Woops! So sorry, something messed up and I accidentally posted the same chapter twice. here's the real chapter! It's Percy singing…Yay… He's not terrible, I promise. Anyways, go on ahead. R&R!
Swimming in the Deep
Percy ran through the lines in his head for the millionth time in two hours. He had worked day and night to come up with clever lyrics and stage directions for his performance in the evening. Which was, by the way, approaching fast. Luckily, he was supposed to be the last one to go onstage so he had a little extra time to review his lines.
It was also a time used for worried pacing.
Percy checked his watch every few seconds, dreading when it finally would turn to 7:30 p.m.
"It's 3:00, I still have half an hour." he whispered to himself.
"3:10, twenty minutes is a long time." he mumbled reassuringly.
"3:20, ten minutes, I can go over it a few times more." he said taking deep breaths.
"3:25, five more minutes, it's cool; I'm going to do great." he uttered wondering who he was fooling.
"3:28, oh my freaking gods, where can I hide." he looked around, his head snapping side to side rapidly.
"3:29, trashcan, bad idea."
And alas, when the little pieces of seaweed in his watch struck 7:30, Percy, smelling slightly of rotten fruit, made his way nervously up to the stage where a stool and a microphone were waiting for him. The crowd of a few hundred campers stared up at him, yawning from boredom. They had been sitting in their seats since just after lunchtime watching performance after performance. Now, don't get me wrong, they hadn't all been bad, but everybody was just so… Serious.
People assumed that since this competition was led by a god, that they had to be professional. They needed to think of clever lyrics that moved you in some way, shape, or form. This may have been good in Apollo's standards, but for the campers who had been sitting there for about 2 and a half hours with very few breaks, well, things were getting a tad boring. Percy, however, was too nervous to notice this, and he just cleared his throat awkwardly before sitting on the edge of his stool. He tapped the microphone to see if it was on before speaking.
"Umm, hello." he began, his face already beginning to turn red. "I'm Percy – echem, excuse me – Jackson, and tonight I'll be singing a parody of a song you probably know. It's called," he paused for what he thought would be dramatic effect when really it was just enough time for a sleeping Ares kid to let out a loud snore. "Rolling in the Deep by Adele!" he gave a small smile before motioning to the man to play the music.
It began playing, slower and softer than in the real version, and Percy sung – slightly off key – along.
Swimming in the Deep
By Percy Jackson
"There's a longing starting in my heart
Too true, it's curfew, yet I step into the dark
Heartless harpies to dodge but the water's crystal clear
Salty sweet it's calling me, Just fish and snail poop there."
A slow drum set began playing from behind the curtain that was still closed behind Percy.
"My cabin, I will leave without even a swimsuit.
Chiron, you underestimate the things that I will do.
Step into the water, waves lapping on the bank.
Despite what it's normally, my mind's completely blank."
The crowd laughed as Travis yelled up to him, "You wish buddy!" Percy just gave him a smile and a thumbs up as the song began to pick up.
"Move in calf high, my brain is at peace.
The fishes bow to me, the attention I deserve.
I step in deeper, I duck my head under.
I love this feeling."
He took a deep breath.
Chorus:
"Down here I have it all
Swimming in the deep.
Jellyfish attack my face.
They sting me to the beat."
Percy smiled, beginning to get comfortable as the crowd laughed. He knew he was way off tune and he had the song practically an octave lower that the singer originally sang it, but the campers were beginning to wake up. Oh, they'll be wide awake soon. He thought to himself as he began the next verse.
"Fishies love me, I tell by what they say.
The shark licks his teeth, asking why I came today.
I just laugh and smile at them, about to make things clear.
Bet if we sing loud enough, they'll be able to hear."
At this, the curtains began to open. The crowd stood up, trying to see what was behind it. Finally something interesting was happening!
"Thanks to my daddy, the ocean is my homie
With all my salty sea-world friends who follow what I say.
Lobster, get a bass guitar, Cod, find the drum set."
The curtains opened up all the way, and a guy in a lobster suit emerged holding a big guitar and a giant fish appeared holding drum sticks
"I love this feeling"
Percy sang out, standing up from his stool.
