Disclaimer time! I don't own Heroes of Olympus or any of its characters! I do own Anne Soleil though! (yayyyy! :D) I also do not own Say Goodbye, Your Guardian Angel, or Dear X. That would be Skillet (BEST BAND EVER!), The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and Disciple.

Enjoy! again Percylover008 this one's for you! means so much that u put Anne in your story! love ya! :D

Anne's POV

"Anne, stop pacing," Ashley scolded gently as I made my tenth lap around my cabin. "You're going to ruin your hair."

"Sorry," I said absentmindedly. "I'm just nervous."

"Hon, you look gorgeous," she said. "There's nothing to be nervous about."

"There's everything to be nervous ab—ack!" I said, spinning around to face her and tripping over my shoes. I was wearing these ridiculously high heels borrowed from Kayla, the girl who owned the dress I was wearing. They were this silvery color that just added to my theory that I looked cold. I rolled my eyes inwardly. What a pair we would make: Leo, the son of the god of fire and the guy who can summon fire to his hands with me, in an ice-blue dress and silver heels.

"Are those really so hard to walk in?" Ashley said, ignoring my frantic tone. "They're only about two inches high."

"Yes, considering that I've never worn heels in my life," I retorted, knowing I sounded angry but not bothering to apologize. Ashley was unfazed; she was sitting on my bunk with a huge chocolate bar, breaking off squares and eating them one by one.

"Just take them off," she mumbled around a mouthful.

"Now why didn't I think of that?" I grumbled, unlacing the straps and putting them beside my bed.

"Want some chocolate?" she offered.

"No, thanks." I was too nervous to eat.

"Want me to paint your nails?"

"No, thanks." I wouldn't be able to sit still.

"Then what am I here for?" she said, sounding more amused than annoyed. "I could go back to my cabin and gossip with my sisters."

"Don't leave," I begged. "I'm sorry. I'm just nervous."

Ashley laughed. "I get it. First-date jitters."

I wanted to protest that it wasn't my first to make it sound less like a cliché, like "Aw, she's so nervous before her first-ever date! How cute!", but I figured a daughter of Aphrodite would know I was lying.

"Fine, I'm freaking out!" I said, throwing my hands up to the ceiling in an exaggerated fashion. "Now would be a good time to break out some advice or whatever."

Ashley laughed. "Just relax. This guy humiliated himself to ask you out tonight. He obviously likes you. There really isn't much to be nervous about."

I took a few deep breaths, trying to slow my thudding heart. "You're right. So why can't I calm down?"

Ashley picked up my iPod from my pillow and tossed it to me. "Do you have any soothing love songs on that thing or anything? Listen to something and see if it calms you down. Here, I'll get off your bed." She moved and I sat down.

"How many songs would a daughter of Apollo have on her iPod anyway?" Ashley asked as she sat down on another bed with her chocolate bar.

I made a face. "Too many to count. I really can't think of many songs I don't like." I put in my ear buds and scrolled through my playlist. No…no…no…what's this? I found a song that I didn't remember. Say Goodbye, by Skillet. I don't remember how that one goes.

I pressed play and leaned back on my pillow. Soft keyboard streamed into my ears as the first verse began:

Things are changing

It seems strange and

I need to figure this out

You've got your life

I've got mine

But you're all I cared about…

Yesterday we were laughing

Today I'm left here asking

Where has all the time gone now?

I'm left alone somehow

Growing up and getting older

I don't want to believe it's over…

A small pang of sadness hit me. That reminded me so much of a certain couple about to go on their first and maybe last date tonight. That probably wasn't the best song to listen to now. I was trying to calm down, not remind myself of what tomorrow would bring, or in my case, take away.

Keep going, I told myself, trying to shake off the foreboding as I kept scrolling. Finally, here's something. Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. This'll calm me down. I pressed play and the soft guitar immediately had a soothing affect. I closed my eyes and let the music take over.

When I see your smile

Tears run down my face

I can't replace

But now that I'm strong I have figured out

How this world turns cold

And breaks through my soul

And I know I'll find deep inside me

I can be the one…

I will never let you fall

I'll stand up with you forever

I'll be there for you through it all

Even if saving you sends me to Heaven…

The song ended and I smiled. That was such a sweet song.

"Better?" Ashley asked, noticing my smile.

"Much better. Thanks; that was a great idea." I smiled at her and kept going through my list of songs. One of my favorites. Dear X by Disciple. I selected it and cuddled my face into my pillow as the music began.

