p id="docs-internal-guid-cef54dc9-7fff-15c3-bb0f-12ff7e61ad68" dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" We need to make sure that this party is perfect. It's his 18th birthday and we have to make it special./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; text-align: center; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" ~They all agree and continue setting up decorations (blue-themed, of course). Percy's 6-month-old sister, Estelle, sat on the couch, played with a sea green balloon and giggled, clearly enjoying the sea of purple, blue, and green that now covered the living room~/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth: /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Who has the cake? /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Sally:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" I do! /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Blue cookies? Those are very important to Percy. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Piper:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Me. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" And the gifts?/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Hazel:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" All set up./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Leo, are you done with the confetti cannon?/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Leo:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Almost./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" We still need to finish the balloons, and set up the drinks, and–/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Thalia:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Annabeth, you need to calm down. We have everything we need. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" I know. I just want to make sure that this is the best birthday party he has ever had./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Sally:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" And it will be. But the party won't start if no one gets ready. Everyone, go change. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth bit her lip. Sally was right; she needed to get ready and it would take the girls a very long time. The boys were already in their party clothes. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Jason was wearing a sky blue shirt that matches his bright eyes./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Leo had on a red shirt with a blue jacket that says "AHS Basketball Team". /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Will wore a dark green shirt under an unbuttoned blue and green flannel shirt. Now, he is trying to convince Nico to change out of his black clothes./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Will:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Nico, this is a birthday, not a funeral./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nico: *rolling his eyes*/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Will, I'm sure Percy won't mind my Son of Hades outfit. And this is my party shirt; it even has little skeletons dancing around./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Will: *glares*/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" It's still not the proper party etiquette. /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"*sighs*/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Fine, Lord of Darkness, if you change, I'll let you shadow-travel, /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"a safe amount/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;", next week./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nico grumbled but didn't protest. He came back wearing a dark blue shirt and black ripped jeans./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Frank was wearing a purple button shirt, helping Sally set up the table. Paul, Percy's stepdad, was wearing a pale blue button suit and a dark blue tie. He looked a bit like an English professor at parent-teacher conferences (which he is)./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Grover, Percy's best friend (don't tell Annabeth) was wearing brown pants with his /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"cleanest/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" CHB t-shirt. Hey, It wasn't easy being a satyr! Rescuing demigods from all over the world was hard work. He also wore shoes to cover his goat feet and a hat on his head for his horns. A pretty typical Grover Underwood outfit, but he was sure that Percy wouldn't mind. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"After half an hour, the girls emerged from the bedroom./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth got dressed wearing a gray and sea green ombre dress. She thought it was perfect for Percy's birthday. It reminded her of his perfect sea-green eyes that she could get lost in forever. She tied her hair up into a woven messy bun that made her look like a princess./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Thaila was dressed up in her usual punk style: a black shirt with a navy blue jacket and dark blue jeans./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Reyna was wearing a pastel purple turtleneck sweater with black pants and wedge shoes. Her hair was loose and wavy. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Hazel was wearing a dark blue dress that reminded her of the night sky with gold sequences throughout. Her dress shimmered and Frank couldn't keep his eyes off her. She put her hair in a messy bun with huge golden hoop earrings that flickered when they caught the light./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Frank: *speechless*/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Hazel, you look amazing! /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Hazel:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Aw, Frank stop it. You look pretty handsome yourself too./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Piper wore a floral dress going down to the floor. It was covered in bright flowers and was the perfect shade of cobalt. Her hair was braided into the French braid and reached her lower back./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Jason:/span span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"*jaw drops as soon as he sees Piper*/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Gods, Pipes, you look so… so… /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"*continues to stare* /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Piper:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" I look so what, Jason? /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"*walks over to Jason and kisses him on the cheek*/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Jason: *spins Piper around*/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" So amazing. You are literally the most beautiful person on this planet. Don't tell your mom, she wouldn't let us date anymore./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Piper:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Jason, if you think that this looks good, just wait for your birthday. /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"*smirks* /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Jason:/span span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"*in shock for the 5th time today* /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I- I- can't wait /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"*still looking at Piper*/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Piper:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Jason, please stop. You're making me blush./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Jason: /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"What? I can't even look at my gorgeous girlfriend? /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Piper:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" You can, but- /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" After you two lovebirds are done, Jason, can you and the boys pick up Percy from school? Stall him as long as you can; we'll text you when to come./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Jason:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Yeah, in a sec, Annabeth. /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"*turns to Piper*/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" I love you./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Piper:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" I love you too, Jason. /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"*she kisses him again*/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" I'm going to go and help Hazel with the food. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Jason:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Okay, bye./spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" *still holding Piper in his arms* /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Piper:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Jason, you have to let go of me. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Jason:/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Fine, but I'm coming for you tonight… /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"*Jason lets go and they both start helping* /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Percy's POV:/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Percy stood outside his apartment door, waiting for Jason to give him a green light to come in. He knew that everyone was planning a "surprise" birthday party, from the way everyone would stop their conversation whenever he entered the room for the past two weeks. It was confirmed when Jason and the boys took him to a restaurant right after school ended (Percy suspected they were stalling him to finish the decorations)./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Although he wasn't excited about the party itself, he was more excited to see what Annabeth planned for him. The last time he had seen her was this morning, when she came over to his apartment bright and early (she wouldn't even let him sleep in on his birthday)./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
hr style="color: #000000; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Happy Birthday, Seaweed Brain" shouted Annabeth. "You're officially an adult today. How do you feel about that? /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Good morning to you, too, Wise Girl." Percy grumbled, pulling the covers over his head as Annabeth opened the curtains. "And didn't you already wish me last night, at 12:01?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth walked over and lowered the sheets to give him a kiss on the forehead. "But it's better to wish my boyfriend in person. Now, get up, you're going to be late for school." Percy smiles as she walks out of the room, and pulls himself out of bed./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Percy quickly took a shower and changed into his normal school clothes. He knew Annabeth would have a surprise for him after school, knowing how amazing and perfect she was. He walked into the kitchen thinking to see his mom, but instead he saw his girlfriend by the stove. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Percy is that you?" she asked, pouring more, - /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"was that blue batter? /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"- into a pan./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""That's me, Wise Girl. Shouldn't you be at camp working on your plans for Olympus?" he said, hugging her from behind. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yeah, but then who would make your blue pancakes?" she replied knowing that her boyfriend would do anything for her blue pancakes./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Aw, Annabeth you didn't have to" Percy said putting his chin on her shoulder and rocking her back and forth/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Of course I had to. It's your birthday. Now can you please go and set the table? I don't want you to be late for school." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Sure thing, mommy," Percy says, smirking and kissing her on the cheek./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Percy- don't-" Annabeth stutters and decides to drop it./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; text-align: center; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"– At the table eating breakfast –/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Percy, are you ready for your surprise this evening?" Annabeth asks./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yes, but please don't do too much. I know you're very busy, and I don't want to stress you out." Percy replies./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Of course, Seaweed Brain."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; text-align: center; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"*Annabeth and Percy chatted for a few more minutes and soon it was time to go*/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Annabeth, I hate to break it to you," Percy said looking at his watch, "but I have to get going if I don't want to be late for school." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yes, go and brush your teeth." Annabeth replied./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"" You know.. Annabeth.. You look very cute when you scrunch up your face like that." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Percy said, coming closer to her and kissing her neck./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"" Percy… Not right now. I have too much work to do today." Annabeth said as she groaned, trying to push her boyfriend away./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Hmm… I think you like it, Wise Girl," Percy said trailing kisses down her neck. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth knew that she should have stopped, but she very much liked this. Percy's kisses sent little sparks throughout her whole body. But she knew if she didn't stop then they would be doing much more than just kissing. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Percy... Stop..." She finally shoved him away. Percy laughed as he started to walk to his room, only to come back and give her another quick kiss for good measure./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""See you tonight, Wise Girl." Percy declared before walking out./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth smirked. "Bye, Seaweed Brain."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
hr style="color: #000000; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The door opened and Percy's first thought was /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Why is my apartment underwater?/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" There was blue everywhere he looked; blue decorations, a blue tablecloth, blue LED lights. It was a little overboard, but Percy had to admit that he loved it. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"He walked inside taking it all in when he heard "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PERCY!" The room was suddenly filled with people, all of them wearing breathtaking outfits in various shades of blue. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Percy thanked everyone but didn't see what everyone was wearing or who was there, because his vision tunneled to one person. Annabeth had always been the most beautiful girl he'd seen, but now, Percy thought, she looked like a goddess. He quickly pulled her into his arms and kissed her and murmured a soft thank you. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"After Percy and Annabeth finally let go, Piper hands Percy his outfit, telling him to go change. He emerges wearing a sea-green suit ,which matches Annabeth's dress. Annabeth's eyes go wide and she blushes as she walks over and adjusts his messy tie. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You look amazing," Annabeth told Percy./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Thanks, Wise Girl. You look so good in your dress." Percy grabbed her by the waist and spinned her around./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Do you like all the decorations? We spent all day trying to get your apartment to look like an underwater palace." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I love it, thank you so much. All of you guys. You guys are the best friends I could ever ask for." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Aw, Percy," Hazel grinned, "you'll make us all cry."