Flashback: Thalia's POV
Mohammed and I slipped outside into the cool, July night. A few houses down, there was a concert. The opening bars to The Only Exception were streamed and Mohammed turned to me.
"Care to dance, Thalia?"
I took his hand and smiled.
We danced, though we didn't know how, spun and wove, then slowing slightly. he stopped, his hands clasped in mine, our eyes meeting.
I could hear his heartbeat.
He was blushing a furious red. I reached forward and cupped his jaw with my hand. And suddenly we weren't kids. we weren't eleven. We were immortal. Nothing mattered.
Oh, but Juliet would kill me later.
This was the biggest gap ever. We'd all go to secondary in September. Yes secondary. Our parents had moved to England when most of us kids were just babies. Things were, apparently, way different here.
The timer bleeped and we came back down to Earth.
I curtsied and he laughed before bowing. We made our way back into the shed.
(Bedtime)
Juliet and I flopped onto the beds.
"Jerk," she whispered.
"What?" I asked, knowing what was ahead.
"You know what," she snarled, "You KNOW that I like him! And you... you went off... and came back acting all "Something totally happened back there", and I'm not having it! You did that on purpose."
I sighed. "Let's talk about this in the morning,"
"No, Miss Thalia Aphrodite Grace, we are talking about this RIGHT NOW, understand?"
"Okay," I sighed, sitting up, "We danced, alright? No biggie. A song came on, and we danced."
"That's not the full truth," she glared.
"No, it is not. But I don't see why I have to explain every detail to you just so you can use it on me later," I spat at my twin. Her cornflower blue eyes bore into me.
Yes, we danced. Yes, it was a romantic song. Yes, there was a really awkward yet cute moment where we almost... never mind. But I wasn't about to tell my bully-of-a-sister that.
I slipped under my covers and whipped out my phone.
Hi Mo. U awake?
Piper
I can smell drama like smoke. Thalia and Juliet were at war. Ah well. I got Jason to find out where the Solace/Di Angelo household was, and made plans with the Zhangs and Valdezs to meet up there.
Jason and I crowded the kids into the big car, and drove.
We got there first, parked round the corner and out of sight. Then, the Zhangs arrived, and last and not least, Leo, pregnant Calypso and a baby Jill Valdez.
I ran to the door, and knocked, everyone else round me.
"EFF OFF!" a grumpy voice yelled.
"Wait, Nico," a calmer, and also male voice called.
The door opened to a blond, tall boy, in pyjamas.
It was Will.
He stared at the huge crowd.
"Actually, maybe not, what my one in particular said," he babbled and slammed the door shut.
"WILL!" I pounded on the door.
"NO!" he yelled back.
"OPEN IT!"
"I'M ONLY WEARING A TOWEL."
"YOU'RE WEARING FLIPPING POKÉMON PJ'S!"
"Oh yeah... Uh... NICO IS ONLY WEARING A TOWEL."
"I'M NOT!" Nico yelled.
"Okay, fine," Will opened the door.
He studied the crowd, and then said, "If you are looking for something for Percy and Annabeth's anniversary, then pop right in."
"NO!" Nico yelled again, "I'M ONLY WEARING PYJAMAS!"
I rolled my eyes and stepped in.
Aaron Grace
I hate how I can't hang with the older kids. I'm ten. but they still won't let me.
It's just... unfair.
But anyway, back to the story.
Will led us down the hall.
"Probably not a pedicure," Will decided. "Neither would enjoy THAT."
"Maybe a... I know!" Nico shouted.
"What?" everyone asked.
Will and Nico shared a look.
"Prepare for trouble," Will smiled, taking a rose from a nearby vase.
"And make it double," Nico plucked a petal of the flower, and we all groaned.
"Just get to the point already," Leo sighed.
Thalia
Hey TT Mohammed texts.
Hiya I text back
WUU2?
Nothing much.
Can I come over?
Yeah, JJ, Mum and the rest of the kids have gone shopping. Just me and Dad.
K.
See ya, Mo.
He was there in twenty seconds. I let him in, and we sat down on the couch. Dad was upstairs.
"So, about yesterday," I began. He flushed a furious red.
"Sorry," Mohammed whispered, "I know your sister likes me. I also know she will have been furious and brought it out on you."
I turned to him.
"You are right, but don't go apologizing," I said, and lowered my voice even more, "She's crazy about you."
"Should we check her Social Media?"
"Do you have instagram?"
"No," he said, "Mum won't let me."
"Let's look then." I flipped on insta, and looked at her latest photo. A selfie in the car, perfect as always.
Coming back from the mall! wish bae wuz here ;) was the caption.
Someone commented; Is your twin your Before Anyone Else?
She commented; Nope ;)
I sighed, and put down the phone.
Mohammed ruffled my hair. I lunged forward to pull his, and he laid back, sending me spinning onto him. I looked up as he smirked down at me. Sighing, was about to sit up, and the door opened.
"We're hoooome!" Juliet chirped.
Mohammed and I scrambled up and glanced at each other.
Oh heck.