Chapter 7

I never do what I'm told

Percy and Annabeth were sitting outside the fifth cohort talking with Piper.

"Annabeth a word?" I questioned, gesturing inside. Annabeth smiled.

"Don't blow up the camp while I'm gone." She told them.

Once we were inside I spoke. "How's your afternoon looking?"

"Open. Why?" Annabeth asked, sitting down on the bed I sat on. It was actually Sapphira's bed because mine was above hers.

"Cato is becoming a full-fledged senator tonight." I started.

"Wonderful. You must be so proud." Annabeth congratulated.

"But." I sighed.

"Lamia, what's wrong?" Annabeth softly asked.

"I want to." I stuttered.

I couldn't get it out. Annabeth grabbed my hand.

"It's okay. Get it out." Annabeth spoke softly.

"I want to do something special for him." I blurted.

"He's done so much to get me here and all I've done is manage to keep getting in trouble and stir up trouble," I whined.

"Oh, Mia." Annabeth sighed, pulling me into her.

I slowly pulled away. I wiped a stray tear.

"So I was thinking." I stuttered.

I felt sick. Maybe I was coming down with something. Annabeth rubbed my arm.

"Start with the easy stuff," Annabeth suggested.

"I've been told not to do anything special for him. He told me not to do anything major but." I stopped and sighed.

"Gods of Olympus why can't I say it!" I exclaimed in frustration.

Annabeth frowned. "Just close your eyes and pretend you're alone. What do you want to do for him? "Annabeth asked slowly.

"I want to. I want to l-l-look nice for him t-t-tonight. A sur-surprise." I stuttered. Annabeth smiled.

"It's okay Mia. Good job." Annabeth reassured.

It's good that you want to look nice for your brother. That's a sign of maturity ya know. Caring about others." Annabeth told me.

I tried not to cry but I did.

"Come here, hero."!Annabeth chuckled pulling me into another hug.

"But heroes don't cry," I whined.

"Of course heroes cry. Even the bravest of heroes cry." Annabeth pointed out.

"You guys don't," I argued.

"I'll let you know I cried every night when Percy was missing. I would cry myself to sleep every night he was missing." Annabeth remarked tickling me.

I laughed in response.

"Now the million dollar question. How much?" Annabeth inquired.

I frowned and toyed with my purple streak again.

"I don't know." I sighed.

"Do you want to wet it?" Annabeth suggested.

"Should I?" I asked.

Annabeth smiled. "Want to go dunk your head in the river?" She smirked.

I laughed at that.

"You could go to the baths while I find a pair of scissors," Annabeth suggested.

"Alright." I shrugged, digging some clothes out of my chest. Annabeth went to leave.

"Not Piper's safety scissors!" I called after her. I think I heard her laugh at that.

I'd changed into a fresh camp Jupiter shirt and denim shorts, without holes or rips, and went to go meet Annabeth in the fifth cohort barracks. Percy and Piper were playing cards on the porch out front when I got back. Piper waved at me and nodded. Percy whistled and clapped. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Can it barnacle brain. Cato finds out I'll end you." I snapped.

Piper laughed.

"Gin!" She hollered triumphantly.

"What?" Percy demanded.

"Read it and weep trident boy." Piper smiled, laying her cards out for him to see.

I rolled my eyes again and walked in.

"You told them?" I asked Annabeth, dropping my bag on the chest and continuing to brush my hair.

"Yeah. Where'd ya think I was getting the scissors from?" Annabeth chuckled.

"Didn't you hear me." I sighed.

"Relax. They're legit." Annabeth reassured, showing me the scissors.

They weren't safety scissors so I relax a tiny bit. I sat down on Sapphira's bed and fiddled with my hands.

"So have you decided?" Annabeth questioned, taking the brush from me and brushing my hair back.

"Every time I think about I feel sick." I sighed.

"It's okay. Relax. Hair does grow back believe it or not." Annabeth replied.

"Just make it look nice," I told her. I straighten my back for her.

Annabeth smiled. "Glad to know you trust me so much."

"I do." I nodded.

"How about right here?" Annabeth suggested. I felt her hand on the middle of my back.

"Okay." I managed.

"Deep breaths. It'll be over before you know it." Annabeth reassured.

"Now hold still," Annabeth said grabbing the scissors and a comb.

I felt her comb it straight down and I heard the first snip. I felt her work her way across my back. She then combed it all back again and I heard the scissors cutting again.

"How's that feel? It's not an exact straight line." Annabeth told me. She flopped my hair over my shoulders.

"Was that terrifying or did you live?" Annabeth questioned.

I looked down at it. It stopped right below my chest now. My brain had shut down. I didn't know what to say. Annabeth put the scissors and comb on the bed and walked around to face me.

"Lamia?" She softly asked, kneeling in front of me.

I didn't know why but I felt a tear escape my eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry Lamia. Did I do too much?" Annabeth frowned.

I shook my head.

"It's beautiful." I managed to spit out.

Annabeth climbed onto the bed with me.

"Hey hey it's okay. It's over now. You did it, Mia. You face your fear." Annabeth reassured.

I let myself be comforted by her.

"Now how are you gonna hide that from your brother?" Annabeth asked.

"Got a hat?" I chucked. Annabeth laughed. She left and came back with a New York Yankees hat.

"It doesn't work for me anymore but I think it'll work." Annabeth smiled.

She wrapped my hair up in a bun and slipped on the hat over it.

"You look perfect Lamia." She smiled.

"Thank you, Annabeth," I told her.

"Your welcome Mia. Now, where's a broom? We need to dispose of the evidence before anyone sees it." Annabeth pointed out.

I shrugged.

Eventually, we found one with a dustpan by the entrance. It was buried in the garbage underneath my bloodied clothing from our quest.

"I love the girl you're becoming Mia," Annabeth told me before we headed out. I smiled and let her put an arm around me.

"I love you too Annabeth," I whispered as we walked out on the porch.

"And?" Percy raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"The deed has been done and we shall not speak of it until her brother gets to see it," Annabeth ordered.

"I'm her brother too." Percy pointed out.

"Your not becoming senator." I retorted.

"But I've been Praetor and Praetor trumps senator." Percy shot back.

"Quiet the boys are coming this way." Piper shushed us. Horns echoed throughout the camp.

"Change of plans." Jason started.

"Our butts need to be in the Senate like yesterday." Cato continued.

"Then evening muster and war games." Frank finished.

"See ya there then," Piper replied.

"I'll be in the front row watching," I told Cato.

"Now hurry up. You know how much Octavian hates tardiness." Percy teased. Jason had entered already and Cato was halfway.

"Octavian! I'm more worried about Terminus lecturing us about being late and making us even later." Jason called from within.

That made us all laugh.

"Alright, children let's get going for the Senate building and leave the boys to their duties," Annabeth suggested.

Dakota rushed past us and inside, forgetting to close the door.

"Dude! Door!" Jason hollered.

"Guys! I think I'm stuck." Frank announced.

"What are you going to do once you become Praetor and don't have us to dress you?" Cato teased. We heard someone fall over.

"Must I do everything?" Jason huffed.

I guarantee Dakota fell over.

"We really should get going." Annabeth chuckled directing Percy and me away. Piper laughed.

"And miss the four stooges?" I laughed. Percy laughed at that one.

"How hard is it for four boys to put on their togas?" Piper asked.

Percy and I shared a knowing look.

"It takes two boys just to get Dakota in his." I quipped. Percy chuckled. Piper rolled her eyes.

"Senate building is this way." Annabeth reminded.