CW: This chapter references food insecurity/poverty and some implied meal-skipping (but no disordered eating)

Inspired by Community S2E13: "Celebrity Pharmacology 212"

Annabeth POV

Here's the number one reason why Annabeth should have read the fine print when she enrolled at New Rome Community College: There's a 'relevant community service project' required for students with criminal records.

Unfortunately, Annabeth is a student with a criminal record.

Fortunately, she isn't dressed in a squirrel onesie about to make a fool of herself in front of a bunch of middle schoolers at the 'anti-drug play.'

No, that's Hazel and Frank's job. Actually, they were supposed to be bumblebees. It's a lot easier to write bee puns than squirrel puns, but it was cheaper to buy squirrel costumes.

"You look super duper cute, Hazel!" Annabeth compliments.

"Thanks!" she says. "Leo says my T-pose is on point." She spreads her arms out and sure enough, her squirrel wings spread with them.

Listen, the sugar glider onesie was the closest thing to a squirrel costume in Hazel's size. It's an anti-drug play for a bunch of kids. Does it matter?

Frank throws a beachball decorated like an acorn to Jason, who throws it back. In his attempt to catch the ball, Frank trips over his squirrel tail and wipes out on the floor.

"You okay, Frank?" Jason lowers his tacky sunglasses.

"Yep!"

Piper takes a green highlighter and circles a line on her script. "Annabeth, is Wolf Number Two supposed to be sad at Wolf Number One's funeral? Or is she still addicted to drugs at this point?"

Annabeth looks over her shoulder at the script she wrote over a case of beer last week. "I mean, it's a funeral. You'd be sad, wouldn't you?"

Piper adjusts her wolf ears. "I guess you're right."

"Hey, kids," says Leo, "want some drugs?" He opens his trenchcoat, revealing a wide array of bottles filled with PEZ candies and Pixy Stix dust because that's the closest thing to drugs without actually buying drugs. Annabeth lost her list of potential drug hookups when her ex-boyfriend Luke dumped her.

"Hey, Leo, not so funny, okay?" Annabeth says. "We have to make sure we're getting across the right message."

And then she sees way more of Percy Jackson than she would like to see. Well, more of Percy than she would ever want to see again. Fortunately, the others notice it too.

"Oh my god, Percy, put that away!" Piper yells. "You're gonna scar Hazel for life."

"What?" Percy looks down at his diving suit. "Oh."

"Remember when we talked about swim trunks?" Annabeth asks.

Percy turns around and leaves, hopefully, to put some pants on over his tight diving suit.

"Nico!" Hazel runs to greet her half-brother. "What are you doing here?"

Nico, who is also dressed in a squirrel costume, says, "Oh, not much. Dean D asked me to check in on the play."

"Did you... did you want to be in the play?" Annabeth asks. Why else would Nico be wearing a squirrel costume?

"No thanks. I appreciate the offer, but theater isn't my thing. And besides, I'm clearly busy at the moment," Nico says.

"Clearly," echoes Jason.

"Should I say things are good? Do you need anything?" Nico asks.

"No," says Annabeth. "I think we're okay. We're just going to finish up our final run-through and move everything to the auditorium."

Nico gives a thumbs-up. "I'll pass it along. Dean D says there's a lot of at-risk pre-teens coming."

Like... a lot, a lot?

"Wait..."

But Nico's already walking off, his squirrel tail swinging behind him.

"Guess who's back!" Percy's layered a pair of blue floral swim trunks over his blue diving suit.

"Oh, thank God," says Annabeth. "Alright, let's take it from the top."

Hazel and Frank take the stage and begin delivering their lines.

"Wow, all this digging is making my paws hurt!" Frank says.

"Want to blow off some steam after work?" Hazel asks in a monotone voice.

"What should we do? Play Uno?" Frank shrugs dramatically.

Hazel picks up a comically massive cardboard marijuana leaf. "Drugs help me feel a little less nutty after a long day."

"Aren't drugs a little nuts?"

The run-through is going just the way Annabeth intended. Sure, it's ridiculous and tacky, but it's getting the job done.

"Okay, that's a wrap," says Annabeth. "Don't forget to bring your costumes tomorrow, and if anybody could help me drag these props to the auditorium, that would be cool."

