Reply to Swan Destiny: I live in the Philippines so here our summer months are march to may. :) And for the Percabeth kiss? Yeah... hehe..hehehehehe...

Reply to BooksaremyBestbuddies:Thanks! Glad you liked the story! And of course, can i not have Percabeth kiss? Oh no, they WILL kiss. But all in good time. Huehuehue... hehehe..

Note: Its not good when an author goes: hehehehehe...

Chapter 20

"So this? Or this?" Piper held up two long dresses for Annabeth to see. They were in her room, picking out an outfit just three hours before the ball. She was apointed to help out Annabeth pick out a dress, because if she did it herself she'd be wearing trousers.

"Neither." Annabeth grumbled in her chair. "That one's too tight." She pointed to the violet one. "And that one's too... revealing." She pointed to the grey one. "Seriously, who even made that?! A sleeveless, low-cut collar dress?"

Piper glanced at the dress. "Yeah, your right." She agreed, tossing back the two dresses into a small pile of clothes on the floor. She went back to searching the huge, wooden closet. "Besides," Piper said. "That's not Percy's type anyway...

"Uh, what?!" Annabeth blushed a visible bright red.

Piper glanced at her, her multi-colored eyes glinting with a little playfulness. "Percy's type." She repeated, smiling. Then she went back to looking for clothes.

Before Annabeth could protest about anything, Piper pulled out another dress, grinning like a madman. She held up a silver dress that seemed to be spun of silk. It had long, off-shoulder sleeves reaching up to the wrists. The collar was lined with elegant lace embroidery and along with the waist belt and the under lining of the skirt.

It was elegant yet simple all the while. And if you look at it in the right light, you would see that there were hints of blue in the silver silk.

"It's perfect!" Annabeth exclaimed.

"I know, right?" Piper agreed. "Quick! Try it on! I'll do your hair later... oh, the crown would fit beautifuly with the silver head band..." Then she gasped. "Oh, I almost forgot! I need to go help Percy with his clothes!" Then she rushed out the door with a short "Goodbye! See you later!" Leaving Annabeth rolling her eyes.

"But I look ridiculous! " Percy exclaimed.

"I can vouch for that. " Jason commented from the side of the room. "I am no fashionist, but coats don't suit him."

"Agreed." Piper said after observing Percy. "Formalities aren't your style. Perhaps..." She glanced at Poseidon. "Do you have any capes?"

Percy was dressed in a simple white, long-sleeved shirt with ruffles on the collar tucked in in trousers and held by a belt matched with pollished leather boots. Piper completed his look by putting a blue cape around his neck. Poseidon had suggested a feathered hat, wich wasn't all that bad, but Percy thought it would be ridiculous.

"Perfect." Nico grinned. "Now all you need is a sword and a bib and you'll be a French Musketeer! "

"First of all," Piper glared at him. "They aren't bibs. Second of all, Percy does not look like a muskuteer! As long as he doesn't put on the hat, he's fine."

Percy looked at himself in the small mirror againts the wall. "I suppose this is nice." He agreed, flashing a smile.

Piper cooed over him. "You two would be perfect!" She sighed to herself, leaving everyone else around the room confused.

Then Piper turned to Jason.

"Jason?" Piper asked.

"Yeah?" He said a bit confused.

"Dress up." She tossed him a suit. "If you wanna go to the ball with me, anyway."

Jason grinned at her. "Oh, you bet!" Then he coughed. "Um, I mean, of course. I asked you, didn't I?"

Piper laughed and left to get dressed herself.

-*&-*&-*&-*&-*&-*&-*&-*&-*%-*&-*&-*&-*&-*&

Annabeth peered down from the side of the grand staircase, making sure no one would see her. The crowd of royalty had already formed. And there she spotted several Princes, probably hopeful suitors. Ha. As if. Annabeth would shut them down as soon as they walked close. Then Annabeth saw him.

Luke Castellan. One of the bravest knights and the greatest pirnce of the southern kingdom. Some say he was a womanizer, but Annabeth doubted that. She had met the guy only once, but he was charming, friendly, caring... definitely not what other girls say about him.

Annabeth pried her gaze off Prince Luke and saw that her friends had already arrived. Thalia, wearing a gown? Annabeth thought she'd never live to see the day...

Then there was Piper, Jason, Grover, Jason, Nico, and Leo all dressed formaly.

Then she spotted Percy. He wasn't wearing the usual formal coat, but his suit and cape fit him very well and could pass as a formality. He did look rather dashing. Though Annabeth thought a hat would've completed the look...

"Annabeth." A soft, gentle voice said from behing her. She glanced around to see Pheobe, the old librarian, one of her only friends, standing there, a small smile on her face as she examined the princess.

"You are grown up now. " Pheobe spoke in her gentle, but slighy cracked voice. "A fine young princess. I would like to greet you happy birthday, darling."

"Thank you, Pheobe." Annabeth bowed slightly, smiling at her old friend.

"And since you are now a lady, I would like to warn you."

"Warn me?"

"Yes, dear. You see, I had a husband once when I was young." Annabeth smiled as Pheobe spoke. She loved her stories. "I thought I loved him, but... but I soon realized I didn't." She spat, frowning at the stairs. " But it was too late, we were married. Before that marriage, the true man I loved and I got into an arguement. It took me all those years to realize he loved me too and felt jelousy that I had loved another man. But I was too... too selfish. I let my pride get in the way of things." Then, her gaze softened. She looked over the crowd gathered in the ballroom. "They say history is doomed to repeat itself. I hope that saying is not true, my dear. I fear for you as much as I have grown to love you."

