Annabeth woke up alone.

And sore. She stretched and her muscles ached in protest. The light streaming in through the windows of Cabin 3 brought attention to the pounding in her head in addition to her sore muscles. Annabeth suddenly remembered why — actually more like two, three, and an earth-shattering fourth reason why her body ached so much this morning.


It was the briefest of post-hook up naps. Annabeth bristled as Percy roused her awake with light kisses up her jaw.

"Wake up, sleepy head. I don't think you want to sleep on a stable floor, especially with those dance lessons in the morning."

Annabeth tugged one of the tangled flannel blankets tighter around them, enjoying Percy's warm weight on top of her, "Hm, someone's been paying attention to Leo's itinerary."

"I never thought I'd meet someone who can turn me on by saying the word 'itinerary.'"

Annabeth grinned, rolling them over so she was on top of Percy. The blanket slipped down her back and she shivered when the chilled air in the stables hit her bare skin. She kissed him deeply, hands threading into his hair. She couldn't tell if she was still buzzed from the bachelorette party or drunk off Percy. She only pulled away when her lungs were screaming for air. She stared at him.

"What?" Percy asked, "Why did you stop?"

Annabeth settled her hands on his chest, "Is this too much like prostitution? It feels like prostitution to me. I feel like I'm sexually harassing you, with the whole I'm paying you situation."

"Trust me," Percy replied between kisses on her neck, "I'm only doing what I want to do. Also, you're the drunk one."

"I'm not that drunk. Anymore." Annabeth added.

"Good, because since you are paying me, let's just say this is, uh, an intimacy charge. And it's on the house," Percy suggested, resuming kissing her. Annabeth obliged.

They gathered their clothes that they could find (Annabeth's bra was lost to the stables forever) and stumbled half-clothed back to Cabin 3. Annabeth swore she made eye contact with Will sneaking into Cabin 13.


Her sore body alongside the pillows and blankets strewn all over the Cabin made sense if Annabeth's recollection was correct. She and Percy had barely slept last night.

But Percy's side of the bed was empty. She sat up, searching for her clothes in the bedding. She found her camp shirt hanging off the bedpost, but it was, shall we say, quite rumpled after their late-night escapades. She settled on a casual sundress that was at the top of her suitcase. Annabeth heard the rumble of Percy's low voice outside, noticing the screen door of the cabin was propped open. She slipped on some flip flops and peeked her head out the door.

"Yeah, the wedding's on Sunday. I'll be back in the city by Monday morning."

Percy was on the phone. "It's going pretty great actually. We had a lot of fun last night, if you know what I mean." He chuckled, switching ears. "Yeah, her friends are pretty cool. No, I don't think they realize."

Last Annabeth checked, none of Percy's friends new about their arrangement, even their mutual ones like Rachel. Annabeth's face flamed.

"I'm her plus one. Good work experience. Haha. I'll talk to you soon. Bye."

Annabeth raised her eyebrow, crossing her arms as she waited for Percy to notice her standing out on the porch with him. Percy ended the call as he turned around and noticed her.

"Oh, hey, morning," he said, an adorable grin sliding onto his face when he saw her. She was not amused.

"What the hell was that?"

"What?"

"Who were you talking to?"

"Oh, that was just—"

"Who are you blabbing to about our arrangement?" Annabeth lowered her voice, looking around the circle of cabins. It was still early enough that no one was milling about yet, but she pulled Percy back into Cabin 3, regardless, and slammed the door.

"Annabeth–"

"We sleep together once and you're going on to the world about how I'm paying you to be my wedding date? I can't believe you told someone! I am paying you to be discreet and this is not discreet." She marched over to their bedside table, wrenching the drawer open a tossing a thick envelope at Percy, "There's your fucking intimacy charge."

Percy frowned, glancing at the cash inside the envelope, "What the hell is this? Well, now you are treating me like some kind of prostitute, if that was what you're worried about." He tossed the envelope onto their bed, "For your information, that was my roommate who thinks I'm at a wedding with a girl I'm dating. For real."

