scales and arpeggios

chapter twenty: percy

"Come on, Jason, we're going to be late," I say to him as he walks out to my car. He's wearing black jeans and a pale green crewneck. I'm wearing a similar outfit, light wash jeans and a dark grey crewneck.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," he says as he opens the car door. "And how would we be late? We're going two hours early."

"They need our help. Piper's going to be mad if we get there super late."

"Just drive," he tells me. Soon we're pulling up outside Piper's house. I step out of the car and lock it, then walk up and knock on the door. It opens, and Piper and Annabeth are standing there. I look at Annabeth, speechless. She's wearing a short lavender dress and a pair of black heels. Her hair is pulled out of her face, and I notice the necklace and bracelet I got her on her neck and wrist. She smiles at me, and I smile back.

"Okay," Piper's voice snaps me out of my trance. "There actually isn't much to do. We just need to put up some decorations and get the food a little more organized. Then I figured we could relax until everyone else gets here.

"Sounds good to me," Jason says. Annabeth and I nod, and Piper sets us to work.

"You look beautiful, by the way," I say to Annabeth as we hang up a banner. I see her blush, and she looks at me.

"Thanks," she climbs down from the small ladder and kisses my cheek before heading over to the kitchen table and opening a bag of balloons.

"Hey, Annabeth," I start. She looks up at me, her blonde curls swinging across her shoulders. "Are you going to be my New Year's kiss?" She laughs at me, then turns around and grabs my shoulders.

"Percy, we're literally dating. Yes, I'm going to be your New Year's kiss."

"Just checking," I say, holding up my hands in defeat.

"Now come on, help me blow up these balloons."

"I think that's everything," Piper says.

"That took 30 minutes. What are we going to do for an hour and a half?" I ask.

"Watch a movie?" Annabeth suggests.

"Marvel?" Jason asks.

"Age of Ultron," Piper states.

"We won't be able to finish it," Annabeth says. "But we can get through most of it." We plop down on the couch and Piper turns on the movie. Annabeth snuggles up against me, and I throw a blanket over us. Surprisingly, she stays awake the whole time. Too soon, the doorbell starts to ring. Piper switches the TV off and Jason answers the door.

"Party time," Annabeth whispers to me.

;;;

"Snacks?" Annabeth asks me after a few hours of dancing to Taylor Swift.

"After this song," I say as the song switches to "Enchanted."

"Okay." I pull her closer to me and we sway back and forth.

"It was enchanting to meet you," the song sings as I bury my face in her hair. She loops her arms around my neck, and I move mine around her waist.

"This night is sparkling, don't you let it go," Annabeth sings against my chest.

"I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home." I continue.

"I'll spend forever wondering if you knew," she sings quietly.

"I was enchanted to meet you," we sing together. I smile and sway to the song, both of us humming along.

As the bridge nears, Annabeth pulls away and grabs my hands.

"And this is me praying that," she starts, jumping up and down.

"This was the very first page, not where the storyline ends," we sing-scream together. "My thoughts will echo your name until I see you again. These are the words I held back as I was leaving too soon. I was enchanted to meet you." She shifts again so she's up against my chest, and I wrap my arms around her.

I hear her singing quietly, "Please don't be in love with someone else. Please don't have somebody waiting on you. Please don't be in love with someone else. Please don't have somebody waiting on you." The song finishes, Annabeth and I singing together quietly. "Don't Blame Me" begins to play, and I glance down at Annabeth.

"Food?"

"God, yes," she says, leading me through the crowd to the kitchen.

"What time is it?" I ask after we've eaten our food.

"11:52," Annabeth tells me, glancing at the clock.

"It's almost time," I say excitedly. Just then, Piper shuts off the music and turns the TV on so it's live in Times Square.

"Come on," Annabeth says.

"But my food," I whine.

"What food? It's literally all gone," she says. I stand up and throw our plates away. We head to a more secluded part of the room.

"Five minutes," I whisper.

"New Year's resolution, go," Annabeth says.

"I haven't thought of one. But I know I want to spend every second I can with you." She smiles, and in the low light, I can just make out a blush on her cheeks. "Do you have one?"

"Nope, just wanting life to stay the way it is. I know that can't happen though."

"I wish I could stay here forever."

"What, three minutes before a new year?" She asks sarcastically.

"No. Here, with you."

"Why don't we?"

"Two minutes," I whisper.

"That's too long." She lightly kisses me, then wraps her arms around me. I wrap my arms around her gratefully, resting my head on top of hers. A few seconds before the ball drops, she pulls away from the hug and looks at me. As we hear the cheers from the living room, I kiss her. It's soft and hopeful, as if we're wishing for a lifetime like this. I know I am. I wouldn't be opposed to an eternity like this.