Aria
PF Chang's was what for dinner.
The three demigods had managed to meet back up and share what the had learned in their little excursions. In addition to meeting their mothers and their new toys, two important facts were settled. First, the Necklace of Harmonia was in the hands of Plutus; secondly, they'd have to wait until after the mall closed to go after it.
"That's nice an all," Felix said after the waiter had left from taking their order, "But we're still in the dark about where Plutu's office is though."
Aria shook her head, "Maybe not..." she spread out a map of the mall and pointed at the map for the fourth floor, "All corporate offices are on the fourth floor. If there's anything like the doors to Olympus at the Empire State Building here in the mall, it should be there."
AJ nodded, ever since he had met up with the other two, the only thing he had added to the conversation was his trip to R.O.F.L. and the information that Iris had given him. Aria had remembered what her mother had said, You can't have anyone holding any secrets back, and it really seemed like AJ was hiding something. Worry gripped her; the prophecy mentioned that she'd be forced to doubt one of her teammate, but AJ didn't seem like the kind of person to hide important information from her.
"Order number 48."
AJ perked up at the sound, "That's us. I'll get our meal." He quickly got up and scurried off to the counter to pick up their meal.
Once the rainbow demigod was out of earshot, Felix leaned in, "Something's wrong with AJ..."
Aria nodded back, "Harmonia made it sound like that whatever he's not telling us might hurt in the long run."
Felix's eyes widened, "You to? Tyche said that I should go with my gut...and my gut is saying AJ isn't telling us everything...
"But doubt in one shall be seeded." Aria quoted, "When he gets back, we press him."
As AJ sat back down and started handing the plates out, "Sorry it took so long, there was a crowd up there." He unwrapped a fork and began twirling his noodles.
Aria and Felix locked eyes and nodded. Felix pulled AJ's plate away and looked him in the eye.
"Hey! What gives?"
"You do," Aria said, crossing her arms. She began triggering her calm-inducing abilities and using her Syn-Speak, "You've been jittery since we've left camp. What aren't you telling us?"
AJ sulked back in his chair, as if he was tying to fight the Syn-Speak, "I...I don't want to say..."
Felix stared at him, "AJ, we've been friends for several months now. You can tell us anything." Instead of fessing up, AJ cast his gaze away at a the Hard Rock Cafe, as if he was regretting their dining choice.
Aria huffed and stomped his foot under the table, causing him to jump back to reality, "We can't finish this quest if we can't trust you. What are you not telling us?"
AJ's looked defeated. With his eyes cast down, trying to fight back small tears, "I...I'm bi..."
Felix blinked, "That's it? You're ashamed that you like guys and girls? Dude, welcome to the 21st century, that's an acceptable thing."
While Felix chuckled to himself, Aria could feel that there was more to it.
AJ looked up, "...That's not what I'm referring to..." He pulled his legs up onto his chair, trying to make himself smaller, "I...I find you both attractive..."
That shut Felix up. The demigod of luck looked as if he had been hit in the face with a water balloon. As for herself, Aria could feel her face growing warm. She was flattered that AJ thought she was attractive; she had never given much thought towards having a boyfriend, even thought she saw several pairs of campers together at camp.
AJ spoke up again, "I...I didn't want to say anything since I didn't want either one of you to be scared off or hate me..."
Aria extended a hand across the table and placed a hand on his shoulder, mustering her calming ability, "It's okay, there's nothing you can do that-"
Felix cut in, "AJ...I didn't think they made magenta denim..." Aria was about to shoot him a glare, but he was right. His jeans and his polo shirt were a bright vibrant shade of magenta.
"AJ...did you do that?" Aria pointed for the demigod to look at his own clothes.
Once seeing it, AJ almost leaped out of his chair, "My mom wasn't kidding...emotions carry their power."
Felix tilted his head, "Wait, what did Iris say?"
"She said that I'll know emotion to feel when it's time...I guess this is what happens." AJ said, calming down, causing his shirt to turn a peaceful shade of violet and his jeans went back to normal.
Aria took a bite of her meal, "So, how do we plan on staying after hours?"
AJ stopped to think, "Well, there are more than enough stores with changing booths...get in one, toss an 'out of order' sign over it and wait."
The demigods looked at each other, waiting for one or another do shoot the idea down, but no one did.
Aria swallowed, "So, with no arguments, where do we want to hide, Ragstock or Forever 21?"
The Ragstock dressing rooms were surprisingly large.
Over the last two hours, each of the demigods had slipped into the same dressing room. Felix was the first to go in, holding a Nike print sweatshirt. Aria followed with a jean skirt, and finally AJ with a collection of accessories ranging from gloves to swim trunks.
"What?" He defended himself, "They're on sale."
With all three of them inside, they latched the door. Felix took out a sign that he had hid inside the sweater and scrawled 'Out Of Order' on it in pen and hung it over the door, "Hopefully no one will mind if the graphic tees aren't 25% of anymore..."