Chapter 16

"and like the night sticks to the moon / girl, i'm stuck on you"
- stuck on you, ross lynch

It's been three minutes and Annabeth has already come to the conclusion that the changing room is much, much too small.

It can barely fit one teenage girl, let alone three, and the six dresses that they've got piled up in the corner ready to try on aren't making things any easier, either. Out of all the dangerous things Annabeth has done, including jumping off the roof of a sixteen-storey building and clinging to the back of a moving bus, she thinks standing in a changing room the size of a box cupboard trying not to suffocate on prom dress silk is by far the deadliest.

Piper spins around. "How do I look?"

Thalia doesn't even look up from her phone. "Hideous," she says. "Next."

Piper puts her hands on her hips. "You haven't even looked."

Thalia looks up boredly. "There. Now I have. And it's still hideous."

Oh yeah, another thing.

Dress shopping is the most excruciating thing Annabeth thinks she's ever done. Forget being tortured or having to sit through a lecture on the invention of the whisk. Looking at dress after dress is making Annabeth want to shove a fork in one of her eyeballs.

After a lot of research, Piper had found a nice little charity shop on a secluded street a half-hour bus-ride from their apartment. It's quaint and pretty, the shelves filled with things like porcelain teapots and china dolls and the furniture patterned with flowers and Victorian women, and surprisingly their dress selection isn't half-bad, either. Everything is cheap and in good condition, and Iris, the owner, had let them use her back room as a changing room, but so far out of the thirty or so dresses Annabeth and Piper have tried on there are none that both fit and look nice.

It's utterly exhausting and Annabeth kind of wants to push her head through a wall.

Piper folds her arms. "Thalia, your negativity is really not appreciated here. This is prom! Everything needs to be perfect!"

"Yes, and in order for that to be achieved I refuse to allow you to walk in looking like an asparagus.

Piper looks down at the dress she's wearing, hurt. "It's olive, not asparagus."

"Either way, you look like a sad flower. Take it off and try something else."

"There is literally nothing else," Annabeth says, rifling through a box near the back. "We've tried almost everything."

"Look harder," Thalia tells her. "Because if not your prom is looking pretty pathetic."

Piper starts shimmying out of her dress. "Oh, Beth, can you pass me that pink one at the back? That's a pretty colour."

Annabeth scrambles around for it and then reappears, holding the hanger it's dangling from. "This would look really nice with your skin," she says. "Try it on."

Piper kicks off the dress. "Here."

Annabeth passes it to her, and Piper starts wriggling into it. There comes a slight problem once the dress is over her head, because suddenly her hands appear at the top and somewhere in the folds of her skirt she cries, "Look at these sleeves! It's like a cat's cradle up here. It's just a bunch of strings."

Thalia cracks up. "Have fun manoeuvring yourself into that."

Annabeth stands up and tries to help her. She's right – the back is a network of strings, all of which have been tangled together like a set of headphones. She stands on a box to try and unravel them.

"This is going to be a nightmare to put on again at prom," Piper says thoughtfully. Her head is still somewhere in the bodice. "We'd have to do my hair and makeup afterwards, otherwise I'd mess it all up trying to get this over my head."

"Can't you step into it?" Thalia asks.

Annabeth tugs at the strings. "Yes, because trying to fit your whole body through this is going to be so easy."

"It'll look nice, I reckon," Piper says. "It'll be like one of those swimming costumes with cross-stitched back that gives you funny tan lines."

"Boys will be falling at your feet," Annabeth promises.

"That is," Thalia adds, "if you can get it on."

"Nonsense, of course I will. How's it looking up there, Beth?"

"Uh, good, I think? I'm nearly finished."

"I'd hope so. My arms are beginning to hurt."

Annabeth works quickly. The strings have been ridiculously knotted together, as if its previous owner had been blind and decided to try and separate them, but Annabeth has had a lot of practice untying knots. She took a whole class on it back at the Society, and was actually one of the best students. She had gotten an A+ in it. (You know, as you do.)

"I'm done," she says. "Thalia, can you pull it down? I need to make sure Piper's arms are in the right places so she doesn't accidentally strangle herself."

Thalia grumbles but stands up. She tugs at the hem and Annabeth directs the strings so they fall around Piper's shoulders where they're meant to. Finally, Piper's head emerges, and she beams, looking a little messy and sweaty but still massively pleased.

"It fits!" she says excitedly.

Thalia steps backwards. Annabeth has to say, Piper looks incredible. The light pink of the fabric works with the brown of her skin and when she twirls in the mirror the skirt flares up like a ballerina. Her eyes reflect the dress and when she stares at her own reflection in the mirror they're wide and almost purple.

