The Secret Singer

It was, for a lack of better words, a rather interesting car ride from Camp Jupiter. Hazel was sitting, arms crossed, next to a very worried Frank, while Annabeth and Percy shared nervous glances in the front seats.

Frank had to appreciate the couple for being so chill about Hazel coming, but he was still panicking about how she would take the news. Her brother was a singer. That sounded so normal to most people, but for demigods (except maybe the Apollo kids), it was crazy to even think of the possibility of having a job outside of camp. Nico was also a Greek demigod, to be Frank (yes, in both ways), they usually didn't live very long.

They arrived at the building where the concert took place, and everyone sprung out of the car. They had arrived a little late, so they had no choice but to walk a couple of blocks. Frank felt bad for Hazel, who was wearing a little green dress that went down to her knees. She looked absolutely stunning, but the wind blew cold air around them, and from what Frank could tell, she was cold. He was wearing a coat over one of his nicer shirts and was feeling pretty warm, but seeing Hazel shivering made him sad, so he took off his coat and threw it over her shoulders. She beamed up at him, and pulled it closer around her, and Frank moved back behind her when he noticed that the wind was picking up again.

After a little walk, they arrived at the building. They turned in their tickets before walking into a black and white room, with people who were dressed anything but that. McCassy, who had opened the other night was back on stage and he got a weird familiar feeling when she was closer to the place they were hiding. Kind of like when he had first met Percy. He hadn't known that he felt different at the time, but now, he realized that he had the same gut tug as then when he looked at her.

"Why are we all the way back here?" Hazel asked when they found their spots, tucked away in the back.

"You'll find out soon," Annabeth told her, throwing a nervous glance at Percy.

I'mma date who I wanna

Stay out late if I wanna

I'mma do what I wanna do

I'm picking out this dress

Trying on these shoes

Cuz I'll be single soon

I'll be single soon

The crowd applauded and Percy, Annabeth, Hazel and Frank all joined in. McCassy blew a kiss to the crowd and walked to the middle of the stage.

If all of the kings had their Queens on the throne

We would pop champagne and raise a toast

The next song started and at first it was just McCassy's voice echoing out across the crowd, then a rock sound started to play and lights started shining and the performance began.

Can't live without me

You wanna but you can't, nah-nah-nah

Think it's funny, but, honey

Can't run this show on your own

The crowd was screaming and jumping as McCassy walked along the stage and Frank looked down at Hazel to see that she too was bobbing her head along.

No damsel in destress

No need to save me

Once I start breathing fire you can't tame me

And you might think I' weak with out a sword

But if I had one, it'd be bigger than yours

Hazel and Annabeth started singing at the chorus and Frank and Percy looked at each other in delight. If Hazel was enjoying the pre show, then maybe she'd be in a good mood to find out her brother has a secret job and is a little famous.

In chess the king can move one space at a time

But queens are free to go where ever they like

You get to close, you'll get a royalty high

So breathe it in to feel the life

The backup singers sang in perfect harmony with her and the whole crowd was now jumping and singing, bringing the dark room a bit of light. The song ended soon after the bridge and McCassy bowed and smiled at the crowd.

"Thank you all so much for singing with me," she thanked. The crowd cheered and she laughed to herself, "I'd like to play a song that you haven't heard yet."

That made the crowd go crazy and for a second, Frank thought he was at her concert and not Nico's.

McCassy walked over to a piano that was being rolled out and when it was locked down by the crew in black, she sat at the bench. Frank had only seen her play once so it didn't surprise him that she could play piano but the crowd certainly seemed shocked so he guessed she didn't play it in any other shows.

She began to paly chords very staccato (yes Frank knew music stuff) and the crowd waited with baited breath for her to begin to sing.

Head underwater 

And they tell me

To breathe easy for a while

The crowd screamed and Frank had to admit, it sounded really good.

The breathing gets harder

Even I know that

McCassy leaned away form the mic for a second to look at the crowd's reactions and then she was back to singing with a drum coming in as well.

Made room for me

It's too soon to see

If I'm happy in your hands

I'm unusually hard to hold on to

When McCassy leaned away again and came back this time a guitar strum came in.

Blank stared at blank pages

No easy way to say this

You mean well but you make this hard on me

There was a pause in the music for one line and then all the instruments came crashing back in.

