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Hi again guys! I'm so relieved you enjoyed last chapter! Thank you for the reviews, the follows and the favorites, and for reading!

Shout outs: KARENKAPZ , daughterofwater22, Victoria-Hunter-Of-Artemis, dogbiscuit1967, GreyEyes217 , blackspirit325, jvu11501 , Godsandgoddessesofgreece , FandomsUnite98 , Wisegirl1480, everett2 , lita-herondale, Ally, Martha, gigglesandbooks, babyelove , livelaughloveandread , TheOddManOut, TinaDaughterOfPoseidon23 (By the way, thanks for reviewing every chapter at once, you're great!), Xxthe-time-thiefxX, Violet Mia 13.

Thank you too to my beta: Percabethlvrknowsall

Who Cares?

"In the window, honey"

-Percy Jackson

Chapter Eleven: Surprise Visit

"I think I'll look nice in this one," Katie said, shrugging as she stood in front of the mirror, with the green dress over her body, analyzing if she, in fact, looked good or not in that.

Annabeth moaned for the tenth time that hour. Looking at the girls trying on different dresses, heels and necklaces was a bit fatiguing, hearing them complain and squealing here and there. Annabeth leaned back against the wall and hugged her legs, sitting over Thalia's bed.

"That'll be perfect," Piper agreed, nodding. She already had her dress on, an up-her-knees, flattering shirred black bodice with sparkling monochrome embellishments at the waist, angelic peach tulle skirt with tonal liner for full coverage, and a rear zip closure. In her feet, she wore sleek court pink heels, that looked painfully high, but she walked around like she was born for this. In her finger, she had a golden ring with little pearls intricate. For the last touch, she put on little pink hearts on her ears, but her now wavy hair covered.

Annabeth looked at her amazed as she put on lip-gloss and eyeliner. She wished she was half of the pretty Piper was.

"I'm starting to hate you, McLean," Thalia complained as she walked out of the little dresser they had, now with her dress on.

Hers was more of her style, on Annabeth's opinion. It was a krisp contrast zip front chiffon asymmetric berry dress, long until her ankles in the back and until her knees in the front. Her feet were adorned with black slightly bleached-out leather lace-up booties with a wooden platform heel, making her taller. She held a dark red Saint Laurent pouch pocket, which seemed painfully expensive for Annabeth, but she guessed Thalia didn't have problems with money. Thalia's black hair was gently combed, letting her slight waves fell freely until her shoulders.

Piper laughed. "Why? You look sexy, Nico will fill a bucket with his drool when he sees you," Piper commented, a mocking tone dropping in her words.

Annabeth laughed when Thalia rolled her eyes and blushed. Then, the black haired girl fixed her blue eyes on her. "Why are you even here, Annabeth?"

"You would be a really bad person if you want me to see how Rachel and Drew dress up," Annabeth joked. Though, she thanked Piper for inviting her there.

"Still," Thalia said and sat down in her bed, next to Annabeth. "I don't get why Piper didn't drag you into this party too, like, what's the trick?"

Annabeth laughed again, shaking her head. "Because I'm awesome," she replied jokingly.

"Shut it," Thalia mumbled, before getting up again and walking towards Piper and start putting black eyeliner.

Annabeth smiled and put her chin over her knees, looking at her closet-to-be-friends. The room was the typical mess when girls prepared for parties; dresses where everywhere, shoes scattered all over the floor, the make-up –lipstick, lip-gloss, eyeliner, eyeshade, blush- was disordered in the bureau and the nervousness was impregnated in the air.

But Annabeth didn't regret turning down the invitation to the ball. Despite everything, she would like a peaceful night alone in her room –just her and her books. Only in one week a lot of stuff happened, and she felt the urge to rest. And then, next day, before she knew, she would be off to her house again, surrounded by her family and probably Grover, her only true best friend.

"So, what do you think?" Katie asked as she walked out, funnily posing like a super-model. Annabeth must admit Katie looked really good.