Thalia nods, almost impressed. "You clean up well, kid."

"Oh, Piper, you look utterly gorgeous." Annabeth sweeps her up in a hug. "Look at you!"

"You think?" Piper says, obviously very happy. She does another little spin. "Oh, I absolutely love it! And it's my size, too. Who would have thought, right?"

"It's bloody difficult to get on, though," Thalia says. "We're going to need a whole crew to wrestle you into it."

"Should I get it?"

"I think so," Annabeth says. "Take it off so you don't mess it up."

Piper wriggles out of it. Unlike the dress before, she handles it very carefully, putting it back on its hanger and hanging it from the rack along the wall. Annabeth is thrilled she has a dress, but it only increases the sinking feeling in her gut that she's not going to be able to find one.

"Now all we need is one for you," Piper says. "Have you seen one you like?"

"Not really."

"What are your preferences?"

"Um. Green, maybe?"

Thalia eyes her. "Not asparagus green, right?"

"No!"

(Piper looks a little affronted.)

"And, uh, no offense, Beth," Thalia adds, "but, like. Lime green isn't really a good colour on anyone."

"Not lime-green. More– sea green?"

"Ohh." Piper looks up and smirks. "She wants to match Percy's eyes."

"What? N–no I don't!"

Thalia mimes vomiting noises. "You're so gross, Beth."

"I'm not, I swear."

Which is, like. Half true.

Sort of.

"Just– look for a dress, okay?"

Thalia dimples at her. "Whatever you say."

They pull out many more dresses. Some are beautiful, some are utterly disgusting. There are no sea green ones. There are pinks, purples, reds – so many reds – even yellows and oranges, but not a single sea green. Eventually, it gets to the point where Annabeth isn't sure she's ever going to find one. She tells Thalia and Piper that at this point they should just start looking for nice dresses and forget the sea green search, because it's probably never going to happen, and Piper and Thalia share such a look that Annabeth almost pushes them into the dress trunk and locks them in there.

Piper holds up a dress. "How about this one? It's really nice. I think it was accentuate your body really nicely."

It's beautiful. But it's white.

"I'll try it on," Annabeth says. She kicks off her shoes and takes off her shirt, squirming out of her jeans. "Here, pass."

"No, don't pass, hold on." Thalia rootles through the trunk and comes up holding something in her hand. She unfolds it. It's a purple dress. "Put this one instead."

Piper looks quite offended. "What's wrong with the white?"

"Nothing. I think the purple will look nicer."

"Well, that's your opinion. Annabeth, put this dress on."

"Piper," Thalia says firmly.

Piper shuts her mouth.

Thalia turns to Annabeth. "Try this," she says.

Annabeth rolls her eyes and slides into it. It's simple and pretty, with short sleeves and a bodice that clings tightly to her torso. The skirt billows out at her waist, and it comes up to her knees. The colour is gorgeous – it's a deep, dreamy, dark purple that Annabeth knows will look nice with her brown hair. It fits, too, and as Annabeth slides it on she feels all sorts of tingly.

She turns to Piper and Thalia nervously. "Well?"

Piper looks shocked. "Oh my God."

"Look in the mirror, pup," Thalia says softly.

Annabeth turns.

See, look. Annabeth isn't dumb. She knows she's not unattractive. At the Society, she was actually one of the first picks when it came to missions involving seduction. A push-up bra, a short skirt and a tube of red lipstick can go a long way, especially with married men who like the danger and thrill of getting into trouble. All she needs is to bat her eyelids and they'll buy her one, two, three drinks, and that's really all it takes for them to spill about their plans, particularly when they think she's some dumb prostitute. However, that's never been beautiful – that's always been sexy or sultry.

But now, standing in the backroom of a charity shop in downtown New York, wearing a purple dress in mismatching socks with the straps of her sports bra showing through the neck, she's never felt more beautiful.

She blinks, taken aback. "Oh."

"You look amazing," Piper says. "Forget green. Percy's going to pass out when he sees you."

Annabeth looks at her shyly. "Really?"

"Of course."

"Besides," Thalia adds. "Your butt looks fantastic."

Annabeth cranes her neck to look, just out of curiosity. It actually kind of does.

Huh.

"Can you breathe?" Piper asks. "You don't want to have the first dance with the love of your life with your ribs getting crushed. That would be positively tragic."

"It fits perfectly."

"Oh, excellent." Piper gives her a watery smile. "Oh, you look so pretty, Annabeth."

Thalia stares at her. "You're not crying, are you?"

Piper scrubs at her eyes. "No," she says stubbornly.

