Okay guys, I've been waiting so long to post this...but I finally finished it! So here you go. I would like to say thank you for all of the support, and I'm so glad you guys are enjoying my story. If we get 1,000 reads, then I'll let you guys pick the plot of a new chapter as a celebration. I also know that I need to slow down on making stories...but I have a new one in mind that has to do with the ships of PJO/HOO! So maybe I'll publish it...

ALSO! I'm sorry I've posted so many from the girls' perspective, mainly Piper's, but I promise, it's for the storyline. I also find it more entertaining to write from their perspectives, but if you want to hear someone else's perspective, let me know! 

And this chapter's a pretty long one!

But, let's get on with it!

{Hazel's POV}

For what felt like the hundredth time, we practiced our routine before we went up for the talent show. Piper was so scared, and I could tell she was shaking. She didn't want to embarrass herself.

Our outfits all matched. We all had grey shirts, leather bottoms, and red flannel. Some were wearing leather shorts, some wearing leggings, and some wearing skirts, like me. We all had flannel, some were being worn, and others were tied around waists. 

"And now, Kianna and the High Heels!" We rolled our eyes at the stupid name and stupid girls. "Watch and learn," Kianna snickered at Piper, which seemed to make her feel worse. Kianna went up and sang "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift, of course. I'd heard the song maybe once when Piper was playing it. It unfortunately was pretty good.

"That was dedicated to my boyfriend, Percy Jackson!" Kianna yelled. "I'm not your boyfriend!" he yelled at her, making the entire  audience and backstage laugh. She stormed off stage.

"And now, The Harmonizers!" We all looked at each other, giving reassuring smiles. "Let's win this!" Annabeth cheered.

We got in our formation, and we were starting with "Salute" by Little Mix after a disagreement about "No Tears Left To Cry." So we scratched that...actually, we scrapped most of our original performance. Calypso was starting as the main singer for this song (A/N: I suggest you listen to the songs during this time so you understand and for effect :D). Thalia and Annabeth made a buzzing sound to mimic the sirens, Katie and I were mimicking trumpets, Clarisse was yelling like the voices in the background. Piper and Reyna made the low beat noise. We all stopped for an "aahh-oo".

Continued, then stopped again for the noise, then repeated one more time.

"Ladies all across the world, listen up, we're looking for recruits.

If your with me let me see your hands, stand up and salute.

Get your killer heels, sneakers, pumps, or lace up your boots.

Representing all the women, salute, salute. (x2 obviously)

It's who we are, we don't need no camouflage.

It's the female federal.

And we're taking off

If your with me, women lemme hear you say

Ladies all across the world, listen up, we're looking for the recruits.

If your with me lemme see your hands, stand up and salute.

Get your killer heels, sneakers, pumps, or lace up your boots.

Representing all the women, salute, salute."

As we switched our positioning and song, some girls in the background continued singing.

The next song was being sung by me, and it was "It Ain't Me" by Selena Gomez and Kygo. The beat shifted.

"Who's gonna walk you through the dark side of the morning?

Who's gonna rock you when the sun won't let you sleep?

Who's waking up to drive you home when you're drunk and all alone?

Who's gonna walk you through the dark side of the morning?

It ain't me!"

I spotted Frank in the crowd while I was waiting for the instrumental, well, I guess, vocal part to be over. He was smiling at me, and I blushed, almost missing the fact that we were switching places again.

I assumed it was time for Katie to sing "Mean" by Taylor Swift, which was very much targeted towards Kianna and her gang. As Katie sang, Annabeth and Piper were singing part of "Salute" in the background. I could see Travis' face, which seemed to be very proud of Katie.

"Someday, I'll be living in a big old city,

And all you're ever gonna be is mean.

Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me

And all your ever gonna be is mean!

Someday, I'll be living in a big old city, 

And all you're ever gonna be is mean.

Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me

And all your ever gonna be is mean.

Why you gotta be so mean?"

We switched again, and it was Piper's turn. The loud beat started to quiet down into a slower one. The excited crowd calmed down, confused. Piper took a deep breath and started singing.

"Cause I'm only human

And I bleed when I fall down

I'm only human

And I crash and I break down

Your words in my head,

Knifes in my heart,

You build me up and then I fall apart

'Cause I'm only human."

Piper left the crowd in shock. The beat picked up again, and now it was Annabeth's turn. She was singing "No More Sad Songs" by Little Mix.

"I'm begging, please don't play

No more! Sad songs

No more! Sad songs

No more! Sad songs

I'm begging please don't play."

The beat spun around again. We were back to "Salute".

"Attention! (Salute)

Attention! (Salute)

Attention! (Huh)

Representing all the women, salute, salute!"

We gathered in the front, still continuing the beat. After the little "instrumental" part, we stopped making any background noise at all, and all sang the last part.

"Huh!

Representing all the women, salute, salute!"

We ended in a group pose, everyone doing something different. I imagined if the boys did this. They'd all look stupid doing the poses, especially Leo.

The crowd went wild, and we exit the stage, leaving Kianna in half-shock, like she's trying not to be impressed.

"Piper, you did amazing," Katie complimented. "Me?! I should be complimenting you guys. You sounded great!" Piper defended. "We sounded great," Reyna corrected, making Piper smile.

"You still have your solo, Pipes. What are you singing?" I asked. "It's a surprise," she responded. "Not for long!" Thalia laughed, pointing to the stage. "And now, Piper McLean!" We looked at her, shocked. She shrugged her shoulders as if to say "lucky guess". Piper ran on stage with a guitar she'd been storing in the back.

Sarabella was snickering, like she knew  Piper was going to lose. You see, there were three categories: group performance, solos, and other. Piper was competing against Sarabella.

