46. They Do It In The Movies

Sighing, she walked through the halls to her first period class. The week had only begun and it felt like it had taken forever. She walked into her classroom and sat down in her preferred seat all the way in the back of the room. The room was buzzing with several different conversations as she massaged her forehead. The weekend had taking a lot of energy out of her and she so didn't need school to make it worse. But it can't possibly get any worse, right?

"Oh. My. Gods!" an all too familiar voice said. Obviously, it can. The voice proceeded on to laugh. She looked up to see Cindy standing next to her desk a little in front of her with a crumpled up piece of paper in her hand. Thalia gasped and ripped it out of her hands.

"Leave my stuff alone, you bimbo," Thalia spat as she stashed the paper in the side of her bag again.

"You can't honestly be serious!" she said, calling the attention of half the class. "You think you have enough talent to enter the talent show?"

"Well, that's none of your business, is it?" Thalia hissed. Cindy crossed her arms over her chest and dropped a hip.

"You know, I've seen a lot of the people who have already entered the show. Pretty boring. I think seeing you upchuck would be a fabulous event than those other losers," she said with a cocky smile. Thalia's breath caught.

"Even if I did enter, I wouldn't puke," Thalia said, gritting her teeth.

"Oh please, if it happened once, it'll happen again Grace." Thalia's eyes narrowed. Not only did she detest the fact Cindy said her last name, was she implying she had thrown up before on stage? Thalia shook her head, it couldn't be. Only three people knew about that terrible moment; her, her father and her mother. She knew for a fact her mother didn't say anything and her father wasn't even in a 100 mile radius of New York, so Cindy was bluffing. She had to be.

"I never did that," Thalia said, as people started staring. Cindy had no proof, and as far as everyone knew, Cindy and Thalia met way after first grade. Cindy smiled.

"You keep telling yourself that, darling." Then she leaned in. "I know what really happened and it's your word against mine." She got up and started walking away, before pausing and looking back. "Don't even think about entering the Talent Show. It's my turf and I don't want your throw up on the stage I'll be winning on," she said, before flipping her long blonde hair and sitting on her seat in the middle of all the boys. Thalia ground her teeth and didn't realize she was gripping her desk until her knuckles were white.

The flashback came back with a vengeance. She tried to block it, but it was futile. She remembered every detail perfectly. She had been in first grade, when she entered her very first, and ultimately her last, Talent Show. She was going to sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider, but as soon as she had stepped onto the stage and looked at the crowd, which she realized now was merely ten kids, she had grown so nervous she puked in front of everyone. A sickly combination of green, yellow and orange and even a piece of carrot. For the rest of the year, she had been called "Puke Face" until she changed schools. Her jaw began to hurt as she ground her teeth. There was no way Cindy could know something like that. There was simply no way! She bit her tongue.

That was it. As the teacher droned on about today's class, Thalia pulled out the crumpled up paper, and started to fill it out. She hadn't even really been thinking about it, but now that Cindy didn't want her to do it, it gave her every reason to want to. She would enter, she would beat Cindy at her own game, and have the rest of the school year to gloat about it.

She was riled up for the next two periods, but her thoughts slowly began to change as lunch approached. For the first time, she felt like she wanted to ask someone for their opinion. Maybe Percy could- ugh, no, not Percy. Not… anyone. She shook her head.

During lunch, she grabbed the piece of paper and walked to Mrs. Quelatish's classroom, but she paused. Sighing, she pressed her back against the wall and slid down.

"No, that's stupid," she said to herself as she rubbed her forehead. "You're just letting her get to you." She shoved the piece of paper back into her bag and continued through the boring day doing the same boring things. She had completely forgotten about the stupid Talent Show and continued with her life, waiting for school to finally end and for Percy to finally get back.

She would never tell him, but she actually missed him. The feeling was so sudden, she stopped mid-step. She had missed people before, and to a certain extent, still does. But she had always grown used to the fact they would never come back, so the ache to see them again subsided until it was barely there or gone all together. Except this time she actually wanted Percy to come back. She wanted to see him again, smiling at her, hugging her… kissing her. She thoughts sent a warm feeling down to her toes. She wondered if Percy missed her back. She wouldn't really be surprised if he didn't, but she secretly hoped she did. At least a little.

