A/N: I'm actually on my knees begging you all not to hate me. Ever since school started up, I've been so busy that I barely have enough time to get all of my homework done and get enough sleep each night. Not very fun. But anyway, I'm back. Not sure when the next chapter will be up because that requires writing another chapter too.

For now, enjoy chapter 19!

"So Daniela's been awfully quiet lately," Percy said as they ate his 'wonderfully prepared' pasta.

"You mean, ever since she caused me to have an emotional breakdown?" Annabeth replied with a dry laugh. "She's probably been too focused on her master plan for the dance. It's coming up, you know."

"Well, then I guess I need a suit," Percy laughed. "Do you really think she has a master plan?"

"Probably. She seems like the type of person to do awful things with as many people around as possible."

"She won't be able to break you down, remember? Stronger wall with a little added support from me."

"I know. I'm just dreading the possibility of her doing anything. By now, everyone has basically figured out that I'm not actually pregnant, thank the gods, but she completely blind-sided with that. I have no way of knowing what her next attack will be."

"You do realize that Daniela is a teenage girl, right? Not your enemy in a battle."

Annabeth sighed and took her plate to the sink. "Of course I realize that, but in case you haven't noticed, I'm not the typical teenage girl. I haven't had much experience in dealing with them either, so I'm approaching the situation the way I know best."

Percy joined her at the sink, and they began doing the dishes: him washing, her drying. "Through battle strategy?" he asked with a small laugh.

"Do you have a better idea?"

"... Not really. Just keep doing what you're doing."

"Thought so."

The pair stayed in a comfortable silence as they finished washing up the dishes.

"Where's Malcolm?" Percy asked as they lounged on the couch.

"He had a date. Wouldn't tell me who with, though," Annabeth huffed.

"Demigod?" he questioned.

"Don't think so," she replied.

"Well, he should get some privacy. At first, anyway. Then we pry," Percy joked.

Annabeth laughed and leaned into his side. "I'm so glad that I won't have to go through awkward dates with people I barely know."

"Yeah, I guess that's a bonus to being best friends before dating."

"Did I lose my best friend status when I kissed you?" Annabeth smiled at her boyfriend to let him know that she was joking.

"Nope." He smiled widely and added, "You'll always be my bestest friend, Wise Girl."

At that moment, Malcolm opened the door and briskly walked through the room.

"How was your date?" Annabeth asked.

"Isn't going to work out," he called back to her before slamming his door shut.

"Not going to see him for the rest of the night," Annabeth remarked as the phone rang. She stood up and walked over to where it was sitting.

"Hey, Annabeth, it's Jess. I'm in desperate need of a girls night. Gabby and Kimberlee are sleeping over; do you want to come over, too?" Jess said once Annabeth answered the phone.

"Sure, I've been spending far too much time with Percy anyway," Annabeth laughed. There was a 'hey' of protest from Percy, but she quieted him with a wave of her hand.

"Okay, you can come over in the next twenty minutes or so."

"See you soon!"

Annabeth hung up, and looked over at Percy to see him pouting.

"Don't be all pouty. If you're going to be bored, stay here and try to get Malcolm to speak," she said.

"Fine, but it won't be easy," he replied, crossing his arms.

"Oh, I know, honey." Annabeth kissed his cheek as she moved to go to her room.

She quickly packed an overnight bag with her essentials, and before long, she was calling "Love you!" to Percy on her way out the door.

At Jess', she found herself being pulled through the door and into the living room. There were blankets and pillows all over the floor. The other two girls were already there.

"Sit," Jess instructed and Annabeth obliged.

"Okay, so what's the big emergency?" Gabby asked.

"I just went on the most awkward date possibly ever in the history of human existence," Jess confessed.

"You didn't tell us that you were going on a date!" Kimberlee exclaimed.

"Yeah, that's because I went out with Malcolm."

"Who?" Kimberlee asked as Annabeth asked, "My Malcolm?"

"Wait, your Malcolm?" Gabby questioned Annabeth while Kimberlee shot her a confused look.

"The brother that I live with," Annabeth explained.

"Yeah, him," Jess said, pulling the attention back to her. "Well, I kind of went out on a limb and asked him out because I was kind of attracted to him when I first met him. He said 'yes,' but on the date, we just couldn't find anything to talk about at all. It was mostly just awkward silence followed by more awkwardness."

