OH MY GODS you all are so amazing! 34 reviews on the last chapter! I'm so happy right now! I'm finally done with exams not to mention I'm done with high school in general (my last day was yesterday) and I come to find all these reviews, I almost cried! Decided I would write 4 responses since I got so many reviews! Again, if I don't respond to your review it doesn't mean I didn't read it because I read all of the reviews I get! Ok enjoy this chapter! It's the second figure skating competition one featuring one of my most favorite songs!
Review Responses:
Isc1608: Exams really do suck. Thanks for the luck I really needed it. The past few weeks were packed with studying and projects. I hope you do well/ did well on your exams too!
baephrodite: Your so sweet omg! Thanks for taking the time to read my story and say such amazing things about it! I literally wanted to cry when I read your review. You also pretty much described my actions whenever I see anything about Percabeth. Forever my OTP
TheClassicWeirdo: Percabeth is just adorable in general in everything they do but I'm glad you like how I write them! Good, I aim to make my readers happy. Hmmm Reyna coming back huh? Guess you'll just have to keep reading to see if that happens! Same I can't cook to save my life so you're not alone! Thanks for the regular cookies and good luck on everything as well!
PersonOfInterest: First of all, I freaking love you for reading my story for 7 hours! That's amazing! Aww glad this is one of your favorite fics that means so much to me!
Disclaimer: Don't own
"Pipes will you chill out? You're making me nervous now." Calypso said, fiddling with her hands in her lap. Piper stopped pacing back and forth and sat down on the bench, shaking her leg up and down rapidly. Annabeth sighed, turning to face the two girls sitting next to her.
"You guys will do great. I've seen your routines and they're solid." She encouraged, momentarily putting aside her own nerves to encourage her friends.
They were changing into their skating outfits with about an hour to go before the start of the regional competition. They were all nervous that was for sure but they always were right before they got on the ice. Annabeth being the somewhat leader of the team, always tried to make the others feel more confident instead of focusing on herself. The same couldn't be said for Rachel who was probably changing up in her hotel room and caking her face in makeup for the judges.
"Thanks Annabeth. You're going to do great too. Everyone knows you're the strongest skater on the team. Hell even Rachel and her minions know it they just don't want to admit it." Piper spoke up.
Annabeth blushed, looking down at the floor modestly. She didn't like to think of herself the best skater. In her opinion they were all good figure skaters with some of them being stronger at some things than others. Calypso and Piper had been trying to convince her otherwise for years.
"Thanks guys. Now come on, we should probably start heading out." She helped the other two girls up and grabbed her duffle bag to sling over her shoulder.
All three of them had black Adidas track pants on as well as their zip up jackets with their names sewn into them and some comfortable slides as a cover up for the short dresses they had on underneath to skate in. Calypso's hair was tied up in a ponytail while Piper left hers down freely and Annabeth had a bun with some strands of hair framing her face.
As the three of them walked out and towards the ice rink they bumped into Rachel who was dressed in a super short pink sparkly uniform. Even though the two had a strong hatred towards one another, when Annabeth saw her she couldn't deny that she looked pretty with her hair in an up-do and flawless makeup that went with her outfit. She wasn't wearing anything over top of her uniform and Annabeth found herself admiring the girl for not being afraid to walk around in anything. She could only dream of having that confidence with how insecure she was. Rachel so much as glanced at them before walking right past them and into the ice arena.
Annabeth turned her head back around and smiled when she saw who was coming up to them. Walking in between Leo and Jason, Percy approached her slowly. He was dressed in some dark washed jeans, a fitted dark green t-shirt and his black converse with a jacket. His hair was slightly messy like it always was and he was laughing at something Jason had said, a lopsided smirk making its way onto his face. How did he manage to make even the simplest of clothes look good? Annabeth was seriously starting to think it was unfair how good-looking he was. It certainly hadn't gone unnoticed by the other girls competing today who were staring at Percy as if he were a God or something.
