Thalia sings/names a song in this chapter called Come a Little Closer by Coasts. If you haven't heard it, here's a link -- (https://soundcloud.com/coastsband/coasts-come-a-little-closer) -- in case you want to check it out before you read and sing along when you do. 

-~*~-

"Son of a--"

I cursed, watching as the bottle stood upright, unchanged because my ball veered very left, nearly hitting the game operator in the face.

"Nice try, Miss," he said politely.

"Boo!"

I whirled around, punching Roman in the arm with my free hand. "Not! Funny!" I exclaimed, turning back around to face the three remaining bottles still taunting me.

Roman roared with laughter, and the Game Operator--who I had learned was named Jim--hid a smile behind his mustache.

"It's alright," he said, because he was always so sweet, even after I had nearly fist-fought a ten-year-old boy who told me that my aim sucked. "Tenth time's the charm."

"You're damn right, Jim," I said through clenched teeth. I stuck my tongue out and wiggled my butt like the pitcher's I'd seen in movies, because God knows I had never actually seen a real game. "You're damn right."

I did a quick walk-through of the technique Roman had showed me around time number three. Already, I was on the last ball of my tenth game. I'd gone through thirty balls and each time, there had been at least one of the ten stacked bottles still standing.

I could not go home without knocking all of those bottles down, even if I had to climb over the divider and use my hands.

Besides, I wanted the giant, furry, pink Teddy Bear hanging behind Jim on the wall.

"I believe in you, Thal," Roman called, though I could hear the amusement -- at my expense -- that laced his voice. "There's an angel in the outfield right now," he continued, "and he's praying that you knock these damn bottles down."

"So am I," I muttered, bringing my arm back for the throw.

Roman and Jim both choked on a laugh, right as I decided to let the round yellow ball leave my fingertips.

I didn't breath as the ball flew towards the bottles, where it connected with one...that decided to make the other two fall.

I'd done it.

"Way to go!" Jim exclaimed, as I threw my arms up like the referee's officiating a touchdown.

I turned to Roman, eyes wide, mouth open in a full smile.

"I did it!"

He held his arms out to me. "You did!"

I ran to him and jumped, throwing my arms around his neck as he caught me midair.

"Ten must be your lucky number," he grinned, placing me back on my feet.

"I think it is," I agreed. "I should get it tattooed on my back or something."

"Oh god, no," Roman said, shaking his head as we approached the stand again. "I don't know if Nico would ever let you live that down."

"Hah," I exclaimed. "Nico? Try April."

Jim reached behind the counter. "Here you go," he said, handing me a small Beanie Baby.

"What's that?" I asked, staring confusedly at the little penguin.

"Your prize," Jim replied.

I shook my head. "But--"

Roman stepped closer to me, noting my visible distress. "What do you have to do to win one of those?" He asked, pointing behind Jim to the big bears that I wanted.

"Oh!" Jim nodded, like he finally understood, too. "Oh," he offered me an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Miss, but you've got to knock down all the bottles with your first try to win one of those."

"Crap!" I exclaimed. "That's like, impossible, Jim!"

And again, I noticed Jim's poorly concealed laugh.

"I'm sorry?"

"Let me try," Roman said, sliding the adequate amount of tickets onto the counter.

"Alright," Jim shrugged, placing the three balls I'd grown so close to in Roman's hand. "You've got three shots."

"Thanks," Roman said, placing two balls atop the counter.

I took a step back. Something told me that Roman wasn't going to need all three.

I was right.

Roman wound up and let the ball go, sending all ten bottles to the floor of the stall with a loud crash. I thought glass had shattered, he threw the ball so hard.

He tugged lightly on my jean jacket, dimple showing in a crooked smile. "Thal?"

"Yeah?" I replied, giggling at Jim's awestruck face.

Roman pointed to the big, hanging bears. "Which color do you want?"

Carnival games, I decided, are way more fun when your date is a pitcher.

Hah, I'm so cool.

My date is a pitcher.

"I think you might have given Jim a heart attack," I laughed as we walked along the boardwalk.

Roman nodded. "Yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "He probably wasn't expecting that."

"Probably?" I scoffed. "He's probably cleaning up broken shards of glass right now."

Roman closed his eyes and laughed aloud. "Shut up, Thal."

"I'm so serious," I exclaimed. "Did you see his face? He was like, very scared."

"At least I didn't almost hit him, instead," Roman replied with a pointed look my way.

"Hah hah," I replied, bumping him with my shoulder. "Tenth time's the charm, remember?"

"Thal, we were there for like, forty minutes," he laughed. "I'm not going to forget any time soon."

I groaned. "Shut up."

