Speak now
I twitched as Piper filled me in on the battle plan.
I will enter the church, take my seat and wait silently until the preacher says something along the lines of 'speak now or forever hold your peace'. Then I will stand up, and tell them why I object. Everything has to go well, right?
"Viola!" Thalia quipped, snapping me back into reality. "Shouldn't you be getting inside? The seats are filling up quickly." She said, motioning to the black watch on her wrist.
"Yeah, I guess." I muttered as Piper dragged me into the church by the wrist.
It took a moment to find a seat, they were almost all taken. I ended up sitting in one of the last rows, my view partially cut off by a white satin curtain. Piper left to go back to the entrance where the wedding party was waiting for their cue. Curse her and being one of Annabeth's bridesmaids. I thought sulkily as I sank down in the pew, the little old lady next to me giving me a curious glance. Well, everyone's eyes were on me, what could I say? I knew that everyone was just waiting to hear a peep from me.
About ten minutes later, that really annoying song that they play at wedding as the wedding party walks down the aisle started playing. Two by two they all came: Thalia and Nico, Grover and Juniper, Malcolm and some-girl-whose-name-i-don't-remember, Jason and Piper, Leo and Miya (a girl from Nemesis) and last but not least, the beautiful bride herself with her father. Annabeth was wearing a gorgeous gown; she looked like a Greek goddess. Which im sure was the plan. Her blonde hair was down in big soft curls, and her makeup was perfect. On her arms she had silver cuffs, an owl on each. I think they were a gift from her mother.
As her and her father walked down the aisle, I saw Percy waiting at the alter. I don't know how I hadn't seen him before, but his face was half cut off by the curtain. In his eyes I saw pure content, like he had been waiting for this moment. I don't know how I knew this, but something –probably a very familiar love goddess- was telling me that he really wished that it was me instead of Annabeth. Not that he'd ever admit to it though.
Annabeth neared the alter, and her father gave her hand to Percy's. They turned, hand in hand towards the preacher, who was reading a prayer. I zoned out for a while, trying to ignore the stares of curiosity from the demigods surrounding me. My mind was off in lala land when I felt someone poke me in the shoulder. I turned to see who it was, but there was nobody there. I turned back, and started to drift off again, but the same poking sensation came. I turned around quicker this time, and saw a little girl with dark brown ringlets, kaleidoscope eyes, and she was wearing a little white dress with a pink flower in her hair. The look on her face was innocent, but I could tell from her eyes she was older and wiser. The little girl pointed to the front of the room, where Annabeth and Percy were standing in silence. I realized what she was telling me without words.
"… So speak now or forever hold your peace." Said the preacher. This was my time to shine. So why am I so nervous?
Silence.
Nobody spoke, nobody moved a muscle.
"Well, it seems that nobody-" the preacher began.
I was losing my chance.
"Wait!" cried a voice that sounded exactly like mine, but wasn't. I turned to see the girl wink, and smile encouragingly as all eyes turned to the noise. I realized they were waiting for something, so I stood up shakily. Everyone gasped, though im not surprised. Some demigods had amused smirks on their faces, mostly children of Aphrodite. Before I knew what was happening, I started walking towards the aisle. Everyone's eyes followed me, but mine rested on Percy. His mouth was in a line. Showing absolutely no emotion. Annabeth didn't look mad, but she wasn't exactly the happiest camper. Haha, pun. Her eyes looked like they were trying to figure something out. Something that ill probably never find out after I ruin her wedding.
"I- Im not the kind of girl, who should be rudely barging in on a white veil occasion. But you, you're not the kind of boy, who should be marrying the wrong girl." I managed, before finally reaching the aisle.
Silence.
"Don't say yes, run away now, I can meet you when you're out of the church, at the back door. Please Percy, don't wait, or even say a single vow. You just, you need to hear me out. Please." I heard myself say. Tears brimming in my eyes. Percy's mouth was opening and closing: he looked like a fish.
Silence.
"Im sorry, im sorry Percy, and im sorry Annabeth. I was … Im stupid. Ill just go and you can forget that you even know me." I said before turning to run out the big double doors. I was half way there when a feminine voice stopped me.