I'm not gonna write you a love song

Cause you asked for it

Cause you need one

You see, I'm not gonna write you a love song

Cause you tell me it's make or breaking this

If you're on your way

I'm not going to stay

If all you have is leavin'

I'mma need a better reason to write you

A love song today

McCassy made her own little echoey harmony and the crowd cheered.

"I can't believe this," a teenage boy, around the age of Percy and Annabeth, a few paces in front of them said to the boy next to him.

"Ameri?" Percy asked the boy.

They boy and his friend turn around and gasped when they saw Percy and Annabeth and gave the each a petite hug.

"Oh my gosh!" they boy, Ameri, said. "It's so wonderful to see you!"

"You too," Annabeth said with a smile.

"Who are these lovely people with you?" Ameri's friend asked, gesturing to Frank and Hazel.

"These are two of my friends," Percy introduced, "Frank and Hazel."

"It's nice to meet you!" Ameri said, shaking their hands. "I'm Ameri and this is my boyfriend Luca and we met Annabeth and Percy when they came to this show a few nights ago."

"That's so cool," Hazel told them with a dazzling smile. "This is my first show."

"Oh my goodness, you are going to love the singer," Luca told her.

"This isn't her?" She asked, confused.

"No silly," Ameri laughed. "He'll be on in a minute."

"Wait-" Hazel was about to ask someone something but luckily the song ended and what ever she said was drowned out.

"Alright Oakland, let's have one more song of mine," McCassy told the crowd. They screamed their approval and the last song of the pre show started.

Oh, I leave quite an impression

Five feet to be exact

She walked over to the left side of the stage.

You're wonderin' why half his clothes went missin'

My body's where they're at

She started walking while facing the crowd towards the middle.

Now I'm gone but you're still layin' 

Next to me, one degree of separation, ah-ah

She came to the middle and started singing the chorus. Frank took the moment to look down at Hazel and was not surprised to see her cheeks turning pink.

He pins you down to the carpet

McCassy is walking to the right side of the stage and Hazel is coving half her face with her hands.

He's funny now, all his jokes hit different

Guess who he learned them from?

Now I'm gone but you're still layin'

Next to me, one degree of separation, ah-ah

She walked back towards the center of the stage and Frank almost laughed at Hazel's little gasp at the lyrics as she sang the chorus and the bridge.

Well, I heard you're back together

And if that's true

You'll just have to taste me

When he's kissing you

If you want forever 

And I bet you do

Just know you'll taste me too

She finished  singer her last few lines and then McCassy bowed again and waved as she left the stage, giving the crowd a few minutes before the show to use the bathroom or whatever. Frank, Percy, and Annabeth spent that time, trying not to let Hazel ask Ameri and Luca any questions about who the singer was, even though it was going to happen soon, they didn't want to face her wrath just yet.

Sadly, they didn't get long before McCassy was back on stage.

"Hey people who just came in in the last ten minutes." the crowd laughed a bit. "Welcome to tonight's show! I have a feeling this one will be. . . special."

The crowd roared as McCassy smiled and tried to act innocent.

"Now, give it up, for Nico di Angelo!"

A beat began to play with a weird high pitched descending sound with a clapping steady beat.  

The crowd cheered as Nico walked out in his usual black and silver outfit and he was holding a sliver microphone.

See you so excited

You got him locked down

Frank looked nervously down at Hazel. She was staring, eyes wide, jaw gaping, at the stage where Nico was singing and walking across. She was staring at her brother with a million emotions and Frank didn't know whether to laugh or cry or run.

And she be like, "He's so perfect"

I be like, "Oh, what version?"

Ain't nobody got me this nervous

Oh, baby, I been there

"How-" Hazel's voice came quietly.

"I don't know," Frank confessed. He put an arm around Hazel's shoulders and she leaned into him. Probably dizzy with this new information

Take him, he's yours

It's okay, I'm okay, had him in the first place

It's okay, I'm okay

It's okay, I'm okay, I don't really gotta say

It's okay

You can have him anyway

Anyway

Percy whooped and Annabeth shoved his stomach with her elbow. Hazel seemed to remember the couple were there.

"How did you know?" she asked, flabbergasted.

"Um," Percy looked to the ground.

