A/N: SorTy for some typos and mistakes... I'm trying to get this chapter up before I leave. Thanks for reads and reviews, they're pretty freaking awesome. -Winter'sFangirl
I go to my room and take a shower, trying to rinse all evidence of the sweat off my skin. The water runs in rivulets down my skin, and I think about tonight's party. I've never been the most social person, and I know I'm supposed to get to know the guests. Maybe socializing with Hazel counts; I already know her and we get along quite well. Thalia's already said she's leaving the second the teens' party starts, so I'll need someone to talk to. I don't want to cling to Percy's arm all night.
I decide to wear a red sundress and white cardigan, though the dress is a bit short. Maybe I can steal a pair of Thalia's shorts... No! I dig through my laundry basket, remembering the blue sleep shorts I tossed there last week. They'll be better than underwear. I slip them on, grab my canvas high tops and slide my feet into heels before running out to the hall to meet Percy and Thalia.
Dinner is served outside, and it consists of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, potato chips, and apple slices.
The sun's setting as guests arrive. Travis and Connor plug in the little white lanterns that surround the backyard; they'll add a soft glow once it gets dark. Frank and Hazel arrive first, with Frank's grandmother in tow. Hazel gives me a hug and congratulates Percy and I on our engagement.
"Thanks," I say, my mind flashing back to other things. The escape plan has been almost erased from my mind. I wanted to leave, but would being married to Percy be THAT terrible? I can't even remember why I wanted to go.
I greet Frank's grandmother. She gives me a curt nod and Grover leads her to her seat. I raise my eyebrows at Hazel. Is Granny always that unfriendly? She shrugs.
In the next forty minutes, I've interacted with dozens of people that I've never met before, received a kiss in the hand from Leo, shared three jokes with Jason and Piper, answered twenty-six questions about the wedding, and nearly fallen in my heels six times.
Thank the gods when I can take my seat at the table between Percy and Thalia. Waiters come to serve dinner- Luke winks at Thals as he sets down our plates- and we all have a moment of silence before eating.
Small talk is not pleasant. The business statistics don't hold my attention, and if I had to answer one more question about the wedding I was going to strangle somebody. Thalia didn't appear amused with conversation, either. I'd catch glimpses of her out of the corner of my eye tapping her fork on the tablecloth, or tossing crumbs at Granny Zhang. At one point, she kicks Percy under the table.
"Thalia!" I hiss. "Behave!" I was being a hypocrite, however; I, too, wanted to throw things and kick people out of boredom.
She rolls her eyes at me. "Make me." I'm about to spit back a snarky retort when Poseidon stands up.
"If the you would all excuse the young people to their portion of the party. They must be rather bored with business." That's our signal to leave. Percy takes my hand and we all morph into a crowd to the other side of the yard. I can't wait to ditch these shoes. My feet are killing me after an hour.
Once we're standing in a small crowd around the pool Percy speaks up."If anyone want to go get changed, through that door-" he points to the side door of the house. "Is a bathroom. Just dump your stuff anywhere." Everyone cheers, and the party begins.
Someone pokes me in the shoulder. I turn around, and Thalia presses a my high-tops into my hand. "Thank you." I say, and kick off my heels. I hadn't planned on swimming, so I put my shoes on. Oh thank gods, another few minutes and they would have had to amputate.
Someone turns on the speakers and blasts the playlist into the air.
The Summer Set blares through them, filling the air with a pulsing energy. Hazel, Leo, Frank and Will have started a giant game of tag. Kids run everywhere, sliding on the grass. Someone bumps into me, and I stagger close to the edge of the pool. A hand pops up from the side and grabs my ankle. I squeal, and Percy's head emerges from the water.
"Come on in, Wise Girl. The water's warm!" He tugs in my ankle.
"No, I'd rather not."
He says it so fast I barely register what the words are. "Plug your nose and close your eyes." Seconds later, I'm soaked and choking on chlorinated water.
"Perseus Jackson!" I screech. "You are such an ass!" My shoes are heavy with water and my dress floats around me. Thank god I wore shorts underneath.
I splash water in his face, hoping to piss him off. No such luck- he starts laughing.
"It's not funny!" He passes me one of the pool floats. It's a reclined chair- one that took me forty-five minutes to inflate with the stupid air pump.
"Hold onto this, Wise Girl." His face glows- this is a new Percy. A happy one. The one that doesn't show up often, and never this intense.
"Shut up." Not ten minutes in, and this is already the wildest party I've ever attended. (Though, I suppose, it's the only party I've ever attended.) Jason's threatening to dunk Piper in the water; the crowd cheers him on. Leo's following Nico around with a tiki torch. Someone should take that from him. Travis and Connor Stoll are lingering around the water cooler with sad faces- thank the gods Poseidon had the sense to get individual bottles instead of a punch bowl. No one needs to become intoxicated tonight.
Silenna and Beckendorf had the night off and are already off on their own by the garden. He's just said something funny, she's laughing her head off.
No sign of Thalia, which isn't surprising. She isn't the party type.
"Since you're already soaked, care to swim?" Percy asks. I glare at him before kicking off my shoes. They sink to the bottom of the pool. I'll have to get them at some point.
The song changes, and Percy sends me a look. "What?" I ask.
"You promised to sing to me." Oh no. Not this, not now. "No one will hear you. Here. Sit on the float." I climb onto the float and Percy climbs beside me. Jason has thrown Piper in the pool, and now she chases him in search of blood.
"Annabeth, you promised to sing!"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm getting there." No one will hear you. Just sing and get it over with. These people won't care. "You make me crazy, you make me wild. Just like a baby, spin me 'round like a child. your skin so golden brown. Be young, be dope, be proud. Like an American." Percy rocks silently beside me, and I put my head in his shoulder. Once I finish the song, he kisses my cheek. I shove him back into the water. He drags me with him, the asshat.
Time to enjoy the evening.
Thalia
I pass Annabeth her shoes and make my way towards the edge of the crowd. Luke said he'd meet me here somewhere. I find him near the house
"Hey."
He looks up. "Hey."
"This place blows." Which it does- this is the most stereotypical party ever. Not, exactly, that I've gone to many parties. Carol was strict about her public image, and if Annabeth or myself were to have been found at a gathering more wild than a church picnic, she'd flip her lid.
Luke nods, the torchlight illuminating his face. It's grown darker, but there's still a stripe of pink on the horizon. Not yet dark enough for fireworks. "I need to tell you something," he says.
"Okay." What could he have to say? It sounds serious.
"Your father's here."
He's kidding. He has to be.
"You're shitting me. You've got to be shitting me." I'm not ready for this; I don't think I ever will be. What if he tries to make me behave, make me into something I'm not? Would he be disappointed by the person I've become? He doesn't have a right to have an opinion. He's never tried to find you.
But maybe he has.
"You've got a brother, too. Well, half brother." This adds fuel to the flames, and proves the devil right- he never looked for me and mom because he had another woman. Maybe that's why she left. "You know him."
I know him? I haven't been introduced to many boys in New York... If it's Pansy Percy, I'm going to flip shit. That's too much of a cliché, like Star Wars. Maybe it's Luke...? No, he wouldn't have kept it secret this long. I take a deep breath. "Who is it?" I'm scared, but refuse to let it show. Thalia the Brave never gets scared. She always keeps a straight face. Thalia the Brave doesn't depend on anyone. She only trusts herself and Annabeth the Wise, because anyone else with access to the feelings and thoughts would use them to destroy her.
Like doesn't meet my eyes. "Jason."