OH MY GODS GUYS...! I am sooooooooooooooooooo sorry! I had school and my exams were coming so i got reallllyyyy busy... I am soooo unhappy I could cry to death. I have missed writing soooo much! :(:(:(:( Anyways, I'll stop blabbing now so you can start reading.. :) Happy Reading!

"Woah." Was the only word Hazel could stutter as she entered her room after lunch with Annabeth and Piper. The room with white and grey wallpapers had a large bed with milky white covers and another one, not as large, with the same milky white covers. Hazel, as modest as she was, was amazed by the extravagancy of the room. For the others, it may not seem so much but Hazel just loved these kinds.

She twirled around the room making her way to the bed, the other two laughing all the time. The trio had decided to pair up since only three were allowed in one room. Calypso, Thalia and Drew had to pair up. Reyna, Rachel and another girl had the same fate. But rules were rules, as Coach Hedge had said when they had asked for a bit of leniency.

Hazel laughed with the others and they talked about stuff for a long, long time when there was a knock at the door. "Come in!" Annabeth called. Frank put his head inside to say,"Hey, aren't you guys ready? It's already six o'clock. Remember we have that party tonight at 7!"

This was greeted by a shriek from Piper."Oh my, gods! I totally forgot! Guys we have to get ready now. Hazel unpack your dresses. I and Annabeth will do the same. Remove your best dresses and we'll select. Annabeth, no, go and get that comb we need that. What about the shoes? I am running a bunch..."

Piper continued her "preparation-time" speech and Frank rolled his eyes and went out leaving the girls. Annabeth did as she was told, although she had a grin on her face. She walked towards the door near which there was a dressing table containing their hair brushes and combs. She collected whatever was required and was about to turn back but she heard someone speak in the corridor. Frank had not closed the door properly leaving a thin space. Murmurs of a voice were coming from behind it.

Annabeth moved closer to hear more clearly and what she heard gave her a shock. "... never forgive her for doing this. She embarrassed me in front of a bunch of people. I have a REPUTATION!"

Another voice answered in a calm voice."Calm down Luke. We'll figure out how we're gonna deal with it."

Luke?Annabeth gasped aloud. Luke? No it couldn't be. And he was talking about someone. A girl. Was he talking about... Thalia?

Annabeth's eyes widened in terror. No, she must listen to the whole conversation. She leaned in closer to the door. ".. I know! But I will pay Annabeth back for her slap. She dared to slap me. Now she will face consequences."

Annabeth felt the blood leave her face. She had never thought a slap would turn out to be this big. She stood there frozen in shock until Piper called her in distress. "Annabeth! I told you at least five minutes ago to get the- Hey, what's wrong? Why are you standing there like that?" Her voice turned low and soft suddenly as she hurried over to her friend.

Hearing the conversation, Hazel also came up, worry written all over her face. In the mind she was thinking, Is Annabeth okay? Is she going to faint again? But Hazel's fears were proved wrong. "Annabeth, are you feeling faint again?"

Annabeth finally came to her senses and tried to act normally,"No, no. Why are you guys so worried. I'm okay." She added a smile.

"Then, why are you clutching the door handle like that?" asked Piper, who was not totally convinced by her reply. Annabeth looked over to her hand. Sure enough it was clutching to the handle as if it was the most important thing in the world. She loosened her grip and looked over to her friends.

"Oh. Nothing. I just felt a bit dizzy so.. I'm okay. Don't worry. I'm great." Annabeth tried for a smile but Piper saw the half-heartedness behind it. Still, she let it pass. Hazel just bought it and hurried over to her in concern."Annabeth! Why didn't you tell us before? And what about the party tonight? I don't want you to go if you're not feeling well. I'll stay with you."

Annabeth gave the best reassuring smile she could manage."No Hazel. I'm fine. I just.. No worries. I'm great now. We will go down partying tonight!" That pretty much seemed to lighten up the mood and they got ready.

Soon, Annabeth was in a beautiful orange frock that reached down till the middle of her thighs with pearl necklace and earring with matching pearl white sandals. Piper was dressed in a frock of shades of blue and green, making her look like a peacock. Hazel was wearing a simple light purple colored dress looking equally glamorous.

They soon met the other girls and greeted each other with hugs and kisses and comments about how nice they looked. Talking and laughing, they made their way to the hall. They searched around the hall looking for the boys and finally found Leo and Jason talking together.

The two boys were caught surprised as they looked at the girls. Leo's heart did a double leap when he saw Calypso in a sunset colored gown. jason's did the same when he saw Piper. They gaped at the two girls until Calypso walked right up and snapped her fingers in front of their faces. It was enough to snap them out of their daze and gaze down sheepishly.

Leo was the first to recover. With a mischievous grin he said,"So.. Beauty Queen living up to her name huh? And Miss Sunset is too, I see."

Calypso gave a brilliant fake smile and replied,"Well, looks like forgot to do his hair today. Pity. It doesn't look as good." The words were out of her mouth before she realised it. But she hoped he would not notice. Which he obviously did.

"No ways. I did it for like half an- wait, 'doesn't look as good'? Are you checking me out, Sunset?" He looked at her with a smirk and raising his eyebrows.