"We didn't," Annabeth told her. "We heard about a concert and went to it. We didn't know it was Nico."

"How does Frank know?" 

Annabeth sighed, "Percy invited Frank and Grover out here for a boys night."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Hazel seemed a little hurt and it made Frank feel bad.

Annabeth seemed to feel the same way. 

"I went here with Rachel, Reyna and Thalia were there and they had accidentally found out and Nico knew that they knew and told them that he didn't want anyone to know."

Hazel's face was pure confusion.

"You know what," Annabeth suggested with a smile, "let's save this for after the show."

Hazel nodded and everyone turned back to the stage. 

I don't, it's okay, it's okay, take him

I don't want him, I don't want him

The song ended and the crowd cheered. Frank was prepared for another round of Hazel's questioning but she seemed to actually decide to wait until after.

It's a hell of a ride 

The next song started playing.

"He didn't bring out a guitar yet," Percy whispered.

"Does he usually?" Frank asked.

"Yeah," Annabeth replied. "Usually in the first song or so."

"Maybe he's switching things up," Percy suggested unhelpfully.

Annabeth smiled and rolled her eyes.

This should be Heaven on Earth

And I should trust I deserve

To get the finer things out of life

I try my best, but it's still not enough

Frank hadn't realized it at the beginning of the song but he noticed now that no one was singing along, which was weird because usually the whole room was echoing Nico's lyrics back. Maybe the song was new.

-when they call e God's favorite

I just can't help but invalidate it 

I hope that I learn to love it, but I hate it

"I can't believe it!" Ameri said in front of him. He sounded like he was going to cry.

"I know!" Ameri's boyfriend exclaimed, wrapping an arm around him.

Frank smiled at the couple who couldn't see him. He suddenly wished Nico could see them, if only for him to look in their direction and see the couple in front of him. Frank knew that Nico had struggled with his sexuality since he grew up in a time when they weren't excepted. He didn't get to see gay couples growing up and when he does now, they were still hesitant to show their affection. Frank wanted Nico to see a gay couple just being like any other couples. To see that he created a space where they felt safe.

(feel like, feel like)

And I don't know why

I still don't really feel like God's favorite

The crowd wildly applauded and Nico stood in the center of the stage, looking out over the crowd, soaking up the cheers.

"Thank you," Nico said once the cheers had dies down. 

The cheers rose again.

Nico smiled, "I can't believe this is only my second weekend preforming. It feels like I've been doing this for a lot longer and you have just been so kind to come and watch me play these songs I have written about my life or the life of my friends."

The crowd screamed and clapped while Nico's grin grew bigger.

"So, I thought what better way to repay your kindness than by giving you some sneak peaks at my next album."

The crowd went into a frenzy. Ameri, Luca, and the rest of the crowd screamed in each other's faces and looked like they were going to cry and throw up.

"Now," Nico continued, dying the crowd down. "This new album is going to be a bit different than my first two because in those album it was all me. Just my voice singing songs that just I wrote, and in this second album there will not just be me but also some friends of mine."

The crowd screamed and Nico laughed. "One friend you already know and she has also been preforming for three nights, Ms. McCassy."

Nico let the crowd applaud and Percy, Annabeth, and Frank all joined in too.

"But," Nico continued once again. "There are two other friends that have collabed with me and I would actually like you to meet them."

The crowd cheered and Nico struck up the next song.

N: I promise that you'll never find another like me

I know that I'm a handful, baby, uh

I know I never think before I jump

And you're the kind of guy the ladies want

(and there's a lot of cool chicks out there)

Nico walked towards the left side of the stage, smiling as he sang the up beat song.

N: I promise you'll never find another like me

I know I'm a handful, baby, uh

I know I never think before I jump

But you're the kind of guy the ladies want

(And there's a lot of cool chicks out there)

Nico walked to the left side of the stage, smiling and walking on beat with the pop-y song.

N: I know that I went psycho on the phone

I never leave well enough alone

And trouble's gonna follow where I go

(and there's a lot of cool chicks out there)

But one of these things is not like the others

Like a rainbow with all of the colors 

Baby doll, when it comes to a lover

I promise that you'll never find another like-

P: m-e-e

A second and familiar voice sang out and Frank went slack jaw when Piper McLean walked out on stage. She was wearing a silver T-shirt and light jeans and her hair was down with one small braid in her hair. She walked out holding a purple microphone and she walked into the middle of the stage where everyone in the room was applauding enthusiastically.