"Im sorry, Viola." Said Annabeth in a calm tone. I stopped dead and turned to face her.
"Why would you be sorry?" I asked, utterly confused. She rubbed the back of her neck.
"I feel like … I don't know." she said, letting her arm fall to her side. Everyone gasped. A daughter of Athena, not knowing something? "No, what I mean is, I stole Percy from you. I thought it was the perfect opportunity, but really, I was just taking him away from somebody he already loves." She explained, stepping down from the alter and walking towards me. I was speechless. She touched my arm, and gave me a knowing look. "He still loves you, yenno." She whispered in my ear. The thought almost made me smile. Until I remembered where I was. She turned back to the crowd of people, standing in the pews hoping to get a better look.
"I- I …" I stuttered.
"Percy, I love you, and I know you love me, but, what we have is not as strong as what you and Viola had. I can't just step in the middle and ruin your lives. I would feel absolutely horrible. So, if im right, Percy, I think you should really be asking Viola to marry you." She said, giving me and the crowd a reassuring smile.
"But- B …." Was all Percy could manage; he still stood there like stone.
"Do something, you silly boy!" cried a female voice from the audience. Everyone turned to look at the little girl surrounded by all the Aphrodite kids. She smiled at me, before speaking again.
"Well, you love her, don't you?" she asked bluntly.
"Y-yeah." He said, eyes wide staring at me.
"Then kiss her!" the little girl cried with joy. Annabeth backed up to stand with a smiling Piper, a confused looking Thalia, and all the rest of the wedding party as Percy stepped down from the alter. He walked towards me, and time seemed to slow. By the time he finally reached me, the little girl (who I know suspected was really Aphrodite in disguise) had the entire crowd cheering 'kiss her! Kiss her!'
Percy walked up to me, and for the first time in two years, put a hand on my cheek. He leaned in close to my ear and whispered something. His voice was so reassuring to hear.
"Ill meet you when im out, of my tux at the back door." he said before running off and through the doors. I smiled and looked down at my black sandals that Piper had forced me into. Everyone went silent. They all watched me walk down the aisle, but out through the doors.
The thing that comes after the book that I forgot what it's called:
(Five years later)
Now, you'd think everything turned out great, from that point on, right? You all think that Percy and I got married and had our happily ever after, had kids and a family blah. blah, blah. Well, I guess you're partially right. Percy and I did get back together, but things weren't exactly perfect, as you might call it.
After my tour that summer, my record label dumped me, and it was pretty hard on all of us. But I guess that wasn't a bad thing since there were at least two other record companies that wanted me to work with them.
Marco (my step brother) got in a car accident last year, and now he's paralyzed from the hips down. So that means that he can't play soccer anymore, so he mostly mopes around the house, whining. Well, it was his fault anyways. He was drunk, by the way.
Thalia and Nico broke up, and Thalia left for the hunters again. Nico now lives somewhere in Brooklyn, with his girlfriend Daina (a mortal). Nobody really expected them to last a long time, I mean, daughter of Zeus and son of Hades. Well, no offence to their parents who can kill me in a second. But yeah, so now I guess they're both happy. Ish. (We all still think they should get together soon, and even Lady Artemis agrees that Thalia just isn't the same).
Calypso left shortly after Annabeth and Percy got together, seeing no point in pissing off a daughter of Athena who is very handy with a knife. So now she's gone, and im pretty much happy about it. Sometimes I think Percy misses her, but I try to not be jealous. I guess he feels kind of bad for being so harsh (he told me what happened when I left) on her, and I think he really means it. She doesn't have many friends, I think.
Grover and Juniper got married (surprise, surprise), Malcolm and Liana (THAT'S HER NAME!) are still going strong, and I think Liana's pregnant. Some son of Athena. *thunder booms* Sorry Athena, but I know you agree. Leo and Miya are still dating, though they may break up soon. They've been fighting lots lately. There've been countless times that I've gone to find Leo, and Jake (Mason) tells me that he left to bunker nine. That's where he cools off from the fight I guess. Haha cools off. Get it? Cause he's a fireball. Getting off track here.
