Thank you all for the reviews! I'm glad everybody is loving the story.

Writing this story especially this chapter is reminding me of my band so much. There isn't any rivalry or anything between my guard and drumline but just the thought of practices and everything is making miss marching band in general.

Dessert Maniac: haha yeah I did just give up.

Kaycee: how could I not remember what I learned in history? I spent two years of my high school life studying it and preparing for the AP exam. No way, I did the same thing and ignored m homework too!

WisestOwl: sure I'll keep that in mind for the "break threw". ps. speaking of break threw...you will totally love the next chapter!

Disclaimer: Do not own PJO!

Enjoy!

Percy's POV

Aphrodite, Chase, and I were making our way to the field and I was sweating bullets. Chase and Aphrodite were ahead of me talking about I don't know what, so I was alone behind them talking to myself. I kept on trying to reassure myself it was going to be fine and if I get today over with then tomorrow would be the weekends, but then images of the drumline, especially the Stolls, and the band popped up in my head. They were laughing and mocking me, calling me as one of the guards. I shuddered at the thought of myself ever being one of them. It scared the crap out of me. I thought I left all of the humiliation and embarrassment of the old me behind in freshman year. Unfortunately, it comes back to haunt me.

The only thing that made me felt closer to myself was my pad and Riptide in my hand. They and the drumline were what that held me to the Earth and was keeping me sane. They are the reason I am doing this ridiculous solo in the first place. With them, I felt reassured that I wasn't walking straight to Hades. Of course, that doesn't mean walking with the two devils themselves, Chase and Aphrodite, was all rays of sunshine either.

I was lost in my thoughts so I didn't noticed Chase and Aphrodite had stopped until I bumped into Chase. She was about to fall and I don't know what came over me but I instantly I wrapped my arms around her waist and brought her to her feet. I was shocked at myself for being such a hero because I would've enjoyed watching her fall on her ass. Even more surprised that it was the second time today that my arms were around her. And of course the hormone side of me was enjoying every second of it. I looked down to her eyes and she met half way. The butterflies in my stomach did another flip when I met her stormy grey eyes. Unfortunately, being the brat she was, she had to open her big mouth.

"Watch where you're going, Jackson, and let go of me already," Chase said to my face. The feeling of her warmth around me felt strangely nice that I didn't realized I haven't let go yet. She brought her hands to my chest and shoved me away. I released my grip and looked down to the ground hoping nobody would notice the blush creeping on my face.

"Oh you two are just scrumptiously adorable!" Aphrodite clapped her hand and jumped up and down. I rolled my eyes when she annoyingly giggled before continuing. "And two last things I need to tell you both before and we head to the field and perform to the band." My little encounter with Chase made me forget all about that until my thoughtful cousin reminded me (note the sarcasm). "First, Percy, good job on catching Annabeth quickly before she fell down. Since you are the lifter, it is important to have fast reflexes in catching your partner and knowing you, Percy, those reflexes are all you got," She giggled.

"Hey!" I snapped.

"Sorry but its true. Second, it totally slipped my mind but, lifting your partner is all about trusting each other." What? "Annabeth, you have to trust Percy lifting you and must be comfortable about it. Percy, you have to trust Annabeth on her doing her job when you are lifting her. Without trust, the lift will be disastrous and there would be no stalemate between the two partners. Once you two get the trust, I will be throwing harder lifts. Got it?" She smiled innocently at Chase and me.

We both just stood there- well I don't know about Chase but I knew I was- with our eyes wide staring at her as if she was crazy. And she was because more lifts, trust? Is she serious? Bullshit! The only thing Chase and I have was complete disgust and hatred toward each other.

"Okay, let's get going." Aphrodite walked off.

Chase and I still stood there, unmoving. I turned my head to her curious on how she was handling the whole trust thing because for sure I knew I was going to break my sticks out of frustration. She turned her head too and we stood there again staring at each other. I tried to ignore how cute she looked when she was in shock.

"Come on you two, hurry up or Mr. D will turn you two into planktons. You guys can always stare at each other later!" My cousin yelled back at us.

I groaned and Chase rolled her eyes at my cousin's impatience

"Let's go," Chase said before running off to the field and I followed suit right behind her.

The band was broken up into sectionals when Chase and I made it to the field. Looking at the band, I clutched on my pad and Riptide nervously and then laid it against my snare. On the opposite side of the field behind the podium, was Aphrodite was speaking with Mr. D. She must have said something about the solo because Mr. D looked over Aphrodite's shoulder and smirked mischievously at us. I responded with a raised eyebrow and a confused expression.

Thalia, who was already on the podium analyzing drill charts, looked up to notice Chase and I on the field. "Great, now that the shows two main soloist are here, we can finally start." She said, a bit annoyed, but I knew deep inside of her cool façade, she was relieved.

As if it was rehearsed, the band all together stopped there sectionals and came piling in front of the podium. This was only expected from a championed marching band. Thalia began the daily announcements, which I had found out from the past four years that it wasn't daily at all. They usually stay the same for the whole week or more. Of course Chase, on the other hand, found them to be some sort of prophecy or something and listened to Thalia with open ears. I rolled my eyes at her lack of common sense.

