Half-Blood High

Epilogue

                           One week later

                                   Percy

"Is my tie straight?" Frank asked. Hazel reached up and pulled on the left loop. "There, perfect." Frank grinned at her, the tips of his ears turning a little pink.

"Piper, can you pin this back for me?" Annabeth asked. Piper complied, and slid the bobby pin into her hair, tucking back a stray curl. "Thanks."

"Okay guys, ready?" Leo asked. He was fiddling with the camera. "Everybody get together." He moved his hands back and forth as the six of us crowded together. "Jason, a little to the left. More. More."

Jason raised an eyebrow. "Leo, if I move to the left anymore, I'll be out of the picture."

"Okay, there is perfect. Ready?" He pressed the button, then ran and squeezed in between Frank and Piper. "Everybody say: Queso!"

"Queso!" We said as the camera flashed. Leo grabbed the camera off its stand and peered at the screen, grinning. "Perfectó."

It was the night of the Half-Blood High/Jupiter Academy co-collaborative dance. I had asked Annabeth a few days ago, and (Thank the gods), she'd said yes. Piper and Jason were going together. Frank and Hazel had each been too shy to ask the other, but we had bets running on when they would dance together. I hoped it would be the first slow song, or I would owe Leo ten bucks.

Speaking of Leo, he hadn't asked anyone, as far as we knew, saying he "couldn't waste all his moves on one girl." Whatever that meant.

We were taking a picture in front of the fountain, out in the courtyard. The dance was held in the cafeteria, but the girls had insisted on getting a picture first.

"Come on! I think the first song is starting!" Hazel grasped Frank's arm and pulled him along. The rest of us grinned and followed behind them.

The music hit me the second I stepped inside. Some fast song was playing, and people were grouped up all over the floor, dancing and chatting with their friends. We danced through the first two songs, then broke up to get snacks.

Annabeth poured herself a cup of punch, and I grabbed a mini chocolate cupcake and bit into it. We finished our food, just as the DJ announced the first slow dance.

I grinned at Annabeth and offered her my arm. "May I have this dance?" She laughed and nodded. "Of course."

She took my hand as we walked on to the floor. My hands went around her waist gently, just like my mom taught me. Annabeth leaned her head against my shoulder, her arms around my neck. My heart skipped a couple beats. I gathered up my nerve and said:

"Annabeth?"

"Mmmm?"

"I love you."

I risked a glance down at her. She was smiling, her gray eyes shining. "I love you too, Percy." She reached up and pressed her lips to mine softly.

Suddenly, Half-Blood High seemed like the perfect school for me.

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                                    Jason

I was watching the dance floor, when Piper tapped my shoulder. "Check out Hazel and Frank."