Chapter 10: I end the pampering weekend with a battle

Three days before the dance when Jessica and Angela talked me into a shopping trip. One that would last three days because apparently Port Angeles is the place to shop and maintain the good looks. I rolled my eyes but tagged along because frankly Forks gets boring fast. We left on Friday right after school and luckily Jess drives pretty fast (faster than the Chief anyway), so we made it to Port Angeles by four.

It had been a while since I'd had a girls' night out (the last one was with Athena, Hera and Aphrodite all arguing over what I should wear at winter solstice) and the estrogen rush was invigorating. We listened to whiny rock songs while Jessica jabbered on about the boys we hung out with. Jessica's dinner date earlier this week with Dylan, she decided that Mike wasn't worth it since he begun pursuing me and left her in the dust, had gone very well and she was hoping that by Sunday night aka dance night they would have progressed to the first-kiss stage. I smiled to myself, pleased. Angela was passively happy to be going to the dance but not really interested in Eric. Jess tried to get her to confess who her type was, but I interrupted with a question about dresses after a bit, to spare her. Angela threw a grateful glance my way.

The dance was billed as semiformal, and we weren't exactly sure what that meant. Both Jessica and Angela seemed surprised and almost disbelieving when I told them I'd never been to a dance in Phoenix.

"Didn't you ever go with a boyfriend or something?"

"Really"

I tried to convince Jessica, not wanting to confess my past. Its not like I could tell her that I live in a camp and that like the rest of the Gods I wear a toga to official meetings.

"I've never had a boyfriend. I didn't go out much."

"Why not?"

Jessica demanded.

"No one asked me"

Except the bullies at Ares camp and that is just too weird. She looked skeptical.

"People ask you out here, and you tell them no."

So this is about Edward Cullen. I turned my back and started scanning the racks at the juniors' section.

"Well, except for Tyler"

Angela amended quietly.

"Excuse me? What did you say?"

"Tyler told everyone he's taking you to prom,"

Jessica informed me with suspicious eyes. I had to pick my jaw off of the floor.

"He said what?"

"I told you it wasn't true."

Angela murmured to Jessica. I was silent but I couldn't help the loud laughter that escaped me. But we had found the dress racks, and now we had work to do.

"That's why Lauren doesn't like you"

Jessica giggled while we pawed through the clothes. I shook my head laughing with her making Angela crack up too. The dress selection wasn't large, but we all found a few things to try on. Angela and I sat on a low chair just inside the dressing room, by the three-way mirror while Jessica was trying her choices on. Jess was torn between two — one was a long, strapless, black dress and the other a knee-length strapless forest green one. I encouraged her to go with the green; why not play up the eyes? Angela chose a pale pink dress that draped around her tall frame nicely and brought out honey tints in her light brown hair. I chose a short blue dress that had a lacy cover my left arm. We headed over to shoes and accessories. While they tried things on I merely watched and critiqued, not in the mood to shop for myself except one pair of black dress sandals.

I knew that no-matter what I chose if my mother didn't like it she would makeover me.

- - - Scene breaker - - -

Saturday was a beautiful sunny day that was spent indoors as Jessica dragged Angela and myself to her favorite spa for massages, waxing, hair styling and a long makeup process that left Jessica looking like a brunette Barbie with zero expressions under her mask of makeup. Angela however chose my idea and wore only a little makeup and simply exchanged her glasses for eye contacts.

Saying I'd go get the car ready I left them in the spa. I was walking alone in the streets of Port Angeles when out of the corner of my eye I saw a silver Volvo parked along the street. It was empty but my gut told me it was Edward's, so did the license plates. 'Accidentally' I had prickled the skin of his bicep with Katoptris during class that morning smirking when a drop of gold blood leaked out of the tiny cut and his eyes widened. He had left school immediately.

'Let the games begin' I thought.

I walked past the car feeling suddenly like a string was pulling me. From experience I knew I had to let it guide me. It led me to an alley where 4 men were lounging against the buildings. One was standing in the middle of the street.

Looking closer I realized they were about the same age as me or maybe even younger. I recognized one of them and a cold chill passed down my back. He was a heavyset, dark-haired boy in his mid teens. He was wearing a flannel shirt open over a dirty orange t-shirt, cut-off jeans, and sandals. I stood straighter.

Evan, the son of Ares that had gone awol since before I came to Forks was staring at me like he had never seen a girl before. The guy that stood in the middle of the street turned slowly following Evan's eyes. A coy smile was born on my lips.

Luke Castellan, son of Hermes and right hand assistant of my brother's main villain is also the guy I've had a crush on since I first met him when I was twelve years old. He is the best swordsman camp Half-blood has seen in 300 years but I'm just as good. The two of us can - and have on occasion - battle for hours without ever beating each other.

"Hello Luke. Goodbye Luke"

I quoted Katherine Pierce and tapping my wrist I freed Kataklysmos of its bracelet confines and attacked. Kataklysmos is a 4 feet long double edged trident-turned-sword forged by the God of Forgery, Hephaestus himself. two roses are wrapped round the length of the sword locking around my wrist holding the weapon in place. Its made out of celestial bronze. Luke's sword is called Backbiter — a blade with one side of celestial bronze melded with tempered steel. The celestial bronze allows for the wounding of immortals and monsters, while the steel injures mortal. It shows exactly who's side Luke is on. Unfortunately no amount of celestial bronze can beat it.

Our swords clashed as I fended off his attacks defending myself before using Katoptris to even the ground and start attacking him. Catcalls and bets were heard around us as we battled with our swords and our bodies. Soon we were interlocked with out swords in an X position and our bodies pressed together in the middle of the street.

"Kiss me"

I commanded in a low voice feeling Luke's breath on my lips. He obeyed instantly and our lips locked, our mouths completing each other perfectly. Our tongues battled just as heated as our swords had. Sooner than I liked we pulled back for air.

"I miss you"

Luke whispered against my lips.

"I miss you too. You chose your side"

"Come with me"

He begged

"You know I can't do that"

I replied softly. He nodded as he kissed me again, much more tenderly this time but not any less heated.

"Can we talk later?"

"I'll have ready PB&J sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies"

I chuckled replying just as softly and he chuckled at our private joke. It was a great kept secret that Luke and I met in the dead of the night for our favorite snacks. Gently I pulled back packing my weapons away.

"Where are you going?"

Luke demanded his face full of authority, almost like a jealous boyfriend my inner giddy teenager cheered.

"I have a dance to get ready for in an hour"

I winked and walked away putting my sunglasses on, a soft smile on my lips. Jessica dropped me off at home where I got ready and an almost menacing Charlie scared the crap out of mike playing the 'daddy-who's also a cop' card really well. Mike and I were off soon and the dance went without a hitch. We spent three hours laughing, dancing, drinking the hideous liquid called punch and actually had a great time. When Mike dropped me off at my house he gave me a kiss to the cheek. It felt like kissing my brother.

"Mike you do realize you don't like girls, right?"

"Am I that obvious?"

"Just a tad"

He chuckled and I gave him a hug

"Will you still be my friend even if I'm a freak?"

"You're not a freak, Mike. Just gay but you're still my friend"

It was a much needed break from reality.