BY fates design

Surprise dance

The Friday before the start of winter break had Percy Jackson sat in the backseat of his mother's car between two other demigods, Thalia Grace was shotgun, and Annabeth had taken the passenger side. For the second time that year, he found himself in a situation that resulted in Cassiopeia Potter-Black sat very close to him in a cramped vehicle, her bag was shoved at their feet and she had her head tilted to stare out the widow as sleet and snow chased each other down the glass pane.

Since around midnight the night before, the downpour had been endless, which made the eight hour journey from New York to Bar Harbour, Maine portray the bleak feelings Percy had in regard to this trip. Despite not seeing Annabeth and Thalia in months, they didn't feel eager to talk to them between the blizzard and the thought of what they were about to do.

A frown slipped onto Euphemia's face, warm brown eyes gliding between the screen and gods, scrutinising them with unconcealed judgment. "What did you do to those children? You aught to be ashamed." She tutted, shaking her head.

Neither of those things seemed to stop his mother or Cassiopeia though. Sally Jackson had a habit of talking more when she was nervous and Cassiopeia didn't seem anxious at all, happily entertaining his mother's conversation as each of the 487 miles crawled by.

By the time they reached Westover Hall, a boarding school, it was getting dark and every embarrassing baby story of Percy that Sally could think of had been recited to the car.

Thalia wiped at the fog clouded window to peer outside, piercing blue eyes squinting in the fading light. "Oh yeah, this'll be fun." It was hard to tell if she was being sarcastic, there was a certain monotone to her voice that often left Percy wondering exactly what her thoughts were.

Looming over them on the a snow capped cliff with a vast expanse of frost touched forest on one side and a churning grey ocean on the other, Westover Hall stood proud. Black stone stark against white snow, towers twisting up towards an unease sky, slit windows littering age smoother walls, and a set of wooden double doors at the front. The closest comparison Percy could make from experience was Cassiopeia's home, Pendragon Castle, but at least that had been beautiful and inviting.

"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" Sally asked, turning to look at her son over her shoulder, brows furrowed with a maternal worry.

Muffling a laugh into her hand, Cassiopeia smiled at Sally while Percy's face flushed slightly.

"No, thanks, mom." Percy shook his head, "I don't know how long this will take. We'll be okay." For a reason unknown to him, his eyes drifted sideways to Cassiopeia as he said it before snapping back to his mother.

"But how will you get back? I'm worried, Percy." Sally pressed, blue eyes filled with so much concern that it was almost palpable in the confines of the car. A flush crawled to Percy's cheeks and settled there like two lady birds, embarrassment emitting from him as he shook his head adamantly.

"It's okay, Ms Jackson." Annabeth jumped in with a reassuring smile, hair tucked into a ski cap and eyes the same colour as the woods. "We'll keep him out of trouble."

Sally was fond of Annabeth, thought she was one of the most level headed demigods of her age and was certain that the daughter of Athena had kept her son out of trouble on more than one occasion. "All right, dears," she sighed, "do you have everything you need?"

"Yes, Ms Jackson," Thalia nodded beside her, "thank you for the ride." She pushed a hand through her shaggy black hair to get it out of her eyes.

"Extra sweaters? You have my cell phone number?" A frown marred the older woman's face, and Percy wanted to vanish, close to begging her to just let them leave. "You have ambrosia and nectar, Percy? And a golden drachma in case you need to contact camp?"