"Annabeth!" Katie grinned as she hugged her friend.

The royals 'weren't allowed' to meet each other until the screening as a punishment for 'meeting without permission'.

But of course, that didn't seem to stop them.

Annabeth gave her a smile and they walked together to Ludas hall, chatting about how bored they were during their personal lockdowns.

They sat down with the royals. There was still time for the Screening, so some were still coming in.

The entire stage was decked out, with a priest standing in the middle. They were gonna be some engagements today. Jason and Piper and Hazel and Frank.

The front seats were decorated as well, considering that the Kings and Queens were going to sit there.

Rumor had it that King Zeus was not going to attend as he was disappointed in his son for choosing Piper over Reyna...but the other day, he sent out a statement saying that he had some 'business' to take care of.

"Hey," a voice said as it sat down next to Katie. She gave Travis a curt nod and turned to Annabeth. She heard him sigh.

"Excited ?" she asked.

Annabeth nodded and smiled at her.

Before she could say anything, Leo plopped down next to her. They both began a conversation, leaving Katie to sit awkwardly next to Travis.

Connor sat right behind her so she turned and chatted with him for a bit, until she was interrupted by Lester walking onto the stage.

The cameras turned on and the lights blared into her eyes. That's when she realised that everyone was already there. Once the orchestra started, the couples walked out side by side.

They got onto the stage after Lester announced them and stood with huge smiles on their faces.

Hazel and Frank blushed everytime they looked at each other, turned away, looked at each other again and blushed.

Jason and Piper on the other hand, made straight eye contact as they smiled.

"We're gathered here today as these young couples before us have chosen each other as their life partners. To be engaged......"the priest rambled on. He spoke about the history of the Choosing, which Katie would've been interested in if she hadn't heard it a thousand times before.

Somehow in the middle of the speech, she found herself leaning towards Travis, her hand slowly inched towards his. When she realised this, she quickly straightened herself up and hoped he hadn't noticed.

He noticed.

He gave her a knowing look. They stared at each other for a few minutes, oblivious to whatever was going on.

Only a few words made their way into this bubble around them. "Fear should not keep you from love."

This was when Katie broke eye contact with Travis and focussed on her hands. He straightened up next to her.

The priest had paused. In a few minutes, he would say the vows the couples would have to repeat to each other.

"Wait!" Travis practically yelled as he jumped up from his seat.

"What are you doing?" Katie whisper yelled.

He turned to her and took her hand, "I'm really sorry Princess. If you still want me, I'm yours," he whispered to her.

Katie turned red, "I love you" she mumbled.

He grinned, "Is there room for us? I choose Princess Katie," he announced as he dragged her onto the stage, not waiting for a reply.

The priest chuckled as the couple climbed onto the stage. "Anyone else?" he asked in a joking manner.

He turned back to the couples on stage, obviously not expecting an answer.

"I'm gay for Nico Di Angelo!!" Will shouted from the audience. He sprang from his seat and extended an arm to Nico, who was blushing. After whispering among themselves, the two climbed onto the stage as well.

The priest turned to the crowd and cocked an eyebrow as if waiting for more people.

"Hey Sunshineeee," Leo sang out as Calypso buried her face in her hands.

He went to her and kneeled down in front of her chair. He tapped on her chair a few times and she looked at him with tears brimming in her eyes. She nodded and together they ran onto stage. Morse Code, Katie realized.

Tyson and Ella followed behind them in a fit of giggles. Katie almost laughed as she glanced at Percy's face. He looked like a fish outside water.

Will patted his younger sister on the back and whispered something in Tyson's ear. Katie didnt know what he said, but Tyson's eyes widened and he shook his head rapidly.

The priest sighed and turned back to the crowds. Before he could begin Chris Rodriguez and Clarisse had joined the rest of the couples on the stage.

He waved his hands impatiently to the crowd, "Is there anyone else?"

"What about Percy and Annabeth?" Piper yelled out to the crowd.

The forementioned pairing turned bright red, both sending glares in Piper's direction.

"Yeah Percabeth! Come here!!!" Travis called.

The rest of the couples whooped, they all began chanting Percabeth until the Priest shushed them.

When Percy and Annabeth didn't move, he proceeded with the engagements.

The audience was smaller than the number of people on stage. Katie noticed.

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After the Screening, Reyna stayed behind. She needed some alone time.

She really missed her dogs, Aurum and Argentum. Whenever she felt down, they would always manage to cheer her up. Here at the Pallas, she was all alone. Yes, she was really close friends with Annabeth, Thalia and Piper, but she never wanted to bother them with her silly problems.

Reyna would stay strong, as she should as a queen.

But in the past two-three months since her break up with Jason, she had been spending time with Lester.

Yes, the Lester Papadopoulos.

Even though his past wasn't very inviting, he changed. He was a great friend.

Once, Thalia had even asked her if her and Lester were a thing.

Today, after the engagement of the man she once loved, Reyna stood in the garden, waiting for Lester, as he had asked.

"So you came," Lester grinned when he arrived.

"I had to," she laughed. "You were so insistent."

"Yeah yeah. It's wrong to wanna meet a friend now huh?"

"I didn't say that !!"

Lester laughed. "That was one very....... eventful evening."

"You could tell the girls would've wanted to dress up more," Reyna stated with a loving smile. "Hazel and Piper looked stunning."

"You look stunning."

"Well thanks," she smirked at his dreamy stare.

"I .....um.....Meg is probably looking for me right now. So as to why I called you here tonight....." Lester began awkwardly.

Reyna nodded.

"I know about the nobody being able to heal your heart thing. And I was thinking.....you know...maybe I could help..."

"Lester what in hell are you saying?"

"You know....you and I....err...I could be your boyfriend....you know like....yeah."

Reyna stared at Lester for long enough that he thought she'd kill him.

Then she burst out laughing. Clutching her knees and tears streaming down her face.

Once she started, she couldn't seem to stop. She doubled over, stood upright again and leaned against a tree.

"Oh....my....gods," she wheezed. She really wasn't sure if she'd heard him right.

"You. Me? HAHAHAHAHA."

Lester looked confused. He tried talking to her, but Reyna just could not stop laughing.

"You...you actually thought......BWAHAHAHAHA !!!!"

After Lester was over the initial shock.

"So that's a no then," he huffed.

When Reyna finally managed to gather herself, she said, "I'm sorry this is hilarious. Look Lester I truly appreciate it, but I don't really want to be in a relationship now. Or ever, as a matter of fact."

"Oh."

"I'm not right for you mate. We'll always be friends, but......" she shrugged.

And then Reyna started giggling again.

Lester would probably be wondering what he'd said that made Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano giggle like a little girl. That thought made her laugh even more.

"Hey Lester where you at !!" came Meg McCaffrey's voice.

Meg was Lester's senior, but they always worked together as equals. Yes, sometimes Meg showed authority over Lester, but it was clearly just sarcasm for them.

"We gotta move!" she said as she approached them.

Poor Meg stopped in her tracks when she saw the scene. A pouting Lester standing by giggling Reyna.

"Don't even ask," he said, rolling his his playfully.

"Lester Papadopoulos what on earth have you done with Reyna?!!!? She's giggling!!" saying so, Meg started laughing too.

The boy crossed his arms and sat down with a thud. "Go ahead, laugh. I'll just wait here till you're done."

So !!!
How was it ??

We'd been looking forward for this chapter since we started the book and it's finally here !!!!!

( I personally ship Lester and Reyna idk why
-----D )

(Ps : don't forget to check out The Bookstore! (A percabeth fanfic)
---S)
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Stay tuned !!!
--------------------S&D