks so great on your hand. Percy designed it, ya know. He picked a ruby to go in the center of one because t's your birthstone and coral in the other because he's Poseidon's son." She says and let's go of my hand.
"Guys, we're supposed to be planing my wedding. It's on August 1st. Can we get a move on please." I say. "Let's choose a venue." Piper shakes her head at me.
"Uh-uh. No. We're designing your dress. So we want it to be modern but not trashy. And it's going to be hot so maybe knee-length instead of it trailing the ground." She says and pulls out a sketch-pad.
"Line the veil with diamonds. I can get those for you." Hazel says.
"Just on the front edge." Piper says. "But the bridal train will still drag on the ground. And maybe an owl impression on the back.
''Do I get a say on any of this?'' I ask.
"Do you disagree with anything we're saying?"
"Nope, but I do have some suggestions. 3 quarter length sleeves. All solid white made of Silk with no designs. Except for on the Bridal train and veil." I say.
"Alright. Alright. And Ruffles on the skirt."
She shows me the sketch. I gasp. She drew a perfect sketch of the dress with me in it, down to the last detail. Even the engagement ring on my left hand.
"That's Perfect! It's Beautiful! And when did you learn how to draw?" I say.
"I took some lessons. But, Yeah I like the design too. It would look so great on you. I was thinking that you and some of your sewing-savvy sisters could sew it."
"Sounds good to me. You and the rest of your cabin just need to get me the patterns. And Hazel, If you could get me the Diamonds that would be great."
"Square Deal."
"It'll be ready by your 19th Birthday."
"That's only 3 days away. And by the way, The entire camp has a huge present for you. A birthday/engagement party will be thrown for you and Percy." Hazel says
"Right. And Piper, any ideas for shoes?"
"Yeah. Lack there of. We're going to get you one of those strings that goes around your ankle and a toe and put some Pearls on it."
"Alright, Venue time then?" I ask.
"No!" They both yell at the same time.
"Guest list." Piper tells me.
"And you need to pick your Bridesmaids and Maid of Honor." Hazel says. I suddenly notice how worn out she looks. Just pailer and more tired than I've ever seen her.
"Hazel, you okay?" She hastily nods.
"I'm totally fine. Just a little wore out. Now about your maid of honor." I decide to let it drop, at least for now as long as she doesn't look like this ever again. Sick and worn out. there are dark circles under her now dull but usually radiant skin. her hair is matted and unkept, even in it's Roman style braid. Her eyes are bloodshot.
"Yeah, uh, You guys know I love you, right?" I say.
"We know. We also know you can only have one made of honor at your wedding, and that if it's not us then we'll still be bridesmaids."
"I already picked Thalia. Sorry guys."
"Like we said, Totally fine." Piper says. "Now, does this guest list work?" She asks and shows it to me.
Alright, Here it is. Hope y'all like it. I put a lot of work into finding out where and how I wanted Percy to propose. Think I nailed it, but if you think it could have been better let me know. If not, then still write a review to let me know I did good. Sorry if anyone seems a little out of character, I tried to keep them the same, but it's Annabeth's wedding. They can be a little girlies than usual. Also, notice the foreshadowing about Hazel, hint hing. Thanks for reading! Y'all are Awesome!