scales and arpeggios

chapter twelve: percy

I set my skateboard against the side of Piper's house a few minutes before 7:00. I decided that the distance was too short to drive, but I didn't feel like walking. I ring the doorbell, and a few seconds later it's opened by Jason. He's wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, with fake armor on top of it. A red cape flows down his back, ending a few inches before the floor. He holds a plastic Mjölnir in his right hand. I look down at my costume, a white shirt, and jeans, with a plastic shield in my hand.

"Where did you get your costume?" I ask, throwing my hands up in defeat.

He shrugs, "Piper helped me." I follow him into the kitchen, where Hazel, Reyna, and Piper are talking. Piper's dressed as Wanda, and she sports a pair of combat boots and black leather pants. She's wearing a crimson top with a matching jacket. Her hair is lightly curled, and she wears a pair of silver hoops.

Reyna, who I remember said she was going to be Valkyrie, is wearing a tight white and blue long-sleeved bodysuit, along with a pair of black thigh-high boots. She has a small amount of war paint on her face, and her hair is in a complex side braid.

Lastly is Hazel, who's wearing a white blouse and red knee length skirt. Her hair is in its natural curls, and she doesn't wear any jewelry except for a dog tag necklace.

"You guys look great. Where's everyone else?" I ask.

"Most of them are in the basement, some are running late," Piper answers. I hear a knock from the door, and Jason and I go to answer it.

"He made me do this," Nico says when we answer the door. He's wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt. The only form of costume is a green coat and a small scabbard attached to his side. Will is standing next to him, a pair of gold horns in his hand. Will's wearing a red and black jacket, and a pair of black jeans. His t-shirt is plain white, and he looks overjoyed.

"I love Halloween. Now Neeks, will you please wear the horns?" He asks, turning his attention back to Nico.

"No," he walks farther into the house, Jason and Will following him. I'm about to close the door when Annabeth steps into view. She's wearing a plain black bodysuit, an empty holster attached to the built-in-belt. Her golden curls are pulled back in a high ponytail, with two small pieces framing her face. Her heeled boots make a clicking sound as she walks up the steps towards the house, and as she gets closer, I can see that her ear is filled with piercings. I knew she had a lot, but I've never seen all of them at once. She wears a large pair of silver hoops, almost identical to Piper's. Her second and third piercings are simple studs, and she has two small cartilage piercings, one a hoop, the other a small cylinder going across the top of her ear.

"Hi," she says to me, walking into the house.

"Uh, h-" I clear my throat. "Hi. You look- I really like your costume."

She smiles, "Thanks."

"Annie!" I hear Piper yell from the kitchen, and Annabeth walks deeper into the house. I walk back over towards Jason, who's scarfing down some barbecue chips.

"Woah dude, we have the whole night ahead of us, take it slow." He rolls his eyes at me and continues destroying the snacks.

"So Pipes," Hazel starts. "What're we doing tonight?"

"Well, we have the whole house to ourselves, so I guess whatever we want." Piper adds, "Responsibly."

"THE PARTY HAS ARRIVED!" I hear someone yell from the doorway. Leo. He walks into the kitchen in a child's iron man costume, fake muscles and all. Frank enters behind him, closing the front door. He's wearing a pair of black jeans and a black shirt underneath a leather vest. He has an empty quiver on his back.