Annabeth scoffed, "'Good work experience,' 'my friends don't realize' ?"

"My roommate called to tell me we got cast in As You Like It at Shakespeare in the Park. And I told him I don't think your friends have realized that I've never been to a wedding before." Percy said, frowning, "It's like you want this whole thing to fail. I have no stake in this wedding except to be here for you."

Annabeth was about to retort when their door flung open and Piper barged in, "Oh, thank gods you two are awake! It's time for the dance lesson, let's go!"

Annabeth, arms still crossed and exasperated, muttered, "Piper, we're in the middle of something."

"You can finish up your something at dance class."

"Come on, Pipes, I haven't even brushed my teeth yet."

Piper shrugged, "Well, you should have gotten up earlier, Chase. She grabbed Annabeth's arm. "Oh, Percy, you're coming too. Nico's super hungover and hasn't stopped throwing up and Annabeth is gonna need a dance partner."


Annabeth was fuming, arms crossed and refusing to look Percy in the eye. Percy was also fuming, however she could feel him glaring at her head.

The rest of the wedding party were gathered in a makeshift dance studio in Cabin 7. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were going to join Piper and Jason after their first dance and open up the dance floor to everyone. Jason insisted on the wedding party taking a dance lesson from his sister, Kayla.

The bunks in Cabin 11 had been pushed aside to make a clear dance floor in the middle and the cabin's décor had mirrors and bars along the walls already. Kayla had partnered them off and positioned them around the room — Piper and Jason, Reyna and Leo, Frank and Hazel, Thalia and Luke, and Annabeth with Percy as Nico's stand-in, and Drew with Will who was standing in for Dakota, Jason's last groomsman from California who wasn't flying in until tonight for the rehearsal dinner.

Kayla clasped her hands together, "Alright, everyone! We're going to learn some ballroom basics so you guys can waltz to Piper and Jason's wedding song. What is it again, guys?"

Jason beamed. Annabeth had heard them arguing about their first dance song for months, and it was clear that Jason had won. Piper rolled her eyes, "Tell her, Grace."

"Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers," Jason announced to the room.

"Only the whitest song in the world," grumbled Piper.

"It's the song that inspired Lover by Taylor Swift and since you wouldn't let me choose that-"

"Let's get started!" Kayla cut them off, thankfully. Annabeth could sense a fight starting if they continued. Taylor Swift was a soft spot for Jason. "First, we need to learn how to do a proper basic hold. That will be our base. Gentlemen, lightly take your partner's right hand."

The only thing that gave away that Annabeth had heard Kayla was the sharp exhalation through her nostrils. When Annabeth didn't uncross her arms, Percy rolled his eyes, prying her right hand and taking it in his own.

"Now ladies, left hand slightly below your partner's shoulder, and guys, right hand on her back. The holds should be very light," Kayla continued.

"You're gonna have to look at me for this to work, Annabeth," Percy muttered, settling his hand on her back. "I don't even understand why your still mad. I haven't told anyone anything."

"Shut up," Annabeth hissed under breath, bringing her hand up to his shoulder, "I don't want anyone to hear anything."

Kayla was circulating the room, correcting each pairs hold. "Ooh, Annabeth, loosen up. You're so tense. You don't want to restrain Percy."

Percy smirked, "You did last night." He whispered in her ear.

Annabeth's mouth gaped open. She stomped on his foot.

"That hurt, you're being so childish," Percy whined.

"What's childish was your little kiss and tell stunt this morning."

Kayla continued on teaching them the basic steps and counting, Percy and Annabeth bickering with each box step. They were actually pretty good at it. They were the first couple to nail down reverse and natural turns in the waltz, while most of the other pairs were struggling with who was leading.

"For the last time, Annabeth," Percy said, spinning her, "I haven't told anyone anything. Just believe me."

