A/N: Camryn and Nico: (pouting)

Thalia: (rolls eyes) You know, you guys can't hate us forever.

Camryn: Oh yes we can!

Briar: (scoots closer to Nico) So, I understand you're depressed right now.

Nico: (nods pitifully)

Briar: Do you want me to make you feel better?

Nico: How?

Briar: (tries to kiss him but is blocked by an invisible force field) WTF?

Callie: (checks nails) Oh yeah, the untouchable canon force field thingy... Did I forget to mention that?

Camryn: That's why we couldn't let him marry McKenzie...(lightbulb) HEY.

Nico: What?

Camryn: This is all YOUR fault! If you had just been a man and married McKenzie, we wouldn't even have to be in this mess!

Everyone: (glares at Nico and cracks knuckles)

Nico: o.o Um... guys?

Everyone: :(

Nico: Oh, Hades...

Camryn POV

"Come ON, it's good for you!" I yelled

Nico and Hope hissed as I opened the curtains in the Hades cabin. Hope gave me her signature death glare, (which was ten times scarier than Nico's) and scowled.

"But seriously? A walk? In our free time? I could be watching Naruto, not going out in..." She shuddered. "The sun."

I rolled my eyes. "And THAT is why we need to take a walk." I put on a puppy dog face. "Besides, I have no one to talk to..."

Nico rolled his eyes. "Then we can talk in here."

I glared at the two, then grabbed two things, Hope's laptop and Nico's iPad.

"You'd BETTER come," I said threateningly, lighting a single finger. "OR THE TOYS GET IT!"

"MY BABY!" The children of Hades cried in unison.

TEN SECONDS LATER

"UGH." Hope groaned, dragging her feet in the wet grass. She hadn't even bothered to put her shoes on. "It's...so...hot..."

Nico pretended to collapse in front of me. "Need...liquid...refreshment..."

I put my hands on my hips. "Hope, you have no excuse, okay? You're wearing white, and you just had lemonade like five minutes ago." I pointed to Nico. "And if YOU'RE going to be like that, then I'll have to make things easier for you, because we ARE walking."

And with that, I bent down, and pulled Nico's shirt right off him.

Hope blushed. "Wow, Camryn, feeling daring today, aren't we?" She raised her eyebrows suggestively, which caused my cheeks to redden. I hit her in the shoulder. "Look. I just wanna walk, okay? I never was that patient."

Nico stood up, trying to brush the dirt off his bare chest.

"Women," he mumbled to himself. "I need more guy friends."

I ignored his comment and linked my arms through theirs.

"So," I began, trying to think about a topic. "Have you guys done much in the signing competition yet?

Hope blushed and pushed up her glasses. "Are you serious? I don't do crowds."

I pursed my lips. "Shame. You sing so well though." Hope shook her head in response.

I dragged my toe through the green. "Well, you better own up quick, cause the competition's boiling down fast."

It was true. The remaining teams that were left were Aphrodite, Apollo, Hermes, The Big Three, and Athena. The Hunters of Artemis had been knocked out by the Aphrodite cabin with "Run The World (Girls)" by Beyonce. The Big Three had gotten the Demeter Cabin out with "Hell To The No" from Glee. Everyone was mostly interested with the rematch between Athena and Apollo. I secretly hoped that Alyssa and Michael would do a duet. Man, they were so cute together...

Then, I bumped into a pole.

Nico looked over me, smirking.

"See? See? The outdoors is a dangerous place. Anymore of this and you'll kill the few brain cells you have left."

I kicked him in the shin. "Well, at least I use my brain cells."

Hope snickered. "Geez, why don't you roll on the floor and make out already?"

We both looked at her like she had grown two heads. "EXCUSE ME?"

She put her hands on her hips. "You two act like a married couple."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks. I opened my mouth, only to reveal large bit of gabble, mostly from embarrassment and shock. Nico was blushing harder than I was.

Was this the first time someone had told him that?

I stood back up and scowled at Hope.

"Don't toy with me, woman," I muttered. "Besides, Nico's like the most wanted boy in camp. If he had better people skills he would be like P. Diddy by now."

Almost as if to prove my point, two girls from the Demeter cabin walked by, winking and waving flirtatiously to the son of Hades.

