Disclaimer: I don't own PJO

Chapter 10

Annabeth

I entered the dorm room to see Piper and Hazel in front of the mirror, both giggling and holding dresses on them. On Piper's bed lay a couple dresses, ranging from the colors of black and brown to purple, pink, green, and even (for my own opinion) a nasty shade of orange.

The two of them must have seen me enter from the reflection of the mirror; they both turned and greeted me simultaneously with huge girly grins on their faces.

"Hi guys," I said, putting my bag down on the floor beside my bed. "Um, what's with the dresses?"

"Oh, Annabeth," Piper said excitedly, flouncing over to me and taking my hands. "I'm so excited!"

"For what?" I asked, still confused.

"Homecoming's this weekend!" Hazel said, her golden eyes bright with enthusiasm.

"Homecoming?" I have heard about Homecoming before. Americans celebrated it annually, sometimes at the end of September or the start of October. But since I was home-schooled in a palace, I never attended Homecoming before.

"Yes, Annie," Piper sighed dramatically. "And of course there's the dance…" Piper let go of my hand to go to her bed. She picked up a dress and eyed it.

"Bad," she muttered. Beside me, Hazel whispered, "Piper's usually not like this. She's not really all girly… but sometimes when it comes to stuff like this, she goes all loco. Probably inherited it from her mom."

"I heard that, Haze," Piper said, although she was still smiling. She turned to me. "Hey, Annabeth, do you have your dress already?"

"No?" I said uncertainly. "Well… not really. I didn't bring any in here when I arrived." Hazel beamed.

"Then we could take you shopping!" she said. "And we could take Thalia, too! Oh, it would be really fun!" Actually, I don't think taking Thalia shopping would be a good idea. The last time we went shopping –that was on Olympia a year ago, where we snuck out of the palace –she almost strangled the pretty saleslady who was assisting me while I fit on a dress (for what reason, I don't know).

I decided not to bring that up.

"Okay," I said. "When can we go shopping?"

"Tomorrow would be great," Piper said.

"Hey, did you know the Stolls are throwing a party tonight?" Hazel asked.

"Someone mentioned a party?" We all turned to see Thalia enter the room with a smile plastered on her face. "Because I just happened to be free tonight."

"Thalia!" Piper and Hazel said together. They both went to her and started to explain to her about the party, the Homecoming, yadda, yadda, yadda.

I didn't pay attention to them because suddenly my phone rang. I fished it out of my pocket and checked the caller ID. It was Mom. Why is she calling me?

"Guys," I said, "I'm just gonna go outside. I'll be back in a sec." The girls didn't seem to hear me. Thalia was declining Piper's and Hazel's offer of a shopping, and both of them were trying to persuade her that the salesladies here in New York were nicer than those of Olympia. Shrugging, I went outside to the corridor and closed the door behind me.

"Hi, Mom," I said as soon as I pressed accept. "What's up?"

"Annabeth," Mom replied. "How are you?" Okay, this was confusing. Mom wasn't supposed to be calling me. Well, she has her daily check on me, calling me every evening. But that's at seven p.m. sharp. It's still four in this Sunday afternoon. So there might be another reason why she's calling me.

"I'm fine," I said. "Mom, what is it?"

"Can't I say hi to my daughter?"

"I know it's something else." I sighed. "Mom, just blurt it out. I have other things to do."

"Fine, fine," Mom said. "Well, just promise you won't get mad at me." Uh-oh. This isn't good.

"It depends on the situation," I said slowly. "Why?"

"You do remember Luke, right?" Mom said. I rolled my eyes, even though she can't see me.

"Of course." I was surprised of the bitterness that was in my voice when I spoke. "How could I have forgotten him? He's my fiancé."

"Well," Mom said, hesitating. I sighed.

"Just go on with it," I said, trying to keep the impatience away from my voice.

"He is going to visit you," Mom said. "And he is on his way already."

"WHAT?" I was glad I was alone in the corridor now. I clamped my hand over my mouth immediately. "Wait, what?"

"I said, he is on his way to visit you there," Mom said. "I assume he will arrive tomorrow."

"What?" I said again. "Mom, you can't be serious."

"I am," My mother replied. I tried to think of a reason for sending him away.

"But," I said desperately, "where is he going to stay? He most certainly cannot stay at Goode. HE doesn't have any dorm room. I mean –oh gods –he can't stay in my room-"

"Annabeth." Mom's voice held a bit of impatience now. "It's all settled. I already called your friend Jason -I assume you still remember him? Well, I called him and he said that Luke can stay with him. Do not worry."

"But -" I tried to say something else, but I found I couldn't. Like always, I couldn't find a way of defeating Mom. So I just sighed.

"Okay." My voice was smaller than I expected it to be.

"It's alright, Annabeth," Mom said, her voice gentle. She must have sensed my distress. After all, I was here to escape the reality of getting married next year. And then one of the reminders of what's gonna happen to me is going to be here tomorrow.

