"Are you sure about this, Sally? We don't want to leave you alone on Thanksgiving," Annabeth asked, concern visible on her face. She leaned against Percy's car and looked at Sally. Percy was in the driver's seat and tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. Sally sat in the passenger seat and was smiling up at Annabeth.
"I talked to Percy about it last night. I think it is a good idea for you to spend the time with Lupa and your teammates," Sally answered plainly. "Paul and I were also talking about taking Estelle to see Paul's parents."
Annabeth nodded. She knew that Paul's parents were rather wary of Sally, and they didn't particularly like Percy. They saw him as a troublemaker who would only corrupt their granddaughter. Annabeth wasn't sure if they refused to allow Percy or not, but she was more than a little upset by it.
"Estelle has been asking to see her grandparents for a few months now," Percy informed. He shrugged. "Who am I to take that away from her? You'll be stuck with me at Thanksgiving though. I wonder if Lupa lives in a den."
"We are having Christmas dinner though," Sally confirmed, and she gave Annabeth a playful smile. Annabeth returned the gesture.
"I won't miss it," Annabeth promised.
"I was also talking to mom about inviting the others for Christmas if they weren't busy," Percy said. "Hazel and Frank are cool, and I'm sure Reyna would be fun if we got her drunk enough."
"We should get going, Percy. The movie is going to start soon," Sally warned. She smiled at Annabeth and held her arms out. Annabeth climbed halfway into the window to hug Sally. Sally was a second mother to her, and sometimes, Annabeth debated asking if Sally could adopt her.
"You two have fun," Annabeth said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out money. Annabeth handed it to Sally and grabbed the bag of food from the back. "Are we still having dinner this Friday?"
"Of course, Annabeth. You have fun today," Sally encouraged.
"See you tomorrow, Wise Girl," Percy teased. Annabeth waved at them as Percy drove away. She turned and made her way inside. Annabeth stopped at the counter and handed a box to Mellie. The receptionist smiled brightly at her.
"Thanks, Annabeth," Mellie said.
"Anytime," Annabeth replied. "If your husband likes them, let me know. I can always ask Sally to make more."
"Even if Hedge doesn't like it, I'll have to ask you to make some just for me," Mellie answered. Annabeth smiled and walked away from the receptionist. She walked through the gym and made her way up the stairs, careful not to drop the bag of food.
When Annabeth learned that Percy and Sally were having lunch at one of her favorite restaurants, she asked if they could pick something up for her. Percy asked if anyone else wanted anything, and it kind of escalated from there. Annabeth had taken a collection of money to give to Sally and now had a larger collection of food in her hands.
Annabeth made it into the break room and saw that everyone was already gathered around. Hazel was standing off to the side and talking on her phone. Her extended family invited her to come down to the South for Thanksgiving. Hazel had asked Frank to come along, so she wouldn't be alone. Annabeth wondered why she didn't ask Nico, but that wasn't her business.
Frank was staring down at his phone and seemed to be lost in what he was looking at. His fingers tapped against the table, and it looked like he couldn't get rid of his nervous energy. Frank's fight was ten days away, and he had been working much harder since that week started.
Frank had been showing up to the gym earlier and staying later just to be ready. Lupa had gotten a lot more involved in their training and was helping them with their strategies. She seemed satisfied with what Frank and Annabeth planned up and only made a few minor adjustments to how he would attack Michael.
Reyna was leaning back in her chair and had ice pressed against her elbow. Annabeth placed the bag of food on the table and spoke, "Is everything okay?"
"Just a precaution," Reyna answered. Ever since their game night, Reyna seemed a lot more relaxed around Annabeth, even if the two hadn't spoken much since then. Reyna seemed to have a laser focus on her fight.
Annabeth nodded and passed the food around. She sat Piper and Lupa's food off to the side. Then, she placed the box of baked goods in the middle of the table. Annabeth spoke, "These are from Percy's mother. She makes the best desserts in the world."
Reyna glanced at the box and grabbed a blue cookie. She didn't say anything about the blue chocolate chips. When she took a bite, her eyes widened. Annabeth smiled, "Told you so."
"That's probably the best cookie I've ever had," Reyna said after a moment. She grabbed another cookie and placed it on her box. Frank grabbed a muffin and seemed to devour it in a single second. Annabeth smiled and heard the door open.
"Those look delicious," Lupa commented.