"Oh my God, you are."

Annabeth strikes a pose. "Can you blame her?"

"Yes, actually. I mean, you look good, but not that good."

"I thought my butt looks fantastic."

"I was only saying that to be nice. Your butt is practically nonexistent."

Annabeth isn't even offended. She knows. But at least you can't see all the cellulite under the fabric. That can hardly be very attractive.

"I'm sorry," Piper sniffles. "It's just– you're growing up so fast."

"I'm older than you."

"Still." Piper rubs her eyes. "I just love you so much."

Annabeth's face softens. "Oh, Piper. I love you too."

"For heaven's sake," Thalia says. "You can't seriously be getting sappy in a changing room."

"Say you love us too," Piper orders.

Thalia pulls a face. "No, ew. I hate you guys."

Annabeth laughs into Piper's neck.

"I'm serious. You mix fabrics and leave your plates all over the house, that's foul."

"You say that like you don't."

"I certainly don't mix fabrics."

Piper rolls her eyes and holds out her arms. "Look, do you want to join this hug or are you just going to stand there listing off the reasons why we're terrible human beings?"

Thalia scowls, but moves in anyway. Annabeth squeaks happily and pulls her in, their skulls clacking uncomfortably against each other.

"You smell awful," Thalia complains.

"Excuse you. This is expensive perfume."

"You bought that at the dollar store," Annabeth mumbles. "Don't lie."

"Shut your mouth, Chase."

Two days to go.

Annabeth is sweating a little already.

"I'm really excited for prom," Hazel admits shyly at lunch. She and Annabeth are the first to arrive; Coach Hedge is keeping the boys behind for PE because he caught one of them chewing gum and isn't letting them go until they successfully do thirty push-ups. She sends a silent prayer on Leo's behalf. "It's going to be really cool."

"I know. Who are you going with?"

Hazel ducks her head. "Frank," she mumbles.

Annabeth stares at her. "No way!"

"Yeah. It's– really cool."

"Hazel, that's great! How did he ask?"

"We were walking home together. He was really nervous. I think he was afraid I was going to say no. But I said yes." She smiles excitedly. "I kind of can't wait."

"That's amazing, Hazel. It's going be so cool."

"Are you going with Percy?"

"Yeah."

"What does your dress look like?"

"It's purple."

"Oh, you are going to look amazing in purple. It'll really match your hair and eyes."

Annabeth feels a pain in her chest. She tries to ignore it. "What's yours like, then, Little Miss Dressmaker?"

Hazel's eyes light up. "Oh, it looks really nice! I've got some of my mom's old dresses – she said it's okay – and I cut them up and used them to make a bodice. It's purple, like yours, but it's also black and silver. The fringing around the hem is gold, but I've embroidered little moons and diamonds along the waist. I think it's going to be really cool."

Annabeth doesn't doubt it for a second.

"Hey," she says. "Are you, um, allowed to bring people who don't go to Marino?"

Hazel nods. "I'd think so. Why? I thought you were going with Percy."

"I am, but I wanted my cousin Tess to come as well."

"Tess?" Suddenly, Leo materialises out of nowhere in the seta next to her. He's back to wearing his T-shirt and jeans but his hair is soaked with sweat. He shakes his head like a dog, and Hazel squawks in alarm as beads of persipiration fly everywhere. Annabeth stares at him, disgusted. "She isn't the scary one who kicked me out, is she?"

"No, that's– Agatha." Annabeth catches herself just in time. "Why on earth do you look like you just went swimming?"

"Hedge, man." Leo wipes his forehead with the back of his hand. "He's crazy. Wait until the smell hits."

"Oh, gross." Annabeth moves down a seat. "Why didn't you shower?"

"The other guys got there before me. And they're people like Beckendorf and Michael, and they're massive. I couldn't fight them for it! They'd send me flying."

Hazel furrows her brow. "Why can't you just take turns?"

"Because, my dear Hazel, the boys' locker room is something akin to a lion pride made up of just lions. We all want to be the biggest and the best, but unfortunately woe is me and the Fates decided that it would just be too much for me to be blessed in the looks, sense of humour and athleticism departments so they left me as scrawny and defenseless against the mountains that are Charles Beckendorf and Michael Kahale. Even Frank is better than I am."

"Well, Frank's built like a sumo-wrestler. That's kind of expected."

"Speaking of," Hazel says, "where is Frank? I thought you both had Hedge."

Annabeth wiggles her eyebrows across the table at her, just because she can. If Hazel could have blushed, she would have.

"Showers, like I said," Leo says. "He and Percy and Jason. They're big and strong and can defend themselves."

"Oh."

