"Cheers!"

Piper and her bridesmaids clinked phallic shot glasses with "P GETS J'd" engraved on the sides, and each downed shots of tequila.

The interior of Cabin 10, Piper's old cabin, had been completely redecorated by Drew and Leo that afternoon. The pink walls and vanities that littered the floor were decked out in various penis paraphernalia. The bridal party, all decked out in clubbing clothes and bridesmaid sashes, all gathered around a truly impressive array of alcohols and cocktail ingredients to pre-game Piper's hen do.

Leo climbed on top of a pink velour ottoman, "Ahem, attention!" He clinked a hot pink penis-shaped straw against his shot glass, "Welcome to Beauty Queen's Final Night Out—"

"Ah, ah, ah, no , Leo, that is not what we're calling it," Piper chimed, sucking on lime.

"Fine, Piper's Penis Parade—"

"No."

"Rest in Peace, Piper's Innocen—"

"Leo."

"Fine! Piper's bachelorette party," Leo grumbled, "Got an exciting night for you ladies planned. Argus is gonna drive you guys in-land to the club, you'll dance the night away with an open bar, and he'll drive you guys back here when you're all thoroughly blacked out. Be mindful, though, for those in the wedding party, we have a dance lesson in the morning so go crazy, go stupid, but you have to have a functioning body in the morning."

Even though they were just going to the one-and-only source of night life in Montauk, Annabeth looked at her friends and thought they looked amazing. She felt extremely good herself in a short, black bodycon dress that showed off her athletic build and her "man killer" stilettos from college — the alcohol in her system helped too.

As Leo rattled off the list of things to be mindful of during the night, Annabeth leaned over and began to make herself a martini.

Piper, in white jeans and a flowy, low-cut top under her sparkly white "Bride" sash, nudged Annabeth as she plopped an olive into her glass, "Hey, make me one too. A double if Leo is going to keep on talking."

Annabeth chuckled, glancing over to Leo atop the footrest who had been joined by Drew in listing off the acceptable songs to request to the DJ. She handed Piper the martini glass.

"Thanks," Piper muttered, throwing it back, "I am exhausted after today, but Leo insisted I have my bachelorette party tonight with everyone here."

"Today was so fun, though," Annabeth said, "I forgot how much I missed this place."

"Percy looked like he was having a good time."

"Oh? I'm glad, I was a little nervous about bringing him."

"I could tell. But he's great, 'Beth, really. I'm glad you brought him," Piper said, "I know I only met him this morning, but you guys are good together. I just sense this easiness with the two of you. He seems to make you happy"

Annabeth flushed. Percy did make her happy, "Yeah, he's—Percy's a good guy."

Thalia, who was downing her second drink, piped into their conversation, "We're talking about Percy? Yeah, Annabeth, Percy. I mean, wow. That is a hot piece of ass, right there. And I like men and women so it takes a lot to catch my eye."

Annabeth nodded in agreement and grabbed a hard cider from the cooler just to keep from having to respond.

"I mean you always got the cute ones, didn't you?" Thalia said, taking the cider from her and handing Annabeth her empty wine glass. "Percy, Luke..."

"Thalia—" Piper said.

"But then again, it took you years of pining after Luke for him to notice you. It's funny how you and Percy ,met, how long did you say, a month ago? Only? And you already brought him to us. I can see why though, he's so goddamn attractive," she slurred.

Annabeth's face and anger flared, "Thalia—"

Thalia rambled on, "Perfect timing so you could have a wedding date because gods forbid perfect Annabeth with her perfect career and perfect life not have a perfect date, too. It was easy though, right, because all the guys fall for Annie! He's no Luke, though."

"Enough , Thals. She's just drunk, " Piper muttered to Annabeth, rolling her eyes. She could tell Piper was annoyed with her fiancé's sister. Thankfully, Leo had finished explaining proper night club dance circle etiquette and Drew started blasting trashy pop.

Knock, knock.

"Is anyone missing?" Piper asked, counting heads around the room, "No, all five of you are here, Calypso wasn't feeling well and Reyna's down with the boys."

"I'll get it!" Thalia said, crossing the cabin to the door, a fresh glass of rosé in hand.

It was Percy.

With the tequila and wine already flowing through their veins, Piper's bridesmaids erupted in squeals when they saw him — an expected reaction for any attractive man who happened to fall prey to a bachelorette party.

Annabeth stood from Piper's side and met him at the door, "Hi," she said, her eyes bright and cheeks flushed from the alcohol.

"Wow," Percy said, seeing her short, black dress and stilettos, "You look amazing."

