Pop Goes Metal US Tour

A/N: Hey what's up my awesome readers? I apologize for the long wait I just got back from a long camping trip in Kansas. So, here's the next chapter. Two updates to two different stories in one day, I'm on a role. All characters except my two OC's belong to Rick Riordan, I wouldn't be in the Army if I owned all this.

Chapter 2: Formation

-2 years later-

Percy POV

Grover and I were sitting at a table in Olive Garden, waiting for the rest of the guys to arrive. Grover had come up with an amazing idea on what we could do to avoid college for a s long as possible. Between you and me, I was nowhere near ready anyway, so I grateful for him. Grover looked at me and asked,

"Where are the rest of the guys?"
"No clue, I just texted Jace and Nico."

My phone went off as soon as I said that. I checked to see who it was and read that Jason had picked up the rest of our crew and was on his way to the restaurant.

"Jason has the rest of them; they should be here in a few minutes."

Grover nodded and I asked,

"You haven't actually told me your full plan either. All you told me was that all our problems would be solved."

"I know, but I want to whole the rest of the guys at the same time. It's pretty big."

Before I could respond, my phone went off again. I glanced at it and read that the rest of the guys were here. Grover asked,

"They here?"

"Yeah they should join us any second now."

The restaurants doorbell rang and I could already hear Leo and Nico over which of them were the most attractive; which surprised me, since Nico never "stooped" to Leo's level. Grover shouted to them,

"Ladies, you're both pretty. Now can you please shut up?"

Leo discreetly flipped him off. Once we had all found our seats and ordered, Jason asked

"So, Grover, what's up. Why'd you gather us all so quickly."

Frank chirped in,

"Yeah, I know I'm like your favorite but I have a life."

Grover laughed and said,

"Sorry Frank but everyone knows my favorite is Leo."

"Ha bitch! I told you."

The whole group face palmed and Nico said,

"Leo, you are everyone's least favorite."

"Fuck yourself Deathbreath."

"I'll pass on that generous offer."

I spoke up,

"Guys shut the hell up, Grover has to tell us something. Go ahead G-Man."

Grover nodded then began,

"So, you know how last week we all agreed that none of us were ready for college yet?"

The group nodded.

"So, I was thinking. All of us are musicians, and Percy and Leo have already written some decent songs. I think we should form a band."

After a few minutes of silence, Jason said,

"Grover that idea is fucking beautiful. Hell, yeah man."

Grover looked surprised we liked his idea. I laughed and said,

"Bro you alright?"

He nodded. Frank asked,

"Well we have to figure out what instruments and music we'll play."

Leo spoke up,

"I feel like since we're all proficient at multiple instruments we could just swap out whenever for live shows when we do them."

"That's actually not a bad idea, though I think for when we get to actually recording we just choose what we want to play."

Nico nodded at me in agreement. Jason looked over at Grover and asked,

"Grover what music do you want to play? I mean this is your idea."

"Well I mean since I'm not as good as you guys are I thought I could just like the manager or something."

Frank looked concerned and said,

"You sure man?"

"Yeah I prefer not being in the spotlight anyway."

We agreed with him, and after a few hours of deliberating, we figured we'd play a wide variety of metal.

"We still need a recording drummer and a name."

Nico said depressingly. Leo looked over at him and said,

"Way to be a buzzkill."

"I'm just sayin'."

I spoke up,

"He's right I have a few friends I'm still in contact with from marching band. I'll ask them if they know anyone. You guys do the same."

The guys nodded and started getting up to make some calls. Grover stopped and said,

"I got it."

"Got what?"

I asked.

"The name."

Grover looked me in the eye and said,

"Tartarus, we could be Tartarus."

I was surprised,

"Like the Greek hell?"

"Yeah why not?"

"Nothing, I love it. What about the rest of you?"

Unsurprisingly, Nico and Leo loved it. Frank was a little skeptical but figured it worked, and Jason was indifferent on the subject. I nodded and said,

"Hell, yeah guys almost done. Make those calls and we can have tryouts or something."

Annabeth POV

"Ugh."
I turned and looked at Thalia and asked,

"What? It's just calculus."

"Shut up Annie, don't 'It's just calculus me.' I don't need your smartass attitude right now."

"You can ask me for help. And don't call me Annie, you know I hate that."

"That's why I keep doing it."

Just then Camden ran into my dorm room,

"Guys have you heard this band? I haven't been able to stop listening to them."

