Hi everybody, I'M BACK! So sorry for the long wait. Its been a hectic 4 months for me! I had finals, classes, the Sochi Olympics, my last winter season, and so much more.

First of all, I had to survive my AP Literature and Composition class which I dropped for my second semester, because apparently according to my teacher, I suck at writing... so I kind of stopped for a while.

Also finals were a huge thing for my senior year and my last winter season. My season officially ended on the 12th with my championships. It was hard and difficult to see four years o it end but I'm proud of my team on how we ended.

It's also been an emotional roller coaster for me for the past four months with my family and other stuff but I surpassed it.

Now I am on spring break! And only 2 and a half more months left of high school. I don't know if I should cry or be happy, but now I am just living in the moment until AP testings. Oh boy.

Percy'sSisterSPQR: awe that sucks having to put school before band. Also ooohh scandalous! LOL

Brackenfern: I try to include every part of band as much as possible and yeah I will try to include more woodwinds!

Lumpy toe: thanks! Yeah it was difficult adding too much details and not adding enough for the competition. And do me a favor and tell me former English teacher about my writing skills lol. Also I listened to two steps from hell and I must admit, it sounded badass!

softballchick1290: thanks! I'm glad you read it!

bre-seaspawn: Don't worry I will try to also include choir geeks, sorry about now adding before. The thing is there is not much of a rivalry with my band and choir because we actually have some choir geeks in band.

Slightlyinsanestarfish: the soloist sounds like an interesting marching show! And thanks! Writing this reminds me of marching season too. Here is the next chap!

ExPlOdInG dOnKeY cUrSe: thanks! haha

GreekPrincess3: Yay! join the club of band geeks. I'm glad that I was able to persuade you into taking band. Marching band doesn't get easier but it does get better and its worth it too!

Thank you, thank you so much for the reviews! Its what kept me more motivated to write.

Disclaimer: Do not own PJO

Enjoy!

Annabeth POV:

I could handle myself in any situation that life threw at me. Hell, I even managed to turn one from the worst color guards I've seen into one of the best, placing first against eight other schools at competition. But I wasn't prepared for this: returning back to Goode the following Monday without knowing what comments or feedback I would get from the students. From what I've been told, Goode High School has always been up-to-date on the happenings of its programs and sports, and its marching band was no different. Thanks to this generation's innovative social media, nearly two-thirds of the school had already found out about the band's first place placement on Saturday. This school's involvement never failed to amaze me.

I knew the band was adored by its fans, but what about me? The last time I checked, the guard here was a joke and I was its face. So what now? We got first place, and it was an amazing feeling but I'm clueless to how the school will react. I was known as the "Queen of the Twirler" here, thanks to Percy, in my first week here but I scared every kid who threatened to call me that since then. Now it's just frustrating not knowing what will happen to me the second I step through the halls.

Wait, if two-thirds of the school knew about our placement, did that mean they knew about the kiss, too? Oh god, I didn't think I'd be able to handle that. And there was also that unanswered shit I have with Rachel and that Percy has with Rachel. Ugh, there were way too many unanswered questions right now. Like how will I react with Percy during practice?

I spent the entire day yesterday thinking over my predicament. Percy and I kissed, during the competition. It was an amazing kiss too, despite the situation we were in. And after the competition while we were putting away our stuff, he kissed me again and I would've done everything just to stay in that spot forever. That was my problem: I like Percy. Yes, I finally admitted it but my head is in this maelstrom of confusion on whether or not he liked me back. The only other thing I could think of is that football game where I saw Percy kiss Rachel. Were they together? Are they together?

And that was my other problem! I have never acted this way! Never in my life and now I'm being the heartbroken teenager I promised myself I would never be.

That was my day yesterday. I came to the conclusion to just forget, just forget, not forgive.

I don't think I even did my homework yesterday.

I stood at the entrance for a bit and inhaled a deep breath.

The first few yards were harmless as I walked to my locker. Most of the spray paint had barely managed to get off from Percy's prank, but if someone looked closely and knew what to look for, the words were unfortunately still there.

Oh Percy; what was I going to do with that boy…?

I was exchanging books in my locker when somebody tapped me on the shoulder.

"Hey, you're the new captain of the color guard team right, Annabeth right?" It was a boy, a really cute boy I might add with dirty blonde hair and chiseled features, from my math class. I think his name was Eric?

I stared at him, shocked, and blinked a bit but hesitantly nodded.

