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“Why did I sign up for this?” Annabeth muttered furiously as camp fluttered around her.
Piper shot her a huge smile. “Because you’re kind and amazing and my best friend? And also if you didn’t agree, I would have just charm spoke you into it?”
“Ah, yes, extortion, tactic of the brave.”
Piper snorted, but her hands didn’t slow as they wove a complex pattern into Annabeth’s long hair. Annabeth had always loved having her hair done, and Pipers hands were absolute magic, flawlessly braiding, parting and oiling until there wasn’t so much as a strand out of place or a messy edge.
At the moment, Piper was adding in fake blond hair to offset her long, iridescent dress and the silvery makeup on her face. After a few minutes of finishing touches, Piper held a hand mirror in front of Annabeth's face.
“Oh my gods. Pipes… I look…. How did you-“
Piper smirked, “Yeah, well, bring the daughter of the beauty goddess has its perks. Now get outside, you’ll miss your call time!”
Annabeth couldn’t help but stay for one second longer, staring at her transformed face. Her hair had been sectioned back in its usual tight braids, but they ended in carefully wound Bantu knots. The majority of her hair flowed loosely behind her head in a brown and gold halo. The fake blond hair offset the silver powder shimmering in her face, and the warm brown blush Piper had applied. Annabeth had never cared overly much about appearances, but in this moment, she wished she could always look like this.
As she walked outside, she was struck by how different the camp looked. The Demeter kids had charmed the grass to and even color and length, the footpaths had been lined with flowers and the trees neatly shaped. In the center of it all, down the U where the Big 12 Cabins were, was the long wooden runway.
Ugh. All of Annabeth’s confidence seems to leave her as she stared at the stupid thing and the campers lingering around it. It was so stupid. She’d faced down monsters, stabbed her best friend, even aced calculus, but a fashion show had her floored.
Piper needs me to do this. The camp needs this money and the morale booth. I’ve got this. She chanted the words over and over again in her head, compiling a list of detailed reasons why she was doing this, smushing her doubts beneath an army of intellect.
As she lined up in the curtained off “backstage” area, the list kept her fairly calm. So did the sight of her friends around her, most looking as uncomfortable as she did. Hazel blushed in her glowing gown, imbued with Apollos magic, and Will and Nico picked gloomily at the embroidered cuffs on their shirts. But as they disappeared one by one, Annabeth felt her anxiety rising. Why did she do this? She couldn’t, she couldn’t, she’d fall, she’d cry, everyone would laugh….
Her breath was speeding up rapidly, and she could feel her hair springing out of the knots as she ran her fingers through it, trying to calm down. She had two minutes, oh gods. Her chest was tightening, her whole body felt sweaty. She needed to sit down. She needed water. She needed to get out of this damn enclosure.
Just as she turned to leave, she heard a rustling behind her, and spun to see who had interrupted her. “Percy? W-w-why are you here?”
He smirked at her, green eyes dancing with amusement.
“Well, what sort of boyfriend would I be if I left my amazing girlfriend to walk a fashion show alone? After all, no one has to stare at you if they’re looking at this!”
With that, he whipped off his oversized jacket, revealing a dress cut of the same silvery material. His shoulders had some sort of scarf draped along them, and the sleeveless design highlighted his toned arms and perfect figure. For a moment, all Annabeth’s stupid brain could think about was how good he looked. He was even wearing low heels. Both the dress and heels must have been custom made, because they didn’t look ill fitting or tight at all. Instead, well, he looked shockingly masculine, but also beautiful.
All the thoughts left her head as he leaned in to hug her, pulling her tightly into his chest. “Hey, Wise Girl, take a breath, okay? I’m right here, I’ll be here the whole time. If you can’t walk, no problem! More of me for the audience to see. But chews the with me, okay? In 2, 3, out 2, 3… good. Now again. Again”
She let out a little half sigh of delirious relief as her breathing regulated before whispering into his shirt, “I’m fine. But you gotta get up there with me right now, or else you won’t be able to pry these shoes out of the dirt.”
He smiled and her heart skipped a beat as he escorted her up the stairs just as Leo’s voice boomed out, saying “And our last models are Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase, wearing custom Lacey gowns. Let’s hear it for our favorite couple!”
As they stepped out into the light, she whispered, “I’m so scared.”
Percy grabbed Annabeth’s hand before she even finished speaking and squeezed it once. She looked up at him, completely ignoring the applause and laughter of the crowd as she stared into Percy’s eyes, using them as her focal point, the only thing keeping her centered. When they reached the end of the runway, they shared a long, lingering kiss.
Annabeth whispered into his ear, “Maybe you should wear that dress tonight. I got a feeling it’s going to be a very special evening.”