Thank you for the positive reviews you guys have left for chapter 1! I was really excited that you guys liked it! I saw the movie the other day at the 9:30 pm showing and I have to say… Logan Lerman is SOO cute! And I am SOO jealous of how pretty and lucky Alexandra Daddario!

Anyway, here's the second installment of "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."

Dislcaimer: I own nothing. Well, except for this laptop of mine. =)

Chapter Two – Finding the Guy

"Maybe toss in something spiritual as well. Who's that chic Buddhist Richard Gere cavorts with?" Lana asked.

After the conference, Lana, Juniper, Thalia, Rachel, and I went to the lobby of the Composure building to meet up with some advertising executives. As we walked, Lana had been talking to Thalia about what to do with her work in progress about Richard Gere.

"The Dalai Lama," Thalia stated in response to Lana's question as Juniper and I laughed behind them.

"He's fabulous," Lana commented. "Ah! Here's my ten o'clock. Welcome."

There were two women in charcoal suits who I supposed were the advertising execs. One had flowing black hair and was probably a big hit with those of the male persuasion. The other had blonde hair and I had the sneaking suspicion that she was much like the other girl with the guys.

"Hi," the one with the black hair said as she and Blondie made their way over to us.

"Ladies, Bianca di Angelo and Silena Beauregard from Dare Advertising," Lana said, pointing to the black haired and blonde haired women respectively.

Thalia, Juniper, and I looked at Rachel questioningly.

"What?" Rachel whispered to us. "Did I never tell you guys that my dad started up that company? My bad."

"We're going to cook up some fabulous tie-ins for the fall," Lana continued, rolling her eyes at our side conversation before introducing each of us to Silena and Bianca. "Thalia Grace, Fashion and Trends, Juniper Woods, Fitness and Health, Rachel Dare, Fashion Awareness and Mishaps, and Annabeth Chase, our resident "How to" girl."

"Oh, I've seen your column Annabeth," Silena said with a smile. "What are you working on now?"

"Oh, actually, I'm—" I started before being rudely interrupted by Lana. Sometimes, I just really want to punch her face in. This was one of those times.

"'How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days'," Lana stated proudly. "She's actually going to start dating a guy, and then drive him away in a week and a half."

"Sounds needlessly vicious," Silena and Bianca laughed and I rolled my eyes. I didn't like them. They just seemed so… unlikeable.

"It's going to be fabulous," Lana commented before turning around to face me. "Now all she has to do is run along and find the lucky guy. Go, go, go."

"Nice to meet you," my friends and I chorused as we walked away from our boss and her appointment.

I wrapped my arm around Juniper and said, "Find the guy."

"Okay," she replied as we followed Thalia out of the building.

"Find the guy."

"Oh, you are never going to pull this off!" Thalia exclaimed in her strapless black dress as our little trio walked across the street.

"Watch me! Tonight I'll hook a guy, and tomorrow, pull the switch," I said laughingly as I hooked my arms through Juniper's and Thalia's. Juniper was wearing a fuchsia colored dress that Grover had gotten her when they were together while I wore by prized gray backless dress. It has been with me for the longest time and I have to say, looked really good on me. "Before the ten days are up, I'm gonna have this running for his life."

"You're not gonna burn his apartment down or bite him or anything, are you?" Thalia asked as we continued to our destination – the very classy and sophisticated restaurant The Labyrinth.

"No! I'm going to limit myself to doing everything girls do wrong in relationships. Basically, everything we know guys hate," I said with a smile before listing what I plan on doing. "I'll be clingly, needy…"

"Be touchy-feely," Thalia added.

"Yeah," I agreed.

"Ooh," Thalia exclaimed. "Call him in the middle of the night, and tell him everything you had to eat that day."

"What's wrong with that?" Juniper asked, interrupting me and Thalia from our fit of laughter. We looked at her as if she just stated that she was totally over Grover. "I'm kidding." I guess we didn't look convinced since she reiterated, "Guys, I'm kidding!

"Why The Labyrinth?" Juniper asked Thalia as we walked into the restaurant.

"The Labyrinth is the après-work watering hole for the upwardly mobile," Thalia answered as she headed to the bar.

Juniper went ahead to order three apple martinis as Thalia and I hung back.

"So have you talked to Luke today?" I asked Thalia.

"Yes, I have!" Thalia replied excitedly. "He asked me if I got the tickets and we just went on to talk about our date tomorrow at the game."

"Oh, tell me more!" I demanded good-naturedly. I wasn't kidding when I said that they looked really good together.

"I told him that you were coming with but you still needed a date," Thalia said. "Then he started talking about one of his friends who was single and wanted to go to the game but was severely pissed when he found out that Luke gave me the four tickets he had for the game. His name was, like, Peter Johnson, I think."

"Oooh, sounds mysterious," I laughed.

"Here, here," Juniper said while handing us our drinks.

"Thanks," I told Juniper, taking my drink from her hand.

"Dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, dum," Thalia hummed impatiently. She really wanted me to find a guy to harass over the next week and a half.

"Hey, don't pressure her," Juniper came to my rescue as I rolled my eyes at Thalia. "She's perusing.

"Yes, exactly," I agreed. "Hmmm…"

We started searching the crowd for a handsome face to be my test subject… but we were interrupted by Juniper's high pitched squeak of surprise.

"Juniper!" I looked over at her worriedly. "Are you okay? What was that"

"Oh, some guy just grabbed my butt!" Juniper whined. "I want to go home! I'm not ready for another relationship yet!"

"Juniper, calm down," Thalia said with amusement etched in her voice. "We're here for Annabeth. We won't get you a guy tonight, don't worry."

"Yeah, it's okay, Juniper," I said as I rubber her arm. "At least you know that you have a rockin' enough body to have some good lookin' guy grab your butt!"

Juniper laughed at that and we went on to talk about what I would do to the guy once I found him. I looked over at the bar and saw a decent looking guy.

"Hey, see the guy next to the horrible guy in the green shirt that I would never even consider?" I asked my friends, pointing in the direction of the man. "Is he okay?"

"Hmm… very cute," Thalia said approvingly as Juniper nodded her consent. We watched the man in question pass along a beer.

"Alright, guys, here I go!" I said excitedly before making my way to the bar.

"Hey, there," I said in what I hoped was a seductive enough tone to Cutie Number One. I looked over to my friends and saw them laughing at me as I tried to hook this one in.

"Well, hello, there," he replied.

"Is this seat taken?" I asked him, looking into his brown eyes and admiring his brunette hair that just looked so soft.

"No, go ahead, take a seat," he smiled.

I sat down thinking that this guy might be my unfortunate subject, but I quickly left that though when he started boring me with what he did for a living. I then mentally dug a ditch and buried him in it when a woman came up to me telling me to back off since he was her husband.

"You guys enjoy New York, okay? Okay," I said in a rush before walking away and gesturing to my friends that he was married.

I pushed my way through the crowd as I made my way to the bar to get a refill for my martini.

"Hi," a really, really, REALLY cute guy said, stopping right in front of me. He had messy raven black hair and the most beautiful sea green eyes I had ever seen.

"Hi," I replied with a smile.

"Hi," he said again. He was smiling at me and I couldn't help but think that he had the greatest smile.

I laughed and he laughed, too. He was wearing a black and white striped polo with a black jacket over it. He had on black dress pants and, again, he looked REALLY good.

"Annabeth Chase," I introduced myself, sticking my hand out in front of me for a handshake.

"I'm Percy Jackson," he said, taking my hand. He had a nice, firm grip.

"Cute," I commented. It's not every day that you meet a guy named Percy.

"Thank you," he said with a smile that showed off his white teeth.

"I meant your name," I replied. He smiled and looked away.

"Well thank you two times," he laughed as he turned back to me.

"Unattached?" I asked. I didn't want another mishap mirroring the married guy at the bar.

"Currently," he replied.

"Likewise," I said. I liked our little banter consisting of few words.

"Surprising," he said, looking genuinely surprised. Hmmm… maybe he was…

"Psycho?" I asked.

"Rarely," he stated smoothly.

"Hmm," I said as I cocked an eyebrow.

"Interested?"

Oh, he was good. "Perhaps."

"Hungry?" He continued.

I smiled. "Starving."

"Leaving."

"Now?"

"Mm-hmm."

I nodded. "Okay."

"Okay."

"One second," I said before walking over to my friends.

"I'll meet you at the door," he called after me.

"Hey, hey, guys," I said excitedly.

"What?" Thalia and Juniper asked in unison.

"I think I got one," I announced.

"He was married," Juniper said, looking at me with an incredulous look.

"No, not him. It's the guy by the door, but don't—" but I was too late. "Don't look."

They looked.

"Oh, guys!" I exclaimed.

"Oh, he is really cute!" Thalia looked at me with a knowing smile.

I handed my drink to Thalia and looked at them in turn. "I'm gonna check this one out and see of he's the keeper."

"Okay," Thalia smiled.

"And if he is?" Juniper asked.

"Tomorrow night, we'll…" I said trailing off.

"Flip the switch," Thalia finished.

I nodded with a smile before turning to Juniper. "Doing this for you, hon."

"Good luck," Juniper called.

"Be safe," Thalia added.

"Call me," Juniper yelled as I walked away.

"Mmm…" I heard Thalia say before I went out of earshot. "Drama, drama, drama."

I smiled at Percy as I spotted him by the door. He placed his warm hand on my back and I must say, his touch felt… nice.

We walked to the curb and I went to the nice, sleek black Porsche that I thought he was going to.

"No, no, no," he waved me over. "This one."

I looked at him as he walked over to a silver motorcycle and stuck a helmet on. I looked around and hesitantly followed him. I have never ridden a motorcycle before.

He sat on the seat and waited for me to follow.

"And you," he started, handing me a white helmet. "Get to wear the goofy-looking helmet."

I scoffed, "This won't look goofy on me."

"It looks goofy on just about everybody," he said with a smile as I put on the helmet. "Well, look at you. That's pretty damn cute."

I fought the blush rising on my cheeks as he reached out to strap on my helmet.

"There you go," he said and I sat behind him, hugging his waist with a rather tight grip.

"You ready to go for a ride, Annabeth?" He asked as he vroomed his motorcycle.

"Are you ready to go for a ride, Percy?" I answered his question with one of my own.

He tilted his head in front of me and chuckled as he turned the handle and we were off.

Percy drove us to a Red Lobster a couple blocks away from the Labyrinth. We got booth by the window and we were both chowing down on freshly cooked lobster.

"You got that?" he asked me as I struggled with cracking the shell of a lobster.

"Yeah," I said as I heard a satisfying crack. "I got it."

"Mmm. So, what do you think?" he asked after I took a bite of the seafood.

"About the food, or… you?" I asked him as I swallowed my mouthful of lobster.

"Both," he answered.

"Well, this is delicious," I started. "And I'm still deciding."

"Anything I could do to help?" he asked me worriedly.

"Yeah, actually," I said. "You could answer some questions for me."

"'Some' sounds a little too indefinite," he replied as he cracked another lobster shell. "But I'll give you three."

"What do you do for a living?"

"I'm in advertising," he smiled at me. "I work mostly with alcoholic beverage and athletic equipment companies and I'm trying to break into the jewelry market right now."'

"Hmm…" I said before grinning. "Saving the word one keg party at a time?"

"Yeah," he laughed. "Something like that. What about you?"

"What about me?" I asked before putting some lobster in my mouth,

"Have I seen your work?"

"I work at Composure," I answered with a shrug.

"Fastest-growing women's fashion magazine in the country," he commented. "I'm impressed. Saving the world one shopaholic at a time, eh?"

I raised my eyebrows at him. "Oh, hey, all right. Look here, Sparky, I have a Master's in journalism and a Minor in architecture from Columbia. My boss loves me and if I do it her way for a while, I can write about and do anything I want."

"Like, shoes?" he asked me before taking a sip from his glass of water.

I smiled, "No."

He smirked.

"No," I continued, racking my brain for an appropriate comeback. "Like alcoholic beverages and athletic gear."

"Touche," he commented as we both laughed. "Very nice. So, you think you got me all figured out, huh?"

"Almost," I answered. "Still got one last question."

"Shoot," he prompted.

"True or false:" I began. "All's fair in love and war."

He thought about that one for a while before speaking. "True."

I let loose a smile. All the other guys I've been with would answer false, thinking that that's the answer I would want. Percy's honesty was refreshing. I liked it… and him.

"Good answer," I said.

"Good question."

Thank you for reading! Please review and tell me what you thought about this chapter. =D