Alrighteyyyy... Thanks for the Revvviiewss! Anyway, I know Thalia acts pretty... erm... drunk in this, but that's what caffeine does to you. It makes you all jittery and you're barely in control of your acts and emotions. (Been there, done that.) You're really hyper and you can't really control yourself. It's kind of like the kid version of being drunk. I think. Okay, I screwed up in the chapter before this. Thalia was supposed to say, ""There doesn't need to be evidence, Annabeth. See, I see the way he looks at you. I see the way he gets a bit clumsy around you. Annabeth. I see the way he blushes when you get close to him. The way he's so eager to please you, like a little kid. He's anxious around you Annabeth." In Decisions, Decisions. That's why Nico said, ""Have you ever noticed that maybe I've done the same thing to you too Thalia? I've been crushing on you both since I've gotten to know you. Forever." It was supposed to be, Thalia says her line, then leaves, then Nico says that line, then leaves.

I hope it makes sense that way... at least, as much sense as my crazy mind will let you get.

"Open up immediately!" Chris banged on my door. He sounded scary. I opened the door, dragging it out. Chris barged in, straight to the other end of the room where he held up a magazine. "Do you indeed know this girl?"

"Yes."

"Why is she in love with a man who is six years older then her? That's like putting a twelve year old in front of a six year old and them falling in love. What do they have in common? Nothing."

"Chris, they've known each other for ages. Thalia basically rescued Nico from one of the worst times in his life. If she likes him, she's certainly given up enough to be with him."

"Like what." Not a question, more like a statement. I answered anyway.

"She basically gave up her life, Chris. She got kicked out of the thing that meant the most to her."

"And what would that be?"

"It's a girl thing."

"Sure it is. It's a girl thing that doesn't exist."

"Chris, if you want to believe that, go ahead. I really don't care. I'm not in the mood for this."

"Annabeth, you've got to tell me. Did they know each other before?"

"Yeah."

"Did they ever date?"

"No."

"Why not then?"

"Because Thalia wasn't allowed to."

"Her parents?"

"Something like that."

"When did they meet? How old was Nico? How old was Thalia?"

"Nico was twelve, Thalia was fourteen."

"Stop making up lies!"

"I'm not lying!"

"How the hell was Thalia older then Nico?"

"I don't have time for this. Get out." I said, pointing my arm toward the door.

"You can't-"

"Oh yes I can. Get. Out."

He scowled at me, but he left. Only a few seconds after the door slammed, it opened once again. "I told you to get out!"

"Uh, no you didn't." Thalia said. She plopped herself down next to me, then got up, then sat back down again. Her black jeans and black t-shirt with light blue and white splatter paint on it made her look tired. Don't ask me why, it just did.

"You're sounding better."

She shrugged. "Espresso coffee with eight packs of sugar in it and three sugar cubes helps."

"Thalia..."

"What?" She said, her eyes were bloodshot. She was drumming her fingers on her lap and tapping her foot in hyper speed.

"You have a caffeine overdose."

"Don't be silly."

"I will. Thalia, how many cups of that did you have?"

"Two. Now where's the bathroom? Oh yeah it's over here I'm gonna go to the bathroom now Annabeth hold on a second." She said all at once. She went to the bathroom and shut the door. The toilet flushed, and I heard a loud squeal.

"What is it?" I called.

"The toilet makes a funny noise!"

Yeah. She had an extreme overdose. This couldn't end well, ADHD plus caffeine rush equals bad. When she came out, she turned up the radio super loud and started dancing to I'm Yours by Jason Mraz. Somebody knocked on the door. I got up and opened it without even checking who it was. I wished I had checked the peephole, because in barged Nico, who skidded to a stop when he saw what Thalia was doing. She spun around a few times with her eyes closed, lost in the music. Finally, she sensed that someone was staring at her, and she turned and opened her eyes. "Hi Nico!"

"Um, hi?"

"Whaddya doing here?"

"Umm-"

He was cut off because Thalia just did the most extreme, surprising, unpredictable thing I've ever seen her do. She stood on her tiptoes, threw her arms around him, and planted her lips on his. Nico looked stunned, but he didn't pull away. Finally, she pulled away and without a word grabbed his hands and pulled him into a dance. The song on the radio changed to In the Arms of the Angel by Sara Mclaughin, and they started to slow dance. I stood and watched, but I didn't interfere. It tore my heart into pieces when he rested his head softly on her head, and each piece in half when she nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck. When the song was over, I turned the radio off. They looked at me as if they just noticed I was there.

"Nico," I said, staring at the floor. "come on. It's time for the activity."

-o-

"You know the rules," Chris said a few hours later. "one man goes home, the rest stay." He acted if we hadn't argued earlier in the day.

"I know."

"After dinner there will be another activity. You will share a dance with the four remaining men."

Shocker. "Oh. Okay."

"Good. Now go knock 'em dead."

"If I'm lucky." I went through the doors. Chris appeared in his corner a few seconds later.

"Hey." I said quietly.

"Hi." Austin said.

"Hey." Cody said.

"Hiya." Brandan said.

Nico didn't meet my eye. Percy just lifted his head up a bit to acknowledge that I spoke.

"Well. Whoever doesn't make it through tonight, know this was a hard choice. You all definitely dazzled me tonight, and it was a tough choice to pick who was going home. I just want you to know that I really love you all. I've fallen for each and every one of you, and I think this is going to be one of the hardest decisions in my life." Lies. All lies. I managed to force a tear from my eye for show, and I delicately wiped it away, inwardly rolling my eyes. "Anyway. Before I bore you all to death with my lecture, I just want you to know that I love you all to pieces. Okay, I think that covers it." I took a deep breath, and fingered the first rose. I felt the delicate petals rub gently against my fingers feeling like silk. When I opened my eyes, everything seemed different. Clearer. As if I had been watching through glass for the past three months. Being able to see everything, but only being able to observe, not interact. I realized why; the choice who I was going to pick in the end was clear. I just needed to make it there first.

"Percy, will you accept this rose?"

He smiled, not showing his teeth. A smile of relief that he made it to the next round. "Sure." He took the rose and walked, almost carefree to the safe zone.

"Austin," He looked up and shook his shaggy rust colored hair out of his eyes. "will you accept this rose?"

"'Course I will, Annabeth. Anything for you." He took the rose, smiled charmingly at me, and went to join Percy.

I took a deep breath as I took the second to last rose in my fingers. I held it to my nose and smelt the flower. "Cody, will you accept this rose?"

His blonde hair bounced slightly as he nodded. He stepped up, and I placed the rose in his fingers. He smiled, first at the rose, then up at me. "Thanks."

"No problem."

Nico and Brendan were left. I lifted up the last rose. "This rose is for all the marbles." I said eventually. "This decision was the hardest to make, but I know that I made the right choice in the end. " I looked at Nico then Brandan. "Nico. Will you accept this rose?"

Brandon's eyes deflated. Nico's eyes were more then ever filled with sorrow and depression, but a small flame of hope that ignited when I said his name. Nico walked up to me, looking very uncomfortable in his dark black tuxedo. Without a word he took his rose and tucked away in his chest pocket. "I guess."

"You don't seem very enthusiastic."

He shrugged. "I don't need to be." He went to join Percy to the safe zone. I looked at Brandon.

"I'm sorry. I'll see you in the Grand Ballroom in about an hour."

