It's the most Beautiful time of the year…
Jasmine watched Her bother and girlfriend have a snowball fight. After Albany had asked Mr. D to let snow through, CAmp Half Blood had turned into a winter wonderland. Living on Maui most of her life, this had been the first time Jasmine had seen snow. It was beautiful. Jasmine looked around. Everyone looked to be in a joyful mood… Everybody, except a certain daughter of Aphrodite.
XxX
Drew watched Jason Grace and Piper McLean play in the snow. She scowled in disgust. 'Why is everybody so happy' she thought. 'It's only snow'. Drew hurried inside her cabin and watched as her half brother began wrapping presents. He had her sister with him. 'Daughter of Hermes'
"Hi" She timidly greeted. Drew nodded in reply. She was not in the Christmas spirt. Her brother went outside to put the gifts under the decorated tree in the Big House. "I'm Jasmine." the girl introduced.
"I know" Drew snidely replied. Jeremy was no where near and there was no one stopping her from being a bitch.
"Why are you so grouchy? Tomorrow's Christmas." Jasmine asked
"Who care?"
"A lot of people. Just because you decide to be a scrooge doesn't mean you have to put others down"
"You don't know who I am, do you, Kid?"
"Drew King. Former cabin counselor of the Aphrodite cabin"
"Is that all you know?" Drew scoffed when Jasmine nodded. "You only know my name and former tittle."
"What else do i need to know? That you're my brother's half sister? That you're a total bitch?"
"That's all anyone knows. Nobody knows what I've done before I came to Camp. They don't know anything about me except for what I show."
"Then why don't you tell me?"
"I don't need to tell you anything."
"You don't need to. But you want to. You wish you could tell me everything. But at the same time you don't want too. You know very well not to rely on anyone. Your own shadow leaves you when you're in the dark. But it will be only so long until you crack. And you're gonna have to tell someone eventually. And i can only hope that it will be me."
"You're what? 9? What do you know about being left in the dark. What do you know about finally cracking? You're too young to know what I've been through"
"You really shouldn't underestimate me. I'm thirteen. My mom died when I was eight. My dad practically ignores me. and the only family member i have isn't even related to me by blood. You don't know me very well neither. But I know you're type. You like to bring people down so that you feel better about you're self. You like the attention you get because you finally feel like someone's paying attention to you so you. You like to feel superior because you've been the underdog before and you hate it. You think you're the only one in the world that's got a story? Your mom doesn't pay attention to you and you're sister stripped you of your tittle. Under all that make up is a person. And you've been hurt before. You don't want to let anyone in. Because you are human. Even if it's only 50 percent. You're still human. And the only thing worse than being hurt, is when you hurt the only person you wish you didn't. So you hurt others without thought. You push them away when in reality, all you want is for them to hug you and tell you that it's okay. Don't tell me that i'm too young to understand what you've been through. I know exactly what you're doing. You pretend like you don't care because it's easier than admitting that it's killing you. But when you pretend to not care, sooner or later, it's not pretending anymore."
"What do you want me to do?! MAybe it's not the fact that I'm hurt but the fact that I'm so mad."
"Mad at who?"
"myself" Drew whispered
"Once you've accepted you're flaws, no one can use them against you."
XxX
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Katie asked as she gazed at the Christmas tree in front of her. Travis, Connor, Casey, and herself had just finished decoration the Christmas tree in the Big House
"Not nearly as beautiful as you" Travis whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist, hugging her from behind, he rested his chin on Katie's shoulder. Connor and CAsey shared a look and started gagging. "Oh, shut up you too" Travis scolded. "It's Christmas."
"Correction" said Casey "It's Christmas Eve."
"Well aren't you a smart ass" Travis rolled his eyes. " We did a great job. Don't you thing I deserve a reward? asked Travis looking pointedly at the girl in his arms.
"What do you have in mind?"
"Well, I was thinking of opening the gifts a little early?"
"No. You're waiting until tomorrow morning."
"But Katie!" Travis whined.
"No 'but's"
" Are you guys bickering, again?" asked Jeremy as he walked in the room. "C'mon. Tomorrow's Christmas"
"Yes, but Travis, here, can't wait till then and-"
"I'm just saying it would be nice-" Travis cut in before Katie could finish.
"No. Travis, you're waiting-"
"You didn't even let me finish"
"Like you didn't let me finish?"
"You two need to get married already" intervened Casey."You fight like an old married couple and fight about the stupidest things"
"It's not stupid!" Katie argued. "It's tradition to wait until tomorrow to open them."
"But i did such a good job" Travis pouted. "It's only fair"
"No, Travis"
"C'mon, Katie-kat."
"I said no, Travis."
"Would you two just SHUT Up!" Connor yelled getting irritable very fast.