When the three guys reached them, Jason greeted Piper with a quick peck on the cheek, which seemed to ease her nerves at least a little. Leo and Calypso talked quietly next to them. She was blushing as the Latino boy ran a hand through his hair and made a cheesy joke to lighten the mood. The scene was quite adorable. Annabeth gave them a week if not less, until Leo asked the caramel-colored girl out.
"Hey Princess" Percy greeted, taking a step forwards so that he was now in front of her.
He flashed her a smile that she couldn't help but return as they stood at a fairly close distance from each other. Annabeth didn't miss the wistful sighs from a few skaters around them. They must've thought Percy and her were together. The thought made her blush and she broke eye contact with the boy in front of her.
"Hey" She replied shyly.
"You nervous?" He asked her sincerely.
It was so sweet how much he cared. He knew something was up because by this time she should've been making some smart remark towards him but she was quiet. He observed the way she was staring shyly at the ground. They were surrounded by a bunch of girls who were competing today and that was just outside the arena, there were probably more skaters inside as well.
"A little" She shrugged like it wasn't anything to worry about. Percy had been around her so much in the last few weeks that he knew when she was lying. He gave her a skeptical look and when their eyes met again she caved in.
"Fine…I'm really nervous ok Jackson?" She sighed.
He chuckled lightly. Before he had time to think about what he was doing, he reached out and took her hand in his. Annabeth looked up in surprise as his hand encased hers. She couldn't help but notice how perfect her hand felt in his. There was her girly side acting up again.
"You're going to be great Princess. Just pretend you're skating alone with no crowd in front of you. That always seems to work when I'm trying to take a shot on goal." He reassured her.
She smiled thankfully at him. His advice was pretty clever. She might just have to do that. His sea green eyes stared hopefully at her and she suddenly didn't feel as panicked as before. She'd been practicing all the jumps and performing them in sync with the music of her routine. She wanted to be a finalist more than anything.
They must have been standing there a lot longer than she thought because the sound of her best friend's voice brought her out of whatever trance she was in.
"Kelp Head stop hogging Annie will you? Other people want to wish her luck too you know." Thalia teased her cousin, coming towards the two of them in her usual clothing attire which consisted of everything black.
If Annabeth hadn't been blushing before she certainly was now. Leave it to Thalia to make embarrassing remarks. She unlatched her hand from Percy's as her best friend brought her into a hug.
"You've got this Annie" Thalia reassured her comfortingly when they separated from the embrace. Annabeth squeezed her arm in thanks before turning so that she was looking at both cousins.
Before she had the chance to say anything else, Christina emerged through the doors of the ice rink looking for the three of them. She saw Calypso and Piper rushing to meet her near the doors. Annabeth shared one last look with the two people in front of her.
"We'll see you out there Princess." Percy gave her another perfect smile before she turned to her coach, running to get to the door and enter the arena.
"Skating next on the ice is Annabeth Chase."
Annabeth shakily stepped foot onto the ice, making sure she had a smile on her face for the judges. Her short red figure skating dress flowed in the wind behind her as she skated towards the center of the rink. She was the type of girl that despised dressing up in dresses, skirts, and heels but when it came to skating she tried to ignore it because although the outfits were insanely short, they were a part of the sport she loved so much. That's why she tolerated wearing the sparkly short outfits with tights when competitions came around.
She took her starting position, holding her head high and trying not to focus on the table of judges in front of her who would be taking notes while she performed her routine. She stood in place like a statue until the music started.
Clocks-Coldplay
As soon as the music began she started her routine. She focused on simple jumps at first, not wanting to give too much away. The audience soon became a blur to her like it usually did when she was skating.
The lights go out and I can't be saved
Tides that I tried to swim against
Have brought me down upon my knees
Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing
Come out of the things unsaid
Shoot an apple off my head and a
Trouble that can't be named
A tiger's waiting to be tamed, singing
You are, you are
The song she had chosen was one of her personal favorites and the judges could definitely tell because she was skating so comfortably. Annabeth got lost in the song, now starting to perform a toe loop followed by a double axel.