Annabeth. Now, Annabeth is a different subject. After she told Percy to marry me, she found a new guy. His name is Benjamin (Ben). I don't think he's a demigod, but Chiron isn't sure. He can get past the borders just fine, but he's never been claimed at all. Maybe he's just a rogue son of Hermes or something? I don't know. He's really sweet, and treats Annabeth well. They met three years ago, I think. They've been going out for a year and a half, and I think that he's going to propose sometime this week. Or, well, that's what Percy told me anyways. Him and Ben (against all odds) are pretty good friends.
Jason and Piper still visit camp sometimes, but they generally stay near Olympus in case anything happens. Most Demigods never leave New York. I think they have twins now, I haven't seen them in a while. But last I heard from Nico (who talked to Beckendorf who talked to Silena who talked to Piper and Jason) they twins. A little boy named Ben (just Ben, but his nickname is Benji) and his little sister (by two minutes) Sarah. We seriously need to go visit them soon. Im starting to miss Piper. And Jason of course …..
And well, last but not least: Percy and I. Shortly after i walked out of the church, and to the back door, Percy was there. His hair was messy from being abused by clothing, and he smelled really good. That's the first thing I noticed. He gave me a really long hug, and told me numerous times how sorry he was for being such an ass, and that he hoped that I would forgive him. I called him an idiot and said that I wouldn't have stood up in the middle of his wedding ceremony if I didn't forgive him. He agreed. Well, not much happened after that *cough* yeah right *cough*. We walked around Manhattan for a while, and just talked about what we'd missed in each others lives. He told me that he was going to go to University of California to study Marine Biology. Then he asked me what I wanted to do in life. My reply was simple: I don't know. I didn't have my life planned out like Annabeth or Malcolm or Thalia, I just wanted to see where it would take me. And that's what I told him. But truthfully, I wanted to go to University. Do something. I don't want to just be a singer who parties with Ke$ha and Lil Wayne in LA all the time. I want to do something that will actually take me somewhere in life. Like be a doctor. Or a Vet. I also told him that. He told me that University of California has a great medical program, and that I should look into taking classes there. I did.
The first few weeks at the U of C were crazy. Nobody would leave me alone, asking all sorts of questions.
'Will you sing a song?'
'When's your new cd coming out?'
'Aren't you dating that Percy guy?'
And I had no idea how to answer them. Crowds were uncomfortable for me. I didn't like the pushing or shoving or anything like that. But after a few weeks of Percy and Leo (he finally got fed up with Miya, who was cheating on him anyway.) being my bodyguards, things calmed down.
So, now im sitting here in my dorm (that I don't have to share. Yay!), writing this in one of my old journals. Sort of like an ending to my life story.
There's a knock on the door.
"Come in!" I yell, quickly putting away the journal and grabbing a book (which doesn't even make sense since I can't really read English. Dyslexia, hello.). My door opened, and in stepped none other then my boyfriend.
"Hey Percy." I said, smiling and putting the book down on my desk.
"Special delivery!" he sang, holding out a bouquet of thirteen white roses and one red.
"What are these for?" I asked, smiling as I scavenged the room to find somewhere to put them. Instead, Percy just held up a finger, as if to tell me to wait a moment. He then proceeded to make a ball of water out of thin air, make it hover, then the he put the bouquet in the water ball. Like a floating vase. I smiled as he walked over to kiss me on the cheek before pulling back to tell me something.
"Hey guess what!" he said, excitement in his voice.
"What?" I asked, now curious.
"I got you something!" he said, waving two pieces of paper in front of my face. I laughed as I tried to grab for them, but he kept pulling them away.
"Percy!" I said, laughing. He smiled, and finally gave in. giving me the papers. They were tickets. To a concert.
"OMIGODS PERCY I LOVE YOU SO FRIKEN MUCH! OMIGODS!" I screamed; hug/tackling my boyfriend to the ground.
"I knew you'd want to go." He said, smug.
"WELL OF COURSE I WANT TO GO! IT'S HEDLEY!" I screamed again. He laughed.
"Ok, I think the whole world knows now." he said, picking us both up off the floor and onto my bed where I jumped happily.
"Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, YAY!" Was all that you heard for like, the next ten minutes.
"Ahhh, I love you so much." Percy sighed, wrapping his arms around my waist, giving me a side hug.