Leo takes some cardboard props and races to catch up with Annabeth. "I was wondering..." he says, "My character doesn't have any lines. Wouldn't he be more... relatable if he cracked a joke or two?"

Annabeth purses her lips beneath her mask. She knew this was going to be an issue. "If the drug dealer is too relatable, the kids might be less likely to get the message."

"Aren't you the one always talking about how drug addicts are regular people just like us and that addiction is a disease?"

Ooh! An empty soda can is in the trash. Annabeth picks it up and puts it in a grocery bag. "Well, yes, but this is a relatively young audience, and that's heavy subject matter for a thirty-minute play. If we discuss the stigmas, then we have to include rehabilitation, racism in the law, white-collar crime-"

"Geez, I get it. Fine. Have it your way."

Another can! Annabeth bags it.

"Do you have the time?" she asks Leo.

"Four."

Shit! "Catch you later, Leo! I've got to get my homework done before the big show."

"Oh, okay."

"Keep practicing!"

"I don't even have any lines..." Leo shuffles his feet and kicks a rock into the curb.

✎✎✎

So Annabeth lied. What else is new?

It's just that she's got to do her, er, chores if she wants to make rent this month, and that starts with her daily trip to the recycling center.

"Annabeth!" The way Grover says her name sounds more like a goat's bleat, but she doesn't mind. Maybe it's an accent or a speech impediment or something.

"Got something for ya!" Annabeth drops two grocery bags full of cans onto the scale.

"Not bad," says Grover. "Where did you say you're getting all this again?"

"We go to a Coke school."

"We most certainly do!" Grover laughs and takes the cans away.

"How'd I do today?" Annabeth asks.

Grover hits some buttons on a calculator. "Well, uh-"

"What is it?"

"You know, we're always hiring here."

"You're scaring me, Goat Boy."

"Do you need a loan?"

"Grover," Annabeth says. "How much money am I getting for the cans?"

His hands tremble as he reaches into the cash register and pulls out a five-dollar bill.

Then, he closes the cash register.

He hands the bill to Annabeth. "Like I said-"

"Yeah, yeah, you're always hiring. I'll pass for now. Plasma is in high demand if you haven't heard."

"Can I at least give you an application?" Grover asks. "Or if you don't want to work at the recycling center, there are lots of on-campus jobs. Juniper works at the info desk and she basically gets paid to sit around and play MythoMagic on her phone."

Annabeth was wondering when Grover would bring up Juniper, an environmental science major, and also his crush since summer camp.

Annabeth and Grover have known each other since middle school, so Grover knows everything. They went to the same summer camp in New York, and now they're at the same community college. It's nice to have a familiar face that isn't from her high school. Plus, Grover is turning out to be a useful friend. How else would she have found out how easy recycling can be?

Sitting at the info desk and screwing around with Juniper sounds fun, but like, what if somebody saw her?

That, and she's pretty sure Mr. Brunner coordinates the on-campus jobs.

"Thank you, Grover, really," says Annabeth, "but I have to fend for myself."

"Come over for enchiladas tonight?"

"Don't push it."

Grover throws his hands up in defense.

✎✎✎

A win for today: Annabeth doesn't have to pepper spray anybody on the way into her apartment. You'd be surprised how rare of an occurrence this is.

She sets her school bag on the three-legged coffee table she found on the side of the road and plugs in her laptop.

Then, she does a couple of push-ups because it's taking longer and longer to turn on. She's starting to worry that she'll have to get a new laptop soon. She won't be caught dead spending more time at New Rome than she has to. Besides, she doesn't have a television, so her little Chromebook is the only means she has to watch Netflix—among other things—in the comfort of her sorry excuse for a home.

The fan whirs as the computer rises from the dead. "I think I can, I think I can!" Annabeth jokes aloud.

The practically retro startup sound plays, and Annabeth practically leaps to her knees to Google 'SELL MY PLASMA.'

Wait. Annabeth has a better idea.

'SELL MY UTERUS.'

Go big or go home, right?

She reads the previews on the different websites before actually clicking on one: Risk of cancer, risk of infection, infertility, blah, blah, blah...

Wait.

Infertility, menstruation stops...

So Annabeth spends seven dollars on average for a box of tampons, not including the ones she steals from the bathrooms at New Rome.

And if Annabeth plans to have her 'Hot Girl Summer,' contraception costs money too.