"But anyway." Leo turns to Annabeth and steals a fry. "What were you saying about your cousin?"

"Oh. I want her to come to prom. I was just asking if I could."

"I'm pretty sure you can. Have I met her?"

Yes. You were best friends with her before.

"Uh, briefly. Before Agatha arrived, she said hello."

"Oh! Yeah, I remember. She's hot."

Annabeth gives him a look. "No, Leo."

"Come on! I'm sure she'd like me."

The irony.

"I'm not letting you hit on my cousin."

Leo sighs. "See, this is why I am dateless. Because you keep sabotaging all my opportunities."

"She's my cousin, Leo."

"That means utterly nothing. If she likes me back our love should be allowed to blossom."

"She won't like you back."

"You don't know that."

"She prefers blondes."

She doesn't. Annabeth doesn't know why she said that.

Leo groans. "Aw, dammit. Why is Brandon becoming so popular?"

"Brandon's a jerk," Hazel says harshly. It's probably the rudest thing she's said all year. "He doesn't deserve to get popular."

"I've warned her against Brandon," Annabeth assures her. "She knows to stay away."

"Good. If she's anything like you I'm sure she's beautiful and wonderful and she does not deserve to get creeped on by anyone like Brandon."

Annabeth stares at her, touched. "Thank you," she says honestly.

Hazel waves her hand dismissively. "It's okay," she says. "You only get your capital-P prom once, right? It has to be good." She takes Annabeth's hand over the table. "We're not going to let any jerks like Brandon ruin it for us."

Annabeth squeezes her hand.

Sometimes she really, really loves Hazel.

It's prom and Annabeth is not prepared. She thinks she's going to throw up.

"Please don't," Thalia says. "We spent a good twenty dollars on this dress."

"That isn't helping, Thalia," Annabeth says tightly.

"I'm just being honest. Prom is in, like. Two hours. We have no time to go and find another dress you look this good in."

Piper pads out of the bathroom, her hair wrapped up in a towel. She's wearing one of Thalia's ratty Green Day shirts and a pair of sleep shorts, and she's holding a tube of lipstick. "What's wrong?" she asks worriedly. She catches sight of Annabeth's face. "Oh, Beth, are you okay? You look like you're going to be sick."

"I feel like I'm going to be sick."

Piper sits next to her on the sofa and takes one of her hands. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know." Annabeth scrubs at her eyes with a fist. "I just–" She stops and stares up at the ceiling. "You don't think I should tell Percy, do you?"

Thalia's face creases with concern. "You mean– about Annabeth?"

Wordlessly, Annabeth nods, worrying at her lower lip with her teeth.

Thalia sighs. "You know you can't."

"I know. And I'm not even sure I want to. But – what if tonight goes really well?"

Piper tucks one of her curls behind her ears. "What do you mean, Beth?"

"Like. What if it goes well? What if we kiss? What if he asks me to be his girlfriend and what if I say yes? Then we're dating. Officially. And who knows what could happen then? I'm living a lie. Who knows what's going to happen. We're living off a bomb fuse and we have no idea how long it is. We might have to pack our bags tonight, or we might have to pack our bags in ten years. And Percy's going to be next to me the entire time, calling me Lois, falling in love with Lois, and if–... and if by some chance we don't have to run out of the city, and we do end up staying here for the rest for our lives..." She sighs. "We could get married. We could have children. And I'm going to be Lois forever. I can't be Lois forever. I don't even know if I want to be Lois now. It's not me. I've fallen in love with Percy but Percy's fallen in love with Lois, and I just– I don't know. Maybe I'm being stupid. I just. It's hard, you know?"

They're both quiet for a long time. Piper looks like she's about to cry.

Then, surprisingly, Thalia speaks up.

"Don't think about that tonight," she says firmly. "Tonight is not about Lois or Annabeth. It's about you and it's about Percy, and it's about your prom. It's going to be so much fun, Annabeth. You're going to drink far too much punch and probably ruin your dress and you might end up kissing Percy, and you know what, maybe he will ask you to be his girlfriend. And if he does, you're going to say yes. Why? Because you like that boy. You like him a lot. And you're right. We might have to leave any second now. But for now, you're going to be happy that you've got this opportunity to be a teenager, okay? Enjoy it. Enjoy prom. Enjoy Percy. All right?"

Annabeth sniffles. "O–okay."

Thalia nods. "Okay. Now get changed, I need to do your makeup."

Annabeth swipes her fingers under her eyes and stands up. She heads to the bedroom to put on her dress – but she pauses by the doorway briefly.

"That was really sweet," Piper says softly. "What you said to Annabeth."

