Annabeth found a surprise when she walked into the kitchen. For one, someone was doing the dishes. It would have been odd if it was Thalia, especially at this time in the morning. It was downright strange that it was Zoë. Annabeth didn't even remember the woman stopping by the night before. Then again, Thalia hadn't come home either.

"Zoë," Annabeth greeted in a quiet voice, so she wouldn't startle the woman. Zoë turned to look at her.

"Annabeth," Zoë returned. She turned off the sink and turned towards her. "I hope I didn't wake or scare you."

"You didn't," Annabeth replied. "More confused. Why are you doing the dishes exactly?"

"Thalia and I used a lot of dishes last night," Zoë explained. "And ate all your ice cream. Thalia and Reyna broke up."

"Oh," Annabeth said after a few moments. She leaned on the counter of her kitchen. "Do you know why?"

"I assume that Thalia told her about what happened between the two of us," Zoë guessed. Her voice was emotionless, and her face was carefully neutral. Her words were said in the same cadence and tone, not telling Annabeth if the woman felt guilty. Or happy.

"Thalia didn't take the breakup well," Annabeth guessed. Zoë shook her head. "Do you know what happened?"

"Not everything," Zoë replied. "Just that a lot of words were said. Thalia wouldn't tell me everything."

Annabeth nodded and pointed behind her, "Is she in her bedroom?"

Zoë nodded. Annabeth turned away and took a step forward. Then, she looked back, "You don't have to do the dishes. Not that I don't appreciate it."

"I can finish," Zoë offered. Annabeth hesitated. Then, she thought about it. Why not? She wouldn't have to do the dishes when she got home, and she knew that Thalia would be too busy moping to do anything.

"Thanks," Annabeth decided. She turned and walked back through the house and towards the room that Thalia was staying in. Annabeth peeked into the room but didn't open the door all the way. Thalia was curled up in the bed and had her blanket pulled close to her chest.

Thalia looked peaceful and relaxed, so Annabeth wasn't going to wake her up. Especially since Thalia had probably just woken up. Annabeth closed the door as gently as she could and walked back towards the kitchen. Instead of making breakfast or a smoothie, she grabbed her gym bag, said a quick goodbye to Zoë, and left her house.

A frown marked Annabeth's face on the way to her car. She wanted Thalia to tell Reyna the truth, and she knew it was going to end this way. All she wanted was for it not to be messy, but how could that even happen? Reyna had a temper, and Annabeth had no doubt it was ignited when she heard that Thalia cheated on her.

It was not going to be a fun day at the gym. Annabeth would just have to do everything in her power to not talk to Reyna. Or look at her. Hell, she should probably just avoid being on the same floor as her.

Annabeth made it to her car and tossed her bag in the back. She got in the car and started it. After giving her car some time to warm up and giving herself enough time to worry about what would happen at the gym, she started driving.

Annabeth stopped by and grabbed two breakfast sandwiches and enough doughnuts for everyone at the gym. She also ordered herself a frozen coffee, since she couldn't have her smoothie. As she got closer and closer to the gym, her nerves became more and more frayed.

Part of her expected Reyna to just be waiting in the parking lot. Another part of her knew that Reyna would be glaring at her the whole time. And when she went to grab a doughnut? She would probably eat it aggressively as if sending some kind of message.

Annabeth did not expect Reyna's car to not be there. Surprise sparked her face as she pulled into the gym and saw that everyone was already there. Except for Reyna. Annabeth parked in her normal space and slowly got out.

Annabeth grabbed the doughnuts and her sandwiches. She made her way inside. The first thing she did was offer up a doughnut to Mellie, who happily took one. Then, she took her doughnuts up to the breakroom. To her surprise, Lupa was standing at the fridge. It was open, and she was staring inside.

"Something wrong?" Annabeth asked as she placed the doughnuts down. Lupa turned towards her.

"No. Just seeing what we need to buy," Lupa answered after a moment. Annabeth glanced inside the bridge and saw that it was completely full. Lupa's gaze moved back towards the fridge, and a sigh left her. She closed it.

"I brought doughnuts," Annabeth offered.

"Thank you," Lupa said. "Did you see Reyna's car in the parking lot?"

"No," Annabeth replied. She looked away and sat down. Annabeth opened one of her sandwiches and took a bite.

"I don't think she'll be here today," Lupa muttered. A sigh left her. "It's my fault."

"I'm not sure about that," Annabeth began. Lupa shook her head.

"It is," Lupa insisted. "I yelled at her yesterday and said some things that I shouldn't have."

"Well, she also broke up with Thalia," Annabeth added. Lupa looked at her in surprise. "I don't know all the details. Just that it wasn't pretty. Thalia spent all night crying."

Footsteps caused Annabeth to turn. She half expected, maybe even hoped, to see Reyna at the door. Instead, Nico stepped in and looked at them, "Morning. Oh, doughnuts. Sweet."

"Hey, Nico," Annabeth greeted.

"Morning, Annabeth. Lupa. How are you two?" Nico asked as he grabbed a doughnut. He wasn't acting any differently.

"Did, um, Reyna tell you about what happened between her and Thalia?" Annabeth asked. Nico looked at her and nodded stiffly. "What did she tell you?"

"Everything," Nico revealed. He shook his head and looked down. "How long did you know, Annabeth?"

"Too long," Annabeth admitted. "It was tearing me apart. I wanted to tell Reyna, and I should have. I'm sorry that I didn't. I just felt like it should have come from Thalia."

"That's what I thought," Nico said with a sigh. "I'm not mad at you, I get it. I do want to punch Thalia, though. How could she cheat on Reyna?"

Annabeth remained silent. Nico sighed once again and bit into the doughnut, "I guess Thalia told you about Reyna only dating her to get back at Jason."

"Really?" Annabeth asked in surprise. Nico looked at her. "Thalia was asleep. I didn't hear anything about the argument."

"Oh," Nico began. He rubbed the back of his neck. "It wasn't a pretty fight. They both called each other a lot of names, and Reyna told Thalia that to hurt her. She said that she started dating Thalia to hurt Jason, but she fell for her along the way. I believe her too, but I guess it doesn't matter."

"That's a screwed up thing to do," Annabeth commented as she jumped to her friend's defense. Nico nodded his agreement and remained silent. Annabeth forced herself to relax and cool down. Both Reyna and Thalia were wrong in what they did.

"If Reyna takes it out on you, let me know," Nico said as he looked at Annabeth. "It's not your fault, and she shouldn't act like it is."

"I'll let you know," Annabeth promised. She finished her sandwich and moved on to the second one. Nico ate his doughnut in silence. Lupa watched them quietly and looked like she was grappling with her own thoughts.

"Thalia also brought up Reyna's mother," Nico said quietly. He looked unsure on if he should have said that or not. Annabeth looked at Nico.

"That's not good," Annabeth stated.

"Yeah. It was a stupid comment. Something like 'Reyna's mom abandoned her because she knew what a disappointment she would turn out to be'. I could tell that bothered Reyna. Everyone knows how sore of a subject that is," Nico muttered.

Annabeth nodded her agreement. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a look of guilt pass through Lupa's eyes. It disappeared just as quickly as it came. Nico cleared his throat and spoke, "I probably shouldn't say this, but..."

Nico trailed off and fell silent. He looked down at the ground. Annabeth frowned and spoke, "What is it?"

"Thalia slapped Reyna," Nico whispered. Annabeth stared at him. Thalia wasn't a violent person, but she could have a temper on her. She wouldn't just slap Reyna, though.

"Is Reyna okay?" Annabeth questioned.

"She said her headache came back, and there's a small bruise there. I guess Thalia's slap was palm first," Nico explained. He scowled. "I'm not sure what was said to prompt the slap. Reyna told me most of what happened, but she never recounted before the slap. She just said that Thalia slapped her."

"I don't know what to do," Nico admitted softly.

"Would you like today off to be with Reyna?" Lupa offered.

"No. Reyna said she wanted to be alone," Nico declined. He looked at Lupa and smiled slightly. "Though, she did call Octavian saying she was sick and wouldn't be able to come in, so if anyone asks, she is sick."

Lupa smiled slightly and nodded. Annabeth focused back on her sandwich. She was worried about the aftermath of Reyna and Thalia breaking up. Now, that aftermath was here. A small sigh left her. Something told her the next week was going to be rough.