Chapter 1: Girl Talk and Fashion Shows

AN: The characters, words in bold and nothing of the PJO universe is mine. It all belongs to RR. This is not for any profit and all of it is for the Fanfiction readers' enjoyment. This is because I love the series and the characters and want to know how they'd react to everything.

Annabeth woke with a splutter. Immediately she stood up on guard to see Sadie, Thalia, Rachel, Piper, and Reyna. Piper was holding a large cup and grinning. Sadie and Rachel high fived across Annabeth's head as they laughed. Thalia and Reyna only wore sly smirks as Annabeth glared at them all.

"What was that for?"

"You stayed up pretty late and we needed to wake you up," Rachel said simply with a shrug.

Thalia snorted. "Stayed up late is understating what happened, isn't it? I warned you and Percy before."

Annabeth huffed as she pulled the wet shirt from the skin it clung to. "Nothing happened."

"That's your excuse every time."

Everyone turned to Piper with raised eyebrows and curious expressions. Sadie looked between the bed and the other girl with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "What do you mean, every time?"

"Just when they disappeared on the ship and—" Piper suddenly stopped speaking. "Spoilers, I guess. But I'll finally get to see what actually happened."

"Like you've seen everything else," Annabeth grumbled and wiped some more water off with another small cough. "Next time just don't throw it in my face."

"Why not? I thought you could breathe underwater considering how much time you and Percy spend under there?" Thalia challenged.

More giggles erupted as Annabeth glared and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Did I actually sleep in?"

She pushed her way through the other girls to the closet and grabbed some clothes and turned back looking for an answer. Sadie, Rachel, and Thalia had made themselves comfortable on the magician's own bed. Piper jumped onto Annabeth's as Reyna stayed towering over them all. "I don't believe so. But most of us were already there beside yourself, Percy, Nico, Blitz, and Tyson. As well as the fact several of us heard you come into the main room late last night."

"For someone who's supposed to be good as stealth you're not as sly as you think," Rachel agreed with Reyna.

Sadie rested her face in her hands as she leaned forward. "Either way we know now. So, tell us, what's it like to kiss Percy?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes and walked towards the bathroom. "You know, I'm not the only one here you can ask."

Rachel blanched as the other girls looked around bewildered. Piper frowned. "Don't try and get out of this. We're not letting you le—"

BANG!

The door to the bathroom slammed to a close behind Annabeth leaving the rest of the girls looking at each other. Sadie huffed. "Fine, then. So, Rachel or Reyna, which of you kissed him?"

"Why do you ask us?" Reyna asked with slight amusement.

"Thalia is his cousin. I couldn't see him ever kissing Piper and she's with Jason. Also, I know I haven't kissed him, but you've admitted to being attracted to him. And we know he and Rachel had a thing."

"Had a thing," Rachel asked. "That's not exactly how I'd put it."

"How would you put it? Because you're obviously the one who kissed him."

Piper ignored the youngest girl's question with one of her own. "Better question, how did you survive death by Annabeth?"

"I'm still not sure of that myself sometimes," Rachel shrugged. "As for the answer to Sadie's question, it was—"

WHAM!

The door swung back open and a dressed Annabeth frowned down at Rachel. "You're not answering that. Oracle, remember?"

"I can still talk about this stuff," Rachel shrugged.

"Just try and keep one thing private," Annabeth said as she headed to the main door. "Now are you all coming back to breakfast or not?"

When the girls arrived at the dining hall everyone else was already there. Annabeth tried to take the seat next to Percy and across from Hazel and Frank. But before she could sit Thalia had slid into the seat. The three teens looked at the two girls questioningly, but Annabeth stomped off and took a seat with Sam and Zia.

"Do I want to know what's happening?" asked a confused Percy.

"You're being punished."

"For what?"

"You know what. You were warned," Thalia said with a tsking sound.

Frank and Hazel exchanged looks. The daughter of Pluto's eyes widened in realization and Frank just groaned. "Really? Again? I least I didn't catch you this time."

"Now I'm curious about what you guys keep alluding too," Thalia interrupted before Percy could answer.

"Nothing. And we did nothing. Just talked. And kissed."

"Gross," Thalia gagged. "I really didn't need to hear that."

"Shut it."

"Please don't fight," Hazel asked. "Not now anyway."

"We're not actually fighting," Thalia said with wrinkled eyebrows.

"I know. But I want to hear when Nico's finally told his dare," Hazel said with a scheming smile.

"Wait, you decided on it without me?" Thalia moaned ignoring her slight surprise at Hazel's hidden side coming out.

"Yeah. When did that happen?" Percy agreed.

"When Thalia was getting Annabeth and you and Nico were still sleeping," Frank said.

"What is it?" Thalia demanded.

"You'll have to wait to hear with him," Hazel giggled. "I had a few good suggestions."

"The thing is none of them wanted to make him too upset." Frank shrugged, "Not that I do either."

He got looks from the rest of the big three kids. Hazel patted his arm comfortingly. "I know he scared you a little that time. But—"

"-More than a little!"

"But Nico wouldn't do anything to any of us."