"She needed to hear it."

"I feel kind of bad for her."

"So do I. But she's going to have fun. Make sure of it, okay?"

"I promise."

"Good."

Piper sniffles. "And you say don't love us."

"Shut up, McLean."

Annabeth walks to her bedroom with a smile on her face. Nine months ago, she listened in to a conversation between Piper and Thalia and it was crappy. Now? It's beautiful.

She kind of loves her friends.

She quickly gets changed into her dress. It's as wonderful as it was when she tried it on, and she loves the way it feels. She feels so amazing, like a princess, although she'd never, ever admit that aloud. She twirls a little in the mirror in their bedroom. She can only really see herself from the waist down, but she's never been more thrilled.

"Are you done yet, Chase?" Thalia calls. "You're taking your sweet time."

"It's prom, leave me alone."

"I'm doing your makeup, so no, I won't. Hurry the hell up."

Annabeth rolls her eyes.

She heads into the living room in her dress with an old sweatshirt pulled over her torso on top, so she won't accidentally spill anything onto it. She's left her legs bare – she reckons she can suffer against the cold for them; it's a small sacrifice – and her bare feet make soft noises against the floorboards as she enters. Piper is sitting on the sofa with a tray of biscuits next to her and a mirror in front of her, lining her eyes in eyeliner. She brightens when Annabeth enters.

"You look great," she says.

"No, you don't," Thalia says, walking in. "Not until I've finished with you, anyway."

Annabeth obediently sits on the sofa next to her. Piper offers her a biscuit without taking her eyes away from the mirror, and Annabeth takes two, pushing one in her mouth. "Just saying," she says through a mouthful of shortbread, "I don't want to look like a My Chemical Romance fan from 2007. I want to romance Percy, not scare him off."

Thalia scoffs. "Relax. You'd never be able to pull that off."

"Rude. I think I could do a very good job."

"Well, either way, it's your lucky day. I watched lots of Zoella for this."

"I appreciate your efforts."

"No you don't. No one ever appreciates me in this house."

"That' because you don't deserve it," Piper says, tugging at her eyelid. She draws along it with her eyeliner pencil and then sits back, examining her work. "You don't do anything worth appreciating."

"Hey. I bought Annabeth blood sachets."

"Which got me sent home and scared the hell out of my friends."

"Details." Thalia uncaps her eyeliner. "Lean forward for me, please – and for God's sake if you spill biscuit crumbs down your dress I will eat you alive."

Annabeth sits still as Thalia outlines her eyes, and then smears her eyelids with something shimmery and dark. "It matches your dress," Thalia had assured her, when she saw Annabeth's wary glance, but Annabeth still isn't sold. Despite this, she lets Thalia dab it on, and then suddenly flinches away when she feels her fingertip along the top of her cheekbone.

"What?" she demands.

Thalia holds up a jar of glitter. "I'm making you sparkly."

"I'm not a Twilight vampire, thank you very much."

Piper snorts.

"It'll look cool. Trust me."

Annabeth sighs. "Go on, then. But if I look bad you're taking it off."

"Deal."

Somewhere along Thalia dabbing glitter along her cheekbones and then uncapping a dark lipstick and asking her to open her mouth, Piper gets up and puts on some music. It's an odd playlist, something Annabeth thinks the three of them might have created at two am when they were all high off chocolate milk and nail polish fumes, because it's a terrible mess of Beyoncé and Bring Me The Horizon. Piper seems happy enough, dancing along in her socks with a lollipop in her mouth, not at all deterred when dance-pop fades abruptly into screamo. She's done her makeup and is entertaining herself with eating candy until it's time for them to leave. Annabeth has to admire her ability to eat and not smudge lipstick everywhere.

"Am I nearly done?" she asks, slightly impatient.

"Nearly," Thalia. "Wait, no, stop moving. Annabeth, I swear, I'll draw all over your face if you don't."

"You're a face," Annabeth mumbles back stupidly.

Thalia takes another two minutes, and then finally Annabeth is allowed her face back. Piper lets out a whistle when she sees it, and Annabeth takes her hand mirror to peer at Thalia's handiwork in it. She has to admit, she's impressed. She looks really nice. The eyeshadow looks beautiful with the darkness of her dress, and even the glitter doesn't look that bad. She decides she quite likes the glitter.

Huh. Maybe Edward Cullen knew what he was doing, after all.

"You look gorgeous, Beth," Piper says around her lollipop. "I think Percy might just die when he sees you."

"Let's hope not. I need him as a date."

"What are you doing with your hair?" Thalia asks.

Annabeth turns her head in the mirror. "I think I might just leave it down."