Leave it to Camden to always be on top of the music scene. Thalia rolled her eyes. Camden noticed and said

"Don't roll your eyes Thals, you'll like them. I promise."

"What do they play?"

"Heavy metal."

Thalia's face melted.

"Are you serious? You know I hate that shit."

Camden started laughing,

"No, I'm not serious, they play punk rock."

Thalia's eyes lit up,

"Play a song. Now."

I laughed while Camden searched for a song Thalia would like. Camden looked from her phone and said,

"Here you go Thals, the perfect song. Annie, I think you'll like it too."

I glared at her but Camden just shrugged it off. She was one of the few people that weren't bothered when I stared at them. Camden stared back at me with an equally evil glare. Thalia got impatient and said,

"Play the damn song."

"Fine, keep your pants on Thals."

"I do what I want with my pants bitch."

Camden rolled her eyes and pressed play.

(I'd do Anything- Simple Plan)

Another day is going by

I'm thinking about you all the time

But you're out there

And I'm here waiting

And I wrote this letter in my head

Cuz so many things were left unsaid

But now you're gone

And I can't think straight

This could be the one last chance

To make you understand

I'd do anything

Just to hold you in my arms

To try to make you laugh

Cuz somehow, I can't put you in the past

I'd do anything

Just to fall asleep with you

Will you remember me?

Cuz I know

I won't forget you

Together we broke all the rules

Dreaming of dropping out of school

And leave this place

To never come back

So now maybe after all these years

If you miss me have no fear

I'll be here

I'll be waiting

This could be the one last chance to make you understand

And I just can't let you leave me once again

I'd do anything

Just to hold you in my arms

To try to make you laugh

Cuz somehow, I can't put you in the past

I'd do anything

Just to fall asleep with you

Will you remember me?

Cuz I know

I won't forget you

I close my eyes

And all I see is you

I close my eyes

I try to sleep

I can't forget you

Nanana (...)

And I'd do anything for you

Nanana (...)

I'd do anything

Just to hold you in my arms

To try to make you laugh

Cuz somehow, I can't put you in the past

I'd do anything

Just to fall asleep with you

Will you remember me?

Cuz I know

I won't forget you

I'd do anything

To fall asleep with you

I'd do anything

There's nothing I won't do

I'd do anything

To fall asleep with you

I'd do anything

Cuz I know

I won't forget you

The vocalist's voice sounded vaguely familiar. I thought for a moment on who it could be, but Thalia's face caused my mind to go blank. Camden and I both started laughing our asses off. Thalia said,

"What's their name?"

Camden was laughing too hard to answer,

"Answer me I damnit!"

Camden, between laughing, answered,

"'Another Reason to Forget'. They actually have a concert in Penn State's Stadium in a few hours."

"How long have they been around?"

"Their first album came out like right after highschool."

That got me curious, because I remembered that Percy and the guys had always wanted to play for a living.

"Cam, are any of the guys in this band?"

"No, I asked all of them. Even Tom, but he never answered me."

Thalia said,

"That reminds me, I need to text my idiot little brother. I haven't talked to him in months."

I asked Camden,

"Hey Camden, do you know still have Tom's number?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I need to see if I can get a hold of him."

"Sure thing, I'll text it too you."

-Tom POV-

(3 Hours later)

"Thank you, Pennsylvania! You guys are fucking awesome! I hope you enjoyed the show, drive safe and remember."

The audience replied with thunder,

"Don't Fucking Die!"

They cheered as the band and I walked off stage. Derek, before leaving, threw his drumsticks into the crowd causing several people near the stage to go nuts. I slapped him on the back and we followed the other two off. Once backstage, the four of us embraced. I said,

"It's been one hell of a ride guys."

Derek said,

"You bastards are my brothers."

"Fuck yeah we are man."

I laughed at Brandon's remark. Joseph broke the embrace first and said,

"Alright guys, keep in touch. I have to go, school starts in a few hours."

Derek and Brandon said much of the same. I couldn't help but feel a sense of Deja vu, except this time I decided to leave. The other three had all decided to start college after two years of being "Rockstars". I knew that college wasn't for me, music was all I good at. Joseph bro-hugged each of us then left. Brandon was soon to follow. Derek was the last to leave,

"Listen Tom, good luck bro. I know college isn't for you but you're a badass musician and I grabbed this off a streetlight last time we were in New York. It's for a new band. Give them a shot."