Her jade-green dress was simple, with floral-and-paisley-patterned net overlay that lied atop her sweetheart bodice. The sleeveless piece of clothe reached her knees in a sweet tulle that was made to fly in every spin and step she took. She had sky-high heel with sturdy hidden platform in her feet, and had a white pocket bag too. Her chocolate hair was tied up in a complicated bun, with some rebel locks framing her face.

Thalia whistled, laughing. "Hot,"

Piper nodded in agreement and smiled proudly. "Yep. You work that dress."

Katie smiled shyly. "Well, thanks to you for lending it to me," she said, and walked forward to hug Piper. Just then Annabeth remember Katie was like her: a Scholar.

"Consider it a gift," Piper winked. "It looks better on you than on me," Katie opened her eyes and surprise, but when she was about to reply, Piper raised a hand and silent her. "My mom has thousands. Take it."

Katie blinked a couple of times, totally shocked. Annabeth understood her, not every day someone gifted you an extremely fancy and expensive pretty dress. It was a miracle, in other words.

"Holy shit Piper!" Katie exclaimed. "You're so awesome! Thank you!" and she bear-hugged Piper once again.

"Guys, I think our boys are already waiting for us," Thalia sang cheerfully, checking the clock on the wall.

Katie snorted and crossed her arms. "Talk to yourself. I'm single," she complained, with a funny tone dropping of her voice. Annabeth chuckled, as well as the other two.

"You should get going," Annabeth interfered. "Have a happy time," she got up of the bed with a jump and smiled.

"Don't read too much," Piper yelled as Annabeth closed the door behind her.

Out of the room, Annabeth found more girls going towards the elevator to go down, avoiding the stairs due to the high heels they wore. Now she couldn't difference from Scholar and Richs, but she was glad that for one night, all of them were equal. Except of her, but it was her will and she didn't complain.

She spotted Kinzie, her redheaded classmate, wearing a grey dress and talking to another girl Annabeth didn't recognize. There was Clarisse too, a really tall classmate, tough she looked quite uncomfortable in her brown dress.

Further, Annabeth could see Gwen, and she gasped. Gwen was beautifully dressed with a blue gradient silk-blend pleated back dress and medium black heels, with a blue bracelet in her left wrist. Her hair was straightened and shiny. Her mouth was pale pink and her cheeks matching it. Gwen was breath-taking. Annabeth hoped she would have a good night.

Annabeth manoeuvred among the clothes, hairs and heels until she approached Gwen. She felt the need to talk to her that night. She didn't know why.

"Hi!," Annabeth greeted once she stood in front of her blonde friend.

"Hey," Gwen said back, hesitantly. She had grabbed the hem of her dressed and tangled it between her finger with perfect nails and a pretty silver ring. "Didn't expect you to be here,"

Annabeth shrugged, smiling. "Neither did I, but I was going to my room anyway," she waved it off with her hand, assuring it was okay. "I hope you have a good night,"

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Gwen asked. "I still…" her voice trailed as she saw Annabeth shaking her head, turning down her offer again.

"I'm okay." Annabeth said carelessly, crossing her arms and smiling shyly. "It's not the first time I don't go to a party,"

It was true, and they both knew it. Annabeth wasn't a party spirit, or a dancing one. She limited herself to assist to the ones she was forced to go and had no other option. But as long as she could avoid the awkward feeling of being alone in even a crowded room, then she would take every opportunity.

Gwen nodded slowly, as if she was assimilating the idea in her mind. "Fine," she finally spoke. "Don't get bored, being alone and all that,"

Annabeth clenched her jaw. Gwen's words weren't that bad, but something in her tone made Annabeth doubt. "Bye," she said, and walked away without waiting for her answer.

She made her way through the aisle until she arrived to her door. Opening it, she prayed her roommates had left already, but she wasn't so lucky. Rachel and Drew were actually making their way out.

Annabeth swallowed her pride and secretly admitted the both of them looked pretty good. Drew had an elegant one shoulder light blue dress with drop side hemline, with an elasticised waist seam. Her heels were baby blue, showing off her thumb foot finger. A silver bracelet adorned her wrist, and her hair fell down in perfect waves and curls at the end. Rachel, by the other hand, wore a sweet heart strapless electric blue dress with a circle skirt and a patent lazer cut belt. Her heels were a shade lighter, and she had pear-shaped brilliant diamond drop earrings. Her auburn hair was tied in a fish-braid over her shoulder.

