Hello once again for another update!

Okay, yes the last chapter was really bad because it was more of a filler chapter but it was crucial for the story.

Anywho, I still appreciated the reviews.

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO

Enjoy!

Third Person POV:

The following days were, in all honesty, boring and hectic. People were running around trying to get every detail right for the game, while Mr. D was getting crankier than ever. Percy and Annabeth were becoming distant yet closer than before. Time away with their own section made them grow apart, since they were focusing on their solely on their own section. However, every after school, before practice, they reconnected for their solo. Aphrodite was beaming with joy seeing the two of them practice with such tension. It nearly drove her crazy, playing matchmaker for them.

In addition to that practice, Aphrodite held a private session with Annabeth for her solo. Every time Percy tried to sneak a peek, they would always kick him out to the locker room, saying he would find out on Friday.

As Percy sat there in the locker room waiting for Aphrodite to finish, he thought about everything that had happened. His buried feelings from freshmen year were rekindling every second he was with Annabeth. Percy wanted to shove them back into their grave, but didn't have the energy or the will to. He was scared but he always tried his best to hide it.

It was finally Friday, the day the band both dreaded and anticipated the most. It was their first football game and the first feature of their secret weapon.

The school was buzzing for tonight. Not for the game no, but for the marching band. The reason was that their team hadn't won a game in years, and the likelihood of them winning a game now was impossible to believe. The audience would only stay until halftime to watch their award winning marching band, then they would leave before they witnessed another catastrophic defeat by their team again.

Of course that doesn't mean the football team was pleased with it. And they weren't; they never were pleased with it. Nevertheless, that was the reality of GoodeHigh School: the marching band was on top, but ever since three years ago, cheerleading stole guard's spot on top next to the band, while the football team lagged behind.

This status was strange for Annabeth. She was praised for being in band yet she was also not praised for being in guard.

Percy, on the other hand, felt as if he was king. Football games were the events he loved the most about marching season because he was practically admired every corner.

Percy's POV:

People have been patting me on the back or saying good luck to me for tonight everywhere I go, and I'm really looking forward to the game.

This day flew by because I suddenly found myself at my locker after school, just a few hours away from the game. Already I could feel the nervous, anticipating energy rushing through my veins. Oddly enough, I was looking forward to this game and sharing the field with Chase. I think I have never been this excited for a game before.

As I rounded the corner leaving the building to head for the band building, there was a speck of dirty blonde that caught my attention. I stopped and hid at the corner and tried to focus my eyes as I sneaked a peek at the guy. The blonde guy was wearing our school football jersey, talking to somebody in front of him. I felt my body tense when I realized who the blonde guy was, but I wasn't able to make out who was talking to.

"What do you want? I'm in a hurry." The girl sounded frustrated.

"Yeah, I know you are in a hurry, but I want to talk. We haven't been able to talk in a long time," the guy sounded sincere. I was confused: this guy is anything but nice and sincere.

"I know but with everything happening and the stunt you pulled last week, it's best if we just be distant for a while," the girl sighed. I was trying to figure out who she was. The voice sounded familiar yet it sounded gentle, a tone that I somehow wasn't used to hearing.

"But you got to admit, it was pretty funny and it looked convincing," the guy snickered. Hearing the laugh sent shivers down my spine. I heard a snarl and I could only guess who it came from.

"Okay, sorry don't hit me."

"Look I have to go before anybody sees us." The more I kept listening, the tighter I was holding onto my sticks.

"Yeah, you're right, but I'll be looking out for you on the field."

"And I'll be the one in the front."

I gasped. The mysterious voice was clear now. I was stunned, too stunned to move. I shook my head trying to forget what I just witnessed. However, I shook too much and accidentally hit the wall I was leaning against. I froze, praying to the gods the couple didn't hear me.

"What was that?" the girl, no, Thalia gasped.

"It was probably some freshman kid, don't worry about it," the football player reassured. It made me sick.

"Okay see you at the game." I heard foot steps and the building door opening. "Bye Luke."

I heard more footsteps and the door being opened and shut. My mind was appalled at this revelation. I wonder how long have this been going on. The two seemed to have chemistry together, but this was the quarterback that I just heard. He sounded generous and modest, something that I didn't hear a week ago on the field.

I felt shivers down my spine when I thought who he was with. I mean, yes I have been alienating myself from her but I never knew I would get to a point where I didn't even know her anymore. It's not like I've been ignoring them, because I see her every day in band, but I thought I always knew her. Well I knew her enough to guess that she would become drum major our senior year and I wasn't wrong in that, even though I am always wrong.

The thought of my drum major (who is also my cousin) together with a sick bastard like Luke the quarterback was not a good picture for me to have hours before my first football game.

This so messed up. It shouldn't bother and it won't.

