"Dude, I cannot believe you told the whole world that you're bi!" Thalia yelled over the music. She looked at the bartender. "Drinks for my friends and a Coke for me!"

"Wait, I got this," Jason said as he held his phone out. After squinting at it, he started to speak in what was supposed to be Italian. But, it was such a terrible rendition that she didn't know what he was saying. The bartender looked at them in amusement.

"What kind of drinks?" the bartender asked in perfect English with just the hint of an accent.

"The best shots you have," Piper answered. The bartender nodded and turned away. Piper hit Jason's arm. "Stop being a nerd and just be a dumb American."

"Not hard for him," Thalia said.

"Are you sure about this nightclub?" Annabeth asked for the tenth time since they had decided to come here. She just didn't want Thalia to be around alcohol after everything that had happened.

"I'm fine," Thalia promised. "Especially because this place has great food."

"And I promised to grind on her," Piper added. Jason nearly dropped his phone as he whirled toward them.

"What?!" Jason demanded. Both Piper and Thalia started laughing. "You two are not allowed to be around each other anymore. I swear."

"Deal with it," Thalia mocked as she stuck her tongue out. A smile drifted onto Annabeth's face as she watched. Ever since the interview, she felt like she was having an out of body experience. All she could do was see through the eyes of the person who revealed her sexuality.

"Are you sure you don't want me to do damage control?" Piper asked Annabeth as their shots were handed to them. It was the first thing Piper asked her after they got back to the hotel. Well, after she pulled Annabeth into a tight hug.

"I'm... happy," Annabeth said after a few moments. "Scared but happy. I should have done it long ago..."

"You don't owe anyone the answer to your sexuality," Piper said as she rubbed Annabeth's back. "I'm here for you, though."

"We all are," Percy added as he grabbed his shot and downed it. "Also, Jason. I have your back. We can outbro these two any day."

"I don't know about that, bro," Thalia said as she stuck her tongue out. She took a sip of her Coke. "Piper and I can totally outbro the two of you."

"Please stop saying outbro," Jason said as he downed his shot. "It doesn't suit either of you."

"You're all a bunch of nerds," Annabeth said.

"Coming from Queen Nerd herself," Piper said with a wince. Annabeth hit her arm. Piper winced again with actual pain this time. They ordered another round of shots. "Has your dad texted or called?"

"No," Annabeth replied. She bit her lip. "Which worries me a little bit."

"I mean, all the homophobic members of your family are skeletons. They probably don't even know what the internet is, let alone social media," Piper stated.

"I hope," Annabeth said. She took a deep breath. "This is going to be okay, right? I didn't just make a huge mistake."

"No!"

"Never."

"Not in a million years."

"What they said," Thalia added as she leaned forward and met Annabeth's eyes. "If anything, a lot of young, nerdy girls who look up to you might see a bit of themselves in you. You're just going to inspire them."

Annabeth shrugged and took another shot. Thalia looked at the bartender and smirked, "Keep them coming. I don't want these guys to remember their names, and can we get some food?"

"I am going to drink until you become as hot as your sister," Piper told Jason.

"Ew!"

"Like he could be that hot."

Annabeth shook her head at the antics of her friends. Her hand started to drift to her phone, but she stopped. No. She was going to have fun with her friends and not obsess about this. Thalia seemed to read her mind. She moved around the bar to sit by Annabeth.

"You going to be good?" Thalia questioned.

"I'm going to try," Annabeth said. She leaned on Thalia. "Thanks for being here. All of you."

"I wouldn't miss being in Rome for anything," Jason said. Piper elbowed him. "And supporting Annabeth of course."

"Do you know the best thing about being in a foreign country?" Thalia asked. Without waiting for an answer, her hand went to Annabeth's thigh. Then started to desperately try to reach into her pocket. Annabeth jumped.

"Hey!" Annabeth protested. "What are you doing?!"

"I didn't think your pants would be so tight," Thalia began. Annabeth slapped her hand hard. "OW!"

"Why are you trying to get into my pants?!"

"Okay. Ew. First, I was just trying to get into your pocket, so I could grab your phone. It was going to be a good line. Second, you're like a little sister to me. I would not get into your pants. That's just gross," Thalia said.