"I need to go," I said. "Bye, Mom." Before she could reply, I hung up.

I must have been wearing a miserable expression because when I entered, the girls stopped blabbering to turn to me with worried expressions.

"Annabeth?" Piper asked gently. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I lied. "Just… a couple problems from the kingdo –uh, back home." I realized I haven't told Piper and Hazel about my secret yet. "Um, can you guys do me a favor? And by that I mean you, Piper and Hazel."

"Sure, what is it?" Hazel said.

"Find me a dress for the Homecoming," I said. And that was all I needed to say, because they both nodded immediately and went to Piper's closet, rummaging for clothes (although I was pretty sure they'd both be shopping for me anyway).

"Thalia, can I talk to you?" I said. Without a word, Thalia nodded and we both got outside the room.

"What is it?" Thalia asked worriedly. I sighed.

"Luke's coming tomorrow," I said miserably. "Here. At Goode." Thalia's eyes widened.

"What?" she half-whispered. "That's not possible!"

"Yes, it is," I said. Thalia looked at me sympathetically.

"What are you gonna do?" she asked softly. I shrugged.

"Face the fact, I guess," I said. "Besides, do I have a choice?" Thalia nodded understandingly, and I was really grateful to her for being there for me right now. Then suddenly, her eyes lit up.

"Annie, I've got an idea," she said. I raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?" I asked.

"You need to forget about this," she said. "Have fun tonight, get loose, and then you'll face tomorrow better."

"What am I supposed to do?" I asked. "I don't wanna go to a club to party or something."

"Who needs a club to party?" Thalia asked, smiling mischievously. "The Stolls are throwing a party tonight, at their dorms. And I heard they host pretty good ones." She winked at me, and I groaned and rolled my eyes.

"Thalia-" I began, but she cut me off. We both went inside the dorm room, and when Piper and Hazel turned to look at us, Thalia grinned and announced, "Get ready, guys. We're crashing that party."

Percy

Being in a place packed with people, with bright lights and loud music wasn't really my thing. But since it was Leo's birthday, I decided to give the guy a chance and agreed to accompany him at the Stolls' party. Now Birthday Boy was there somewhere with Jason and Nico, having fun while I sat at a barstool, my mouth shut and quietly watching what's happening around me. I may be a popular jock, but I'm not a party guy.

I have been swimming a while ago at our apartment complex, and the instant I dried myself off (although not completely) I received a text message from Leo saying that the Stolls were having a party tonight. I tried to decline, but the moron decided to remind me that it was his freaking birthday, and that only came once in a year, and that I owed him a favor. And so I reluctantly agreed to come in here.

The party started a while ago, and now it's already evening. Since Goode's a really disciplined school with a few good values, there was no group of teenagers taking pot in the corner, or no fighting between two guys or more. But there is still dirty dancing and alcohol, even though most of us here are minors. Oh well. I guess a party never loses this kind of stuff.

And so here I am, bored and trying to shoo away half-sober half-drunk girls who try to flirt with me. I kind of felt underdressed a bit; most girls were wearing these party dresses, and though the clothing were short and sort of lacked modesty, they looked good.

To try and keep away my boredom, I messed with my phone. I scrolled through my messages, and my fingers couldn't help but click my conversations with a certain name: Annabeth. Smiling a little, I clicked on and read our previous conversations. The funny ones made me smile and the more serious ones made me frown a bit, but all in all, reading the short texts cheered me up a bit, as though I was a book nerd and what I was reading was a beautiful novel.

I decided to call her. Maybe talking to her can occupy me –well, I guess it always does –and I can escape from this whole party reality. I dialed her number and waited for her to pick up.

After several tries, Annabeth still didn't answer. I was starting to get worried. Then it occurred to me that she might be studying, as she always does, and so I put my phone down. I can't deny that I was disappointed, though.

The bar tender (yeah. The Stolls hired one, aren't they amazing?) asked me if I wanted a drink, and I refused. My fingers were still lingering around my phone screen while my mind decided if I should call Annabeth again. Without knowing it, I was dialing her number again.

This time, though, she picked up. But maybe not. She answered the call, but she didn't speak. All I heard was loud music and the voices of teenagers. Was she… at a party?

No. No, she possibly couldn't be. I mean, the last thing she would do during a Sunday night is to attend a party! And Annabeth wasn't a party person, like me. Besides, the curfew's at eleven, and she can't be in a bar in the city because she'll be home late and the gates are closed. So where could she be?

I stood up and walked away from the bar, trying to get a good signal.

"Annabeth?" I said. "Hey, Wise Girl, you there?" No reply. So I continued walking, still trying to get a good reception, until I arrived at a place where the dance floor was in my view. And what I saw made me freeze.

I recognized her instantly. Her blonde hair –now back to its natural golden color –her tall figure, and most especially her gray eyes, which were now bright with drunk enthusiasm.

