2: Campers and friends lighten up my party

2: Campers and friends lighten up my party

As it was, I didn't get to finish my homework.

I was too busy trying not to make my room look like a total pig sty. I know, I know. But I did want to show my friends (and Paul) a decent looking house at least. I helped my mom around the house, setting the table, cleaning mirrors, stuff like that. After all that, I sat on the couch, munching on some pizza… yeah, I stole some before the party. What can I say? I'm a growing boy. Besides, it was my mom's idea to have my birthday party earlier so I wouldn't have to wait in anticipation. I figured that I wouldn't really be in the mood to celebrate it anyway when the time came. Better to celebrate it earlier on and make it a lasting memory. Anyway, after about a quarter of an hour, I heard a knock on the door. Grinning broadly, I went over and opened the door to be tackled by Tyson, my half brother.

"Woa! Tyson, good to see you too… uh, can you let me go now?" I managed to gasp.

"Oh… sorry," said Tyson, releasing me from his crushing grip.

It was only then I realized there was another person behind him: Paul Blofis.

He smiled at me, a hand in his pocket and he stretched out a hand to me. I shook it, smiling back.

"Hello Percy. Happy birthday and congratulations on turning sixteen!" he said heartily.

I winced inwardly. It was another reminder of the deadly prophecy. I forced myself to grin at him.

"Thanks…" then I remembered my manners. "Oh, yeah, please. Come in."

Paul chuckled and entered with Tyson, who went bonkers when he saw the food. Fortunately my mom stopped him from touching any. Not long after their arrival, there was another knock on the door and I opened it again to reveal Annabeth. I swallowed.

She grinned, her honey blonde hair let down in curls. A little more tanned than before, but still Annabeth. For a moment, I was struck dumb. Then I found my voice.

"Hey Annabeth, long time no see."

"Ditto. How've you been?" she asked, stepping inside.

"Oh, just fine. I've only been attacked by like, a hundred monsters every month?"

Her smile slipped slightly. "You too?"

"Yeah… hey listen-"I started, but what I was about to say was drowned out by Tyson's shouting. We turned to see Tyson charging towards us… to throw his arms around Annabeth.

"Oof!" Annabeth said, her voice muffled.

When Tyson let go, it took a while for Annabeth to catch her breath. I smirked a little. She rolled her eyes at me, but even she couldn't resist smiling. "Hi to you too Tyson. Just… next time, try not to hug me so hard."

"Okay. But I was so glad to see Annabeth!" He clapped his hands excitedly. "Ooh, I wonder who is coming next! Let's have a guessing game Percy!"

"Um… okay then big guy."

"Yay!"

Annabeth turned to stifle a laugh. It was then that I noticed she was carrying a pretty big backpack.

"Uh, Annabeth, why are you carrying a backpack?"

She turned to raise an eyebrow at me. "What do you mean why? I'm staying at your place until we go back to camp, remember?"

"WHAT?!" I asked… and pretty loudly, if I do say so myself.

I couldn't speak and I couldn't believe it.

Annabeth waved a hand in front of my face. I snapped out of it and stared at her as if seeing her for the first time.

"My mom asked you to, didn't she?"

"Well, duh. Who else?"

I shook my head. Next time I am so going to have a word with mom before she does anything like this again, I thought to myself… if there was a next time.

For the next few minutes, Annabeth, Tyson, Paul, mom and I killed some time before Rachel and Grover came. We watched T.V, played playstation games, played chess, board games and… yes, pinochle. For just half an hour, it was actually pretty fun. Annabeth wasted me in chess and Monopoly but other than that, I enjoyed it. It was okay, I guess, since I then beat everybody in Need for Speed Underground 2. After a while Grover and Rachel came too, each holding a birthday present for me. Rachel seemed to have grown a little and Grover looked a little older.

"Hey G- Man," I said, hi- fiving him.

"Sorry I came late, Chiron needed me to do a favor for him," he said sheepishly.