"See?" I said pointedly. "Besides, Nico's not even my type."

Nico shoved his hands in his pockets and pretended to pout. "Gee, thanks."

Hope said nothing, but gave me a suspicious look and nodded.

"ANYWAY," I began again, "after I was so RUDELY interrupted," I gave Hope a pointed look, "I was only thinking about the competition between Athena and Apollo. I really want Alyssa and Michael to do a duet."

Hope grinned. "Are they dating yet?"

I shook my head. "Nope," I replied, popping the p. "But they will soon. At least, they better..." I punched my hand in my fist.

Hope laughed in reply. "Wow Camryn, I didn't know you were such a romantic." She put a hand on her hip. "But do you know who else is cute?"

I raise am eyebrow. "Who?" Please don't say me and Nico. Please don't say me and Nico...

"Miranda and Jake," she said matter of factly.

I sighed imperceptibly. "Oh yeah. They are." I rolled my eyes. "It's so frustrating, though. I mean, Miranda likes Jake a lot, but he only wants to be 'friends'."

"But they flirt with each other like they're on crack.." Hope pointed out.

I couldn't help giggling at my professional friend mentioning drugs. "Ha. You said crack."

Nico rolled his eyes as he finally grabbed his shirt from me. "Geez. I have two sisters and a girl to talk to. Gods, I need more guy friends." His voice became more muffled as he pulled on his black camp T shirt.

I punched him the shoulder as we reached the dining pavilion. Jade and Hestia were sitting by the large brazier in the middle. They were both in a heated discussion in Greek.

Jade, instead of her normal camp clothes, was wearing a long Greek style toga, made of soft white cloth. Her long black hair had been pulled into a messy bun, and she wore silver cuffs shaped into snakes below her shoulders. Her face, usually pulled in a smirk, was serious. She stared intently into the fire.

Hestia, meanwhile, only smiled as she dipped her small hands into the golden flames. Brilliant light of thousands of colors erupted from the brazier. We all stepped back.

The hearth goddess then pulled an object from the fire. It was small, a stick like object. It appeared to be made of some kind of smooth wood, etched with Greek symbols that glowed a bright green. She handed it to Jade.

Jade took the stick and slowly set it to her lips. A sharp tune flowed through the air. Nico gave me a questioning look. I only shrugged as the hairs on the back of my neck stood up on end. I felt energy pulsing though the air.

Suddenly, the ground opened in front of us. We all took a large step back as bright green flames erupted from the small chasm and formed into the shape of a girl, probably my age. She wore a simple Greek chiton, her feet bare. She then turned and knelt before Jade before melting into the ground again.

My older sister inhaled, then began to tilt forward, ready to collapse. I hurried over and wrapped my arms around her from behind, keeping her upright.

Hope shook her head, her dark brown hair flying over her glasses. "What...was that?"

"A fire spirit," Hestia replied simply. She pushed back strands from Jade's sweaty forehead. "Atalanta has just attempted her first summoning with her flute."

I grimaced as I gently patted her cheek. "It sure takes a lot out of her, doesn't it?"

Hestia nodded. "That it does, Andromeda. It will take her some time to get accustomed."

"Need...taco..." Jade mumbled.

Nico snickered behind me. I was about to give him a sharp retort, when Alyssa barreled from the woods up to us.

I looked her up and down. She was wearing a rather revealing blue striped bikini and she was wearing a lot more makeup than usual. The strange thing was that she looked terrified. Like 'I'm about to die' terrified.

Her jaw dropped when she saw us.

"CAMRYN?" she asked incredulously. "Seriously, what are guys doing here?" She grabbed my arm and began to pull. "We...have...to...go!"

Jade snapped out of her taco trance. "Wait...what?"

Alyssa slapped Jade across the face. "ARE YOU HIGH? It's today!"

Jade's eyes widened as she slowly realized. "Wait...IT'S TODAY?"

Alyssa's nodded avidly.

I looked around, still not understand what the Hades was going on.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS SWEET AND GOOD AND INNOCENT IS TODAY?" I yelled.

Jade and Alyssa both pimpslapped me across the face. "IT'S TODAY, VLACAS!"

After a few seconds of blank staring, I remembered.

