It's been awhile, I know, but it's here now. Enjoy the Parks & Rec references because they fit way too well not to work them in.

"Do you know how hard it is to plan a wedding with your stepmother-in-law calling all the time?"

Annabeth didn't even try to interject while Piper chewed her celery. She'd learned long ago to just let her friend rant when it came to Jason's step-mother. She just nodded to let Piper know she was listening and took another bite of her sandwich.

"And her 'suggestions' are so passive-aggressive. Like, I've never met such a passive-aggressive person in my life. She calls me last night and goes, 'This dusty rose you chose is a lovely color. It will look lovely on your bridesmaids. I would probably look better in teal, but the dusty rose you chose is just lovely, dear.' I don't think I've ever heard someone use the word 'lovely' so many times. Or with such derision."

Percy and Will Solace, the Health teacher, walked in laughing but both of them bit their tongues upon seeing Piper's expression. Annabeth hid a grin with a drink of water.

"You like the color, right?"

Annabeth frowned. "Piper, you like the color and that's all that matters."

Piper pursed her lips over her her pb&j.

"Yes, I like the color."

Piper nodded, as if that settled the matter, and went back to her sandwich.

"So, did you hear Hazel's brother is moving to town?" Percy asked as he unwrapped his usual ham and cheese.

"I didn't even know she had a brother," Annabeth said.

"Neither did she," Piper said through pursed lips. "Apparently their father never told them about each other. She had a sister too, but she was killed in an accident when they were kids."

Will whistled. "And I thought my family was messed up."

Annabeth made a sound of agreement in her throat but didn't look up from her sandwich. She had her fair share of family drama. Her mother hadn't wanted her so she pawned Annabeth off on her father, who was too busy with his thesis to have time for a baby. That is, until he met Leanne and had a set of twins with her.

For as long as she could remember, Annabeth felt out of place in her father's house. Her stepmother never outright said it, but Annabeth knew the woman resented her. Her father, her stepmother, and her little brothers made a family. Annabeth may as well have been a visitor in their house.

"I think everyone's family has issues. They're not necessarily better or worse, but they're there."

Annabeth didn't know what to say. She glanced over at Percy, who was picking at the crust on his sandwich. He was always talking about his wonderful mother and he'd mentioned that his step-dad Paul was great. And he positively glowed whenever he talked about his sister Sarah. The thought had never even crossed her mind that there might be more to his family life than he let on.

"You're probably right," Piper said thoughtfully.

"That's probably the first time you've ever agreed with me," Percy said proudly.

Piper snickered. "Don't get used to it because it's probably the last time as well."

The atmosphere was lighter as they finished their lunches, but Annabeth couldn't help thinking that she didn't know nearly as much about Percy as she'd thought she had.

"I got it!"

Annabeth and her student assistant Malcolm looked up at the same time.

"Oh, crap. Sorry"

Annabeth glanced at Malcolm and found him smothering a smile.

Malcolm straightened from the pile of papers he was leaning over and grabbed his book off Annabeth's desk. "Actually, I was just about to go. Thanks, Miss Chase."

"Oh, right. You're welcome, Malcolm. Have a good day."

She didn't miss the smirk on his face as he left.

"So," Annabeth said leaning back in her chair, "what'd you get?"

Percy grinned. "The swim coach position."

"That's great!"

Annabeth could practically feel the excitement radiating off of him. He'd mentioned once or twice that he'd applied, but he'd appeared mostly casual and indifferent about it. Obviously he was a good actor.

"I'm pretty pumped," he said perching on the edge of her desk. His face looked like it was permanently stretched into a Cheshire grin and his excitement made something in Annabeth's stomach flutter. If she didn't know any better, she'd think there were butterflies flying around in there.

"Well, that's just one more reason to go out tonight," she said with a smile.

Annabeth was actually looking forward to the end of the day even more so than usual. Hazel had invited everyone out to celebrate the offer the school had given her for a permanent position next year and Annabeth was more than happy to go out with her coworkers and spend time with people her own age. She'd been a bit surprised to get the invite seeing as how she didn't know Hazel all that well, but it had been a nice surprise. And besides, if had been a long week and Annabeth could use a drink and a night out.

"Oh no, I didn't-"

"Oh please, I'm sure Hazel won't mind. Besides I'm sure everyone else is happy for you, too."

His cheeks turned red and he scratched his head. "Yeah, uh, you're actually the first person I've told."

Annabeth felt that fluttering in her stomach again and smiled despite herself.

"Oh."

He cleared his throat. "Yeah. So anyway, I'll see you tonight. I gotta drop by my mom's first so I should get going."

"Sure, see you tonight."

He gave her a small wave as he closed the door behind him and Annabeth realized she was still smiling. What was that about?

Definitely not the fact that you like him.

Annabeth hated when the voice in her head got sassy.

"To paying the bills!"

Percy threw back his shot and winced as the Fireball slid down his throat.

"I feel like a dragon," Leo said loudly before pretending to blow flames out of his mouth.

Percy wasn't sure why it was so funny but he doubled over laughing.

"You are a lightweight, Valdez," Frank said with a chuckle.

"Me? What about Percy? He can't stop laughing!"

