Chapter II: Meeting Mr. Bossy

Rating: T

Word Count: 4,200+

Beta Reader: ForeverAGallagherGirl135!

A/N: Hello beautiful people! So, it seems that I'll be continuing with this story. There weren't a lot of reviews, but the follows tell me everything :). Writing this will be like a challenge for me, because I've never written a complete story from a girl's PoV. It's kind of difficult—at least for me it is—to write about a girl's feelings when you're a boy...and straight—totally not discriminating comment :). So, I hope you like this and it's what you expect. With everything said, thank you for reading!


I remain sitting on the mahogany chair, which is part of the dining room's furniture. The last sips of orange juice seem to last forever, not wanting breakfast to end. Having vacation is stressful―almost everything in my life is. There's nothing to do during the mornings. The afternoons are different, though. That's my designated time to go and train at Chiron's gym. And, well, the evenings are also different. The constant visits at home give me something to do, at least.

One option would be to go on a vacation trip, just to get distracted a little. But I can't even do it, since my graduation is in six days, and I've to be here, in the city, getting ready for that day. Besides, that would mean no training. And let me tell you that my life is training. Training is what makes me wait every night for another day. No vacation trip, then.

When the glass of orange juice is finished, Rita―the house's servant―appears from the room's corner, grabbing the empty glass and bowing a little before starting toward the kitchen.

"Thank you," I say, somehow ashamed. There shouldn't be servants in this house. That's only contributing to make my parents' worsening attitude. It scares me that someday they will go to a public place and start looking for servants to bring them all they want.

Mom―or Mrs. Athena Chase, like she wants everyone to call her―is in the living room, sitting on the expensive couch while reading a novel named Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. I frown at sight of her. That's how she wants me to look like―fine and delicate, all dressed in expensive clothes approved by her. And that's exactly who I'm not planning to be.

"I'm going, mom," I say gaining her attention. Her gaze lands on my shoulder, where my orange duffel bag with my training clothes hangs.

"Where are you going this early?" she asks, taking off her reading glasses, giving me a better view of her gray eyes, which are exactly like mine. They look full of knowledge and really wise. If it weren't for the attitude she's been developing, she would be somehow perfect.

Damn. Where am I going? The answer is: I don't know. There are several hours left before it's time for training. How telling mom that I'm going somewhere, wherever, that isn't here?

"To a friend's house, mom," I answer, giving a faint smile.

"You're going to someone's house at this hour?" she asks, tilting her head to one side. "Isn't it too early?"

"No. Well, maybe it is too early, but we agreed to meet at this hour. And I'll be back until afternoon. You know, we're on vacation, so we'll spend all of the day getting distracted in something."

Silence fills the room while she stares at me, maybe thinking if what I said is true or not. Finally, she nods and places the novel on the coffee table, standing up and walking over to me.

"Alright, but let me tell you we're having an important visit this afternoon," she says, and I sigh, knowing where this is going. I'll have to get dressed formally at the gym again. "So you'll have to come already dressed, because it's not only a visit. We're going to have dinner with this important family to a really expensive restaurant, and you have to look astonishing as the mayor's daughter―I think the visitors have a son of your age."

"So, I need to go to get my best clothes?" I ask, wondering if there's enough space for a dress inside my duffel bag.

"You don't have to worry about that. I already chose the clothes you'll wear this evening."

"You chose them?"

"Of course, I've to make sure you'll look breathtaking tonight. Come, I left them in my room."

I follow mom through the house, nervous of what she'll make me use. Believe me―that's something whoever would be scared of. The last time she chose my clothes she made me wear a dress that was really open. It was uncomfortable to go showing from the upper part of my back to the lower part. At least it was winter time and my coat covered everything.

My favorite room has always been mom's―besides mine, of course. Everything looks so comfortable here. The floor is made of rug, which releases a sweet scent similar to clean clothes. Everything's so neat. And the bed looks like a cloud. It has a queen size mattress, with lots of pillows and covers that make it look all spongy.