"Oh, forget it Valdez!" she exclaimed with a annoyed look on her face and stomped off leaving the others grinning. What they didn't know was, Calypso had turned away because she had a blush and a smile on her face.

"Where's Per- I mean, the other boys?" asked Annabeth. With a poker face, Leo replied using his hands as directions,"Nico and Frank are that way, bringing some drinks. Prince Charming is that way."

"Prince Charming?" asked Annabeth, with a surprised look on her face even though she clearly knew what Leo was trying to say.

"Oh, you know. Your Prince. He's the one standing with that girl in a red..." His voice trailed off as he recognised Percy with a girl: Rachel. Annabeth seemed to notice them too and her face fell, though she tried really hard not to let anybody see it. Piper understood her predicament and dragged her off to some place elsewhere. Hazel followed.

Leo gazed sympathetically after them and then turned to Jason who was still staring. "You know, Calypso snapped her fingers so hard it ought to keep me out of dazes for a lifetime. What are you still staring at?" Leo asked, hiding a grin.

Jason cleared his throat and mumbled he wasn't staring. Leo didn't hide his smirk any more. Percy came up running to them."Hey, sorry. I was.. caught up in something."

"Yeah we saw." said Thalia, rolling her eyes. Percy suddenly seemed to notice the absence of the three girls and asked,"Where are the other three? I mean, Annabeth, Piper and Hazel?"

"You're too late." Leo sighed dramatically and looked down. Percy just looked confused. Jason told him the direction they had disappeared some time ago and Percy followed till he saw Annabeth.

"Hey! Annabeth!" He called over to her as she sat on one of the chairs looking at the pairs of dancing couples. She looked in his direction and her face brightened as she saw him coming over. "Hey, Seaweed Brain."

"Why weren't you with the others?" he asked her. Annabeth tried to hide the hurt feeling she felt and replied,"Because two people dragged me off till here to have some fun." She looked over his back at the two approaching girls. "Hey!" Piper exclaimed on seeing him."See, I told you he would come."

Annabeth blushed."Piper! I told you then and there that this was a party and everyone was coming! Why wouldn't Percy come?" Piper and Hazel laughed.

They stared a few seconds at the dance and then Percy held out his hand."Care for a dance?"

Annabeth accepted his hand, regaining the blush and said, "I don't know how to. And I'm not so great with-" She was interrupted by the hand around her waist ushering her to the middle of the dance floor."Now, that's the same case with me. Just follow the others' steps and you'll be fine. After all you're Wise Girl." He winked, smirking.

"Okay,"Annabeth managed to say, her cheeks as red as ever. Piper and Hazel looked at the two dancing with a smile on their faces. Both were thinking the same thing. How cute they look together.

"So, why did you leave the others? I mean you don't ever leave Thalia, do you?" said Percy, as he stared into Annabeth's gray eyes.

Annabeth put on a nonchalant tone."I told you. Piper and Hazel dragged me off."

"And that is the only reason?" She sighed at his question. How could she say yes? But that's exactly what she did.

"Yes, Seaweed Brain. any more questions?"

"None." grinned Percy. She stared up into his sea green eyes; her favourite color of green. He was doing the same; staring into her eyes. And for once Annabeth felt so secure in his arms, so close to him, that she felt Rachel could never ever penetrate in between them. Instinctively they inched closer and closer till-

"Sorry, Annabeth!" Rachel chimed in causing the moment to end. What was she apologising for? Annabeth thought. She soon came to know, though. Rachel smoothly slid in between them and held Percy's hands as if waiting for the dance to begin, leaving Annabeth with her hands right in the position where they had been linked to Percy's. Slowly, she brought her hands to her sides as percy looked at her ashamed.

When he still didn't say anything, she turned and left him dancing with Rachel."Wait, An-"

"Oh, Percy. Let her go. i've been waiting for this dance since eternity. Come on!" Rachel grinned at him and led him out of sight of Annabeth.

Annabeth was in tears. Literally. They had been so close to.. No. He was just playing with her. Percy.. No. He can't like her that way can he. She was sitting on a chair, staring nowhere in particular with two great tears running down her face. Piper and Hazel having seen what had happened had rushed to her aid.

"Hey, Annabeth! Don't cry. He'll come back I promise!" Piper said , trying to calm Annabeth down in her famous cooing voice. Hazel was doing the same."Annabeth, don't worry. Rachel is not going to come in between you two. I know it."

Annabeth stared at the two girls in despair."How? Why? Do you have any proof." The two looked at each other apparently having nothing to say."See? there's no proof. It's likely that he likes Rachel more and not me. I don't see any point in wasting my time."

Piper and Hazel tried their best to calm her down but to no avail. Finally, Annabeth said,"You guys, I would just like to calm down myself. It's better if you leave me alone for a bit."

The two girls stared at each other in distress, but agreed and left Annabeth to calm herself. Soon, Annabeth had got over it and wiping the tears she tried to clear her mind of the dance.

Just then, the last person on her mind came and sat down next to her. It was Luke.

Thank the Gods! i finally finished the chapter! Whew.. It was a long one and took me almost two days to write it... Pls pls pls pls pls review... I would reeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaalllllly like to hear from you guys... Love ya and hope you enjoyed the last line ;p