Roman squeezed my hand as he laughed, and didn't stop laughing for a little while.

If my life was like High School Musical, I would have laughed and talked and joked and sang with Roman at first, I thought, to Beyoncé's XO. But, then I realized that she had shot the video at night on Coney Island, and if I was going to be Queen Bey, I was going to do it just like her.

So, I decided on a different one.

If I had to break into song along the pier, Roman's hand in mine, my Teddy in my arms, I would have belted the lyrics to Come a Little Closer, and it's by Coasts, an Alternative band that Jamie got me hooked on during Thanksgiving Break.

I probably would have sang that song all day.

So can we go to a place where your skin will glow, your skin will glow?

Somewhere the summer comes to life, somewhere our hearts will both reside.

And now it's just after midnight,

and I don't feel anything

for anyone

but something is eating my insides.

It's giving me a taste for you.

It's happy, upbeat, and damn it, every time I hear it, I feel like I'm transported to the beach in the summertime.

So won't you come a little closer,

wait for the sun to rise.

Won't you come a little closer,

bathe in the morning light.

And darn it, that's what I felt like with Roman. It was like it was summer again, and I had no school, no responsibilities; all there was to do was to hang out with my friends, or in this case, a hot boy, at the Pier beneath the sun.

"Anything else you might want," Roman teased as he gave the ear of my pink teddy a light flick.

I grinned. "Let's see," I thought, turning in a circle to inspect the carnival games, rides and restaurants packed on the boardwalk.

"There," I said, pointing like a small child. "Let's get on that."

Roman squinted in the direction of my finger. "The Ferris Wheel?" He asked.

I nodded, and then I nodded my other teddy's head. "Just look how excited he is."

"Alright," Roman grinned, petting the stuffed bear. "C'mon, Teddy. Let's go."

~*~

"I haven't been here in ages," I sighed happily. With Roman's arm around my shoulder I nestled against the crook of his shoulder as our car took us up, up, up and around in the bright sky.

Roman turned to me. "Really?"

I nodded. "My parents used to bring me and my brother out here all the time," replied. "We'd eat and play games, or go to the beach..." I stared off at the water stretching before my eyes. "We used to have a lot of fun out here," I nibbled the corner of my lip, laughing to myself. "You know, my dad stopped buying my brother ice cream cones because he'd always drop it and start crying."

I laughed harder. 

"God, he's such a baby."

I could feel Roman's gaze. "You guys are close, huh? You and your brother."

"I guess," I nodded, because we were. "I guess we are."

"Y'know, I didn't know you were a twin, too," Roman said.

I wrinkled my nose. "Seriously?" I guessed the only person I really spoke to about my brother had been Xander.

Roman nodded. "Now I see why you're so cool."

"I'm praying that's not the only reason."

"Eh," he shrugged. "Well..."

I elbowed him lightly, his laughter melding with the breeze as our wheel stopped, us at the top.

Grabbing hold of the bars, I peered over the edge.

Roman placed a guiding hand on my back. "Whoa."

I whipped my head around to face him. "Did you just get concerned for my safety right there?"

"Fuck you," Roman laughed. "And the answer is 'yes.'"

"C'mon, Dad," I teased. "I'm just looking."

"Yeah, but guess what? I don't want you to fall out of this thing on our first date."

I patted his inked arm. "I won't," I said. Then, I regarded him carefully, not taking my eyes from his. "Are you afraid of heights?"

Roman shook his head.

I smirked. "Sure about that?"

"Positive," he grinned. "But, I can't catch you if you fall out of this thing, so..." he shook his head, again. "I'd really appreciate it if you didn't die."

"Don't worry," I smiled. 'I'll be fine."

Roman's face remained unchanged. "Right, Thal."

"I used to do this all the time."

"Uh-huh. Okay."

"And if I fall, I'll just bounce right back up."

Roman grazed my neck with his fingertips, tickling me. "Not funny."

I leaned further, laughing as I purposefully rocked the seat.

"Thalia!"

"Kidding, kidding," I laughed aloud. "I'll be good, now." I promised, leaning back against Roman with my hands in my lap, smiling to myself.

Are we headed to the bay where I'll help you to,

melt in two?

Just like the days when we chased the stars,

hanging out the windows of your best friend's car...

The beach below was crowded, like always.

When I was away at school, these were the things I missed about California. Christmas had barely passed and already people were out on the beach.

...And we're meeting at crossroads.

The blood that's

on your lips is reaching me,

too quick,

and I won't forget you.

I still got a taste for more.

"Thanks," I said softly.

Roman tipped his head downwards. "For what?" He asked, eyes meeting mine.

