PeaceMaker

Antonio blushed as they stepped back, their hands raising up and palms touching as they rotated. They held each other's hand and pulled themselves together, coming back to their original position. 

"How were the other dances?" Antonio asked. 

"Fun.. I guess," Annabeth shrugged, "it was funny when I'd look over their shoulders and lock eyes with you from across the room or right next to each other and such."

Antonio chuckled, "You were mocking me the entire time, weren't you?"

Annabeth shook her head, a little huff of air leaving her lips as she pretended to be offended. Her lips curled into a mischievous smile soon after, "Of course not."

"Really?" Antonio asked as he twirled her around. 

Annabeth chuckled. "What can I say? You really looked like you were trying to reach me, you even purposely skipped over a partner so you could have me as your partner for your last turn."

Antonio blushed as he pulled her back to original position, "You saw that?"

"Pfft- of course, I'm sure that lady must have felt offended," Annabeth teased, "you should have entertained her and made her believe that you were meant to meet."

Antonio shook his head. "I couldn't."

Annabeth smiled. "Why not?"

"Because…" Antonio began, his hold on Annabeth shifting, his hand sliding onto her back and her hand extending to around his neck as he bent over her body tipping over. Her back arched over his head that firmly held her up and her head tipped back slightly, her left leg rising slightly as her right leg straightened.

They stayed there for a moment before Antonio pulled her back up, twirling her around and then pulling her back to him, her back against his chest and his right hand over her stomach while her right hand held on to his arm and their left hands reached straight out, holding each other. 

"Because?" she asked. 

"Because…" Antonio leaned in slightly, his lips stopping beside her ears, "I wanted to be with you instead."

THUMP

Annabeth shuddered, feeling his breath by her ears. "Oh.." she muttered, her cheeks heating up slightly. "Is that so…"

"Yes," Antonio muttered as he turned her around, ending back up in their original position. "It is." 

This time they were closer, their bodies so close they could feel the warmth radiating off the other's body.  Annabeth looked up at Antonio as he looked up to her. 

It was loud. The sound of their heartbeats as they looked into each other's eyes. 'He's close…' Annabeth thought to herself as her gaze flickers down to his lips for a moment before looking back up to his bright brown eyes. 'He's really close.. I can hear his heartbeat…' 

Unconsciously, she stepped closer to him, her chest touching him slightly to hear better. 

'His heart is really loud,' she thought to herself as she looked back up to him, her eyes glowing, 'and fast..'

Antonio couldn't think. Much less, he couldn't breathe. He couldn't stop obsessing over her eyes, her closeness, and even her scent. She was so close to him, he could feel her on him. His cheeks heated up as he looked at her, their eyes becoming so deeply embedded in each other that he couldn't look away. 

He was aware of everything now. The warmth of her body, the warmth of her steady breathing, the warmth of her hand. It was all there, vibrantly staring at him, making him more aware of her presence than he needed to be. 

Her scent… was intoxicating. He couldn't think… he couldn't think. He couldn't think.

Annabeth continued to gaze into his eyes, listening to the loud and fast thumps that she could now feel against her. 'He's nervous…' she thought to herself, her eyes taking in his features, "You're blushing…"

Antonio's cheeks grew hotter. "Am I?" he asked, his voice wavering slightly as he looked at Annabeth. 

"Yes… you are," Annabeth smiled. 

"Ah... sorry," Antonio muttered, his head lowering slightly. His hair brushed against her's. He flinched and lifted his head up again. 

"No... it's ok," Annabeth smiled. "It's cute."

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. It was louder and faster now. So loud that even he could hear it in his head but for some reason he was calmer, his hold on her much more gentle and natural. It felt right.

Antonio smiled, his eyes closing as his head lowered again, his hair brushing against Annabeth's hair. "Thanks…"

It came over her like a wave, a shiver running down through her body when he opened his eyes and they met gazes again. His hand felt more apparent again, his warm touch on her waist sinking into her body along with his warm hold on her hand. A wave of heat flashed on her face.

Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump.

'It's faster now…' Antonio thought to himself as his eyes closed slightly to hear the sounds of his heart. 'But… it sounds different,' he thought to himself, his eyes opening to meet Annabeth's. She stared back at him with red cheeks, her deep green eyes looking shades lighter. Like the shade of pine lightened to the shade of moss.

"You're blushing," Antonio muttered, his voice ricocheting in Annabeth's head. 

"Am I?" Annabeth asked, her eyes looking away as she replied her voice so quiet it sounded like a whisper. 

"Yes.." Antonio whispered, leaning into her ear, "you are." 

"Ah…" Annabeth uttered, "sorry."

Antonio chuckled, pulling away from her ears and locking eyes with her. "It's ok. It's cute."

Her blush intensified and she tried to look away from his gaze but she was stuck. Trapped. 

Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump. Bathump….. Bathump...

'Oh..' Antonio thought to himself as he listened to the heartbeats. His eyes trained in on Annabeth's, falling deeper into her gaze. 'It's her heartbeat. It's her and mine. Out heartbeats…' he smiled. 

Annabeth gazed at him for a moment, her eyes taking in his features. A face she had failed to realize how handsome it was. Now, she could see it clearly. It was close to her. So close she could touch it…

Her eyes flicked to his face, her hand rising up slowly to touch it. She paused, looking up at Antonio, a shudder running through her when they met eyes. It was almost like a lot of permission. Like he was allowing her to feel, to touch, to hold… 

Her hand grazed his jawline lightly, her fingertips touching his soft skin. 'It's smooth…' she thought to herself as she looked up into his eyes. Her hand ran down his jaw to his chin where it stayed for a moment, her eyes looking up into his brown gaze. It was hazy, but focused. Focused on her. Again it was like he was giving her permission. Permission to feel, to touch, to hold...

Her eyes turned back to his chin and flicked up to his lips.

...To kiss.

It was like they were being pushed together, their bodies getting closer and closer, their chest so close their hearts could touch. Just closer and closer… Annabeth's eyes looked up at Antonio's who looked back at her. His gaze watched her eyes as they flickered to his lips. 

Closer and closer until they…

"Annabeth," a voice called out from behind them, a hand touching Annabeth's shoulder. 

Annabeth and Antonio froze, both turning to the person behind them. It was Maria. Maria with a startled, concerned, scared, and confused look. Annabeth and Antonio turned back to each other, their eyes meeting in its dazed states for a moment before widening as they immediately stepped away from each other. 

"Ma-maria…" Annabeth muttered, turning to her sister. "When did you get here..?"

Maria looked at Antonio and then back to Annabeth. "...A few seconds ago.." she hesitantly replied, "mother and father need us."

"Oh..oh! Ok then.." Annabeth replied, turning to Antonio. She gave him a quint bow, "It seems I have to go then… please excuse me, Marquess Antonio."

Antonio returned her bow.. "Goodbye, Lady Annabeth."