17. The Praetor Reyna Avila Ramirez Arellano

Hazel would agree that going on a shopping spree with Annabeth and Piper has its advantages. Piper - as it turned out - is really good at picking out clothes. After all she is a daughter of Venus - Aphrodite. And Annabeth was seriously good at girl talk. And it felt amazing to go out with her girlfriends after the Giant war.

"So you are trying to say that Thalia once almost killed Percy?" Piper asked laughing.

"Yup, just after the war with the Titans. Percy was wet and Thalia was about to punch him, because he said that his acts were heroic than hers. And Percy just got electrocuted. That's the reason he was so twitchy around Jason." Annabeth grinned.

"Don't you think that was a bit rude?" Hazel asked.

"That's Thalia for you." Annabeth smiled.

"So are we going to meet this Thalia?" Piper asked.

"Hey, you met her already," Hazel mentioned. They were entering a coffee shop near Manhattan.

"We were in a rush so tha-" Piper halted and looked at a place horrifyingly.

"What?" Annabeth and Hazel followed her eyes and looked at the former Praetor of New Rome sitting with a hot chocolate.

"Do you think we should walk out?" Hazel asked and Piper almost agreed.

Annabeth shook her head. "She's lonely. Plus I like her." She made her way over to where Reyna was sitting the two younger girls following her.

"Reyna." Annabeth said in a way of greeting. Reyna looked up.

"Annabeth." She nodded and then noticed Hazel and Piper.

"McLean." Her voice had an icy tone. Piper almost flinched. "Hello Hazel." Reyna said politely.

"Hi," They both replied. They both sat down beside Annabeth.

"So what are you doing here?" Annabeth asked.

Reyna shrugged. "No where to go, I guess."

"You're always welcome in Camp, you know." Annabeth replied.

"They don't need me."

"What?" Hazel slipped before she could control herself.

Reyna looked at Hazel and Hazel felt herself blush. "I just meant... How could someone not need you?"

"Your boyfriend is really taking good care of Rome." She said coolly. "And I don't think it was a bad idea giving Grace and Jackson to share the Praetors post." She regarded both of them with last names.

"Giving it to Percy was a bad idea." Annabeth smirked. Reyna looked at her and allowed herself to smile.

Piper saw Reyna smile for the first time in life. And needless to say she was much more scared than before. She was fidgeting with the feather in her hair since she came. She was still insecure about the way Jason sometimes talked about Reyna, almost wistfully. That scared her. If Reyna was in town, she could come to Camp Half Blood and snatch Jason up. "Do you still have feelings for Jason?" She blurted.

Hazel glared at her. Annabeth shook her head slowly. Reyna looked a bit startled at the question. But definitely not angry. Piper wanted to breath a sigh of relief or take back what she told but she couldn't do that. Thankfully Reyna replied. "If you mean feelings as in wanting to punch him in the face occasionally, then yes. But if you mean feelings as in romantic feelings, no." She explained carefully.

"So back to square one, what are you doing here?" Annabeth asked.

"Told you."

"Please, elaborate." Annabeth said impatiently.

"Hylla's dead. Gwen's dead. Skippy's gone. And so is Aurum and Argentum. College's over and nothing to do." Reyna shrugged. Annabeth found a I have nowhere to go in her explanation.

"You have a home in us, y'know." Hazel said.

"Yes, that's what you guys offer. Be honest Hazel, would you like it if I came butting in your business?" She asked.

Hazel felt herself blushed. Reyna smirked. "Thought so."

"But..." Piper interrupted.

"Don't bother with the charmspeak." Reyna said. Then she smiled. "Care for Hot Chocolate?" She asked them.

"Why are you offering Hot Chocolate to us?" Hazel asked suspiciously.

Annabeth smiled. "Chocolate's universal." She said.

Reyna looked at her and smiled. "Yes. And I am not a Praetor anymore am I? So I'm allowed to socialize with people." She grinned at Piper and Hazel's dumb found expressions.

Annabeth, Hazel and Piper realized that, that was the first time - and last - they saw Reyna without her armor. The main point is: Reyna left. She left after a week of having a chat with Piper, Hazel and Annabeth.

And Annabeth wasn't a bit surprised when she found a letter announcing Reyna's engagement and an invitation card. After all, The Praetor deserved a break.

AN: It's 1 am and I just realized that I don't like anything other than Leyna. But... I could bear it for a day or two cuz Leyna right now seems to OOC.