I ignored the announcements again and walked to my cousin and Mr. D. chase scoffed at my rebellious act, but everybody else just ignored me like always. When I made to my cousin and Mr. D, I couldn't help but eye them suspiciously. There's something about them that you can't trust those two together. Aphrodite made it more obvious when she was trying to hold back a smile and it doesn't take a genius like me to know she was hiding something. Mr. D, however, looked like he couldn't wait to get out of her and I couldn't blame him.

The announcements were almost going to end and the nervousness started again. My mind ran through all possible insults the band could throw at me. My hands were soaked with sweat, and my ADHD kicked in so I wasn't able to stand still. I wiped the sweat from my forehead with my right arm.

How the hell am I supposed to lift Chase in this condition?

What if I drop her?

Why am I even worrying about her in the first place?

I flinched and mentally slapped myself but by accident turned into a physical one. The band was watching me, some snickered, and some (the drumline) were holding back a laugh. Chase's expression was the most confusing one to me. Her grey eyes were full of amusement and no hatred. It was nice seeing her like that. I gave her my infamous lop-side smirk and in return she rolled her eyes and brought her attention back to her guard, ruining the three second moment we had. It dawned on me that it was the first time we looked at each other and we didn't want to kill one another; even though it was for only three seconds.

Thankfully, Thalia decided to ignore my stupidity, but unfortunately it backfires on me when she started the practice. I groaned, but eventually gave in and walked to my snare to get ready for the first song, Music of the Night. It was also the song that Aphrodite worked on the solo with Chase and me.

I mounted on my snare, grabbed riptide, and walked to the 35 yard line on the left of the field. I pasted Chase while she was getting ready with her flag. She and the guard was on the opposite side of the drumline and the rest of the band was between us. The drill was supposed to be that the band would break apart, I would dismount my snare and Chase would drop her flag, we would join and start the dance. I have to admit, the drill was very thought out, but I still hate it and the person who ever thought up of it.

I took a short glance at her. Her eyes seemed like it was going through the routine in her head. I don't know why but I never do that, I just play and it comes out naturally.

The band was staring at me and Chase, probably wondering why we haven't killed each other yet. I'm starting to ask myself the same thing. I finally made it to the rest of the drumline.

"Perce, there's my man," Travis greeted me. He began patting me on the back. I raised my eyebrow at him. "Alright, I am just going to go out and say it…why didn't you tell us that you had such a hot cousin!" the rest of the line agreed.

I rolled my eyes. I knew who they were talking about but I decided to mess with them. "Oh man, I never knew you were interested." They nodded their heads. "Well I'll tell her after practice, but you know what why don't you tell Thalia instead?" Their expressions turned into horror.

"No man, not her!

"Wait…Nico? Oh I didn't know you rolled that way. (I hope this doesn't offend anybody who are. Some of my closest friends are gay but of course my friends are in colorguard. )" I smirked at them

"Fuck dude, we meant your dance teacher cousin, Aphrodite."

"I'm just messing around with you, but she told you, she's engaged. And plus what happened with you and the pit section leader, Katie?" I told him. The drumline oohed at Travis. It was hilarious watching his face redden with embarrassment.

"Screw you and for the record nothing happened," Travis said that while looking at Katie who was in front beside the podium.

"Right…"

"If I hear anymore talking or laughing the whole band is giving me a mile!" Thalia directed. I never took my cousin literally but at that point she looked like a drum major. I smiled at her achievement.

She called the band to attention. For a minute I was able to forget that I was about to humiliate myself in front of the whole band, but only for a minute. My hand started to get sweaty again making it harder for me to grip on my sticks. Thalia commanded us to dress center, back to attention, and then horns up, and began conducting.

The first movement began with a trumpet solo, Grover, playing the melody in the center of the band. The band was faded in the back playing the harmony letting the solo rise above to be heard on the stadiums. The drumline wouldn't play until the first crescendo and the guard was doing their thing on the other side. While the solo was being played, the band would march to the middle of the field, split in half, and move to the opposite ends of the field continuing their drill. Meanwhile, the drumline and guard would move closer to the center of the field taking the soloist's place after it ended. Mr. D changed my drill to dismounting my snare half way through the to the guard instead of setting it down in the front. The next part of the drill was the most hated part for all of the drummers. Each drummer had to go in between of each guard member making a line leaving me and Chase at the end of it. This was where the dance would begin. The guard would do a dance move stretching out their arms and I was supposed to grab Chase's hand with my sweaty hands and pull her into my grasp just in time for the first crescendo played by the whole band. The drill was romantic and cheesy and like I said before I am going to kill who ever thought it up.

I stumbled on some of the steps earning me a what the hell are you doing look from Chase. I just stuck out my tongue at her in response. I didn't care how I did, I just didn't want to look more like a fool than I already was. From the stadiums, Aphrodite shouted "Woo, Go Percabeth!" Chase and I both looked up to the stadiums to glare at my dear cousin. By that point after my cousin's big shout out, everybody's eyes were on us. I found myself getting nervous again.