I left, my heart being compressed under a million pounds of theoretical weight. I walked to the makeup room, and let myself in where the girls were already waiting. We had gotten into the habit of not talking since the pool party, and this habit did not break as they dressed me in a pale blue dress that got darker closer to the bottom with white ruffles at the bottom as well. It had a string pattern on the back, long sleeves, and a fluttery white jewel design on the front. It had scarves attached to the bottom that would attach to a thin golden bracelet around each of my wrists. It was gorgeous, easily the prettiest dress I've ever seen. Even if I did hate the girls, they never failed to amaze me with their choice of outfits. They put very little makeup on me, adding a bit of eyeshadow and lip stain that made my lips a bit lighter. They put my hair up in a thick pony-tail type thing and added a few white flowers. They threw on some white high heels and stood me up to look me over. When I finally got to see myself in the mirror, I gasped. I looked sexy, elegant, beautiful, glamourous, and graceful. Of course on the way out, I had to ruin the graceful part by tripping over the shoes. But I made it to the ballroom without any other further mess up. When I stepped in, the room fell silent. The men looked up at me, and Austin's jaw dropped, which made me smile. I stood there taking in each man for a bit before I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, the dress flowing around me like a river, and saw Percy. He bowed fancily, holding up his hand.

"May I have this dance, madam?" He asked in a fake british accent.

"You may." I said, echoing the accent. I placed my hand in mine, and mozart started to play. Slowly, cautiously, we started to dance. We didn't need to say anything, each of us were absorbed in our own memories.

Flashback.

I had grown a bit taller then Percy since the last time I'd seen him. I pulled off my ski cap, and my long blond hair tumbled down my shoulders. I didn't say anything, kind of enjoying the moment of semi-silence, kind of hoping he would say something.

"So…" Percy stammered. "Um, design any good buildings lately?"

I could feel my eyes light up. I stood a little straighter. "Oh my gods, Percy. At my new school, I get to take 3-D design as an elective, and there's this cool computer program where you can knock down a normal building and create your own. Everything from the mini people inside to the overall structure. So I'm creating this building on Ground Zero, a memorial to all the people who died. It's so amazing, I'm thinking about presenting it to the mayor for an idea." I knew I didn't stand a chance, but it was a secret hope. I loved, no, I adored talking about architecture. I kind of trailed off when I saw slight disappointment in his green eyes. It was the first time I'd gone to school in New York, the first school I actually liked. I'd been hoping to see Percy more often. Although it was a boarding school in Brooklyn, me and Thalia were both attending, close enough to Camp Half-Blood that Chiron could help if they got in any trouble, I hardly ever saw him. Maybe it was because it was an all girls school, and he was going to MS-54 in Manhattan, I hardly ever saw him.

Yeah, uh, cool," Percy said. "So you're staying there the rest of the year, huh?"

I scowled. "Well, maybe, if I don't—"

"Hey!" Thalia called to us. She was slow dancing with Grover, who was tripping all over himself, kicking Thalia in the shins, and looking like he wanted to die. At least his feet were fake. Unlike Percy, (And probably me.), he had an excuse for being clumsy. "Dance, you guys!" Thalia ordered. "You look stupid just standing there."

Percy looked nervously at me, then glanced the groups of girls who were roaming the gym.

"Well?" I asked.

"Um, who should I ask?"

I punched him in the gut. "Me, Seaweed Brain."

"Oh. Oh, right."

So we went onto the dance floor, and I saw Percy look over to see how Thalia and Grover were doing things. After a minute of contemplating, he put one hand on my hip, and I clasped his other hand firmly.

"I'm not going to bite," I told him. "Honestly, Percy. Don't you guys have dances at your school?"

He didn't answer. He probably did, but he was probably one of the morons in the corner playing basketball with a balloon.

At least he was a cute moron.

We shuffled around for a few minutes. I kept thinking about things to say, each one probably was going to result in failure. His hands were a bit moist, but nothing too bad.

I kept wishing he would lean in and kiss me already, but I knew it wasn't the time.

How?

He pulled away and pointed to the two possible half-bloods being herded toward a door.

End of Flashback.

I was jolted back into reality by Percy's voice. "What are you thinking about?"

