This is my new story, if that wasn't obvious, I guess. :) Read and enjoy!

Annabeth

"Don't forget your sunglasses and hat, and make sure you stay out of the way of people, and if you see anybody with a camera, steer clear immediately, and if—"

"Mom." The single word I uttered stopped my parent's rush of instructions. I had half a mind to just hang up right now, but I was incredibly bored on the plane, and listening to my mom rant and rave about what I was supposed to do was more interesting than sitting and trying to fall asleep, no matter how bizarre that sounded. Normally I couldn't stand listening to my mom's instructions. They were more like demands that if you didn't follow, she'd find some way to ground you. Like, not let you try out for a new world-wide movie coming up. Well, that's how I got grounded.

Mind you, this is the fifth time she's called. Sometimes I wonder if having a mom as an agent is worse—being more protective than ever and all. Hey, at least I didn't have to have bodyguards. That would suck.

Okay, let me back up a little. My name is Annabeth Chase, I'm a seventeen-year-old actress who lives in California, the Golden State. I became pretty famous when I played the lead role in a popular movie when I was nine, and from then on, it was pandemonium. More acting, more movies, more fame, more troubles. You may think being an actress who's name most everybody in the world knows would be fun, but it could get seriously stressful and irritating at times.

However, it was my life, and I loved acting. I could get past all the other letdowns if I just got to act. My mom was a good agent. She was a businesswoman who had a lot of important connections with people around, and she got me into a lot of movies. Even though she and I had a rocky relationship, we still worked together pretty well.

Recently, there's a new movie being planned. It's called "The Girl's Cowboy". That was my goal. I wanted to be in that movie so bad, and not just because the main actor—who's already been picked—is Luke Castellan, the hottie of Hollywood. Well, yes, I did kind of want to be in the movie for that reason, but I also wanted to get into the movie because I loved horses.

Only problem? I didn't know a thing about horses, and the title hints at the movie doing a lot with horses. The solution to this dilemma is learning.

So that's where I was right now, on a plane to a ranch in Colorado where I would stay for the summer. Hopefully by the end of the visit, I would be able to ride and take care of a horse. By then, my spot as the main actress was basically established. The movie director had already shown a large interest in using me as the main actress, so I just needed to learn my way around the equestrian life.

"Mom," I repeated, "I'll be fine. No one will recognize me. I've done this before, you know."

"Well, yes," my mother said. "But that was with me, or Malcolm." Malcolm was my older brother, and he took mom's path of becoming a business person, already owning a manufacturer of his own. He and I were pretty close, but I hadn't seen him in a while.

"I promise I'll make sure I'm not recognized," I reassured her, my exasperation barely concealed as my gaze latched onto the square plots of farm land down on the ground. The intercom sounded above me, and I listened to it for a second. "I gotta go, we're landing. I'll talk to you later, mom."

"Okay. Remember, your driver is looking for the name Jackson. That's the last name of the family at the ranch, and we're just using that name so they don't recognize ours."

I told her I would remember, then ended the call, sighing before settling back into my seat and slipping the belt around my waist. I wasn't on a private jet, that would be too conspicuous. So instead I just had colored contacts in, a Yankee's baseball cap to cover most of my features, and makeup that shielded my face well. I was proud of my makeup artist, Piper McLean, for doing such a good job. She and I were also good friends, and I was hoping she'd find time to visit during the summer.

The person sitting beside me was snoring, sounding like a whale coming up for air each time he breathed in. I resisted the urge to see how full of Pepsi I could make his open mouth without spilling. However, I wouldn't have had the time anyway—the stewardess was constantly pacing up and down the length of the plane.

We landed smoothly, and I grabbed my bags and hurried out into the airport. The sign up on the wall read, "Welcome To West Burge, Colorado!" People walked by without giving it a second glance, continuing on with their life. I followed the bulk of passengers to the baggage claim, careful to keep my head down.

We—as in me, my mom, and some of my other agents—didn't want the world to know I was here for two reasons. One being the fact that my mom believed I needed some "down-time" before the big movie so I would perform better, and two, we didn't really want everybody to know I didn't know how to ride a horse. Well, I did know how to, but not very smoothly or well. So after a bunch of planning, we finally found a relatively small town in Colorado, and the ranch owners knew my mom and assured her they would keep everything secret. By the way my mom talked about the ranch owner, she didn't seem very fond of him. But she allowed me to go to the ranch, claiming it was the only one they could get in such short notice.

The thought intimidated me, though: Going to a family I didn't even know and spending the summer at their ranch. I know, big star Annabeth Chase was scared? Hey—I was human. Not some supernatural person who has just about no fears. Don't get all Four or Tobias on me, people.

"Ma'am, you dropped this," I heard someone say behind me. I pivoted to see a man holding my wallet, it's button snapped open, revealing my ID and license and all. A picture of my face—not too much makeup and no hat—smiled up at the man, who's eyes widened. But before he could have too close a look at the name, my hand swung out, swiping it from his fingers.