But if she doesn't have a uterus...

Oh yeah. Jackpot.

Annabeth dials the local hospital's number into her phone. It doesn't hurt to see if they do transplants. She probably wouldn't be able to get in until spring break, but it'll be worth it. She'll be set on rent for the summer!

"Hi, I was just calling today to ask if you do, uh, uterus transplants?"

The knock on the door sends Annabeth jumping out of her skin. It's probably just the landlord. He'll come back.

BANG!

"Only eggs, huh? I'll uh, have to call you back then." Annabeth hangs up the phone and goes to see who could possibly be so persistent at her door.

She peeps through the foggy little hole... Leo?

Oh, shit. Someone she knows who isn't Grover knows where she lives. He could tell anyone! This is bad. This is really bad.

Annabeth takes a deep breath. Of course, Leo was the one to figure this out. He probably stalked her on the internet and figured it out.

She opens the door. "What are you doing here?"

"You live in a dump," Leo says.

Yeah, it's a dump, but it's Annabeth's dump.

"Seriously, how are you not dead? I'm pretty sure I saw a drug deal going on in the hallway," he persists.

"Thanks for your concern, but I'm fine."

"Don't the sirens bother you?"

"You get used to them pretty quickly." Annabeth opens the door to let Leo out since clearly, he doesn't need anything.

"This is statistically the most dangerous neighborhood within five miles of New Rome Community College. Do you have a security system? Have you taken a self-defense class? Have you-"

"Leo!" Annabeth shouts. "I don't have a choice! This is the cheapest apartment that was listed."

Leo stares at her blankly. He's still not getting it.

"I, uh, got in a lot of trouble in high school," Annabeth explains, "so my dad and stepmom cut me off. Do you know what that means?"

And... he's distracted already. Oh, shoot, he's looking at Annabeth's laptop. He's going to ask questions about her selling her-

"Your laptop battery is dying."

"I had a feeling."

Leo sets his backpack down on the table, his eyebrows furrowing when he notices the missing leg. He unzips the big pouch and starts digging through it, looking for something. "Aha!" he says. "Are all your files backed up?"

"Everything important, why?"

"Great, shut it down. I'm going to fix it."

Leo waves a spare part around for Annabeth to see... is that a laptop battery? Why is he just carrying it around like that?

"You don't have to use your spare parts on me."

"Yes, I do. I've been carrying this one around all year just for you," he says.

That's... that's sweet.

Annabeth watches Leo carefully take apart her computer, replacing the dying battery with the new one.

"Go ahead," he says. "Try it out."

Annabeth hits the button, and the machine turns on without the help of the fan. "Holy shit. You fixed it."

"'Course I did. I'm the Super-Sized McShizzle, baby!"

Annabeth laughs. "Okay, maybe don't call me baby, but is there anything I could do for you? Like, do you want to stay and watch Netflix or something?"

"I could go for a snack." Without an invitation, Leo opens the empty mini-fridge. "Where's your food?"

Leo's a sweet guy, and it doesn't seem like he cares that the only living place Annabeth can afford is in the shady neighborhood. He just cares that it's dangerous and that she's his friend. She could tell Leo that she's not on a meal plan and that the only food she has here is the box of granola bars under her bed.

"Uh, the fridge is broken," she says.

"Good thing I always carry my tools!"

Worst excuse ever. Now Leo's going to look at the refrigerator and see that it isn't even broken and he's going to be able to tell that she just lied-

"I guess the door is a little loose, so it's probably a good thing you got your food out of there, just to be safe. The light looks like it's going out soon. I don't have a replacement bulb on me, but I can come by and change it tomorrow before the show if you want."

"You don't have to-"

"Please let me. I like doing this kind of stuff. And wow, this place has so many hazards! There are unlimited things to fix!"

"Leo, I-"

"You better get used to seeing me, Annabeth!"

She has to put a stop to this... oh, but if he could fix the electrical outlet next to her bed, then she could lay in bed and watch her-

"Okay, but I feel like I should do something for you."

Leo strokes an invisible beard. "Oh! I got it! You know that line I improvised for the show?"

"'Zoo-Wee-Mama?'"

"Yeah! Let me keep it!"

Annabeth shrugs. If she's getting an apartment makeover for free, what's the harm in one little change? "Alright. You got yourself a deal."

