Lives Collide
Declaimer: I don't own any of this.
Here's the new chapter! Hope you all enjoy.
The ballroom of one of New York's finest hotels was awash with the best dressed and jewellery-draped inhabitants of the Academy. Every student and teacher was there, along with other invited guests and the Olympia family. The men had fitted tuxes or suits while every woman was comparing their dresses with glee and delight.
Everyone was wearing a mask that fitted over their forehead and eyes, settling down on the cheekbones. Full face masks had been banned years ago after too many people had tried to sneak in; only those with invitations could attend now. They filled the large room with its gold-coloured ceiling and a large chandelier hung above their heads.
A greeter in a suit and tails stood at the top of the sweeping staircase, meeting the guests as they entered. The steps ended where the dance floor began; gleaming varnished wood that was perfectly polished for waltzes and gliding. At the other end of it was the stage; a half circle, now taken up by the band which played music throughout the night. Pillars stood to attention on the right side of the room with the buffet table placed behind them, covered with various foods and drinks. Across from them, floor to ceiling windows opened up onto the porch outside, where there were couches and small fire pits to warm anyone who wishes to get some air.
Poseidon stood with his brothers by the stage, watching out for his son while keeping an eye on his friends. They had met him for the first time that night when he had greeted them and he was met with a mixture of pleasantries and suspicion. They trusted him to love Percy but to hurt him again would result in hatred. He had to respect them all for that.
Percy's friends were gathered around one of the pillars, on the edge of the dance floor but near enough to the buffet table. "Leo! Will you stop eating?" Frank hissed to his friend, "There are only so many sandwiches a guy can eat at once."
Leo turned back to the others, his mouth full of bread and meat, with a red mask on. He swallowed some of it before mumbling through the rest, "You are talking of ordinary guys; I am no ordinary guy."
Hazel distracted Frank before he could reply, leaving Leo to his food. She looked enchanting to him; her yellow dress complementing her skin tone and pinned up dark hair. The thick straps held up the fitted dress that went down to the floor, swishing around her high heeled shoes. Her yellow mask almost matched Frank's, which was a shade darker then hers.
Piper was by her side, in a completely different dress. It was an orange colour, not too bright or too dark, and to her knee. The strapless front was fitted and comfortable while the bottom half was like layered feathers of gold. Her heels matched and surprisingly weren't tight, with her orange mask highlighting her brown eyes. Her hair was pinned back slightly and she was fixing the clip once again.
While she was worried about being in a new situation, she was more concerned about Jason. He hadn't been replying to her texts but she knew that as long as he was with Percy he was probably ok.
Leo, Frank, Nico were dressed in quality tuxes and bow ties, which Annabeth had to fix the moment she saw them. Nico was frowning at the amount of stares they were getting from the students and he mumbled, "Do you think they can sense that we're not in their pay grade? Maybe it's like their superpower."
Piper frowned and looked around. A small smile came to her face as she realised exactly how they were being looked at it. She turned back to Nico and whispered, "Nico, they're staring because they think you're good looking."
Nico blinked and looked around again. This time a girl waved at him and he dumbly waved back after a moment. He turned back to Piper, his eyes wide through his black mask, and said, "Uh, what the hell do I do with this?!"
She giggled and Frank replied, "How about have fun? That's what Percy said to do."
The mention of her friend brought Piper's worry back and she looked around, catching sight of Annabeth. The older girl had been talking with friends and was now walking back up the side of the dance floor towards them.
She smiled at them but her eyes were drawn upwards and she stopped suddenly. A grin came to her face and Piper followed her gaze. It seemed as if everyone else was doing the same thing however.
A wave of hurried whispers flew through the crowd and people turned to the stairs while trying not to make it obvious. Piper smiled widely when she saw what they were all suddenly so attracted to.
Two young men had entered the ballroom, standing at the top of the stairs while the greeter checked their invitations. Their suits were sharp, fitted to show that their wearers were in peek condition. Black ties settled over crisp white shirts, which were under pitch black suit jackets. Straight trousers with leather shoes finished the look. One of them was blonde with an orange mask while the other had hair as black as his clothes and a blue mask that only showed his sea green eyes.
