Hazel

Donuts were not as delicious as beignets, Hazel noted. But they were pretty good. Frank, Leo, and Percy were all devouring theirs, Jason showing much more restraint.

As she ate, she thought about Leo and how he said his last name was Valdez. He looked a lot like Sammy, and they shared the same last name, so maybe they were related in some way? She had to find out.

She tapped him on the shoulder. "Leo? Can I talk to you about something?"

"Yeah, sure. What is it?" He asked while he ate his donut.

"Do you know a Sammy Valdez? Lives in New Orleans?"

"You mean my cousin?" Leo asked. "Cuz I have a cousin named Sammy Valdez on my mother's side. His mom is Rosa?"

"Yes!" Hazel said enthusiastically.

"He's pretty great," Leo said.

She smiled but didn't say anything about them dating. It sounded too out of place in their conversation.

Piper scarfed down her donut and whooped. "I still can't believe we won!"

"Do you really have so little faith in me, Pipes?" Annabeth asked.

Piper shrugged. "Maybe."

Percy groaned and said, "I just realized this. After the dance tomorrow, and the free Sunday we have, then school officially starts this Monday."

"NOOOO!" Leo said while clutching his chest and dropping to his knees as if he were dying.

Hazel bit her lip. "Do kids go to church here?"

"Some of them," Jason said. "Why, do you go?"

"Every Sunday since I was born," she said.

Calypso said, "Well the kids who do go to church and such all take the subway together to their separate churches and meet up and come back. I think we've got a group of Catholics, two Baptists, three Jews, one Muslim girl, one Mormon boy, and a Protestant."

"Adam is the Mormon boy," Annabeth said. "I don't know the other's well, but if you find Adam I'm sure he'll be happy to show you the ropes and how everything works. The meeting up, the Subway, etcetera."

"Thank you," Hazel said gratefully. She was glad that she wouldn't have to give up her church-going habit to go to this school. (I know some of ya'll are gonna say that I can't force religions on characters, and I beg to differ. If Hazel was mortal, I fully believe she would be a good Christian girl who reads her bible and posts scripture verses on Instagram and is just so pure that you want to protect her with your life. Thank you for your time.)

Annabeth ran her fingers through her hair, unknotting some tangles in the process."Should I cut my hair? It's really long, thick, and curly which is really annoying at times." Both Calypso and Piper started protesting.

"Don't you dare!" Calypso said.

"Do you know how many girls would kill for your hair?" Piper asked accusingly.

Annabeth laughed. "Okay, okay! I won't cut it."

Percy snickered. "Leo, do you know how many boys would kill for your hair?"

"ABSOLUTELY ZERO!" Leo yelled. "BECAUSE NOBODY CARES!"

Jason pretended to strum a guitar. "Bad a bum!"

Frank put his head in his hands. "What just happened?"

"No clue," Hazel said. "I have a feeling us and Annabeth are going to have to be the responsible ones in the group."

"Normally I would argue," Calypso said, "But with all my Broadwaytrash energy I sort of understand where you're coming from."

Annabeth laughed. "You're not trash."

"I said Broadwaytrash," Calypso argued. "There's a difference."

"Question," Leo said with a raise of his hand. "Is that why you sing all the time?"

"Yes," Calypso said.

Hazel laughed. Calypso did sing a lot, but she had a nice voice so Hazel liked it. She personally liked instrumental music but when people a melodious voice that was flowing and lovely.

Chiron and Ms. Lupa rounded them up and said they were going to have a picnic outside by the edge of the woods. Some of the graduates and teachers had set it up. They all started walking on the dirt paths through the trees with tall trunks and leafy tops. The sun streamed through like it would through stained glass windows.

After reaching the picnic spot, everyone started to group off and eat. There were sandwiches and water with some vegetables too. Ms. Lupa walked around, trying to make kids eat their vegetables and helping kids with allergies.

Piper raised her hand. "Are there any PB&J's? I'm vegetarian."

"Sure," Ms. Lupa said. She handed her one. "I'll write you down as a vegetarian so that we know for future reference."

"Thank you," Piper said as she ate her PB&J.

"You're a vegetarian?" Jason asked, sitting down next to her.

"Yep. Have been since we passed a pig slaughterhouse while driving," Piper said.

"Gross," Annabeth said as she ate her sandwich. "I would be too."

"Jason?" Chiron calls in a shaky voice. "There's a note for you." Jason walked over and took the note. He walked back over to them and started to read it too himself. His eyes widened and he gasped.

Annabeth's eyes seemed to grow concerned and sad at the same time. "Annabeth?" Hazel asked. "Jason?"

"Thalia and Luke left. They're going to college together. They didn't tell us," Jason said.

Percy shot Annabeth a look who nodded slightly. Hazel then realized something. Annabeth had somehow already known and Percy knew a little bit as well. So that was why they were closer together. They shared a secret!

Annabeth shook her head sadly. "I can't believe they didn't say goodbye."

Jason nodded, "Why? I'm Thalia's brother! She's my only family besides the people here."

"I'm so sorry, man," Leo said.

Piper said, "Jason, this sucks. I'm really sorry."

Jason stood up. "I need to take a break." He stood up and started running to the house. Piper stood up. "I'm going after him."

Annabeth nodded. "Go ahead." She started running.

Hazel looked at Annabeth. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I've been okay for a while," she said with steel in her voice.