Percy made a choking noise and after the second he took to compose himself looked at Hazel incredulously. "Um… Wait for another quest or so to say that. But she's right. Nico wouldn't do a thing to any of us. At least not purposely."

"Did you see those scenes with him when he was younger?" Thalia added.

"I can think my friends are scary," Frank said petulantly. "I'd say the same thing about Percy, Leo, Jason, Annabeth, Reyna, and Piper at times."

"Not me?" Thalia and Hazel both said. They exchanged a look of surprise which turned into large grins. Thalia held out her fist. After a moment of hesitation, Hazel bumped it.

"You too. But I know Hazel would never do anything to me," Frank said grabbing her hand. Then he looked warily at Thalia. "I want to say the same thing for you, but I know if I make you angry somehow, I wouldn't want to be anywhere in your way."

Thalia's eyes studied him for a moment and then she leaned back. "That's valid."

Frank shifted uneasily but slowly let himself at ease after a few seconds when Thalia hadn't turned back to him. Instead, he watched the three cousins converse and eat in Percy and Thalia's case. He'd sat through many meals with Percy, but it was always a somewhat horrifying but entrancing sight watching him shovel so much food into his mouth.

Percy was just lifting another forkful to his mouth when Alex stood up pulling Magnus along with him. The room looked to them and Alex grinned directing her gaze at Nico. "So, we've decided our revenge."

"Revenge?"

"For that little dance," Alex explained. "So, we chose a fun dare."

"Now, really?" Nico groaned and slammed his head onto the table. "It's too early! I just want to eat and go back to sleep."

"Not happening," Alex said cheerfully.

"You can go back to the room but only so Blitz can give you a makeover," Magnus agreed.

"What?" Nico yelped all the tiredness wiped off his face. "No. No way."

"You agreed to a dare."

"Not this."

"Just go," Will said with an eye roll.

"You're enjoying this too much," Nico accused as he was pushed toward the door.

"We all are."

"Don't worry," Hazel called with a slightly too sweet smile on her face. "We'll wait for you."

Nico stomped out of the room and Blitz got up and followed, though not before winking at Will who wrinkled his brows. Everyone stared for a few seconds at the door and went back to their food.

Hearth tapped Will's shoulder and started to sign. Will's face morphed into confusion and then something else. "Sorry. I don't understand more than a few signs."

"Let me," Apollo intervened.

Hearth started to sign, and Apollo translated. "Nico won't be wearing anything too crazy or colorful. Blitz wouldn't do that. And it wouldn't work with his skin tone."

Will looked both amused and worried. "I'm not responsible for any of my boyfriend's actions."

"You actually think he'll hurt Blitz?" Magnus questioned.

"No way!" Will replied alarmed. "But he's not going to be happy."

Will was right. A few minutes later Nico's voice could be heard shouting from the hall. Blitz walked in tugging Nico's arm but none of them could see the rest of Nico's body.

"I'm not walking in there like this!"

Jason and Percy walked over into the hall and there was a small chuckle heard as Nico was pushed in. His two taller cousins high fived over his head as he glowered at them. Nico looked very much the same in most ways. He still wore dark colors for the most part, but Blitz had pulled together an outfit that was very 'Nico' and at the same time not him at all.

He wore a black shirt that said, 'I'll stop wearing black when they make a darker color.' Dark skinny jeans hugged his legs nicely and some chains hung from their side. Over his shirt was a khaki bomber jacket with various patches: skulls, several band logos, and some other undecipherable things. A maroon, gray, and black plaid shirt was tied around his waist.

On his head was a beanie the same shade of gray as the plaid around his waist. There was a single maroon stripe, lined by two black ones on the bottom. His feet were in maroon converse. His skull ring and camp necklace were still there but there was more jewelry. A silver dog tag with a bone charm and a sun attached hung around his neck. Around his wrists were some black and brown leather cords.

Nico glared at everyone daring them to say something, but his eyes stopped at Will who was staring. "Um… You look good. I like the beanie. And the necklace."

Nico looked down at his neck and fingered the sun charm, noticing it for the first time. "I guess, it's not so horrible."

"Horrible?" Will choked. "You look great."

"Enjoy it while you can then," Nico grumbled. "It's too much."

"Bets on him wearing something like that again?" Jason asked Percy.

"No way. It's going to happen."

"Right now, I just want a camera," Thalia cackled.

"Already taken care of," promised Sadie. "Pics are sent to Annabeth."

"Phones for emergencies," Annabeth chided. "I told you how it works."

"This is an emergency."

"I'm not even going to argue," Annabeth muttered and marched off to join Sam and Zia again.

"Rude," Sadie said with an eye roll. Then she got up and grabbed Walt's hand "C'mon dear, let's grab some good seats. I have a feeling today will be a little more fun."

"When is this ever fun?" Percy muttered as he lagged behind everyone else. Piper and Leo both looked somber too as they followed the rest of their friends inside preparing themselves for what might come.

AN: Thanks to Sire Pixels from A03 for Nico's dare. I changed it a little, but I hope it still works! Always looking for more truths or dares.