The last bell rang, signifying sweet freedom for at least half a day. She made her way through the crowd of hormonal teenagers until she was out on the sidewalk. She walked slowly, her thoughts whirling as she thought about different things; the Talent Show, Percy, the project for fifth period… As she walked up the steps to her apartment, her phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hello Thalia," a familiar voice answered.

"Venita, hi! What's up?" Thalia asked. She remember the last time they'd spoken, when she had introduced her to her new boyfriend, Tristan McLean.

"Thalia, I have amazing news! I'm getting married! And I want to invite you to the wedding," she said. Thalia gaped.

"Wow, that's amazing. I'd love to go! When is it?" She couldn't believe they were getting married so fast. It took her several weeks just to kiss a guy, and Venita was getting married after a month. But hey, true love is always rash, is it not?

"Well, we were going to get married around the end of next year, but well, some things came up and we decided to do it earlier. I wanted to get your address to send the invitation."

"Oh…" Thalia chewed her lip. She really didn't want to give out her address. "Could I come pick up? I don't have a mailbox," she lied.

"Sure, that's fine. I'll have the invitations done in about a week, so you can come by this weekend."

"Sure thing. I'll see you Sunday?"

"Perfect. If I'm not home, Pumpkin can give it to you."

"Sure," Thalia said, as she hung up. She shook her head in disbelief. She certainly hoped it didn't turn into a horrible marriage. She knew how much Pumpkin had already gone through, and she hoped history wouldn't repeat itself. She spent the rest of the day relaxing; eating dinner, watching cartoons, eating, watching cartoons and, well, eating. She had just stepped out of the shower when her phone rang again.

"Okay, weird," she breathed as she walked into the living for her phone. Percy?

"Hello?"

"Hey sweet lips, or cinnamon bun, or sugar bottom, or, um, twinkle toes… I don't know. What pet names do you like?" Percy answered, making Thalia chuckle.

"None, because I'm not a pet."

"Oh… I really wanted a dog…" Thalia gasped.

"Asshole."

"Asswipe."

"Ew…" Thalia said as she walked into her room.

"But think about it, we go together like bread and butter."

"Percy, you're disgusting," she joked, as she put him on speaker and got dressed.

"No, no. I think you're looking for the word "sexy" or "awesome" or, even "prince"," he said, and Thalia could almost see his expressions as he spoke.

"Sure babe, whatever you say." She pulled on her t-shirt and hopped into bed, pulling the covers up to her chest and under her armpits. She turned off her light on the nightstand and leaned back.

"I'm a little surprised you called me," she said, closing her eyes.

"Why? I just wanted to say goodnight to my girlfriend before going to sleep. It makes perfect sense. They do it in movies."

"Yes, because everything in movies makes sense, and let's not forget, is always true."

"Stop being so sarcastic. You're ruining the mood."

"It's in my blood." He scoffed. Thalia smiled as she closed her eyes.

"Anyways, how was your day?" No answer.

"Hello? Thalia?" his voice sounded distant as the phone rolled onto the bed.

"Are you kidding me? Did you fall asleep on me?!" A reply to his answer was a soft snoring sound. The phone dropped to the floor as she turned and snuggled further into the bed.

"All right. Goodnight Thalia. I- um, I lov- Uh, goodnight," Percy stammered, before he hung up and the line went dead.

Okay... Arry the Banana... you're scaring me here... I'll just make sure to lock my windows at night... lol. Anyways! I tried a new tactic at the end here, by, well, I'm not sure what you would call it, but it's like third person from two people, instead of just Thalia? If that makes sense? Anyways, let me know what you guys think!

Now, I haven't re-read or remember all my previous chapters, so if something changes, or I miss something, I am sorry and I give you permission to remind me (kindly!). And I'm going to try to post at least one chapter a week or so, but I can't promise anything, because I've got classes and now a job and I'm running out of "time-to-sit-happily-at-the-computer-to-write-perl ia-smooching-scenes", so bear with me.

Also, thanks to everyone who voted! The poll is still open, for anyone else who would like to vote! I will see you guys next chapter! ^.^