What I Dreamed Last Night, chapter 11

A/N: Hey, everybody! This is the second to last installment of 'What I Dreamed Last Night." Before I can get sappy, I just to want say THERE IS ONE MORE CHAPTER COMING, it's just an epilogue to the story. It will be uploaded on the 18th, marking the third month since I began this story. And now, I will get sappy.

I really want to thank everybody who's continued to read this, despite inconsistent short and long chapters, and lag between writing. Summer has been a wonderful few months, so many big changes for me, such as going into a relationship and handling harder, tougher work then before. I really want to thank you all for your consistent dedication, and I hope you enjoyed this story! It was super fun to write, and it's one of my favorite multi-chapters to update. Honestly, at first, I was SUPER afraid of writing this, as we know of the disaster that is Devil Takes The Hindmost. I was afraid I'd fail at capturing the 7's voices, plus others, in a high school setting, but it seems to you all, I've done it quite well! So here it is, the penultimate chapter of What I Dreamed Last Night.

ALSO: THE LAST CHAPTER WILL BE DEDICATED TO THE PERSON WHO CAN FIND OUT WHY I CALLED THIS STORY WHAT I DREAMED LAST NIGHT, WHICH WILL BE REVEALED IN THE FINAL CHAPTER! Do your research well! And look at the authors notes in the past few months, so please enjoy!


It's the night. June 25th, the day every student has been waiting for since their first breath in September. The finals are near, but all will cheer when the final bell goes out on the 25th. Every student rushing home, maybe even staggering to go home, reluctant to go home because they have to get ready for Goode's official Prom, which begins that night, at 7:00 sharp. Most girls meet with their friends in the parking lots, to relax and have their makeup done, while the boys fret, panicking with their friends about what arm they're supposed to lead their date by, if they picked the right corsage. But there are equal anxieties in all students, all fretting and worrying about the night that could possibly be the biggest night of their lives.

Annabeth Chase was one of these students. On her way home, she wanders aimlessly on the sidewalk, still conscious of where she goes, but worried all the while. The past ten days, she's been forced to associate with Percy Jackson every day, having to deal with his endless energy, laziness with schoolwork and possibly, one of the best students she's ever taught properly. But also, she's found herself beginning to understand him in the past few days, understanding why he is the way he is. How though he's rather lazy, he's intelligent in certain areas. That his apparent jerk ways disguised the kindness underneath. A few days ago, when they had been at the library and he had helped that freshman, Nico Di Angelo. And his mischievous nature, when Thalia and Luke had been at each other's throats during drama class. Percy Jackson...wasn't what she thought he was. He's kind. He's intelligent. He's mischeivous. He's someone she found herself wanting to go to Prom with, something she never thought she'd think as long as she lives.

Making it home, she walks past her father, asleep on the armchair in the living room. Her stepmother and her stepbrothers were mostly likely out, as Frederick's face was covered with a newspaper, and she could hear snoring. Rolling her eyes, she looks at the clock that hangs above her desk. 4:30 PM. Less then three hours since Prom would begin. She knew Percy would pick her up at 6:30, so she could start getting dressed at 5:45. For now, she laid down on her sky blue converter, looking up at the painted stars on the ceiling. Her room was painted a dark blue, with the occasional owl flying in the distance, giving her room a dark air, but it was cozy for her. Her black book case was filled to the brim with books, right next to her desk, and she stares at it for a moment, looking for a bright pink spine. Pulling herself up, she walks over to the shelf and looks through her Young Adult Contemporary section, before pulling out a novel by Stephanie Perkins. 'Anna And The French Kiss'. Though she didn't usually enjoy this genre, this was a novel that fitted the night that was coming soon. Every girl dreams of going to Prom. Every girl dreams of living in Paris, but now that it was coming, she wasn't quite sure how she felt now. Should she feel conflicted, or happy? Could she find happiness in something she hadn't quite asked for?