Annabeth followed Pheobe's gaze towards the crowd. She only had a hint of an idea of what she was talking about. But when she turned around to face her, she was gone. Almost as if she was never there at all.

She always found that woman as mysterious as much as she was sweet and kind.

"AND NOW ANNOUNCING," A loud, rich voice boomed through the room, making everyone fall silent. She realized it was her father announcing her entrance. She breathed in and out. She could do this. No worries. Save Percy that first dance... wait, what?

"THE PRINCESS OF OLYMPIA, THE BIRTHDAY CELEBRANT OF THIS DAY, THE SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD PRINCESS, AND MY DAUGHTER,"

Breath in. Breath out. You can do this. She was almost thankful for that long introduction.

"PRINCESS ANNABETH CHASE!" The crowd clapped and even cheered occasionally as Annabeth began to walk down the staircase as elegantly as possible. She held up her skirt, trying not to trip, even if she was wearing flats.

She finally made it to the last step, glancing up to see the outstretched hand of her father. She smiled and took it as the music started to play. They danced in the middle of the room, watched by everyone else.

"You look beautiful, Annabeth." Her father complemented as they glided across the ballroom floor.

"Thanks, dad." Annabeth said. "Though Piper did all the work."

Frederick laughed. "Looks like it."

"Ha,ha." Annabeth mocked, but she still smiled.

After about three more minutes of dancing, her uncle, the duke had taken her hand and they danced, so with the rest of the dukes. After the traditional dances, Annabeth was free to roam off. She greeted guests, took a few cookies, and all the while looking for Percy. She promised him the first dance. She searched almost half the ballroom, but still hadn't found him. Yet she continued looking through the crowd by the buffet table.

"Would you like to dance, milady?" A voice behind her said.

"Oh, sorry. " Annabeth answered, looking over the crowd. "I already..." She trailed off seeing the man behind her.

He stood there, blond hair perfectly tamed, smile nice and strait, flashing his teeth, and intense, sky blue eyes looking at her with admiration.

"Luke Castellan." Αnnabeth smiled, her eyebrow raised. "Sorry. You are very charming, but I already have-"

"Oh, one dance wouldn't hurt." Luke urged, holding out his hand and taking her's. He bent down to kiss the back of her hand, looking up at her with those intense blue eyes.

Annabeth blushed, but she kept her confident smile. One dance wouldn't hurt, right? Percy would understand. It was just a dance after all.

"Alright."

The music suddenly blared, an elegant tone for an elegant dance. Percy looked to the middle of the ballroom, seeing the dancing couple.

Annabeth and another guy with blond hair. What was his name...? Larry? Lucas? Or was it Luke? Yes, Prince Luke of the southern kingdom.

And he was dancing with her? Annabeth?

Percy saw her smile, actually laughing as he whispered into her ear. They were chatting and dancing, gliding across the middle of the room. The current center of attention.

Percy couldn't help but feel a twinge of jelousy and hurt. He can't beleive she went back on her promise for some, some prince! Some stupid prince! He didn't care if the promise was petty, a promise is a promise. A promise was meant to be kept. That was their pact.

The music had stopped and Annabeth had spotted him. Her eyes lit up in that cute was she always did and muttered something to Luke, kissing his cheek.

She kissed his ...?! Ugh. Percy groaned, turned his back and walked away as Annabeth got closer. She looked so beautiful right now, but he was too mad to stare for long.

"Hey, Seaweed Brain! Wait up!" Annabeth called after him. She finally reached him, walking at his pace by his side. Percy didn't look at her, he kept glaring ahead, shoulders kept stiff.

"And I also got to dance with this prince," Annabeth continued, obviously not noticing Percy's mood. "His name's Luke and he's so sweet and sensitive and nice and..." she trailed off, finally noticing Percy not acknowledging her.

"Hey, Percy." Annabeth put a hand on his shoulder. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing." Percy muttered through gritted teeth. "I-uh, I have to go." He said, shrugging off her hand.

"Go?" Annabeth questioned. "But the ball isn't even over!" It wasn't like him to miss her birthday. Or anyone's birthday, really. Sure, he can be late, but he'd stay even two hours after the party.

"Mom needs me." Percy explained. "I need to help her with... stuff."

"You're lying." Annabeth accused.

" Happy birthday, Annabeth. Hope you enjoyed that dance." Was all Percy said before stalking out the door.

"Annabeth!" One of the maids, Drew, had grabbed her arm before she could react."You need to come! The king is looking for you."

"No, wait. I-"

"Annabeth." A new voice interrupted. It was Luke, holding out his hand. "Come. You can go when this is over. Please, come."

Annabeth reluctantly let Luke and Drew drag her away from the doors. She could always find that Seaweed Brain later, right?

Ha. Cliffie. Might not be my best chapter, but I'm rushed. Ugh, three days into highschool and im already stressed.

Anyway, i will be updating by the weekend and Ill be watching Jurassic World on saturday (or possibly today. Depends on my internet.) Okay, bye!

~Ap0II0"5 Pirate Daughter