Heya, guys~
Chapter Four is out! I apologize for not posting in, like, two and a half months, but I've been busy with school work and family issues and stuff. Being the middle of seven is a challenge! Anyway, thanks for reading! Now, ON TO THE CHAPTER!
(Another thing- I have literally no clue what St. Mark Karaoke is; I honestly just looked up 'karaoke places in New York' and just started writing, so I apologize 'cuz this is probably nothing like this place at all since it is not a club, which I probably should have done in the first place...
Oh, well! Too late now!)
TheKeeperGeek
Disclaimer: I OWN EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH PERCY JACKSON (in my dreams. All rights belong to Rick Riordan)
Annabeth's POV
When we left the house, we felt and looked fabulous, and I'm usually a humble person. Now, we were nervously singing our song over and over again to make sure we had everything right. When we pulled up to St. Mark's, I could hear the music pulsing in the building. I cautiously stepped out of the car, pulling up my small top. Ever since I put it on I've felt uncomfortable, since it was shorter than anything I've ever worn before. Once we were all out of the vehicle, we all glanced at one another for reassurance, swallowed, and I led the way inside with the boys circling protectively around us in their leather-clad apparel, loaned by Silena (natch).
We pushed the door open and my vision was instantly lit up by the neon strobe lights and phosphorescent glowing signs that said things like "Restrooms this way," "Here to call your limo/cab," and "No sexual activity in the lobby; bedrooms in the back." I felt my eyes widen at that and I looked away. Quickly, I spotted my first celebrity. I stopped walking and tugged at Reyna's arm, pointing to where I saw her dancing.
She gasped and said disbelievingly, "Nikki Minaj?!" Piper and Hazel spun to where I pointed with their jaws hitting the floor. Sure enough, dancing on the glowing floor, was the Queen of Rap herself. My stomach released another wave of butterflies as Percy grabbed my hand and urged me forward. I heard Reyna mumbling something in Spanish that she learned from her time in San Juan. Since I had finished my Spanish courses, I decided not to translate what she was nervously saying to the other girls, who took French rather than Spanish and carried looks of confusion on their faces.
I looked at my phone at where they said to be, and the thought of how they got my phone number still amazes me and terrifies me. If they can get my number in a snap of their fingers, I warily thought of what they could do with a clap of their hands.
"We're here," I say as we stop my the bar. "Does anyone else feel like they need to pee their pants?" The other three girls raised their hands, and Piper excused us. "We'll be right back," she said, grabbing our hands and rushing us towards the flashing 'restroom' sign.
We barreled through the door to see a couple making out against the stalls. Clearly not expecting to be disturbed *cough* dumb asses *cough, they look up, apologize, and scurry off to the bedrooms. Once they leave, we each ran into a stall, and I heard retching noises coming from two of them. I came out first, so I took some time to look at myself in the large mirror in front of the sinks. Hazel came out next, looking green. I gave her a quick, reassuring hug and smile, and we waited until Piper and Reyna came out.
We slipped out of the bathroom and huddled next to the boys, waiting for something to signify that we should get on the stage. We waited for a minute until Markus said, "Well, looks like this is getting nowhere, so-" He grabbed Reyna's hand and started to pull her to the dance floor.
"What?" She exclaimed. "No, Mark, wait. I don't usually dance, especially not in front of a crowd like this-"
Markus chuckled and said, "Come on, Rey! It'll be fine; just us. No one else is gonna watch."
"Except us," Piper said.
"Yeah. We need to keep an eye on you guys in case y'all do anything . . . significant." I said with a wink, which makes both Reyna and Markus blush and look anywhere but each other.
"Well, if your that concerned, maybe you should come out with us, girls," said Reyna, a smirk twisting on her face.
My face slackened as I thought, no no no no nonononononono. Reyna could risk embarrassing herself even more than we were about to if she wanted, but I was staying put. Apparently, Pipes thought the same thing.
"Uh, love you Rey," she started. "But we're about to go on that stage, and I need all of my confidence and then some. So thank ya bunches, but-"
"Sure, we'll do it," Jason volunteered. Piper looked at him incredulously.
"Are you crazy? You want to dance with Nikki Minaj?"
"Not with her," he replied. "With the gang in a spot she could possibly see us."