"Thanks man, I really appreciate this. I'll let you go."

Derek nodded and walked out leaving me alone. I read the little poster and nearly choked, it had Percy's number on it.

"So, the bastards finally did it. Guess I'll surprise them."

I chuckled and headed out the door, towards the parking lot. I found where I parked and climbed into my cherry-red Mustang and began the drive back to my apartment in NYC. By the time, I had reached my apartment, it was already two in the morning so I decided hit the sack and wake up early the next morning. I awoke to the blaring sound of my alarm and fought the urge to throw the piece of shit out the window. I slammed my hand down on the snooze button and looked at the time, '6:30 am'.

'Fuck my life.'

I said to myself mentally. I reluctantly climbed out of my bed and grabbed some running shorts and a long-sleeve shirt. Once I had changed I grabbed some headphones and my running shoes and went for a four-mile run. By the time, I had finished it was 7:30 and I was in front of New York State's campus.

'Fuck it. I'm hungry.'

I jogged passed the gate and found a map of campus. Once I found a Starbucks, I jogged over to it to get some coffee. I can feel you judging me, you stop that shit. Starbucks is fucking awesome. Anyway, once I reached the building, I walked in saw a sign that read, 'Students eat free, '7:00-8:00 am'.

'Well that's convenient.'

I looked around really quick and saw someone's student ID sitting on a table, their friends were all busy talking to each other, so I walked by and slid my hand over the card and walked towards the barista. I smiled and said,

"Good morning."

The barista just nodded, his eyes were still blurry with sleep. He just said,

"Do you have your student ID?"

"Sure do, here you go man."

He scanned it and gave it back without even looking at it and asked,

"What do you want?"

"I'll have a uhhh…. A Caramel Macchiato, venti, and an egg and cheese biscuit."

"Name for this?"

"Tom."

The barista nodded and I walked towards the waiting area and looked at the ID I had in my hands and nearly died laughing, I had stolen Annabeth's ID. Just then I heard her say, slightly flustered,

"Where the hell is my ID? Thalia, did you fucking take it again?"

"Fuck no Annie, ask Camden or Piper. They always forget their ID's in the morning."

I decided to walk over and return it.

"Excuse me miss, I found this on the floor near the counter."

Annabeth turned quickly, her eyes were full of surprise when she recognized me,

"Holy shit Tom, I haven't seen you in ages, how've you been? I had no idea you went to New York State."

"I've been good, I'm actually not enrolled in NYS. I was just on a run when I realized how hungry I was. Also, what's up Thals? How's Jason?"

Thalia just flipped me off. Annabeth continued,

"Oh cool, what've you been doing?"

"Oh, you know, writing music and just living. Nothing much."

Just then I heard someone scream out,

"Tommy!"

I rolled my eyes and muttered, "Great." Annabeth looked at me curiously but didn't say anything. I turned and said,

"What's up Camden? Piper?"

"I've missed you so much Tommy."

Camden hugged me and I just kind of stood there awkwardly. Piper laughed as I felt heat rise in my cheeks.

"Why didn't you answer my texts yesterday?"

"Oh, I was at the 'Another Reason to Forget' concert."

"What!?"

I jumped at the sudden volume of her voice,

"Why didn't you invite me?"

"I didn't know you liked them."

Piper asked,

"That explains why your voice is so hoarse."

"Or he was busy fucking all the drunk girls at the concert."

Thalia's venom surprised me.

"You know what, fuck you Thalia. I have no idea why you hate me. Enjoy the fucking food."

I stormed out and began sprinting towards my apartment.

Camden POV

"Why do you have to be so mean Thalia?"

"Because I don't trust that asshole."

Annabeth took my side and said,

"What'd he ever do to you?"

Thalia just waved her hand in exasperation. Annabeth looked at me and said,

"Send him a text. Apologize for Thalia's inability to be a morning person."

Tom POV

Once I reached my apartment building I sprinted up to the 4th floor and to my door before I leaned over to catch my breath. After several deep gulps, I unlocked my door and took a shower. Once I dried off, I changed into a pair of jeans and my ARF (Another Reason to Forget) hoodie and checked the flyer to see what time auditions were. I sent a text to Percy real quick telling him to expect me at around 12:30, then took a few hour nap.

Percy POV

I woke up to my phone going off and a number I didn't recognize saying that they would be at the studio at around 12:30. It took me a second to remember what they were talking about, but I quickly replied to them saying the whole band would be there then laid back down.