Annabeth

The dance was today and the eight of them had decided to go as friends. It was a casual-dressy dance so there was no need for nice dresses. But Piper seemed to be determined to put as much effort into their clothes as they would a formal dance.

She threw a navy blue sweater at Annabeth. "You wear that. It's cute."

"Yes ma'am," she muttered. Truth be told, it was one of her favorite pieces of clothing and she was planning on wearing it anyway.

Piper tossed Hazel a black romper with gold stripes. "Adorable. You must wear it."

"Thanks," Hazel said. "I'm just gonna put a white shirt underneath it."

Piper rummaged through Calypso's closet and handed her a white sundress. "Put it on, that's an order."

"Alright," Calypso said with a laugh.

Annabeth started to put her hair into a ponytail when Piper smacked the rubber band out of her hands and handed her a gray scrunchie without a word. Piper micromanaged the entire group's outfits and nobody really cared.

"Trust me, girls," Piper said. "I may have rejected my dad's lifestyle but that doesn't change the fact that I lived in Hollywood. I know what I'm doing."

"I don't doubt it," Annabeth said as she pulled on the brown skirt Piper had suggested.

Hazel brushed her hair and said, "It would be cool to live in Hollywood."

"I've never been out of New York," Calypso said as she braided her long hair. "But I really want to see L.A."

"It's pretty," Piper agreed.

"Absolutely gorgeous!" Annabeth said. "The architecture! The landscaping! It's so amazing."

"I was referring to the palm trees..." Piper said. "But sure. The architecture."

"Sorry, I just love architecture. I want to be an architect when I grow up," Annabeth said with a sheepish grin.

"I just want to be a mom," Hazel said.

"I want to be a singer!" Calypso said.

"Hey, same!" Piper said happily. "What can you sing?"

"Do you know "Someone Like You" by Adele?" Calypso asked.

The two of them proceeded to belt out, "NEVERMIND I'LL FIND! SOMEONE LIKE YOOOOOUUUU! I WISH NOTHING BUT THE BEST! FOR YOOOUUU TWO! DON'T FORGET ME! I PRAY! I REMEMBER YOU SAID! SOMETIMES IT LASTS IN LOVE BUT SOMETIMES IT HURTS INSTEAD! Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."

Annabeth laughed. "Heaven help us."

"Oh my lord," Hazel said with a laugh.

Piper smiled and took a red shirt out of her drawer and some black leggings out of her closet. "Sorry."

"I'm not!" Calypso said happily. "You must always take a chance to sing, my friends. And never miss a chance to garden! Singing and gardening are great."

"Two completely different things but okay," Annabeth said.

The four of them kept chatting and talking and getting ready. Annabeth put on some lip gloss and a bit of mascara. She didn't like to wear mascara normally because she would rub her eyes a lot but she wore it tonight. Dances were a special thing.

BREAK

To say the Gym was packed would be an understatement. Luckily they had a big gym. Teachers like Mr. Quinn, Chiron, Ms. Lupa, Coach Hedge, Ms. Hylla, and Argus milled about, acting as chaperones.

Suddenly, a boy on crutches walked up to her. Annabeth practically screamed, "GROVER!" She gave him a big hug and he laughed.

"Annabeth!" He said.

Grover was the son of Mr. Pan, one of the teachers. He had passed away a little bit ago and Chiron took him in as an adopted son. He went to C.B.S.T.T school like Annabeth and in the summer he went to a summer camp called, "Young Eco-Activists Summer Camp."

"I missed you!" She said. She turned to Piper, Hazel, and Calypso. "Girls, this is Grover. He's one of my best friends. Grover, this is Piper, Hazel, and Calypso. My new roommates and best friends."

Grover waved. "Hi."

They all waved back and everyone started searching around for Frank, Leo, Jason, and Percy. Annabeth explained how everyone met, everyone's personality, and who everyone was and what they looked like.

"Jason asked Piper to the dance," Annabeth said. Piper blushed a little.

Finally, they spotted Jason. He was a tall, towering sasquatch so it was easy to find him in the crowd. They started walking towards them and finally reached them.

"Hi, guys!" Piper said cheerily.

"Boys, this is Grover," Annabeth said. "Grover, Percy, Frank, and Leo. You already know Jason."

Grover waved again and Jason said hey. They had never been best friends but they were good acquaintances.

Suddenly, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor came on the speakers and everyone started dancing. Grover mostly just shuffled around with his crutches but he seemed to be having a good time.

"Go on now go! Walk out the door! Just turn around now!" Calypso and Piper sang together. Everyone joined in and sang "CUZ YOU'RE NOT WELCOME ANYMORE!"

Annabeth laughed. "Percy, what even was that singing?"

"Oh haha," Percy said. "It was better than you."

They both could not sing for the life of them but they kept belting at the top of their lungs with everyone else.

The dance lasted for two hours. They mostly did pop songs because it was a casual dance. They did three slow songs the entire night. Piper and Jason danced for every single one, Leo got rejected by three girls before Calypso danced with him out of pity, and Grover didn't dance at all.

But the very last song was what made Annabeth want to dance. The song was "Everything Has Changed," by Taylor Swift. One of her favorite songs. She looked wistfully at the music booth.

Percy looked at her, then at the speakers, then back at her. "Seems a pity to not dance for the last song."

"Yes," Annabeth said. Where was he going with this? Was he going to ask her?

"Might as well then. Do you want to dance?" Percy asked.

Annabeth looked at him and grinned. "Sure."

He put his hand on her waist and she put hers on his shoulder. They clasped hands and started to sway side to side.

Annabeth hummed the song to herself despite her voice.

"Do you like this song?" he asked.

"It's one of my favorites," Annabeth said. "Even if Taylor Swift isn't my favorite artist."

"Well, who is?" Percy asked.

"I like Imagine Dragons," she said. "Especially Warriors. What about you?"

"I like Led Zepplin," he said.

"Good choice. Luke liked that too," she said. She found herself growing sad when she thought about Luke or Thalia.

Percy paused before he said, "in the woods. It was Luke and Thalia leaving, right? That's what made you sad?"

She nodded and so did he. "Thanks for trusting me with that knowledge."

"Your welcome," she said. They didn't talk anymore. They just listened to the music.

All I know since yesterday. Is everything, has changed.