A/N: Okay guys, I was really busy today since it was my birthday and since I promised I would post today, this is it. But it's the non-edited version. I will post the edited version soon. It's kind of rushed, sorry. I know it's extremely short, but the revised version will be longer. This is kind of a sneak peek. Here you go!
Disclaimer: I still don't own PJO
Chapter 12: The Beauty
I walk in and I'm too nervous to notice how beautiful the ballroom was decorated. I walk down the stairs and notice the tired guests perk up at my entrance. My eyes wander to Percy at the end of the stairs and I force myself to not blush because his jaw is fully open and his eyes are wide. As I approach the end of the stairs, he quickly closes his mouth and bows with a smile. I curtsy as elegantly as I could and return the smile. I walk over to our groups table and sit down. Percy then walks over to a pretty Asian girl and asks him to dance. Throughout the dance, Percy looks horrified. He eventually asks many other girls and occasionally comes to our table to ask one of the girls to dance.
After a couple of hours, Percy takes a break at the royal family's table and I see Connor Stoll and Nico's older sister, Bianca approach him. They chat for a few minutes and Percy walks up to a sweet girl I was talking with earlier, Calypso Paige. They start dancing to a song that I remember hearing a long time ago. I can tell that Percy already likes her because he has a wide grin on his face. Both of them don't realize that they danced through two songs until the end of the second song. I watch him kiss her cheek and my heart drops, but I don't know why. They say their goodbyes and when she arrives back at her table, her cheeks are slightly pink and girls swarm her asking questions. After the girls finish talking with Calypso, she turns and faces me.
"Annabeth, do you personally know Prince Percy?" she asks and I'm surprised.
"Why do you ask?" I answer.
"Every once in a while he would casually bring you into the conversation. It was like he could do nothing but think about you. But he didn't even realize it," she says.
"Oh, well, yes. I do know Percy very well. I met him on our first day and we have hung out ever since then," I say.
"That explains it. But you do realize that he will most likely choose you," she says.
"No, we're just friends. Nothing more," I say firmly, but I can't help feeling wrong about saying this.
"Whatever you say…" she says. The girls all come over from dancing with their boyfriends and we talk about their dances with Percy.
"He was really nice and a complete gentleman," Cass says.
"I agree, but I can tell he was thinking about something else the whole time. Most likely Annabeth," Katie says and I blush.
"I'm telling you, were just friends," I say and they all look up behind me and smile. I turn around to see Percy himself walking up to me.
"Hi. Would you like to-," he starts, but is cut off by an extremely cute little girl tugging on his pants.
"Now will you dance with me Pewcy?" the little girl says with an angelic pout.
"Now who's this little cutie?" I ask and bend over to her level.
"I'm Kailey Wose Andewson. You'we pwetty. Who awe you?" she says and leaps into my lap. I realize that Kailey is even cuter than I pictured her.
"Thank you Kailey. But I can't compete with your adorable dress. My name is Annabeth," I say and she giggles.
"Percy's told me a lot about you," I say.
"What did he say?" she asks, her emerald green eyes wide.
"Well, he says that you love to laugh, you are sweet to everyone you meet, you are very pretty, which you are, and that he loves you very much," I say.
"Tanks, Annabeth," she says and turns to Percy.
"I like her. Is she the girl you will mawy?" she asks and I immediately blush.
"I-I, um," he stutters, but then Kailey's mom walks up.
"There you are Kailey! I have been looking everywhere for you," Brianna says.
"Hi mommy. I was hewe with Pewcy and his pwetty fwiend Annabeth," she says and jumps off my lap into Brianna's arms
"It's time to go back with daddy and me. It's past your bedtime," Brianna says.
"But mommy, Pewcy needs to dance with me," Kailey says.
"Alright Kailey," she says.
"Yay!" Kailey squeals.
"Is it okay if I go dance with Kailey first?" Percy asks me.
"Of course. I don't mind," I answer with a smile.
"Thanks. Come on Kailey. A song is coming on," he says and Kailey takes Percy's hand after Brianna puts her down. As the song starts, Kailey steps on Percy's feet and they dance. Many other dancers look at them and I can hear them say, 'Aww,' When the song ends, Kailey yawns so Percy picks her up and she lays her head on his shoulder. He starts to talk softly to her and he smiles at whatever she says. After he leaves Kailey with her parents, he asks the remaining nine girls to dance and then walks up to me.
"Annabeth, may I have this dance?" he asks and extends his hand.
"No," I answer, trying to hide my smile. He looks around, shocked at my answer.
"I'm kidding. I would love to dance with you," I say with a laugh and take his hand. We walk out onto the dance floor and we start to dance. I quickly get lost in his gorgeous sea green eyes and I feel a connection. When he spins or lifts me up into the air, I smile with joy. There is a new feeling in the pit of my stomach that I've never felt before, and I love it. Percy makes me feel like a happier and different person. Who knew that one person could change me in such a small amount of time? When the dance ends, he gives me a lingering kiss on the cheek, like he did with Calypso, but I'm too content to notice.
"It is now time for Prince Percy to make his decision," Percy's step-dad says and he flashes me a smile before he walks away. Percy walks to the top of the stairs where I entered not too long and he speaks.
"This decision was very difficult to make," he says and seems to be debating with himself about his choice. "I choose…" he says and I oddly find myself hoping for him to say my name. I have a small feeling that he will say my name, after that dance we shared; he seemed to be entranced like I was.
"Calypso Paige," he says and my smile disappears. Calypso's friends shriek with excitement and I let my head drop, trying to hide the disappointment. Calypso looks shocked and then happy, but she surprises all of us by walking straight over to me.
"Annabeth, I saw the way he looked at you when you danced and it was nothing compared to the way he looked at me. He may have chosen me, but know that you were the one meant to be with Percy," she whispers and hugs me. The next few minutes of the ball pass by in a blur, as I'm too astonished by Percy's decision and what Calypso said. The girls come to comfort me, but I wave them off.
We soon walk back to our rooms and Brianna and Aphrodite explain to us that we will leave early tomorrow morning. I silently change into my pajamas and climb into my bed. My head hits the pillow and when the lights go out, the tears start to fall.
I thought he would choose me…
I thought he actually liked me…
I guess not.
I eventually fall asleep, but only because I'm all out of tears.