Date: October 25

    "You know, sometimes I wonder what life would be like for us in another universe," Annabeth said.

    She, Piper, and Hazel were sitting on her bed. They had finished their math homework and were doing nothing of importance. 

   "I'd hope our lives would be better," Piper said. "I'd wish my father and Jason would pay more attention to me."

   "I'd wish my mother was still alive," Annabeth said.   

   "I'd hope that my mother was kinder to me," Hazel thought, "and that Bianca and Maria were still alive."

    "Do you really think our lives would be better in an alternative universe?" Hazel asked.

    "I'm not sure," Annabeth said, "but I sure hope so."

    "Is there anything in particular going on?" Piper asked.

    "You mean besides my step-mother convincing my dad to not cover any of my higher education expenses?" Annabeth asked.

  Hazel nodded.

  "Is there something going on between you and Percy?" Piper guessed.

    Annabeth pursed her lips and then nodded. 

    "It's Luke," she said.

    "What does he want?" Hazel asked.

      Luke Castellan was a senior and Annabeth's ex-boyfriend. The two had gone out for three months when Annabeth was a freshman and parted on fairly good terms. In the past year, however, Luke had gotten in trouble for some vandalism and drug use. 

    "He broke up with Kelli two weeks ago and I think he sees me as a rebound," Annabeth said. 'I told him that I have a boyfriend, but he keeps bothering me. Percy found out and he's jealous."

    "Block him," Piper suggested.

    "But I feel like I have to be there for him," Annabeth said. "He's trying to be a better person. He's been doing community service and he's trying to be clean."

    "I won't judge him for his drug use," Piper said. "Practically everyone has done them at one point or another."

    "Wasn't he in the D.A.R.E. program?" Hazel asked.

     "Yeah, that was so effective," Annabeth said with a snort.

    Piper giggled and Hazel joined in.

    "They would be spending their money more effectively if they just taught basic empathy in elementary school," Annabeth said. "Because Bryce Lawrence never learned that lesson."

    She sighed and said. "Sorry to bother you guys with my feelings."

    Piper placed her hand on Annabeth's shoulder and Hazel said, "It's good to talk about your feelings."

    "Maybe, but they make me feel weak," Annabeth said and suddenly her eyes were gleaming. "How is your love life going, Hazel?"

     "Frank is a sweetie, but I'm not sure if he likes me," Hazel said. 

     "You've got to be kidding me," Piper said. "Frank adores you. He asked me what you thought of him."

    "And what did you say?" Hazel asked.

     "I told him he should know by now," Piper said. 

     Hazel exhaled. 

    "And then I said that you had the hots for him," Piper said.

    "You wicked witch!" Hazel said, tackling Piper.

    "I'm just playing matchmaker," Piper protested.

     "You should focus on your own love life," Hazel grumbled as she wriggled off her friend.

      Piper's shoulders sagged.

   "You think I'm not trying?" she asked. "I hang out with Jason, but he doesn't feel that way. At best we might become friends with benefits. I don't even know why I care. I've been with tons of guys, but Jason makes me feel different."

    "Frank is like that to me," Hazel said. "It scares me, though."

    "Love is hard," Piper said.

    "Tell me about it," Annabeth said. "Maybe in another universe we would have more straightforward love lives."

    Hazel wished she lived in such a universe. As it was, she would just have to exist in the present one.