Annabeth pushes the door to her and Will's room open. She's in planning mode.

Will hates planning mode.

"So," she starts. "Let's get our stories straight..."

Will looks to see why she trailed off, fighting the urge to make a joke about the word 'straight'.

Oh.

Now he sees it. What a cliche, honestly. It would have been phenomenal planning, had it been any other pairing's room. He is such a sucker for this kind of stuff, but for him and his best friend-slash-roomie?

"Well, that's just fantastic," Will says. There's only one bed.

Annabeth sits on the corner of the bed and kicks her basketball shoes off. Then, she stares up at Will. "We weren't going to fight this or anything, were we?"

"Nah," he says. If they go back downstairs, they might see someone they know, and Will just doesn't have the energy to face any more Nico questions.

Annabeth lays back on the bed, legs dangling over the side. Will follows suit.

"Anyway," Annabeth starts again. "After your run-in with Frank... seriously Will, your scarf got caught in the elevator?"

"I'm sorry!" That's twice now that Will's favorite red scarf has embarrassed him, but he can't take it off. He looks too good. Plus, he got to catch up with Frank. Everybody loves Frank.

"What did you tell him about your boyfriend?" Annabeth asks. "We have to make sure that your story is consistent every time you tell it."

"Okay, okay." She might be totally nuts, but more often than not, Annabeth Chase is right. Will thinks back to what he told Frank. "We work in the hospital together; that's where we met. And we don't get much time to go on dates because work is so early, so instead of going out all the time, we just work the same shift."

Annabeth gets out of bed and unzips the suitcase Will packed for her. "Does your boyfriend have a name?"

"Don't laugh."

"I absolutely will laugh."

"His... his name is Bill." Will winces at the name he gave.

Annabeth slowly makes eye contact. It's not daunting. She looks dead inside those grey eyes, but Will knows better than to let his guard down.

"You mean to tell me," she starts calmly, "that Will Solace's fake boyfriend is named Bill?"

"Yeah..."

"And you realize that implies that you are dating a man whose name is also 'William'?" She puts air quotes around 'William'.

"Yeah..." Will runs his hands through his hair, untangling some of his unruly curls.

Annabeth cocks an eyebrow. "Will, I have another question for you..."

He sits up. Annabeth is sitting criss-cross-applesauce on the floor holding a corset top.

He tries to come up with an explanation. "I was online shopping-"

"Are you trying to dress vicariously through me again?"

"Would you be mad if I said yes?" Will sticks his pointer fingers together.

Annabeth puts the corset top in a drawer and then retrieves one of the push-up bras she wears to work. Now seeing that Will did not pack many practical outfits, she responds, "Just disappointed."

"That's worse than mad and you know it," says Will.

"The Camp Half-Blood t-shirt? Really?"

"Call me nostalgic." Will's enjoying this little meltdown very much.

Annabeth rifles through the assortment of clothes. He wasn't that cruel, he notes as she folds a green crop top and puts it in the drawer, along with a pair of fishnet tights and a scandalously short blue dress with long sleeves. Hey, she said she wanted to show off the new tattoo.

"That one's for the bachelorette party," says Will.

Annabeth rolls her eyes, "I'm not going to the bachelorette party, Will. I'm not a bridesmaid, remember?"

"Yeah, but it's not a party without Annabeth Chase!"

Much to Will's dismay, she carelessly stuffs the dress into the drawer. "Thanks for shopping for me, I guess."

"That's the spirit!" He rolls over onto his stomach, crossing his legs in the air like a character in a 90s Disney Channel movie.

"Oh, fuck, Will... I think we need to have a conversation about boundaries." Annabeth's face is beet red when she finds the next item. It's hilarious. Will cackles like a madman.

The door opens, and Will reaches for Annabeth's Drakon bone sword, which he packed in her suitcase right between her throwing knives and her makeup. His homegirl has gotta look good while she's kicking ass.

Oh, but it's Piper McLean!

Will squints to make sure he got that right.

Oh, but it's Piper McLean!

Piper McLean is wearing a mischievous smirk.

"Damn, Annabeth, that's a little different than the boy shorts you used to wear," she says, referring to the lace thong that currently threatens Annabeth and Will's relationship.

"It's Will's!" she shouts, hiding it away in the drawer.

Will rolls over onto his back and explains, "I was being a good roomie. She needs something new for the wedding. How have you been, Piper?"

"Good! Just finishing up my master's program here in New Rome, nothing too exciting." Piper sits down on the bed and pokes Will's belly button. "I saw Percy earlier and I thought he had a bit of a glow-up since the war, but damn, Annabeth! Look at you!"

Will can see Annabeth's tongue poking at her studs from inside her mouth. He wonders if the discomfort and attention are worth it.

"Like, you're a total badass! I mean, you always were, but now you totally look the part! I'm guessing that's Will's doing though. Good job, buddy." Piper pats Will on the head.

"Oh, wow, the Drakon sword." Piper's still talking. "Look at all these crazy weapons! You know, there's a magical barrier; we don't even have to worry about monsters."

"I'll keep that in mind." Annabeth pulls the chopsticks from her hair and twirls one between her fingers. They're a good look for her. Will's a little disappointed he didn't come up with it himself.

"I love the spider bites; very ironic for an arachnophobe," Piper says to Annabeth. Damn, Piper is bouncing off the walls today. Had she always been like this?

Annabeth carries her toiletries to the bathroom. "Thanks."

Piper turns to Will and mouths, Damn!

"So have you seen Nico yet? His hair... gods, I'm jealous," she gushes. Will's jealous too, but he's not about to admit it.

"Careful, Pipes. Your inner Aphrodite is coming out. Someone might think you're like other girls!" Will teases.

Piper elbows him. "That was just a phase in high school!"

"Dammit, Will!" Annabeth calls from the bathroom. "What the hell am I going to do with these? It's Hazel and Frank's wedding! I wouldn't put it past them to put tape the doors!"

"That's my cue to leave," Will says, putting his shoes back on and bolting out the door.