"For bringing me here," I replied. "I love it out here."

Roman's eyes searched mine, slow smile spreading across his face.

"What?" I asked. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head, eyes never diverting from my face. "Nothing," he replied. "There's absolutely nothing wrong."

So won't you come a little closer,

wait for the sun to rise.

Won't you come a little closer,

bathe in the morning light.

I didn't think that it was possible for the day to get any better.

"Roman?"

Roman looked to me confusedly. "Huh?"

I turned to him. "Nothing," I said. We'd just walked from the Ferris Wheel after a second ride and I hadn't spoken. I'd been too busy enjoying the moment, singing Coasts in my head.

Come a little closer,

wait for the sun to rise.

Won't you come a little closer?

Bathe in the morning li--

"Roman! Roman Carson!"

Both Roman and I whirled around, eyes scanning the crowds as we both searched for the source of the voice.

But, some girl was already picking our way through the crowd. Hand-in-hand with some bleach-blonde, tanned dude at her side, this guy looked like he had come straight from a surfer's magazine or an episode of Laguna Beach.

The girl, on the other hand, was really really pretty.

She had long, straight black hair held back with a floral headband. She wore skinny jeans, wedge sandals and a button-up top that not just anyone could wear as convincingly as she did. Her dark skin was blemish-free, brown eyes darkened by perfectly applied mascara. If someone told me this girl was a runway model I would have believed every word. All of a sudden I felt very young in my high-top Converse.

Who the hell was she?

Roman's eyes widened instinctively.

"Kayla?" He exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

No fucking way.

Kayla practically ran into Roman as she threw her arms around his neck.

"How are you?" She exclaimed, hands resting over his shoulders. "It's been way too long."

Roman seemed confused. "Uh, yeah," he said. "Yeah, it has."

"How's UVA? I heard you were starting."

"Yeah, Kay," he nodded. "For the past three years."

"God," Kayla said, flipping her long hair over her shoulder, "I can't believe it's been so long."

Roman shook his head in what I'm assuming was an effort to clear his thoughts, because I swear to you, I have never seen him look more confused.

He lifted Kayla's hands from his shoulders. "What are you doing here, Kayla?"

"Oh!" She exclaimed, reaching for the blonde's hand behind her as if she'd forgotten that he was there. "Roman, this is Duke. Duke, Roman"

Duke lifted his head in greeting. "'Sup."

"Hey..." Roman replied, reaching for my hand.

"What are you doing here?" Kayla asked. "Is the rest of the crew somewhere in hiding?"

"No," Roman replied, intertwining his fingers with mine. "I'm on a date," he smiled at me. "This is Thalia. Thal," he gestured towards the girl before me, "this is Kayla, my ex."

"Nice to meet you," I said.

Kayla's smile didn't reach her eyes. "You too," she replied. Then, she turned back to Roman. "Well, we should be going," she said, resting her hand on Duke's chest. "We're going to see a movie."

"Cool," Roman nodded. "It was good seeing you, Kayla," he said, offering her another hug.

"You too, Roman," Kayla smiled. "I miss you."

Roman's expression changed for the slightest moment. For a split second, his face was completely unreadable.

"I miss you, too, Kayla."

"I'll see you around," Kayla said, as Duke slowly dragged her away. "I'll be seeing you, Roman Carson."

And Roman responded with a wave as I watched Kayla and Duke finally, finally disappear in the crowds.

Then, Roman sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. "Sorry 'bout that," he said.

I squeezed my bear against my chest. "For what?"

"For her," he said with another sigh. "I don't even know--"

Roman stared in the direction she'd gone. He just stood there, shaking his head silently, brow creased.

"Do you miss her?" I asked.

Roman faced me. "Kayla?"

I nodded, although I was 100% done with myself for even asking the question. For my own sanity, I truly did not want to know the answer.

Especially, because Roman nodded.

"Yeah," he sighed. "Sometimes."

-~*~-

A couple things:

1. Nooo, Roman! Nooooo!

2. I didn't want to make this chapter too long either so I cut it off here. Don't hate me!

3. Roman and Thalia? I think it's time they got a ship name.

Romalia? Thalian?

God, these are both awful. And judging by your comments/reactions from Chapter 14, apparently Thalia needs one with Xander, too.

Thander? Xandalia?

Those might be worse. We'll work on that... Anyway, thoughts? I hope you're excited for the next chapter, because I am!

P.S. Again, here's the link to Thalia's song: Come a Little Closer, by Coasts. ---- https://soundcloud.com/coastsband/coasts-come-a-little-closer

Copy, paste, listen, enjoy! Love ya'll. I can't say that enough. <3