During their quarrel, out of the corner of my eye I noticed Markus coaxing Reyna further to the dance floor. She looked frightened, dragging her booties on the tiles, but she was running out of reasons why she shouldn't go. I catch a glimpse at Hazel from the corner of my eye, thinking that she would be all over this. She looked nervous, but I could tell in her eyes there was nothing more she wanted to do than go on the floor and showcase her skills.
She caught my glance, asking a silent question, and finally said, "Screw it." She grabbed Franks's hand and marched up to Rey and Mark.
"We're going," she said, a challenge in her eyes, "Whether you like it or not. And Rey, you look like you like it, but wait till I beat the shit out of you on that floor."
Reyna looked perplexed, then a smirk climbed in its place.
"You know, usually I would say hell no, but screw tradition tonight; Hell yeah!"
I heard a squeal over my shoulder, belonging to none other than Piper McLean. I whipped around to see Jason carrying her bridal style towards the neon floor.
"JASON GRACE! PUT ME DOWN RIGHT NOW!" The other girls and I started cackling at her priceless face as Jason sped walked to her doom. I felt an arm slip around my waist as Percy whispered in my ear, "You think that's funny?"
My eyes widened as I realized what torture was approaching. "No, no Percy," I tried to reason with him, but I was too late. He swung me over his shoulder and took off as I yelled, "PERSEUS JACKSON! I WILL DESTROY YOU IF YOU DO NOT PUT ME DOWN!"
He didn't put me down.
Once we reached the floor, Piper was dancing uncomfortably and glowering at Jason, while the other girls were warming up with their guys standing around them. I slid off of Percy's shoulder and slapped him in the face. It felt good to finally rid myself of annoyance on him. The guys 'oohed' and the girls 'ouched', but I wasn't paying much attention.
"Ow! Hey!" He yelped. "What was that for?"
"That was for dragging me out here, Seaweed Brain." I complained. Then, with the obscene amount of courage I had built up, I kissed the spot where my hand had made his face red. "And that was for coming here with me. Thanks, dumb ass."
Percy looked stunned for a moment, and I was wondering what the hell I did. I just kissed Percy-freaking-Jackson! He probably had figured out my crush on him by now! My life was over.
After a moment passed and I was about to slink away and wallow in the self doubt and pity that was me, he smiled and said, "No problem, Wise Girl." I felt my lips stretch into a huge grin as I back peddled towards my friends.
Once I reached them I tried to avoid their smirks and Reyna's 'Fina-freaking-lly!' comment. Instead, I said, "Can you believe this is actually happening to us? I mean, were on the dance floor at Karaoke St. Marks, we're about to sing on a huge stage in front of, like, at least ten celebrities, and the guys are here with us. It feels like I'll wake up any second now and it will all be a dream."
"Yeah, I feel you," Hazel said. "It does seem a bit surreal."
"True," Reyna agreed. A moment of silence was issued, until Piper broke it.
"Come on, guys! Let's just have fun, dance! No sentimentalities. We're partying, and for the first time in a long time we'll get to be four teenage girls having fun on a Friday night! Not some super scholastic students who already have scholarships and college level classes. Let's be what we're supposed to be right now!"
Piper's tone didn't surprise me completely, back I was a bit taken aback by how right she was about who we were. Here we are, sixteen years old, already taking college courses, and Peaches and I already had scholarships to two huge schools. Pipes was right; we needed to be regular teenagers for a bit.
I smiled and said, "Hell yeah!"
One of my favorite songs came on, 'Classic' by MKTO. Even though it's not extremely new, it's definitely one of the best. And while I thought about it further, it wasn't played much anymore. I look over at the DJ booth where people were requesting songs, thinking surely someone must have the same taste in music that I do. But instead of my musical-taste-twin, I saw- you guessed it- Percy Jackson, winking at me with his gorgeous sea green eyes.
I gave him a smile and started to move with the song. The girls followed my lead, and soon we were all twisting in a circle, hopping and spinning and gliding around each other. Forming a flower-like formation, our backs together, we started moving like we have been here billions of times and didn't mind dancing in front of celebs and strangers.
I felt free, moving with the music as it invited me to dance. It took over my body, persuading my limbs to sway with its tempting melody. And yes, I finished high school English.
I turned and spun around with Hazel, laughing as she looped an arm around me and twirled me around. We then switched and I was swirling around with Reyna. We giggled and swung around each other, hips exaggerating our free movements. Last I dance with Piper, who grabs my hands and brings me into her arms, then lets me out. I repeat her motion and start randomly moving with whatever moves felt right. By the time the song was over, I was panting but smiling and unmistakable grin of put me pleasure. The girls and I are all laughing when I hear a mic being turned on. The guys hurry up behind us and we all turn our focus to the stage.