It was Annabeth. She was wearing this shirt black dress and heels –and by gods, I swear she looked really good, but I just couldn't believe it. Annabeth, in a party, dressed in something like that, and maybe even drunk? Unbelievable.

And she was dancing with this tall blonde guy –I think his name was Alexander, or something –and I could see that although she was having fun, the guy's eyes held something more than that.

And the fact that what I was seeing was making me angry kind of unnerved me. Was I… jealous? Whatever.

Whatever it was I'm feeling, it kind of brought me striding across the dance floor and to the both of them. The two of them stopped dancing to face me, the guy looking confused and Annabeth smiling and frowning at the same time.

"Hello, Annabeth," I said after taking a deep breath. Her eyebrows scrunched together cutely, and then she said,

"Do I know you?" Ouch. After a pause, she said with a grin, "Oh, yes. Perrrccyy." She slurred my name. I was right. She was drunk.

"Dude, who are you?" the guy asked, annoyance in his voice. "We were dancing."

"Percy Jackson," I said in a venomous tone, and I almost smirked when the guy recoiled. "Back off."

"But Percy," Annabeth whined, "we were having fun! I've never had so much fun!" I rolled my eyes.

"Annabeth, let's go," I said firmly. "You're drunk?"

"Man, she's right, we were having fun!" Alexander said. "Go away."

"No, she's going with me." When I grabbed Annabeth's hand, Alexander's fist flew out. I quickly ducked, and then I socked him on the face. That felt good.

I heard a few gasps from the people, and then just as I turned my back and grabbed Annabeth with me, Alexander stood up and punched me on the stomach. Too bad for him, though; I worked out, so his fist connected with my abs instead. The impact was hard, though, and I reeled back a bit. Without thinking, I swung my fist and it connected with Alexander's nose with a crack, and then he fell to the floor.

I didn't stop to see what happened next. I grabbed Annabeth's hand and led her outside.

The weather was cold, and I took off my jacket and draped it around Annabeth's shoulders. She was shivering, and her face was still flushed. Halfway back to the girls' dorms, she stopped.

"What is it?" I asked gently. Annabeth didn't answer. Instead, she just ran off and bent over. I realized she was vomiting, and I quickly ran over to her and held her hair as she threw up.

"Gods," Annabeth said. "I'm such a mess." I knew that although she now able to talk, Annabeth was only half-conscious. She was still drunk.

"Come on." I walked over to her and gently lifted her in my arms. Annabeth was even lighter now, and I guess that was because of all her volleyball training. She snored softly and her head leaned on my shoulder as I carried her to her dorms.

Luckily, I didn't need to swipe Annabeth's card on the machine, because they door was open (if that was good or bad, I wasn't sure). She or Piper must have forgotten to lock it.

Piper. I inwardly groaned. She must have been the one who brought Annabeth into the party. Ugh. I made a mental note to talk to her after this.

I pushed the door open with my toe and went inside. I gently set Annabeth down in her bed and flicked the lamp on her bedside table.

I was on my knees, and because of that, I was eye –wait, no, face-level with Annabeth. And I couldn't help staring at her face, which was so peaceful and serene and, well, she basically looked like an angel. And that was saying a lot.

Sighing, I stood up and took off the pair of black heels from her feet. Knowing Annabeth, I knew she wasn't the one who planned her outfit. A pair of those things would have been her last choice.

Annabeth groaned and I immediately went back to her. Her eyes were shut tight, but I could see she was struggling to say something.

"Annabeth?" I said softly.

"Luke," she muttered. I frowned. Who's Luke? Suddenly, I felt something on my chest when I heard her say that. Annabeth's eyes were still closed.

"I hate him," Annabeth mumbled, but her face was relaxed now. "He's my fiancé…" My eyebrows scrunched together. Fiancé? Annabeth had a fiancé? She was getting married?

"What?" I asked, although I know she wasn't going to answer me. Annabeth was sleep-talking.

"Reason…" Annabeth continued, her voice trailing off, "why I'm… in here. Married at my birthday… Arriving tomorrow… No." And then that was that. Annabeth stopped talking, falling asleep completely.

I sighed and pulled a blanket over her and tucked her in. I felt so protective and caring and all those stuff. It felt so nice, and it felt so right. I've never done this to a person before. It felt kinda new, but I felt like I… argh. It's unexplainable.

Well anyway, after stashing her heels someplace Piper was sure to find, I went back to Annabeth's side again. I softly pushed a stray of blonde hair away from her sleeping face.

"Good night, Wise Girl," I said. Then the next thing I did surprised me: I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Sleep tight. I'll see you in the morning."

With that, I stood up and turned the lamp off, and then I went out, locking the door behind me.

Okay guys, sorry for the late update, but my wifi again was being a wuss :( So I turned fourteen last Wednesday, and yeah, I got a huge birthday-greeting-whatnot from random people and of course my crazy best friends ^_^ Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter and tell me what you think!

Review, Follow, Favorite, and have a nice day!

-Bluecookies19