"Thanks," Annabeth smirked, this dress was a killer every time. "What are you doing here?" Annabeth was acutely aware of all the girls staring daggers at them.

"You forgot your wallet in our cabin," Percy said, holding out her black leather wristlet.

"Oh, thank you, I didn't even notice," Annabeth said, taking it from him. Percy glanced over her shoulder and also noticed their audience. He waved.

"Sorry to intrude, ladies."

"No, no!" Drew said, clambering over everyone to meet them at the door, "Have a drink with us!"

"Nah, it's alright," Percy said, brushing his dark curls out of his face, "I should head over, Jason invited me to join his stag night."

"What are you guys doing?"

"Just some beers down by the lake."

"Don't forget board games," Piper called from where she was lounging, "Jason will definitely insist on board games."

"Are you heading down to the lake now, Percy?" Leo asked, "I'll join you."

"You're not coming with us, Leo?" Annabeth asked.

"Please, I may be the Man of Honor, but I still want to hang with my boys. Shall we Percy?"

Percy nodded as Leo ran down the itinerary again with Drew, the acting party planner in his absence. Percy settled his hands on Annabeth's waist, kissing her lightly on the cheek, "Be safe tonight, okay?"

Annabeth flushed from the kiss, but too drunk to feel embarrassed and retorted, "I can take care of myself."

"I know you can."

"Ready, Perce?" Leo said, striding towards the door. Percy nodded.

"Bye," Annabeth said, waving with the hand clutching her wallet, "Have fun."

The door had barely shut before Annabeth was attacked with squeals about how attractive Percy was.

"Where the heck did you find him, Annie!" "Where can I get one?" "It's like you bought him at a Build-a-Boy."

"You have no idea," Annabeth muttered.


"I will trade you two ballistae for your war elephant," Frank said, pushing a pile of chips towards Nico.

"Fat chance, Zhang," Nico said, "We're not letting Hannibal go for some ballistae ."

Frank and Percy and Jason had gotten on well during capture-the-flag today and they had invited him to come along to the bachelor party. Percy had felt a little weird crashing since he had met all these guys just this morning, but there was something about being at a summer camp that accelerated friendships — like how when you would meet a kid at the playground and be playing like you were best friends five minutes later.

They had set up a nice spread at the lake dock, beer, chips, cigars (just for show, Nico was the only one he held one in his mouth and it was unlit) and, as Piper had promised, board games. They were playing a game called Siege that Frank had brought over for Camp Jupiter. It was super complicated with lots of pieces and points and bonuses so Percy had teamed up with Frank for the first round.

Leo pulled up a folding chair to their table and handed out beers, "Who's winning?"

Jason grinned, pushing up his glasses, "Me, who else."

"My bad, I'm slowing Frank down," said Percy, "I just can't wrap my head around the objective of the 'Octavian' card."

"No one ever does," Leo chuckled, "Doesn't matter though, Percy came by the girls' cabin earlier. You're winning no matter what. The ladies love you."

Percy grabbed a handful of chips, "Shut up, Valdez."

Jason shuffled his cards, "He's right, Percy. You got Annabeth, that is quite the respectable feat."

"Oh?" Percy said. He recalled Rachel always talking about her roommate during Romeo & Juliet rehearsals, and he remembered seeing her and thinking she was the most beautiful person he'd ever seen at opening night so getting to know Annabeth today had been a dream. He could tell right away she was not someone to be messed with, but it was interesting to hear about her from her childhood best friends.

The conversation had finally pulled Frank away from his card game strategizing, "Annabeth's scary."

Will piped up from the edge of the dock where he was strumming his guitar, "It's true. I've known Annabeth since we were seven and one time she punched this one camper in the face when he tried to give her a flower."

"She always wins capture the flag. One, because she's an awesome battle strategist, but also because everyone's too scared to find out what's going to happen if she doesn't win."

At that moment, Reyna, Jason's best woman, came over, "I started a bonfire if you guys want to roast hot dogs."

"Oh, heck, yes," Jason said, abandoning the game, "You're the best, Rey." Jason pecked her on the cheek. She lovingly shoved him.

Leo followed him, "Yeah, RA-RA, you are the best." He also leaned to peck Reyna on the cheek, but she held up a hand.

"Don't even think about it, Valdez."

"You want to grab some hot dogs?" Percy asked Frank.

"Nah, I'm good. Still stuffed from dinner."

"Same."

Will and Nico also decided to stay behind at the dock with them. Nico was on his umpteenth beer and nicely settled in his chair, and Will leaned against him, still strumming a tune on his guitar.

Frank set down his cards, "How did you and Annabeth get together if I could ask?"