Third Person POV

Most of the band was there like always, going over the show. The drum line was at their corner while the rest of the band was scattered around the room into sections. The guard was in the middle of the room preparing with hair and make up. The only thing Annabeth hated about guard was the over-exaggerated amount of makeup they had to put on for the show. Annabeth was anxious and over-thinking everything, especially their costumes which Mr. D went to pick up at the shop. The whole guard was able to feel her nervous energy, and it was affecting the band too, even Percy.

"Calm down Annabeth, everything will be fine." Juniper tried to console Annabeth.

"Sorry I just feel like something terrible is going to happen although it won't," Annabeth exhaled.

"Don't worry Annabeth."

Percy felt bad for her. It was her first football game here so it was important to put up a good impression. Yet again, he was stuck between wanting her to do well but not the guard itself. Of course she had to do well because she was his partner; if she doesn't do well then so doesn't Percy and that was unacceptable to both of them. But on the other hand, he still didn't like guard enough to wish them luck.

He tried to do all he could to forget the little scene between his cousin and the quarterback, but he couldn't shake off the sound of their voices. It was making him more agitated than usual, and that was making the band even more nervous because both of their captains were uneasy.

At that moment, their drum major walked in, hoping to feel an atmosphere of pride in the band room but instead got a round of nervous energy. Percy eyed her from his corner and he felt hurt seeing her steer clear of the center of the room.

Right then, the clock struck five and it was time to get to work. The quartermasters went to the uniform room to hand out costumes and the band was changing into them. The guard headed outside to the benches, away from the chaos. By six everybody was changed into their uniform. The guard was still outside waiting for the perfect moment to show them to the band. Aphrodite came to help with last minute adjustments and a surprise for her main soloists.

"Ladies and gents I present you the color guard!" Aphrodite introduced. Everyone of the guard walked in, saving the best for last. The guard's costume was a light blue corset knee length dress with lace puffy sleeves. They captured the essence of the show perfectly. For Annabeth, her dress was indescribable. Just imagine Christine Daae's dress when she sang Think of Me except a lot more breathable and danceable. The dress was everything she thought it would be. It was one less thing Annabeth didn't have to worry about for the show.

In the back of the room in the middle of drum line's corner Percy stood awestruck at Annabeth's appearance. Percy felt out of place because there Annabeth was with her Christine Daae's costume and Percy was the Phantom and had nothing.

"Oh I almost forgot, Percy dear, I have yours right here!" Aphrodite shouted from across the room, perfectly loud enough for the whole band to hear. Not even a second later the drum line was already smirking mischievously at their captain. Now that they had seen Annabeth's surprising costume, they were eager to see what their captain would wear.

Hesitantly, Percy walked to Aphrodite and headed to the uniform room to change. The drum line was already forming jokes and comebacks for the second he walked inside the room. Unfortunately for them, Percy's costume consisted merely of his uniform pants, a white puffy dress shirt, a black cape, and, of course, the infamous mask.

Seeing Percy step out, Annabeth noticed how sharp he looked in his costume. It made the show all the more real. Aphrodite was squealing like a fan girl and Percy and Annabeth couldn't help but blush.

"Well it seems like everything is in order for today's performance, grab your stuff and head out," Mr. D appeared out of nowhere and ordered the band.

The school was closed except for the football stadium. They had an hour until kick off but it felt as if time was flying by too quickly. The band set up at their usual spot and the guard at the corner.

This moment was an intense moment for Annabeth. The last time she was here was to spy on the band on her first day. She never imagined she would be here minutes away from her first football game with the band that had been nothing but chaos in the last few weeks.

The football players were on the field warming up. One of their players looked up when he noticed the band make their way to the field. He spotted the drum major and smiled but returned to work before anyone was suspicious. However, Percy, in an unusual moment of perspicacity, he noticed it and noticed the growing blush on his cousin's cheeks. Watching that only reminded him of his revelation he experience before the game. It sickened him and made him scowl in resentment and disgust. He only wished Thalia would be able to concentrate on the band instead of her secret boyfriend.

"Thalia!" Percy called to her. She turned around to face the band. "Focus," he sternly told her directly in the eye. Thalia frowned slightly before turning away.

Annabeth could sense her friend's behavior but she was too caught up in the moment to pay attention or do anything.

Soon it was finally seven and the kick off started. The audience was even more crowded as it got closer to half time.

Every second Annabeth could feel her nervousness growing.

The cheerleaders were setting up on the track facing the crowd. Percy easily spotted Rachel looking amazing as ever in her cheerleading uniform. Somehow he didn't care. He was worried about their show and, most shockingly, about Annabeth. However, that didn't mean Percy could ignore Rachel's stares on him every second. Annabeth could feel the tension when she saw Rachel but did her best to ignore it.

Not even three minutes into the game the visiting team already scored a touchdown. It was another sad moment for the crowd, but the band didn't care, they were too caught up for their show to care about anything. All of them except their drum major, the number one person who had to be focused on the band every waking moment. She was too distracted with watching the quarterback that she forgot to play their stand songs. It took the whole band to shout her name to grab her attention. Seeing their drum major distracted from their show intensified their nervousness even more. This night was hectic before it even started.