"It looks nice," Piper says. "I've braided my hair."

"Yes, I can see that. You look great, by the way."

"Thanks, bae." Piper checks her phone. "We've got half an hour. Shoes and then we'll go."

Annabeth is too taken aback by the fact that Piper had actually called her 'bae' then to realise what she had said. "What, shoes?"

Piper stares at her. "Uh, yes? What, did you think we were going in our slippers?"

Annabeth is horrified. "I haven't even thought about those," she says in a hushed voice.

"Well, you're going to have to," Piper says unsympathetically. "And be snappy, we need to get going soon."
Annabeth stares at her two options: her Converse or her heels. There are pros and cons to both. The Converse are probably the comfiest thing she owns; however, they look like they've been put through a paper shredder. The heels look much more presentable and Annabeth can more or less navigate her way around in them, but these ones in particular have a buckle over her ankle, and whenever she wears them she always ends up bleeding.

"I say the Converse," Piper says. "I mean, I wouldn't normally, because this is prom, and you only have prom once, but I'm going to be there with you and I don't want you whining my ears off about how much your feet hurt."

Thalia recoils, disgusted. "You can't wear sneakers to prom!"

"I jolly well can," Annabeth says. "And why do you care, anyway?"

"Because it's prom," Thalia insists, as if that makes any more sense. "Besides, your legs and your butt look fantastic when you wear heels."

"My butt is nonexistent, remember?"

"Yes, well, when you wear heels it makes it less nonexistent."

"Come on, Beth," Piper says. "We need to head off soon."

Annabeth frowns at them – and then finally, reaches towards her Converse. Thalia grunts, mortified. Annabeth slips her feet into them and then stands up, taking her sweater off. She beams at Piper nervously.

"Should we?" she asks, slightly breathlessly.

Piper laughs and offers her arm. "We shall."

Prom is in full swing when they arrive.

They're a few minutes late. Annabeth is horrified when she checks the time, but Piper assures her that it's perfectly normal and that they'll be fashionably late. "It's what all the celebrities do," she says. "And despite the fact that neither of us are nowhere near celebrity-status we can channel our inner Taylor Swift. Don't worry at all, Lois."

The school gym has been decked out like nobody's business. The school band is on stage, working their way through a series of songs. There are spotlights rigged up to the ceiling, so the floor is dark but riddled with blue light, and there are tables full of biscuits and fruit squash lining the walls. There are some half-hearted streamers taped to the walls but Annabeth doesn't even give them a second thought. It's not incredible, and certainly not the most expensive dance she's been to, but she thinks it might be her favourite. She loves it.

"Lois!"

It's Hazel. She's heading towards them. She looks stunning. Her hair has been left out in a cinnamon-coloured cloud around her head, and sure enough, her dress is one of the best Annabeth has seen so far. She can see some scraps of fabric from shirts Hazel has worn this year, but she doesn't even care. It looks amazing.

"Hazel!" Annabeth gives her a hug. "You look incredible!"

"Thank you! And so do you, look at you!" Hazel looks over Annabeth's shoulder and catches sight of Piper. "You must be Tess, right? You're Lois's cousin?"

Piper nods. "That's me."

Hazel sweeps her into a hug. Piper looks shocked, but returns it. "You're so pretty," Hazel tells her honestly, once she's pulled back. "I love your hair."

"Thank you! I love yours too. And your dress is insane. Did you make it yourself?"

"Yes, actually!" Hazel launches into a speech about how she made it, and Piper is into it. Annabeth understands absolutely nothing so she sidles away awkwardly, leaving them to their own devices. She catches sight of Leo hovering by the punch bowl, so she starts heading over.

"Leo!" she calls.

Leo sees her and looks shocked. "Crikey, Lois, you look amazing."

"Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself."

"You think? I'm trying to hit up the cheerleaders. Need to look my best, you know?"

Annabeth laughs and leans her hip against the table. "Which one this time?"

"She's called Calypso."

"Oh, so you know her name this time?"

"Shut up, Lois."

"Sorry. Tell me about her."

Leo sighs happily. "She's really pretty, Lois. She's got long hair and she's wearing a white dress tonight and she likes plants and she's just amazing."

Annabeth smiles. "It sounds like you really like her."

"She laughs at my jokes."

"That's the deal-breaker right there."

Leo laughs.

Annabeth looks at the dance floor. "Have you thought about asking her to dance yet?"

"Yeah. Reckon she'd say no, though."

"Don't be ridiculous. She'd say yes."

Leo looks at her hopefully. "You think?"

"Absolutely. If she laughs at your jokes she obviously likes you. No offense Leo, but your jokes aren't always that great."

