No Strings Attached (Sequel to Puppets)

Thalia

"So, the printer. What exactly was printed?" Annabeth asked.

Thalia stared her down and shook her head slowly. "No." She grabbed Annabeth's right hand in her left, and Hazel's left hand in her right, and started running.

"What are you doing?" Hazel half-yelled as she was dragged along.

"Running, duh!" Thalia responded. She needed her answers now.

"You are insane!" Annabeth screamed as they sprinted down stairs and outside.

"Believe me, I know!" Thalia smirked as she half ran through the thick snow. She yanked open the door to the main building and the trio shoved their way into warmth. They ran through the halls, their shoes thudding on the floor. Thalia pulled open the door to the main photocopy room and stepped inside, Hazel and Annabeth following after. The door closed behind them. On the middle printer of five, there was a piece of paper sitting there. Thalia snatched it up.

Hello, girls!
You're not going to get a lead by seeing who printed that lovely picture- it'll just trace back to our dear Kayla Clarum. She says hello, by the way.
You're a nice little trio, aren't you, dolls? The trapped trio, really. Try the door, sweetie. That name really does work, doesn't it, honeybunches?
Really, though, look at our trapped trio. Annabeth, the ever wise bookworm turned badgirl, who's still hiding something from before the winter break.
Thalia, the girl who's taunted by three words that she won't share with anyone, who should really check her records.
Hazel, our dear Hazel, so happy that her sister's alive, that she doesn't even realize that someone besides us is out for revenge. Rache, darling.
Have fun, girlies. Only one of you can come out alive... unless you crack the code
-L xx

"What a bitch," Annabeth muttered, and Hazel smacked her arm in response. "Easy there! I meant, what a bumblebee. Is that better?"

"Much better." Hazel nodded. "Now, what's the code?"

"Dunno. It has to be something to do with the photocopy room in general." Thalia mused. "But what, are we being watched? What's the deal there?" She glanced around for cameras, but didn't find any. "How do they know when we solve it?"

"Oh, don't worry. This is definitely bugged." Annabeth said sharply. "If I can guess correctly, then there's voice recorders at the back of each printer."

The main printer whirred, and a paper churned out.

Correct, sweetheart!
Now you just have to figure out the actual code... what about those summer online college courses, Annabeth?
-L xx

"Summer online college courses? Seriously?" Thalia raised her eyebrows.

"I got bored," Annabeth protested. "I took a special short numerology course, a beginner's German course, and psychology relating to mental illnesses."

"Well, numerology. Numbers. Five printers, five recorders. What else?" Thalia prompted Annabeth. She could practically see the gears in her brain turning.

"Five printers, five recorders. Five numbers for Steph's code. Five original competition girls, five remaining girls being tracked by the L Team." Annabeth deduced as the printer whirred. Thalia was impressed. She was good. She grabbed the printer paper.

"Rache," Thalia read out loud.

"Five letters. German for revenge." Annabeth figured out. "Funnily enough, five signifies freedom."

"Funnily enough, rache looks an awful lot like Rachel." Thalia countered.

"That's it, then." Hazel said, looking around the room. "Rachel wants rache, revenge. Fits with the name. Five letters, which relates to everything else we've been through. Tada, we're done." She looked around the room expectantly. "I said, we're done!"

"No, we're not." Annabeth said quickly. Hazel sighed.

"Okay, okay, okay. So. We've done our numerology, our bit of German. What about the mental illness psychology? I think we have to diagnose what's up with Rachel and why she wants revenge." Thalia figured out, looking around. The printer shoved out another paper and she snatched it up. "Correct, love! Don't overthink it, it's really quite simple." She read out loud.

"Someone's on our side." Hazel said quietly. "Someone on the L team is helping us." Her grin grew, as did Thalia's. Annabeth, however, seemed lost in thought.

"I can't figure it out," Annabeth sighed.

"Our lovely little helper just told us not to overthink it," Thalia warned, happy with the fact that they had someone who was helping.

"It's easy. She's psychopathic with an obsession with popularity." Hazel noted.

"Yeah, and she wants revenge on Hazel for destroying her chance at popularity. Hazel ruined her goals, so she wants to ruin Hazel." Thalia theorized.

Annabeth grinned. "Good job, guys."

"So, basically, what we got out of this whole thing, is that I'm going to be hiding out somewhere in two days." Hazel pointed out.

"Basically," Thalia agreed. "But think on the bright side! We get to see Bianca tomorrow!"

Hazel smiled, but it looked forced. "Yup!"

Thalia collected all the notes they'd received and shoved them in her L note binder. "So, trapped trio. That actually has a ring to it."

"What are we, the golden trio now?" Hazel questioned with a growing grin.

"Yeah! Annabeth's Hermione, I'm Harry, and you're Ron!" Thalia agreed.

"No, you're Ron." Annabeth countered, Hazel nodding and grinning in agreement.

"Whaaaat? Why am I the comic relief!" Thalia pretended to be hurt. She enjoyed hanging out with those two, their lovely trapped trio.

"Well, at least you get to date our lovely Hazel." Annabeth winked, shoving the two together. Wait, what?

"Not into her." Thalia put her hands in a surrendering position, backing away.

"Taken, and not into her." Hazel reminded Annabeth gently, pulling open the door. The three moved into the hallway, and then out the door and into the snow.

As they walked, and Hazel and Annabeth chatted, Thalia looked through the notes. She skimmed over them, stumbling upon a photocopied version of the first note.

'Annabeth, babe, don't deny what you're planning to do.'

They entered their dorm building, and Hazel went off first, waving goodbye. Thalia and Annabeth moved down the hall, stopping outside Annabeth's door. "Annabeth, babe, don't deny what you're planning to do." Thalia said, spitting out the words like they were a challenge.

"I didn't do it," Annabeth admitted, snaking her hand towards the door knob. Thalia's hand shot out and grabbed it, and then the other hand.

"Annabeth," Thalia said quietly, looking her in eyes. "Tell me."

"Three days. After everything with Bianca is over, and student council is over, and Rachel's visit is over." Annabeth promised, her hands slipping out of Thalia's. Thalia's pale arms fell to her sides.

"It's a deal. Text me the date and time." Thalia agreed, turning and walking away.

---

okay okay okay let's try these questions. please answer at least one

1. What do you think Annabeth was planning to do?

2. What do you think those three words are?

3. Who is your fave character in this AU? (Not the original series)

love ya bunches!!