"Oh, thanks," I said, trying to keep my voice even. "Didn't know I dropped it."

He squinted at me. "Um, what's your name? You look familiar?"

"Uh- Annabel. Annabel . . . Jackson." I just said the first name that came to mind. Annabel was a name I often used, and I might as well use Jackson, since I'm going to their house is anyway. I hoped they wouldn't mind. Oh, well.

"I really have to go, sorry," I muttered, stepping back and almost tripping on my luggage I just picked up. There were only two big suitcases and my small backpack for the plane that held my purse and other belongings. The man was still staring at me as I hurried away, thankful for the hat that I could pull down low.

I found my way out of the airport into a large parking lot. Cars were either stationed on the curb or driving around, and quite a few people were holding up signs with last names. Flipping my sunglasses on, I walked down, my grey eyes searching.

Soon I saw a man, probably around his mid-forties, leaning against a pick-up truck. He had black hair turning grey in some spots, and warm green eyes that held smiling wrinkles on the edges, lining his face. When he saw me, he waved me over. I approached cautiously.

"Miss Annabel?" he asked, but I caught his subtle wink as he said the name.

Smiling, I said, "Yes, sir. Are you Mr. Jackson?" He nodded, introducing himself. I accepted his offered hand, then he helped me put the luggage into the bed of the truck.

He came around, holding my door open for me, to which I politely thanked him before climbing in. Then he walked around and got in himself.

"Well, Miss Annabeth, it's good to meet you. You can call me Poseidon."

I smiled slightly, feeling awkward. "Thanks for letting me stay at your place."

He shrugged as he stuck the keys in the ignition and twisted. I felt the car vibrate as it came to life. Poseidon bullied his way into the line of traffic before answering. "No problem. Even though Athena and I have had some rough times, I didn't hold that against you, and I like having visitors to the ranch. It's a wonderful place."

"I bet it is, and I love horses," I replied. "I just don't really know my way around them."

"By the end of the summer, I promise you will know more than most. We'll get you in that movie, don't worry."

I grinned at him, settling back into my seat. "So is it just you at the ranch or. . .? My mom didn't exactly give me details."

"No, I have son. He's about your age. His name's Percy, and his mom and stepdad live down the road. They're up at the ranch a lot." I raised an eyebrow, and upon seeing this, Poseidon hurried to explain. "Oh, it's fine. Sally—that's her name—is a friend of mine now, and her husband Paul is a fine man. I don't mind it at all."

He took a turn right on the highway, silence ensuing for a moment. It was beautiful here, so different from San Francisco, which is where I lived. Instead of skyscrapers and buildings, trees surrounded the area, and I could see the Rocky Mountains poking over the tops of the branches. The buds had opened on the branches, and the late May air was warm. The sun was going down, and on the drive it disappeared behind the earth, darkness invading the sky. Poseidon and I exchanged small talk as we drove on, but I was really tired and mostly just leaned my head against the window, watching nature fly by.

After about a half of an hour of driving, Poseidon turned into a long gravel driveway traveling under a canopy of treetops. "This is beautiful," I commented, staring at the sight above and around us. Wildflowers dotted the edges of the lane, which continued straight for a time before breaking out into the open.

"Thank you," Poseidon answered, glancing briefly at me. A quick look in the rearview mirror showed dust kicking up in the light of dusk.

Before long we had come in sight of a large ranch house, looking regal and grand up on a hill. It was in the middle of a huge clearing, with a big barn on one side, a paddock next to the barn. On the other side of the house was a garden, but I couldn't see too clearly in the dark.

The house was white, with two floors and a balcony on the upstairs. The floor of the upstairs balcony had Greek fashioned columns protruding from the bottom, reaching down to the deck of the first floor with the main door on the wall back a little in the middle of the columns.

"That's beautiful, too," I said dazedly. I was used to big mansions that were modern and too expensive and clean. This looked like a mansion, but a... country one, I guess.

A few lights were on, and one flickered on in a window on the main floor when the headlights of the truck hit the house. We pulled up to a large, three-car garage connected to the house on the left side. Poseidon turned off the engine, then got out of the car. I did as well, shutting the door and looking towards the house. As I did so, the front door opened, and out came a young man. Again, the darkness limited my sight, but he looked about my age.

As he neared us, he called out, "Hey, dad."

"Hello, Perce. Can you get a suitcase?" Poseidon asked, getting one of my bags and letting Percy get the other.

"I'll introduce you guys inside with a little light," Poseidon said. I could see a half-moon of white as he smiled. I followed them both up a few steps and into the house. Big windows surrounded the entryway, and through them I could see a grand staircase curving up into the second floor, and opposite of the stairs was a living room.

When we went in, light flooded into my eyes and I blinked a few times. I stood for a moment, watching as Percy took both suitcase and rolled them over by the stairs. I could only see the back of him. He had broad shoulders and a muscular form. Black hair hung in every which way around his head, the length reaching to a little longer than his ears, but the top part was thicker and lengthier. When he turned around, I saw that it fit him. It fit him very well, actually.

