Chapter 21-
Thalia
The sound of my ringing phone, knock me from my sleep. It's a Saturday and I plan to enjoy every minute of my sleep.
Pissed off, I grab it and press answer.
"What?" I demand, clearly annoyed.
"Yikes, sleepy head. You sound cheery," A cold voice speaks through the other line.
Nico.
I feel a jumble of jitters running down my skin. At the same time, I feel irritated that he woke me up.
"What do you want?" I try to keep my voice leveled.
"Get up princess. We're going to the arcade," he simply says.
I didn't speak.
He hastily adds,"Or if you don't want, that's fine."
Placing my fingers on my head, I ask," Who's coming?"
The line was silent.
"Just us," he finally breathes out.
Just us. The two of us. That's not that bad Thalia. You can do this, it's going to be fine.
After assuring myself, I finally reply,"Meet you there in 10" Before clicking off the phone.
We meet in the arcade where we played every single game available there. From racing, to some dance off, shooting games and even tried one of those claw machine.
I was watching Nico play the basketball, shooting in the hoops, when I realized that my wallet was missing.
Oh no. Where did I leave my wallet?!
I scout around the arcade discreetly, trying to find my black wallet. Damn it. It's the only source of money I have. I didn't even notice it was my turn to beat his score, until he called me up and I was forced to play. Halfway through, I couldn't focus on anything except for my wallet, although, my score was nearing Nico's and I still have 15 seconds left.
8 points away.
11 seconds.
5 points away.
8 seconds left.
3 points.
5 seconds.
1 point.
Okay you got this Thalia Grace.
"Hey, whose wallet is this?" Nico asks, as he picks up something.
I lose my focus on the ball and it goes flying to the side.
2 seconds.
I shoot my last ball. I didn't bother to check if it went in. I swerve around to make sure it was my wallet.
My throat stricken and I gulp audibly.
Shit.
My wallet.
"Uh, I don't know. Check it out!" I force in a whimper. The sound of the machine victory fades into the background, and I was left with nothing but the loud thudding of my heartbeat in my ears.
He shrugs, opening the wallet. His eyes widens as he reads the name.
"No way," he wheezes out.
"What?" I arch an eyebrow.
He shows it to me. Sure enough, my picture, my actual-non-dyed-hair-and-contacts picture is there, with Annabeth and Piper. My identity card, cash…
"Thalia Grace?" I ask in fake surprise.
He nods. I take the wallet from him and mindlessly say, "I'm going to give this to Piper."
He frowns,"Why Piper? It's Thalia's Grace."
I breathe out, "Because. Jason is her boyfriend and Thalia is her brother!" I exclaim, desperate for an answer.
Nico looks at me weirdly. He opens his mouth to speak, before closing it again. He shakes his head and hands over the wallet.
Yes!
"How do you know Thalia is Jason's sister?" His eyes criticize me.
"Just a hunch you know. Both surnames are Grace," I dismiss the question easily.
His eyes are still so judgmental. I wave it off and continue.
"Thank you very much. Now, let's just go," I happily drag him away and to my favorite store.
The music store.
Piles and piles of records, cassettes and CD are stored there. It's why I love this place. I look over the rack and there I saw it. The album. The one I've been searching for.
39/Smooth. Green Day's first album ever.
I flip it around and try to find the price. Finding none, I went to the counter. Walking past a gawking Nico, I swerve around and follow his gaze. Guess where it landed?
"You wanna pre-order the Olympus Girls newest album? It's coming in Summer," I ask, stifling my laugh.
He went out of his dazed state. "Uh, no, I don't—" he starts blushing, getting all red and cute and more in color than I've ever seen him.
Still red, he says, "Sorry, I have to take this call." He walks out of the store.
Yes maybe I do have a tiny little crush on Nico, but really. It's normal right?
He's your manager's brother.
Okay maybe that makes it a bit weird.
Stopping my train of thoughts, I continue my journey to the counter to check for the price.
"Hey, is it possible to check out the price?" I ask to the cashier guy, who wears a cap covering his face.
