39. Count Them

Thalia had always imagined dinners with big tables with fancy plates and silverware and everyone keeping their elbows off of the table with napkins spread over their laps in the nicest room in the house. This was nothing like that. The food was still in their pots set over shells woven together into coasters to protect the table from the heat. The plates and silverware weren't fancy, they were simple white ceramic plates with a spoon, a fork and a knife. It was all placed on the table inside the kitchen. You'd think that would seem awkward and disgusting, but it seemed totally and completely normal.

"Let's eat while it's hot," Sally said, as she skipped around the table and sat at the head. Percy grinned at Thalia with a piece of bread sticking out, while Nico seemed like regular old Nico again. He wasn't as giddy, but he smiled as he threw a piece of bread at Percy.

"Boys, come on, we have a guest," Sally scolded, though she didn't sound angry and she just smiled at them. Thalia felt completely out of place. She sat down, but she felt awkward. She hadn't participated in a family dinner in a little over ten years.

"Go on, take as much as you want to eat," Sally smiled. Her smile warmed Thalia like butter on bread. Sally was everything she wanted her mother to be. Everything she didn't have. She reached for the mashed potatoes.

"And so she reaches for the potatoes that have been savagely smashed by the ever ruthless Sally Jackson," Percy said, sounding like those guys that held auctions. Nico laughed.

"Very funny," Thalia said, sending him a playful sneer. She filled her plate as Sally made small talk. And then…

"So, Thalia, tell me. When did you and Percy start dating?" she asked, but she didn't sound annoying; just somewhat embarrassing. Thalia felt her cheeks get hot, and she could only imagine they were a slight shade of pink.

"Mom!" Percy exclaimed. Sally shrugged her shoulders, and Thalia suddenly realized where Percy got his shoulder-shrugging habit from. They looked different, but yet scarily alike.

"We haven't really been dating long," she said. "Hardly any, really."

"Oh…" she said with a hum. "I think Percy's lucky to have you," she said and Percy looked down and covered his face. Thalia could only imagine he was trying to hide his red cheeks. And then she said something that shocked the hell out of her.

"I think it goes both ways," she said. She tried to cover her shock with a soft smile, but her head screamed: WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?! Percy looked up from his hands and looked at her with surprise and suspicion in his eyes, and Nico chuckled. She laughed nervously, and stuffed mash potatoes in her mouth to stop herself from saying anything else embarrassing and stupid.

"Well, I think you guys are adorable," Nico teased. Percy eyed him and the moment Nico took a swig from his coke, Percy bumped his shoulder, making Nico spill soda all over his lap. He glared at him while Percy grinned.

"I'll get you, don't worry," Nico said.

"Yeah right," Percy scoffed.

"I'm just saying, better sleep with one eye open from now on," Nico said with a sly smile.

"Don't worry, I'll help you," Thalia whispered. Nico gave her a high five while Percy looked like he had been utterly betrayed. Thalia smiled at him and mouthed "sorry", though she obviously didn't mean it.

"This is mutiny! Mutiny, I tell you!" Percy exclaimed, and we all guffawed. Thalia couldn't believe dinner could be so much fun, especially because Sally wasn't any ordinary mother.

"So then, Percy was sitting in the bathtub and suddenly all these little bubbles started popping up! And he looks at me with that angelic smile of his and says: I'm a duck!" Sally laughed, while Percy was as red as a tomato. Thalia and Nico laughed hard and it was to the point her stomach started to hurt.

"And he really did sound like a duck! I'm just glad he left the farting in the bathroom," she chuckled.

"MOM!" Percy said. Thalia was wiping at her eyes, she was laughing so hard.

"Jeez Percy McFarty Pants," Nico joked.

"Oh! I wouldn't be so quick, Nico!" Sally exclaimed, and Nico looked utterly scared. He shook his head, but Sally ignored it and continued.

"We were watching this movie, that seemed scary, and Nico got so frightened when this squirrel jumped into the screen that he peed himself," Sally said. This time it was Percy's turn to laugh. Nico's cheeks turned bright, bright red.