Shaking her head, she flips through the first few pages, before hearing a soft ding coming from her laptop. Turning back to her desk, she sees her Facebook profile still pulled up, a blinking tab in the lower left corner. A message from Seaweed Brain. She rolls her eyes and walks over and opens it up.

June 25th, 4:36pm

Hey, Wise Girl. So, 6:30, right?

Yep.

Already nervous. Annabeth, where the hell do I put a corsage? In the fridge?

An image of Percy's hand holding her corsage, a deep blue flower, and hovering it above the top shelf of what seems to be his fridge.

C'mon, Seaweed Brain. Just leave it be

But my Mom said to put it in the fridge, so it'd be fresh...

Okay, maybe do that, but really, leave it alone.

You sure about that?

Yes. Stop panicking, okay? You gotta calm down.

Sorry...it's just...well..yeah. I'm nervous,

Can I tell you a secret

Yea?

I'm nervous, too

Lol, really?

Yep.

Well, guess we'll both be wrecks tonight...

Agreed.

Come on. Get some rest, Seaweed Brain, and eat something. God knows your move changes when you eat something

Alright, Wise Girl ;)

About an hour later, she began to get ready, after eating a light snack and reading the first few chapters of a new novel she had bought at The Strand where she went with Percy a few days earlier. Plugging in her curling iron, she gets to work, pulling out the dress sleeve that held her dress she bought while shopping two days ago. Getting to work on making her blonde locks, she curls her hair in ringlets, letting the locks hang around her face and leaving it hanging down. Letting herself stare at herself in the mirror, she touches up her face with light bits of makeup. She didn't believe in makeup usually, but tonight, she wanted to. She wanted to believe she was something worth looking at. And mostly, she wanted to make Seaweed Brain's jaw drop. Dashes of shimmering white eye shadow on her eyelids and corners of her eyes, bits of blue dusting the edges. Adding some simple black eyeliner and a pale pink lip stain, she pulls on the dress, letting it slip over her shoulders and down to her knees. She turns to herself in the mirror.

The dress is a navy cocktail dress, the skirt hitting right above her knees. It hugged her chest tight, until the waist, where it flared out. Strapless, and a white sash around the waist, it's simple but flattering on Annabeth. It shimmered underneath the lights of her bedroom, and she let herself stare at the reflection in the mirror, a bit amazed. This is not the Annabeth Chase everybody sees. Usually, Annabeth went for comfortable, a plain white t-shirt, or a colored tank top with jeans and jean shorts, with flats. But tonight, she's allowing herself to be glamorous, to be gorgeous, and comfortable at the same time. To let herself shine bright tonight.

Percy Jackson stands nervously outside the Chase household's door, holding his car keys in one hand, Annabeth's corsage in the other. He hoped he had cleaned up well enough for her, he even shaved! Looking down at his black tie, he remembers what his mother had told him about etiquette. Always push in her chair, walk her to and from her house, compliment her, and no gawking at other girls. Got it. And that black goes with anything, so if Annabeth wore orange, it wouldn't be too bad. Orange is the new black, anyway. He knocks lightly on the wooden door, and not even a minute later, a man with a pair of aviator's glasses on his face answers the door, looking up at Percy.

"Oh, aren't you the tall one? Come in, you must be Percy, right? Or...no wait, let me guess...Seaweed Brain?"

Percy's cheeks flare in color as the man scuttles down the hallway, and he steps inside. The house seemed to be homely. Soft jazz music plays somewhere nearby, and the the sweet smell of chocolate present in the house. Percy takes a deep whiff, as he hears Mr. Chase call his daughter out of her room. He lets himself stare down nervously at the tight shoes that pinch his toes, wondering if Annabeth had griped about him at home. She must have, if Mr. Chase had identified his persona with the nickname that she had given him years ago. Shuffling his feet against the welcome mat, he sighs, running a hand through his ruffled black hair, before looking up and seeing her before him. His heart stopped. She's...there's no words to describe him. And a jumble of words fall out of his mouth, trying to speak, form a coherent word, but he fails, and as he sees her smile, he shuts himself up. He clears his throat, before meeting her eyes.