P: I'm the only one of me

She smiled at the crowd.

P: Baby, that's the fun of me

Her voice was beautiful and she walked across the stage like she owned it. Frank hadn't seen Piper in two years at least and it was good to see she was doing well after Jason's...

Nico walked back to the middle of the stage and they looked at each other while they sang together.

P: You're the only one of you

baby that's the fun of you

NP: And I promise that you'll never find another like me

Right after they sang that last line of the first verse, everyone got a second surprise as Leo Valdez came on stage. But he didn't just walk onto the stage, he was singing.

L: I know I tend to make it about me

I know you never get just what you seek

But I will never bore you, baby

And there's a lot of lame guys out there

Nico walked off a bit and Piper took a step closer to Leo as he came up to the front of the stage with them.

P: And when we had that fight out in the rain

You ran after me and called my name

L: I never want to see you walk away

(And there's a lot of lame guys out there)

PNL: Cause one of these things is not like the others

Livin' in winter I am your summer

Baby doll, when it comes to a lover

I promise that you'll never find another like m-e-e

The trio dispersed to the edges of the stage. Leo to the right, Piper to the left, and Nico in the middle.

N: I'm the only one of me

Let me keep you company

PL: eeh-eeh-eeh ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

The two guests started walking back to the middle of the stage where Nico was singing.

N: You're the only one of you

Baby, that's the fun of you

PNL: And I promise that you'll never find another like me-e-e

"Hey, kids," Piper yelled to the crowd. "Spelling is fun!"

Leo and Nico clumped a little off the center and switched off singing with Piper.

LN: Girl, there ain't no 'I' in team

P: But you know there is a 'me'

LN: Strike the band up, one, two, three

P: I promise that you'll never find another like me

LN: Girl, there ain't no 'I' in team

P: But you know there is a 'me'

L: And you can't spell awesome without me

PNL: I promise that you'll never find another like me-e-e

The group of singers sang with each other beautifully. Nico's angelic singing was creating the ground for Piper's hypnotizing voice and Leo's flaming vocals. They were singing so incredibly that Frank wanted to tell them after words. Then he remembered what Percy had said Reyna and Thalia said. He couldn't tell them, not without breaking a promise.

PNL: eeh-eeh-eeh ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

L: Strike the band up, one, two, three

P: You can't spell awesome without me

N: You're the only one of you

Baby, that's the fun of you

PNL: And I promise that you'll never find another like me

The crowd applauded louder than ever before as the song came to a close. They clapped and cheered for at least a minute before Nico brought the mic back up to his lips and hushed the crowd with his words.

"Oakland," Nico said with a smile. "I am so happy to introduce you to my close friends, Piper and Leo!"

The crowd exploded again and the demigods in the back exchanged looks with each other.

"Listen," Nico continued after a few seconds. "I could tell you about them, but I think this next song would be a better introduction."

A electric pop-y sound started to play from the band and the crowd clapped and cheered.

N: I stay out too late

Leo and Piper started slowly moving towards the opposite sides of the stage as Nico's sang the first part of their song.

N: Got nothing in my brain

That's what people say, mm-mm

That's what people say, mm-mm

L: I go on too many dates

Leo was almost to the right side of the stage.

L: But I can't make 'em stay

At least that's what people say, mm-mm

That's what people say, mm-mm

P: But I keep cruising 

Piper was standing on the far left side of the stage.

P: Can't stop, won't stop movin'

It's like I got this music in my mind

Sayin' it's gonna be alright

The three demigods on stage clapped with an artificial clapping in the background. 

PNL: Cause the player's gonna play, play, play, play, play

And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate

I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake

Shake it off, shake it off

The crowd was lit with excitement and was filled with the energy Piper, Leo, and Nico were giving off and soon everyone it the room was dancing and trying to sing with the three on stage. It was magical, being around so many people who had jobs and worries and probably anxiety, and here they were, dancing like there was nothing else in the world.

Frank glanced over to his friends and Percy and Annabeth were jamming out with the crowd and Frank felt almost infected with the happiness and carefreeness of the people around so what did he do? He danced.