"What up, what up, what up! How're y'all doing tonight?" The DJ announces into his microphone. He chuckles as the audience shrieks with delight. "Great, great. Well, it's that time folks. Are y'all ready for some karaoke?"
The crowd shouts their approval, and the DJ continues. "Apparently, we already have a competition in the house; let's hear it for four of the girls we all know well. They're a regular here at St Marks, so please give a warm welcome to the Sirens!"
Apparently, they were known well. Most everyone whistled and cheered for our competition as they walked confidently on stage. They were dressed similarly to what they usually wear, except more... how do I put this... extravagant. Their plastic surgeries were barely hidden, as all of them were wearing extremely short skirts and slips for tops. Each had a face of makeup worthy of a clown, and a smug smirk worthy of a master criminal. Their eyes sweep over the crowd until Drew finds us and points us out.
"The girls were about to sing against are all amazingly talented ladies," she starts in a fake, compassionate tone as a spotlight dances on our group. "And we all are nervous about this competition. But we will try our best to earn your vote, and will be elated whether it is us or our friends that take the win. Best of luck to you girls!"
The audience claps politely in our direction, even though none of them know who we are. I plaster on my best smile and wave, pretending like I believe the sluts' little skit.
As the claps die down, the music starts, sounding all too familiar. And when Miranda "sings" the first note, Changing Ways gasps. A million thoughts fly through my head, not a single one clear, as I try to find a reason for this insanity. Reyna cursed in Spanish, Piper growled, and Hazel was just on the verge of tears as she said, "I knew I shouldn't have made a CD copy of the whole thing."
Rage and betrayal burns in my heart and eyes, even though I should've guessed even they were this low. I just couldn't believe it. How did their greedy, grubby little pig hands find their way to our vocal recording?
As I heard my voice sing on stage, silent tears met my eyes, mingling with the shock and hurt. I turn to face the other girls; Piper and Reyna both shake with fury as small tears roll down Hazel's face. I pull her into a hug, whispering to her, "It's okay; it's okay." A few of my own tears slid down my cheeks as I think, It's over. No one will believe us if we told them the truth.
I let go of Hazel, wipe her tears, and give her a small smile before I turn to the boys. Each one of them was staring at the stage in a mix of shock, confusion, and anger. I place my hand on Percy's arm as he starts to charge forward.
"Forget it, Perce. No ones gonna believe us."
"Are you all alright?" asks an unmistakable voice. "You girls look a little wound up. First time?" I tense as I slowly turn around to meet the eyes of one of my role models, one I have looked up to since, well, forever.
I think I squeak when my jaw slung out of my mouth and skidded across to the DJ booth. I have zero idea what to say, so when "I don't know if I should bow down, or keep chanting 'I'm not worthy'" escapes my mouth, I still believe in dreaming.
Alicia Keys chuckles and says, "Well, I'm honored. Thank you, miss...?" It took me only five minutes to realize she was asking for my name.
I stumble over my words, so Percy steps in and says, "Annabeth Chase," grabbing my shoulders to keep me up right.
"Annabeth, huh? Nice to meet you. And you girls?" She asks my friends who are just as slacked-jawed as I am. Frank stands behind Hazel, following Percy's example as he says, "Hazel Levesque." The others follow in suit, giving Mrs. Keys the names "Piper McLean" and "Reyna Ramirez-Arellano." She nods and smiles, a knowing look in her eyes.
"You're all so sweet. Are you all couples?" My eyes widen as everyone says "No!" and looks away from each other. She nods but keeps the knowing look and smile.
"So," she asks after an awkward moment. "What can I help you with? Is it just nerves, or-"
"Actually, Mrs. Keys-" Piper starts.
"Please, just Alicia." She insists. I feel like I might faint from happiness overload until I remember what we were getting to.
"This will sound crazy, and like we are trying to sabatoge them, but... well... it's the exact opposite." As Piper replays the whole story, beginning with Starbucks and leaving out our feelings, and Mrs. Keys- I mean Alicia's- eyes grew.
"It sounds possible," she said at last. "Any form of sabatoge could happen at a karaoke match." She was silent for a while, then a stern look crossed her face. She took Reyna by the hand and my best friend almost fainted.
