Hey Guys! Here's the ninth chapter!;) Please review! :D! I need more reviews to inspire me to continue!:) I don't own PJO, copyright goes to Rick Riordan! Enjoy! :)


Carly POV

I can't believe I've been in Camp Half-Blood for a month, and yet, my mother still hasn't claimed me. It's February now, and Camp Half-Blood has started to grow into me.

I've made two new friends from the Demeter and Athena cabin.

The young girl from Demeter is named Susan Willer. She's 14 with bob-cut ginger hair, freckles and light green eyes. She's an optimistic and imaginative person, and she simply adores nature. If you pluck a single petal from a flower she'll go completely ballistic.

She doesn't really like Nico, she says that he has an aura of death and it disturbs her.

I keep telling her that he is the son of Hades and that it's completely normal but she just won't listen…she thinks it's just his personality. Oh well, I tried.

My friend from the Athena cabin is an intelligent girl named Annabeth Chase. I met her in the library, it turns out she's a natural at combat statistics and game plan. She's 16 with blonde hair and stormy grey eyes and she has a boyfriend named Percy Jackson. I met him, he's quite funny actually.

Annabeth has known Nico for the longest time, because it was her, Percy and their friend, Thalia who rescued him and his sister Bianca.

Anyways, back to the story.

It was dinner and everyone was seated at their correct tables. As usual, I found myself at the undetermined table. Just me. Alone.

I'm not really complaining, but breakfast, dinner and lunch get quite boringand lonely without anyone to sit with.

Then all of a sudden, Chiron cleared his throat and started to speak through the microphone.

"Campers, I would like to make an announcement. For the first time in centuries, Camp Half-Blood will be having a Valentine's Day ball, which was requested by Cupid himself. Everyone is requested to attend in their best and most formal outfits. Cupid will be making a special guest appearance in the ball to announce the 'King and Queen' of Valentine's Day." Chiron explained.

"Whomever he thinks is most deserving of this title, he will award them with a special…date." he said date like he's never used the word before.

All the girls from the Aphrodite cabin were giggling and whispering, I think I heard some people say 'Tyler and Stephanie are bound to win'. Stephanie must have been that wonderful girl who called me a 'loser'.

Dinner ended and everyone headed to the camp-fire, whispering about the Valentine's Day Ball. Everyone except me, Susan and Nico. Annabeth had joined the camp-fire with Percy.

The three of us walked to the strawberry fields, this was sort of our 'comfort place' when one of us felt gloomy.

I found a soft patch of grass and sat down; Susan sat on my right and Nico on my left.

"So…do you have any idea who you're asking out to the Ball?" Susan asked me.

"Honestly Susan, I don't know…I've never been 'asked'to go anywhere by a boy. I've never even been asked out on a date." I replied sincerely.

"Really? Well, you're sort of lucky. I've been asked out about three times but I turned them all down…they were… how can I put this to words? Dense and Idiotic? Yup, that's how they were, dense and idiotic.

I turned to Nico; he hasn't spoken since Chiron's announcement. "What about you Nico? Have you ever been asked out?" I asked curiously. "No." he replied flatly, "Most girls think I'm a freak and a loser…they judge me because of my dad." he continued.

He was silent for a moment, then he looked at me with his dark and intense eyes, "You're one of those exceptions…you don't judge easily." he said softly.

"That's because I've lived with discrimination my whole life. Ever since I've been studying in Westminster Academy for Young Ladies, people always judged me for being a weak, wimpy and snooty person. Some people didn't even believe that I was my father's daughter. I don't judge people easily because I want them to do the same for me…like you." I replied.

Nico was silent, he gazed upon the sky, he looked even paler than he usually is because of the light from the moon.

Susan cleared her throat, "So…why don't you guys take each other to the Ball?" she asked, I stared at her, completely taken aback.

"Susan have you gone mad? Are you sick?" I said jokingly putting my hand on her forehead.
Susan just laughed, "No Carly, I haven't gone mad, I mean…why don't you and Nico go there as friends." she said.

Nico blushed, "Susan, even if we go there as 'friends' people will get the wrong idea. They already have…who are you going with?" he asked.

Susan just smiled, "Someone asked me…and I said 'yes'. So that just leaves you two." she said innocently.

Nico looked at me hesitantly, "So…just as friends…" he said
"It won't hurt to try…" I continued for him.
"Why not?" Susan added in.

"So it's settled! Nico di Angelo is taking Carly Blaire to the Valentine's Day Ball!" Susan exclaimed, holding an invisible microphone. We both gave her glare, "as friends" she added softly.

Well, thanks to Susan, I'm afraid the Valentine's Day Ball won't go as I planned but it's worth a try. I mean, how horrible can it get bringing a friend to a ball?

We'll just have to wait and see.


Hope you enjoyed!:D More chapters to come! Please review! ;)