"AAAUGH! It's TODAY? I THOUGHT IT WAS NEXT WEEK!" I shrieked.

Alyssa shook her head, her dark ringlets flying.

I bit my lip. My heart began to race.

"Um," I stammered, trying to think. "Okay. Okay. You two go ahead, I'll meet you there." Alyssa and Jade ran off.

"AND DON'T FORGET A.J.'S WIG!" I yelled after them.

I then pointed at Hope and Nico. Closing my eyes and snapping my fingers, I quickly summoned two pieces of paper and shoved it in their faces.

Hope raised an eyebrow. "A liability waiver? Camryn, what the heck is..."

"NO TIME!" I yelled. "JUST GIVE ME YOUR WEAPONS!"

Nico summoned his sword and Hope pulled off her bracelet. I then threw them up and concentrated on keeping them in subspace.

"Okay, meet me at the small lake by Zeus' Fist in twenty minutes. I'll explain everything there."

Nico held up his hand in the 'time out' position. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Camryn, what the heck are you talking about?"

My face darkened as I looked down. I could only whisper two words.

"She's coming."

Annabeth POV

"And WHY are we friends with her again?" I asked as I struggled with the ropes lashed around my waist.

Percy smirked. "Because she has fame, power, and she can help us with college funds?"

A.J. flicked Percy in the forehead. "I heard that." She then knelt down in front of me. "Is my wig on ok?"

I scrutinized the dark, wavy highlighted wig and nodded. She gave a sigh of relief. "Good."

"A.J.," Miranda called, brushing a few knots out of her hair. "You know you're gonna get docked points for not wearing a two piece bathing suit."

A.J. rolled her eyes in disgust. "Well, EXCUSE ME for not having a tiny waist, okay?" She stared into the compact mirror she had borrowed from me, her blue eyes crossed. I couldn't help laughing.

Jade turned around, since she had been sitting near the water. "How much time left?"

Alyssa checked her watch. "Five minutes."

Everyone sighed. "Well, we better get ready, then..." A.J. mumbled.

"Ready for what?" I asked for the twenty-seventh time.

A.J. ran a hand through her hair -I mean wig-, and pursed her lips.

"It's our biannual siren assessment," she said simply. "We thought we were gonna get out of it, since we were at camp, but Mom said that she was sending our instructor over here."

I nodded understandingly. "Okay...but," here I struggled against my bonds. "Why did you take our weapons and tie us to trees?"

She gave me an apologetic look. "Ooh. Yeah. Sorry about that, but you know how you met the Sirens in the Sea of Monsters? Well, all mermaids have a little Siren blood in them. So we all have to be formally instructed in the art of siren singing." She stood up and began to pace around the tree. "It's an intricate process, really. It's all about trying to get inside your head, trying to pull out your desires, your fears. So, mermaids rely on music a lot in battle." She stopped. "Basically, for each assessment, there must be test subjects. They must sign waivers, and then they must be subdued for their own safety." She then smirked and crossed her arms over her chest. "And also, you guys were kissing on my bed again."

I stuck my tongue out at her. "Your bed's comfortable."

She laughed. "You're sick."

"One minute!" Alyssa called, looking at her watch.

A.J. groaned and gave me a weak smile. "Wish me luck." She then dragged Camryn away from Nico and Hope, who were having an intense conversation about white chocolate being better than regular hot chocolate. The five of them lined up near the edge of the small pool, facing Zeus' Fist.

All of a sudden, the water churned and frothed. A small figure stepped out. My stomach churned when I saw her.

She was old. Really old. And not in the sweet 'she could be my grandma' kind of way.

Her gray hair was short in a boyish cut. Her skin was full of wrinkles, some caked with many clumps of foundation. Her face had been painted extravagantly, her lashes dark and long and her eyes wide and green. She wore a simple outfit, jeans and a T-shirt with orthopedic shoes, and she clutched a plain clipboard in her hand. Her face looked like it had a permanent scowl etched in it.

The five girls turned and faced forward, standing at attention. The woman started to walk past the girl, the scowl deepening. She stopped at A.J.

"Miss Anastasia," she said, her voice clipped in a thick European accent. "You are not wearing the proper attire." She quickly made a mark on her clipboard. "Ten points!"

A.J. flinched. Miranda rolled her eyes as if to say, I told you so.