Drew smiled mischievously at her. "Jeez honey, must I assume you hadn't changed your mind about going tonight?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. Beauty didn't cover her evil ways. "Luckily, not."

"It's a shame," Drew put on a false pity expression. "I would've liked to spend a night with you, dancing and watching boys,"

"Right," Annabeth murmured annoyed. She had a feeling of where this conversation would end.

"So, I'm guessing your… partner… feels bad for your absence." Drew said, awfully trying to hide a smile. Her black eyes were cheating and mocking, thinking she was embarrassing Annabeth.

"Oh, you have no idea," Annabeth replied, resisting the urge to roll her eyes again. She couldn't believe she got into it so easily. "He feels so bad,"

"You said it," Rachel commented. Annabeth realized it was the first time she spoke, and it didn't make her feel better at all. "I guess I'll have to cheer him up," Rachel grinned.

"Well, good luck with that," Annabeth smiled and shrugged innocently, counting to ten in an attempt to calm down and not judo-flip either of the girls. She was loosing it, and fast.

Drew giggled, checking the time in the phone she had in her little bag. "It was nice seeing you, Annie, but the boys are waiting for us," she said, and she and Rachel left, whispering and giggling.

Annabeth watched their back with an exasperated expression, mimicking as if she strangled them before closing the door behind her and entering her pink room. It was quite clean, counting the scenario. Still, the sweet vanilla scent was impregnated in the air.

The big LCD Drew's father got his daughter was over a little table, next to Drew's bed. It was turned off, but it was tempting and Annabeth wanted to watch TV, but she controlled herself and went to her own bed.

She hadn't put any personal stuff in her nightstand table, just a picture of her and her dad, from when she was five years. Things were so different then.

Sighing, Annabeth took off her clothes and changed into a oversized, drop shoulder, cream colour with a pink heart knit jumper and old faded grey shorts, and decided to stay barefoot. She tied her curls up in an extremely messy ponytail. It was nice to experience comfort after seeing all those dresses and high shoes.

She slowly took out her contact lenses and put them in the little black box she kept in her drawer, hidden from Rachel and Drew's eyes. She didn't want anyone to find out she used them, that she needed glasses. She'd already suffered too much bullying for it. She was tired of people making fun of her for having myopia. She grabbed her hidden glasses and put them on, a small, cute pair of glasses.

She threw herself over the bed and picked The Book Thief before starting to read.

"… If only she could be so oblivious again, to feel such love without thinking it, mistaking it for laughter and bread with only the scent of jam spread out on top of it…"

When she finished the book (consciously unconscious, because she knew she was reading too much, but she decided to ignore it and keep reading), it was already 2 a.m. She opened her eyes, surprised with herself, and put the book down, resisting the urge to re-read her favourite parts. She blinked a couple of times to suppress the tears.

Her cell-phone rang loudly, making her jump in fear. Putting a hand over her chest and taking deep breaths to calm down, she grabbed the phone and checked it: Percy. The damn Seaweed Brain was calling her at this hour.
Nonetheless, she picked up and put it near her ear.

"Hello?" she said, doing her best effort to put her upset in her words.

"Yo, Wise Girl," Percy said cheerfully in the other line. Maybe Rachel did her job, after all. "What'cha doing?"

"Trying to sleep," Annabeth rolled her orbs, even if he couldn't see her.

"Don't lie to me." Percy joked, making her frown. "You're still dressed up and doing nothing,"

"How-" Annabeth started to ask, but Percy cut her off.

"In the window, honey." He said mockingly. "Weird how you didn't notice me,"

Annabeth, against her will, looked at the window. In fact, Percy was there, smiling and waving at her like if it was the most common situation in the world. Annabeth frowned and slowly stood up, walking hesitantly towards him. She hung up and put the phone away, absently thinking how he ended up there, if the room was in the second floor. She doubted he was Spiderman.

"What the heck Percy?" She finally asked, putting her hands in her hips, giving him a disapproving gaze.

"Enchanted to see you too," Percy rolled his eyes. "Now, if you are a good person you'll open the window before I fall off the tree."