"The dance at Westover Hall, right before I got kidnapped by that stupid helicopter."

"I was thinking about the look on your face when I returned from Calypso's Island."

I blushed. "You were supposed to be the one that I got to go on my first quest in ages with. Give me a break."

"I did."

A long but not awkward pause.

"I think I should give the other men a chance."

"I think you should too."

"Don't worry," I whispered into his ear before I pulled away. "I'll dance with you again before the night is over."

"You better."

"I will!" I pulled away and smiled up at him.

"Annabeth?"

"Yeah?"

"You look great tonight."

"Thanks. It means a lot."

We shared another smile and we broke away. Instantly, another man held his hand up to me. It was Austin.

"Can we... um... dance? If you don't want to then you don't have to but-"

"Of course I will." I took his hand and started to waltz. The entire time we were dancing he didn't say a word. He just acted as nervous as a bird. I cut his time short. He wasn't saying anything. "It's been ten minutes," Lie. Only five. "I think I should spend some time with the other men."

"Okay." He looked relieved and exhausted. As if his job was hard.

I danced with Cody, who also didn't say anything, then with Austin again, before I told them I needed to dance with someone else. I tapped Nico on the shoulder, and he turned around, carefully holding a glass of wine. "Can we dance?"

He shrugged, but he put the glass down and took my hand and placed his hand on my hip, so I took that as a yes. We danced in silence for a while, but then I sighed in exasperation. "You've barely talked to me all night. You don't talk a lot, but this is quiet, even for you. Why are you being so quiet?"

He shrugged again. "I have a lot on my mind."

"I bet you do. So do I."

We were silent again, until my big mouth decided to spurt off. "What's your favorite song?"

"I don't know. What kind of song?"

"Um... slow song."

Just then, the song changed. It was a song I didn't recognize until the chorus, which was when Nico realized it as well. He turned deathly pale and stopped dancing. "I-I-I need to go." He broke away and put his head in his hands.

"What? Wh-" Oh. I know this song.

"In the arms of an angel. Fly away from here. From this dark cold hotel room. And the endlessness that you fear. You are pulled from the wreckage... Of your silent reverie... You're in the arms of the angel, May you find some comfort here."

In the Arms of the Angel by Sara Mclaughin.

The song Thalia and Nico danced to earlier this morning.

I suddenly couldn't breathe. I needed fresh air. I broke a promise that night. I didn't dance with Percy. Instead, I ran out of the ball room and straight up the stairs into my room. I barged in.

"You're back ear-" Thalia started, but I ignored her as I threw open the glass doors to the balcony and outside. Cool, fresh air met my nose and I inhaled gratefully. Thalia came outside and stood next to me.

"Nice dress." She seemed exhausted, as if she was straining herself to stay awake. The caffeine rush seemed completely faded away, and she was experiencing the crash afterwards.

"Thanks."

"Why are you back so early?" She stifled a yawn.

"I couldn't breathe."

"Why?"

"A song that brought back too many memories for both of us started to play. I couldn't stand it."

"Us being..."

"Nico and I."

She paled. "What happened this morning? It's a blur."

"You got incredibly hyper and started dancing. Nico came,

"Yeah."

She smashed her head against the smooth stone. Softly, but hard enough for me to get the point. "I'm. Such. An. Idiot!"

"Maybe," I said, wrapping my arm around her. "But your my idiot."

She laughed. "Remind me to never ever drink coffee again. At least not until I can handle it."

"So... never."

"Maybe."

"I'm glad to see your feeling better."

"Me too."

I'm glad to announce;

I have officially decided about what the last chapter will end exactly...

And how the sequel will begin.

:)

-Blue.

Don't worry.

There is still going to be more of this.

But expect it finished by Late August or Early September.

The sequel will come out in around late September or mid October.

More likely mid October because September is always busy for me. First month of school, blah blah blah.

You know what I'm talking about.