I spun her around, her blond locks flying in the breeze, and set her right in front of me to prepare for the big lift. Crap this was it. I figured just get it over with.I inhaled deeply and exhaled before putting my hands on her waist. I could tell everybody was waiting for this moment. I lifted her up above me. This game me a good sign that everything was going to be fine. I felt Chase arch her back like we did during practice and just like the first time I awed at how angelic she was.

"Whoa, Percy Jackson? No way! Girls come look!" It came from a voice that I though I would never hear again.

I did a double take to my left hoping I was wrong. I wasn't for there she was Rachel in a tank top and shorts. The cheerleaders were about to do their daily run around the track. Fuck, for three years I was able to ignore her, until now. She looked even more amazing than three years ago, it was obvious cheer leading did her justice.

The rest of the cheerleaders showed up and began snickering at me. Rachel turned to whisper to some of them. Great...

I suddenly felt unwanted weight on my arms. I looked up and noticed I was still lifting Chase. She somehow felt a thousand pounds heavier.

Crap, when realization hit me. It took awhile to process what I had to do next.

"Jackson, what are you doing? You're supposed to spin." She yelled from above. Her fidgeting made it even more uncomfortable in my arms.

Spin? Oh right! I began crossing my left foot with my right. My arms were starting to shake already. When I started to turn, I stupidly forgot to move my right foot and I began tipping over.

"Percy!" Chase gasped, still in my arms.

I closed my eyes waiting for the impact and fell to my right on my sides. This fall, however, unlike the first, Chase wasn't in my arms. I opened them and right above of me was Chase's back facing me. She rolled to her left until she was facing me. She was groaning and clutching on her right arm.

Laughter came a few seconds later, but it wasn't from the band...yet, it came from the cheerleaders who watched the fall.

"Percy!"

"Annabeth!"

The band came rushing over. The guard surrounded their precious captain and my team surrounded me. They pulled us to our feet asking us a bunch of questions coming from each corner. I got dizzy from all of the questions and shouting in my ear.

I looked around trying to find Chase. We made eye contact but hers were filled with rage.

"What the hell was that Jackson? Why can't you stop being such a...a SEAWEED BRAIN for once! God, it was a simple lift and turn and you couldn't even do that. " She accused me. The band oohed at Chase's insult and opened up so there was space between me and Chase. I didn't trust her in this little space we have.

"You know what? Stop being such a wise girl, Chase, and suck it up. I'm sorry for dropping your precious little annoying ass!" I snapped back at her. The guys high five and yell "oh yeah" at my comeback. I felt my face heat up and hers was too.

"Ugh!" She charged after me and I did the same but was caught by Grover and Nico while Chase was caught by Thalia. She grabbed Chase's arms but Chase fought back. I fought back against Grover and Nico too.

"Enough you two." Mr. D yelled. He was the only person who stood between Chase and I. "I am tired of all of the fighting coming from you two ungrateful children. I warned both of you that I will do whatever it takes to have you two get along and I will."

I stopped fighting and stared at Mr. D curious on where he was going with this.

"Thalia, Grover, and Nico take these two to the uniform room so they can settle their differences. And I will keep you two there you two there for as long as I say so, maybe even the whole weekend and I will call your parents personally to tell them about this mishap."

I stared in disbelief at Mr. D. This can't be happening. I was supposed to go home for the weekends away from all of this. The band seemed like they couldn't believe it either. Grover and Nico started walking to the band room. Thalia did so too. All three made sure to keep a long distance between Chase and I. I felt like they were walking me to a police car.

We past by the cheerleaders who were still in hysterics. I looked up, although I regretted I did, at Rachel. All I saw were coldness and emptiness in her eyes.

The whole journey to the band room, Chase kept quiet and I didn't feel like speaking either. I got mad at myself because this was exactly the embarrassment I was hoping to avoid.

We made it to the room and walked to the uniform room which was on the other side. I hate that room so much. The room was about half a quarter of the band room. It's always cold in there, the stench of sweat lurks in the air from the uniforms, and spiders in the corner.

They shoved us inside. I looked back at my ex best friends hoping to plead my way out of this hell hole. They just shrugged, locked the door, and walked off with eyes full of pity.

I just stood their staring at the door which was my only escape. I sighed because there was no way in hell I would be leaving anytime soon unless Chase and I magically became friends. I ran my hand through my hair nervously and turned around to stare at Chase.

Wow this is the longest chapter I have ever wrote!

For the readers who are not in band, here are some definitions of the marching terms I used.

Drill: steps and positions that make up the show

Set: the drill broken down into sub sets

Dress Center: it is a command that tells the group to straighten their line by using the middle line as a guide.

I am going to try to update at much chapters as I can before Band camp which is in a week. But...I also have weapons camp for three days, a leadership meeting, and orchestra camp right after band camp so I will literally be living in my band room for the next four weeks, again...yes I am also in orchestra. AND I must not forgot my very important but rather boring English summer homework that I have not even started yet!

Anyway... enough of my busy, boring life but more importantly, what are you guys expecting or want for the next chapter? I have the chapter planned out, but I also want suggestions and see if there are any better ideas.

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