Living with world-famous actors and models around me, I got to meet quite a few attractive guys. Ultimately, I thought Luke Castellan—who was America's number one guy at the moment—was the best looking man in the world. But my mind almost made me question that.

Percy was pretty tall, and his ebony mess above his head brought out his eyes. They were like Poseidon's, but just way more amazing. They looked like miniature oceans swirling around, and when they met mine, I'm pretty sure the bones in my knees disappeared for a second. But I was an actress, so none of what I was thinking showed on my face as I held out my hand.

"Annabeth Chase," I said. When his hand touched my, little lightning bolts shot through my entire body—but again, nothing showed. Acting could be pretty handy in these moments.

"Yeah, I know. You're kind of popular," he said. I noticed his tone wasn't exactly all the way friendly, and I frowned for a moment, glancing at Poseidon, who sighed, looking away.

"Percy, could you bring her bags up to her room, please?" he asked. Percy's eyes lingered on mine, but I couldn't tell what he was thinking. Then he did as his dad told him, grabbing my two suitcases. My backpack was slung around my own shoulder.

"Careful, they're kind of heavy." But Percy just ignored my words, hauling them up the stairs. He held them like they didn't weigh that much. He went up the stairs, then disappeared around a corner. I watched the spot where I had last seen him.

"I'm sorry," Poseidon apologized. "I was fine with you coming here, but Percy's having a little tougher time. With you here, he's going to have to keep a lot of things secret during the summer, and not let as many friends over, since we want to keep you hidden and all."

I winced. I hadn't really realized what it would be like for the family I was moving in with. Poseidon saw this, and he rushed to say, "Oh, no. He'll get over it. Besides, I think you guys could become good friends."

Percy reappeared, tromping down the stairs. He wore dirty jeans and an old t-shirt, clearly having been out and doing chores around the ranch earlier.

"Thanks, Percy," Poseidon said to his son, who stuck his hands in his pockets and nodded curtly. "Can you show Annabeth to her room? I bet she's tired."

Percy turned and started walking back up the stairs.

"Good night, Annabeth. Rise and shine early with the sun," Poseidon told me with a grin. I returned it, saying goodnight as well before following Percy up the stairs.

I found that when you turned at the top of the staircase, there was a hallway with two doors opposite of each other in the middle. There were two more doors farther down at the end. Percy was beckoning me forward, and I followed him. He gestured to one of the doors in the middle of the hallway. "This is my room, and your's is right here." He pointed at the doorway just opposite of his.

Putting his hand on the knob of my doorway, he pushed it open. I walked in, my eyes meeting a fairly big room. There was a bed, the headboard against the gray wall, with blue covers. On either side of the bed on the wall were two big windows, the curtains shut at the moment. On the left side of the room was a walk-in, empty closet, a dresser with a mirror above it inside. On the other side of the room was a bathroom. It was pretty nice, and I liked the simplicity of it all.

Percy was leaning in the doorway, watching me. "You look different," he said suddenly, almost as if thinking out loud.

"Makeup. Lots of it. And my hat," I said. I reached my hand up and grabbed the Yankee's cap, pulling it off my head. I took out my ponytail, too, letting my blonde curls fall down around my shoulders. He watched the hair as it fell, then looked back at me.

"Well, you all set?" he asked, his green eyes studying me intently.

I nodded. "Yeah, thanks."

"Good night."

"'Night."

He and I stared at each other for a second, then he grabbed my door, swinging it shut for me. When the door closed, I took a deep breath, looking around the unfamiliar place. I walked lightly over to the bathroom, peeling off the layers of makeup on my face. I really was never one for makeup—I avoided it if I could. Changing quickly, I jumped into the comfy bed. I checked my iPhone, but there were no messages or calls from my mom. I texted her quickly, letting her know I had made it.

Exhaling, I snuggled under my covers. I could hear Percy moving in his room opposite of mine, and it was a little unnerving, how close his room was. I know, I was kind of spoiled, and I had never shared a room with anybody, or even had a room on the same floor as someone else at any of my homes. Malcolm was out of the house, so it was just me and my mom. I visited my dad sometimes, and his wife and two sons, but even then, I stayed a hotel when I did so. Hotels were different.

I wondered how the months would pass by. Would Percy and I become friends, or would we stay distant with each other? Was he the one that would teach me how to ride horses? What were we going to do tomorrow? What were we even having for breakfast?

At that last question, I sighed, knowing sleep's touch had made me drowsy. Sleep seduced me into its arms, and I fell willingly into its dark embrace, welcoming the soft touch that overtook my mind, soothing it into unconsciousness.

Just so ya know, West Burge is made up, so don't like, look it up and expect results or anything. :)

So, thanks for reading! I don't know how many of you came from my other story I just finished, Forbidden Percabeth, but either way, I'm glad you all clicked on this story and made it through the first chapter. :)

Thanks again, guys!