"Come on," Alicia says, dragging our now formed line towards the DJ booth. Our song was almost over, and the girls- I mean, we- are hitting our harmony pitch. The audience looks stunned, and pure elation courses through me at that point. Even though the words seemed to be coming out of their mouths, it was our voices singing.
As we rounded the booth, Alicia turns towards the DJ. "Michael," she starts. "We might have a problem." She explained the issue, and they came to an agreement as soon as the pulsing cheers arose from the crowd. Praise traveled from each person as I look around the crowd.
As my eyes travel around the club, a small screen mounted on the wall caught my attention: the karaoke screen. And when I saw the words dotted in the screen, I couldn't stifle my gasp quick enough, and it was enough to draw the attention of my friends, Alicia, the DJ Michael, and a few other celebrities.
As soon as I saw the ending slide, I hugged Hazel and said, "Peaches, you brilliant work of art!" A plan blossomed in my head as I whispered it to the small group surrounding me. Within a minute, we all understand the plan and move to walk on stage as the other girls start to walk off after thanking every one for judging.
Piper dashes forward and says, "Actually, girls, we would appreciate if you came back up on stage? We believe a confession is in order." The celebrities gossip amongst themselves as celebrities tend to do while the fakes strolled up the stage again with a false confusion plastered on each of their insufferable faces.
As Changing Ways takes our places behind the mics, I take a deep breath and pull mine closer to me. "Ladies and gentlemen, first off let thank you for being here to judge us tonight," I start, because everyone wants to hear that. The crowd whistles their 'your welcomes' as I continue. "I'm afraid there has been a bit of bad news. Earlier today, we were challenged by the Sirens for a friendly competition here tonight. We were supposed to create our own songs, so it would be understandable if you didn't recognize the track. We had ours ready, but it appears it has already been presented to you. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce ourselves. We are Changing Ways."
The crowd approved, although still confused as to my earlier statement. I continue: "These girls have been my best friends since the fifth grade, and to me that's saying something, considering we're sophomores in high school. I couldn't do anything without these girls; I don't know where I would be without them." My voice catches as Hazel rubs my back and gives me a smile.
"But enough about that," Reyna continues for me. "If you please, look back towards the karaoke screen, where the words to an original shouldn't be." The crowd gasps and looks behind them, pointing out to each other as if no one had told them and they were just finding out.
"Do you see the name in the bottom right hand corner?" Hazel asks the crowd. "What does it read?" More gasping and growing outrage from the crowd.
"Exactly," Piper tallies up. She calls over the growing noise. "Ladies and gentlemen, the track the girls were lip-syncing to is our original song, written, produced, and sang by us, Who Says."
I look over to the stunned girls on the ramp to the stage. They were shocked we got through to them, but Miranda quickly replaced her on coming scowl to a look of hurt.
"How...how could you?" She stutters, forcing tears to her eyes. "We thought you were our friends, we thought that you-"
"Would let you get away with your little scheme," Reyna finished with a small sneer, her slight Hispanic accent growing with her fury. Damn, girl, I think to her. Never thought I'd see you this angry.
"And about the whole friend part," Piper throws in. "Michael, if you please." The DJ winks at her and plugs in her phone, pulling up her Instagram page. He scrolls down towards a recent photo of the whole group in our swimsuits at Piper's house, smiling at the camera and posing.
In the description, Piper had written Love these guys! Summer break, here we come! I smile at the memory of Reyna being pushed in the pool by Markus that day, which comes next. Her face is plastered with pure delight as she yells in the video, "Markus! Markus, no!" She squeals and flails into the pool. The video shakes slightly as Piper laughs from her spot in a lawn chair, and she sweeps the camera across the yard at all of her laughing friends. Next, Hazel tossed into the pool by Frank, then me by both Percy and Jason because I was struggling too much.
After Percy jumped in the pool after me, Jason walked towards the camera with a smirk on his face, and Piper started yelling, "No, Jason! No!" She tried to run with the camera, but Jason had literally sweeper her off her feet and ran towards her huge pool. She squealed as Jason cannon balled in the pool with her, and the sound became muffled. Piper turns the camera around to her smiling face as she pushed herself to the surface.
"Happy May 21st! Make your last week of school your best one!" She shouts at the camera. The video ended as the crowd cooed.
"Now," Reyna concluded with a slight blush. "Would you please scroll down to the comments?" As he did so, she asked, "Hey, Drew? Isn't your insta QueenDrew101?"