"And don't think that you'll get off easy just because you lit a silly fire!" She continued. "You only did it because you were born to!" She shook her head, clucking her tongue. "Honestly, you should be at home, studying the workings of our country, but here you are. Wasting some time at a silly camp."

A.J. closed her eyes. I thought she was about to yell, but instead she only whispered: "I apologize, Ms. Beaumont, but the gods mandated that I spend the summer here. My mother and father agreed."

Ms. Beaumont only sniffed and made a rude sucking sound with her teeth. Meanwhile, anger surged through my veins. How could A.J. let that woman talk to her like that? Didn't she overpower her? Outrank her?

I looked at A.J. She stood, her spine rigid, eyes forward, then barest trace of emotion in her face. She probably had to deal with this woman all the time. I vaguely remembered her complaining about siren lessons the first day we met.

Was this why?

Ms. Beaumont had left A.J. alone by now and began to pace in front of the five slowly.

"Girls!" She called. "Recite to me the proper protocol of siren singing!"

"Pitch, poise, and posture all contribute to a proper presentation," they repeated robotically.

She nodded. "Good, good. Now, what is the thing we emphasize most in our presentation?"

"Our assets," they replied. I couldn't but blush. I would be mortified if I had to practice an art like that.

She nodded again and turned. "That's right. Use...your assets...well!" At the word 'we'll' she actually smacked A.J.'s breasts, causing her to flinch. "You don't present yourself well and the whole process is ruined. Remember, the object is to invade the mind, inflict control! And with that," she stopped pacing. "Let's begin."

Everyone closed her eyes, secretly moving their lips and praying not to be picked. A.J. seemed to be praying more fervently, causing her to be picked first.

The instructor sat down next to my tree, causing me to scowl and began to write furiously on her clipboard.

"And what will you be performing today?" she asked, looking up.

A.J. bristled. "Rolling in the Deep by ADELE, to create the illusion of infidelity between a couple."

"Your test subjects?"

She bit her lip. "Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase." She then looked at us and mouthed: I am so so so sorry.

Ms. Beaumont nodded. "Very well. Begin."

A.J. then closed her eyes, raised her arms over her head, and bent over backwards into a handstand, flipping herself in the water.

Music began to float through the air from a boom box that appeared at the instructor's side. My friend pushed her body out of the water, swung her orange tail over a nearby rock and began to brush her hair slowly with a silver brush. Her eyes remained closed as she opened her mouth and began to sing softly:

There's a fire starting in my heart

Reaching a fever pitch, and it's bringing me out the dark

Finally I can see you crystal clear

Go ahead and sell me out and I'll lay your ship bare

See how I'll leave with every piece of you

Don't underestimate the things that I will do

There's a fire starting in my heart

Reaching a fever pitch

And it's bringing me out the dark...

The odd thing that I noticed about her voice was that it seemed to rise and fall gradually, the crescendo and decrescendo more emphasized than in a normal song. Nothing seemed to happen at first, but soon enough, I felt my stomach churn and my forehead erupt in pain. Then, the pain disappeared as soon as it came, and my whole body seemed to shut down. Tears began to trickle down my cheeks from anger and pain. I actually began to believe that Percy had cheated on me...with the girl singing in front of me. Unlike encountering the Sirens, though, a small part of my brain remained free from the spell, which was probably what kept me from leaping from my bonds and throttling her...or Percy, for that matter.

As soon as the song ended, A.J. slumped off the rock and let her body fall into the water. I felt my bonds being loosened. I turned to see Miranda giving me a small smile.

"S'okay, Annabeth, we don't need you any more."

I was secretly relieved. I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist.

"You okay?" Percy asked?

I nodded weakly and wiped my face. "Y-yeah, I'm fine."

I let go of his embrace to see A.J. sitting on the bank, her legs splayed out. Ms. Beaumont scrutinized her clipboard accordingly.

"Well," she began. "Your presentation was adequate, due the the reactions of the test subjects, and your voice was controlled well..."

A.J. raised an eyebrow, as if to say all right, what's the catch?

"But, you were not convincing enough?" She finished. "With that, you get a B!"

A.J. pumped her fist and whispered: "Yesss..."

Wow. Low standards, much?