He danced to the best of his abilities and when he looked down and saw Hazel was bouncing to the beat, he smiled and partied harder. 

P: I never miss a beat

I'm lightning on my feet

And that's what they don't see, mm-mm

"Dance, Hazel," Frank encouraged.

"But-" Hazel started to protest.

"Forget about everything for a minute. Just feel."

Hazel looked into Franks eyes for a second and he saw the worry and the questions swirling inside. Then she closed her eyes. She closed her eyes and Frank as scared at her stillness. Slowly, she started to sway, and then bouncing on the balls of her feet, and eventually dancing with everyone else.

"Hey, hey hey," Leo said to the crowd stepping out for the little party he, Nico, and Piper were having on stage.

"While you've been gettin' down on all the liars and the dirty, dirty cheats of the world, you could have been getting down to this sick beat!"

The crowd cheered.

"My ex man brought his new girlfriend," Nico half sang, half talked to the crowd. "She's like, 'Oh my God!' but I'm just gonna shake it to the fella over there with the hella good hair. Won't you come on over, baby? We can shake, shake, shake."

P: yeah, ooh-ooh

Piper sang a long note and the crowd screamed and applauded.  By now everyone knew the lyrics to the song so the whole crowd was singing with Nico, Leo, and Piper. 

PNL: Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break

And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake

Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake

I shake it off, I shake it off

Shake it off, I shake it off

I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

PN: Shake it off, shake it off

I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

L: (you got to!)

PN: I, I, I shake it off, shake it off

I, I, I shake it off, shake it off

The crowd applauded and Piper, Leo, and Nico gave a little bow.

PN: Cause, baby, now we got bad  blood

The next song started up and the crowd seemed to actually know the song.

PN: So take a look what you've done (L: uh, uh)

Cause, baby, now we got bad blood (L: uh) hey! (L: hey!)

L: I can't take it back

Look where I'm at, uh

We was OG like D.O.C.

Remember that? (remember that?)

Frank's jaw felt like it was on the ground. Leo Valdez, the son of Hephaestus, was rapping. And he was good at it.

L: I don't hate you, but I hate to 

Critique , overrate you

These beats of a dark heart

Use basslines to replace you

Take time and erase you

Love don't hear no more

Better yet 

Respect ain't quite sincere no more, ah!

P: Oh it's so sad to

Piper came back in for the chorus and she and Nico sang the part that the crowd already knew. Nico must have already written the song and then that was some kind of remix. 

The song slowed and got quitter so everyone could hear the singer more clearly.

N: Band-Aids don't fix bullet holes

You say sorry just for show

If you live like that, you live with ghosts

L: You forgive, you forget but you never let it go

PN: Band-Aids don't fix bullet holes

You say sorry just for show

If you live like that you live with ghosts

NL: If you love like that-

N: Blood runs cold

The song resumed it's regular speed and beat and Piper, Leo, and Nico continued jamming out and dancing on stage. They were alive and singing and Frank wondered if they new how much they affected everyone in the room. How their singing hit Frank right in the gut, making him remember things he had pushed aside and twisting his insides with the truth of their words. How their dancing brought a certain light to the crowd, like they were just at a school Prom but without the stress and worry and self-consciousness.

PN: You made a really deep cut

And, baby, now we got bad blood, hey!

The crowd applauded again and stomped their feet, making it feel like there was a small Earth quake.

Nico walked off stage, leaving Leo and Piper standing there for a minute before he came back out with a guitar and two people dressed in black holding mic stands. The people in black put the stands in front of the three demigods and they whispered a thank you to them. As the first two people walked back off stage, a girl in black brought out a stool and put it behind Nico who was in the middle of Piper and Leo. Nico nodded and thanked her before placing his mic on the stand and positioning his guitar. Piper and Leo put there mics on their stands and Nico sat back onto the stool behind him.

After adjusting the stand in front of him for a second, Nico started strumming. No other instruments were playing except for one high pitched banjo off to the side that played every little while. Piper swayed a bit as she stood in front of the mic and Leo was looking down at his shoes.