After the first quarter, the team was only down by a touchdown, surprising everybody. The guard was preparing to leave for warm up, making the performance all the more real. While the band was stepping off the bleachers, the crowd was cheering them on. When they lined up on the visitor side waiting for the second quarter to finish, the band felt uneasy. Percy caught Annabeth's eye and sent her a silent message wishing her good luck. She thanked him, but a wish could only do so little.

Thalia wasn't paying attention unlike always, but as the final bell rang for the end of second quarter, she threw on her drum major façade and called the band to attention. She led them down to the middle of the field and called them to dress center. The band got confused because how they rehearsed was a warm up of scales then she was supposed to call them to dress center. Thalia was too nervous that she forgot that.

"For tonight's entertainment is the Demigod Marcher's with their 2012 show of The Phantom of the Opera," said the announcer.

The pit was setting up their keys and the drum major's podium. The band went to their spots on the first song just like rehearsal. Grover went to the middle of the field for his solo, thus starting the show the moment Thalia conducted. On the first note, Grover's hand slipped and played the wrong note. It was heard by everybody in the band. Mr. D was hoping the crowd was too slow to catch it.

As the show progressed, some people got off step and as Thalia kept watching her band, they weren't making their drill spots either. She could tell they were nervous.

At that moment, Annabeth reached Percy's hand, and they gave a nod to each other knowing they had to do well or else. The crowd cheered seeing the two main characters meet each other, but the band wasn't playing their best tonight at all.

Then once the moment came for their big lift, it was the moment the people was waiting for. Percy sucked in a deep breath and lifted Annabeth. He was praying by the second this lift wouldn't be like the first one. Percy made the last turn and carried her down, parting with each other. They did it. Percy and Annabeth felt a sense of pride as she was set down, but that moment was only one moment in the show and they weren't done yet.

The first song ended with a sour note at their last chord. When their horns fell, Thalia was sweating bullets. She looked around every one of them; their nervous and anxious expression was undeniable. She called them to horns up playing the next song. Annabeth started her dance work, but every time she turned around she saw the guard failing miserably. They weren't together nor were they performing. A lesson she learned the hard way from her mother.

The grass was unfortunately wet. Dancing, Annabeth was close to tripping but didn't.

The whole time Percy kept his eyes on Annabeth not focusing on the major at all. At times he got out of sync with the rest of the drummers, something that he wouldn't normally do.

From the moment Grover played his solo with the bad note, the rest of the band was too shy to play louder making this big dramatic show seem like a show filled with upcoming freshmen. This wasn't an award winning band the school had come to learn and appreciate. From the performance that the crowd received, the band was anything but award winning. The band felt it; they knew they disappointed the school, their administrator, and most importantly, Mr. D.

Thalia called them to march forward off the field, receiving only pity applause from the crowd. It was the worst kind of applause you can receive than no applause at all. Thalia led them to the back of the bleachers to talk.

It was silent. Thalia didn't know what to say; nobody did except Mr. D.

"Your break ends in the end of the third quarter. If you're late, then your whole section owes me a mile on tonight when we get back, understood?" it was undeniable that the pudgy short man was pissed.

"Yes sir!"

With that, the band broke off and went back to the bleachers too devastated to say anything. The crowd was less than it was in the beginning of the game but this time they didn't leave because the team was loosing, they left in disappointment of the marching band.

By the end of the third quarter, GoodHigh School was tied with the opponent, surprising everyone. The crowd actually cheered them on with the cheerleaders. The band played their stand songs as much as they could but found little energy to after the first fiasco. Until the end of the game, the quarterback never took his eyes off the game and Thalia never left her eyes off of him. Percy couldn't stand seeing her like this, being with this jerk that was only playing with her mind. As he watched, spontaneously her mood changed from a broken hearted girl to the rough drum major he knew and had confidence in. However, that didn't ease any of the sorrow in the band.

The clock was ticking down the last minutes; and, shocking everybody, a touchdown was scored but not from the visiting team but by the home team. The final buzzer rang and the team actually won! Their team that hadn't won a game in years actually won. The night where the band was supposed to feature their new marching show was stolen by the football team, though not unfairly. Hopefully it wasn't stolen for good.

Aww its so sad but even an award winning marching band hits rock bottom sometimes.

Quartermasters: I like to call them slaves who are in changed of the uniform room, handing out the uniforms and keeping them clean.

Wow, it's getting late and I don't even know how I managed time to write this because I have been so busy with everything like any other student. But I am so busy that I haven't finished Mark of Athena which I got on the day it came out, October 2. Now a month later and still not finished with the book. It's so sad... speaking of which who read and loved MOA? Please no spoilers I got it enough from my friends at school who finished it before me.

And please tell me what you thought of this chapter.

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