Dear pain,

Oh it's been a long time

Remember when

You were holding me tight

I would stay awake with you all night…

Dear shame,

I was safe in your arms

You were there

When it all fell apart

I would get so lost in your beautiful lies

I let you go…

But you're still chasing!

My eyes opened when I realized that that song reminded me of Leo. He's never told me much about his past, but I know he's hiding a lot of pain. And he's told me about his shame: his feelings that he's not as good as Jason and Piper. I wonder if he would like this song. It reminds me so much of him.

"It's almost seven forty-five," Ashley said, looking at the digital clock next to Will's bed. "We should probably touch up your hair."

"Did I mess it up?" I asked distractedly as the last lines of Dear X drifted away.

"Not completely," she said, coming over and prodding me until I sat up. "Now sit still."

I switched off my iPod and tried to maintain my calm state while Ashley pulled a mini hairbrush from her pocket and ran it gently through my hair. She'd used a curling iron to give my already slightly wavy hair long waves while making me paranoid that she was going to burn me. I'd already been burnt once this week; I didn't need that to happen again. Leo would start to think I was accident-prone around fire.

After a few minutes Ashley stood up and inspected my hair. "Stand up and put on your shoes," she said. I obeyed and her brown eyes surveyed me. "Perfect," she said.

"Really?" I said a little skeptically.

She laughed. "Yep. He'd be crazy if he didn't think you looked good."

I tried to smile. "Thanks. I really appreciate your help."

Ashley smiled. "Thanks. I'd hug you but I don't want to mess anything up."

"I don't care," I said, leaning over and hugging her. She returned the hug and smiled.

"Is there anything I should take tonight?" I asked, suddenly distracted by the time.

"Grab a bag if you have one," she said. "Just bring an extra hairbrush or something. Little stuff you think you'll need."

I grabbed my medium-size shoulder bag (aka my only one) and threw in my iPod (I wouldn't be able to survive without it), my Camp Half-Blood necklace for good luck, my favorite sweatshirt in case it got cold, and my hairbrush to humor Ashley.

"It's almost seven fifty-five," Ashley said, gesturing at the clock. "He should be here any minute. Do you want me to go?"

"No, stay," I said. "If I pass out you can take me to the infirmary."

Ashley laughed. "I won't go anywhere."

I sat back on my bed with my iPod and scrolled through the songs, looking for something mellow and calm that would slow my beating heart. Ashley finished her chocolate bar and tossed the wrapper at the wastebasket.

Knock! Knock!

I froze on the spot.

"He's here," Ashley said, leaning over to peek out the window.

I took a deep breath and tossed my iPod back into my bag. I stood up and walked to the door, trying not to trip over my shoes again.

I swung it open and there he was, standing outside my cabin wearing clean jeans and his unzipped army jacket over a pinstriped shirt that he probably borrowed from one of his cabinmates. His brown curls weren't tangled but not completely in place either, I noticed with an amused smile.

I felt his brown eyes sweeping over me and I tried not to blush. I knew I looked like an Aphrodite child, what with my dress, makeup, and heels, but I hoped he wouldn't mind.

"Hey," he said, smiling broadly at me. "Sorry I'm late."

"You're not late," I reassured him.

"You look amazing," he said, meeting my eyes.

This time I did blush. "Thank Ashley," I said, gesturing to the girl standing behind me in the cabin. "She and her sisters gave me a makeover."

Ashley grinned. "We work for tips, you know," she said as she handed me my bag. "But I'll be nice to you. Just have fun tonight and this one's on the house."

I smiled at her and shouldered my bag. "Thanks, Ashley."

She blew a kiss at me and walked back to her cabin.

"So…" I said, turning back to Leo and shutting the door behind me.

"So…" he repeated, taking my hand in his. "Are you ready?"

I smiled at him, my worries fading already. "Are you?"

"I was born ready," he assured me, squeezing my hand. "Let's go."

"Where are we going?" I asked as we began to walk forward.

"Oh, I've got an idea," he replied. "Just trust me."

I let him lead me forward, all my nervousness and stress melting away like snowflakes tossed into a fire.

Diamondsgirl: *sniff* so…beautiful… *sighs contentedly*

Ashley: I know! love's a beautiful thing ya know?

Diamondsgirl: It is it is it really is! *sobs uncontrollably*

Ashley: *pats shoulder* there there. Now come to my cabin. We have chocolate.

Diamondsgirl: Yayyyy! Now please review people or else I WILL NOT SHARE MY CHOCOLATE WITH YOU! MWAHAHAHAHAAAAAA! *skips happily away*

Ashley: *to readers* is she always like this…? Well, review or *waves chocolate bar in front of hungry crowd* ur not getting any of this! Its your choice!