"Yes..." she started. Her eyes widened as she realized what we were about to show. "Wait, no! That's not my insta-"
But it was too late. On the screen was one of the many hate comments the girls and I have been receiving. This one said particularly, "Damn it! I thought the water might've washed the dirt off the povertized girls. Oh well, guess they'll still be tracking mud in school tmrw!" The crowd grew startling angry. Michael scrolled up to the comments on the picture. Again, a nasty comment was posted by- yeah, you guessed it.
It read, 'Wow! You had to sneak in there to get that pic? That's lowww- even for you!' by MirBear. The next one said, 'Right, MirBear? The broke-ass bitches think they can get away with anything b/c their unnoticeable. Shame...' from RachElizaDare. The crowd started a shouting match as Michael turned off the phone and handed it back to Pipes.
"So," she said after stashing the device in her jacket pocket. "In all honest, who do you believe? The Sirens, or Changing Ways?"
The shouts of Changing Ways had never sounded more fantasized. Cheering started and and turned into a roar as Reyna said, "And Drew, honey, povertized isn't a word."
Another track started, the one we gave Alicia to set up with Michael.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Hazel says, commanding the attention of our audience. "Since you have already heard our other song, Who Says, we have another original to sing for you now. We hope you enjoy it; introducing... Little Me!"
The crowd cheered as I started to sing:
Annabeth - She lives in the shadow of a lonely girl
Voice so quiet you can't hear a word
Always talking but she can't be heard
Hazel- You can see it there if you catch her eye
I know she's brave but it's trapped inside
Scared to talk but she don't know why
All- Wish I knew back then
What I know now
Wish I could somehow
Go back in time, and maybe listen to my own advice
I'd tell her to speak up, tell her to shout out
Talk a bit louder, be a bit prouder
Tell her she's beautiful, wonderful
Everything she doesn't see
You gotta speak up, you gotta shout out
And know that right here right now
You can be beautiful, wonderful
Anything you wanna be...
Reyna- Little Me
Yeah, you gotta lot of time to act your age
You can't write a book from a single page
Hands on the clock only turn one way
Piper- Run too fast and you risk it all
Can't be afraid to take a fall
Felt so big but you looked so small
All- Wish I knew back then
What I know now
Wish I could somehow
Go back in time and maybe listen to my own advice
I'd tell her to speak up, tell her to shout out
Talk a bit louder, be a bit prouder
Tell her she beautiful, wonderful
Everything she doesn't see
You gotta speak up, you gotta shout out
And now that right here, right now
You can be beautiful, wonderful
Anything you want to be
Annabeth- Little Me
All- Little Me, yeah, yeah
Hazel- Tell you one thing I would say to her
All- I'd tell her to speak up, tell her to shout out
Talk a bit louder, be a bit prouder
Tell her she's beautiful, wonderful
Everything she doesn't see
You gotta speak up, you gotta shout out
And know that right here, right now
You can be beautiful, wonderful
Everything you want to be (x4)
Piper- Hey, Little Me
As soon as the song was over, the crowd erupted again into another bout of applause, whistling and cheering. It was even louder than it was when the other girls performed. I was beaming with pride, and I knew that the other girls were too. Maybe this was it, I think. Maybe this was our big break!
"Wait a minute! Wait just a minute!" A voice screeched into one of the microphones. I turned to my left and saw Miranda speaking into the mic instead of Hazel, who was clutching her gut. She punched her, I thought, and I almost exploded.
I ran to Hazel and asked, "What did she do?" She waved me off declaring that she was fine while sending a murderous glare at Miranda.
"What the hell do you want, Miranda?" She asked venomously.
The bitch tried to pull off a hurt face, and said into the mic, "How do we know it's not them who's sabatoging us?
"Like this," Piper declared. She motioned forward, and Markus approached the stage with a small satchel. She opened the bag and pulled out the familiar book.
"As much as I would rather hide this, this is our song book. It has the lyrics of the songs you heard tonight on pages 31 and 57. If you don't believe me, come up and look."
The audience indeed wanted to look, so when they started to stampede the stage, me and the girls scurried out of their way to group near the edge of the stage. They focused intently on the pages, studying each lyric and discussing the topic amongst themselves. The tension was almost unbearable; the answer was so close, so tangible, I just wanted to take it from them and accept it.