Over the bed rests the clothes that mom wants me to use, and I want to gag at sight of them.

"You'll use this," says mom, signaling me to the things I'll be using tonight.

"This, mom?" I ask, nauseous.

The 'dress' I'll be using tonight is, like, really short. It looks like a white t-shirt, literally, just that made of a fabric that must expand. There's also a wide black belt, a black hairband with a tiny topknot on top and…oh shit. Those high-heels are enormous! Mom perfectly knows that using high-heels isn't my thing. Now, she expects me to use these black, enormous things? No, even worse. She's making me come from the gym in those things.

"Mom, really?" I ask, shocked.

"Yes," she answers, giving me a smile. "You'll use this for tonight. And I want you to straighten your hair, so take your hair straightener if your friend doesn't have one. I want to see you look breathtaking tonight, alright?"

My stare doesn't leave the dress and those things. If everyone thinks that I'm a delicate flower in the gym, now they will think I'm a Barbie or something like that. And Thalia, who has a "Death to Barbie" t-shirt, will kill me.

I nod, not planning to disobey mom. At least it'll be only one night.

"Alright, I'll be astonishing tonight," I say grabbing the perfectly folded clothes and placing them inside my duffel bag. Mom lends me her hair straightener, because, since I'm not going to any friend's house, I need to take one from here.

After having everything ready―and finding a place for those enormous things I'll use on my feet―I head to the house's front door, wanting so badly to get out of here. To where? Who knows?

Any place can be better than home right now.

. . .

Everyone in the girls' locker room leaves, all ready to start training. I, in other hand, am not ready. I just finished putting on my orange t-shirt and black tight shorts. Before leaving, I place my clothes inside my bag and run barefoot to the training zone with a water bottle on hand.

Thalia is already warming up, separated from the rest of the girls. Maybe it is because, despite everyone trains violently here, the rest of the girls are still too…feminine. They know how to fight, but that doesn't stop them from watching the boys' muscles and talking about clothes and everything. Neither Thalia nor I like to do that―well I don't do it too much. Thalia doesn't do it at all.

"Hey, Thals," I say, joining her to warm up. "You ready for some training?"

"Of course I am," she answers while stretching her arms to the sky. "And I'm really excited to be back here."

That reminds me that she isn't alone. I mean, she didn't come alone to the city. Her cousin will also train here, and he'll be my training partner since today. Oh shit. I'd forgotten about that and the description that Thalia gave me. The nerves come back to me, just like yesterday. What if we don't get along? He's completely opposite to the people I like according to Thalia.

"You know," I say while warming up my legs, "it makes me nervous the fact that your cousin will be my training partner."

"Oh, don't worry," she says. "You don't have to be nervous. Yes, maybe he's pretty good looking and makes girls nervous, but just don't think about it and everything will be fine."

Maybe my chin falls to the floor. I wasn't talking about her cousin's look at all. But it surprises me. Thalia never says that a boy is good looking, not even if that boy is her family. And if Thalia says that her cousin is good looking―something you'll never hear from her―then he is good looking.

"I wasn't talking about that, you know," I say, still surprised of her past comment.

"Then, what are you talking about?" she asks.

"About the description you gave me yesterday. You know, I really don't like to get along with people that are like that. Bossy people, I mean. They're hateful."

"Well, you'll have to learn to get along with Percy, because he'll be your training partner from now on."

We continue warming up in silence, and I know she's right. Percy will be my training partner, and that won't change at all. Yeah, it could change, but it would be really difficult―especially because Chiron said that he's my age, and finding someone from my age to be my partner is difficult.

"Speaking of Percy," says Thalia. "Here he comes with Luke. So, I'll see you later. I need to kick Luke's butt. Oh, and I wish you luck, so you can get to like my little cousin."

She stares at somewhere behind me, and I know that Percy and Luke are coming from behind. Before I can answer something, she leaves and maybe joins with Luke. Maybe―I'm not really sure, because I don't want to turn around to meet my new training partner.