"geez bro," said Travis "What crawled up your ass and died"
"language, Travis"
"Really, you're gonna scold me because I said 'ass'?"
"Yes, I am"
"Can you two go five minutes without bickering?" asked Jeremy
"Yes they can if you count having an extreme make out session." Casey smirked, while Travis and Katie blushed. CAsey turned to Connor. "And you're just mad because Chiron made Albany help decorate Thalia's Tree along with the rest of the Apollo boys."
"Scared, Connor?" Travis baited him
"Why would I be scared? It's not like any of those guys would ever steal her from me. I'm the hottest guy in camp!"
"Conceited much?" asked Katie
"Wanna talk about conceited? Talk to you're boyfriend. He's the one with the biggest ego."
"Well aren't you bitter" Katie defended.
"Sorry, okay. I just don't like the fact that theses stupid sons of Apollo are near Albany."
"It's okay. You're just protective. It's sort of cute"
"Protective how 'bout jealous?" Travis intervened tightening his hold on Katie. The action not going unnoticed to his younger brother
"Scared, Travis?" Connor smirked throwing Travis' words back at him.
Travis shot his brother a glare. "Don't start"
"Why did you guys wait so long to decorate the trees anyway?" asked Jeremy
"Mr. D wouldn't let us start without Albany."
"Creepy. I gotta get back to the cabin. I left Jasmine there with Drew"
"You left her alone with Drew!" CAsey screamed
"Drew's just another bully trying to bring her down. I can't believe you left her alone with Drew" Katie exclaimed.
"Relax," Jeremy said. "Jasmine's a big girl. She can handle herself against Drew and besides. Nico is rarely gone by her side. By the time i get back, Nico would be there with her."
"You're okay with Nico being around Jasmine?" questioned Travis
"Yeah. He makes her happy and i never once saw her frown on her mom's anniversary, and he was there to make sure of it."
XxX
Just as Jeremy predicted, Nico was with Jasmine but Drew was nowhere in sight.
"Where's Drew?"
"She went to go help decorate the trees" Jasmine replied. "Oh, and Alex was looking for you"
"Where is she?"
"Her Cabin"
Jeremy made his way there. Alex was turned, looking at her bed.
"Hey, babe" Jeremy greeted.
Alex turned and smiled. "Hey, Jer" She made her way to hug him. "What are you doing here?"
"Jasmine said you wanted to see me…"
"huh?" Alex hummed. Jeremy felt his iPod vibrate. Jasmine had sent him a message. 'Look up"
Jeremy did as told and smiled. " Think i know why"
Alex looked up. "I didn't even hang that." she laughed.
"I think I know who did…"
"She's a sly one…"
Jeremy felt his iPod vibrate again. 'just kiss her already!"
XxX
"Why are you even dating that loser?" Albany rolled her eyes. It was pure agony having to decorate Thalia's Tree with Apollo's sons who could possibly be bigger flirts that their father.
"Why are you still talking?" Albany retorted getting more irritable by the second.
"C'mon. just dump the loser. We all know you want to." the guy urged. Albany rolled her eyes again. It's become a habit around the bunch.
"Why don't you say that to the 'loser's face" Albany smiled, seeing her boyfriend. She rushed up to give him a hug. Connor held her in the embrace. When they pulled apart, Connor kept his arms around Albany's waist. "Now why don't you guys stop talking to my girl and back off"
"Whatever." The guy rolled his eyes in disgust. "Whoever dates you must be a loser herself. I'm holding out for the Princess. She's probably still single and looking for me. She would be ten times better than THAT anyway"
He walked away with the rest of his cabin. With every word he said, Connor tightened his hold on Albany. At the end of the guys rant, Albany looked to be less confident than ever.
"Don't worry, baby." Connor whispered into her ear. "No one's better than you. Not even the Princess"
XxX
Jasmine watched as her brother and Alex share their Christmas kiss under the mistletoe. Jasmine leaned against the wall and smiled.
"Why are you smiling?" asked Nico, coming up behind her.
"Oh, nothing" she said. her smile never faltered. Nico followed her gaze.
"Aren't you a little matchmaker"
"Well, Alex always said how she wish she would be kissed under the mistletoe!"
"Alex said that?" Nico gave her a look of disbelief.
"No. She wrote it in yesterday's diary entry"
"She had a diary?"
"Yes. and the very first page is a kill list with a threat that if anyone looks in it, they would be put on it"
Nico nodded and scanned the Camp grounds. Everybody seemed happy. Through a window in the big house, Nico could see Katie in Travis' arms looking at the star on the Christmas tree. Connor and Albany making a snowman. Alex and Jeremy sharing another kiss under the mistletoe. Percy and Annabeth ice skating on the frozen canoe lake. Piper, Jason and Leo having a snowball fight. Clarisse and Chris were by the camp fire with the Apollo cabin. Casey, Drew and Avalon were all looking at Thalia's tree. Everyone was happy.