"Er...hi."

"You okay, Seaweed Brain?" She asks, as she walks over to his side, and slips her arm around his elbow. He shakes as she does, but manages to recover as he slips the corsage into her hand. She takes it, a bright smile on her face, as she straps it onto her wrist, and tucks the matching flower into his lapel.

"Course I am." He replies, as Annabeth's father appears and begins to take pictures of the pair. His arm slips around her shoulders, and he pulls her close and smiles for the camera, but whatever smile that appears on his face could not even compare to the happiness he felt with having this wonderful girl in his arms.


After a traffic jam, and a ten minute belting session to Disney's Frozen Soundtrack, the pair stand at the entrance of the Goode High's Official Prom. They stand there in surprise, their hands enveloped in the other, as they stare at the sight before them. Groups and groups of students dancing happily to great music. A crowd of tables near the entrance and a table full of snacks were laid out, a cold dinner, as the dance was going on until about midnight. The gym's lights were dim, but a shimmer of coordinated neon lights dance around the gym, illuminating the occasional alive face of each student who had attended. Percy lets his hand hold Annabeth's, as they head towards the tables, knowing they would find their friends there. After a few minutes of searching, they see a soft light waving in the dim lights, and Annabeth and Percy grin at each other. Had to be Leo with a lighter.

Walking over the far table, they see a great group of their friends, all twelve of them, around a particularly huge circle table. A beautiful violet flower illuminates the center of the table, glowing in the darkness. Each of their friends sit with their significant other, all except Reyna, who sits, a cool smile on her face, as Percy and Annabeth sit down in the last remaining chairs. Annabeth immediately begins conversation with the girls, while Percy exchange high fives with the boys.

Piper, displaying a gorgeous white gown that glows against her tan smooth skin, she looks like a goddess with her updo, and a gold circlet around her head. She laughs at a joke Hazel tells, who shimmers in a shimmery gold dress, that makes her eyes glow in the darkness. A silver necklace with a key hangs around her neck, and her hair is braided down her back, and slung over her shoulder. Following her is Thalia, who, beside Luke, wears a short silver gown, low v-necked, and with her short black hair gelled and glowing with a beautiful white circlet, similar to Piper's. Calypso, who scolds Leo for almost burning the table cloth, burns brightly in the darkness with an over the shoulder red gown that hugs her chest and her waist, but flares out at her ankles, inspired by the dresses from the 1920's. Finally, Reyna, who wears a queen-like violet dress, a silver chain like belt around her waist, and her dark brown hair curled and half up, half down, giving her the royal air of a Roman Empress.

While the girls shimmer in their dresses, the boys exchange high fives and stories about picking up their dates, while feasting on cold dishes like salami, cheese, vegetables and bread, making mini sandwiches. Seeing who can fit more in their mouth while talking.

"I don't know about you guys, but Mr. Chase was pretty lenient about Annabeth. I haven't met her mother, but she seems terrifying-"

"Percy, Mr. McLean just leant me the keys to his car and said to have her home by midnight, should I be concerned?"

"Well, at least you guys had it easy. Mrs. Levesque was staring me down...I was sweating like crazy!"

"Bah, you guys had it easy. I picked up Thalia right as Jason was picking up Piper. Fucking awkward, we had to share a car..."

"I just met Calypso here, she told me her parents said they didn't need to meet me. I think I've got off too easy..."

As the music begins to pick up pace, the group's conversation dies as the music finally begins to pick up. Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" picks up the gym, and a loud roar is heard as the crowd begins to pick up on the beginning piano chords. The 7, Thalia, Luke and Reyna all exchange wide smiles, before dashing onto the dance floors. The entire group sings the first bars of the song, the girls singing the first solo bit, and the boys singing the next, the generation's voices rising in unison as they let it all go.

"Just a small town girl...
Living in a lonely world...
She took the midnight train going anywhere."

