I took a deep breath. Today was the first day of school I've had in nearly two weeks. It was Thursday. Since I had been absent from work for so long, the manager fired me. Not that I cared; I didn't really need an escape anymore. Anyway, I was discharged from the hospital late last night and managed to convince my mom to let me go to school. I still had to give my song to my music teacher after all.

Unfortunately, each class I entered added to my confusion. I had no idea what anything we were learning was about, and I knew right then, I needed Annabeth to tutor me. I sighed. Today had been strange. I didn't see Annabeth at the library, so I assumed that she had grown out of the habit. It had been a while since I'd been to school.

Luckily I didn't need to distance myself anymore. Gabe and the debt collectors were in prison, and I was glad to know that no one I knew was in danger.

Turns out that officer Charlie and Ryan were supposed to watch me for the next few weeks to make sure nothing happened to me while Gabe and the collectors were in prison. However, they apologized when I got hurt during the capturing phase. I was just glad it was all over.

The doctor had told me not to overexert my arms, but I had to play in the competition tomorrow. The past few days, I had poured over the music I had my mom print for me and memorized every note. I had played the song over and over in my head, making it stick like glue.

As I walked out of PE, I ran to music class to sign up before meeting Annabeth and Rachel at the library. I quickly ran in and gave my teacher a small note that told her Ky's song. I placed it on her desk before running out.

I jogged over to the library, grabbing my notebooks since I was going to ask for assistance with my make-up work. But when I got there, the two girls I was excited to see weren't there. I felt a bit disappointed and let-down. Ok, maybe a lot disappointed until my phone buzzed.

Annabeth: Oi! Look at the couch!

Confused, I walked over to the couch and saw a small post-it note. Why couldn't she just text me? I looked over the note.

Go to the place we met.

If this was from Annabeth, that would be math class. Still confused, I walked there and saw a bright pink one on the floor where Annabeth woke me up.

Go to the place where you eat lunch.

I immediately felt my ears redden. I didn't think Annabeth knew about me staying in the janitor's closet during lunch. I laughed uneasily as I walked over to the janitor closet in front of my French class. I slipped inside and saw a lime green post-it on the back wall. Grabbing it, I skimmed the words.

Where you got over your fear of playing in front of people

I thought to myself. I played in the music room or the auditorium. But I never really played in front of people to get over my fear or apprehension. Then it clicked; Annabeth's house. I would play in front of her friend group there. I figured I probably wouldn't get any studying done, so I put my notebooks into my locker and walked out of the school.

I crossed a few streets as I walked to Annabeth's house. Why did she have me go on this elaborate sticky note scavenger hunt when she could've just texted me? I sighed. I'll never understand girls' way of thinking.

Knowing that stairs and my feet had a feud going on, I gripped the handrail and stepped slowly up the stairs. No room for error as I concentrated on not hitting my head on the floor. Thankfully I made it up the stairs without incident and knocked on the door.

Annabeth quickly stepped out, closing the door behind her.

"Alright, Rusticitas, you ready?" she asked. She was biting her lip, excitement dancing in her eyes as her eyes flickered from me to the door. I looked at her, confused, and she just sighed.

"Oh, it doesn't matter! Bend down a bit, let me tie this around your head" I bent down as Annabeth tied a bandana tight around my eyes. I felt a bit of excitement and anticipation fill me as I wondered what was going to happen.

Then Annabeth grabbed my hand, sending sparks through my body. I could almost feel her smile as she turned the doorknob and pulled me softly in. Unfortunately, my luck ran out, and I tripped over my own feet and landed on my face.

Annabeth had wisely let my hand go, so I didn't bring both of us down and helped me up. Groaning, she fixed my blindfold and grabbed my hand again.

"Come on, Rusticitas, try not to fall again" I tripped on the doorframe, but I caught myself before I could fall. Then I was led through Annabeth's house. Something smelled really good, and I couldn't place what it was. I racked my brain, thinking, what was that smell?

Then unexpectedly, we stopped, and I almost fell again. I heard Annabeth giggle a bit, and then she let go of my hand. I almost reached out for her but stopped; I wasn't sure what to do.

"Ok, Rusticitas, you can take off the blindfold" thankfully, Annabeth spoke up; it was starting to get uncomfortable. Then I slipped the bandana off my eyes over my head and blinked as the brightness invaded my eyes.

Then a loud sound made me stumble back. "Surprise!"

Of course, stumbling back made my feet hit the back of the couch I didn't know was there and fell backward. Flipping ungracefully over the top of the sofa and smacking my head on the ground as I failed to top my untimely decent.

I heard smothered laughter, snorts, and a few giggles as I groaned. With my feet in the air, I tried to right myself, swinging them down to my head level on the floor. Then sitting up, I rubbed my head, standing up.

I blinked as I looked around, surprised. I almost fell onto the coffee table, but luckily I managed to avoid more brain damage.

Leo, Calypso, Jason, Piper, Rachel, Mom, Nico, Will, Thalia, Reyna, and Annabeth were in what I assumed was Annabeth's living room. Then I recognized the smell, blue cookies. Quickly I rushed to the table behind Jason and Will. Spotting the enormous pile of blue cookies, I quickly grabbed a few handfuls and stepped away.

"Oh, um, thanks?" it came out as a question. I wasn't sure what to say after someone says surprise! And literally, everyone you know is in the room. A few chuckled and sniggered, but they all dispersed into their little groups talking.

Annabeth walked up to me as I stuffed my face with my mom's cookies. " We decided to throw you a surprise party. In honor of your discharge from the hospital, your success in failing to be kidnapped, and good luck for your competition tomorrow," she grinned at me while whispering the last part, and I nodded to her. Then unexpectedly, she hugged me. I was filled with warmth, and honestly, I loved her hugs; they were always soft and warm. Supportive like my mom's but intimate enough to be different. I closed my eyes and tried my best to hug her back without getting blue crumbs all over her.