She started to strum her guitar. I quickly recognized the song from one of Piper's Taylor Swift albums (I think they're called) (A/N: That was Hazel talking) as "Love Story". (Also, this is a pretty good Percabeth song...if the "daddy" was turned to "mom")

"We were both young when I first saw you.

I close my eyes and the flashback starts.

I'm standing there on a balcony in the summer air.

See the lights, see the party, the ballgowns,

See you make your way through the crowd

And say, "Hello", little did I know,

That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles

And my daddy said "Stay away from Juliet"

And I was crying on the staircase, begging you, "Please don't go!"

And I said

Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone

I'll be waiting; all that's left to do is run

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess

It's a love story, baby just say "yes".

So I sneak out to the garden to see you

We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew.

So close your eyes, escape this town for a little while.

'Cause you were Romeo, and I was a scarlet letter

And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"

But you were everything to me

I was begging you please don't go, and I said,

Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone

I'll be waiting; all that's left to do is run

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess

It's a love story, baby just say "yes".

Romeo, save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel

This love is difficult, but it's real.

Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess.

It's just a love story, baby just say "yes".

...

I got tired of waiting, 

Wondering if you were ever coming around.

My faith in you was fading

When I met you on the outskirts of town.

And I said,

Romeo, save me, I've been feeling so alone

I keep waiting for you but you never come

Is this in my head? I don't know what to think

He knelt to the ground and took out a ring and said

Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone

I love you and that's all I really know

I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress

It's a love story, baby just say "yes"

She finished the song, and the crowd went insane.

Finally, results came up.

"And now, for the group performance winners....The Harmonizers!" We rushed on stage and took our certificates, and a bow, while the audience 

"And finally, the solo performance winner....Sarabella Johnson!"

What?

Each audience membered slow clapped and/or booed, or did nothing at all. Piper looked humiliated. "Wait! I'm sorry. Wrong card. That's a participation award. Piper McLean!" the announcer corrected.

The crowd cheered up again and went crazy for Piper. Sarabella scowled.

We went over to our boyfriends who congratulated us.

{Annabeth's POV}

Everybody who was in the show and any friends they wanted to bring were invited to a fro-yo after party at TCBY. Percy and I sat at a table, eating our yogurt.

"You put every blue flavor in the cup?' I laughed. "Yep," he said, popping the "p". "Birthday cake, blueberry, blue raspberry, and wild berry." "Gross," I snickered. He pouted, which was pretty cute, so I found my taunting successful.

Sarabella walked by. "Great job with the participation award, Sarabella," Percy laughed. She turned, and started twirling her hair. I rolled my eyes. "Hey Percy, and thanks," she purred, grossly. "Ew, Sarabella, you can flirt later, let's go home. Dad's waiting for us," a boy next to her, who must've been her brother, said. "Shut up, Peter," she rolled her eyes.

I burst out laughing, but Percy didn't get it yet. "Your...brother's....name is....Peter Johnson?" I asked between laughs. Percy's eyes got wide, and he started to crack up, too. "What's your cousin's name? Anabel Face?" Percy laughed. Sarabella stepped back, confused. "SHUT UP!" I said, sarcastically laughing. I can't even. Grover and some of our other camp friends must've heard, because they were cracking up, too. Sarabella strutted away.

After laughing for a good five minutes after, we went outside with the others where we had another moment like the one date, but better. 

"Do you ever miss New Rome?" I asked Percy out of the blue. He looked taken aback, but he still answered. "I don't really. I don't miss Octavian or the place, just the people there, who are now here with us." I nodded my head, and I had a weird flashback to Tartarus, but it wasn't a very bad one.

(Flashback from House of Hades)

 I kissed Percy, with his eyes glossed over. "Tell me about New Rome!" I yelled. "What were your plans for us?"

"New...Rome...for us..."

"Yeah, Seaweed Brain. You said we could have a future there! Tell me!"

"Architecture," he muttered, and his eyes started to clear up, causing me to smile somewhere deep in my heart. The tiniest part that had hope. "Thought you'd like the houses, the parks. There's one street with all these cool fountains."

I had never been so relieved before at the time.

(Flashback over)

I came out of the flashback shaking, and Percy was holding me. He was comforting me as I quietly sobbed. He kissed my forehead.

"It's all over. As normal as it could get for half-bloods," he whispered, and I nodded.

He brought my chin up and kissed away my tears. "I don't deserve you," I whispered, hoping Percy wouldn't hear and go insane. But of course, loyalty is his fatal flaw. "Don't say that, Wise Girl. Don't ever say that. Never again," he said. "But I don't! You freaking saved Olympus, Percy, twice! You even were offered immortality! And you were such a Seaweed Brain that you turned it down for me and everyone else-" Percy stopped my rant early. "Annabeth, I turned it down for reasons I didn't understand yet. I saved the world with you  and the rest of the seven and camps. So don't ever  say you don't deserve me, because you deserve way better, okay?" he whispered. 

Now it was my turn to get mad. "What do you mean I deserve way better? Is there better, Seaweed Brain? Who  is better? Nobody. Don't say I deserve more, because I don't, and even if I did, I'd have to be the greatest god of all time, so shut up-" of course, I was stopped again, but this time I didn't mind, because Percy stopped me with a kiss.

"You guys fight over who's better ? Jeez, are you just running out of things to fight over, or are you just being annoyingly cute?" Connor asked, causing everyone to laugh, and us to blush.

In the end, it was a great talent show.

Whew! 2175 words. Pretty long one! I hope you guys loved it, and comment plot suggestions below! Again, thank you for the support <3