"Cool!" Leo tightens a screw on the refrigerator door. "I'll come over before the show tomorrow to change this bulb, and then we can ride over together. I'll drive!"

Wait, Leo can drive? Annabeth tries to hide her surprise but fails miserably. It's a good thing he can't read emotions well.

"You have a car?" she asks.

"Yeah!" He sets his wrench down and throws a couple of extra screws in his backpack. "I bought this antique Cadillac Coupe DeVille on eBay. The guy who sold it said it was for display only since most of the parts are discontinued, but I fixed it up. We just can't go over thirty."

Normally, Annabeth doesn't take handouts, but it's cheaper and way cooler than the bus. She'll be the talk of the town if she shows up in a Cadillac, let alone an antique!

But there's one thing she needs to know.

"What year?"

"1954."

"So I'll see you around nine tomorrow?" Annabeth asks.

Leo beams. "Can't wait! My first passenger..."

✎✎✎

So maybe getting in a car with Leo isn't the safest or smartest decision Annabeth's ever made. They're ten minutes late to call time since the Cadillac can't go more than thirty miles an hour, and Leo had to stop on the side of the road to jumpstart the car.

But they made it! And people definitely saw them!

"Holy crap, Leo, that is the coolest thing!" says Percy.

"Yeah, man, why didn't you tell us you were into cars?" Jason asks.

Leo cuts the engine and pulls out the keys. "I'm just dabbling, but I do know how to assemble an engine from scratch, so if you ever have car trouble..."

"Quit gawking at the car and get backstage!" Hazel shouts.

Annabeth supposes Hazel wouldn't be so fazed by Leo's car. She shows up on campus riding on the back of Nico di Angelo's Vespa every day. What a true Italian.

Frank meets everyone backstage, already in his squirrel costume. Leo throws on his trenchcoat and then pulls some papers out of one of its pockets.

"Hey, I had a couple of suggestions for the script I wanted to show you," Leo says.

"We're so close to the show..." Annabeth says. "There's not enough time for people to memorize new lines..." She flips through the script anyway.

"They can make it work. They just have to follow my lead."

"Firecrackers? Inside? Isn't that a hazard?" Annabeth asks.

"Don't worry about it. I'm the handyman, remember?"

Annabeth remembers that. She remembers it a little too well.

Frank reads the new script over Annabeth's shoulder.

"Okay, but I really don't think Percy's going to be okay with this line..." Annabeth says.

"He better be," Leo says. "I heard it's going to drop below forty tonight. You know, climate change and all."

"Wait, how is that relevant?" Frank asks.

Shoot. The heating in Annabeth's apartment is broken. She'll freeze her ass off tonight if it's going to get that cold.

Unless...

"Okay," she says. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to take some creative liberties."

"Great," says Leo. "I'll get the explosives ready!"

What has Annabeth gotten herself into? She should know better than to make deals with the devil, especially if that devil is Leo Valdez.

The beginning of the script is relatively similar to what Annabeth had originally. That's good at least.

"Alright! Are my squirrels ready?" Annabeth calls.

Hazel T-poses so everyone can see her sugar glider wings. Frank hits his inflatable acorn like it's a beachball. Well, it is a beach ball.

Piper comes to the huddle. "Guys, Mr. Brunner is almost done greeting the middle schoolers."

"Awesome," says Annabeth. She turns on her headset so she can get feedback from Mr. Brunner's microphone.

"Now, who wants a t-shirt?" Mr. Brunner shouts.

"What's going on out there?" Percy asks.

"He's launching t-shirts. Hazel and Frank, get ready. Wolves, you're on deck."

"Wait, Mr. Brunner has the t-shirt canon out?" Jason asks. "I've gotta see this." He peeks through the curtains, which is kind of unprofessional, but Annabeth's beyond caring at this point.

Everything's going alright. Hazel and Frank remember all of their lines, and they even manage to deliver them with some enthusiasm. It's great.

It's... not as bad as Annabeth imagined. They're just performing the original script, except for a couple of one-liners from Leo. They aren't not funny. The audience seems to like them at least.

"Are you sure about this, Wise Girl?" Percy asks. "He's kind of making fun of the message."

"Yes, I'm sure, Seaweed Brain!"