Confusion that never stops
The closing walls and the ticking clocks gonna
Come back and take you home
I could not stop, that you now know, singing
Come out upon my seas
Cursed missed opportunities am I
A part of the cure
Or am I part of the disease, singing
You are, you are
After gathering up enough momentum and speed, Annabeth performed a Lutz and later a triple Lutz, coming down with a crisp landing each time. She smiled genuinely, enjoying the cheers from the crowd around her.
You are, you are
She came down from landing a flip jump, skating backwards as she smiled towards the judges and the crowd. Her movements were perfectly in sync with the music as she continued to glide along the ice.
You are, you are
She performed another toe loop before attempting another axel. She crossed her skates in front of one another as she changed directions on the ice. She felt the stares of everyone on her but her nerves were completely gone.
And nothing else compares
And nothing else compares
And nothing else compares
She made various movements with her skates so that it looked like she was dancing along with the song. Feeling a high level of confidence, she performed another double axel that hadn't been a part of her routine originally. Christina would probably lecture her for it later but she was having way too much fun. She landed it perfectly.
You are, you are
Home, home, where I wanted to go
Home, home, where I wanted to go
Home, home, where I wanted to go (You are)
Home, home, where I wanted to go (You are)
As the song came to a close she performed a last small series of jumps and spins before skating back towards the center and taking her finishing stance.
The audience cheered deafeningly when the song had ended. Annabeth noticed one person in particular cupping his hands around his mouth to cheer for her as loudly as possible. She smiled when their eyes met as he stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. She laughed breathily at his actions as she skated off the rink with the biggest smile on her face.
She was tackled into an embrace by Piper and Calypso as soon as she stepped off the ice. The two of them were in their own skating outfits. Piper wore a soft lilac colored outfit with nude tights and Calypso wore a maroon colored jeweled outfit with nude tights as well. The two of them had performed their routines right before Annabeth. The blonde skater hugged them back tightly, thanking the people around her who were commenting on how well she had skated.
The three girls sat and watched the rest of the skaters perform including Rachel who didn't stumble once. Her performance was near flawless and Annabeth knew by the expressions on the judges that the redhead had secured a spot to the state competition.
It was all over before she knew it. Skaters sat with their coaches nervously awaiting the results of the handful of skaters who would go through to the next round. Christina sat with her four regional skaters as they waited, now wearing their jackets over their outfits and Ugg boots instead of skates because of the cold temperature. Rachel seemed to be overly confident that she was going through meanwhile Annabeth was trying to calm her now beating heart. The silence was killing her and she knew the audience was getting restless as well.
She was so lost in her thoughts that hearing her name being called was like hearing someone speaking while underwater. It was faint and distant. Her whole world stopped when she heard the speakers announce Annabeth Chase. Screams from the audience around her brought her out of her shocked state as Piper and Calypso pulled her in for a bone-crushing hug, proud of their close friend. She could vaguely hear the names of a few more people being called, one of them being Rachel Dare. Christina congratulated her next. The whole thing felt like a dream. Never had she gone to states. Last year she'd had the chance but she fell. This season would be different, she was going to make sure of that.
Annabeth knew Piper and Calypso were disappointed when their names hadn't been called but the proud smiles on their faces showed that they had done their best and were glad to have gotten as far as regionals. They were happy for her and Annabeth didn't know what she had done to deserve such amazing friends. They each looped an arm through one of Annabeth's as the three of them walked out together.
Percy fought his way through the crowds of people walking, searching for a specific blonde with a smile on his face. He eventually made it to a bench that was unoccupied, Leo and Jason chasing after him. Using his logic, he stepped up onto the bench to look over the crowds. He laid eyes on her not even a second later. She was walking towards them and had her arms looped through Piper and Calypso's. She was laughing with the biggest smile on her face. She looked absolutely beautiful.
"Jeez Perce. We know you wanna see your girl but give me a little warning next time you decide to take off." Leo said, panting exaggeratingly while holding a hand to his heart dramatically.
