PeaceMaker

Annabeth nodded, her entire mood brightening up at Antonio's words. 

Antonio grinned. "It seems you are a fan of our future queen."

Annabeth nodded again. She was happy with the conversation. It was nice to hear someone who agreed with her views without her even having to voice them out herself.

Eyes from around the table are given to them as they talk. It was more because they weren't talking as to them talking. The way Antonio was reading her based on her eyes and the tiny facial expression seen from the open space on her face and the way Annabeth was responding to him without using words. It was their way of communication. A one-way street that is always met and repaid. That was what Justin saw. He simply cocked his head and muttered nothing.

Annabeth smiled again with her eyes and Antonio smiled in response. His heart skipped a beat but he maintained composure, never letting his gaze switch to that of an observer. He wanted to stay in this moment. Her attention squarely on him, eyes locked with each other and speaking in ways others couldn't understand. 

"When did you start liking her? It was almost as if you knew what she looked like or was before she showed herself," Antonio narrowed his eyes, "did you talk to her before? Meet her before?"

Annabeth looked away, avoiding his eyes. It was enough for Antonio.

"You did, didn't you?" Antonio asked. 

Addison's eyes followed Antonio's using the same amount of concentration he seemed to be giving Annabeth. Annabeth turned to Antonio, her eyes dimming a bit.

"Ah…" Antonio muttered, leaning away from the table and sitting upright in his seat. "I see."

Addison looked at Annabeth again. She didn't get it, Annabeth wasn't readable. 

Falls' eyes watched the two of them. He saw Antonio's eyes checking up on Annabeth's and he noticed that their eyes met again. There seemed to be a little bounce off between their eyes, like a conclusion was reached between them but he couldn't understand. He couldn't even see through Annabeth. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He was annoyed. 

Antonio turned back to the table, looking at the others. They were already looking up at him. They had been since he started talking to Annabeth. Their eyes moved to Annabeth's whose eyes were glued to the future queen beside her husband. It seemed like the conversation was over between Annabeth and Antonio. It didn't seem like they would be able to start a conversation with her. 

"Anyways, I'm guessing you guys will have a performance to do later right?" Walter asked. He didn't dare to try the same thing that Antonio managed to pull off with Annabeth but he wanted attention. From the girl next to Addison. 

"Wait- I don't think I caught your names," Walter smiled.

"You didn't," Justin shook his head. His reply had an undertone of its real intent, 'you won't.'

"Ah..." Walter backed off. 

"I want to see you guys again," Addison muttered. She looked over at her future queen and grinned. "It's like we met a queen and her princesses in one day."

Maria's eyes turned to Addison, in fact, at that moment, all her sister's eyes had turned to her at the same moment. It was a phenomenon really, how they were so in-sync. It spooked Addison a bit, sending fun shivers down her spine. 

Their stares immediately turned the shivers cold as they turned away immediately after making eye contact with Addison. She flinched, letting out a weak smile. She was sure she had imagined it but the girl's stare was the coldest things they had ever seen. They seemed to dig into her being in one glance before throwing her away.

Everyone at the table caught it but was confused. Antonio noticed it. It was disgust, the look they had given was that of disgust. A beautifully masked deep sense of disgust. 

Antonio shuddered, wishing he hadn't been able to decipher it. It was terrifying. Just how tense the conversation felt just after one look and how cleverly masked that look was. Justin's face remained stoic, just like his sister's but carried the same feeling. They were looking down on Addison with their eyes. 

Antonio clenched his fist and was about to retaliate when he realized the reason why they reacted that way. He glanced at Falls. He knew too.

Justin smiled, his grin like a bright beam lightening up the mood. Around them, several eyes were turned to look at him. Appreciating the scene and smiling along with him. 

If Antonio didn't know better, he would have smiled along with them.

Antonio glanced at Annabeth. She was focused on Adria, her mind completely off the issue at hand. It was almost like she was used to ignoring them, used to being in dramatic situations and looking away. She was too good at being nonchalant, it almost looked like a skill. His eyes skirt to Maria and observes her behavior. She seemed less like Annabeth, her ears alert at everything that happened. Jena was fully alert, her eyes seemingly unfazed by the situation like Mari and Annabeth. 

He turned back to Annabeth and back to her sisters. Something felt different in the air. They were all in their separate worlds, pretending to be in tune with the present while in all actuality it seemed like they didn't care anymore. Something felt wrong about them but as much as he hated it, he couldn't see what was wrong anymore. In one movement, they patched up the gap Antonio had peeked through and he fell into their facade.

Antonio looked at Annabeth. She looked at him, her eye contact with him brief but happy. It was devoid of all he felt the moment before. 

"With all this, the first round of meals will begin! All performers will have to leave halfway through the feast as they have to prepare for their next performance," The announcer announced. 

Adria walked up the throne room stairs to the 2nd floor where a special trone was placed for her, right below the royal family thrones. Theodore assisted her to her seat and squatted in front of her. He lifted the veil up to her face again and clipped it behind her ears. 

"They've already seen my face, what's the point of this?' Adria asked, stifling a giggle. 

Theodore smirked, his finger brushing against Adria's cheeks. "It's the time that they saw you for," he huffed, bopping her nose, "I don't need them looking at you for longer than they need to."

Adria broke into a soft giggle, her eyes falling into her prince's, "How cute your highness."

Theodore blushed, hiding his face behind his hand for a moment. Adria softly pushed his hand away, holding on to it for a moment. "Thanks."

Theodore's blush reddened, his emerald green eyes gleaming. "Thank you, my love." 

They stared at each other in the eye for a moment, each second growing heavier before Theodore pulled away and quickly made his way up the stairs. His shoulders were high and he walked with grace from the back but in front, he was struggling to keep his composure. He still needed to learn patience and control.

Annabeth was watching closely. She smiled, it was an adorable sight and she was a bit disappointed when he walked back up to the throne room. It was like watching your favorite novel take place. The way their eyes stayed locked on each other even while he was standing up, the slight twitch in their hand as they held back from holding each other's hand, and Theodore's quivering lips. 

"What a cute sight," Antonio muttered, Annabeth nodding along. 

Annabeth turned to Antonio for a moment before turning back to the announcer. 

"Let's go," Justin called out to Annabeth. She turned to him in surprise. 

She and Antonio were the only ones seated at the table. 

"We need to go to our designated tables for the meal," Justin smiled, his hand reaching down for his sister's hand. 

Annabeth quickly reached for it, standing up from her seat and standing beside Justin. They let go of each other's hand soon after.

"Then this where we part ways I guess," Dramio sighed, he exchanged glances with Santigio for a brief moment before looking up at the rest of the group. 

Justin gave a nod in agreement. 

"Promise to meet up after all of this? I want to talk to you guys more," Walter suggested. 

"Yes from me!" Addison grinned, linking her arm with Louis', "him too."

The rest of the group turned to Justin. He exchanged glances with his sisters and then turned back to the group. "That depends on when the events end and our parents, but otherwise, we'll do our best."

Walter grinned. "They bye-bye."

Justin nodded. "Bye-bye." He turned around to leave, his sisters turning with him. 

"Good-bye," Falls called out. In half a second, he and Annabeth locked eyes, and just as quickly, as they locked eyes, they walked away from each other. 

Annabeth struggled to control her expression. His voice echoing through her mind and his face accompanying it. She smiled.. They continued away from each other, Falls with a slight smile on his face.