Girls Night Out

Date: October 1

    Hazel sat criss-cross applesauce on the ground of Annabeth's bedroom as Piper braided her hair.

    "There!" Piper said when she was done. "You look so pretty."

       Hazel stood up and walked to the mirror Annabeth kept in her room. Piper had braided two locks of her hair on the sides , but left the rest of her hair down. It was an incredibly flattering hairstyle.

    "Thanks, Piper," Hazel said.

    "Do you guys want to go to the mall now?" Annabeth asked.

    "Yes!" Hazel said. "I want to find a Halloween costume."

    "What do you want to dress up as?" Annabeth asked.

     "I'm not sure," Hazel said as she followed Annabeth to her car. "How are things going at home?"

    Annabeth clenched her jaw and sat down in the front seat. She was quiet. When she spoke, her voice was flat.

    "Helen convinced my father to leave all of the expenses of college up to me," she said.

    "I'm sure you'll get scholarships," Hazel said. 

    "That's what Helen said," Annabeth said. "I know not everyone can afford to pay college tuition for their kids, but my parents have enough. My step-mother is just selfish."

    She sighed and asked, "How are things going at home for you two?"

    "Nico has been inviting Will over a lot," Hazel said. "He's eating McDonalds will Will tonight."

     "Aww, young love," Annabeth said. "What about you?"

     "Nothing has happened since Jacob and I broke up," Hazel said.

     "Frank hasn't made a move?" Piper asked.

    "Frank?" Hazel said. "Why would he?"

    "He likes you," Piper said. "I thought it was obvious."

     Hazel found herself fanning herself and blushing. Frank liked her? That couldn't be true. Frank was too sweet. He could do much better than Hazel. Hazel decided to change the topic.

     "How are things going with Jason?" Hazel asked.

    Piper frowned and said, "Reyna is mad at me. I should have expected it. She was Jason's girlfriend and she probably feels like I stole him."

    "But you and Jason aren't even dating!" Annabeth protested.

    "I know," Piper said glumly. "I wish I hadn't gone to the party. Now everyone just knows I'm a—"

   "Don't say it!" Hazel said fiercely. "They're wrong."

    Piper half-smiled and said, "But I do sleep around, Hazel."

    "Come on," Annabeth said, parking her car. "Let's go shopping and forget about this drama for awhile."

    They went to several places at the mall, but none of them had any luck. Hazel couldn't find anything that would make a good Halloween costume. The three eventually went to the Food Court and ordered some falafel sandwiches.

   They ended up going to a thrift store near Hazel's house. There were some pre-packaged costumes, but Hazel ended up trying on a gold dress. 

   "I'm going to dress as Inca gold," she said.

    "The largest ransom in history?" Annabeth asked. "Well you are pretty valuable, Hazel."

    "I'm not dressing up as Pocahontas," Piper insisted when she saw the costume.

      "I'm going to dress as Atalanta," Annabeth said. 

    "That's a good idea," Piper said. "I'll dress up at Queen Dido then."

    "So none of us are going to be princesses or fairies?" Hazel asked as they bought things for the costumes.

    "Nope," Annabeth said. "I'd rather be a hero."