After a few moments, which felt like hours, a blonde woman in finally came up to the microphone.
"Hey, girls! Here's the thing: we're are, like, that close-" she makes the universal sign for 'inseey teensie' -"to earning our belief, but we need actual proof of which voice sounds like which person. So would you girls, both of the groups, mind singing a cappella? With the mics turned off."
Changing Ways gasped in sync; we've never done anything like this before! Well, obviously we haven't sang in front of a crowd (with the exception of the boys and stuffed animals), much less sang acappella! I thought I was going to have a mental break down because of the sudden stage fright that washed upon me. I started scanning the dance floor in hopes of some encouragement, and I found those brilliant pair of sea-green eyes that I could hardly take my grey ones off of. Percy gave me a sweet smile and a thumbs up, and that was exactly what I needed. If Percy and the girls thought I could do it, then who says I can't? Please, do not say the Queen Bitches.
"We'll do it," we said together. I looked over my shoulder and saw the girls with a newfound determination set on their faces. I shoved the last of my ever growing fear into my stomach, grabbed Reyna and Piper's hands, and walked towards where the mics would be. The audience had returned to the floor, where they waited impatiently. I gulped down the bile rising in my throat and turned towards the girls, asking a silent question.
When we came to a conclusion, Piper said into the one mic we were given to speak, "We decided to sing the last part of Little Me with a few things added in." The crowd whistled their support as Pipes walked down the ramp to give the mic to Michael. I caught a glimpse of the brats as she walked back up. Each of them had a look of disgust and pure hatred, all except one.
Calypso looked extremely guilty, and though I convinced myself I imagined it as it was gone a second later, a small, silent tear rolled down her cheek. I shook my head to clear it and focused back on our task at hand. We looked at each other for a clue on where to start. We got the part down and I started with my first phrase:
Annabeth:Oh, Little Me
All: Little me, yeah, yeah
I kept an eye on the audience as we sang, and I saw realization and amazement strike their faces. I felt a proud smile start to tug at the corners of my mouth, but I quickly replenished my irritating thought of, We're not done yet!
Someone in the crowd shook their head and looked down to his phone, dialing a number and calling it. Oh my God. Was everyone faking enthusiasm and this person knew that we could wait and there was something better he could be doing? I was about to freak out, completely loose my cool on stage, but I remembered that we still had more chances to impress them.
Hazel: Tell you one thing I would say to her
As we went into the chorus again, I glanced at the other girls. We had decided to cut the last part short because of the special touch we planned on adding- the part that none of us exactly wanted to do, but decided was necessary to prove that we are more than what we claim, or are willing to claim. After the second time we finished the chorus, Hazel started the runs.
Her strong voice completes a tricky set of runs that got many whistles and whoops. Next was Reyna, who started in a semi low tone, then rose with a beautiful run and crescendo that earned the same if not more applause. Piper, who's powerful voice pushed its limits and surpassed most everyone's expectations, did an expecially hard set of runs that ended at a hard note for her second-soprano chest voice, which left me to pick it up as a soprano. I took a deep breath, then belted out the note that had already became familiar with me when the girls and I would have competitions that would debate our skill at music.
When I hit the note, I stayed there for a second, then rose to a higher one for another, and then my highest one for, and yes I timed it, eight seconds, which turned out to be ten seconds of holding high notes that even my friends couldn't complete at that point in time. I finished my part with a quick run down to my ending note, and when I broke off the note, the Cheshire Cat couldn't even rival the smile growing on my face.
The crowd was going mad, whistling and screaming their amazement and enjoyment. The girls and I finished our last harmonic, Little Me, and the crowd when insane. A standing ovation (even though they were already standing) signaled their thoughts and feelings, and for some reason, I started to cry. Yes, you're probably thinking, The stereotypicality of this is painful. Oh, well. You're the one who decided to listen!
I saw 'the Sirens' and their looks of hatred, astonishment and embarrassment as they managed to slip out of the place without being noticed. For some reason, I came to find this enlightening. We were being noticed, and the populars were hiding away as if they were nothings-nobodies like... well, us.
I dabbed the tears away from my eyes, careful not to smudge my makeup. I turned and saw the other girls were doing the same with the same amount of pride in their expressions. I heard someone clunk up the stage, and when I turned my head, I almost started crying again.