N: I see your face in my mind as I drive away

Cause none of us thought it was gonna end that way

People are people 

And sometimes we change our minds

But it's killing me to see you go after all this time

Nico, Piper, and Leo hummed into their mics. The whole crowd was silent as they listened to this new song that reverberated across the whole stage and out into the crowd. Drums were softy added to the track as the next verse came up.

N: Music starts playing like the end of a sad movie

PNL: It's the kind of ending you don't really want to see

Cause it's tragedy and it'll only bring you down

N: Now I don't know what to be without you around

 PNL: And we know it's never simple, never easy

Never a clean break no one here to save me

N: You're the only thing I know like the back of my hand

And I can't

PNL: Breathe

Without you but I have to

Breathe 

Without you but I have to  

The song touched apart of Frank he had tried not to tapped into. He didn't want to admit it, but he still missed his mom. She'd been dead for years and he was young when it happened, but sometimes he would remember her and cry. He missed her kindness and love. He missed the way she would hold him and comfort him when he was scared.

PNL: It's two A.M

feeling like I just lost a friend

N: Hope you know this ain't easy

Easy for me

PNL: It's two A.M 

Feeling like I just lost a friend

N: Hope you know you know this ain't easy

Easy for me

The strumming of the black guitar filled the room with a melancholy feeling and Nico tipped his head to look up at the ceiling. Frank wondered if he was thinking about Bianca, if that's what the song was about. How she left him without warning, twice.

N: And we know it's never simple, ever easy

Never a clean break-

PNL: No one here to save me

N: I can't

PNL: Breathe

N: Without you

But I have to 

PNL: Breathe

N: Without you but I have to

PNL: Breathe 

N: Without you  but I have to

PL: Sorry, (N: oh) sorry

Sorry, (N: yeah) sorry

Sorry, sorry

Sorry, sorry

The song finished and the crowd applauded. Frank looked around and saw that Annabeth Hazel and Ameri were all crying. 

"That was a little sad," Nico said into his microphone and looking between Leo and Piper. 

He stood from his stool and the woman came back out to take it away. Piper and Leo both grabbed their mics off the stands and two other people in black took the stands away.

"Let's cheer people up again."

Nico strummed a quicker pace and with shorter strokes, making it up beat. 

L: Lately I found myself thinking

Been dreaming about it a lot

And up in my head I'm your boyfriend

But that's something you've already got

N: He drives to school every morning

A steady drum beat came in and Frank unconsciously tapped his foot to the sound.  

N: He'd kill me without any warning

If he took a look in my brain

The guitar stopped and other instruments took it's place.

P: Would he say he's in L-O-V-E?

Well, if it was me, than I would

NL: I would

Would he hold you when you're feeling low?

Baby, you should know that I would 

NL: I would

Piper and Leo went to the front of the stage while Nico had to stay back with his guitar since his microphone couldn't move.

P: Back in my head, we were kissing

I thought things were going alright

With a sign on my back saying, "kick me"

Reality ruined my life

L: Feels like I'm constantly playing

A game that I'm destined to lose

'Cause I can't compete with your boyfriend

He's got 27 tattoos

N: Would he say he's in L-O-V-E?

Well, if it was me, than I would, 

PL: I would

The crowd was pulsing with excitement and even the demigods in the back were dancing along. Frank was smiling and laughing at Percy's dance moves when a voice said something behind him.

"Do you think he would have told me?" Hazel asked. 

Frank turned to look at her.

"If he wanted to tell people," Hazel asked nervously, shooting a glace at her brother on stage.

Frank turned his whole body towards her and grabbed her hands. "Of course."

Hazel looked up at him. Frank smiled down at her. They kissed.

N: Would he touch you? Would he need you?

Would he love you like I would?

The song slowed as Leo sang the chorus and Nico ran off stage. 

L: Would he say he's in L-O-V-E

Well, if it was me than I would

Would he hold you when you're feeling low

Baby, you should know-

As Leo finished his part and Nico came back on stage with his black microphone and his guitar gone. They sang to the crowd and they all just danced and sung the parts they knew. It was fun and it was magical and Frank hoped Hazel would know that what he said was true. Nico would have told her fi he wanted to tell anyone. 

NL: Baby, you should know that

I would

P: oh!

NL: I would

P: yeah!

NL: I would

P: yeah!

The crowd applauded and Piper, Leo, and Nico all grouped together in the center of the stage, breathing in the applauds and smiling at each other.