"I heard what happened on Saturday and I must say, good job on getting first place." He grinned. My heart beat faster upon hearing that. Some people stopped and stared at us, but I didn't care.

"Thanks," I smiled.

"No problem, but seriously, nobody thought that would ever happen in a million years, especially when we saw that you were taking over." And my respect for him just got thrown out the window. "I mean you are hot and all, but look at you! This whole school thought that you couldn't even touch a flag in case you might break a nail even though color guard is really easy."

I kept my face straight, but I was close to ripping his head off. Not wanting to risk suspension, I gave a sweet smile. "Well it's clear that this school had a minor misjudgment on character, but I'm glad that my nails are still intact so that way I won't have to hesitate or care about clawing your eyes out." I slammed my locker shut and left quickly. I think I shocked him a little, but I didn't care.

Walking to my first period, many people, and I mean many people, stopped to congratulate me but didn't give me the bullshit I had received earlier.

It's a good thing this school was big and prevented me from encountering the people I dreaded seeing the most: the walking queen bitch, Rachel, and her possibly-boyfriend, Percy.

I shuddered a little at the thought of that.

Somehow, I survived first through third period, with all its commotion. Mostly people came up to congratulate me, but some people still gave me dirty looks and bad comments, though I didn't care.

Unfortunately, the three morning periods passed too quickly and it was now time for band. The whole period, we listened to the judges' recordings instead of practice which was saved for after school. This meant that all of us would hear our mistakes and the judges' reactions to the kiss. Oh boy.

All 150 or so of us squished into the empty room; all of the band equipment was still in the trailer. The first people I saw were the section leaders who were sitting in the front. Apparently all of the section leaders had to sit together in the front. Shit. This wasn't going to end well for me.

Percy sat on the other side of the line of leaders but I knew his eyes were on me. After spending so much time together, you can't help but become attuned to touch, or presence in this case.

Mr. D played the first recording, the Visual judge, who judged the overall design and visual of the show. I couldn't breathe as the recording played.

"Good afternoon, Goode High School, I will be judging the visual effects for today's competition." In the back, you could hear Grover's solo, harmoniously playing. "Phantom of the Opera, huh? It's a marching band classic, but a little over produced; let's see how this show is different from the others." We all looked around at each other in confusion from his statement. He didn't sound too pleased. "Nice job starting it slow, a little too slow, though." We could all suddenly hear the gradual crescendo in the movement. "Oh nice, having that snare player become the phantom." I let out a tiny breath. From the corner of my eye I could see Percy being patted by the other leaders. "The backdrops give a nice scene, change in the music and with the band hiding behind it."

So far, he had told us things we all expected to hear, plus some other unexpected things.

"I don't know, Goode High School; the show is good, but it's missing something, the show needs a spark to tie this show together." My breathing became heavy as we were already half way through the fourth movement. "The whole spotlight is on the two soloists in the front but something is missing between them." Wait, what? I looked up and noticed the leaders all sharing confused expressions. What could possibly be missing? "The visual with the band adds a nice atmosphere with the two soloists but…" How many "buts" would he say? "Oh wait, wait…nice addition with that kiss. That's the connection that was missing." What? Did we all hear correctly?

Behind me, cheers and oohs erupted but I stood there flabbergasted. A sigh of relief washed over me. This is good, this is really good.

"Clearly this show isn't finished but I'm excited to see how it will end; good luck, Goode High School."

It seemed as if everybody's mood lifted when the video finished. I turned the other way to see my team all huddled together and smiling. I couldn't help but smile at their achievements.

The next four recordings had the same response even though they were from different sections.

Every judge even responded the same way to the kiss. Gosh I felt like pulling my hair out but it felt nice knowing that the kiss was not entirely a mistake. I exhaled—just try to forget, Annabeth.

Sitting across from me was Percy, looking sharp as ever in his band t-shirt. It was a bit difficult to forget with him there. The band congratulated and celebrated with each other but the leaders looked at each other knowing there was a lot more work to be done to beat the Roman Marchers.

I miss my old friends, my old band, my old colorguard, and San Francisco.

My parents didn't give me a choice, however. My dad, after directing high school marching bands, sought the excitement of a greater challenge. Thus, one phone call from one of his old band mates from high school and the next thing I knew I was packing up away from my band. My dad got a job as the new drill and visual writer for a drum corps just outside New York and my mom somehow became part of their color guard staff as well. Everything worked out for them—but not for me.

"How are you not getting dizzy from all of that pacing?"

A voice snapped me back out of my trance. I turned around to see the very person who was the main cause of my growing migraine.