The teacher wagged her pen, her expression full of disapproval.

"Hmph. You shouldn't be happy! Every time we have an assessment, it's the same thing: you always hold back. And why?" She shook her head. " 'But I don't want to hurt her!' You think too much, always with the thinking! You are a princess, you do not need to think!" She then pointed to Miranda, causing the rest of the girls to give the girl pointed glares. "Why don't you act more like her? All of her subjects, they are moved to tears!"

A.J. crossed her ams over her chest. "Lady, she's a daughter of Aphrodite, okay?"

The woman looked surprised that her student had actually responded. I gave her a thumbs up.

A.J. raised an eyebrow. "Can I go now?" When faced with silence, she shrugged and began to walk away. She grabbed my shoulder on her way out.

"Walk with me, Chase," she said simply. I had no other choice to comply.

We walked out of the woods, me with my hands in my pockets, the girl beside me pulling on jeans and a camp T-shirt, wiping the makeup off her face and pulling off her wig and stuffing it in her towel.

We reached the amphitheater, where she sat down on the stage and motioned me to sit down next to her. I shoved away the cords from the speakers and microphones and crossed my legs, slipping my sandals to the ground.

"So..." A.J. said after a few seconds of silence. "She's a character, isn't she?"

I smirked. "Why didn't you rip her head off?"

A.J. shrugged. "Well, for one thing, she's terrifying, another, she's been instructing members of my family for generations, and lastly, I don't work like that. Why do think I don't stay in the Ares cabin, like I'm supposed to?"

I rolled my eyes. "But, she shouldn't be allowed to talk to you like that! I mean, doesn't she know who you are?"

A.J. shrugged again. "Well, sure. But what can I do, throw her in the dungeon?"

I bit my lip. "I guess..."

A.J. gave a small smile. "Besides, she is right about one thing. I like to think a lot. I'm just a right brain person. I like to write, listen to obscure music. I like to see, smell hear, taste." She held out her hands, as if she was talking to the sky. "Is that so wrong?"

I shook my head. We then sat in more silence for a little bit. I hugged my legs to my chest. Sometimes I didn't understand the girl next to me. She was a princess, actually a queen, basically stuck in a relationship for life, and she acted like it was no big deal. It was unnerving.

"What's it like?" I blurted out, my ADHD talking.

She lowered her head from the sun and pursed her lips. "Hmm?"

I felt my cheeks redden as I brushed a curl from my face. "What's it like...you know...doing what you do?"

She stared at me for a long time, her blue eyes piercing, making me regret ever asking the question. She then inhaled slowly and began to braid my hair.

"You've been to Olympus before, right?"

I fluffed my curls as she pulled the scrunchie out from my ponytail. "Sure."

"You've seen the thrones?"

I nodded.

She began to work her fingers between my locks. "Imagine sitting in your mom's throne, just as you are. Imagine looking all around you, seeing how small you are compared to everything else, yet everyone wants you to act like, no, be your mom. That, in a nutshell, is what it's like." She sat back on her haunches, her expression sullen. "Basically, after I turned fourteen, I was treated like I was twenty. Being forced to get married, having to study the history, economy, public sectors of Arimithea? It was scary."

She laid back on the stage as I laid on stomach, causing her to giggle. "Hee hee...Annabeth, don't do that! I'm trying to make you feel sorry for me!"

I pushed my head into her stomach. "Don't worry...I do, I do...now, finish story time!"

A.J. laughed again. "Well, yeah, as I was saying, it was scary. Especially getting married. I met a lot of boys. I got my heart broken a lot..." At this, her voice shook slightly. "Yeah. Even now, it's still a touchy subject...between us. It's just seems more complicated. Sometimes, it just feels like we're just friends, you know?"

"Friends that live together?" I asked, playing with her ring.

She inhaled, making her stomach rise. "Well, yeah, I guess, but we don't really live together, he lives close by." She laughed softly. "You know we haven't even slept together?"

I sat up abruptly. "You WHAT?"

She nodded simply.

"So you're still a..."

"Yup."

"And you've never..."

"Nuh-uh."

I grabbed her shirt. "ARE YOU INSANE? You've been given the opportunity that most perverted teenagers dream for, and you never took it? Why? WHY, I TELL YOU?"