Silent footsteps, barely audible, stop sounding behind me, indicating that Percy just arrived. Before turning to face him I take a deep breath and brace myself. Then, I turn on my heels, staring for the first time to my new partner.

Oh shit. Thalia was really right. That's why she said he is really good looking, because, he is.

Percy has like an oh-so-perfect face. He has perfectly trimmed jet-black hair, which contrasts well with his sea-green eyes and fair skin. He's tall and has broad shoulders―maybe even more broad than Luke's, and let me tell you, that's pretty broad. He seems to be the only one of the boys who isn't timid of showing his body, because he wears a tight black tank top―most of the boys here use T-shirts to hide their body. And, well, he doesn't have to be timid of showing with those arms and legs, which are perfectly sculpted.

Really, Chase, my subconscious frowns at me. Are you thinking about that?

The serious expression on his face tells me that everything Thalia said is true. His mouth is just a line without grace, and there aren't any laugh lines.

"Uh," I say, trying to recover from my surprise. "You must be Percy, Thalia's cousin, and my new training partner."

"Yes. And you must be Annabeth," he says while shaking my hand, the corners of his lips lifting just a little.

I wait here, shaking his hand and waiting for him to continue talking, but it seems that he's already done. Alright, when Thalia said he looked like person without soul, I didn't think she would be so literal.

"Alright, everyone ready to train?" Chiron shouts, entering the training zone. Everyone answers with a yes. "That's good. Good afternoon everyone, and, before training, let me give you a quick announcement.

"If you've been training here for more than a year, you must've noticed that our student Thalia Grace is back, accompanied by her cousin, Percy Jackson. So, let's give them a welcoming round of applause."

Everyone claps, and I can't help joining them, getting Percy's attention. And his mouth turns to a little smile again, which disappears as fast as the past one.

"If you've been less than a year here," Chiron continues. "You'll find out that she's a good person, so don't get intimidated by her menacing looks—expect if we're in class. If you get to fight her, then, be scared." Everyone laughs, including Thalia, and Percy smiles even more than before. "With everything said, let's start with our training. We'll warm up with three rounds of immobilizing your opponent. Everyone knows how it works. And if someone doesn't, it's simple. You just have to immobilize your partner, either on the floor or standing up. And that's all. So, let's start. Three rounds, everyone."

Everyone answers with a yes again, starting to do what was instructed. Percy and I face each other, and we position ourselves in combat position, ready to start.

Just like with Luke, we start walking in circles, staring at each other. This time I don't wait, though. I leap forward and try to punch him, but he grabs my wrist and turns me around, placing his arm around my neck.

When he thinks it's over and that I'm immobilized, I do what Chiron taught me time ago―a technique used to free yourself when someone is trying to strangle you.

I elbow him on the abdomen, causing him to loosen his grip on me a little. I take advantage of that and place my foot behind his, kicking on it and making him slip. When he's on the floor, I put my arm on his strong collarbone, and he's immobilized, making me win the first round.

"That's one victory for me," I say with a victorious grin, offering him my hand to stand up.

He takes it without an answer, but there's a smile on his face―this time more challenging, though. Maybe it isn't an enormous smile, but let me tell you he has a really beautiful smile, matching his entire being.

We start round two like the past one. Again, I'm the first one to attack, trying to kick him on the face with the instep. He's really fast, though. When my foot lifts completely, he's already ducked, kicking on my heel and making me slip. I fall on my back, losing all the air in my lungs, and then someone sits over me, holding my wrists and making me immobile.

"Now's a victory for me," says Percy, getting off me and helping me get on my feet.

Well, I can't deny he's really good too. The smile appears on my face too, also challenging like Percy's, which is still there, on his face.

At the beginning of the last round, we don't walk in circles. We stay on our places, getting ready for the other. Finally, like last time, I decide to kick him on the face, ready in case he wants to do the same as before. But he doesn't.

