Piper's POV

'I didn't say dare, Glitch.' I said.

Since we were calling each other cartoon characters.

'Sorry, Aurora.' Nik said sweetly. 'Since you're such a wimp; truth or dare.'

I resisted the urge to tell her to strangle herself. 'Fine, Ralph. What do you have for me?'

'Get me five hundred dollars worth of stuff from the nearest mall.' Nik said. 'Cash, merch; whatever.'

'I'm not your—' Then it hit me. 'Wait a minute; you're telling me to steal?'

'I'm not telling you to steal.' Nik said. 'I'm telling you to take things and not return them; which could probably land you in juvie.'

'Nik; that is the definition of stealing.' Jason said.

'Big deal.' Nik rolled her eyes. 'She's done it before.'

'A lot.' Leo muttered.

'That was borrowing.' I said defensively. 'And I always gave them their stuff back—'

'Because you wanted attention.' Nik said. 'Don't worry, Jasmine; you'll get enough attention in jail.'

Nik reached out and pinched my cheeks hard. 'Such a pweety face.'

I really wanted to use my authority and say "no borrowing, stealing, shoplifting or anything illegal". But that would just give her a chance to call me weak. And I've had enough of that word for the past week.

I opened the door. 'The game's on hold until I get back.'

'So you're saying we should wait thirty years?' Percy asked.

'Ten years, Fish.' Nik said. 'And that's if she makes it out alive.'

Nik narrowed her dark blue eyes. 'Juvie's a terrible, horrible place for princesses.'

I walked out, slamming the door behind me.

The nearest mall was exactly two blocks away.

The security guards of Tower Pharmacy and Department Store looked at me funny; either because I was beautiful or they could read my mind and wanted to call 911.

For once I prayed that they were checking me out.

I went to the clothes aisle.

Let's see, I thought. What would make Nik Strano look stupid?

Then I saw this hideously pink, poufy dress. Something Sleeping Beauty would wear.

'Gotcha.' I said.

The price tag said three hundred dollars. Meaning I had to find another two hundred.

I smiled. 'Shoes.'

I gracefully walked into the shoe aisle and saw some white three inch stiletto heels that Nik would probably fall over every time.

I laughed deviously at the thought and got some weird looks from other shoppers.

Those cost fifty dollars. Meaning I still needed one fifty more.

Then I rushed to the accessory aisle and put a hundred dollar tiara in the bag.

I decided to get the remaining fifty from my allowance.

My final problem; getting out.

I was lucky that the guy on the register was— well— a guy.

'Charmspeak powers; activate.' I said to myself.

I walked to him like, 'Hi.'

He didn't even try to pay attention to me. 'Yes; what can I do for you?'

'Actually,' I started twirling my hair. 'I need help with something in the dressing room.'

'If you knew you needed help with anything, then you would've brought your friends.' He said, still staring somewhere else.

I felt hurt. Why wouldn't he look at me?

'You can go now.' He said.

Something in me broke. 'Why? Don't you notice that I'm a customer in need of your services?'

Finally, the boy turned.

'I have a lot of reasons not to help you.' He said help with air quotes. 'And by the way; your flirting doesn't work on me. So please; pay up, and get out.'

Rude Boy turned his gaze back to whatever he was looking at before.

I almost said something terrible, then I decided to see what he was talking about.

I followed his gaze to… Jason?

Jason winked at me.

I caught a glimpse of Rude Boy smirking. 'So handsome.'

A Nik-slap hit me hard on the face.

I felt my face turn red with embarrassment. How could I have been so stupid?

Help me! I mouthed. Get over here!

He raised his eyebrows like, Why?

'Just. Get. Here.' I said with my teeth gritted.

'Please don't tell me that girl's still there.' He said girl with such disgust it matched how Thalia said boy.

Jason walked over to us.

I looked back at Rude Boy; and saw he was blushing like Hades.

'Hey.' Jason said.

'Hi.' Rude Boy said nervously. 'Uh— what can I do for you?'

My jaw dropped. Rude Boy. Was getting tongue tied? Over my boyfriend?

I saw this as an opportunity. 'Flirt with him.' I coughed.

Before he could turn and ask Why? I ran away. I didn't want to watch from that close.

From what I could see, Jason and Rude Boy were talking, (or more Rude Boy was flirting and Jason was listening with a completely pink face) then Jason was able to lead him away from the register, down the clothing aisle, and by my crazy imagination; into the dressing room.

I couldn't help but feel a little jealous. But I knew Nik would be waiting for me.

I ran for my dear, jealous life; alarms blaring behind me.

'Where's Jason?' Percy asked.

'So you sent him to look after me?' I asked Nik.

'I sent him to bail you out.' Nik said. 'You were taking forever.

'Now show me the money.' Nik said.

I smiled and handed her the bags.

She smirked as she took out what I borrowed. 'Very nice.'

'So you like it?' I asked. 'It's good enough for you to put on?'

'Who said I was wearing this?'

My heart jumped into my throat. 'I'm wearing it, right?'

'You borrowed it.' Nik said sweetly.

All that time, I thought so hard about how to humiliate Nik; that I completely forgot that she was a pro gambler. She could turn the tables on me in a single move.

'Stop right there.' Jason said.

He looked drenched in sweat; probably from running.

'Nik; I dare you to wear what Piper borrowed.' Jason said.

'It's Piper's—'

'She dared me already at the store.' Jason said. 'Which reminds me; how dare you?'

'What happened?' I asked.

'Long story.' Jason said. 'And Nik; chop chop.'

Nik and Jason had some kind of ten second staring contest; and Nik lost.

'Whatever, Boy Wonder.' Nik said. She then looked kindly at Percy's mother. 'Please excuse me.'

Nik went away dragging the dress on the floor like a mop.

'Nik's gone.' I said. 'Tell us everything.'

Jason took a deep breath. 'Well, after you left me to die of shame…'