Annabeth

We have been here for a few hours now; I have met so many people all the faces have kind of just blurred together as one. I haven't seen Tiberius since he helped me from the car. In fact, I haven't seen too many teenagers around tonight. Every time I get glance at someone who looked to be my age, a new adult would step in front of me. Introduce themselves and talk with me for a few minutes. Then, by the time they walked away the person around my age was nowhere to be seen.

"Darling," I feel my mother's hand on the middle of my back, as she bends closer to my ear, "Could you at least fake a smile while we are here." I can hear the disappointment in her tone. Without a word, I do as she asks, smiling so big my jaw hurts. "Thank you." She whispers with a false sugary sweet tone. I nod at her and walk as far away as I can.

As I walk by people, all the strangers' faces mold into one, but I do my daughterly duty and keep the smile plastered on my lips. Until I make it around the corner, out of sight, and then I lean against the wall. Closing my eyes, I take a few deep breaths trying to get my baring. When I open my eyes, I go to plaster on another fake smile, as I take a step in the direction of the main room, when something catches my eye.

There, standing a few feet away from me, in the dark stands a boy about my age, glaring at me. I suppose I shouldn't call him a boy; he's built like a man. He has muscles that go on for days, not too built, but just enough. I can see from the lighting he's got deep brown hair, that almost looks black, gorgeous blue-green eyes, and the same beautiful plump lips as Tiberius.

If I thought he was good looking, this profound man takes the cake. I find myself growing wet between my legs just standing here looking at him. I shake my head, trying to clear my mind of those thoughts. I haven't ever thought that way before, I'm only sixteen. So why am I feeling like this now just looking at this man?

A carnal smirk works its way onto his gorgeous lips, before I see him step back into the dark of the unlit hallway behind him. I walk over to where he is, almost expecting him to reach out for me, grabbing me from the darkness, but to my dismay he's no longer there. I turn in a circle, looking in every direction, but I don't find him to be anywhere in the vicinity. That's strange.

Thinking perhaps I was only imagining things, I turn and begin walking back to the main room, where everyone is, but stop dead in my tracks. Looking out into the room full of extravagant strangers, many of them carry themselves as though they are better than everyone else, I realize how much I do not wish to be around them a moment longer. Deciding better of it, I turn around and head down the dark hallway into the unknown.

I find many rooms, that are all similar in looks. They each are spacious; I can see a king size bed in some while others have old furniture inside. Each room has high ceilings, I find I have to tilt my head back to look at them. They are beautiful, and phenomenal for sure, but I can't help feeling like it's a waste of space. By the sixth room, I find something entirely different. This room looks to be an office, the size of the room and ceilings are the same, but this one has a mahogany desk in the center, with a large chair behind it.

There are a couple couches in the room, and some chairs. Behind the desk is a wall to ceiling bookshelf. Deciding, I have nothing better to do, along with the fact I love books, I sneak into the room and quietly close the door behind me. I take a close look at all the books held in the room, and many of them are classics.

I smile at the titles, wishing I had these beauties in my possession. My shoulders fold with a wave of disappointment. It's hitting me I have to go back to the party and leave all these behind. Turning around, the phone on the desk catches my eye. I look from the closed door, back to the phone, before I decide to heck with it.

Sitting at the desk, I pick up the phone and dial the number I know by heart. I listen to it ringing, wishing for him to pick up. I really need to hear his voice. "Hello." My grandfather's raspy voice says from the other side of the line. Causing me to instantly smile, I always feel better hearing him. "Grandpa it's me."

"Annie Bannanie, my baby girl." His nickname for me makes my smile grow. I can't help but laugh. "It's me pops. I just needed to call and say hello." I call him what I have since I was five years old. I'm not sure what made me refer to him as pops, but it just felt right.

"How is the school honey. You getting along with the other kids?" I can't help my playful eyeroll at his use of "kids" as he says. To him everyone younger than him, even by a year is a kid. "I haven't really met anyone yet pops. I'm here at one of Arthur's friends' houses, and I snuck away." I nibble my bottom lip. Waiting to see if he reprimands me.

All he does is laugh loudly in my ear. All my worries and stress just melt away with the sound. What can I say? I have always been a grandpa's girl. He's been the only constant in my life that has always understood me and loved me unconditionally.