"Okay, geez. No need to get all defensive." Percy walks onto the stage and delivers his monologue about how drugs make you feel like you're constantly breathing out of a snorkel... you know, because Percy's playing the role of a scuba diver.

And then Jason's funeral comes around.

This is the part of the show that tells the audience that drugs may be fun for a little while, but it's not worth the long-lasting effects because now Jason the wolfman is dead.

How did it happen?

Annabeth used her imagination and some special adult happy juice when coming up with this.

Basically, Wolf Jason and Wolf Piper were doing (gasp) drugs! Then, Wolf Jason fell off the top of a building because he thought he could fly, and accidentally impaled himself with a flag pole.

The impalement part was Jason's idea.

"Oh, Wolf Jason," Wolf Piper cries. "If only we hadn't been doing drugs..."

"Now that I see what happens if you do drugs..." Frank deadpans. Shoot, he's deadpanning again. "I will never do drugs again."

"Ohoho! But you will!" Leo shouts. Where did he get the clown wig? Where. Did. He. Get. The. Clown. Wig.

Leo reaches into his trenchcoat and pulls out... oh god... sparklers.

The audience is loving it.

"Drugs! Drugs!" The middle schoolers cheer.

It can't be worse than this, right?

Wrong.

Leo's sparklers burn out, and he tosses them into Jason's coffin, causing him to rise from the dead. Not that Annabeth doesn't like Jason, but he is supposed to be dead. He needs to stay dead.

Oh no.

Oh no.

All Annabeth can do is helplessly stare while Leo makes his way into the audience.

"I love you drugs!" a girl shouts. The at-risk pre-teens crowd Leo, ambushing him with hugs and praise.

Annabeth makes eye contact with Percy. He looks... sad? No.

Disappointed.

Good thing it's time for intermission.

Jason and Frank leap into action, finding Leo and prying middle schoolers off his back.

"C'mon, Drugs, let's get you backstage," says Jason.

"Yeah," says Frank. "I'm sure Annabeth has some words for you."

This is bad. This is really bad.

"Annabeth, dear!" says Mr. Brunner. Shoot, now she's upset Mr. Brunner, not that she cares what he thinks.

It's just that she doesn't want to upset him.

"You've got a tough act to follow! You have these children believing that they need drugs! Remarkable," he says.

This is really bad.

"Uh, thanks, Mr. Brunner," says Annabeth. She presses her clipboard against her chest. Is it hot in here? She should have worn her hair up. She probably looks windswept anyway from Leo's driving.

"Can't wait to see what you have in store for Act Two!" He hits a button on his electric wheelchair and just like that, he's gone.

"Annabeth?" Piper asks.

"Jesus, what?!?"

"Uh, I brought you a Kool-Aid Jammer. You're looking kind of pale. The sugar might help," Piper says, sticking the straw in the juice pouch and hanging it to Annabeth.

She pulls her mask down, noting that the fresh air is sort of overwhelming, and takes a sip from the drink. Admittedly, it does feel better.

"Listen," says Piper. "I don't mean to overwhelm you, but I think we both know that Leo's getting out of hand."

"Yeah..."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Let's..." What happens next in the play? Oh. Annabeth's got it. "Plan Time."

"I love Plan Time," says Piper.

"We'll move up the flushing scene. Tell Frank to get the toilet ready. Then, you guys can just screw around on stage and show the audience what a great time you're having thanks to, uh, 'not drugs.'"

"I like this plan! Hey, Frank!" Piper runs off to find Frank.

"You okay, Wise Girl?" Percy asks. "Not like you to avoid COVID safety."

"Listen, Seaweed Brain-" Annabeth trips over a step, and falls right into his arms.

God, those biceps. If it were any other guy, Annabeth might say that there's no way drugs weren't involved, but it's Percy. There's no way drugs were involved.

"Seriously, can I get you something? Another Kool-Aid Jammer?"

"I'm fine." That's not true. Annabeth just realized she hasn't eaten today, and that's usually the case because what kind of college student eats breakfast? Not Annabeth.

But the stress from the show, and Leo being Leo...

"You know what? If you have another Kool-Aid that you're not going to drink..."

Percy beams. "Raspberry lemonade or blue raspberry?"

"Raspberry lemonade. Thanks," says Annabeth.

