..Chapter 5..

When Christmas Comes To Town

TPOV

"Thalia! Thalia, wake up!" I heard somebody yelling beside me. I groaned and stuffed my face in my pillow. How early was it? I had barely gotten any sleep last night because I was spending some time with Apollo. "It's Christmas!" the person yelled and I sat straight up in my bed. I looked next to me to find Violet jumping up and down like a little kid that had just won an ice cream cone. I quickly jumped out of bed and got dressed. Once I was finished Violet and I ran out of the door.

We walked to the huge Christmas tree and found almost every camp member sitting around it. There were so many wrapped boxes around the tree that I lost track every five minutes until I finally decided to stop counting. Violet and I went and sat down next to Annabeth and Percy.

"Merry Christmas!" Annabeth said hugging us both. We turned our heads back as we heard Chrion start calling out names to come get their boxes. After a couple minutes he called out my name and handed me four boxes. Once Violet, Percy, and Annabeth had gotten their boxes we moved away from the giant group a little and sat down.

I had gotten another picture frame from Annabeth. The picture was of Apollo and I. I had my forehead leaning against his and our eyes were closed. We were both holding each other's hands and smiling as the stars twinkled above it. Percy had gotten me an expensive jacket and Violet had gotten me a friendship ring. The final boxed that I hadn't opened yet was decorated with light blue wrapping paper reminding me of Parker's eyes.

"Who's it from?" Violet asked taking the box from my hands and searching for a name tag. I grunted and took it back. I started unwrapping it until it was just a small box. I opened it to find a diamond bracelet. I gaped at it. Once I finally got my fingers to move I lifted it out of the box and looked at it more closely.

"Wow," I whispered putting it on my wrist. A perfect fit. I looked up to find Percy, Annabeth, and Violet gaping at me.

"There's a card," Annabeth said reaching for it. I pushed her hand away and read the card.

Merry Christmas Thalia. Hope you like the bracelet. Don't bother asking how much it was because I'm not telling you :P

-Love, Parker

"I knew it," Violet whispered frowning at me. I was still entranced with the bracelet. It had to be a lot of money. When I finally looked up at all of them they all had worried looks on their faces. "Thalia, it's happening!" Violet yelled at me. I tilted my head to the side confused. "You're falling for him!" she told me and I realized what she meant.

"No I'm not!" I yelled at her standing up from the ground, but as I said the words they sounded all wrong on my tongue. It felt like some invisible force was trying to force me to say, Yes I am falling for him. I groaned and buried my face in my hands.

"Thalia please tell me that's not true?" Annabeth asked me coming to stand next to me. I sighed and looked up at her worry filled eyes.

"To be honest... I really don't know how I feel anymore," I said.

"Great! This can't be happening! Not when Apollo was planning to-," Percy was cut off with fierce glares from Violet and Annabeth. That caught my attention. What was Apollo planning?

"What were you saying Percy?" I asked sweetly as he looked away embarrassed.

"Percy was saying nothing. Isn't that right?" Violet asked him fiercely squeezing his arm. He gasped out in pain and nodded. I sighed. Looks like I wasn't going to know what he was planning.

"Just give me some alone time before the party tonight at the Big House okay? I need to think some things through," I said getting up and walking back to my cabin.

I had a feeling today wasn't going to go smoothly.

x

I spent most of the day sitting in my cabin thinking about Parker. What was I supposed to do? I still wasn't exactly sure if I had fallen for him or not. I prayed to the gods that I hadn't but I couldn't be too sure. For all I knew it could be his eyes making me feel this way. Maybe they finally took effect. Later in the afternoon I heard a soft knock on my door.

"Come in," I called softly. The door opened revealing Apollo. He had his hands behind his back and I saw a small box when he turned.

"Merry Christmas," he mumbled before kissing me on the lips. I smiled and kissed him back. Too soon he pulled back. I huffed and crossed my arms across my chest childishly. He just chuckled and handed me the box. I pulled off the wrapping paper and opened the box. Inside was a silver heart shaped locket. I turned it around in my fingers to find something engraved on the back.

Forever and always.

I gasped and looked up at Apollo tears welling in my eyes. He smiled a breathe taking smile and caressed my cheek with his fingers. "Open it up," he said softly and I did as he told. Inside was a picture of him and I. I guess Annabeth had taken it when I wasn't looking because I never knew about it. In the picture Apollo had his arms wrapped around my waist and was kissing me as I had my arms around his neck. The picture was in black and white and was taken in the forest.

"Apollo," I whispered a tear rolling down my cheek. When he saw me he gasped and wiped the tear away with his finger.

"What's wrong? Do you not like it?" he asked worriedly. I just giggled as a couple more tears rolled down my cheeks.