The crowd were quickly catching onto exactly who had just entered the ballroom and the talking got more hurried and slightly louder. The greeter handed them back their invitations and the young friends strolled down the stairs.
"He also knew how to make an entrance when he wanted," Piper heard from beside her. She dragged her eyes from Jason to see Annabeth smiling at her boyfriend, who was the centre of everyone's attention.
-Jason and Percy-
"Don't trip."
"Shut your face."
Jason bit back a smile at Percy's response and they both finally made it to the bottom of the stairs. Percy gazed around at his former classmates, not really making eye contact as he was only looking for his father. Jason walked ahead after catching sight of Piper and Percy followed his lead.
He was near his friends when his feet suddenly locked in place and stooped him from moving. He had seen Annabeth.
Her dark blue dress was the colour of his mask and was off the shoulder and to the floor. The one strap had subtle ruffles that resembled waves in the sea while the bottom of her dress swayed lightly. Her blonde hair was pushed around to her other shoulder and her blue mask made her grey eyes shine. He was so busy staring that he almost didn't notice that she was walking towards him.
"Nice entrance Seaweed Brain," she teased, "If you had given me more time I would have set of some fireworks for you."
Percy was still staring at her and she placed a hand on his arm. Percy blinked and took a step towards her, this clothes brushing off each other. "We can leave right now," he said, "I really won't mind."
Annabeth laughed and leaned up to kiss his quickly. "Seriously," he added, "I would rather spend the rest of the night with you in that dress than anywhere else."
She tilted her head slightly and Percy took a deep breath as he looked around. "Time to impress the crowd however, right?"
Annabeth grinned as she looked him over again and replied, "I think you impressed them enough with that suit." He winked at her from behind the mask just as Poseidon gestured to him from across the room.
Annabeth saw this and she said, trying to be encouraging, "Well, I think you better get ready to claim that fortune of yours."
"Oh I've got all the fortune I need right here," he replied with his hand in hers.
She tried not to laugh as she quipped, "That was very smooth."
"Thank you; I thought of it all by myself."
She slipped her hand into his arm and together they walked across the ballroom to his father. People looked at them over their shoulders and hissed questions and quipped answers back and forth to each other. The Olympia heir was back from where ever he had run away to? It had to be him; the girl in blue was his girlfriend from the Academy. He looks like him, that mask can't hide all his face! Annabeth looked at Percy out of the corner of her eye, watching his face for any worry or anger. Instead, he was walking tall, his eyes looking forwards towards his father and uncles.
Together, they reached the front of the stage and Percy reached out to shake his father's hand. "Hello! Everything alright; did you get here ok?" Poseidon asked him, sending Annabeth a kind smile before turning back to Percy.
His son shrugged and replied, "The others are really grateful for the town cars you sent; Jason and I, however, ran into a little trouble at the diner." He looked over Poseidon's shoulder towards Hades and Zeus, who seemed occupied with asking the waiter to refill their glasses. "Two guys attacked Jason and me at the diner before we left. I think Hera sent them."
Poseidon, shocked with anger, turned around to try and find his sister in law. "How dare she?!" he growled out, "Taking the money to one thing but hurting you another! Where is she?"
"Calm down Dad!" Percy hissed, as people nearby started to glance their way. He placed a hand on his father's shoulder, which was trembling with fury.
"I have let a lot of things go in this family Percy," he said in a thick voice, "And I almost lost you because of it two years ago. But not this time; she has gone too far."
"I know," Percy replied, lowly, "But I think it's time we change our tactics." He slid an arm around Annabeth's waist and she leaned against his side to make sure only the three of them could hear him talking. "I am getting this money; I am taking my place in this family and the business. Now, I want to do good things with it. Scholarships, mentorship programmes, charities in the local areas; but we have to keep the others happy as well."
"You want to give them what they want?" Annabeth asked, her quick mind suddenly figuring out Percy's plan.
He nodded and continued, "Is is possible to create a contract the ultimately limits the amount of the inheritance everyone can get if I don't have it?"
