She was finally leaving the Empire State Building when Thalia called. Annabeth fumbled for her phone, forgetting she'd had it turned on for networking purposes during the meetings today.
"What are you doing tonight?"
Annabeth thought of the long hours of project planning and data collection ahead of her, "I was going to go back to my dorm and-"
"Great! We're going to Michael Yew's party tonight!"
"What?!" Annabeth rubbed the bridge of her nose. "No, Thalia, I can't, I… I have homework, and the campaign, and-"
"You always have homework! Come on, it'll be fun! We haven't been to the frat house in forever!"
"For good reason!" Annabeth reminded her, "Remember last time? You gave yourself a black eye doing a kegstand!"
"Yeah, and it was awesome. Your point?" Thalia was always difficult to talk down from an idea.
Annabeth sighed, glancing around. The late afternoon sun shone through the snow clouds, casting cool hues over the city. Between the meetings all day, Luke's confusing advances, and the long week ahead of her, she needed to blow off steam.
She found herself giving in. She deserved to have some fun. "...Fine. Okay, okay, but we leave when I want to leave!"
"Yeah, sure, of course. Pick you up at 9?"
"Uh huh."
Tau Kappa Epsilon, or "the Frat House" as most people called it, was one of the only fraternities on campus- dedicated to Apollo, most of its members were his children… though a few of Dionysus' kids were a part of it as well, and some mortals who were equally dedicated to the art of drinking and being an unbearable asshole.
Annabeth would literally rather go anywhere else. Hades. The dank basement of a serial killer. Her step-mother's home. You name it, it would be better than a house filled with college students getting plastered and making out with each other.
Still, at 9 o'clock sharp, she was dressed up and ready when Thalia knocked on her door. Annabeth answered, tugging down the hem of the grey dress she had picked out for herself freshman year. The garment barely covered her thighs and no amount of pulling would get it to hide more. She wondered briefly how she had ever willingly wore it.
"This is awful."
"Nah, you look great!" Thalia grinned.
"How come you get to dress like normal?" Annabeth shot back, taking in the ripped black jeans, tank top, and leather jacket.
Her friend shrugged, "Perks of being a punk, no one cares what I wear."
"I'm changing."
"Ohhhh no you don't," Thalia grabbed Annabeth's arm, dragging her from her bedroom and closing the door behind them, "We need you to break some hearts tonight."
"What? Why?"
"Because I hear Reyna's going to be there and I need you to distract all the desperate boys while I woo her myself." She wiggled her eyebrows.
Of course. That explained why they were going in the first place- Thalia needed a wingwoman. With a groan, Annabeth allowed herself to be lugged outside the dorms, still not entirely happy with her outfit choice but determined to have a good time tonight. If anyone could get her in the mood for drinks and dancing, it was Thalia.
"I thought Reyna went back to New Rome…?"
"Nah, she's in town for a few more nights."
"So… you need me to what? Stand there looking pretty while you flirt with Reyna?"
"Yup, and I want to get in there before some guy sweeps her off her feet!"
It was hard to imagine Reyna Ramírez-Arellano being swept off her feet. But if anyone could do it, it was Thalia.
Annabeth shivered as they stepped into the night air. The snow had stopped hours beforehand, but the cold still nipped at her bare skin.
The party was already in full swing when they arrived: colorful lights flashed in the windows, music blared through the loudspeakers, drunk kids hung on the front lawn, dancing and chatting. It kind of looked like the Big House at camp, if you ignored the party atmosphere. The air was already thick with the scent of young adult pheromones and alcohol.
Annabeth decided this might have been the wrong way to destress.
"Thalia, wait-"
"Come on!" She was dragged into the house, suddenly surrounded by warm bodies and the pulsing of the music, Thalia's grip on her wrist tight.
It was going to be a long night.
Annabeth soon found herself standing in the corner of the main room, a red solo cup filled with something questionable in her hand, as Thalia regaled Reyna with stories of quests she'd been on. A few different boys and girls had approached her, asking her to dance or if they could get her another drink, but Annabeth just shook her head every time.
This wasn't as fun as she remembered. In fact, It was mind-numbing, and she found herself switching on her phone, this time to find the pleasant words across her screen.
2 New Messages
Seaweed Brain
Giddy, she swiped open the messages, drinking them in far more eagerly than she had her fireball concoction.
5:43PM SEAWEED BRAIN
hey wise girl
got any plans tonight?
Annabeth glanced at her surroundings, the writhing bodies, the pumping music, the flashing lights…
He'd definitely want to come.
9:47PM WISE GIRL
Studying.
9:47PM SEAWEED BRAIN
showoff
srsly, who studies on a friday night?
9:47PM WISE GIRL
I do.
Besides, what else is there to do?
9:47PM SEAWEED BRAIN
u could come to a party with me ;p
She paused. Did he mean this party?
Highly likely, considering almost half of the entire campus had turned up for it.
9:47PM SEAWEED BRAIN
im for real right now
its gonna be so boring
9:48PM WISE GIRL
You think a party is going to be boring?
I'm shocked.
