A/N: Um, sup guys? You must all really hate me so much. However, I've had so much schoolwork/extra curricular activities that I've barely had any time to sleep. On the bright side, I plan to upload a whole bunch of chapters soon because I'm really behind and I plan to have a Christmas chapter up before Christmas (crossing my fingers on that one). So anyway, please don't hate me, and enjoy chapter 20
The next morning, Annabeth awoke to the smell of breakfast food. The last time she had actual breakfast food in the morning was the time that she stayed at Percy's. Her nose was sensitive to good (real) food.
Annabeth saw that she was up before the rest of her friends, and decided to find her own way to the kitchen.
"Good morning, dear," Mrs. Horton greeted as she cooked. "Are you an early riser?"
"That, and a light sleeper. I'm almost convinced the smell of food woke me up," Annabeth laughed.
Mrs. Horton laughed, too. "Oh, Annabeth, I would like to apologize for bringing up the whole mother thing last night."
"It's okay. It's not a sensitive subject for me; I'm used to it. I barely speak to her unless one of us needs something."
"I'm sorry you haven't had the best relationship with her."
"Me too, but I can't change that. It is what it is."
Mrs. Horton soon had breakfast ready, and she gave Annabeth a plate filled with food before going to wake the others.
Much to Annabeth's dismay, they eventually found themselves at the mall waiting for Gabby and Kimberlee's mothers.
"Why don't you four go to the dress store while I wait. Start picking out dresses that you like," Mrs. Horton suggested.
They all went to the store that looked like pink and glitter puked all over it. Annabeth went to the section of dresses with the least mound of color, and started looking through them. Most of the dresses didn't seem very school appropriate nor did they really catch her eye.
Jess caught her attention and held up a black dress. "I think this would look good on you. You are trying it on, and you have no choice in the matter."
Annabeth sighed and took the dress. Gabby and Kimberlee each picked out a dress as well, so she had at least three to try on.
They went to the changing rooms where the three mothers were all chatting on a bench.
"Go, change!" exclaimed Mrs. Horton. "We want to see every dress." The second part was probably more intended for Annabeth than others.
Annabeth took her time when changing into the dress Jess picked for her. It happened to be strapless which was annoying.
She could hear the mothers talking about how each girl looked in her dress, and she self-consciously inspected how she looked in the mirror. Her scars weren't too visible, which was good, but she wasn't sure whether or not the dress actually looked good on her.
"You okay, Annabeth?" she heard Jess ask.
"Yeah, hold on," she replied.
Annabeth hesitantly walked out of the dressing room and faced the six in front of her.
"I like the dress, but it doesn't really hug her body the right way," the woman that she assumed to be Gabby's mother said. They looked like carbon copies of each other.
"Yeah, strapless doesn't really work for her. It's a hassle to keep up anyway, no matter what your body type is," Kimberlee's mom added. "Spin," was the next instruction.
Annabeth hesitantly spun around and faced them again.
"It's loose in the back, too. I'd go with 'no,'" Jess said then walked back into her dressing room.
Annabeth just nodded then went to her room to change again.
She quickly changed into the dress that Gabby picked for her. The whole dress was fitted tightly, and it took Annabeth awhile to pull it down to a reasonable length.
Walking out, she said, "I only came out to show you, but I am just not comfortable in this thing at all."
"That's too bad; it looks really good on you," Mrs. Horton commented.
"It's almost inappropriate, but it does look good on you. You have a nice body for that type of dress. However, comfort is the most important thing," Kimberlee's mother noted.
"Um, thank you?" Annabeth replied, unsure of how she was supposed to respond.
She stood off to the side while the mothers gushed over Jess' dress. It did look very nice on her, and Annabeth decided that she wouldn't be surprised if that was the dress Jess chose to buy.
As she observed the relationships between the mothers and daughters, Annabeth couldn't help but envy what they had. Everyone around her had great relationships with their mothers, and all she had was Athena. Not that is was a bad thing. Having a goddess for a mother just kind of sucked.
"Why don't you go try on your last dress, Annabeth?" Jess suggested.
Annabeth listened to her friend and went back into her changing room. The last dress looked better than the first two, which boosted her confidence slightly.
They all told her how wonderful the dress looked when she walked out.
"It still doesn't feel right," Annabeth confessed as she looked down at herself.
"I think that I might have the right one for you," another voice said.
Annabeth turned to see Athena standing behind her with a box. "Mom?"
"It may not be from this store, but you can still try it on. Just so we can see it," Athena said with a small smile.
Annabeth took the box from her mother and started to go into the dressing room.
"Wait," Athena said, "it ties in the back with a ribbon. Let me come in with you, so you won't have to do it yourself."
"Okay," Annabeth replied.
After Athena closed the door, Annabeth asked quietly, "Why are you here?"
Athena sighed as she opened the box and pulled out a beautiful gray dress. "I've been feeling guilty. I sent you on that quest, and you fell into Tartarus. That's the last thing I would ever wish on any demigod, even a son of Poseidon. I know the dress won't make anything better, but if you take it, at least I will know that you don't resent me."
"I don't think that I could resent you. After all, I am your daughter. I have the capability of understanding why I was sent on that quest."
Athena smiled and helped her daughter slide into the dress.
"I never imagined that I would be spending time with one of my daughters in a dress shop of all places," she laughed as she tied the ribbon in the back.
"This was the last place I thought that I would see you, too. Where did you get the dress? Did Aphrodite help you?" Annabeth asked.
"I considered asking her, but you know Aphrodite. Her taste is, well..."
"Not simple in any way, shape, or form."
"Exactly." They both laughed.
Annabeth looked at herself in the mirror and smoothed down the dress.
"You look beautiful, Annabeth," Athena said, smiling.
"Thanks, Mom. Same time when I shop for my wedding dress?" Annabeth joked.
"Definitely. It's probably not that far in your future. Though, I want to be a lot more involved in your life. It's the least I can do."
They walked out, and compliments were practically raining down on Annabeth.
"You look great, Annabeth," Jess said then looked at Athena. "I think it was really great of you to come. Annabeth told me that you two weren't the closest."
"We're working on it," Athena replied with a smile. "I really owe it to her."
I really like this chapter. So normally I wouldn't do personal stuff, but I've recently had a falling out with my best friend. And now he isn't my best friend anymore. So for the extremely sad qotd: Does anybody know how to cope with losing a friend because they've changed into someone you can't be friends with anymore?
See you guys (hopefully) soon! I have to upload at least 3 more chapters before christmas if I want my plan to work out. Until next time!