Annabeth met him with silence, even refusing to look at him as he dipped her. Percy met her silent treatment in stride with their waltz.

"I'm surprised you're actually letting me lead," Percy said, moving them across the Cabin floor in time with the classical music Kayla had put on through the speaker, "I wouldn't pin you as someone who lets other people take control after last night." He guided them away from Thalia and Luke whose shoelaces had somehow ended up twisted together. Kayla was trying to unknot them.

"You don't even know me, Percy," Annabeth snapped, "And for the record, you did pin me."

"I know a lot more than most now."

"And that's exactly why I don't want you spreading things around!"

"I haven't said anything to anyone! Seriously, you just woke up ready to be pissed at me, didn't you?"

"Might be because I woke up alone -"

"Hey, you two," Kayla said, walking over to them after helping Piper and Jason with their counts, "Your turns look great, but I think I need to review the steps with the others a couple more times."

Annabeth glanced over to where Hazel and Frank were struggling with their waltz. It may be that one of Frank's strides were double of Hazel's, "Fine. I could use a break anyway." She dropped Percy's grasp and strode to the other room in the cabin where Piper had set up drinks and snacks.

Percy followed her, scooching past Drew and Will who seemed to be tango-ing rather than waltzing and Reyna who was most definitely the one leading Leo around the cabin, "You can't be mad at me forever, Annabeth. I'm not sure Nico will be able to deal with you stepping on his foot every five seconds."

"Will you just quit it already?" Annabeth roughly twisting the cap off a water bottle off.

"You weren't saying that last night."

Annabeth choked on the water she was gulping down. She coughed, "You're so goddamn frustrating!" She pulled a hair tie off her wrist and threw her hair up into a tight ponytail.

"Uh, Annabeth—"

"What! What now, Percy?"

"You, um," he motioned to his own neck, flushing. Annabeth had a huge, purpling hickey above her collarbone.

Annabeth's eyes narrowed. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, turning on the camera to view the evidence of her drunken tryst. She gasped. Percy swore she was exhaling steam from her nostrils, "Percy!"

"I'm sorry!"

"Look what you've done!

"Hey, you weren't complaining last night!"

"The wedding is tomorrow -"

"Hey, you guys?" Kayla called out, peeking her head around the corner.

Annabeth tugged her hair back out of the ponytail, effectively hiding her hickey, "Hey, sorry, we'll be back out there in a sec."

"Actually, I think I'll be a little while longer with everyone else. You guys can leave, though, you did great! I'll see you at the rehearsal dinner tonight."

"Oh," Annabeth said. "Okay."

Percy followed her back out into the main room of the cabin. Kayla's dance lessons had since descended into further madness. Reyna and Leo had given up. Drew was in tears. Nico had finally shown up looking more gaunt than usual, and Will was yelling at him. Hazel seemed to nursing a bruised toe. Frank was fumbling with an ice pack and paper towels. Percy winced, he would not want a guy the size of Frank stomping around anywhere near his feet. And Piper and Jason were arguing in the corner with Kayla.

"Tell him, Kayla! We can't waltz to Lover by Taylor Swift!"

"Actually-"

"It's more waltzable than any Indie crap you want us to dance to!"

"Indie crap? What the hell did you just say to me, Sparky?"

Percy quickly followed Annabeth out of the cabin, he did not want to witness that argument. She stalked ahead, not bothering to wait up.

"Annabeth!" Percy sped up to meet her stride. She didn't acknowledge him as she beelined back to Cabin 3. She pushed open the door, letting it swing back on Percy. He rolled his eyes, following her into the Cabin. "Annabeth, come on."

She finally turned to face him. With the look on her face, he wasn't sure if she was going to punch him or-

"What are you doing?" Percy pulled away after returning Annabeth's fierce kiss.

Annabeth pulled her hair into a ponytail, exposing the hickey on her neck, "Getting you back."