"It's alright, as long as you're here," I reassured him.

Poor guy, was that why he was giving me a bigger present than usual?

I turned to Rachel and I was surprised to find myself sweating a little. Her green eyes sparkled and her frizzy red hair was clipped back. She beamed at me.

"Hi Percy… happy birthday," she said, handing me the present.

"Oh, thanks. And thanks for coming as well."

"No problem, I came late anyway. I should say sorry. I had to finish my art project," she shrugged in apology.

"Never mind, c'mon. Have some- "

BANG! I jumped violently. What the heck?

The door flung open to reveal the Stoll brothers.

"Hey yo what's up man?" said Travis.

I blinked. "Sorry?"

And before I knew what was going on, my apartment was crowded with various campers. Connor and Travis Stoll, Silena Beauregard, Charles Beckendorf, Nico, Malcolm and Davin from the Athena Cabin, Darryn Crutch, Eden Archer, the whole Aphrodite Cabin and even Clarisse came, along with Chris Rodriguez. I turned slowly towards my mom, my face displaying my expression of pure shock. What's going on here? Did you invite them? I mouthed at my mom. She winked at me. Oh my Gods. It was crazy. Now I had a pile of birthday presents so high that it might as well have been a Christmas tree. The stereo was turned on loudly and campers and friends were partying in my apartment. Even my mom had abandoned her duty as a hostess and began dancing with Paul (which was kind of embarrassing to watch but no one really seemed to care). Maybe it was just my imagination but Annabeth seemed to be on better terms with Rachel. Maybe it was because of the previous events. Quests always manage to draw people closer together. Then I smiled to myself as I thought of the first time I met Annabeth and how after a couple of quests, we'd grown closer. She used to dislike me. I helped myself to some pizza and after loosening up a little, went outside onto the fire escape to get some fresh air. When I stepped outside, I immediately felt better. It had grown dark and cold in contrast to the atmosphere inside. Then I remembered the baby moonlace I planted last year. I kneeled down next to it, studying it. It had grown quite a bit, and now a single flower had bloomed, pale red petals surrounding golden anthers. I probably had the stupidest grin on my face... and that was when Annabeth just had to come out.

"Percy? What are you-?" then she stopped, staring at the flower.

I stood up to meet her. "Oh, uh… it's… it was a present from a friend," I explained lamely.

She didn't say anything.

We stood there in awkward silence. Finally I couldn't take it.

"About the time on Mount St. Helens," we both said at the same time.

Embarrassed, we both looked away. I shuffled my feet.

Then Annabeth turned to lean on the rail.

"What are you going to do about your birthday presents?" she asked suddenly.

"What? Oh…" I said, a little taken aback by the sudden random question. "I guess I'll open them tomorrow…"

She turned to meet my eyes, her grey eyes boring into mine. I sensed that there was something behind that question, more like: What are you going to do about Kronos, the prophecy and Luke?

After we stared at each other for a few minutes (it was kind of weird), she turned to look at the crescent moon.

Without looking at me she said, "I made up with my family. You were right; they've gotten a little… cooler."

Then she turned to look at me again and we both burst out laughing. I don't know why we did, but we just did. At the time I had the sudden urge to tell her about the message from her mother, Athena. I wanted to tell her everything- how I was scared of facing the prophecy, how her mother didn't approve of our friendship, that I was glad she was staying at my place, that…

"Percy?"

We both whirled around to see Rachel standing there at the fire exit door. She looked a bit uncomfortable, like she was intruding on something. Then my face reddened as I understood the implications.

"Um… your mom wants you to start opening your presents."

"Oh… okay."

I glanced at Annabeth. She didn't meet my eyes.

"Let's go in."

I know that was kind of random but hey, I thought the characters deserved to chill out a bit. Not too cheesy I hope. And uh… please review, I would really appreciate it. The story will pick up the pace in a bit so hang on. )