..Chapter 8..

New Year Surprises

TPOV

"It's New Years Eve!" Violet squealed happily as we both walked to the dining pavilion. I raised my eyebrows at her and she just giggled at me. This just caused me to be even more confused.

"What is up with you today? All day you've been jumpy and happy," I told her crossing my arms across my chest and tapping my foot. She just proceeded to giggle again and shake her head. I cocked my eyebrows and she just rolled her eyes at me. "No seriously Violet, what is up with you?" I asked getting a little concerned as she started giggling again.

"This is just how I act when I'm excited for something," she said winking at me.

"Excited for New Years? It's just New Years Eve. It's not that big of a deal," I told her as if it was one of the most obvious things in the world. It was true. New Years was never a huge deal to me like it was to some other people. It was just a huge celebration for the passing of a year and the coming of a new one.

The only reason I was looking forward to New Years was because I could finally put this years events behind me. I didn't have to think about Parker and Ryan anymore because I never stayed at camp for more than a few more days after New Years. I only visited for the holidays and then went back to my home I had in Chicago. Life returned to normal with Apollo and I had no worries at all.

"You don't know how big of a deal this New Years Eve is," she said winking once again. I looked at her with a questioning look and she just shrugged and laughed quietly. "You don't know how bad I want to tell you but I can't. It's a secret. You'll just have to wait until the countdown tonight," she smirked at me. I groaned and stomped my foot earning another laugh from Violet. I hated waiting for surprises.

"Violet," I whined and she just rolled her eyes at me and ran off. I huffed and marched towards the dining pavilion. There I found Percy sitting and talking with Nico. I smiled mischievously. Maybe I could get something out of the two of them. "Hey guys," I said sweetly sitting down at the table next to Nico and across from Percy. They waved and continued eating. I rolled my eyes at them. Guys. "So do you guys know what's happening tonight that Violet is so excited about?" i asked nicely and Nico's eyes bugged wide as his mouth fell open and he stared at me.

"Umm, er, nothing," he quickly mumbled and closed his mouth. I smirked. So they knew.

"Pleeeaaassee," I begged giving Nico the puppy dog stare. I knew it would work because when I first met him, he had a crush on me and he made it quite obvious. His eyes became wide again and he looked frantically at Percy. Percy laughed nervously and I whipped my head around to glare at him.

"Thalia you're impatient. Just wait," he said casually and smiled at me. I flung my head back and groaned at the ceiling. "By the way, the puppy dog stare isn't going to work as well on Nico anymore. He's crushin hard on Violet," he said winking as Nico got up and left. I just rolled my eyes and smiled.

"Can you at least give me a clue to what is happening?" I asked him desperatley and he sighed and shook his head.

"Just the smallest clue would give it away. Sorry," he said as he got up and walked away. I just groaned and banged my head against the table.

Today would be a long day.

x

I groaned and collapsed back on my bed. It was only 5:00 and it would be a while until the New Year count down. How was I even surviving the day? It was hard waiting. Each minute slowly went by making it even harder. I soon heard a crash and Annabeth came running into the room.

"Hey do you know-," I said shooting up into a sitting position but was interuppted with Annabeth putting a hand up.

"No I'm not telling you what is happening tonight. It's a surprise," she said rolling her eyes. I huffed and crossed my arms as she shut the door and came to sit next to me. I just glared at her as she laughed.

"Will Apollo tell me?" I said getting up from my sitting position.

"No! I mean he's not, er, here at c-camp right now," she said frantically pulling me back down on the bed. I looked at her suspiciously and narrowed my eyes. At least I have one clue now. It probably involves Apollo.

"So it involves Apollo?" I said a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.

"N-No!" Annabeth stuttered her eyes becoming wide. I just chuckled and layed down.

"Whatever you say," I said sighing. We spent the rest of the time just talking about random things to what Parker was planning. I decided to tell her about my dream I had the other night. When I finished telling her, her eyes were wide and her mouth was hanging open.

"That isn't good," she whispered finally.

"Duh!" I yelled getting up and pacing the room. I was thinking of ways to stop Parker. the only thing stopping me: I didn't know when he was going to start his plan. It could be from anywhere to tonight to a month.