Percy rolled his eyes, jumping down from the bench. "I wasn't going that fast and she is not my girl."
"Not yet" The Hispanic boy coughed under his breath.
Percy rolled his eyes but he couldn't stay annoyed for long because the three girls he had seen making their way towards them suddenly broke through the line of people. They stopped when they saw them.
Piper released Annabeth's arm as Jason pulled her into a comforting hug and pecked her temple after making sure she was ok. Leo surprised everyone when he took ahold of Calypso's hand gently. The caramel-colored girl blushed as did Leo but it was a sweet moment.
Annabeth barely had a second to breath before Percy had practically engulfed her into an embrace, chuckling lowly in her ear as she giggled softly. Since when did Annabeth Chase giggle? This boy was clearly affecting her. She felt the familiar feeling of butterflies in her stomach as he lifted her slightly off the ground so that she was an inch taller than him.
"You were great out there Princess" He stated simply as they pulled out of the tight embrace. Annabeth smiled brightly, feeling as if she couldn't form a coherent sentence at the moment because of how close they were. She could smell the natural pine-ocean like scent he gave off and it was making her senses go haywire.
"Thanks Hockey Boy" She finally managed to get out after another moment when they had separated. Percy congratulated Piper and Calypso on their performances as well before all three girls had to go back into the locker rooms to change.
"Dude, you've got it bad." Jason commented once the girls were out of earshot, addressing Percy whose smile still hadn't fallen from his face.
The hockey player snapped out of it, looking towards Jason who was staring at him knowingly. He punched the blonde boy lightly on the shoulder, still grinning like an idiot.
"Shut up. Like you're not completely wrapped around Piper's finger." He teased, earning a glare from the boy as his cheeks dusted with the color pink. Leo laughed next to them.
"You two are hopeless." The Hispanic boy said. Jason and Percy raised their eyebrows.
"Oh are we? Correct me if I'm wrong Jason but I seem to remember Leo here being the color of a bright red fire truck both before the competition and after when he was with Calypso. Am I wrong?" He sarcastically asked Jason, a hand placed under his chin as if he were thinking.
"Oh no Perce, you're most definitely right. Not to mention he also grabbed her hand a few minutes ago." Jason added.
"Mmm yes how could I forget that?" Percy continued. Both boys faced Leo who was refusing to look them in the eyes.
"You guys are so annoying" He spoke lowly, running a hand through his hair as his face turned red for the third time that day. Percy and Jason relished in their victory of embarrassing their friend. They laughed.
"What's so funny?" Percy heard a familiar voice speak as Annabeth and the others approached them again.
They were now in normal clothes consisting of jeans and sneakers. He noticed Annabeth had on blue jeans, black low top converse and a plain white t-shirt with her hair in a ponytail instead of a bun now. She had on no makeup once so ever. It was possibly the plainest outfit ever. It showed she was a simple girl who didn't care about wearing designer clothes or jewelry all the time and Percy admired that about her.
"Oh nothing" Jason responded suspiciously as he casted a glance towards Leo.
Annabeth let it go. She had no idea what was in guys' heads nor did she ever want to know.
The nine of them (including Thalia, Will and Nico) decided to find a place to eat for lunch near the hotel to celebrate Annabeth's achievement even though she told them they didn't need to. Before they left, Annabeth, Piper, and Calypso had to go back up to their room to put away their duffle bags filled with figure skating stuff.
The boys followed them up and when Annabeth was distracted, Percy took the duffle bag right off her shoulder and carried it himself. He was surprised at how heavy it was. Annabeth insisted that she was fine carrying it herself but Percy didn't listen, insisting that it was the 'gentlemanly thing to do'. She huffed but eventually gave in and let him take it for her, secretly smiling at his cute behavior.
Done with chapter 24! Hope it was worth the wait. I tried to include little moments of all the pairings (mostly Percabeth of course) so tell me what you thought! My next update won't be as long of a wait I promise! Keep it up with those amazing reviews and until next time! Love you guys!
REVIEW, REVIEW AND REVIEW!
-M