"Screw off."

Annabeth laughs. "Think about it, Leo. She'll probably say yes."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

And that's when she spots Percy.

He's walking in with Grover and Jason. All three of them are in some variation of a tux, Grover wearing a pair of baggy jeans and a blazer over a SAVE THE THREES T-shirt, Jason in dress pants, a blue-up and a jacket, and Percy a pair of jeans, a blazer and his Converse. He's wearing his green tie and his hands are buried deep in his pockets and he looks rather aggressively awkward, but he looks absolutely incredible and Annabeth can't take her eyes off of him.

"Lois?" Leo asks. Then he sees Percy. "Oh, right, of course. You've spotted your man. Don't let me interrupt." He's wearing a smirk that on any other occasional Annabeth would want to smack off but she's too busy gawking she doesn't even care.

Percy catches sight of her after a few seconds of uncomfortable dithering. When he sees her, his jaw drops. For a few seconds, it feels like they're in a little bubble, just the two of them, staring at each other like they're in a rom-com, until Leo nudges her forward. "Go on, then," he says. "Talk to him."

Annabeth shakes herself out of her reverie and starts heading over. Percy still looks shocked, but he manages a weak smile. When she arrives in front of him, he says, "Lois, you look– wow."

Annabeth laughs. "Thanks. You look great too."

"You're gorgeous."

"Why thank you. Sorry I couldn't match your tie."

"Oh, who cares. Purple is a great colour on you."

"Thank you."

Percy shoves his hands in his pockets. "Um. You wouldn't want to, uh–"

"Percy, my man!"

Whatever Percy is about to say gets cut off by Leo, who evaporates out of seemingly nowhere. He swings between them like a monkey, throwing an arm around Percy's shoulders and throwing a cheeky look at Annabeth. Annabeth pulls a hideous face back at him.

"Hey, Leo," Percy says cheerfully enough.

"How you doing, Perce?"

"Uh, good."

"Prom looking promising?"

"I'd say so."

"Excellent." He claps Percy on the back. "You want to dance?"

Annabeth laughs. "What happened to the cheerleader?"

"She can wait. I've discovered a new attraction towards sexy green-eyed swimmers." Leo wiggles his eyebrows at Percy, who bursts out laughing. "I'll give him back to you. Just let me have this one song."

"Take him," Annabeth says. "I'll go and steal your girl."

"I'd like to see you try."

"Lois!" Annabeth turns around to see Piper waving at her. "Come on, we're dancing."

Annabeth turns back. "You gentlemen have fun. I'm going to go hang out with Tess and Hazel."

"Oh, Tess! You must introduce me later."

"I will. You two go nuts."

Percy winks at her as Leo leads him away.

Annabeth absolutely adores prom. It's everything she could have hoped for and more. Leo takes Percy for a lot more than one song – in fact, almost half of the playlist – but Annabeth is having too much fun to really mind. Piper absolutely adores Hazel, which Annabeth is incredibly relieved to hear, and she doesn't think she's ever been so happy. Hazel is bobbing up and down on her right and Piper is jumping around like a jitterbug on her right, and Annabeth is gorging herself on sugary biscuits and orange squash and even though they both taste like cardboard and the songs are old and overplayed she's having the time of her life.

Somewhere near the twentieth song, she excuses herself to go and get some water. She pushes herself out of the throng of dancing teenagers (whatever that cheerleader said about no humping had apparently fallen on deaf ears) to one of the tables – and then almost trips over her own feet when she sees someone has already beaten her to it.

Brandon Lawrence's lip curls as she heads towards him.

"Watermann," he says.

Annabeth uncomfortably nods her head. "Uh, hi."

She pours herself a cup of water and leans against the table, watching the dance floor writhe with life. There's a good metre between her and Brandon Lawrence and yet she's never felt more cornered in her life.

"Brandon." She puts down her cup. "I just– I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"For what? Humiliating me?"

"Well. Yeah."

He snorts. "A bit late, don't you think?"

"I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter."

"It does, though. But, um. I'd also like an apology, too. If that's okay."

He glares at her. "What on earth do I have to apologise for?"

"Uh, talking crap about my boyfriend? Locking me in a closet for six hours?"

Well. Twenty minutes.

Same thing.

"You deserved that."

"Yeah, well, you also deserved me pouring spaghetti over your head!"

Brandon scoffs. "Just leave it, Watermann."

He stalks away. Annabeth glares half-heartedly at his retreating back.

She feels a presence settle next to her. It's Piper.

"Was that Brandon?" she asks softly.

Annabeth nods. "Yeah."

"He's ugly."

