The Big Day Pt. 1

The morning light filters through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the small dorm room. You and Liam stir awake, the events of the previous night lingering in the back of your minds. A glance at the clock tells you it’s well past the time for lectures and tutorials, but neither of you cares enough to get out of bed and check. Today is all about focusing on the upcoming party and what it means for the second trial.

With a groan, you push the covers off and swing your legs over the side of the bed, feeling the cool floor beneath your feet. You stretch, your body feeling a little sore from last night’s activities, and head to the bathroom. Liam shuffles out of bed right behind you, his hair sticking up in every direction.

“First one to the toothbrush wins!” he shouts, darting past you with surprising agility. You can’t help but laugh as you chase after him, your own competitive spirit kicking in. You both skid to a halt in front of the sink, elbowing each other lightly as you reach for your toothbrushes.

You each grab your respective toothbrushes—yours a plain blue and Liam’s a bright green—and start brushing, a foam of toothpaste forming in your mouths as you both try to maintain some semblance of cleanliness amidst the chaos.

“Seriously, I haven’t brushed my teeth with anyone in years,” you mumble, trying to keep the foam from spilling out of your mouth. “It’s like we’re kids again.”

Liam snorts, shaking his head, “Well, I don’t remember us ever having a teeth-brushing race. If I had known this was the highlight of our college experience, I’d have picked a different major!”

“Just because you can’t compete with my superior brushing skills,” you shoot back, a playful grin spreading across your face.

He rolls his eyes but can’t hide his smile. You both finish brushing and rinse your mouths out, then turn to face each other, grinning like idiots.

“Breakfast?” you ask, your stomach growling in agreement.

“Let’s see what culinary masterpieces we can whip up with our limited skills,” he says, heading toward the small kitchen area.

The two of you rummage through the fridge, grabbing whatever you can find. You settle on eggs and toast, and Liam decides he’s going to make pancakes from the mix that’s been sitting in the cabinet for weeks.

As you crack eggs into a bowl, you can’t help but tease him, “Pancakes? Seriously? Aren’t you worried about the health implications?”

“Hey, they’re called ‘student fuel’ for a reason! Plus, I’m pretty sure I saw a fruit in there somewhere,” he counters, digging through the fridge for any leftover bananas or berries.

With a sigh, you continue whisking the eggs, laughing at Liam’s futile efforts to find something nutritious. “Good luck with that, Chef Liam,” you say, and he throws a dish towel at you, missing completely.

Once breakfast is underway, you both slip into a comfortable rhythm, chatting and joking as you cook. You take turns flipping the pancakes, trying to outdo each other with your culinary skills. When one of the pancakes gets a bit too crispy, you can’t resist a jab.

“Wow, look at that! A gourmet pancake just for you. I’m sure Marcus Chase would be so impressed,” you say, raising an eyebrow at the burnt mess.

Liam shoots you a mock glare, “Hey, at least I didn’t end up with scrambled eggs. Remember last time I tried making those?”

“Never forget,” you laugh, remembering the kitchen disaster that ensued.

After a flurry of laughter and playful banter, breakfast is finally ready. You both sit at the tiny table, plates piled high with pancakes, eggs, and toast. As you dig in, the conversation shifts to the day ahead, the trial, and the party.

“So, what’s our game plan?” Liam asks, his mouth full of pancake.

You pause, contemplating. “We’ll need to call Hermes and see if he can help us out with our personas. The last thing we want is to make fools of ourselves at the party,” you say, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.

“Right, we need to be on top of our game. No flailing around like we did last time,” he adds, and you both chuckle at the memory of the previous trial.

After finishing breakfast, you both clean up, the kitchen filled with the sounds of clattering dishes and more teasing. It’s a comforting routine, one that reminds you of the bond you’ve always shared, even through all the chaos of the curse and trials.

“Ready to tackle the day?” Liam asks, wiping down the counter.

“More like ready to conquer the universe,” you reply, a determined smile on your face.

With that, you both head back to your room, ready to take on whatever comes next.

You and Liam spread out the contents of your shopping haul on the bed, the mix of fabric and color a stark contrast to the monotony of your usual wardrobe. There’s a nervous energy buzzing between you as you both take in the selection of clothes that will hopefully help you navigate the upcoming party and tackle the second trial.

“Okay, let’s see what we’ve got,” Liam says, a hint of excitement in his voice. He picks up a deep burgundy dress, its fabric soft and flowing. “This one might work. It’s pretty cute.”

You nod, considering it. “Yeah, but is it really the right vibe for Marcus Chase? I mean, he’s an A-lister. We need something that’ll knock him off his feet, not just cute.”

Liam smirks, clearly enjoying the role of fashion advisor. “You mean something that’ll knock him off his feet because you’re so feminine now?”

You shoot him a glare, a flush creeping up your cheeks. “Shut up! I’m still me, even if I have to wear this stuff.”

“Sure, sure,” he replies with a laugh, teasingly raising his hands in mock surrender. “But seriously, this dress has some flair. I think it could work.”

After a bit of back-and-forth, you finally agree to the burgundy dress, setting it aside as you sift through the rest of your finds. There are a couple of other options: a sleek black dress and a floral-patterned one. You’re not sure how you feel about the floral, but the black one has a classic elegance that feels right.

Liam picks up the floral dress, holding it up to you. “You could totally rock this, though! It screams ‘fun and flirty.’”

“Flirty? That’s not really the look I’m going for,” you retort, scrunching your face in distaste. “I need to be sultry, not like I just came from a picnic.”

Liam chuckles, tossing the floral dress aside. “Fair enough. But you do need to pick a bra that goes with whatever dress you choose, and I know you’re not exactly prepared for that.”

“Thanks for the reminder, Captain Obvious,” you reply, rolling your eyes. You rummage through the pile of underwear, pulling out a couple of bras. There’s a simple black lace one that feels luxurious in your hands and a push-up bra that might enhance your curves, giving you more confidence.

“Now, that one’s sexy,” Liam says, eyeing the push-up bra. “You’re definitely going to need some help with those. You might as well play it up.”

You feel your face heat up again. “You’re really pushing your luck, you know that? I can still punch you, and I’d be justified!”

He raises his hands in defense, though he’s laughing. “Okay, okay, I’ll lay off. Just trying to help you embrace your inner goddess, that’s all.”

“Yeah, well, goddess or not, I’m still a guy in here,” you mutter, trying to ignore the fact that you had to feel a bit more like a goddess today.

With a huff, you toss the black lace bra aside and go for the push-up option. You hold it up, examining it critically. “I guess this one will do. But it better not make me look too… you know.”

“Too what?” Liam asks innocently, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

You narrow your eyes. “You know exactly what I mean. If you say ‘feminine’ one more time, I swear I will not be held responsible for my actions.”

“Hey, I’m just saying, you might find it empowering,” he teases, but you catch the glimmer of mischief in his eyes.

“Empowering, my ass. I just want to blend in, not start a revolution,” you reply, feeling the heat in your cheeks again.

“Right, because blending in is what you want when you’re going to a party where you’re supposed to steal a guy from his girlfriend,” he counters, grinning widely.

“Ugh, can we just focus on the task at hand?” you say, exasperated but secretly amused.

“Fine, fine,” he concedes, his laughter dying down as you both get serious again. “So, you’re set on the burgundy dress and the push-up bra? What about shoes?”

You start flipping through the rest of your haul, contemplating your options. “I think I’ll go with the black heels. They’re classic, and they’ll match with anything.”

“Perfect,” Liam says, clapping his hands together. “You’re going to look great. Just remember to strut your stuff at that party.”

“Strutting is not something I’ll be doing,” you insist, though a small smile creeps onto your face at the thought.

With the outfit finally selected, you take a moment to breathe, feeling the weight of the upcoming trial settle over you. It’s time to step up and face whatever Dionysus throws your way, and with Liam by your side, you know you’ll at least have some support along the way.