She blinked. "Uh, I don't wanna get pregnant?"

I smacked her upside the head. "What about PROTECTION?"

She crossed her arms over her chest as her eyes became shifty. "Don't trust it. Never have. Never will."

I couldn't help laughing at her exaggerated reaction. "A.J., you are so weird."

She smirked. "Thank you for noticing." She then paused, and bit her bottom lip.

"Annabeth?"

I turned. "Mm-hm?"

"You are so lucky, you know that?"

I raised an eyebrow. "How?"

She shrugged. "Well, for the basics, you're blonde (blondes statistically get the better part of everything: pay, men, treatment, etc.), you're skinny..."

"But I have to deal with blonde jokes," I cut in. "And," I stared disapprovingly at my 32B cup. "I have no curves."

A.J.' s face seemed to redden slightly as she stared at her own D cup chest and broad hips. "Well, the Aphrodite cabin says that mine are fake. And you can go out without a bra."

I nodded, seeing her point. "Okay, then. Continue."

"You're white..."

"Excuse me?" I blushed. "What does that have to do with anything?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. It's easier for you to get into college. Stuff like that. Even though I wouldn't trade my skin for anything, you still have an advantage." She inhaled and resumed her list.

"You're pretty..."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. You're smart..."

"Have you met my mother?"

"She's like my grandmother in law." She shuddered. "Anyway, you're dating Percy Jackson..."

"And half the mermaid race wants me dead..."

She ignored that comment. "You can make something of yourself," she said wistfully. "You get to choose your own future, call your own shots."

I rolled my eyes. "Assuming I live that long."

She slapped my arm. "Pessimist much?"

"Realist, actually."

"And finally," she finished. "Annabeth, I think you're really brave. You don't seem to get fazed by anything. You're probably one of the best fighters I've ever met."

I felt my face turn cherry red.

"A.J., shut up. Just shut up." I shook my head. "Trust me, I get scared of a lot of things."

She closed her eyes. "Like what?"

I felt my face turn even more red. I sighed.

"Well," I began. "I don't tell many people this...but...I have stage fright. Like 'I puke in front of an audience' stage fright."

A.J. raised an eyebrow in genuine shock. "The great Annabeth Chase has stage fright?" She asked incredulously after a few seconds of silence.

I buried my face in my arms. "Don't rub it in."

She shook her head. "I'm sorry...it's just...you're one of the last people I would suspect, you know?"

I gave a sheepish smile. "Yeah. Not so perfect now, am I?"

She stood and helped me up so we stood on the stage. "Trust me. If you put us side by side, people would think you were an angel."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Are you sure? Annabeth Alexandra Chase compared to Anastasia Fiera Phoenix. Who would win?"

Her eyes widened with pure delight as she doubled over with laughter. With tears running down her face, she pulled out her iPad and opened a photo, showing it to me.

"You," she said simply.

I squinted as I read what appeared to be A.J.'s birth certificate. Thankfully, it was in Greek.

"Anastasia Marie Jackson?" I asked. "That's your real name?"

She nodded. "We use the surname Phoenix in public to create the illusion of a pure bloodline, but, the strange thing is, a male has never been born in the family. So, the name got tainted a couple thousand years ago with the first royal marriage. My middle name, on the other hand, is a pseudonym. The media got it wrong about a few years back, so that's what people think my middle name is. Only my friends know it, really." She then looked a little embarrassed. "I mean, I don't know if you consider me your friend, but, I want to be your friend..." She shook her head. "I mean...if you don't want to be, that's okay, considering you have a lot..."

I burst into laughter and pulled her into a hug, considering she was shorter than me.

"What are we, in kindergarten? Of course you're my friend!"

She looked rather shocked, and pulled her full lips into a small smile.

"T-thank you..." She murmured, her voice barely audible. Then, she pulled her hair into a ponytail and assumed her usual playful manner. She grabbed my hand and led me to the stage.

"Wait, what are we doing?" I asked, confused.

A.J. grinned, showing off her dark gums. "Helping you with your fear, silly." She grabbed my shoulders. "We gotta get you pumped up, girl! You pumped up?"

I looked around. "Uh...n-no?"

She stopped, landing on her toes. "Good!" She then pointed at me dramatically and began to...to...