"Did you mention that thing you found out?" Annabeth asked.

"Yeah, but all he said was; 'look extra closely at the guys you date because you don't want to have the burden.' I'm not even sure how I was supposed to answer that," Jess replied. The other girls looked confused, but they didn't say anything.

"He may be a genius, but he isn't the best at casual conversation. This really explains his mood that he was in when he came home. He was probably mad at himself."

"We ended the date agreeing that it won't work out between us. He's in college anyway, so," Jess left the sentence hanging and shrugged.

"Shut up! I don't think of Lee that way!" Jess protested.

"You never know," Gabby replied in a sing-songy voice.

"I thought that his name was Liam," Annabeth said.

"It is," Kimberlee, "he just prefers to go by Lee. Always has. We've always teased him by calling him Liam."

"When he introduced himself to me, he called himself Liam."

"He lost a bet and had to go by Liam for a week," Jess explained. They all looked at her. "What? I just happened to e in the same class as him when it happened."

"This is all very confusing for me," Annabeth groaned and the other girls laughed.

"Poor Annabeth," Gabby giggled. "Oh, speaking of, tomorrow we need to go shopping."

Annabeth groaned. "Seriously? Do we have to?"

"How else do you suppose we get our dresses for the dance?" Kimberlee asked. "It's in a week from tomorrow." She laughed at Annabeth's frustrations.

"Online shopping with next day shipping?" Annabeth offered up weakly.

She was answered with her friends' laughter.

"As great as that would be, my mom is already planning to make a day of this," Jess explained.

"Did I hear 'mom?'" a woman asked as she walked into the room with a big bowl of popcorn. Annabeth immediately noticed how similar Jess and her mother looked.

"I was telling Annabeth about how you plan to take all of us dress shopping tomorrow," Jess told her mother.

"Oh, yes! By the way, I talked to Gabby and Kimberlee's mothers. They are going to meet us at the mall tomorrow," Mrs. Horton said.

"Yay, a mother-daughter bonding day," Kimberlee said sarcastically but still with a joking tone.

"We all know that you're excited Kimberlee. You and your mother spend tons of time together," Gabby said then lightly shoved her friend.

"Annabeth," Mrs. Horton said, stopping Gabby from talking more, "you are welcome to invite your mother. I wouldn't want her to be left out."

Jess and Annabeth shared a panicked look.

"Um, mom, Annabeth's mother is a very busy woman," Jess attempted to explain.

"Jessie, I'm sure she could spare a few hours on a Saturday to spend some time with her daughter," Mrs. Horton replied.

"Mother!" Jess exclaimed, looking at her mother pointedly.

"It's okay, Jess, it's not like she knows the whole story. I'm not very close with my mother. I used to live with my dad and step-mom in San Francisco, but then I moved back out here because New York is my home. I live with my older brother," Annabeth explained, praying that no questions would be asked.

"Does your mother live in New York?" she asked.

"Yes, but she basically lives where she works."

"Oh."

Mrs. Horton was looking at Annabeth sympathetically, and the rest of the girls had fallen into a silence.

"So, tell me about your dates to the dance girls!" Mrs. Horton instructed, attempting to change the subject.

"They're just as uncool as us," Kimberlee said dryly.

"But they are on the swim team!" Gabby added. "And Jess is going with Lee!"

"How adorable!" Jess' mother laughed. "He's had a crush on you for years!"

"Has he? I didn't notice," Jess retorted sarcastically.

"And the rest of you?" her mother asked instead of answering.

"Well, Kimmy and I are going with Lee's friends, Shayne and Max," Gabby replied. "You probably know them. We've been in school with them since kindergarten. Annabeth is going with her boyfriend, Percy."

"Percy, with a girlfriend, Percy?" Mrs. Horton asked with a nudge towards her daughter.

They all laughed.

"Well, I'm done trying to be cool and intrude in on your sleepover. Sleep well, girls. Long day tomorrow!" Mrs. Horton announced then left the girls alone.

They all talked for a while before deciding to turn on a movie. Each girl was asleep before the credits rolled.

Did you guys like it? Was it worth the wait? The next chapter is another one of my favorites because it deals with Annabeth in a situation that she's not entirely comfortable in. It's great.

QOTD: Anybody have a countdown till Blood of Olympus? I can't wait till it comes out! I will probably cry many tears of happiness.

Until next time my friends!