DEMIGODS. (Percico/Pernico)

˚‧º·Chapter Nineteen‧º·˚

The music pounded in our ears the moment we walked through the door.

The Grand March was torture; it felt as if everyone's eyes were on us, disapproving that friends, who just so happened to be guys, decided to go together. Or, perhaps they made the assumption that we were dating. I didn't care; Nico and I were close, and a bunch of mean, old people who had nothing better to do than to judge us was no skin off my nose. We stood under a balloon arch as a bright light shone in our eyes. The photographer snapped a picture, and we sauntered off, arm-in-arm, to the endless line of high schoolers standing impatiently, waiting for it to be over so they could escape into the gym and dance the night away.

Thankfully, it was over and done with. Now we stood in the gymnasium, which was decorated neatly and extravagantly for the annual event that all high schoolers anticipate. The DJ sat in the corner on a stage, playing the list of songs the prom committee gave him. Neon lights splattered and dashed across the walls, and other than the lights strung around and the ones coming from the DJ's corner, the gym was completely dark.

The punch bowl looked alluring, so we ventured over to the long table, covered in chips and snacks. We were served our glasses, and we sipped at them as we looked for a place to sit down. I sloshed the punch and ice around in my cup, flashing my date a smile. He returned it through a sip of his punch, which stained his lips pink.

We sat on a table, which, along with the rest, seemed to be pushed carelessly to the side and out of the way so people could dance. We drank our punch and talked about the everyday happenings of our lives.

"I swear, my mom loves you more than she loves me."

Nico snorted. "No way, she loves you."

"You should see how she talks about you. Seriously. I'm wondering who's really your best friend, here."

Nico rolled his eyes and sipped his punch glass, only to realize that it had been reduced to ice, and only hints of the drink remained. He frowned.

"Want more?" I offered mine.

He shook his head. I pretended not to notice his blush.

We sat by the sidelines for awhile, watching Jason, Thalia, and Leo dance.

Like her personality, Thalia's dress was a bright color, but it matched her skin tone. Her usually unruly hair was pinned back. She looked beautiful.

Bianca sat at a circular table with her friend, a girl named Zoë Nightshade, who wore a similarly silver dress. Nico smiled over at her while we conversed. She waved us forward, motioning us to dance.

Nico shook his head rapidly.

"You don't want to?" I asked.

"You do?" he returned.

"Well, yeah," I shrugged.

He blushed violently as he rubbed the back of his head. "I dunno."

I sighed. "It's my last prom. Please."

I gave him my infamous baby seal eyes, which appeared to deter him more than convince him.

I was proven wrong by his answer, "Um, well... I guess we can."

I smiled.

We waited until a song that we knew came on, then I offered him my hand. He accepted it, hesitantly. With that, we were off to the floor, where a tumultuous sea of high schoolers were waving their arms and dancing wildly. Even if they didn't know the song, there were some people who never left the floor.

The song was something wild and fun: a good intro song to prom that got everyone hyped up. We heard the roar of approval over the beginning of the song before it died down and we danced.