Percy cleared his throat, he and Annabeth had repeated the story many times today, but he still needed to be careful to keep things as vague and close to the truth as possible, "Rachel directed a show I was in, and we met at opening night."

"I'm glad you made it past her hard exterior, not a lot of people do. She is scary, but it's because she's guarded."

Percy nodded, he loved hearing more about Annabeth, "How old were you guys when you met?"

"I was sixteen, she was seventeen. Being a teenager really just is the worst, I felt all awkward and huge, but she helped me out. She cares a lot, and once she cares about you, well, let's just say she's a great person to have on your team. But you know that."

"Right." Percy had of course noticed right away that Annabeth was a guarded person, but they were so easy together. He felt a jolt of pride that he too got to experience the softer, caring side of Annabeth that really only her childhood friends experienced.

"Who's a great person to have on your team?" Luke had wondered over from the bonfire.

Frank reddened. Percy cleared his throat, "Annabeth."

Luke paused. "Oh, uh, yeah. She is."

"I know," Percy said, holding his gaze.

"Look man," Luke said, "I'm sure someone filled you in about our history, and I know it's awkward—"

"Oh, I don't feel awkward," Percy said, "Sorry if having your ex's new boyfriend around makes you feel awkward."

Frank's head ping-ponged between Luke and Percy.

Luke's gaze hardened, "I don't know what you've heard about us—"

"Yeah, man, fuck you for real," Nico barged in, slurring his words, "You really messed up with Annabeth, that was such a dick move. Wasn't it a dick move, babe?"

Will stood up with his guitar, and hoisted Nico up from the chair, "I think it's time for us to go and put this one to bed before he says anything else. Come on, you."

Jason, Leo, and Reyna returned with a plate of roasted hot dogs and buns. "You two leaving?" Jason asked.

Will nodded, motioning to Nico slumped against his side, "It's time."

Percy stood, too, "I'll go with you. Jason, thanks so much for letting me crash your party. Goodnight everyone."

As Percy walked through camp back to Cabin 3, he let his thoughts wander to the blonde that had been on his mind since opening night of Romeo & Juliet. He was so surprised with himself when he received that call from her and immediately said yes. Truth was, he had already been planning on asking Rachel for her number. He honestly would've been her date to this wedding for free.

Annabeth was so drunk.

She had been pissed at Thalia, and flustered by Percy so she coped by being Piper's drinking buddy and took shots with the bride all night.

The lovely bride-to-be was currently weeping in her sister's lap in the backseat of the car. "I just, hiccup, love Jason so much, Drew," Piper wailed, "There's just, like, so much love in me for that stupid, hiccup, dumb blonde."

Drew had taken her sister-of-the-bride duties well and took care of them that night, including rounding them all up from the dance floor to bring them home at midnight. She smoothed Piper's hair, "I know, sweetie, it's because of mom. She really fucked us up in the love department."

Everyone else was also in various stages of inebriation — Thalia was pouty, Hazel giggly and clumsy, and Annabeth was feeling brave and confident and was laser-focused on one thing — Percy. She wanted to see him and his stupid hair and stupid green eyes and stupid cute smile now. They say sober thoughts are drunken actions, and she needed some action with Percy.

The car dropped them off at the Big House, and they stumbled as a sloppy, bachelorette amoeba to Cabin 10. Drew did her best, passing out makeup wipes and finding everyone sweatshirts to trade for their alcohol and sweat soaked dresses. Soon, Piper and Hazel were snoozing and tucked into a bunk bed. Annabeth had thrown her hair into a ponytail and pulled on a camp shirt and yoga pants. She could always hold her liquor so her peak drunkenness manifested as a confident buzz.

Drew had already slipped on a matching silk pajama set, "Annie, you wanna sleep here? There's room."

"No thanks, I think I want to sleep in my own bed."

Drew grinned, "Use protection, Annabeth!"


Percy's dreams always took him to the water. He was surfing. He was swimming. He was a kid splashing in the water with his mom. He was swimming with a beautiful mermaid with long, flowing blonde curls. She was getting dragged by the current and getting tangled the seaweed.

"Hey!" bubbles spewed under his mouth, "The seaweed, watch out! The seaweed—"

"Percy."

"Percy."

Percy woke up to Annabeth sitting on the edge of their bed, gently nudging him awake, "Hey, Seaweed Brain." He sat up.

"Is it time to start getting ready?" he mumbled, wiping away drool.

"No," she grinned, "It's like two in the morning. You were dreaming."

"Oh, um," Percy flushed.

Annabeth stood and held out her hand, "Come on a walk with me, I want to show you around camp."