As the song picks up and everybody begins to dance in celebration, bobbing their heads. Annabeth hands join with Percy's, and Percy's joins Piper's, and soon there is a huge circle in the group, as they jump up and down to the rhythm. Since none of the group really knew how to dance that well, they just bobbed their heads and jumped up and down, screaming the lyrics. When the guitar solo arrives, Percy and Jason dash to the center of the circle and begin to perform air guitar, falling to their knees, and pretending to hold guitars, even though none of them were even close to musically talented. Calypso and Hazel laugh, and Thalia bumps both of them out of there and begin to perform her own guitar solo, while Luke cheers her on from the sidelines. When they reach the chorus, everybody belts it with all their hearts, and Annabeth felt so high, so free, she never wanted to come down ever again.


Half an hour later, the group had split into pairs, as the slow songs begin. P!nk's "Just Give Me A Reason" plays, ringing in the gym. Every other person was pulled into another person's arms, and as Reyna Avila Ramirez Arellano wanders through the crowd, she can't help but feel just a bit wistful. What must it be like, to have someone to hold you and love you? A year ago, her heart had been for someone, but now, she stands together with herself, loving herself, and she completes herself. She had decided she didn't need that someone if her someone didn't complete her. She had thought before, that she needed someone to complete her, and accompany her for her journey, but if she ever found someone, it would be because she wants them along with her for her journey. She didn't need a man...but it would be nice to have one.

Wandering along borders of the dance floor, she can pick out her friends easily. Percy and Annabeth, grinning at each other, were giggling and smiling, not even taking the dance as seriously. Annabeth's eyes were shining as she stares up at the idiot, Percy. He's making funny faces as the song goes on, crossing his eyes and sticking out his tongue. Her hand raises to gently grab his chin, and he pouts for a moment, but when she plants a quick kiss on his lips, his face melts in a dreamy smile.

Piper and Jason, who Reyna found a few minutes later, were just a bit more intimate. Jason's arms were wrapped around Piper's smaller frame, her face looking up into his own, a soft smile on both of their faces. They looked so peaceful, so happy, and for a moment, Reyna remembers the pain, remembering how it felt to want Jason. Jason had been her friend, had been her companion for years, but she decided now, she just wanted to be his friend. If Piper made him happy, she was happy. She wouldn't condemn Piper or Jason for loving who they want.

Frank and Hazel, who were just a few feet away, were just a bit clumsy. Frank continues to stare down at his feet, and looking over his shoulder, as though terrified somebody would begin to yell at them because they weren't at arm's length, and Reyna giggles as Hazel presses herself into him even closer, and his face glows red, but his hands raises to brush some hair from her face, and Reyna's heart warms as Hazel's smile grows. Hazel is like a little sister to Reyna, and she just wanted to see her happy. And even if it was with teddy bear boy, so be it.

Right next to Frank and Hazel was Leo and Calypso. It's a bit of a comical sight, as Leo is just a bit taller then Calypso, and the pair are just a bit dwarfed surrounded by the considerably taller students. Leo looks mischevious, a shimmer in his eyes, as his hands are wrapped around Calypso's waist, and they never look away from each other, not once. Reyna thought they were an odd pair, but it did make sense, in the end. Something about Calypso's calm nature, and Leo's agitated, hyperactive energy balanced them perfectly.

Just a few feet away, Thalia and Luke are the most intimate, Thalia's face pressed into Luke's chest, as Luke wraps his arms around her shoulders, with the most protective look on his face, as though someone would take her from his arms. Reyna knew, just as herself, Thalia is a tough, strong damsel, who didn't need a man, but with Luke, she could allow herself to be a bit sillier, a bit happier. More of the teenager she's meant to be, rather then the queen-like facade she puts on for the world.

Reyna finally takes a seat at the table nearby, fixing her eyes on that boy who had trailed Percy beforehand. He wore a dark suit, his pale skin and messy hair contrasting against the nerdy boy who was pressed against him. Nico, she thinks his name is. She watches with a bemused smile, as the other boy, the blonde boy dressed in the blue tuxedo, blushes as Nico wraps his arm around his waist, and pulls him closer. It was cute, as they were small freshmen amongst seniors, sophomores and juniors. She hasn't seen many homosexual couples in Goode's dances, but maybe with these two, students won't be too afraid to show it.

