All of Hollywood eagerly awaits the breakdown of Annabeth Chase. She has, afterall, been in the game for almost ten years now, with nothing to show for it other than a series of supporting actress nominations (emphasis on nominations), and not even a DUI on her spotless record. Let's face it: it's inevitable. Meanwhile, newcomer Percy Jackson all but comes out of nowhere and wins the starring role in the biggest movie of the year – and the hearts of screaming fangirls everywhere. Annabeth's less than fooled, but when a paparazzi snaps a picture of them leaving an audition together after a screen test, everyone jumps on the Percabeth wagon, including her agent and the movie's directors. Annabeth's far from in love, but if pretending to be means finally getting a lead role for once and getting everyone off her back, she's willing to play along.
Hollywood AU, if you hadn't noticed.
Xx
Warning: slight cursing.
For a successful actress (her agent and her had varying definitions of 'successful'), Annabeth Chase lived modestly. She didn't have a house in the hills (a two bedroom condo in downtown Los Angeles was more than what she needed, and expensive enough), drive a Porsche (too flashy, attracted paparazzi pests), or own one of those purse dogs (overrated and annoyingly yappy). In Thalia (best friend/agent)'s eyes, this was a tragedy.
"You're better than all those other talentless, emaciated bimbos," She complained loudly over a plate of sushi. "I don't see why you don't act like it."
Annabeth sent her a warning glare before ducking her head to avoid the glares from the table behind them. "Keep your voice down, yeah? Some people might think you're directing it specifically to them, and then we'll be banned from Nobu. Besides, I like the way I live."
Thalia rolled her eyes, and sent a false-cheery wave to the doubtlessly 'talentless, emaciated (and probably very offended) bimbo'. "I love what you did with your hair, Lindsey!" She called. "Now that's a trainwreck, if I ever saw one." She said to Annabeth once the other girl had turned away, disgusted. "Look, Annabeth, I love you and your work, you know that. But as your agent, it's my job to make sure you have a job. You don't have a single thing lined up once this movie is over. You don't even have an audition! The press is bored, and quite frankly, I have no idea what to do with you. You need at least to audition for a part."
"One will turn up." Annabeth said weakly.
"Four have turned up. You said no to all of them."
Annabeth threw up her hands exasperatedly. "They were all for whiny, witless, side parts who did nothing but sit around and wait to be rescued! You know what audition I want."
Thalia knew, alright, because Annabeth had made sure of it. A huge movie was in the works, some action/fantasy piece that was based off of a book Annabeth had read years before and loved. It already had a giant fanbase, and was a project that - if she could pull off – would make Annabeth's career.
"A lead part is very hard to get," She said slowly, fidgeting with her napkin. "You're still in school, and directors are very reluctant to hire someone with other time commitments…"
"I'm close to graduating now, I've been an emaciated minor years, and you said it yourself. The press is bored with me." For the past two months the tabloids had been all about some newcomer from NYC. Percy whatever who was rumored to be casted opposite of the part she wanted. Personally she couldn't see the draw. Tousled dark hair, 'piercing' green eyes – I mean, she had a crush on Harry Potter when she was eight but come on.
Thalia gritted her teeth. "Annabeth, look. Maybe I can get you an audition for a supporting role…"
"No!" She lowered her voice. "Thalia. I need this. You've just got to trust that I'm a good enough actress to do it."
"You know I do."
"Then get me an audition." And then she walked out; a nice touch to a dramatic end, she thought.
Xx
"Thanks for making me pay for our lunch," Were Thalia's first words after entering their condo, scowling.
"Yeah, well it was your turn anyway." She replied, but feeling slightly guilty regardless. "Sorry about that, though. Guess the press might have something to write about anyway though."
"Listen," Thalia came to stand in front of her. Even though Thalia, who was two years older than eighteen-year-old Annabeth, was wearing combat boots with thick soles, she only came to about Annabeth's chin. With her short stature, dark, spiky hair, and matching clothes, she looked about perpetually fifteen. "I got you an audition."
Annabeth who was fiddling about on her phone, looked up. "With…?"
Thalia nodded. With a surprised gasp, she flung her arms around her, uttering a million thank you's. "Yeah, yeah. Just think of me when you're accepting your awards. Here's your script," Thalia managed a sheepish grin. "I gotta say though… It's a good thing you already read the book though, because, uh..." Annabeth made a vague noise of agreement, already flipping through the first couple pages. "Your audition's… kind of in half an hour."
Annabeth froze and look up. "Pardon?"
"Uhm, oops?"
Gods, she was going to kill Thalia.
Xx
Hurrying across a crowded lot in the middle of the day in Hollywood, balancing a script and a coffee was just about the last way she wanted to spend the last five minutes she had before the biggest audition of her career so far. Especially not when she was also trying to read the script for the FIRST TIME.
She was only twenty pages in and hardly past the director's instructions when she made it to building 34AC, the small, unassuming place where many aspiring actors either made their break, or had their dreams broken. It was a labyrinth of hallways, and by the time she made it to the room Thalia had marked on the inside of her forearm, she was seconds away from being late. What a great impression, huh?