Percy gives a step forward and grabs my leg on the air, keeping it there and making me lose stability. His free hand reaches to grab my shoulder, and with all his strength, he lifts me and places me down on the floor, putting his arm over my collarbone like I did with him before.

I stay paralyzed for a moment. He just won for a second time, and now I'm here, distracted by his weight on me and his scent like the sea.

After a few more seconds of being immobilized, Percy offers me his hand and helps me to get on my feet.

"You're pretty good," I say smiling, rubbing over my collarbone.

"You too," he answers, his expression serious again.

"How do you manage to be so good at it?"

"I analyze the other in detail. Just learn to do that. It'll help you win every match."

Alright, was that an order? Is he starting with his bossy attitude so soon? Let's just forget about it, maybe I misunderstood everything.

"Done, Chiron," I say when he's coming to us. "What now?"

"You two finished fast," says Chiron. "Alright, we'll do something different right now―well, new for you Annabeth, but I heard from Larry that it won't be new for you, Percy. We'll improve the altitude of your kicks. You know, a kick on the face equals to two points, so if you can kick higher, you will be able to reach whoever's face and get two points."

"And how are we doing it?"

"Follow me."

Chiron leads us through the place until we reach to the wall. There are pictures of old students hanging on it. There are also medals, which are given to fourth and fifth places in tournaments. And there's also a picture of Chiron with a group of people, who I suppose are the Party Ponies.

"Alright, Percy, I heard you know what to do," says Chiron, turning to Percy.

"Yes," is all Percy says, sticking his back to the wall.

"Alright, Annabeth, you stand in front of him." I do as Chiron says and place myself in front of Percy. "Now, Percy, lift your leg." Percy places his hands on the wall to get stability, and thus, he lifts his leg in front of me.

"What you'll do, Annabeth, is grab his leg." Chiron continues, and I do it. "Now, start counting till you reach the number one hundred. But every time you count a number, you'll lift his leg a little more. That's all you have to do, and just make sure that his leg is always stretched."

Chiron leaves to check on the other students, and I start doing what instructed. By the number fifty, Percy's foot is above his head. And by the number one hundred, he's almost touching the wall, not a single expression of pain on his face.

That makes me nervous. I can be quite flexible sometimes, but this is something I've never done before. It'll hurt, that's for sure.

I release Percy's leg and he steadies, changing places with me. It's me now who is leaned against the wall.

"Lift your leg," says Percy.

Alright, I'm sure that was an order. Mr. Bossy's real attitude is beginning to show, huh?

I do as said and lift my leg, which he takes and starts lifting. By the number fifty, my foot isn't as high as Percy's was. And by the number one hundred, tears are forming in my eyes. Shit. It hurts like hell! Every time he lifted my leg a little after my limit, I felt as if my skin was about to rip.

"Are you alright?" he asks, noticing me while wiping the tears.

"Yes," I answer. "I'm not used to this. It's new for me."

"Do you want to rest? We still have to do it with the other leg."

Oh shit. Not again, please! But it's not something I decide. It's what Chiron instructed, and it has to be done.

"I'm alright," I say. "Let's continue."

. . .

I stand in front of the mirror while straightening the last lock of blonde hair. The hair straightener in my hand has already made me tired. It'll make my hand sore if I don't leave it somewhere, and I already have enough with my sore legs, thanks to today's training. At least there's something positive about today―I can do a split better than before now, so my childhood is complete.

Alright, I hate my reflection. The dress is just as I imagined it. It is like a t-shirt, just that tighter and that reaches to the middle of my thighs―it doesn't even reach to my knees! The belt is uncomfortable over my abdomen. And thanks to whatever god is up that I haven't put the high-heels on, because my feet would be hurting by now.

After my hair's completely straight, I put on the black diadem, and I'm ready. Let me tell you that I really hate my reflection, but I do look astonishing like my mother wanted. I've never been vain, but I look beautiful. Radiant, if you ask me.

"Wow," says Silena, who sits next to Thalia, staring at me. "I've never seen you dressed like this, Annabeth. You look really beautiful."