"Would you let us play one more song for you, Oakland?" Nico asked.

The crowd screamed their yes and the last song of the night started.

N: I wanna be your endgame

I wanna to be your first string

I wanna be your A-Team

I wanna be your endgame, endgame

P: Big reputation, big reputation

The three friends slit up with Piper going to one side, Nico going to the other and Leo settling in the middle.

P: And you heard about me, ooh

I got some big enemies

Bug reputation, big reputation

Ooh, you and me, we'd be a big conversation, ah

And I heard about you, ooh

You like the bad ones too

L: You're so dope, don't overdose

I'm so stoked, I need a toast 

We do the most, I'm in the Ghost like I'm whipping a boat

I got a reputation, girl, that don't precede me

I'm one call away, whenever you need me

I'm on the G5 yeah, come to the A-Side yeah

I got that bad boy persona, that's what they like

You love it, I love it too 'cause you're my type

You hold me down and I'd protect you with my life

P: I don't want to hurt you

Piper came back in and all three friends started to move across the stage with Leo heading to the left where Piper had been, Nico walking towards the center, and Piper taking Nico's place on the right.

P: I know what they all say

But I ain't tryna to play

The demigods took their new places and sang the chorus, some of the crowd singing with them. Then it was Nico's turn.

N: Knew him when I was young

Reconnected when we were a little bit older

Both sprung, I got issues and ships on both of my shoulders

Reputation precedes me, in rumors I'm knee-deep

The truth is, it's easier to ignore it, believe me

Even when we'd argue, we'd not do it for long

And you understand the good and bad end up in the song

For all your beautiful treats, and the way you do it with ease

For all my flaws, paranoia, and insecurities

I've made mistakes, and made some choices that's hard to deny

After the storm, something was born on the 4th of July

I've passed days without fun, this endgame is the one

With four words on the tip of my tongue I'll never say

P: I don't want to touch you

I don't want to be

Piper, Leo, and Nico all moved again but this time, Leo and Piper moved to the middle and Nico stayed there.

P: I don't want to miss you

Like the other girls do

They reached the middle and Nico let Piper take the front she sung her solo.

P: I hit you like, "Bang"

We tried to forget it but we just couldn't 

And I bury hatchets but keep maps of where I put 'em

Reputation proceeds me, they told you I'm crazy

I swear I don't love the drama, it loves me

The three singers walked to the end of the stage, ready to greet the crowd close up.

And I can't let you go, your handprint's in my soul

It's like your eyes are liquor, it's like you body is gold

They walked down the steps and to the barricades of the right side of the building.

You've been calling my bluff on all my usual tricks

So here's a truth form my red lips

N: I wanna be your end game

They walked down the barricade to the middle and then off to the left side of the building to say hi to the fans there.

P: I wanna be your first string

L: I wanna be your A-Team

N: I wanna be your

PNL: Endgame, endgame

L: I wanna be your endgame

The three were now walking down the middle aisle, shaking hands and waving to the crowds.

L: I wanna be your first string

N: I wanna be your A-Team

P: I wanna be your

PNL: Endgame, endgame

They walked out of the building and the crowd gave a big round of applause.

Frank looked back to Hazel and was glad to see there was no more sadness in her eyes.

"C'mon Haz," Frank said, grabbing her hand. "Let's answer those questions of yours."

***

"That was crazy!" Percy exclaimed as he and Annabeth walked into their apartment.

"Yeah," Annabeth agreed, hanging up her coat.

"And I have an amazing idea for who we bring next!"

Annabeth froze. What did he just say?

"What did you just say?" she asked, trying to keep her voice level.

"I was thinking that for tomorrow's show-"

"No," Annabeth said, taking off her shoes and looking Percy right in the eye. "We are not bringing more people to Nico's concert. Did you forget what Reyna and Thalia said?"

"But this person isn't going to tell anyone," Percy insisted.

Annabeth's boyfriend took her hands and looked at her with pleading eyes. How could she say no to him?

"Fine," Annabeth sighed.

"Yes!" Percy cheered.

"But," Annabeth countered. "I have to approve of who it is."

Percy hugged her tight and whispered in her ear, "Thank you, you won't regret this."

Annabeth scoffed. "I doubt that."