"Toilet's ready!" Frank calls.

"Let's get this show on the road." She crinkles her finished Kool-Aid Jammer and throws it away.

"What's going on?" Leo asks.

Percy steps in. "We're flushing the drugs a little sooner than planned." He waves a Kool-Aid Jammer around in the air, although Annabeth isn't sure why Kool-Aid is relevant.

"We don't need you anymore, Drugs!" Piper shouts from onstage.

"Yeah, let's get rid of them!" Hazel says.

Frank reaches for the flusher on the toilet and makes a whooshing sound with his mouth. Real sound effects were too expensive for New Rome's budget.

Leo spins around and disappears underneath the toilet. Thank goodness. It's all over. Now the rest of the actors can turn it around and-

"Ouch!" Percy shouts.

See, the thing about middle schoolers is that they're absolutely feral. They know how to hit you where it hurts the most. They know how to find your deepest insecurities and make fun of you for that.

Annabeth can't believe she was a middle schooler once.

"We want drugs!" the kids shout as they pelt Annabeth's friends with the free t-shirts.

"Run!" Piper yells.

The stampede of weirdly dressed peers almost runs Annabeth over, but she dodges just in time.

"Annabeth, what are we supposed to do?" Piper asks.

"All they want is drugs—Leo. They want Leo," Hazel stammers.

Annabeth sits down and puts her head between her legs because it's physically impossible to pass out when you're doing that.

She feels a hand on her back.

"Annabeth?" Percy asks. Or is that Frank's voice?

"Guys, they love me!" Leo shouts. "You have to let me go back on!"

Strength regained. Or at least, Annabeth has just enough strength to go off on Leo.

"Forget it!" she shouts. "You ruined my project!"

"You seem to have forgotten about the broken lock on your window," Leo says.

"Annabeth?" Percy asks. "What does he mean by that?"

"I don't care, Leo! I'll just sleep with the pepper spray by my bed like I always do!" she shouts.

"Annabeth!" Jason shouts. "You sold the message to Leo?"

"I'm not proud of it!" she says.

"That's it," says Hazel. "I'm out."

Frank follows Hazel because that's what he always does.

"Let me know if you need help redoing the project," Piper says

"There are dozens of at-risk pre-teens out there..." Jason says before following Piper out.

"Percy? Leo?"

"Leo left," says Percy. "Sneaky dude."

"What do we do?" Annabeth asks.

Percy finishes off another Kool-Aid Jammer. "I'm not sure there's anything we can do. I mean, it's just the two of us."

Annabeth runs her hands through her hair and sighs. She could go for a good scream right now.

"Do you want me to take a look at that window for you?" he asks.

"No," says Annabeth. "I don't deserve it. You go ahead with the others. I have to clean up my mess."

Percy stands up and takes off his snorkel. "You know this isn't entirely your fault, right?" he asks. "Leo shouldn't have taken advantage of you like that."

"Thanks, Percy."

"No problem, Wise Girl." Percy gives Annabeth a finger gun on his way out. Is he... no, he couldn't be.

Annabeth sighs again. It's time to face the music. Maybe she can spin this and make it a message about how drugs are addicting, and then list a bunch of super gross facts about drugs. Yeah, she can tell them about how Stevie Nicks blew her nose off with cocaine. That's pretty scarring.

"Well, what do we have here?"

Annabeth turns around. "What do you need, Clarisse?"

Clarisse ties the belt on her trenchcoat tight. "Maybe this isn't about what I need. Maybe this is about what you need, Wise Girl. I can call you that, right?"

"I'd rather you not..."

"Look at little Wise Girl. Did you hit rock bottom? Oh, and now you're about to do the right thing and confess that you sold out for a couple of favors from Leo," Clarisse taunts.

"That's... yeah, pretty much," says Annabeth.

Clarisse pulls a rainbow clown wig over her choppy hair and a grass hula skirt over her buff legs. "You're about to owe me big time, Chase. Big time."

"Clarisse?"

Clarisse has always sort of had it out for Annabeth. Yep, you guessed it. Annabeth, Grover, and Clarisse all went to that same summer camp when they were kids.

Annabeth can still taste the toilet water from her first swirly. It never made sense to her. She was always nice to Clarisse, but Clarisse has always had it out for her.

Now, what is she doing?

