*Sorry for the wait, even though it is way past Halloween . . . again, sorry. I've had writer's block for this, but I'll finish it up, promise.
Disclaimer: I still don't own anything.*
*Chapter 4: Party Crasher*
(Annabeth)
"Wait here," Connor told me and Percy when we'd gotten back to camp.
"Why?" I asked. Knowing Connor and his brother, it couldn't be good.
"Because, if we couldn't recognize you guys, we want to see if other people will," Travis said. "It'll be so funny."
"We could turn it into a contest," Rachel joked, but by the way Travis and Connor's eyes lit up, I could tell they were considering the idea and possibilities, the result probably not going to be good.
"Excellent!" Travis said. "Good idea, Rachel."
"Yeah, thanks, Rachel," said Percy sarcastically. Rachel just shot him an apoligetic smirk.
"Wait here, guys," Connor told us, and Percy and I watched as the others headed for the mess hall where the party was being held.
"Well, this will not be fun," Percy sighed.
"Try wearing a skirt," was all I told him.
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(Connor)
As Travis, myself, and the others entered the party, we'd apparently caught it in full swing.
Skeleton lights were hanging from the ceilings in a variety of colors, the room itself was dimly lit with a couple of strobe lights. Chiron had even managed to add a smoke machine. There were fake cobwebs everywhere. All of the dining tables were in the middle of the mess hall as one long table with so much food, cakes, and awesome Halloween treats my mouth started to water. Some goulish music was playing, that probably came straight from Chiron's pile of records.
Last came the costumes. I had to admit, everyone looked pretty good. I saw everything, from devils to angels to cats, pirates, werewolves, vampires, and even Cupid. There were plenty of masks, so a lot of people I didn't recognize. Out of all the costumes, though, I don't think any beat Percy and Annabeth's.
"Hey!" Travis yelled, cupping his hands over his mouth. "Listen up!"
The music stopped. Everyone turned to look at us.
I lifted my mask off my face. "So, guys," I started. "How about we make this party a little more interesting?"
The crowd shifted.
"Interesting how?" a girl called, wearing a Biker's outfit. I realized it was Clarisse.
"So, any second now two people are about to walk in here. Their costumes were personally made by Aphrodite," I said. People gasped. "Yes, I know. Well, when we first saw them, we didn't recognie them. We know who they are-"
"Where are you going with this, Stoll?" Clarisse asked lazily.
"Well, if you'd stop inturrupting, we'd tell you," Travis said, then flinched back when Clarisse glared at him.
"Anyway," I continued, "so here's how it's going to go. The first people to guess who they are, wins a pumpkin full of candy." He gestured to where a giant pumkin lay in the middle of the large table. The crowd stirred with excitement.
"But there are rules," Travis added. Everyone groaned.
"I thought you two didn't believe in rules," Chiron joked. He had a long, fake white beard and a long brown jacket. A duster, I think it was called.
"We don't," I said easily.
"Unless we're breaking them," Travis remarked, winking at Katie Gardener, who was dressed as a nymph in a short brown dress, her skin painted green. She giggled.
"No one can talk to them," I said. "Just in case you recognize their voices. And you can't ask them for hints or make them give any sign of their identity. Understood?"
Everyone agreed.
"Good. Travis, Chiron and I will be the judges. If no one wins, we get the candy for ourselves." Travis grinned at me, and I grinned back. There was no way someone will guess correctly. There were over one hundred fifty people here. The candy was as good as ours.
"Oh, and one more thing!" I added. "No one can ask Rachel, Thalia, Grover, or Nico, either! And they can't tell you. The two coming in are dressed as Jack Sparrow and Angelica. And if any of you don't know who that is, something is seriously wrong with you. That is all." The music cut back on, but everyone whispered amongst themselves, too excited about the contest.
I turned to Thalia. "Go get them," I told her. "This is about to turn interest-oomph! Hey, buddy, watch it!" I said to a guy in a Grimm Reaper costume, who just merely drifted off without glancing back after bumping into me. He was pretty tall, and covered from head to toe. I looked at Travis, who merely shrugged. We carried on, not giving the guy in the Reaper costume a second thought.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Annabeth)
After Thalia came for us, explaining the stupid contest and rules, the three of us head to the mess hall. Apparently everyone wanted that candy, because as soon as Percy and I walked in, we were being surrounded.
"Oh my gods, you two look fabulous!" an Aphrodite girl exclaimed.
"Is it true Aphrodite made your costumes?" another asked.
"Who are you?" Clarisse said.
"We said you couldn't ask that!" Travis yelled.
Clarisse shrugged. "Worth a shot."
"Come on, buzz off, guys," Connor said. He and Thalia pulled Percy and me through the crowd, to the long table full of food.
"Brownies!" Percy said, his fake accent never wavering as he reached for a brownie. "But no rum." A lot of people hovered, hoping to ID us, but frowned with dissapointment when they were unable to recognize Percy's voice.
The night went pretty well, despite the fact that the only people Percy and I could talk to were ourselves, Travis and Connor, Grover, Thalia, Rachel, Nico, and Chiron. I was surprised no one recognized me, at least. I didn't have a fake beard or anything covering my face. Although my hair was now brown and in soft waves. There were so many people and so many costumes that we could be anybody.
On one or more occasion when Percy and I were dancing together someone would try to slip in between us, in the hopes that they could find out who I was if I talked to them, but I'd just smile, step around them, and go back into Percy's arms.
For the entire party I stayed by Percy's side, with the excpetion of one dance with Thalia. I admit, I was a little jealous that Percy was getting stares from a lot of girls. But Percy either didn't notice or just ignored it. When I'd look at him to see if he noticed the girls he'd just grin at me, and I couldn't help but grin back. He gently tugged me into his side, where I happily stayed the rest of the night. Well, almost.
It was almost eleven, which meant the party would be ending soon. So far, no one had been able to guess who Percy and I were, which meant that Travis and Connor would get the pumkin full of candy.
Percy, Travis, Connor, and I were standing together near the table. I couldn't help but notice that a guy in a Grimm Reaper costume was hovering a little too close. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him slowly reach into the sleeve of his robe and pull out-
"Watch out!" I yelled, and pulled Percy out of the way just as a bronze knife slashed in the air where Percy had been standing just moments before.