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Happy Birthday, man. Let's get this party started!" Leo announced./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yes! Percy hurry up and cut your cake," Sally said, gathering them around the cake./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Mom!" Percy said, hugging her. Estelle squealed in Paul's arms and Percy laughed, pulling all three of them into his arms. "I love you all."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"He took Estelle in his arms and set her on his shoulders. Everyone cheered and Percy cut the cake as they all sang "Happy Birthday" to him. He cut a small piece for Estelle and gave it to her. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Is that good, Estelle?" he asked, grinning ear to ear as she laughed in delight. He loved his sister more than anyone. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"He fed the next piece to Annabeth and she did the same for him. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Happy Birthday, Seaweed Brain. I love you!" Annabeth told him as she put cake on his face./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I love you too, Wise Girl." He replied before realizing what she was doing. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Hey. Not fair." he whined./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Soon everyone started coming up and started feeding him more cake, occasionally smearing some on his face. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Guys, cut it out," Percy shouted, but he still laughed along with everyone else./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Fine, fine... just one last thing" Annabeth said as she smeared icing on Percy's lips and then kissed him./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Oooo," everyone giggled as Annabeth pulled away. She and Percy quickly turned red as a tomato, but were smiling from ear to ear. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Percy, go and clean up in the bathroom. Until then, I will serve everyone a slice of the cake" Sally announced/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Percy comes back from the bathroom after cleaning up and sits down with his friends. He smiles as he listens to the others talking and laughing, feeling content from being surrounded by so many friends. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"After a few party games, Thalia suggests that they watch a movie. Everyone settles in the living room as Percy quietly pulls Annabeth to the side. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Seaweed Brain," Annabeth hissed as Percy pulled her along. "What are you doing?" /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I have to show you something, Wise Girl. Follow me" /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Percy took Annabeth's hand and dragged her to his bedroom. He closed his door and they both sat on the bed./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I have to talk to you, Annabeth. Alone," Percy said. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Percy, are you okay? You're scaring me right now. Did you not like your party? I knew that I shouldn't have invited so many people. It's just that, I got carried away and I knew that they were your best friends and family," Annabeth spoke quickly, scrunching up her forehead. "It was probably too much. Gods, I shouldn't have made such a big deal about it-"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Percy took Annabeth's hands and pulled her closer, gazing into her stormy gray eyes. "Annabeth, stop. I loved the party. The fact that you did so much for me and made sure that everything was perfect. I love all of it. I love you."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth relaxed. She rested her head on her boyfriend's shoulder, sighing. "I love you too, Percy. But I still feel like I missed something."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Percy suddenly stood up straight and grinned. "I might have an idea of what that is."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth looked confused as Percy pulled her to his window, which was next to the fire escape ladder. However, her mind caught up and she pulled her hand back. "Percy, no. We're not climbing up the fire escape. Also, I'm wearing a dress."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Wise Girl, please? I planned a special surprise for us. Pretty pretty please?" Percy begged. He made his face look like a cute baby seal and they both knew that Annabeth couldn't resist. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Percy… Fine. But if I fall, it's going to be your fault." she sighed, but she couldn't help but be curious about what he'd planned on the rooftop./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Don't worry, Annabeth, I would never let you fall. You go first and I will be right behind you." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Percy, you're lucky I love you and it's your birthday. Just know that I wouldn't have agreed otherwise." Annabeth replied./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I know Wise Girl. I'm the luckiest guy in the world because I have you."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
hr style="color: #000000; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"A few minutes later, after a lot of cursing from Annabeth, they managed to get on the rooftop and sat on the edge of the building. The night sky was surprisingly cloudless which offered a clear view of the stars. Annabeth rested her head on Percy's shoulder as he put his arm around her, making out the Greek constellations he learned at camp as well as the ones Annabeth taught him. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"His eyes landed on Zoe Nightshade's constellation, "The Huntress," and he remembered the day he'd lost his friend, but also when he got Annabeth back from the titan Atlas. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Hey, remember the time Thalia became a Hunter?" he asked Annabeth, remembering something./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yeah, of course. We were all at Olympus when Artemis asked Thalia."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Well," Percy hesitated. "At the time, I thought Artemis was gonna ask you to join the Hunters and I freaked out because we couldn't be together if you did."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth laughed. "Oh, Artemis already asked me before if I wanted to join."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Percy's eyes widened. "She did? What did you say?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth lightly punched her boyfriend. "What do you think I said, dummy?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You said no to a goddess for me? Wow, Annabeth, I'm flattered."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Don't make me regret it." She smiled when she saw Percy's expression. "I'm kidding. But you also turned down immortality that Zeus himself offered you so we're even."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""True," Percy replied. "I would much rather be a demigod at Camp Half-Blood and be dating the smartest girl in the world."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Annabeth smiled at her boyfriend and pulled him closer, placing her lips on his./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"At that exact moment, there was a loud sound and they pulled away to see the sky light up in different colors, reflecting off their faces./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Percy! Fireworks… Did you do this? Was this your surprise?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Uh… yeah, I planned it. Totally." He was just as confused, and tried to play it off, but he knew that Annabeth could tell that he was faking it./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Percy, you are such an idiot. I love you." Annabeth says to him before they start making out again under the light of the fireworks./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Percy and Annabeth continue kissing until the fireworks come to a stop. Annabeth is sitting on Percy's lap and they are both starting into each other's eyes./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I love you," they both say at the same time./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 17pt; margin-bottom: 17pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Percy couldn't help but think that this was the best birthday he ever had./span/p