Chorus 2:
"Down here I have it all
Crab, stop pinching my feet
I see a little blood.
And shark's hungry for meat."
A shark appeared and growled at the crowd. A few Aphrodite girls screamed jokingly.
Chorus 3:
"See a glimmer of a tail
Three Naiad in the deep.
I start to swim away
Cuz they all want me to keep."
Three girls in shimmery outfits appeared and started chasing Percy around the stage. The crowd laughed as one latched itself onto his arm and the other caressed his cheek.
Well, the whole crowd except Annabeth.
"Hide behind a turtle, I plan my big escape.
Counting my blessings, luck's what this plan will take.
Whisper to a stingray her part in my act.
After some convincing she finally cracked."
A stingray walked onstage and Percy looked at her while he sung his lines. While the Naiads pretended to look around for Percy, who was hiding behind a guy in a turtle suit, three little fish appeared in the corner of the stage and began to sing a part quietly. The stingray got on the ground and Percy put one foot on her back.
(There is where he stands, all hail Lord Percy) The fish sang quietly.
"My heart beats like thunder." Percy sang dramatically.
(Such a catastrophe, swimming in the deep)
"My heart beats like thunder"
(This is where he stands, all hail Lord Percy)
"Thunder, thunder, thunder"
(Such a catastrophe, swimming in the deep)
(This is where he stands, all hail Lord Percy)
"I stand on stingray's back."
(Such a catastrophe, swimming in the deep)
"About to leave the deep."
(Her back is where he stands, all hail Lord Percy)
"I motion for a wave."
(Such a catastrophe, swimming in the deep)
"To the girls I wave then wink."
He waved at the three girls pretending to be Naiads.
(Her back is where he stands, Go! Lord Percy)
"Wave hits me in the back."
(Leave the catastrophe, get out of the deep)
"Propels me towards the beach."
(He still stays on her back, Yay! Lord Percy)
"Surfin' is so cool."
(He looks amazing, and he's out of the deep)
"And I land flat, I land flat, I land flat, I land flat on my feet."
Percy ended his song in a pose in the front of the stage, surrounded by all of the fish. He was full of smiles, finally comfortable, and the crowd erupted in cheering. He hadn't watched any of the other performances, but he was pretty sure he had gotten the most applause. He smiled and waved at the crowd as he and the fish exited she stage. Apollo made a few more announcements but Percy was caught in a happy daze as people high fived him. Annabeth gave him a kiss on the cheek (After scolding him about the whole Naiad thing, anyway).
He sat down on the bench next to Chris Rodriguez and breathed a sigh of relief.
"As much fun as that was, I'm glad it's over." he said, watching as Apollo stuck his hand in the bag, calling out various names.
"You did awesome, man." said Chris, holding his knuckles up for a fist pound.
Percy laughed. "I'm just excited to see Clarisse perform!"
Clarisse rolled her eyes and gave Percy a death stare. "I'm not going to perform, Seaweed Brain." she pushed Chris and he rammed into Percy. Chris gave Percy and apologetic look.
"Chris Rodriguez!" someone called. Chris looked up.
"What?" he asked. The other campers turned around to look at him.
"Apollo called your name!" someone yelled to him.
Chris just sat there.
"Go on!" said Annabeth, grabbing his arm and pulling him up off the bench.
Clarisse laughed. "Go on ahead, babe. This will be interesting." He turned around and gave her a look before sticking his hands in his pockets and walking up onstage.
Apollo gave his speech, once again explaining that Chris had until lunch the next day to plan his performance. Finally, he held up the hat with the song choices inside. When it was Chris's turn, he put his hand inside, praying to his father for a decent song. He pulled out a slip of paper. He crossed his fingers before opening it.
"Oh gods." he complained. "What's this? Nicki Minaj?"
Nicki Minaj? I'm so mean, aren't I? Don't worry, she's only featured in the song, so it's not Super Bass, don't worry! Here's a hint: The song was performed on "So You Think You Can Dance" by Lauren and Twitch. We shall see if anyone can guess it…