"Thank you," I say while unplugging the hair straightener.

"Do you mind if I help you with something?"

I turn to her, and she's standing up, wanting to help me with something. It's very known around the gym that Silena knows a lot about this, so why not? The worst she can do is to leave me prettier.

"It's no problem," I say, giving a smile.

She walks to me and starts directly with her work. Her hands run through my straight hair, moving it so it ends up falling only over my right shoulder. From her hand bag, she takes out a red lipstick and starts painting my lips. The last thing she applies is a little bit of what looks like blush. When she's over, she takes a step backwards and signals me to stare at the mirror. And I do it.

Calm down, Annabeth, I think.You look really pretty, and that's all, don't get panicked. And it is true―I even get shocked by staring at myself. The make-up makes me look like someone different. And with this dress, I look older but still young, and beautiful.

"Thank you, it looks really nice," I say to Silena, who gives me a smile and then leaves the room―to tell everyone, probably.

So, I'm ready. I place everything back inside my duffel bag until there's nothing left but my high-heels.

"Did I say yesterday that you looked like a delicate flower?" asks Thalia, who sits next to me as I put on the high-heels.

"Yes, you did it," I answer, high-heels already on my feet.

"Well, I was wrong. Now you look like a Barbie."

"Is that good or bad?"

"Well, it's both. It's good because you do look beautiful, but it's bad because you look like a material girl."

"Calm down, Madonna," I say as I get up and almost stumble.

"You'll kill yourself with those things."

"I know, but these demonic things are what my mother wants me to use."

My hand reaches to grab the duffel bag, ready to leave. Shit. I'll kill myself on my way home. But I promised mom that I would arrive to the house changed. I could use my sneakers on my way there and change outside the house, but that would mean I would have to kneel to change them, and with this dress, I'm definitely not kneeling. The last thing I want is someone staring inside my dress.

"Let's go," I say and start walking to the entrance.

Just at the door, something goes wrong. My body loses stability, and I stumble outside the room, but someone catches me. Strong arms surround me, and I notice that it's Percy who is grabbing me. That face, again, makes me get distracted.

"I'm sorry," I say while steadying.

"No problem," he answers.

And suddenly, I notice that Percy and I are the center of attention. Percy's perfect body and face catches the attention of every girl in the gym. In other hand, every boy here stares at me, shocked because they've never seen me like this.

"You know," he says. "You really aren't how I thought you were."

"What does that mean?" I ask curiously.

"Well, while training, you never acted like a material girl. And, here you are, completely different from how I thought you were."

I chuckle a little. "Believe me―I didn't know I could look like this, either. I really don't like to look like a material girl, but that's how I have to dress when my parents have an important meeting. These clothes were chosen by my mother. If it had been my choice, jeans and t-shirt would've been alright."

He nods, telling me that he understands my situation. "Well, in that case, you are how I thought."

"I must be going." I say, giving a smile. "My parents will kill me if I get late to their 'important meeting'."

"Very well," it's all he says.

I straighten myself and start giving another step, but just like before, I almost stumble, this time regaining my balance instantly.

"Be careful." says Percy. "Tell your mother to think better of what she'll make you wear next time. Learn to use those things before using them, or you'll kill yourself."

Alright, I'm sure that was an order. Again. The third order and I just met him. This time, I don't stay silent.

"I like to do more what I want," I say, giving him a wide smile. His eyebrows lift a little, and I see the corners of his lips lift a little too.

I turn around, prideful, left hand on my hip, still smiling and swinging my hair from over my left to my right shoulder, heading to leave. I find myself walking perfectly to the exit, with my back perfectly straight and a grace while walking, as if my pride makes me better at walking with these demonic things.

Someone should really give me orders more often. Or at least when I need to dress like this, so I can be an expert like right now.

The last thing I see from the gym is everyone. All stares are on me. But I look mostly at Percy's, who seems somehow impressed and pleased about my prideful reaction.