Poseidon had slightly calmed down and he thought for a moment before replying. "I think so; my lawyer was talking about how everyone has a claim to it but different amounts depending on their relation to the family. Hades for instance, as the oldest, rightly has the main claim to it but he forfeited that to Zeus back when he wanted to marry Persephone."
When Percy and Annabeth both frowned at him, he explained. "Zeus made a fuss about her; saying that she wasn't from the right family for actual marriage to one of us. Of course, he was faking it in order for Hades to give up his claim to money. It worked and now Zeus and I have a bigger claim to the money. Apollo and Artemis have little claim because they are cousins and Hera has just claim to Zeus's share because she is his wife. If she hadn't snuck that fine print into the original contract then she would have hardly any claim."
"What I was thinking was a final contract," Percy whispered, "One that would clearly state the claims on the inheritance."
"With you as the main beneficiary," Poseidon finished. He looked around and then added, "We should talk about this later; work out the details without so many people around. Right now, I encourage you to have fun."
"I can have fun once we get the announcement over with," Percy said, gesturing towards the microphone set up on stage.
Jason, on the other side of the ballroom, was assuring Piper that he and Percy were fine. "We'll have some bruises but otherwise nothing major," he said, rubbing a hand up and down her arm.
She sighed and stepped forward to hug him tightly. "This is a lot more serious than we thought, isn't?" she asked him softly, not moving from his arms.
Jason shrugged, replying, "Maybe. But Percy nearly lost it back at the diner; you know that look he gets when he's really angry but can't show us in case we freak. He's changed his game plan and all we can do right now is to trust him."
The band abruptly stopped playing, an echo of sudden silence going through the room. Piper turned out of Jason's hug, one of his arms still around her waist and she looked towards the stage; just like every other person in the ballroom. Poseidon stood there, proud and smiling, at the microphone that the lead singer had just stepped away from.
"Showtime," Leo muttered from Jason's side and Poseidon started to speak.
"Welcome everyone! I hope that you are enjoying yourselves this evening. Without a doubt, this is another fine Masquerade Ball and we at Olympia Academy would like to thank everyone involved with organising this event. You have done a superb job." Everyone clapped loudly; Jason looking over their heads to try and see Percy by the stage.
Poseidon waited until it was quiet before he continued. "Of course, we are not here just for a Ball. Not many of you know this but tonight is the deadline for my son Percy to take his place in the Olympia family as heir." Heads turned, gasps were unleashed and whispered abounded. Leo laughed at the drama of it all, nearly sending his friends off as well. Poseidon looked down beside the stage, grinning smugly at someone near him. Hera, most likely and Jason could only wish he could see her face.
"Please," Poseidon announced, "Celebrate with me as my son takes the stage."
Applause rang out throughout the room and Jason finally saw Percy, who climbed the side steps with ease and strolled over to his father. Poseidon placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled broadly. Percy looked out at the crowd through the eye holes of his mask, a small smile dancing across his face and his hands lazily put into his pant's s pockets. To the other people in the room, he was poised; in control. But Jason could see his shoulders were tense, his shoes were tapping slightly against the ground; he was nearly balancing on the balls of his feet as if he was preparing to run into battle. Jason saw his friend's tells and knew that he was trying to keep any nervousness contained.
Then Percy stepped up to the microphone and Jason grinned as he shook his head. Trust Percy not to shield away from his problems.
The black haired young man smiled from his place on stage and spoke out in a calm voice. "Some of you may know me from school a few years ago; don't worry, I'm not haunting that place again because I am finished school!"
Laughter rippled through the crowd as students flashbacked to Percy's old pranks. "But I am interested in starting a few new ventures in the school and in many other businesses. So, I guess you all will be seeing a lot of me."
The last statement hung in air for a moment, as if it couldn't decide if it was a promise of a threat. Then the crowd began to clap and Percy and his father headed off the stage. The singer took back his microphone and the music started again.
The night wore on; music kept playing, food and drink were devoured. From the moment Percy stepped off the stage, people had gathered around him, shaking his hand and saying how glad they were to see him. Percy had been ready to snap; wanting to yell at all of them to get out of his face with their hypocrisy and sucking up. But Leo saved the day when he appeared out of nowhere and practically jumped on Percy's back.