It was true. When Percy was drunk, he found everything funny. He once got kicked out of a restaurant because he'd had one too many drinks and his friend Grover had gotten spinach stuck in his teeth. It was mortifying and Grover loved to bring it up at parties.

"Ok, I'll amend my statement," Frank said setting down his Coke, "you're all lightweights. You've done three shots and you're smashed."

Percy looked around the table. Annabeth was nursing a vodka tonic beside him and Reyna was struggling to reapply her lipstick on Annabeth's other side. Jason and Piper were making faces at each other on either side of Leo and Hazel was looking very flushed on Frank's other side.

"Hey, you're the one who agreed to be our DD," Annabeth pointed out.

Percy giggled. "DD."

Annabeth snorted and bumped his elbow with hers.

"I think I need another drink," Hazel said climbing down off her bar stool.

"Here, let me," Frank said standing up a little too fast. His stool toppled over and he blushed bright red. Normally Percy wouldn't have laughed because, for some reason, Frank was really self-conscious around Hazel. But he was drunk and he couldn't stop himself.

Hazel was much more understanding. "Thanks, Frank," she said laying a hand on his arm.

"They gon' fuck," Leo said causally after they walked away. Percy spit his drink out all over the table and Reyna pushed Leo off his stool.

"Dude, you guys don't think so?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. She looked pretty serious and Percy wondered how she could do that so well after so many drinks.

"Of course we do, but you don't have to say it like that."

Percy caught Piper's eye across the table and found her trying to smother a laugh. It didn't take long for the both of them to burst into hysterics.

"You guys are ridiculous," Jason said shaking his head fondly.

"Ok, ok, ok. Percy has something he wants to tell everyone," Annabeth said with a smirk as Hazel and Frank returned.

Percy blinked a few times as his friends' eyes all landed on him. He scowled at Annabeth and knocked his knee against hers.

"I didn't want to take the focus away from Hazel or anything," he said licking his lips. "But I signed a contract today to be the coach of the swim team."

Before he could even swallow, Hazel was throwing her arms around him.

"Percy that's fantastic!"

Jason nodded. "Yeah, man. That's awesome."

"Ooh, do you have to wear a Speedo?" Piper asked through a fit of giggles.

Annabeth snorted into her drink and Percy felt his cheeks get warm.

"Hey, I'll have you know I look fantastic in a Speedo," he said, trying to play off his embarrassment.

"I'm sure you do," Reyna said consolingly, reaching across the table to pay his hand. He noticed the smirk playing at her lips and scowled at her, too.

"I do!"

"You'll just have to model one for us someday and let us be the judge of that," Annabeth said seriously.

By this time, Frank and Leo were laughing so hard that they had to hold onto each other to keep from falling over.

"To Speedos!" Jason shouted

Percy blushed as everyone held up their shot glasses and looked at him.

"To Speedos," he said sullenly.

Everyone echoed and downed another shot. Percy had no clue what this one was (or why they were mixing alcohol- seriously where they asking for a hangover?) but it went down really smoothly. He downed his drink for good measure as everyone continued to talk about Speedos.

"Is this everyone?"

Percy craned his head as much as he could from his spot between Hazel and Reyna in the backseat of Frank's Jeep.

"Jason's in the trunk and Leo's on the roof."

Percy twisted around and fist bumped Jason from the trunk.

"Alright where to first?"

"Your mom's butt," Piper said from her spot in the front seat with Annabeth. Everyone started laughing and Frank just shook his head.

"If one of you throws up in my car, I will kill you."

"I am never drinking again."

Percy didn't even pick his head up from the table.

"Really? I feel fine. I ran five miles this morning."

"Seriously?" Annabeth asked.

"No, I puked in the shower."

"I'm pretty sure I'm actually dead," Piper said, dragging herself in.

"What are you guys doing in here? You're making too much noise and you aren't even in our department," Reyna said clamping her hands over her ears.

"Did we really let Leo ride on the roof last night?" Annabeth asked.

"No way," Percy said confidently.

"Aah, but we did," Reyna said sagely.

Frank chose that moment to walk in ,whistling, with a paper bag under his arm.

"I stopped at McDonald's and got everyone breakfast. Eat up!" He dumped the contents of the bag out right in front of Percy and he almost puked.

"Oh excellent, something greasy," Piper said snatching up two of the sandwiches.

"I need a whole bottle of Advil," Annabeth said, refilling her coffee cup.

"Who's idea was it to get smashed on a weekday?" Reyna said sniffing experimentally at a hash brown. Her stomach must not have protested too violently because she ate it almost in one bite.

"Where's Hazel?" Frank asked a little too casually.

"I'm pretty sure she's napping in the supply closet in the art room. It was too bright for her out here. And Jason had an early practice this morning."

Percy couldn't help but feel sorry for Jason. The soccer team had made it to semi-state for the first time in years and that meant two-a-days. If he were Jason, he'd probably just stay in the locker room to die.

"So noble," Annabeth said downing the rest of her coffee.

"I think I'll just go drop one of these off for Hazel. And Jason," Frank added quickly, picking up a few biscuit sandwiches.

When he was gone, Piper shook her head. "Leo was right, they need to fuck and get it over with already."

Percy snorted and immediately clutched his forehead. It was going to be a long day.