"I've been told that before" Percy answered ,still confused.

Annabeth took a quick look at him ,he was in a black suit with a blue diamond encrusted tie, which Aphrodite clearly stated was only for heirs ,except for the female heirs ,who either got a very poofy diamond dress or a very fancy one.

She was still in her own clothes, a simple blush halter top dress, that went down till her knees and some leggings,her hair in it's usual ponytail.

It was stated that Queen Aphrodite has every right to dictate what you wore for the parade and currently all the heirs were being dressed, but since Annabeth wasn't the heir, she was to wear a more simple and less poofy gown, for which she was immensely grateful.

"Of course you have." Annabeth began to reprimand, until an idea start to slowly form in her mind. "Say, Mr Drool, do you even know how to ride a horse ? Or just how to fall asleep on one?"

"I'm a great rider! My kingdom is known for it's race horses! and blackjack is the best horse of them all" Percy replied, patting Blackjacks mane at the last part.

"Well prove it Son of Poseidon, can you beat a Daughter of Athena?" Annabeth challenged him, slowly gesturing to her own horse, Yankee.

"You're on!" Percy smirked, beginning to saddle his horse.

Annabeth smirked, making her way over to Yankee and quickly placing her harness on.

She got onto Yankee ,only to hear Percy muttering the word 'slowpoke' under his breath, making his way out of the stable before her.

She followed him outside, feeling slightly cross that he wasn't following her.

Percy was outside ,whispering something to his horse, but Annabeth could only catch the faint whisper of the word 'doughnuts'.

" Are you trying to make up for the loss with doughnuts?" She smirked.

" You wish. You ready, Chase?" He asked, getting into position.

" As ready as I'll ever be ."

" Three , two , one!!" Percy screamed as he dashed off towards the chariots.

" Cheater !!!!" Annabeth yelled and bolted after him.

She followed him through the gardens, trying hard to overtake him.

She noticed Grover walking towards the stables,he gestured for her to slowdown a bit and she did.Just a bit.

" Hey guys! Aphrodite needs you for dressing, Annie !" Grover called, as they flashed by him.

" Don't call me Annie!" She yelled back, and shot a glare at the laughing Percy, who, of course, was ahead of her.

"Shit" , Annabeth muttered. She completely forgot about getting dressed.

They continued to race through the garden, making their way outside ,where all the floats and children alike were being decorated for the grand parade today.

They kept racing, slowing down a bit of course, trying their hardest to avoid crashing into a float, carriage, horse ,box or human

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

" Sally !!!" Annabeth saw Sally walking towards the dressing room, with a bunch of boxes. " Percy stop by your mother!"

" Is that you giving up, Annie?" He grinned at her.

" Just stop ! You drooling patch of Seaweed ! And do NOT call me Annie !!!"

" All right, all right."

Percy trotted to a halt, flashing a trouble maker grin and Annabeth who stopped right behind him.
Annabeth glared at Percy ! He cheated ! She lost to the son of Poseidon?!

Sally was taking all the jewellery into the dressing rooms for the girls to pick, but seemed to have stopped, noticing two horses racing towards to carriages.

The Jewellery was the only thing they were allowed to pick today. Annabeth, of course, took complete advantage of this and choose to wear only her owl necklace.

Percy descended from his horse ,gesturing to one of the servants about the horses, pointing to Annabeth as well. The man seemed to have understood and took a hold of Blackjacks reign, steering him towards the floats and paused to take Yankee too, after Annabeth had gotten down.

" I see you've found my harmless little puppy", Sally said, after they had gotten closer to her.She looked at Annabeth like they were sharing some sort of inside joke.

" Excuse me?" , Percy interrupted, "but did you just call me a puppy? Cause I'm pretty sure I'm a dog. And a harmful one at that".

Annabeth just rolled her eyes while Sally chuckled

"Why Annabeth! I've never really understood how he can get so dirty in just a few seconds ! I just combed his hair and ironed his jacket, but now it is all crinckled!" Sally cried out, just noticing his 'not so clean anymore' shirt.

Annabeth felt a little guilty, she had been the one to suggest the race ,but..........she was content with the fact that she had gotten him into trouble.

Percy turned bright red "Mom..." he whispered

"Not so tough are we now,Jackson? "
Annabeth teased, turning her attention back to Sally before Percy could say anything.

Annabeth laughed, "Well Sally, he is the son of Poseidon-"
Annabeth paused.Crap.Sally was married to Poseidon! What did she just say?!She was just so comfortable with Sally for some weird reason, it just spilled out.

Sally seemed to sense this and burst out laughing

"It's quite all right Annabeth, you're mother and my husband being enemies and everything " she paused, sighing.
"But, I do like you a lot darling , so let's not be enemies how about that? You and Percy can be friends too"

Annabeth smiled. It was a genuine smile.How Sally made her happy, she did not know, but being with her just made you want to hug all your foes and celebrate friendship day.

"I would love that Sally. But I'm still going to hate Percy over here,but since I like you , I have chosen to dislike him instead of hate. You see he's a cheater and very annoying "

"Well, you punched me !" Percy retorted

"That's cause you looked like a drooling fish!"

"You're so mean!"

"Ugh! You're hopeless "

"You just say that cause you ain't Perssasy"

"What!? That doesn't make sense !"

"You don't make sense !"

"That doesn't make sense either !"

"Yes it does!"

"No it doesn't "

Sally began Laughing. "You two fight like an old married couple" she exclaimed, chuckling again looking at Percy and Annabeth, who were both as red as tomatoes, glaring at each other like children.

" Now, come on Annabeth, dear. Let's get you dressed", Sally said as she pulled Annabeth towards the dressing rooms, grinning ear to ear, once she composed herself.
" You've got to shine today" , Sally said, giving her a warm smile.

" Thanks, Sally, but it's my brother, Malcolm, that's gotta shine. He's the heir", she shot a glance at Percy.

" Yes little girl, it's time to play dress up" , he said simirking. Percy was going to say something else but Annabeth interrupted him.

" Well, Sleeping Beauty, since you're all rested, be a man and help your mother", she shot right back.

" You , my lady , owe me a race", Percy took a few boxes from his mother and dashing off in some random direction to deliver them.

" Oh good sir , this isn't over", Annabeth was taken aback by what he'd just called her. It reminded her of the man from the ball. Could it be....? No. It couldn't.

Annabeth let Sally usher her into the dressing room, lost in thought.

Stay tuned!!!!
------ S&D