"What do you want now, Seaweed Brain?" My voice was surprisingly calm.

"Nothing much" he answered but trailed off and said something after that I couldn't hear.

I rolled my eyes, grunted and left. Where? I don't know, anywhere but here.

"You sure do have a knack for running away," said the voice following me.

I walked away even faster and farther away from the band room but something stopped me.

I turned around to accidently stare into his sea green eyes. Those were always my weakness.

"Can you please let go of my hand?"

My eyes glanced to him, as I breathed heavily, and then at his hand that was tightly grasping my wrist. I pulled at his hand but he wouldn't let go. He was holding my hand again, oh gods he was holding my hand again!

"If I let go you might run away again," he explained softly, smirking.

"What do you want," I asked when I finally regained control of my breathing, and confidence.

"An explanation, or a reason, whichever one is fine with me." His voice sounded soft and sincere, but that didn't mean it truly was.

I finally pulled away from his hand. "I'm sorry."

"Hey don't worry about it, I was just worried about you not showing up for practice," he sounded surprisingly dejected, enough that it hurt my heart to see him this crushed. "What happened, Annabeth, between our coffee date and now? Or before that from the football game to the competition and our…our k-kiss," he awkwardly continued.

A spark shrilled down my spine as I heard those words from him for the first time. And our coffee "date;" I had completely forgotten about that day. He had managed to come early that school day and brought us coffee. After that, we just talked, just the two of us. I'm surprised I forgot about that morning, but it hadn't really been a date. Still, I couldn't help but smile at that memory.

"I don't kn—"

"Like bull shit you don't know. You're Annabeth, you're supposed to know everything," he interrupted me. I didn't know whether or not to take his comment as an insult or a compliment. "What happened?"

I shook my head, "Nothing," I trailed. Just ask him, Annabeth. What are you afraid of? Ask him about him and Rachel. I opened my mouth, "I—"

"Annabeth!"

"Percy, there you are!"

Familiar voices called from the distance. It was Juniper and Travis. They ran to our sides.

"Practice started and you weren't there and the team got worried and then I got worried because you weren't there and—and," Juniper rambled.

"Juniper, Juniper calm down," I reassured her.

"Anyway, battery needs you," Travis gave a heads up to Percy. "Come on, you shouldn't even be talking to her anyway." He pushed Percy and they began running to the band room.

I stared at their backs as they ran off, or more precisely, Percy's back.

"Come on Annabeth, you can stare at him closer at practice."

Before I could process anything, Juniper had grabbed my hand and was pulling me to the field.

Just try to forget, Annabeth.

"You all heard the recordings today. Some were kind, others were brutal." Some bandos snickered. "But they were all honest." That shut them up. "Now let's start the rehearsal. Techs?" Mr. D called.

The techs gave their criticism about the show on Saturday and then we began.

I focused on my team and practiced as I've always had. Thalia and the marching tech had us practice each show to clean the marching. It seems like the Marching Demigods never get a day off.

Just practice like you normally do, Annabeth. Stay strong.

Mr. D and the techs could easily see my resistance. I performed fine on equipment but once I put it down I froze. My nerves were getting the best of me. This rarely happened. First it was that jerk in the morning, then the recordings, now this. It wasn't complications with the drum line anymore; now it was me.

"Are you feeling better?" a low husky voice asked behind me. It was break now and everyone was either resting or getting water, not paying attention to us.

"Why wouldn't I be?" I replied.

"I was just worried about you like I said." Percy smirked. I cocked my eyebrow.

He was irritating, but I must admit: he could be adorable sometimes. I felt my heart flutter from his sincerity.

"I feel fine Percy, don't worry," I smiled.

"Good, that's good," he paused. "I guess I better go." He points in the general direction of his drum line.

"Yeah." I had so many unanswered questions in my mind but I knew I couldn't do anything about them. So instead, I ignored my feelings, like I had been doing.

"Okay back to song 4 everybody!" Thalia called.

Annabeth finally admit to liking Percy! BUT can't forget about Rachel!

I must admit that it was tough going back to this story with everything in my laugh. But to be honest I had this story finished last week BUT it had to be rewritten.

Anyway, I hope this is a nice transition from the last chapter because that was my biggest struggle. I also hope that this chapter met all of your expectations!

For the bandos how was your indoor season? Also congrats on Pulse for that gold in WGI finals!

Review please!

One huge favor!? Can this story reach 300 reviews before the next update? It would mean a lot to me for being away for a while! Thanks!