I swallowed the cookie as Annabeth pulled away. "Thank you," she smiled up at me and walked off towards the table covered in cookies and sandwiches.

I sat down on the couch and ate another cookie, staring off into space. That is until Rachel plopped herself down next to me and stole one from my stash. Growling playfully, I tried to snatch it back. But she managed to stuff the whole thing in her mouth. Sighing, I ate another cookie, but this time I moved my stash to the other side of me to keep them safe.

"So when are you going to tell her?" Rachel started after swallowing my cookie. I looked at her confused, tilting my head to the side as I took a bite of a cookie.

"Wait, you don't know? Oh man, you're a dork. Seriously?" I just looked at her. "You're not kidding with me? Holy shit!" she threw her hands up, yelling the last sentence. "You and I are going to need to have a heart to heart, you oblivious fuck" she whispered to me. Then handing me a small paper, she stealthily stole another one from my stash as I looked at the paper, confused. It was her phone number.

"Text me so I can tell you the plan, ok?" I nodded slowly and added her contact to my phone. Then I texted her a quick hi, to get my number on her phone. She fist-pumped the air, and she grinned mischievously at her phone. I suddenly got a bad feeling about this. She jumped up quickly and vaulted over the couch, leaving me there confused. What did she mean earlier? I shook my head. I don't think I want to know.

The party lasted a few hours. We watched a few movies. I got to watch both Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, but I had to compromise with a horror movie, which I didn't watch much of. Instead, I stood by the cookies and stuffed my face while appearing completely busy with eating. Mom had gone home in the middle of the first movie, Finding Nemo. She told me to be back before 10 pm so I would be well rested for my competition.

Around the time the third movie finished, both Will and Nico had left. I started packing up too, it was nearing my given curfew, and I had to get home. Annabeth came walking up to me as I stuffed my hands with blue cookies.

"Hey, want me to drive you home?" I froze my cookie grabbing and turned to look at her.

"Actually, that would be great. I would want to be cookie-mugged" I grinned goofily at her as she rolled her eyes.

"I'll go get the keys; just head out. Try not to break any furniture or your face on the way out," she added as she walked out of the living room. I waved goodbye to the teenagers searching for another movie to watch and walked out of Annabeth's house. My feet were luckily behaving, I stubbed my toe a few times and let out a few minor curses, but all was well.

That is until I met the final boss.

The fucking stairs.

I growled a warning at the pieces of wood and gripped the handrail, moving my cookie stash to my other arm. But then I thought better and stuffed them in my hoodie pocket. More balance this way. I carefully and dutifully stepped down the stairs. When I got to the bottom, I whooped in happiness and accomplishment.

Though my achievement was thrown to the wind as Annabeth hopped down the steps two at a time without the handrail. I felt like an old lady.

I sulked a bit, walking to the car as Annabeth unlocked it and let me in. I sorrowfully took out a cookie and ate it while putting on my seatbelt.

"What's up with you?"

"I managed to walk down your murderous stairs without falling on my face."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Yea, I was feeling great until you hopped down the stairs. Then I realized I must've looked like a grandma holding on for dear life, so I didn't have to call LifeSupport to get back up again after I fell," I huffed and ate another cookie. Annabeth just laughed at me as she drove out of her driveway. The car was quiet for a few minutes.

"So, um, I heard you singing with your mom in the hospital," she said bluntly and quietly. My cheeks immediately flushed bright red, and I looked out the window.

"Your voice is really good. I think you could nail first if you sing tomorrow. Of course, I'm positive you would get first without your voice. I'm not saying your guitar playing is bad. I'm just saying you would be the undisputed winner if you sang" Annabeth started rambling, but I only really heard the first part. Annabeth thought my singing was good. My stomach did flips as I smiled softly.

"-so I just thought that maybe it would be a good idea?" she finished, and I looked at her. She looked embarrassed as she bit her lip. I chuckled a bit at her rambling, and her cheeks flushed a bit. Then I grew serious.

"I don't know, Annabeth, I've never sung in front of anyone but my mom before. Even then, I let her take over the melody and act as a second voice. I'm not as confident in my voice as I am with my instruments" I rubbed my neck as I saw us pull onto my street.

"Well, I think that you're terrific and should take advantage of that fact! Think about it, you weren't too sure of your instrument skills either, but here you are in the top seven in music class! Plus, no one would know it was you. You're still under as Caesitas, so no one would know it was you singing. But regardless if you choose to sing or not, you've got this in the bag," Annabeth finished as she pulled into my driveway behind my mom's jeep. I looked at her and saw the sincerity in her eyes. I sighed.

"I'll think about it," her face broke out into a grin, and I got out, waving to her as I walked into my house. Mom was sitting on the couch, waiting for me. I smiled as I walked into the living room, plopping down next to her.

"Hey Blue, how was it?"

"It was fun, thanks."

"No problem, dear. Well, you've got a big day tomorrow. You should probably head to bed."

"Ok, mom, love you" I hugged her as she kissed my forehead.

"Night, Blue, see you tomorrow."

With that, I walked into my bedroom and pulled out my phone to see a few new messages.

Rachel: Hey Percy!

Rachel: Ok our heart to heart has to be tomorrow. Meet me at the library with Annabeth.

Rachel: Be there! No running away!

I wondered what Rachel wanted to talk about. It was probably something big if she wanted to say it before the competition. I sighed as I plugged my phone into the charger and cuddled into my blankets, getting a good nights' sleep in my bed for the first time in forever.