A man with a receding hairline stalked back and forth in front of the door. His attire was both noticeable and horrible, an oversized neon orange Hawaii shirt that poorly veiled his emerging potbelly and a pair of khaki shorts that drew the kind of attention people normally don't want to his chicken legs. Recognition was instant.
He barely glanced up as Annabeth came hurrying towards him, tossing the cup into a trashcan and furtively using her newly freed hand to bat down any curls gone astray.
"Mr. D!" Annabeth put on her best fake smile (quite good, if she said so herself). "I didn't know you were going to be casting this movie!" It turned out the attempt at friendliness wasn't necessary; the man was completely imbursed in his game of pac-man. Mr. D casted all the biggest blockbusters in Hollywood, and did so with the sourest disposition and the oddest love of retro games.
"Chase," He barked, once he finally put the phone down. "You do know that we're only auditioning for the lead part today?" Annabeth's jaw clenched.
"Yes," She gritted out. "I'm sure I'll do just fine, sir."
Mr. D laughed. "Save the 'sirs' for Chiron, sweetheart."
She froze without knowing why. Chiron was the best director in the entire town, it made sense that he was on this project. Still… when Annabeth was a child, he directed the sitcom that had started off her career. It ran for five years, and he grew to be like the stand in for her father who lived half an hour away and hardly bothered with a birthday call. They had talked here and there in passing on the red carpet and such, but since then she had hardly even seen him…
The door burst open – nearly knocking out Mr. D, who scuttled out of the way just in time – and a leggy brunette came striding out. Chiron, five years older and many grey hairs more mature, rolled out with her. She was saying something to him and he nodded along politely, the pair not noticing Annabeth, who stood uncertainly in the corner.
"Well, we'll contact you." Chiron said, smiling beneath his beard as she bobbed her head and turned towards Annabeth to leave. Her smile faded somewhat substantially the farther she got from Chiron and Mr.D and the closer she got to Annabeth.
"Good luck," The girl whispered, not entirely in an encouraging manner, as she passed. Annabeth swallowed the urge to snap back a witty retort, turning instead to Chiron.
"Annabeth!" His eyes warmed with his grin. "When I saw your name on the sheet, I have to say I wasn't surprised." He reached up to give her a hug. He smelled like stale coffee and cinnamon, something she missed terribly. "Come in,"
Annabeth followed him into a blank room, beige and off-white, empty except for a table and a couple of unpadded chairs. She waited for him to roll his wheelchair up to the table before taking a seat across from him.
"Okay, so I'm going to ask you to read a couple scenes with me, alright?"
Annabeth forced down a deep breath and a too-broad smile. Auditioning had never gotten easier throughout the years, no matter how many times she did it.
This part is meant for me.
"Flip towards the back to page 89, please – " The door burst open again, this time without any pretense. Annabeth scowled and turned her head towards the door. The first thing she noticed about the boy who walked through the door were his eyes. They were bright green even from across the room and they found her's with ease. He stopped when he noticed her, hesitating on the way in. The idiot was smirking. "Percy, what a surprise." Surprise indeed. Percy took his eyes off her and she willed herself to do the same.
"H-hey, Chiron, I was wondering if, uh," His eyes drifted to her's again. "I'm sorry, did I interrupt?"
"Little bit." Annabeth couldn't help the irritation in her voice. God, some people just had no tact.
Instead of hanging his head in embarrasment like she expected, he stared back in surprise, eyes uncomfortably bright.
"Well this is perfect!" Startled, Annabeth glanced back at Chiron, who'd begun to wheel back towards the door. "Annabeth, meet your potential costar, Percy Jackson." Percy Jackson? This bumbling buffoon is the Percy Jackson? Guess the rumors were true. Piercing green eyes indeed.
"Chiron?" Apparently Percy was just as surprised. He moved out of the way and held the door open.
"Now that you're here, you can read in my place, Jackson," He said patiently. "Consider it an audition and a screen test all in one sitting. And you can close the door, son, I'm not leaving." Percy, dumbfounded, did as asked and Chiron settled next to the door, crinkled eyes watching her.
Percy was still lost, standing awkwardly in between them. "But…" He glanced at the script Chiron had thrown at him in his hands and blinked at Annabeth who was less nervous and more irritated. For the first time since he burst in, he looked uncertain of himself.
"But what, Jackson?" Annabeth said, losing her patience and regretting it when he fixated on her again. Something about his stare just made her squirm.
"Nothing," He looked surprised and pleased at her interruption, any uncertainty gone. The brightness in his eyes was back, mischievous and self-righteous all at once.
Chiron, somewhere in the background, stifled a chortle.
Percy took a chair from the farthest corner of the room, dragging it on two legs painfully slowly. The metal on metal sound made her cringe. He let it fall back on the ground gracelessly and grinned at her discomfort.
"Well, Ms. Chase," He grinned. "Let's get started."
Shit.
A/N: Please do me a favor and review! Even three words would be great :D Constructive criticism is encouraged.