"Hello, children!" Clarisse bellows. "What have we here?"

"You're not drugs!" shouts a kid.

"Oh! But I am!" Clarisse continues her speech. "I will mess you up! I'll blow your faces off, land you in prison, and take everything you love away from you! Hell, I'll even eat your children!"

Everything falls silent. Annabeth doesn't want to wish harm on Clarisse, nasty as she is, but she hopes these kids don't love her as much as they loved Leo's performance.

"Boo!" the kids start to shout.

"Get her!" shouts another middle schooler.

Annabeth can't help but watch in awe as dozens of middle schoolers pelt Clarisse with their free t-shirts. One of them even got Mr. Brunner's t-shirt cannon and is hitting her with force hard enough to leave a black eye.

Sure enough, when Clarisse leaves the stage, she takes a Kool-Aid Jammer from seemingly out of nowhere and presses it to her face like an ice pack.

"Clarisse... you... you saved my show..."

"Quit staring, Chase, or I'll mess you up so bad, you won't be able to kiss your little boyfriend," Clarisse says.

Annabeth throws her hands up in defense. "He's not my boyfriend!"

"Uh-huh..." Clarisse doesn't sound convinced. "C'mon, Chase. Let's go meet your fans."

Fans?

Annabeth wasn't actually in the play. She wouldn't have any fans in the audience... would she?

"Annabeth!" Grover yells.

"What are you doing here?" she asks.

Will Solace from the GSA club greets Annabeth with a bouquet of daisies. "We wouldn't miss your play for the world!"

"Are you coming to our meeting this week?" Lacy asks.

Annabeth shrugs. "Hey, you know I'm in if there's free food."

Lacy and Will laugh like she's making a joke and walk away to say hi to Nico di Angelo, who is still dressed in a squirrel suit for some reason.

"Thanks for coming," Annabeth says to Grover.

"I liked the part when Leo got flushed down the toilet," he says.

Annabeth rolls her eyes. "Don't remind me."

He laughs his little goat laugh.

"What are you doing for dinner tonight?" Annabeth asks. "If you'll have me, I'd love to take you up on those enchiladas."

Grover tugs his rasta cap over the tips of his ears. "Well, actually, I have a date with Juniper tonight."

"No."

"Yes."

"Grover, that's amazing!" Screw the COVID policy. Annabeth wraps her friend in a hug. "Have so much fun tonight!"

They pull away. "Looks like you might have a date of your own..." Grover says, gesturing to Percy. He's just standing there, patiently waiting for his turn to talk to Annabeth.

Grover waves and joins Juniper at the fruit tray.

"Seems like everything worked out," Percy says. "I'm sorry for ditching you."

"You should be," says Annabeth. "Now I owe Clarisse."

"Yikes."

Annabeth adjusts her backpack straps on her shoulders. Did it get heavier?

"Listen, are you doing anything after this?"

"No."

"Great!" says Percy. "Let me make it up to you. I'll buy you Jamba Juice."

"Thanks, but no thanks." Annabeth isn't taking free food if it means hanging out with Percy. Plus, she needs some time to decompress.

If worse comes to worst, there might be some granola bars still under her bed.

✎✎✎

The bus is a little less flashy than Leo's Cadillac, but it is faster. Besides, Annabeth's not sure she's ready to talk to Leo yet.

She sets her backpack down on the coffee table. Geez, when did it get so heavy?

Shoot. Annabeth didn't accidentally steal a prop or something, did she?

She opens the zipper, but instead of the cardboard marijuana leaf, she finds a couple of Kool-Aid Jammers, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and a bag of carrot sticks.

She's not crying, she's not crying...

And then she sees the note.

Annabeth,

I screwed up. Please let me make it up to you. I'll be over tomorrow morning to fix some things around your apartment.

See you bright and early,

Leo

Annabeth sticks a straw in one of the Kool-Aid Jammers and opens up her laptop, which is running faster than ever thanks to Leo.

The tab about uterus transplants is still up. Maybe she should start smaller, like with plasma donations or something, so she closes the tab and opens a new one.

She goes to New Rome Community College's website, which she still hasn't bookmarked.

'ON-CAMPUS JOBS.'

Maybe working at the info desk with Juniper isn't such a bad idea after all.

But just in case, she better do some research on selling her plasma.