He takes it and scan. I hear a rumble. He starts laughing. Literally laughing.
I'm about to step back when he lifts his head up and smirks at me.
Holy Gods of Olympus.
Billie Joe is grinning maniacally at me. This cannot be happening.
"Congratulations. You found it. The actual first copy of our album. Take it, it's from us," He smiles.
I think I'm going to pass out. I go ballistic inside like explosions.
"What's your name kid?" he asks.
Unable to answer, I gulp audibly. "Thalia Jupiter Grace," I say quietly.
You know when you're such an intense fan and you can't believe it's them when you actually meet them? Like the feeling you get of not being able to breathe? That's me right now.
"Thalia as in Olympus?" He asks.
I nod vigorously, unable to speak.
"Cool. Really cool. I like your music. Nice disguise by the way," he smirks.
I can't process anything going through my head. All I'm doing is hyperventilating inside myself screaming that he knows me. Billie Joe knows me!
He takes a pen and signs at the back of the album, then he gives it to me.
"To Thalia Jupiter Grace. Congratulations kiddo."
"Thank you," I smile genuinely," I'm a big fan."
He just winks and went out of the store.
A few seconds later, Nico runs in and stares at me wide-eyed.
"What?" I regain my ability to speak.
"Did you- I mean, was that- uh- Billie Joe?!" His eyes widens.
I nod furiously, strangling a squeak. "I got the album signed!"
xXx
"I got this!" I play the next level of Battlefield Unity with Nico.
After hours in the mall, we got bored and go back to Jason's house which is where we reside in. Nico moves in with Jason, for no apparent reason and besides, Jason is always alone at home.
The TV suddenly blinks, and the channel changes. Growling, I turn around to look at a bored Jason. Nico was groaning in the background.
"Do you mind?" I raise my eyebrows at him, while raising my controller.
I was about to ask where Piper is, but the news makes me listen to it.
"-lympus Girls are releasing their next album, this Summer, but there are rumors that they're postponing it until mid-autumn."
Say what now?
I swerve around to face the television where I see Bianca being interviewed.
"I'm giving the girls some time off, away from stress, which meant that the album is being postponed," Bianca says calmly.
That bit-
"Whoa dude, your sister," Jason says from behind me.
Nico just shrugs.
"Last time spotted, was the three girls in the mall, on Saturday, in Manhattan." The voice of the presenter echoes from the TV while there were the three of us, being photographed from a distance.
Piper with her paperbags, Annabeth with a book in hand and me, a cup of milkshake. Yep, that's definitely us.
"Hey Jase, I thought your sister should be back in California by now," Nico frowns.
Shit.
"Hmm, yeah, I thought so too. Our encounter was nearly a month ago," Jason thinks out loud.
Double Shit.
"I found her wallet earlier this afternoon in the arcade. Weird." Nico thinks out loud.
"Are you sure?" He asks.
"Positive."
Okay now I'm already in piles of crap.
Before Jason can say more, I distract the attention, I exclaim, "Your sister is Thalia Grace?" I could be so stupid sometimes. My brother is sitting like five foot away from me, and he doesn't even know that I'm me. But I have to do what it takes for me to create a diversion.
"Uh, yeah. I knew about it when she first starts. We never actually met each other, since we were separated. I was sent to an all-boys school back then," he sighs. "I'm going out to Piper. Catch you two later."
Once Jason was out of earshot, Nico turns to me.
"I thought you knew Thalia was his sister," Nico frowns.
I shrug nonchalantly, " You know, I was just making sure."
We give each other a look before racing for the remote and change back to the PS4 player, continuing our game.
I'm relieved that I wasn't caught, but at the same time, I was furious with Bianca for not telling us this. Oh, she's gonna get it the next time I meet her.
Just wait Bianca. It won't be pretty.
A/N: *hides* okay I know that I didn't post in April, but the tests kept coming and coming, but thank you for waiting patiently. Seriously, I'm still in school, and you know the workload are humongous. I just came home from a trip recently and I'm drop dead tired. Tell me what you think, or don't. Your choice mate :) xx