Annabeth nods. "Yeah. Hey, how's prom going so far?"

Piper beams. "Oh, it's great. I love it."

"I know, right? It's wonderful."

Piper nods, and then leans closer. "Uh, also. Just for clarification. Who exactly is that?" She points to where Percy is dancing. But she's not pointing at Percy.

Annabeth smirks. "Why?"

"Oh." Piper shrugs far too nonchalantly for it to not be something. "Just curious."

"Right." Annabeth tries to suppress her smile. "That's Jason."

"Ah."

"Yeah."

They stand there in silence for a bit.

"He's single, you know."

"Huh."

"Mm."

"He's hot."

"He's a football player."

"Oh my. Is he nice?"

"Yeah."

"Gosh."

"You should say hi."

"I could never."

"I believe in you."

"I don't."

"Just go up to him."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I heard he likes brunettes."

"Oh, shut up." Piper bounces on the balls of her feet. "Okay. I'm going to go."

"You can do this."

"I can."

"Yes. Go and seduce him."

Piper flashes her a nervous smile and sets off. Annabeth pats her bottom for good luck.

The song ends, and the next one starts – but instead of this one being upbeat and fun, it's soft and slow. Ed Sheeran starts crooning in the background, and Annabeth can see people begin to sway along. The pulse of the gym begins to settle to a heartbeat, and Annabeth watches as Percy starts heading over to her.

Something leaps in her chest.

"Hey," he says when he reaches her.

"Hey," she says back.

"I met Tess properly."

"Is she doing well?"

"Oh, fantastic. Jason's already halfway in love."

"Good." Annabeth watches her fondly over his shoulder. "She deserves it."

"He's a good guy."

"His spine better hope so."

Percy laughs. It twinkles in the heat, and Annabeth feels her heart throb.

"So," he says. "Um. I wanted to know if you'd like to dance?"

Annabeth smiles. "Finally."

"I had to do it eventually. I couldn't let you ask me on the first date and then prom and face the shame of also being asked to dance."

"So this was all in the name of your masculinity."

"Absolutely. Also because I like you a lot."

Annabeth giggles.

Percy offers his hand. "M'lady?"

Annabeth accepts it. "Kind sir."

It's all wrong. They're at the back of the gym, near the drinks table. Everyone else is on the dance floor, but Annabeth likes it like this. It's private, secluded. It's them and only them and as she stares into his beautiful, beautiful eyes she feels herself slowly fall in love.

Percy shuffles his feet. "I don't know how."

"To dance?"

He nods.

"I'll teach you. It's real easy, promise."

"I'll take your word."

"Good." Annabeth smiles at him. "Put your hands on my waist."

Uncertainly, Percy rests his hands on her waist. They're large and soft, and he's so gentle and unsure. Annabeth falls deeper in love.

"Good," she says again. "Now. I'm going to put mine on your shoulders. Is that okay?"

He nods.

"And that's it."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Oh. Okay." Percy smiles at her. "Okay."

Ed Sheeran sings about the Tenerife Sea as they start to sway. In a moment of bravery, Annabeth pushes forward and rests her head against Percy's chest. He lets out a squeak of surprise, but he settles his arms gently around her waist. She listens to his heartbeat and they move together. It's soft and gentle and there's no space between them, and Annabeth closes her eyes. She feels euphoric, infinite. It's beautiful. She doesn't know what this feeling is but it's wonderful and she wants to fly in it for the rest of the life.

She thinks it might be love.

"Lois?" he asks softly.

Annabeth looks up.

"Can– can I kiss you?"

Her breath hitches. "Yeah."

And for the first time, their lips touch.

(It's kind of perfect.)

A/N Hey guys! Sorry this is so late, but this is also almost seven thousand words (holy hell i wrote for like five hours straight my brain is goo) so i hope that makes up for it?

I'm actually really pleased with the way this turned out. I hope you all like it. Also pERCABETH KISS WOOP and jasper which i wanted to be a surprise but all of you guessed it anyway so whatevs amirite (i'd listen to Only Us from Dear Evan Hansen to the end percabeth bit i just feel like it's a good song that fits the mood yanno) Also for those who were confused about charity shops - basically, they're shops which people donate things to that get resold dirt cheap. most of them time the stuff is kind of terrible but my mum has walked out on multiple occasions with a designer dress she bought for a fiver so i mean

ALSO thank you so so mcuh for your comments. we're nearly at two hundred isn't that NUTS. you all are the reason i keep uploading chapters i love you guys so so much

and that's all i have for today! if there are any mistakes please tell me (i haven't proofread whoops) and i'll see you all next saturday! bye xx