This was beyond frustrating.

x

Finally, after a lot of waiting and arguing it was time for the New Years party at the Big House. It was only half an hour until the count down and we all would be celebrating for hours after. I got dressed giddy with excitement.

When I finished I stepped out of my cabin and rushed to the Big House. There were lights flashing everywhere. Everybody was either dancing or talking. I looked around and didn't find Parker anywhere. I sighed in relief. I didn't need his whining right now.

"Thalia," I heard somebody whisper in my ear as arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I squeaked and whipped aorund to find Apollo smirking at me. I grinned happily at him and leaned my head up and pressed my lips to his. He tangled his hands in my hair and I felt my back press up against the wall. I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled into the kiss.

This kiss was different. Apollo wasn't as gentle as he usually was. As his lips moved with mine I felt his love and need for me. I smiled as he broke away gasping for air. As soon as I caught my breathe I felt his lips crash onto mine again. After a couple moments he pulled away and looked deep into my eyes.

"Come with me," he whispered to me and grasped my hand. I nodded and followed him outside. Soon we were at the edge of the forest. He sighed and looked up at me. I could distantly hear people screaming and yelling. One more minute until midnight...

"Can I ask you a question?" he asked quietly as the seconds ticked by. I just nodded and he smiled. "Thalia, you mean the world to me. I don't know what I would do without you," he said and I smiled and nodded for him to keep going on. I distantly heard people counting down to the new year.

10...9...8...

"Thalia you are my life. Nothing could ever replace you. Nothing," he whispered staring in my eyes.

7...6...5...

"Which is why I'm asking you this one important question," he said kneeling down on his right knee and pulling a small black box out of his pocket. I gasped as tears welled in my eyes.

4...

"I promise to love you forever. Every single day," he said smiling and opening the box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring.

3...

"Will you marry me?" he whispered as I gasped and just gaped at him.

2...

I didn't know what to say. I was speechless. Apollo's face became more worried as I didn't say anything.

1...

"Yes, yes, yes a thousand times yes!" I said dropping to my knees and kissing him. As I pulled away and heard cheers of "Happy New Years!" Apollo slipped the beautiful on my finger. I looked up at him as a tear slipped down my cheek. He chuckled and wiped it away with his thumb.

"So this is what you've been planning all this time?" I asked as more tears ran down my cheeks. We still hadn't gotten up from the ground. He just nodded and I laughed at him.

After a little while longer we both stood up from the ground and started walking back to the Big House hand in hand. I looked down at my hand and saw the ring. I smiled and just laughed.

Just as we were nearing the house, Violet burst from the forest behind us.

"Thalia!" I heard her shriek in a horrified voice. I whirled around to find Violet running to me with tears streaming down her face and a horrified expression on her face. She grasped my shoulders and locked her tear filled eyes with mine. "P-Parker in the forest... s-some guy n-named R-Ryan," she stuttered and I gasped. I looked towards the trees and saw Parker and Ryan step through the trees, smirks on their faces.

Parker had some strange glow around him. I gasped. I'd seen that in my dream.

"It's starting," Ryan's voice boomed.

I shuttered my blood turning to ice.

How could a perfectly good night turn into one of the worst in a matter of seconds?

I loved writing Apollo proposing! Soo cute! xD

Well they're now engaged! How do you feel about that ;) I know you guys are probably screaming with joy at you computer screen :P And then Parker had to go and ruin the moment =/ Lol

We have officially reached more reviews than Shine Bright! I'm super duper excited! And we're only 3 away from 50! I've never had that many reviews in my life :)

Anyways review and tell me how you feel about this chapter!

Review responding time!

Sarra Salmalin: I know that they are half sibling but just try to ignore that fact lol ;)

TOTALinuyashafan101: Yes everybody is happy that she told him ;)

Akatsuki Child: No problem for reviewing! It was really good so far ;)

alfado: Yes she did! :)

Harryfan94: I was thinking the same thing... hmmmm ;)

Anyways that's it for today! Off to swim practice! We only have about 2 or 3 more chapters left and this story is done! I will update soon!

-Taylor(: