Disclaimer: Can't we just assume I don't own PJO?

Alrighty. Now, since this is the end to this story, Silena's Quest to Follow Her Mom's Job, I felt it was necessary to make somewhat of a speech here…

I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed for my story, because every time I get one it makes my day.

I'd especially like to thank a certain Honest101, who has been ever so kind to me since I started this story.

Catch the sarcasm?

Thanks again,

Cheergirl/Hannah

And now, onward with the story!

It was Friday, the night of the dance. I wasn't going, I had a hot date with a tub of ice cream and a romance novel.

So I thought.

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Later that night, everyone in my cabin was getting ready for the dance. The girls were all milling in or around the bathroom, the boys were chatting nervously with each other.

All was going well.

And what was the star of the story doing, you may ask? I was laying down in my bed, staring up at the ceiling when I heard the sliding sound of someone opening my drawers. I looked over.

It was Michelle, a girl who had come a summer after me. I had found her being dunked in the toilets by Clarisse, and I called Chiron over to help her. She then assumed that I was her best friend.

Michelle was digging through my drawers, pulling out random articles of clothing. A top here, a skirt there…

She eventually managed to pull together a full outfit and held it in her hands. She stared at me for a moment or two, our eyes locked. Then she dumped the clothes onto my lap.

"Get up and get ready," she snapped at me. "I'm not gonna let you waste your Friday night with a book, like some girl in the Athena cabin.

I stared at her. "I don't have a date," I said blankly.

"So what?"

"I'd be embarrassed."

"I'll be embarrassed with you."

"I'm not going."

"Yes, you are."

I thought about arguing with her, but I decided against it. I would just sit in the bathrooms all night, and sneak off when Michelle wasn't looking.

"Fine."

My friend smiled at me. "Good," she said.

She walked away and I picked up the clothes that had fallen from my lap to the floor. Walking over to the bathroom, I pushed some girls out of the way and banged on the door, demanding to get in.

I got screamed at by some crying girl, who apparently 'just can't find the right shade of eye shadow!' Now, yes, that was something to be upset about, but I needed to get changed!

"Go over to the Demeter cabin, ask them to use their bathroom!" someone said from within the crowd of girls.

"Not a bad idea…" I muttered.

I walked out the door of our cabin, and was met by incredible winds. I pulled my sweatshirt closer and ran over to the Demeter cabin. When I knocked on the door, and a small boy answered.

"Hi, can I use your bathroom? My cabin's hogging mine," I asked him sweetly.

The boy stared at me.

"Sure…" he said slowly.

"Thanks!"

I walked in.

The chattering crowd inside the cabin fell silent.

"Uhm… Hi," I said to them. "Uhm, can I use your bathroom, please?

A few people nodded.

As I walked over to their bathroom, I could feel whispers of 'She's the girl I was telling you about!' and 'Did you hear about her and Beckendorf?' following me around. I opened the bathroom door, walked in, and shut it. I changed fairly quickly, did my make-up, and opened the door again.

Not saying a word, I walked out of their cabin.

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A half hour later, I was at the dance with Michelle and a few other girls from our cabin. None of us were dancing, which was weird for us.

"C'mon, Silena, just 'cause you don't have a date doesn't mean you can't dance and have fun!" Michelle said cheerfully to me.

"I guess I'm just not in the spirit." I replied.

Michelle gave me an exasperated look, but brightened at something behind me.

"Hey, Charles!" she said, waving frantically.

"That's not funny," I said in a grumpy voice.

"It wasn't supposed to be," said a deep voice behind me.

I turned around.

There was my ex-date, Charles Beckendorf.

"Uhm… Charles… look, you really shouldn't be here… your dad--"

"I'm not worried," Charles said to me, "about my dad. Really. Just forget about him."

He took my waist as a slow song came on. We started to dance.

I was just starting to get into the dance when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

Beckendorf's eyes narrowed, and I turned my head.

"Percy."

He smiled at me. I could see Annabeth standing a few feet away, grinning and giving my the thumbs up sign.

Percy turned his gaze to Beckendorf.

"May I?" He asked him.

Beckendorf let go of me and nodded. Percy took my waste and I clasped my hands around his neck as a new song came on.

"I asked her to stay,

But she wouldn't listen.

She left before I had a chance to say,"

I guess Percy could tell that I was looking nervously at Annabeth, because he said quietly to me, "It's okay, she's cool with this."

I nodded.

"I'm sorry that I tried to interfere with you two."

"That's okay."

We were silent.

"Every night you cry yourself to sleep,

Thinking why did this happen to me?

Why does every moment have to be so hard?"

"But… you know… you and I… we really can't be together. But… I hope we can still be friends."

There it was. The dreaded, 'I hope we can still be friends,' line. But actually… I think I was okay with that.

I nodded. "Yeah, that's cool with me." I could feel my eyes welling up with tears.

Percy looked down. That was nice of him.

Annabeth came over and cleared her throat quietly. I let go of Percy's shoulders.

She looked as though she was about to say something to Percy, but then she turned to me and hugged me. Surprised, I returned the hug and smiled.

When she pulled away, she whispered in my ear, "Forget Hephaestus. I think Beckendorf really likes you."

I gave her a watery smile.

She turned to Percy and they started dancing, slowly revolving around the spot.

As they danced away from me, I stood in the middle of the dance floor with tears silently flooding my face. I sung along with some of the last bars of the song.

"It's not over tonight,

Just give me one more chance to make it right.

I may not make it through the night…

I won't go home without you,

I won't go home without you…"

I don't know what everyone else heard, but to me it sounded like a slow dance. Sad, but a little hopeful, too.

Dedicated to all the friends I made this previous year.