Percy and Annabeth-Their future

Salon A

~A Continuation of Last Chapter~

"I can't believe you're actually going through with this," said Jessie Grace, raising her eyebrows as we all stepped into the waiting room of Salon A.

"Hey, you're going through with it too," Lena added as she took a seat by the window. I glanced at Piper, who seemed more ashamed and amused with her mother than ever before.

"Oh, you came!" Aphrodite exclaimed, waltzing into the room casually as though she was surprised. It wasn't like she was an all-knowing goddess or anything...

"Hi Mom," Piper said, awkwardly hugging the goddess as she glanced at me.

"Piper, I'm so glad you brought your girls," Aphrodite smiled, wrapping Karrie and Jessie in a delicate hug. It looked like Piper was hugging a dirty puppy- very uncomfortable and distant, yet still some sense of love.

"Yeah, I think they wanted to see you," Piper smiled lightly, pulling away.

"Well, let's get started, shall we?" Out of nowhere, a glimmering gold door appeared before us as Aphrodite motioned for Lena for follow her. I only wished I could follow her in... I knew if anything, I'd get a laugh out of Aphrodite's antics.

~

**Lena's POV**

I watched Aphrodite closed the door behind us. She practically floated around the room, her steps were so graceful.

"Just step right up there on that pedestal," The goddess pointed toward the shimmery white level raised above the dizzyingly white room. I did as instructed, my heart beating out of my chest. I hadn't felt even the slightest bit nervous before, but now it was all too real.

I could no longer see Aphrodite. I felt my guard go up, years of knowing I was never really safe from the monsters making those walls thick and strong.

Holographic images appeared before me, completely surrounding me in a decagon of images. I couldn't decide if I was terrified or amazed. Among the ten, I saw Danny and Nathan plus a whole bunch of other guys I knew or didn't know.

"Welcome to Salon A. This is the Exploration. You will go through a series of activities in which you will interact with holographic representations of the men before you now. At the end of the Exploration, you will know who you are meant to be with. Please step off the pedestal to begin. You will be greeted by the first hologram. To decline, simply say 'Φινίρισμα'."

Gingerly, I walked off the pedestal, feeling extremely vulnerable. What in Hades' name was I do here? But I went through with it anyway. I guess I was that desperate.

The first guy appeared, walking toward me with a bouquet. "Hey," he smiled.

"Hi," I smiled, blushing as I took the flowers. They felt real in my hands. It took me a few moments to realize they were. "I'm Lena,"

"I'm Oscar," He said, shooting me an ego-filled smolder. But somehow, I managed to look past that smolder because the gift he drew out from behind his back was overwhelming. It was a blue rose, something no one would have known to get me except maybe my dad. It was so simple, but I could tell he knew it affected me.

"This is so beautiful," I smiled, admiring the graceful arching of the petals as they seemed to bloom before my eyes.

"I knew you'd like it," Oscar smiled at me. And I wanted so desperately to be able to look past his unfortunate choice of words the way I'd looked past his smolder. But something in my gut told me that despite what my heart's thumping and brain's seeming approval, Oscar was not the perfect guy for me.