As the last chords of the song end, Reyna sighs, watching as her friends return to her side, and Annabeth offers her hand, as the beginning of Nicki Minaj's "Super Basse" booms over the speakers. Staring at Annabeth's hand for a moment, a grin takes over her face, as she's pulled to her feet, and dances the night away with her friends. She could be loud. She could be a queen. She is Reyna Avila Ramirez Arellano, not needing a man, and she is proud. She completes herself, and she knows that is true strength. Twirling Hazel, letting herself dance alongside Jason, she feels her spirits roar as they haven't all year. She is free, for the first time since she's arrived at Goode.


"So, that's a ten piece McNugget meal, with a Sprite?"

"No, twenty pieces. And a Coke, actually."

After midnight. Goode High's Prom is officially over. The night of beauty and passion and shimmering dresses, wrinkled suits and endless heat is finally over, the night all students have waited for all years. After the Prom had ended, the group had decided to visit the local McDonalds, starving after dancing all night, and the cold dinner laid out was not enough to quell their hunger. Teenagers ate like a thousand monsters. So, as Percy brings the tray over, he grins at his friends, they are all still dressed up in their perfect outfits, standing out among the night goers that visit McDonalds. Setting it down on the table, Annabeth plucks a nugget out of the box, and Percy pretends to frown, but lets her. Sitting down across from her, he plants a quick kiss on her lips, as the two stare at their friends. Piper and Jason sharing a tray of fries. Hazel and Frank both sipping quietly on cups of Sprite, giving each other discreet smiles. Calypso and Leo, gibbering about who knows what, ignoring their food that is steadily getting cold. Thalia, Luke, Nico and Scott, all engaged in a wild conversation about freshmen and students at Goode High School, most likely on how the grades and the social anxieties affect students. Reyna listens intently, and when Percy catches her eyes, she glares at him, but gives him a forgiving smile. He smiles back, before chomping on a nugget, ignoring the crumbs that fall onto his suit.

"So, Wise Girl. Was it that bad of a night as you thought it would be?"

"No. Not really," Annabeth replies, taking a sip of Coca-Cola before she continues to speak, dipping a nugget in the sauce, "I could be going with Octavian."

"Octavian isn't that bad!"

"Okay, if you say so, Seaweed Brain. Now tell me something."

"Anything."

"How long have you liked me?"

"...what."

"I mean, that accident ten days ago was no 'accident',"Annabeth chuckles at Percy's wide eyes, "You planned that."

"What? No, I-Okay, maybe I did."

"Good. So...how long?"

"Awhile, actually..."

"Well, guess what, Seaweed Brain?"

"What?"

"I like you, too."

Silence, except for the hums and discreet conversation of their friends beside them.

"R-Really?"

"Sheesh, you call me Wise Girl, and you don't think I'm wise enough to decide who I like? Your brain is full of kelp."

"Indeed. But I'm your Seaweed Brain. Okay?"

"Alright."

"Hey, love birds!" The two turn at the sound of Leo's voice, who holds his Coca-Cola up in the air, "Let's toast! End of the year, we've all got beautiful ladies, or boys, on our arms-sorry, Nico-and we should toast to it! A toast to what we've wanted! Everybody!"

They all raise their McDonalds cups, and under that fluorescent lighting, Percy slips his arm around Annabeth's waist as the teenagers laugh, finally free. They are as free as a bird, as free the sky. They had so many possibilities, so many possible endings to their stories, that together, they will write, hand in hand. It is June 25th, 2014. Goode High School, New York. And Percy Jackson has finally gotten what he's wanted for years, to be able to share his journey with the most beautiful girl in the world, someone who will not condemn him for his knowledge. And now, he is free, and happy. Because, well, happy is what happens when your dreams come true.