"You could have just asked," Annabeth said exasperated. Thalia shrugged. Annabeth pulled out her phone, not sure if she was going to regret it or not. Thalia took it and held it up.

"Do you know the best thing about a foreign country?" Thalia repeated. Annabeth shrugged. Thalia grinned. "There is a whole ocean between you and any problems back home. This phone is the only thing that they can contact you with, and the silent setting exists."

"So turn off my phone?"

"I told you you're smart."

"I believe you won't stop calling me a nerd."

"Because you are one."

"The queen of nerds," Piper added. She leaned forward and tapped Annabeth's glass. "Drink bitch!"

"Get drunk," Thalia ordered. "You have a night of fun. I'll be able to wrangle in all you drunken children."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. Her friends were psychopaths and knew how to push her buttons. They were so annoying as well. But, she would never ask for any other friends.

Thalia was never going to wrangle in the children again. After the four others had their fill of alcohol, Thalia could not look at any more soda, so she called it for the day. It was easy enough to get the four of them to the car.

Leaving the parking lot was another story.

Percy and Piper started bickering about where they wanted to go to eat. Very loud, drunken bickering. Even though they already ate at the bar. And they didn't stop until Thalia promised to get them food after she dropped them off at the hotel. Anything to get them to shut up.

Annabeth and Jason were just spouting out nerd facts the whole time, and Annabeth even tried to summon a demon or some shit as she was speaking Latin in the car. Worse, Jason responded to it!

Thalia was close to strangling all of them by the time she got to the hotel room. Thankfully, Percy and Piper convinced themselves to race each other to their rooms, though somehow Thalia got pinned as the one who brought up the idea.

As the two idiots rushed off to their rooms, tripping and stumbling over each other, Thalia tried not to smile. Piper was going to be her sister sooner or later, and Percy was like a pseudo brother. Not that she would ever tell him that.

Thalia helped Jason to his room and made sure the other two had made it. After shoving Jason onto his bed, she headed back out to get Annabeth. Her best friend was currently passed out in the backseat and snoring. Thalia smiled slightly as she picked Annabeth up.

"I'm glad that you let loose," Thalia said as she walked into the hotel. It was late enough that no one stared, but she made sure to quicken her pace through the hallways. No one stopped her or gave her an odd look. She let out a breath as she made it to Annabeth's room. The knob was turned, and she pushed the door in.

Only for it to be locked.

Right.

Thalia awkwardly shifted Annabeth in her arms to try and feel in her pockets. Annabeth shifted in her grasp, making it even harder. A sigh left Thalia, and she closed her eyes. It took a moment to mentally prepare herself.

Thalia opened her eyes and knocked on the door. It opened a few moments later, and Thalia found herself face to face with her ex girlfriend. Reyna stared at her for a moment before glancing down. She stepped to the side.

"Um, hey," Thalia began as she walked into the hotel room. Her eyes shot to the two beds. One was spotless, and the other was covered in a notebook and crumpled paper. Thalia laid Annabeth on the empty one and started to pull her shoes off. "They had a lot of fun, so if you can make sure she doesn't vomit in her sleep..."

"Yeah," Reyna muttered. Thalia gently tugged the blanket out from underneath Annabeth and laid it over her. She stood and sighed. "Did you drive them all back?"

"Yeah. I didn't drink," Thalia said a little quicker than she meant to. She looked at Reyna, who quickly looked away.

"So, um. Are you doing okay?" Reyna questioned. She slowly met Thalia's eyes.

"I'm doing better," Thalia answered for a moment. "Thanks. Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm cool," Reyna replied. Thalia motioned to the papers. "Oh... yeah. That's just, uh, the speech. For Lupa. I'm supposed to submit a final draft to the speechwriter the league connected me with, but..."

Reyna trailed off and shrugged. She cleared her throat, "I should go to bed."

"Yeah. I should wind down. Thanks for keeping an eye on her," Thalia said as she took a step back. Reyna nodded. "Have a good night."

"You too," Reyna whispered. Thalia left the room. She closed the door behind her and sighed deeply. That wasn't as awkward as it could have been, and she was grateful for it. Her gaze moved back to the door, but she quickly turned away. Nothing would happen between the two this trip. It would make things too awkward, more than they were now. She didn't need that stress in her life.

Then again, they were in Rome...

Thalia turned back to the door. Maybe, she would just have to see what happened.