REYNA'S POV

Things have been going great lately. I was able to focus better in class and basically everything went back to normal. Then I remembered that Nico hasn't had a party yet. I know Nico isn't a party type of dude, but his friends need to be able to express how much we care, considering he just came out of a coma. After we picked the function hall of Sally's as a venue, Hazel helped me with the party planning. Piper reluctantly agreed to help with the designs. Percy got blue sandwiches. And ate them. Then bought new ones. Then ate them. "You know what?" he said, "Maybe I should just buy new ones for Nico when he's gonna come in. It's really tempting to eat these." 

No one complained, Percy's mother's sandwiches look weird but taste delicious.

Soon after, we were finished. Leo and Calypso arrived late, but that didn't matter since Nico wasn't even there yet. I texted Hazel to do what I told her to do: Escort Nico. After I did that, I reminded everyone of what they were supposed to  do. 

"Leo, as soon as Nico comes in, it's your job to turn on the lights and play the music. Jason, Piper, you guys smile and greet him, then escort him to his table. Annabeth, it's your job to make sure Percy doesn't eat the food. Hazel's already doing her job of pretending nothing's gonna happen while bringing Nico here. Frank and Calypso, you already decided the activities, so it's your free time."

Then, I went up the stage of the function hall, adjusted the mike, and Leo turned off the lights. A minute later, Nico and Hazel open the door. Leo turned on the lights, and music started to play.

All the single ladies, all the single ladies--

"Whoops. That was the song on my playlist when I was single." Embarrassed, Leo quickly switched to "Happy Birthday". Percy snickered. He subconsciously tried reaching for the sandwiches, but Annabeth stopped him. I inhaled, exhaled, and started speaking.

"Today, we are celebrating not only a birthday, but also a very special moment: Nico waking up from the coma. Nico, you and I have been friends for so long. This is my---no, our way of congratulating you. Enjoy the show."

I glanced at Frank and Calypso, who nodded and took my place in the stage. 

"The first activity is "Piñata smashing". Calypso and I honestly have no clue what it's supposed to be called. We just got the idea from the Internet. Then after eating, there will be a secret event."

I saw Nico's face, and his expression was a mixture of curiosity, shyness, and his trademark gloomy I'm-not-interested-in-anything-but-anime face. He stepped forward anyway, and I blindfolded his eyes. After spinning him around 10 times, I gave him the stick. Everyone was shouting the directions where he was supposed to go.

"Left!" Percy coached.

"Forward, then right!" Annabeth corrected.

"Go to the piñata!" Leo said, making Calypso face-palm.

After a few minutes of coaching, Nico hit the piñata, and candy spilled out of it. Everyone cheered. 

NICO'S POV

I got all of the pomegranate-flavored candies for myself. It's a good thing.

I was somewhat disappointed that the birthday wasn't Kuroshitsuji-themed. It wasn't that I wanted to boss anyone around (though that would be nice), it's just that I wanted to have an excuse to cosplay as Ciel. Then I realized that only Reyna and Hazel knew that I actually did things other than sit around all alone and think.

The next activity was eating (arguably the best part of every party). 

I sat in a nearby table. Reyna approached me, and I was tempted to let her sit, but that would ruin what I'd like the others to think of me: A loner who you shouldn't mess with and definitely has no feelings for Reyna. 

"Go sit somewhere else" I mouthed. 

Reyna stood and looked at me, as if asking "Why?"

I mouthed "I'm sorry", and she nodded and left.

There was suddenly a voice that warned me I had sent the wrong message to her, but I ignored it. How could I have possibly sent the wrong message? 

A few minutes before the "secret event"that Frank and Calypso planned, I approached Reyna, and explained that I might have sent the wrong message. She looked sad, okay? We decided to forget about what happened and just enjoy the party.

As if by cue, Calypso announced "For the much awaited secret event, we will have a duet!"

Everyone cheered. I didn't. I don't really like singing. It's just not my kind of thing.

"Reyna, Nico, get up the stage and sing! The lyrics are provided in the screen and surely you've heard of this song."

I didn't want to go, but I didn't want Leo to keep saying It'll be fun, Nico over and over. I headed up the stage. Percy almost choked on his sandwich when he saw me onstage, and said something like "He actually did it!"

I hoped for an anime song as Calypso prepared the music.

[A/N: Italics is for Nico (because, you know, he speaks Italian) and Bold is for Reyna (because she's.....wait for it....bold. Bold-Italics is when both of them are singing. There's also the vid for this song, I do not own it but you should hear it.)]

You and I, we're like fireworks and symphonies exploding in the sky.

With you, I'm alive
Like all the missing pieces of my heart, they finally collide.

So stop time right here in the moonlight,
'Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes.

Without you, I feel broke
Like I'm half of a whole
Without you, I've got no hand to hold
Without you, I feel torn
Like a sail in a storm
Without you, I'm just a sad song
I'm just a sad song

With you, I fall
It's like I'm leaving all my past and silhouettes up on the wall.
With you, I'm a beautiful mess
It's like we're standing hand and hand with all our fears up on the edge.

So stop time right here in the moonlight,
'Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes.

Without you, I feel broke
Like I'm half of a whole
Without you, I've got no hand to hold
Without you, I feel torn
Like a sail in a storm
Without you, I'm just a sad song

You're the perfect melody,
The only harmony I wanna hear
You're my favorite part of me,
With you standing next to me,
I've got nothing to fear

Without you, I feel broke
Like I'm half of a whole

Without you, I've got no hand to hold

Without you, I feel torn
Like a sail in a storm
Without you, I'm just a sad song

Without you, I feel broke
Like I'm half of a whole
Without you, I've got no hand to hold
Without you, I feel torn
Like a sail in a storm
Without you, I'm just a sad song, I'm just a sad song

***********************

Well, this is by far my longest chapter ever. I don't know if it was good though. Anyway, how'd ya like it?