"Percy's mom made them," Annabeth explained. She gave Lupa's box of food to her. Lupa grabbed a muffin and took a bite. "And, do you have room at Thanksgiving for two more?"
"Of course," Lupa said. "I thought you had plans though."
"Percy's mother, Sally, has a kid with Percy's step dad Paul. And, Paul's parents don't like Percy and don't want him around. They also wanted to see their granddaughter. Percy doesn't want to take that away from his little sister, so he is going to stay behind with me," Annabeth explained.
"Well, you two are more than welcome," Lupa said. "Piper also told me that there is a chance she and Jason would come, depending on their fathers."
Annabeth nodded. She knew that Piper didn't spend much time with her father, and Jason's family was an absolute mess. Jason and Thalia were the only normal ones, and with Thalia, that was really saying something. Lupa looked around at the others and seemed to be counting under her breath.
"After your break, I want to see you in my office," Lupa said. Annabeth looked at her and nodded. Even though she knew that she hadn't done anything wrong, her stomach still flipped. She shifted nervously. Lupa looked at her and then walked out of the room.
"So this Monday coming up is our face-off with our opponents?" Frank asked. Reyna nodded. "Are you nervous?"
"Not at all," Reyna almost boasted. She ate a fry and looked at Frank. "You shouldn't be nervous either. Kahale isn't one to talk a lot of trash. He'll just stare you down, so you should do the same."
"All the media and questions though. I don't like it," Frank stated. Reyna reached out and grabbed his hand.
"Frank, you got this. Just stay focused on the task ahead. Don't let Kahale get you nervous. You just have to stay out of his reach, and you can win. Now, calm down so we can eat."
Frank nodded and focused back on his food. Reyna did as well. Annabeth took a seat next to Reyna, and even though Hazel joined them a moment later, they all ate in silence. Annabeth couldn't help but glance at her fellow fighters.
Reyna still had the ice to her elbow and resting it on her lap. Her gaze stayed focused on her food, and it looked like she was zoned out. Frank had his eyes glued to his phone while he ate, and it looked like he was watching one of Kahale's fights. Hazel was watching some show on her phone.
Reyna's hand suddenly shot to her pocket, and a wince came to her face. She grabbed her phone and stood. Reyna stepped away. Annabeth watched her go and looked back at the others. When she realized that there wouldn't be anymore conversations, she focused back on her food.
Annabeth knew that Frank and Reyna were quickly going into their fight mode, and she also knew that Hazel was extremely focused on the logistics of visiting her family. While Annabeth knew that she had a fight coming up, she wasn't going to put all of her energy and focus into it just yet. Right now, Frank and Reyna would need her attention as their fights were on the horizon.
After the next event, Annabeth would know the next contender to her title. She would put all of her focus into preparing, and she knew the others would help her just as much as she helped them. A small smile came to her face as she thought of the future.
The rest of their lunch passed by rather quietly. When it was over, Annabeth made her way towards Lupa's office. She wasn't quite sure what Lupa wanted to talk about, and that made her nervous. Did it have something to do with her next fight? Did Lupa want to go over her evaluations? Or, was it something as innocent as a question about Thanksgiving?
Annabeth held her questions all the way to Lupa's office, and when she stepped inside, her stomach did about twenty more flips than it had when Lupa first told her. Piper was sitting in front of Lupa's desk and looking down at her phone. Octavian was pacing around behind Piper and had a small frown on his face.
"Is something wrong?" Annabeth questioned. She looked at Lupa, who was sitting at her desk and staring down at her phone.
"No," Lupa answered. "Close the door behind you please."
Annabeth closed the door and slowly walked towards the desk. As Lupa motioned for her to sit down, Annabeth did. Her gut kept twisting, and she tried to calm herself as Lupa poured four drinks. Annabeth knew she hadn't done anything wrong, but she still felt like she had committed a crime.
"Octavian, will you stop pacing?" Lupa asked politely as she finished pouring the drinks. "I think you're making everyone nervous."
"I should be nervous," Octavian argued. Annabeth glanced at him. As her gaze moved back to Lupa, she made eye contact with Piper, and she received a wink. Annabeth relaxed back into her seat.
"What's going on?" Annabeth questioned.