9:48PM SEAWEED BRAIN
haha very funny
i dont slack off that much
plus there r some very boring parties
9:48PM WISE GIRL
I find it hard to believe any party with you in attendance is boring
9:49PM SEAWEED BRAIN
it wouldnt be, if u were there
She played with her necklace nervously, the "A" shaped pendant cool against her fingertips, glancing around. Was he here already? What if they'd already met? The thought set her nerves on edge- she wasn't ready to meet him, not yet.
9:49PM WISE GIRL
Haven't you heard?
I'm the most boring.
Studying on Friday nights and everything.
9:49PM SEAWEED BRAIN
ok ok
would u believe id rather study with you than go to a million parties?
9:49PM WISE GIRL
You don't even know me!
9:49PM SEAWEED BRAIN
sure i do.
just because we havent met doesnt mean we dont know each other
She gnawed on her lip, leaning against the wall now as she typed, growing more and more oblivious to the obnoxious sights and sounds around her.
9:50PM WISE GIRL
I suppose that's true.
9:50PM SEAWEED BRAIN
this is the part where u start calling me wise boy
9:50PM WISE GIRL
Never!
9:50PM SEAWEED BRAIN
come on, just once?
9:51PM WISE GIRL
It would go to your head immediately.
Whoops and hollers interrupted their conversation and Annabeth looked up, eyes widening when she saw the source.
Percy Jackson had walked through the door, phone in one hand and a blinding smile on his face, the college students around him cheering his entrance as if he were a celebrity.
Annabeth's face blanched in horror. Oh Gods. Downing her drink, she tossed the cup to the side, her head feeling fuzzy as she told Thalia, "I'll be right back," and beelined out of the room.
She wasn't sure where she was going, just that she needed to avoid Percy Jackson at all costs, especially after the embarrassment of their last conversation. He might try to talk to her again, and the last thing she needed was the Son of Poseidon's comfort. If only she had her hat of invisibility, she lamented, but this stupid dress didn't have pockets and her bag was only big enough for her phone and wallet.
Curse Thalia for convincing her not to change!
She made straight for the back stairs, swiping another drink from the kitchen as she passed through, and took the steps two at a time in a race to get to the second floor.
It was only slightly quieter up here, some couples making out in corners or talking in intimate groups of partygoers. She slid past them, trying to find somewhere, anywhere , that would grant her respite.
Finally, on the third floor, she found it.
One of the balconies stood empty, and she sighed in relief as she slipped into the cool night air. The wind kissing her bare shoulders sent shivers down her spine but felt wonderful on her flushed cheeks.
Taking a sip of her new drink (was it whiskey?), she walked forward and leaned on the railing, basking in the night.
She wasn't sure how long she was out there for, but it was quite some time before her phone buzzed again.
10:12PM SEAWEED BRAIN
i was right, this party is totally lame.
come over
10:12PM WISE GIRL
What would you do if I did.
He was typing. Then he stopped. Then he was typing again. The little dots appeared and disappeared multiple times, as if he were writing and then rewriting what he was saying over and over again, until finally-
10:14PM SEAWEED BRAIN
something stupid, probably.
10:14PM WISE GIRL
How stupid?
10:14PM SEAWEED BRAIN
like
really stupid.
She was just tipsy enough to push the subject, knowing exactly where they would end up.
10:15PM WISE GIRL
Tell me.
10:15PM SEAWEED BRAIN
i'd probably kiss you
She sucked a breath in through her nose, heart rate picking up.
There it was. It had been over 3 months since they started texting, yet… it didn't feel weird to see him say such a thing. On the contrary, it warmed her up from her toes to the top of her head, delight coursing through her veins.
Kissing him. She couldn't picture his face or his voice, but somehow she could imagine the feeling in her head. She imagined what it would be like, to press up against him, maybe run her hands through his hair, down his shoulders…
Was he taller than her? Shorter? When they finally pulled away, what color would the eyes that met her own be? Would he laugh and tease her, calling her Wise Girl before she told him to shut up and pulled him in for another kiss?
She caught her lip between her teeth again as she mused on how to respond.
10:18PM WISE GIRL
I'd probably let you.
10:18PM SEAWEED BRAIN
shit
ahah
i was half convinced u were never gonna text me again after that
fuck
seriously?
10:18PM WISE GIRL
Seriously.
10:18PM SEAWEED BRAIN
ok u HAVE to come to this party
right now
10:18PM WISE GIRL
What if I said I was already here?
10:18PM SEAWEED BRAIN
dont
dont do that
u said u were studying!
10:19PM WISE GIRL
I lied.
10:19PM SEAWEED BRAIN
ill come find u
10:19PM WISE GIRL
You don't even know what I look like!
10:19PM SEAWEED BRAIN
doesnt matter
where are you right now
She clicked her tongue, debating whether or not she should tell him. The idea of meeting up, right now, on this balcony was… intoxicating. On the other hand, what if the only reason they were attracted to each other was because of the mystery? What if it all went away when they met?
In a moment, she made a decision.
10:20PM WISE GIRL
3rd floor balcony.
When her text-friend arrived, she would not be there. But on the railing, she left it for him- a silver necklace, a simple chain with an "A" on it that let him know she really existed.