"So you're trying to tell me that you two walked home, talked for almost an hour, fell asleep in the same bed, and didn't even kiss?" Rachel exclaimed, smacking her hands on the lunch table.

I chuckled, rubbing the nape of my neck. "Believe what you want, Rache, but that's what happened."

I looked at Annabeth, on my right. She was happily eating her hastily prepared sandwich and had a slight tinge of red against her cheeks. I smiled softly when she looked back at me.

Rachel screeched. "Look at that chemistry! Do you see what I'm seeing, Caly?"

Calypso brushed her hair behind her ear and shrugged. "They would be pretty cute together, I admit."

I sighed dramatically. "She's joined the dark side, Annabeth."

Both Annabeth and Calypso laughed.

"I didn't get to say anything last night, Perce, but congratulations on winning all of those events, and getting the team captain position," Caly said.

I smiled. "Thanks. I'm still in shock."

"So, Spring Fling is in eight days, and guess who still doesn't have a date?" Grover groaned.

"G-Man, you said that you were asking Juniper," I said.

"I know, I know. I guess I chickened out."

"I'll help you out. Don't worry, I'm a pro at this point." I subtly winked at Annabeth, who laughed under her breath.

"Really? Great, I can help you too!" Grover offered.

"Actually, I'm all set in that department. Annabeth and I are going together."

Rachel threw her hands in the air. "I knew it! I totally called that, didn't I?"

I chuckled.

I noticed Calypso had gotten pretty quiet. I looked over at her and smiled.

"Has anyone asked you yet?"

She shook her head. "I don't really know anyone except for you four."

"Don't stress over it. We're all going to be hanging out together anyway."

Calypso smiled. "Yeah, that's true."

I hoped that I hadn't made things too awkward with her. I liked her a lot, and didn't want to lose our friendship.

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"Before you all run off to change, I would like to congratulate our new swim captain. Let's hear it for Goode High School's youngest ever captain, Percy Jackson."

An applause erupted in the gym. I smiled sheepishly. I wasn't expecting Coach Hedge to announce my new position like that.

I brushed my hand through my hair nervously and cleared my throat. "Thanks, guys. I hope to lead our swim team to several victories next season, and hopefully senior year as well."

"Get out of here, Cupcakes. See you tomorrow."

Everybody fled the gym, excited to be done with school for the day. I rushed into the locker room to change. Several of the guys congratulated me, and I thanked them humbly.

After changing, I met with Annabeth by the water fountain beside the gym. We decided that we were doing to shop for her dress and my tie to get it over with.

"Ready?" I asked, smiling slightly.

Annabeth sighed. "Ready as I'll ever be."

We left the school and walked to the nearest dress shop, which happened to be in the mall ten minutes from our school.

I savored the feeling of the warm breeze against my face. I loved the weather we had been having, wonderful for May.

"Have any ideas for what you want?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I want something short, but not too short. Probably a neutral color, too, like black, grey, or even beige."

I nodded. "That's kind of what I was picturing."

I breathed in the scent of fresh flowers as we passed a park. I smiled, watching a group of little kids squeal as they chased each other around the play equipment.

We eventually made it to the small store, Aphrodite's Boutique. I winced as my eyes adjusted to the bright lights. A short, young sales assistant rushed to us. 

"Hey there, my name's Drew. How can I help you two today?"

Annabeth didn't know what to say, so I told the girl, "Annabeth needs a dress for the Spring Fling. We were thinking something short, with a neutral color palette."

"Let me measure you first," Drew insisted, whipping out a tape measure.

"Alright."

Drew wrapped the tape measure around Annabeth, squeezing her around. I almost laughed at how uncomfortable my best friend seemed.

"I'd say you're between a size two and a four."

"Okay." Annabeth paused. "So, can you take us to some dresses?"

Drew nodded. "I know just the section for you. Follow me."

She led us to the back wall of the store where a few mannequins were modeling very immodest dresses. Hanging beneath each elevated mannequin was an assortment of sizes of each dress.

"See any you like?"