"Need some blush for that flush?" Thalia teased.

"Hey, that squirrel was terrifying!" Nico tried to defend himself, but it didn't work.

"Sure," Thalia laughed. He stuck his tongue out at her, which only made Thalia laugh even more.

"Come on Thals, you must have some embarrassing kid stories," Percy said, and Thalia flinched at the nickname. She tried to cover it up quickly, though the look in Sally's eyes told her it hadn't gone unnoticed. She cleared her throat. She couldn't let her past memories affect her anymore. She tried to shrug it away. She wanted to tell Percy not to call her that, but she didn't want to do it in front of everyone, so she let it go.

"I think every kid does," she said. "Of course, I wouldn't remember any of mine," she said smoothly.

"Bullocks," Nico commented in a terrible Australian accent. Thalia shrugged innocently.

"Oh well," she smiled. She took a swig of her coke and grinned triumphantly about the fact she couldn't be embarrassed. They spent the next half an hour eating, joking, eating and well, eating. It got to the point Thalia could barely breathe because she was so stuffed. When they finished, they put the dishes in the sink and packed away any remaining food, which there was barely any. Hey, when you've got two teenagers and a half, food doesn't last as long.

"Hey mom, can Thalia and I hang out?" Percy asked.

"Sure sweetie, just don't let her go home too late," she said as she washed the dishes.

"No problem," he said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheeks, grabbed Thalia's hand and dragged her out the door.

He held her hand and pulled her up the stairs, chattering the whole time about much she was going to like whatever he was going to show her. She couldn't help but be amused. She stumbled up the steps behind him, feeling like her arm was about to be pulled out of its socket.

"Percy, where are you taking me?" she asked. He sent her a grin.

"You'll see," was all he said. Thalia rolled her eyes. They reached the top only to stand in front of a big metal door.

"Really?" Thalia asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Just watch," he said. He kicked the bottom of the door twice and elbowed it right above the lock. There was a soft clunk. With a big smile he pushed the door and it creaked wide open.

"Nice trick," Thalia commented as she stepped out the door and onto the terrace. It was smaller, so she quickly got a view of just how tall the building was and she almost got a heart attack. Clearing her throat she took a step back, bumping into Percy.

"Whoops!" she said as she stepped forward again only to moan and retreat. She was close to getting a whiplash. Percy caught her arm and she tried to force a smile to cover her embarrassment. Nice one, Thalia.

"You okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she said, stretching out the words a little and clearing her throat.

"Well, this is what I wanted you to see," he said, walking forward and leaning over the rail. The wind ruffled his hair and inflated his shirt, making him look like he was on a ship out at sea. Thalia stayed where she was. She refused to spaz out next to Percy. He looked back.

"Come on," he said.

"Uh... I'm okay," she said. "I'll stay here." Percy raised his eyebrow at her.

"Come on," he repeated. Thalia shook her head. He looked confused, and when he looked out, it seemed to dawn on him.

"Oh," he said. "Don't worry, come on," he said gentler.

"Percy, I –" she couldn't finish because Percy grabbed her hand.

"It's okay. Trust me," he smiled. Thalia chewed on her lip, but he slowly pulled her forward. Her breathing grew heavy and her heart started beating faster as she started to feel hot and cold at the same time.

"Percy, I don't think this is such a good ide –" she cut off into a soft gasp as her eyes travelled over the skyline and the street fifteen stories below. She hadn't realized her hand was shaking until Percy held it with both his hands. She pulled her eyes from the too high heights and looked at him.

"You okay?" he asked. Thalia pulled her hand away.

"Of course I am," she said, though she sounded a lot more confident than she felt. He smiled.

"So," she said, trying to change the subject. "How many terraces do you know?" she asked, thinking about the one up in the abandoned building. He chuckled.

"Just these two…" he said. "Possibly." Thalia scoffed.

"Hey," he said. Thalia looked at him, trying to keep her fear off her face. She was standing at the rail of a fifteen story building and her insides were screaming. It was a mystery she wasn't frozen solid.