"Dude! They have mini burgers here! I can stuff like six of them in my mouth!"
Percy grinned widely when he saw his friends surrounding him, almost pushing his family's friends out of his eye line. Annabeth had been waiting for him when he got off the stage and now she was grabbing his hand and pulling him out onto the dance floor.
"Come on Seaweed Brain! Time to embarrass ourselves!"
From then on, with his friends and Annabeth beside him, Percy managed to forget exactly how nervous and on edge he had been when he was on stage. Hera had looked shocked, much to Poseidon's happiness but stayed out of his way all night. Grover, Conner and Travis made their appearances and joined in with the terrible excuses for dancing.
The Ball was ending however; the last dance of the night was being played. Grover had offered to get the tipsy Stolls back to the dorms so they had left a few minutes ago Leo, Nico, Frank and Hazel had gone out to get some air by the large fountain at the front of the hotel; they would meet the tow car when it came. Jason and Piper however were still on the dance floor. Percy and Annabeth were dancing to the same slow song a few feet away. Annabeth was tucked into Percy's chest with her head resting on his shoulder. They swayed lazily as if they didn't have anywhere else in the world to be.
Quick footsteps made Percy open his closed eyes and spot a kid hurrying towards them. Annabeth also looked over at the newcomer and she smiled when he reached them. "Hey Malcolm; is everything ok?"
The blonde boy nodded his head and he replied, "Yes, I'm good Annabeth. I was just heading home and I wanted to tell you that we'll have to cancel the art meeting on Monday. I was told that two people are down with the flu since this morning and I've seen at least three others who will still be hung over by Monday."
Annabeth sighed and grumbled, "Just great. I guess we'll have to just reschedule. Thanks Malcolm."
Malcolm turned to Percy and added, "Welcome back by the way. It's nice to hear your going to shake things up around here."
Percy grinned at him and replied, "Thanks; I thought it was about time someone took up those scholarship programmes and other projects that have been floating around."
Malcolm's eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "I've been saying that since I was a freshman!"
Percy glanced back at Piper before saying, "Listen instead of this art meeting how about you, Annabeth and I talk about those scholarships? Sounds good?"
Malcolm nodded and shook his hand before hurrying off towards the doors.
"Maybe we should all head home too before they kick us out," Annabeth suggested and Percy rubbed a hand up and down her back as he agreed.
Jason and Piper stopped dancing when the song ended and the four of them walked out of the hotel.
It was only a few minutes later when the car pulled up outside the diner. Everyone pilled out, mask either hanging around necks or pushed up over their heads and making their hair stick up. High heels were taken off once inside the diner and ties were undone and taken off. It wasn't until everyone was piled into Percy's apartment did he actually realise that none of them were going to their own homes that night. But all Percy could do was go into his kitchen and get a drink of water as the others sat around his living room. He took off his shoes, jacket and tie as he looked around for a glass and stifled a yawn.
Before he got his drink, however, he turned around to ask the others if they wanted anything. He stopped and stared when he saw them all. Hazel and Frank were asleep on the couch while Jason and Piper were curled up in the armchair. Leo was lying haphazardly on the other armchair, legs and arms dangling off the sides. Nico had made a comfortable spot on the ground, in a pile of cushions and was sleeping peacefully.
Percy forgot his drink when he couldn't see Annabeth and he quietly walked to the doorway of his bedroom. Annabeth was sleeping on his bed, her blue dress hanging up on the door of his wardrobe. She was wearing his t-shirt and shorts and he smiled at her softly. Her eyelids fluttered open and she stared at him sleepily.
"Well I wasn't going to sleep on the armchairs," she mumbled and Percy laughed quietly as he walked over to her. She moved her head up as he slid in beside her and she rested her head on his chest. Percy pulled the sheet up over them and sighed as he lean down on his pillow. His right arm was wrapped around her, his thumb rubbing the skin on her arm.
"It's the calm before the storm, Wise Girl," he whispered and she placed one of her hands on his chest, her eyes still closed.
"Then let's just enjoy the calm for now Seaweed Brain."
He kissed the top of her head before closing his own eyes and clipping into a well earned sleep.