Annabeth's grey eyes were wide with shock and amazement. I could tell she didn't like them much, and was surprised that the sales lady had brought us here.

"I don't think these are my style," she finally choked out.

Drew pouted. "But you'd look so cute!"

Annabeth blushed.

I pointed to a plain black dress that one of the mannequins was modeling. It had a band of sequins around the chest area. "Let's grab that one, just in case, but could we look somewhere else?"

Drew grabbed the dress in a size two before leading us to some more modest dresses, that were also more elegant than the tight mini dresses from before.

"Better?" she asked. 

Annabeth nodded. "Much."

She began rifling through the racks, grabbing a few dresses that peaked her interest and handing them to me. I couldn't help but notice she chose a larger size than what Drew had, a four.

Eventually my arms were pretty full, so we decided to have Annabeth try some on.

Drew led us to the dressing rooms, and Annabeth stepped inside one of the stalls and closed the curtain.

"Oh boy," I heard her grumble.

"Let's see it!" Drew called.

Annabeth slid the curtain open and stood with her arms crossed. She was wearing the first dress I had hastily chose to avoid an awkward situation, and it was much too small and definitely not Annabeth's style.

The black material barely stretched past her backside, and the material covering her chest was sheer due to the sequins.

"I hate it," I stated.

Drew slapped my wrist. "Be kind," she scolded.

I rolled my eyes, sarcastically calling, "Next!"

Annabeth gratefully rushed back in the stall and came out wearing another dress. This one was a pinkish nude color that flowed to her knees, but a slit came up to her upper thigh. A few light brown flowers were scattered artfully around the dress.

"Do you like it?" she asked wearily.

"It's an option," I told her.

Drew snorted. "It screams 'Grandma' to me, but if you like it..."

I nudged her playfully. "Be kind!" I reminded sarcastically.

Annabeth shook her head. "I'm sure we have something better.

We repeated the process several times, not quite finding the perfect dress. About halfway through the pile of dresses, a young girl named Lacy joined the judging crew. She had cute little blonde pig tails and seemed about nine years old. She also had quite the attitude, freely sharing her  opinions on each dress.

The dress stack was dwindling. Finally, Annabeth came out in the last dress.

It was entirely black. The top of the dress was fitted all the way to her bellybutton, where it flowed out and fell just above her knees. The top was a halter style, and it showed off her shoulders. There was also a tie that came to the back in a bow, separating the fitted portion from the flowy one.

Lacy giggled. "Percy's drooling."

I rolled my eyes, smiling at Annabeth. "If this isn't the one I don't know what is," I admitted. "You look beautiful, Wise Girl."

She blushed. "Thanks, Seaweed Brain. I love it. Plus, it's comfy."

I laughed. "Great. So, it's a yes?"

Everybody nodded, so Annabeth changed to her normal clothes and we brought the winning dress to the counter to pay. I made sure Annabeth understood that I was buying it for her, and she eventually agreed, reluctantly.

"What are you going to wear for shoes?" Drew asked as she typed into the register.

"I'm not sure," Annabeth told her.

"We sell shoes!" a lady called.

Suddenly, a tall, model like woman rushed from the back room. She had beautiful blonde locks that flowed to her waist, piercing eyes that couldn't seem to settle on a color, and a blinding smile.

"Do you need help?" she asked.

"Mother!" Drew whined. "You said you were going to let me make a sale all by myself."

"I'm sorry, dear, but I couldn't resist." The lady turned back to Annabeth and I. "Hello there, cuties. My name is Aphrodite, and I am here to help!"

"Yay," Drew grumbled.

"Yay!" Lacy giggled.

"Yay?" I inquired.

"Yay." Annabeth sighed.

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Annabeth's dress (I picture it a smidge longer though)~

What did you think of the chapter? Was Rachel's fangirling too out of character? It might be, but I think it was cute. On a scale from 1-10, how excited are you for the Spring Fling? I'd say a solid 36, but thats just me :)

Leave a vote if you liked it, and I'll see you soon with a chapter full of Aphrodite-ness.

P.S. No hate for Drew! She isn't actually that bad of a person, she just gets territorial and jealous easily.