Oh no.

[A.J.]

Let's get down to business

To defeat the Huns

She then began to dance around the stage, making extravagant hand motions, while I stared like she had two heads.

Did they send me daughters

When I asked for sons?

Considering I was the only girl there, yes, yes they did.

You're the saddest bunch

I ever met

She wagged a finger at me.

But you can bet

Before we're through

She walked up to me until our noses were touching and poked me in the chest. A smile began to twitch at the corner of my lip.

Mister, I'll make a man

out of you

Tranquil as a forest

But on fire within

A.J. kicked and punched and kicked at invisible Huns like she was Jackie Chan or something. I began laughing at her mock serious expression.

Once you find your center

you are sure to win

You're a spineless, pale

pathetic lot

"Hey!" I cut in, still laughing.

And you haven't got a clue

Somehow I'll make a man

out of you

Somehow, I opened my mouth tentatively and began to sing along.

[Annabeth]:

I'm never gonna catch

my breath

Say good-bye to those

who knew me

A.J. nodded, as if to say, now you're getting it. She then sang:

[A.J.]:

Boy, was I a fool in school

for cutting gym

I put a hand on my hip, twisting my body, and wagged my finger.

[Annabeth]:

This guy's got 'em

scared to death

We both joined in for the soprano.

[Both]:

Hope he doesn't see

right through me

[A.J.]:

Now I really wish that I

knew how to swim

She then pumped her fist dramatically for the chorus.

(Be a man)

I stepped forward with the same amount of drama, my arms over my head.

[Annabeth]:

We must be swift as

the coursing river

[A.J.]:

(Be a man)

With all the force

of a great typhoon

(Be a man)

With all the strength

of a raging fire

Mysterious as the

dark side of the moon

[Annabeth]:

Time is racing toward us

till the Huns arrive

Heed my every order

and you might survive

You're unsuited for

the rage of war

So pack up, go home

you're through

How could I make a man

out of you?

(Be a man)

We must be swift as

the coursing river

(Be a man)

With all the force

of a great typhoon

(Be a man)

With all the strength

of a raging fire

Mysterious as the

dark side of the moon

(Be a man)

We must be swift as

the Coursing river

(Be a man)

With all the force

of a great typhoon

(Be a man)

With all the strength

of a raging fire

Mysterious as the

dark side of the moon!

I then walked to the edge of the stage and raised my leg in a ninja kick. "HI-YAH!"

Then, I totally realized what I had done. And, I didn't fell scared as I looked over the edge of the stage into the non existent audience.

I inhaled and exhaled slowly. "How...did you do that?"

A.J. looked up and around, and shrugged.

"I...really don't know. I just...really like that song. It's a good montage song, you know."

I shook my head, smiling. A.J. was a character. A character with some hidden intelligence, but a character, nonetheless.

"A.J.?"

She stood up, since she had been trying to make a handstand. "Yeah?"

"I have a lot of friends," I stated simply. "And all of them usually have something to give me." I pointed to her. "You, A.J., give me something that is very important. You give me insight."

A.J. raised an eyebrow. "I give a child of Athena insight?" She shook her head, smiling. "You are so weird."

I threw an arm around her shoulder. "Thank you for noticing."

A/N: Awwww...friend moment! That is so cute!

WE INTERRUPT THE USUAL RAMBUNCTIOUSNESS OF THE DISCLAIMER SHOW FOR AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE

Okay, so if you could tell me your favorite OC in a review, and tell me why, that would mean so much to me! Please and thank you!

A.J.: (shoves me out of the way) Pick me because I'm the main character!

Tory: Pick me because I'm sane!

Jade: (shoves him) Pick me because I'm rich!

Alyssa: (shoves her) Pick me because I'm the smart one!

Camryn: (shoves) Pick me cause I'm the adorable one!

Jake: Pick me cause my dad's hot!

Leo: (pops out of nowhere) Pick me cause I'm awesome!

Everyone: O.o

Me: Uhh...Pick me cause I'm actually IN this story!

Camryn: You're the author!

Me: And I've appeared in at least two chapters and almost every episode of the Disclaimer Show. I SO count.

Jade: (coughs) Narcissist (cough) much?

Me: I HEARD THAT!