Annabeth Chase and the Titan's Curse

Chapter 5 - Percy steps on my feet

It was the first school dance I'd ever been to. I hadn't been to many schools, having lived at Camp Half-Blood for most of my life and my current school hadn't held one yet. So I wasn't sure what I was expecting it to be like.

The gym was coloured red and black, balloons over the floor, streamers hanging above us and a huge sign that said something I couldn't read over the doorway behind us. Most of the boys were hiding in the corners of the room or tossing around a footy as inconspicuously as they could. The girls seemed to be having the time of their lives, wearing the smallest amount of clothing they could, but making up for it by caking on makeup. Sometimes they ambushed a guy, leaving him lipstick-and-girly-stuff coated, which explained why they were hiding.

Already I was feeling awkward, standing in the doorway with Grover, Percy and Thalia, watching some people dance clumsily to some pop song. Thalia looked disgusted by the whole scene while Percy looked horrified to be there. Only Grover looked comfortable, which was unusual. Usually he was the odd one out.

"There they are," he told us, pointing to some nearby bleachers. "Bianca and Nico di Angelo."

I followed his finger to see a group of younger kids skulking on the bleachers. It wasn't hard to pick out the di Angelo's. They were the most ADHD of the lot.

The girl was scanning her surroundings constantly, a floppy green cap pulled low over her face as she looked around. It was like she sensed that she was in danger. She scolded her younger brother at the same time, who was playing with some trading cards. He kept shuffling them, showing them to her, who didn't seem interested at all in them. They were both olive-skinned with dark silky hair and ordinary clothes.

"Do they . . . I mean, have you told them?" I asked Grover, watching them out of the corner of my eye.

He shook his head. "You know how it is. That could put them in more danger. Once they realize who they are, their scent becomes stronger."

I'd always wanted to know what a demigod smelt like. Probably something good seeing as monsters were always willing to attack us.

"So let's grab them and get out of here," Percy said, starting forward.

Thalia grabbed him and pulled him back before he'd taken one step. I thought at first that she was just being pedantic, then I saw what she'd seen before me.

Dr Thorn had appeared out of a side door near the bleachers, only a few steps away from the di Angelo siblings. He stared coldly in our direction, a cruel glint in his blue eye. I felt a shiver go down my spine under his gaze. There was something about him that screamed danger!

He hadn't been fooled by the Mist, that was for sure. Now it was a race for who would get the kids first.

"Don't look at the kids," Thalia ordered, taking command. "We have to wait for a chance to get them. We need to pretend we're not interested in them. Throw him off the scent."

"How?" Percy asked.

"We're three powerful half-bloods. Our presence should confuse him. Mingle. Act natural. Do some dancing. But keep an eye on those kids."

"Dancing?" I asked, feeling my blood go cold.

I was a good dancer, but I never got a good partner. Let's face it, most boys can't tell their right foot from their left, so I always ended up with bruised toes no matter which foot they used.

Besides, I wasn't the most friendliest person at the best of times, but even less when boys have an opportunity to put their hands on my body. It made me want to judo-flip them.