We followed Silena's directions to the dining pavilion. When we there, I caught my breath. It was beautiful. The pavilion was a large green field, surrounded by the building of the University on every side. It was framed in Greek columns that rose up as high as the buildings around it. There was no roof to cover the mess hall, just open sky. Torches blazed from the columns and a central fire burned inside a bronze brazier the size of a bathtub. There were dozens of tables around the fireplace, each of them with a white cloth and purple trim on it. There were already so many demigods filling the tables, excitedly talking and occasionally heading to the fireplace to offer burnt offerings to the gods.

They liked the smell. Don't ask.

Just then we saw a hand shoot up from a table of girls. "Hey! Piper! Annabeth! Over here!" The hand belonged to the smiling face of Silena Beauregard.

We headed toward her and sat down at her table.

"Hey Silena!" I chirped brightly.

"Silena, you have to come check out our dorm later. It's totally decked out now and no longer looks like a prison cell!" Piper exclaimed.

Silena laughed. "I can't wait! Piper, Annabeth, meet my friends!"

Silena introduced us to her friends. I was pleasantly surprised to know that they each had a different godly parent. I voiced my opinion out loud. One of the girls told me that was one of the great things about Demigod University. Unlike several camps around the world that were inhabited by younger demigods, the college didn't see it wise to lope together kids that didn't know each other just because they had the same godly parent.

"Yeah, it's a chance to break out and meet different people. We have our own individual class schedules and we're treated like adults. They have a great system here." Silena told us. "The only organizations that are really exclusive are the fraternities here. The guys, if they want to be in one, which most of them do, are grouped based on their godly parent. Speaking of the fraternities, have you two heard of the party at the Zeus house this Friday? It's the first one, kind of like a kick off to the start of the year. Practically everyone goes. Last year it was awesome."

Piper and I smiled widely at each other.

"Oh yeah, we're definitely going," Piper told Silena with a grin.

"Yay! We'll see you guys there, we're all going too!" Silena told us, gesturing to her friends.

We continued talking about the university, asking Silena and her friends different questions. She was a second year, and had a lot of good insight on the school. And its drama!

As we finished our meals, I felt someone staring at me. I glanced over and saw a pair of sea green eyes piercing into mine. It was him. Percy.

He smirked at me and turned back to his friends. I saw Jason sitting with him and a bunch of other guys. I recognized a few as his goonie friends that were laughing at my expense earlier. Jerks.

I ran a hand through my long blonde hair, shaking it out and hoping it looked okay. I hardly ever did anything with it, but I couldn't bear to cut it. Then it would be too short for a ponytail.

I saw him looking at me again. Suddenly, he stood up. Oh, shit, I thought. He was heading right towards me. My heartbeat steadily increased with each step he took. Before I could say anything to Piper, there he was, leaning on our table. And he was still staring at me.

"Hey babe, miss me?" He toyed at me cockily.

"Who is that?!" I heard Piper whisper in my ear.

"Nobody important," I told her, breaking my gaze with his and turning back to look at Silena and her friends. I noticed they were all gawking at him. He was so sexy, how could they not. But I wasn't going to give in to him. I know guys like Percy. They joke around, make you feel special for a bit, and then leave you out to dry, continuing on to their next victim. No way was that going to be me. I was too smart for that.

"Oh come on, Annabeth. Don't play so hard to get." Percy gave me a dazzling smile. I groaned.

"How do you know my name, huh? It's literally the first day of college." I asked him. I was dying to know.

"I'll tell you," he said smoothly, "if you stop by my room later."

"Not in a million years, Percy." I snapped. He was just playing me.

The boy laughed. "Gotta loosen up, babe. This is college. I'm betting by the weeks end you'll already be in my bed." What the hell. This guy was so full of it.

Percy straightened and left our table without another word, grinning victoriously. What game was he trying to play here?

I couldn't help but stare at his retreating form. I could see his muscles rippling through the back of his shirt. He didn't look back, thank gods. Otherwise he would catch me staring at his ass.

I turned back to the girls.

"Okay, who the hell was that?" Piper asked, her mouth hanging wide open.

"That was Jason's roommate." I said matter-of-factly. "His name is Percy. Isn't he quite the gentleman?" I asked sarcastically.

"I'll say. How do you know him?" Piper questioned skeptically.

I filled her in on our interaction earlier that day, how he had hit on Silena and then tortured me in front of all his friends.

"Sounds like he's just trying to get under your skin," Piper told me. "Damn cute though, isn't he?" She giggled.

I couldn't help but laugh back. We finished our dinner and told Silena and her friends goodbye and that we'd see them tomorrow.

"I gotta get to bed. My architecture class starts at 8 am tomorrow!" I told Piper.

"Annabeth! Why are you taking an 8 am! Are you crazy!" Piper shrieked, causing a few people to glance our way. I shot her a look.

"Noo, I am not crazy," I drawled. "It was the only class available for my schedule. And I have to take Architecture 101 if I want to get in the advanced placement class for next year."

"You really are Athena's kid," Piper laughed.

"And don't you forget it!" I told her and we both laughed.

We found our way back to our dorm and both started on our nightly routines for bed. I washed my face and looked at my reflection in the mirror. My skin was tanned perfectly from the sunny California rays, my hair fell in waves down my back, and my stormy gray eyes were enough to turn heads. I knew I was attractive, but looks weren't everything. It's what's in your head that really matters. And your heart. Hopefully I'd find someone at college that felt the same way.

A/N: Thank you guys for reading! Please let me know if you have any questions or comments! I really really love having feedback! Thank you for taking the time to read my story. It seriously means a lot!