"No, no. I'm crying because I love it. Thank you so much," I said smiling. He sighed in relief and pulled me in for a hug. I laughed and hugged him back for what seemed like an eternity. When he finally pulled back I gazed at him for a while before I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled his face to mine. I heard him chuckle before his lips crashed onto mine. This time I wound my hand into his hair and left it there so he couldn't pull back. When I finally did he laughed and leaned his forehead against mine.

"Are you going to the party tonight at the Big House?" I asked my eyes still closed. I felt him kiss the tip of my nose and I giggled.

"Of course," I heard him say. He sighed and pulled away. "I have to go but I'll see you tonight. I love you," I saw him get up and go to the door.

"I love you too," I called as he walked out the door.

"I know," I heard him laugh. I just rolled my eyes and laughed at him.

x

Later that night as the sun was setting I heard people laughing as they walked past my cabin. It was time to go to the party. I sighed and got up from my bed. I picked up my locket and smiled as I put it around my neck. I walked out of my cabin and started to the Big House. As I was walking Violet caught up with me.

"Oh my gosh! That locket is beautiful! Who gave it to you?" she questioned and I smiled as I twisted it around in my fingers.

"Apollo," I told her and she squealed. I just laughed at her.

"I knew he was going to get you a necklace!" she said excitedly as we arrived at the house. I saw mistletoe hanging from the open door. I just hope nobody was around when I walked in but with my luck that probably wouldn't happen. If it was Apollo though...

I looked behind me and in the house and found nobody there. I stepped through the door and sighed in relief.

"Wait," I froze as the voice called. I turned and saw Parker leaning against the door frame smirking. How did I not notice him standing next to the door inside? "I think you owe me a kiss. I mean you walked under the mistletoe," he said walking closer to me. I took a step back but realized I had come to the wall. He put his hands on either side of my head and leaned closer. I was trapped with no way out of this now.

"Parker I really don't think-," I was interrupted as his lips crashed onto mine. He grabbed my hands and brought them up to his neck and held them there. A couple seconds later he wrapped his arms around my waist and smiled into the kiss. My heart was pounding furiously as I gripped Parker's hair trying to pull back. When I realized that wasn't going to work I just stopped moving and just stood there.

After what seemed like an eternity Parker pulled away and looked at me. And the weird thing: for once his eyes had no effect on me. I balled up my fists in anger and set my shoulders.

"Thalia I really-," he started but I interrupted him.

"No you stop! You had no right to do that! That was not right what you did! You know I have a boyfriend! I don't think I'll be able to forgive you," I said my voice cracking and tears rolling down my cheeks. I unhooked his bracelet from my wrist and threw it at his feet. I looked up at him with tear filled eyes and ran out of the house.

I had no idea where I was going but I just ran. Once I realized I had ran to Apollo and I's rock I sat against it and started sobbing. Why was this happening to me? why was it always me?

"Why me?" I sobbed into my hands. I soon heard footsteps coming my way but I did nothing to stop crying. I didn't care what people saw me like now.

"Thalia?" I heard a voice I recognized as Apollo's. "Thalia!" he yelled once he realized it was me. I heard him rush forward and I felt him put his arm around me. I looked up at him and burst out sobbing again. It made me feel immensely guilty when I looked at his face. "Thalia what happened? Shhh," he said. I just shook my head not able to talk as I wrapped my arms around his neck and put my head on his shoulder.

"I-I f-feel s-s-so g-guilty," I stuttered into Apollo's shoulder. He looked at me and wiped my tears away with his fingers.

"You don't have to tell me right now," he said quietly and I nodded as I rested my head on his shoulder and let the tears fall freely.

This year's Christmas was horrible.

I bet you guys hate me now :P

From the very beginning of this story I knew Parker was going to kiss Thalia under the mistletoe on Christmas. From the minute I started writing this I knew that was going to happen and I wasn't changing it no matter what. Also, what Apollo is planning to do I knew that was going to happen from the beginning but I'm not telling you what it is :P You're gonna have to keep reading ;D

Anyways fast update huh? I told you guys it would be quick because this was one of my favorite chapters. I actually typed up this whole thing today xD Yeah I was just that excited ;)

Inspiration For Chapter Title: When Christmas Comes To Town from the Polar Express movie :DD

Well review responding time!

alfado: Just wait for more 2 more chapters and you'll know the plan ;)

TOTALinuyashafan101: I bet you and Apollo hate me now :P

Hadley Rose: Thanks! :)

craziiest. guh .EVAH: Here's the update! lol

RebeccaBaxter: Here it is! :)

Well I must get going to swim practice! It's like 7:00 in the morning here ;) Next update will be soon!

-Taylor(: