Chapter 2

Annabeth

I slid into the black Jeep throwing my back into the back.

"So how was it?" asked Jasmine flipping her blonde hair from in front of her shoulder.

"Fine"

"Annabeth we need to be a family unit and that won't happen if you don't learn to answer with more than one syllable. You are so polite on TV why can you not speak like that in real life."

"That's not me – the one on TV has been coached for that interview since she was 3 but I don't think you deserve for me to make the effort."

That shut her up. I settled down on the drive to the gym to reading my notes from my lecture but I just kept thinking of Thalia and the green-eyed boy.

The next think I knew the car had stopped and I looked around in surprise.

"We're here!" Jasmine was so exited I just stared at her with distain.

I prepared myself for what was waiting and then stepped out of the car. Cameras flashed in my face and reporters started shouting.

"How is Columbia?"

"What's your skin secret?"

"Are you excited to train at the Manhattan gym?"

I plastered a smile over my face and stepped towards the microphone.

"Hello and thank you all for coming. I am so exciting to start a new chapter in my gymnastics journey. Thank you."

I turned around and walked into the gym ignoring the reporters and their constant questions.

"Oh my fucking god it's actually you" a piercing squeal came from a small no petite girl.

"Hi …" I spoke to her and her face lit up with joy.

"I'm… I'm… P…Piper."

"Hi Piper I'm glad you're a fan"

" Oh I am and I'm so glad that you have agreed to train here"

Just then a man who I knew to be Chiron the world famous coach came over and directed me to the changing room.

After warming up I found myself on Uneven Bars and I also found everyone's eyes on me. I smirked to myself and made a decision to give them a show. I reached up and grabbed the bar…

My performance was very well received and after a couple of hours it was time for me to leave.

Jasmine and I drove in silence until we reached the tall building in which we were staying. The elevator ride was very awkward as was our entire life.

Bing

The lift doors opened at the penthouse and my father ran up and embraced – Jasmine. They started full on making out and when my dad grabbed her ass I had to try very hard to my lunch down.

I retreated to my room if that was what you called it. It had no personalisation and looked more like a hospital room than a teenager's bedroom. The walls were an ugly shade of eggshell blue. The room perfectly reflected my life. My father was in charge doing what he thought best for me creating a world of no distractions. He probably thought it was normal for a child to train her whole life for a dream that only about 1 in 10 million achieve. I was that one I thought as I looked at my only bit of decoration. My gold medal in its plush case it shinnied brightly I knew this was because my father insisted on polishing it everyday.

I sunk onto my bed and started to rub my temples when I heard a voice.

"Hey Mr Chase, hi Jasmine"

My publicist and father replied with various greetings.

I opened my door and saw a familiar blonde head.

"Hey Luke"

"Hey Annie"

I winced as he called me that, my most hated name, he had always called me that but I had felt mean asking him to stop.

"You promised me details of your day and I came to collect that debt."

"Fine come on."

I led him through to the large white living room and flopped down on the sofa. I let out a sigh.

"So how bad was it?"

"Pretty bad I was stared at all day and one girl publicly humiliated me in front of my entire class."

"Oh"

Luke's face twisted in anger as if my comments were a stab in the gut. I hurried to move the topic of conversation onto our common interest gymnastics. We talked for over two hours about my new gym and routines.

"It's getting late I'd better get going."

Luke looked as if he was expecting me to stop him.

"Yeah sure I'll see you tomorrow."

Luke's face fell.

"Yeah I guess."

I climbed in between the sheets of my bed and closed my eyes. I kept trying to sleep but I couldn't stop thinking of the boy with the green eyes and Thalia. After many hours I drifted into a restless and dreamless sleep.

Thank you all for reading and please review

Ally

xxx