"The media loves to give nicknames to fighters once they believe they have earned it," Lupa answered. Annabeth froze in her seat. She had always fought the notion of getting a nickname when she was in the Delian League. Most of them were archaic and things like The Limb Twister or the Submission Machine. There was never any real meaning behind the nicknames besides things that were based on one fight.
One thing she did notice was that nicknames in the Olympic League were much more personable. It wasn't based on one fight, although one fight could influence it. With Lupa, she had earned the nickname of the Wolf after one of her longer fights. Her opponent had her trapped in a submission that should have caused her to tap out.
Instead, Lupa tore her shoulder out of socket to free her other arm and get a position of power. She then pummeled her opponent into a bloody mess. Annabeth felt her stomach flutter again. It sounded like she was getting a nickname, but with Lupa there, did that mean she was going to bestow her nickname upon Annabeth?
"Octavian thinks he has found a perfect nickname for you," Lupa informed. Annabeth nodded and slowly looked back at Octavian.
"Let me know if you hate it," Octavian began. He shifted. "Lupa likes to use animals as a nickname because they are simple and tell a lot about a person. I was thinking of what animal you reminded me of when you fight. You always seem to have a game plan, and I know you're extremely smart."
"Most of the finishes to your fights, especially knockouts, seem to come from nowhere. It's a surprise to your opponent and the audience. I think of a noble animal that observes everything around it," Octavian continued.
"I think you're an animal too," Piper whispered in Annabeth's ear. Annabeth gave her a look.
"An owl," Octavian finally said. Annabeth couldn't stop the twinge of disappointment that she felt at the nickname. It was what Octavian had chosen. In fact, she loved owls. There were times as a kid that she would just stare up at the sky and see an owl observing her from a tree. It was like they were watching over her.
What disappointed her was the fact that Lupa didn't bestow her own nickname upon Annabeth, and it made sense. Annabeth hadn't been with the Wolves for that long, and she certainly didn't have a dignified enough career to even begin to be put on the same level as Lupa.
Annabeth pushed her disappointment aside and smiled. Octavian visibly relaxed and stopped pacing. Annabeth spoke, "I love it."
"I told you she would," Piper said.
"Are you sure, Annabeth? This nickname will stick with you for the rest of your career," Lupa warned.
"I know," Annabeth said. "I do love it. I think it's good."
"Good. I'll get to work on integrating it with the press, but I'm going to need Piper's help for that. If it comes from just me, it will look like we are trying to change your image. This nickname will have to come from Piper, but I will guide her every step of the way," Octavian explained.
"You'll do great," Annabeth said to Piper. "Just remember that if you mess this up, it will follow me for the rest of my career."
"No pressure," Piper said softly, and Annabeth cackled. Piper hit her arm. "You're so mean."
"Only to you," Annabeth teased. Piper rolled her eyes.
"You act so tough, but you won't be when I get Thalia to beat you up," Piper threatened.
"Thalia cheats," Annabeth complained as she rubbed her knee in remembrance. "When is she coming into town?"
"A few days before Thanksgiving, and her family is already having their yearly drama. My dad is filming a movie. I think you'll have three extra people at Thanksgiving, Lupa. If you'll let us come," Piper said.
"Of course. You're always welcome," Lupa replied. "I also look forward to seeing Thalia again. The two of us usually ride our motorcycles together."
Annabeth smiled at the thought of Lupa on a motorcycle. It was even funnier when she thought about Lupa and Thalia bonding. They were such different people. Lupa smiled as well.
"If you see Thalia before I do, tell her to answer her phone," Annabeth mock ordered. "If she doesn't, I'm going to kick her ass."
"I would like to see you try," Piper teased with a smile. "You may be the champion of the Olympic League, but I would still put my money on Thalia."
"It depends on if Thalia has her steel toed boots on or not," Octavian commented. He had stopped pacing and was looking out the window. "Are you sure you don't mind if I don't come, Lupa? It sounds like everyone else will be there."
"It's fine, Octavian. Besides, Hazel and Frank won't be there. I'm not upset," Lupa promised. She raised her glass. "To Annabeth Chase. Our Owl. And the women's champion of the Olympic League."
Annabeth blushed but raised her glass. Piper raised the glass higher than her and exclaimed, "All hail Queen Chase. May her reign be long."
"To Annabeth," Octavian toasted, although he sounded amused by what Piper had said. Annabeth took her shot and set it down. Then, she looked at Lupa and smiled. Things were looking up, and it could only get better from here.