*Sorry this took so long. Been busy. Also been busy writing. Another story, I mean. This is the last chapter!
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Rick Riordan's.*
*Chapter 8: Percy*
Pretty much everything went back to normal. Annabeth and I just pretended like nothing had happened, and one day I saw Annabeth take the rose Brandon had given her, break it, smash it into a million pieces, and throw it in the garbage.
Also, Aphrodite was true to her word. All of the girls at camp ignored Brandon, even the ones who had drooled over him and had always said how hot he was. Now whenever he walked by, the girls would turn away in disgust. Unfortunately, everyone now knows what happened that night. Fortunately, no one brought it up or mentioned it, though I think it's just because Aphrodite had probably threatened them, too.
Anyway, it was Capture the Flag tonight, and it would be the boys against the girls. The other Hunters weren't playing - they didn't want to play against a bunch of boys - but Thalia was.
When it was time for the game, everyone headed off for the woods. Grover wasn't playing, but Nico, Chris, Travis, and Connor were by my side, tense and anxious.
"Watch out for the girls," I muttered to them under my breath. They know I didn't mean all of the girls; I meant our girls, Annabeth, Katie, Clarisse and Rose.
We spread out, Connor and I guarding the flag while Nico, Travis and Chris took positions behind the bushes. At first, everything seemed normal. Too normal. Too quiet, I thought. And then-
"Percy!"
I hurried into the woods. Nico wouldn't call me unless we were under attack. Suddenly something jumped me from behind and tackled me to the ground.
"You really stink at being sneaky," a familiar voice laughed in my ear.
I grit my teeth. "Get off me, Thalia." I tried to throw her off, but her knee dug into my back, her hands gripping my wrists. Her dark hair brushed my face.
I looked around to see all of the other campers surrounding us.
"What are you doing?" I called to the boys, but they all just smirked and stood watching with the girls, not moving.
That's when I realized that this whole thing was a setup.
"Chris! Travis!" I called, but it was too late. Clarisse had Chris's hand pinned behind his back. Rose had Nico, Katie had Travis, and Piper had Connor.
Which only meant-
Annabeth took off her Yankees cap, appearing in front of the flag with a gleeful smile of victory on her face.
I squirmed, trying to push Thalia off, but her grip on me was too tight. Before I could do anything Annabeth grabbed the flag.
"We won," she said, holding the flag up, and the girls cheered. "And," she continued, moving to stand in front of me, "we won the Prank War, too. Total humiliation in front of the entire camp."
The girls celebrated their victory while the boys and I groaned. Thalia let go of me and stood up.
Then I saw a hand reach for me. I took it, and Annabeth helped me stand.
"Don't worry, Seaweed Brain," she said, smiling. "There's always next year."
After that, she wrapped her hands around my neck and kissed me, and I was pretty much okay with losing.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
*Epilogue*
(One year later)
In small groups, the boys rode up the elevators to Olympus for the ball. I tugged on the collar of my tux.
"You look fine," Grover told me, grinning.
"It's not how I look that I'm worried about," I said. This year the ball was just a tux-and-dress event, no masks, but still, I worried.
"Don't be nervous," Travis said. "Tonight's going to go by fine."
"And don't forget to kiss Annabeth at midnight," Connor added. I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
"I wont," I said, my stomach clenching in nervousness and a little in fear.
After I saw Annabeth, though, in a flowing black dress with her hair in a bun, both immediately went away. When it came time for the midnight ball kiss, and when I held Annabeth in my arms and kissed her, Brandon and all thoughts from last year's ball left my mind completely.
And if you were wondering, no, Brandon didn't have a date.
*Hoped you liked it. Don't forget to review. This's the last chapter.
Check out 'Crash' by PercyxPercabethx15 too, if you haven't already. It's sooo good, if I do say so myself.*