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to dance again?" he asked. Thalia chuckled.

"You like it that much?" she asked. He turned and rested his back against the rail, which made Thalia's heart leap into her throat.

"I don't know. I just feel like dancing when I'm with you," he said, and then he put his green eyes on her. "And I could tell you like it too," he said, with a crooked smile. Thalia was about to protest, but he raised his hand.

"One more time," he said. He didn't give her time to say no. He pulled out his phone and played a song. Thalia was surprised. Percy seemed to know the music she liked without asking. He took her hand and pulled her away from the railing she was gripping, which she was thankful for.

Wrap me in a bolt of lightning. Send me on my way still smiling. Maybe that's the way I should go. Straight into the mouth of the unknown.

He pulled her in and positioned himself like a pro; holding on to one hand and using the other to wrap it around her waist. He started to sway softly, shuffling his feet slowly, side to side, forward and backward, creating a perfect rhythm.

Thalia followed his movements, melting into his body. Their bodies pulled into one and they moved with fluidity. He turned in soft and gentle circles, her hair swishing with the movement. She looked up to see him smiling down at her and she couldn't help but smile back. Dancing woke up everything inside her; almost as good as singing. Her skin tingled and she felt like heat waves were travelling up and down her body. He loosened his grip on her waist and extended his arm. She twirled out, her hair whipping around her like an open skirt and rolled back in, landing with her back against his chest. She gripped his other hand, and they swayed as she put her head back against his chest.

Call me a sinner, call me a saint. Tell me it's over, I'll still love you the same. Call me your favorite, call me the worst. Tell me it's over, I don't want you to hurt.

She swung out and rolled back in, falling into the original position. The touch of his skin against hers felt seductive and the fact that no one was watching made it harder for her to keep herself under control. There was something… addicting about him. As soon as he touches her, all hell broke loose. He placed both hands on her back and she leaned back, her hair swinging over the dusty terrace. She slowly came back up to find his face, and his lips a lot closer than before. Their foreheads touched and they swayed, forgetting to actually dance. Their breathing was heavy.

"Thalia," he whispered. "Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

She looked up, her icy blue eyes staring into his. She didn't answer. She got on her tip toes and reached for his lips. She struck out first with a tentative lick, which made him suck in air, before she gave him a full on kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer. She didn't know what was better; his lips against hers or his hands that ran up and down her back giving her major goose bumps. This time, there wasn't pain or sorrow in their kiss like before. It was soft, yet strong and full of teenage passion. Not to mention the loud music fueled her desire, the way it vibrated in her bones, bringing her to life.

He bent down, and for a second she wasn't sure what was going on, until she felt his strong hands on her thighs. She jumped up and he pulled her in as her legs wrapped around his waist. She kissed him harder and he definitely requited. She could feel his beating heart against hers and it seemed to fall in time with the music.

So, I'll be on my way.

It all felt right. The song ended and they pulled away.

"Yes," she whispered. He smiled and gave her another kiss. He set her down, but he held her hand as he sat on the floor, pretty much pulling her down with him.

"Okay," she said, as she fell on her butt.

"Look," he said, pointing at the sky as he lay down. Thalia looked up and was surprised to see so many stars in Manhattan.

"Wow," she breathed. She couldn't remember when was the last time she had seen the stars. "I can see the stars again." Percy opened his arm.

"Come on, count'em with me," he said. She leaned down, nuzzling her head into the crook of his neck as he wrapped his arm around her. She was so surprised how good it felt to have someone hold her. The last time someone had held her was… roughly ten years ago. It was crazy. She had been without a family for ten years. And knowing Percy showed her everything she had missed. And she wished she hadn't. They raised their arms and started counting.

"One," Percy began.

"Two," Thalia smiled.

"Three."

Okay, so hopefully, this chapter satisfied your Perlia thirst :) I just want to make sure: I like to give lots of details with the "love scenes" and I'm sure everyone's okay with that, right? lol And like always, let me know what you think! (also let me know if there's any spelling errors).

Disclaimer: I do not own the lyrics. All credit goes to Call Me by Shinedown.