"What are you thinking?" asked Jasmine
"That this is gonna be the best Christmas ever."
"Why is that?"
"you'll see" Nico smirked. JAsmine groaned
"You don't give any straight answers, do you?"
"You tell me."
"It's a yes or no answer, Nico pick one."
"Or"
"Now, you're just being immature"
"Immature is what boring people use to describe fun people."
"Yeah, where'd you steal that quote from?" Jasmine rolled her eyes
"now, now. Don't be a bitter little grinch." Nico stared pinching Jasmine's cheek. Jasmine swatted his hands away.
"Bite Me"
"Is that an offer?"
Jasmine punched Nico's left shoulder. Although he would hate to admit it, it hurt. a lot.
"Don't get all sick minded on me, di Angelo."
"Hey, you knew it was coming, yet you said it anyways"
"Whatever"
"Aww, is little Jazzy mad that I'm right?"
"Don't start with me, di Angelo" She pouted
" Oh, so we're on a last name basis, Bays?"
"Can't you go irritate someone else?"
"NAh, I don't think I will"
"Uh! you're so irritating" Jasmine started walking away, to her cabin. Nico followed. "Why are you following me?"
"So i could see you're reaction"
"To What?"
Nico just smirked. Jasmine stopped her foot in frustration and went into her cabin, with Nico close behind. On Jasmine's bunk was a small blue case. Jasmine looked over to the boy who was sitting at her desk with a smirk planted on his face. Jasmine cautiously opened in and a charm bracket came out. Jasmine turned back to Nico who was just looking down at his hands. She noticed each of the charms. The first was a black skull. The same as the one on Nico's ring. The second was a caduceus. The same as the one on Jasmine's necklace. The third was a cube with the letter 'H' bejeweled on each side. The fourth looked like a CD. with the words 'little things' engrave onto it. The last charm was a black heart. It was slightly thicker than the others. Jasmine saw a small gray tab that opened it and made her realize it was a locket. On one side was a picture of both of them. the other was an engraving that said 'Be Mine?" Jasmine looked at Nico again who was now standing a few feet in front of her.
"I couldn't wait until tomorrow. I needed to ask you now. Will you please be mine?"
Jasmine was speechless. She just nodded and pulled him into a hug.
"I'm not so irritating, now, am i?" Nico whispered into her ear. Jasmine just laughed
XxX
Jasmine stood in front of the Aphrodite cabin. She had delivered all her presents except, Jeremy's, Nico's and another friend of hers. She slowly made her way inside, running into her brother.
"Hey, bro. Merry Christmas!" Jasmine said giving him the present.
"Merry Christmas, Jazzy! I'll give you you're present later. I have to meet Alex at her cabin. Can you just put it on my bed?"
"Sure" Jasmine made her way and put the gift on her brother's bed. She noticed that the cabin was almost empty. She made her way to the girl's bunk and took out her gift. "Merry Christmas, Drew"
Drew smiled. "Merry Christmas"
XxX
"I can't believe you're still sleeping" Jasmine said as she entered Nico's cabin. "It's Christmas!"
"I can't believe you're a morning person" He flipped onto his stomach digging his face into his pillow. Jasmine took a quick glance at his clock.
"Nico, it's eight o'clock" she said, sitting on his bunk.
"Your point?" he asked. Jasmine rolled her eyes and rubbed his back. "That feels good"
"Wake Up!"
"okay,okay. I'm up." Nico sat up revealing his bare chest. He went in for a hug and pulled her into the bed making her lay down, between her boyfriend and the wall Nico still had his arms around Jasmine's waist. "Can't today be a lazy day? It is christmas!"
"Nice try, Nico. let me go" Nico huffed, but let her reached under his bung and pulled out a present while Jasmine sat up and leaned against the wall.
"What's this?" She questioned when Nico gave her the present.
"You're Christmas gift" he said while putting on a shirt.
"I thought the bracelet was my gift."
"You didn't think i would get my girlfriend only one gift…" he smirked
Jasmine opened the gift and inside was a new iPod.
"Where do you get the money to buy all this stuff?"
"My dad's the god of underground riches. I can have all the money i want" he said getting back into bed, pulling Jasmine into his lap.
"Okay, look at what I got you" She pulled out a bag and gave it to him.
Inside was a leather jacket. Nico thanked Jasmine and embraced her into another hug. Soon he was digging into her side ticking her. It turned into an all out tickling war. Soon Jasmine surrendered and just layer down.
"You know, we're gonna have to get out of this bed eventually."
Nico smirked. "Not if I have anything to do with it"
