A/N: first of all I OWN NOTHING! Ok now that that is out of the way I just wanted to say that this is only my second story and it will be switching points of view a lot. I know that this is getting really mushy and it is kind of a mushy story, but there will be action at some point. Also, remember that this is like a fast-forward in time so Percy and Annabeth are like 18-19 and Nico is like 15. Hope you like it.
Annabeth******************
I am so excited! We are finally having a real blowout party at camp! It wont be one of those flimsy parties that the Stoll brothers throw, this is a Mr. D party. The gods said that they were going to watch the party from Olympus and that fact is making me nervous because that means my mother, Athena, will be watching me dance with Percy.
This is not good.
Since I am setting up the stage for the performances, I am trying to find a place where my mother won't see us. It is a useless effort though because she can see everything from Olympus. I push this disturbing thought from my mind as I go over to the Big House to discuss the lighting with my siblings.
"So, do we want to put up scaffolding? Or do we want to attempt to hang the lights in the trees?' asks my sister, Jen.
"I think we should…" my brother Kevin begins but I am no longer paying attention.
I am start thinking about all the changes that have happened in camp. For one thing, I never thought Nico would ever actually date someone. The idea seems crazy to me, yet he came walking into camp yesterday with his new girlfriend, Vanessa. Don't get me wrong; Nico is a good-looking guy with a mysterious air to him that most girls (not me) think is hot. Plus, Vanessa is no slacker when it comes to looks. She has caramel colored hair and big violet eyes. Most people mistake her for one of the Aphrodite girls. Her petite frame is light and agile, like she does a lot of dancing.
I am happy for Nico because it seems like the weight of the world lifts off his shoulders whenever she is with him, not that they ever leave each other's side for a moment. They go everywhere together! I wonder if that is what Percy and I look like since I only leave his side when it is absolutely necessary.
"Annabeth? You still with us?" says my brother Antony raising his eyebrow in question.
"Huh? What? Oh, yeah I'm listening." I say as I push all these thoughts to the back of my mind and focus on the lighting plans that will help this party to be one everyone will remember. Especially Percy…I hope.
Nico*********************
Ugh, I hate is boring job. Of course, I get stuck with creating the stupid stage for this pointless party. Ok, so it's probably not pointless, but all the time I spend building this is time I could have spent with Vanessa.
Vanessa, the most beautiful girlfriend a guy could ask for. Not only that, but she understands me and knows how to deal with my….ah family. She is a daughter of Nemesis so she can handle herself. Hades on the other hand, is very displeased with my choice of "compainionship." Who even uses that word anymore? Old people, I guess.
I look up at the half finished stage I made out of granite and think, "this is a great time to take a break." I sprint away from the stage towards the Nemesis cabin hoping Vanessa is there…..alone. The Fates seem to be against me today because when I reach the cabin she is there, but so is the rest of her cabin and they are all staring at me because I just slammed their door open.
"Do you need something Nico?" says Tyler, the head of the cabin, "or someone?"
I blush and mumble something about needing Vanessa to help with the stage.
"Can I go Ty?" asks Vanessa, with a very cute puppy-dog eyes.
"Ah, sure. We were done anyway."
She thanks him and grabs my hand, which sends shock waves up my arm, and we run from the cabin. When we reach the edge of the forest we slow down.
"Well aren't you Mr. Smooth today," she says in a teasing tone.
"Hey, I just saved you from a deathly boring meeting. I think I deserve a reward."
"Ok, close your eyes."
I look deep into her violet eyes and see a beautiful sparkle in them. I slowly close my eyes and wait. I sense her move closer and then I feel her lips touch mine. I kiss her back and lose track of time. I could have stayed in that happy place all day, unfortunately we had work to do. I break away and touch my forehead to hers and say, "That was some reward. I should save you more often."
"I would like that," she giggles, "come on my knight in shining armor, lets go build a stage, then you can have another reward."
I brighten at this idea and give her one more quick kiss. "Lets get started then."
Annabeth*****************
Wow! I didn't think Nico would be so fast at creating the stage. He got it done in an hour… I wonder if Vanessa has anything to do with it. I see them down at the beach with their heads together. Yeah, she definitely had something to do with it. I shake my head and turn back to planing the layout for the dance floor.
Percy **********************
I can't believe I am really going to do this. Well, I knew I would do it at some point, but now that it is really going to happen I am really nervous. I take out he little red box from my pocket for the twentieth time today and look at the ring inside. The ring is simple, a silver band with a small, heart shaped diamond set in it. It was all I could afford, but the real treasure is the words I had inscribed on the inside, "You are everything to me." I prayed to Aphrodite for courage and I hope she was listening because I am going to need it.
I place the ring, in its box, back into my pocket as I walk up Half-Blood hill. When I reach the top, I gaze over the camp and see the chaos that is the preparations for the party tomorrow. Satyrs and dryads are running around setting up snack tables and the Hephaestus cabin is setting up the dance floor with what looks like a crane. It seems like they may have dropped some of the pieces. They are going to get an earful from Annabeth for that.
I smile as I see Annabeth and her siblings arguing over some plan for the lounge area. They are probably going to debate over some complicated design and then agree on doing the simplest layout. Oh well, I learned a while ago not to get mixed up in planning anything or else I would go to bed with a headache.
I jog down the hill towards the arguing cabin mates, hoping that I will be able to steal Annabeth away to…you know, propose. Just thinking about it makes me nervous and jumpy.
As I get closer I hear Kevin say, "…then the chairs would be facing the forest and not the stage."
"No, they would be on an angle," snaps Jordan.
"Wait. What if we just have them in a circle so you can choose which way you are facing," suggests Annabeth.
"Great idea Anna!" says Jen.
"Don't call me Anna and I knew it was," Annabeth replies. She suddenly turns around and pounces on me.
"Hey! I didn't know you had heard me." I say before she kisses me.
She breaks away and laughs, "you are about as quiet as the Minotaur, Seaweed brain."
"Ouch. Harsh much? I can be ninja if I want to be," I pout.
"Suuure, what ever you say Percy," she says. Did I ever mention her eyes are the most beautiful color of gray ever? No? Well they are.
"Hey Perce. Do you need to borrow her?" asks Antony. I just realize that the whole cabin was watching our exchange.
"Um, yeah if you don't mind," I say and without waiting for an answer, I grab Annabeth's hand and we race towards the lake.