Annabeth shook her head, but let him in anyway. Percy slowly and carefully put his feet inside, and in seconds he was standing in front of her, dressed in a pale blue button shirt, dark jeans and old black sneakers. His usual salty scent filled Annabeth's lungs.

"What are you doing here?" Annabeth asked again, walking to her bed and sitting, unable to handle Percy's proximity any longer.

"Being a good friend and visiting you," he said, following her with his eyes, even if she didn't notice.

"I thought the ball ends in two hours or so," Annabeth commented, trying to sound casual, ignoring how her chest starting a race.

"Oh, it was dead boring, as I predicted," Percy shrugged, looking through the room. "Why is this room pink?"

"Rachel and Drew," Annabeth answered as she put her chin on her hand and raised her eyebrows at Percy, deciding the exact reason of his visit. Her mind denied to accept his excuse and reached for some deeper valid one.

"I always knew there was something wrong with them," he joked and chuckled. Putting his hands on his pockets, his eyes stopped looking around and fell on Annabeth. He cocked his head and a smirk slowly infiltrated in his lips.

"You look cute with glasses," he said. "I never saw you wearing them,"

Annabeth froze. But it only lasted a second before she took them off in a second, feeling humiliated for being caught with them. She had done so much effort for conceal them from the rest, and now the most unexpected person discovered her secret. She couldn't believe she forgot she had put the glasses on. How could she be so stupid?

"Shut up," she murmured with gritted teeth. She avoided his gaze, or him, actually.

Percy frowned and pursed his lips, wondering why she reacted like that. He hoped it wasn't his commentary. He just tried to be nice, but it seemed that it would've been better if he just shut his mouth.

He looked around once again, inquiring in his mind for something to talk about. Annabeth seemed so confused now, with her cheeks pink and her vacant stare. His eyes noticed the really big LCD near the pink bed, and he couldn't stop his amazed expression and his mouth dropping.

"What the fuck is that TV doing here?" he asked.

Annabeth snapped out of her quick 'daydream' and followed Percy's gaze. She couldn't help a smile breaking in her lips, and also felt relieved for the change of the subject in the conversation.

"Perks of having a rich roommate," she joked. Inside, she wondered why a rich boy like him was surprised of seeing a TV like that. She assumed he had tons of that in his house, or maybe, mansion.

He shifted his eyes to her again. "And why aren't you using it?" he shook his head, like it was unbelievable.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "It isn't mine," she pointed out. "And I have better things to do,"

"You, girl, are super weird," Percy said sarcastically, taking the remote of Drew's nightstand and twirling it in his fingers.

"What are you doing?" Annabeth inquired, narrowing her eyes gingerly at him.

"Please, when you have the opportunity of watching TV in this," he pointed at the large screen to make emphasis on his words, "You have to take it."

Before Annabeth could protest again, he turned it on and sat against Annabeth's bed, where her feet lied. His long legs were extended and his hands played uncontrollably with the remote as he switched channels, searching for something good enough to watch at two a.m. Annabeth shifted her gaze between his black hair and the screen, debating if to tell him to stop and leave or to play along and leave him do it. One of the most difficult decisions she ever had to make.

"Look!" Percy almost yelled after a moment, happiness and joyfulness slipping out of his words. "The Little Mermaid!"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. Surprisingly, she wasn't surprised by it, and that Percy put Disney Channel. "Jeez Percy, you're so mature,"

Percy waved it off with a hand movement. "Shut it Wise Girl, Ariel is about to see Eric for the first time!"

She rolled her eyes again, but stayed quiet in her bed, watching the movie with him, tough sometimes her eyes unconsciously lowered and she found herself staring at Percy's unruly hair, and the small sight she had from his face: the bottom of his nose, his cheekbone and his ear.

She hoped it wasn't a sing of something.

A/N= Sup, guys? Thank you for reading, I hope you liked it! Outfits are in my profile, like always.

If you have any ideas for the story or something, don't doubt to say it on your reviews or to PM me! I'm opened for everything!

Reviews are highly appreciated and loved :3

Love you infinitely,

HappyOwl