Nikki Minaj and Alicia Keys walked up the ramp to us, both with microphone in hand. "Girls," Nikki started. She paused for a minute, and my fear started to bounce back into my thoughts. I reach for Piper, who stood by me when we were singing, and grasped her hand. What if they thought we cheated again? My mind thought up more excuses as I turned I noticed that the girls and I have made a chain. We start to huddle again. Ms. Minaj noticed this a gave us a warm smile.
"Now we know for sure, that no SHIT it was you!" The crowd roared again, and I laughed out loud. We all turned and hugged each other and cried tears of pure elation.
Alicia said, "Very well done ladies! And I hope you weren't in hopes of avoiding paparazzi, autographs, phone numbers, and record deals, because their all in line at the end of the ramp waiting for you! Whaddya say, ladies? Are you ready?" At this point, I think all of us were trying to hold each other up from fainting. We looked at each other, and looked back at the superstars, one of which were handing us her mic.
Reyna took it in her shaking hands and said, "Oh, hell yeah!" That got an uproar from everyone on the level below us plus the two pop stars standing with us, giving us all hugs. Nikki soon filed us towards the ramps and had us split up into stations.
"All right, people. We're gonna make this real easy 'cause these munchkins gotta get home." She earned some chuckles from this and carried on. "First, we'll start with Piper and Annabeth at paparazzi, Reyna at autographs, and Hazel at reporters." We moved to our destinations, and once I got to the cameras, they all started flashing. One of them directed us to a white wall that they had already started setting up with lighting and makeup. I looked at Pipes, who had a bit of makeup smeared from crying, and decided that I must look worse. I excused us and ran to the lady and man at the makeup set.
"Excuse me," I said in my politest tone. "Would you mind..." I trailed off, gesturing blankly at our faces. They took one look and said, "Oh, sure thing Dearest. I'll get you fixed up in no time!" I decided that I liked these kind people already.
The girl swirled some powder on my face, fixed my eye makeup, added a touch more lip, and sent me on my way. Piper and I walked over to the wall and struck some poses. I say that I the most serious way right now; I have no other way of describing striking poses.
After the photo shoot, which I actually some what enjoyed,
I moved to reporters. After I answered somewhere around 36 questions, (I gave up counting when I got to 20; call be lazy, but...), I finally moved to autographs. I signed countless until I got to one that particularly interested me. With a picture that was taken while we were performing, Percy Jackson came up to the small table I was sitting at.
He was grinning ear to ear as we asked, "Hey, Wise Girl. Can I get your autograph?" I smiled shyly and nodded, shaking my silver Sharpy and scribbling my signature on the picture. I put a small heart next to my name and added,
'Thanks for being there for me, Seaweed Brain.'
I handed the photo back with a short, "Here ya go!" He looked at it and smiled, reading the short note I scribbled down. Luckily, he was my last signature, so I didn't have to stop taking with him. I stood up and crossed my arms, shuffling closer towards him. He looked up and, for the first time, I noticed an odd expression in his eyes. It was a soft, tender, caring look. A look that almost made me think that it was... love. But that couldn't be, could it? It doesn't make sense; he should be with one of the popular girls, not with a super nerd like me.
I find my self staring into his mesmerizing eyes. The depth to them would rival any ocean, the green challenging the most beautiful of greens, the mischief and daring edge disrupting the most playful of jokers. I wanted to understand his eyes, the strange and gorgeous sight that graced me when I got the gift to look into them. I suddenly wish I was one of those girls that could wear high heels and a shit ton of makeup. I wanted to have to chance to be with him, to earn his love and respect.
I hadn't realized how close we were moving towards each other. My eye lids started drifting shut, preparing me for something I wasn't ready for. Wait, WHAT?! I hurriedly snap out of my trance with wide eyes and a heart beating too rapidly. I glance up at Percy, who had done the exact same thing.
"S-sorry, Perce," I stuttered. He just nodded, staring at me for a little. Fortunately, we were saved when Reyna's voice called out, "Annie, we need you!"
I heaved out a breath I didn't know I was holding, and said, "Sorry, gotta go!" then trotted off to find the girls. I tried to focus on getting through the crowd, but my thoughts kept my busy. I was about to kiss Percy, I thought. Percy was about to kiss me!
Hazel found me and shouted, "Come on, Annie! You take literally forever!" The managers laughed, and I soon realized what was happing: we were getting a record deal.
"Don't call me Annie, Peaches." She blushed as the the managers started asking us a few questions.
This night could honestly not get any better. Or so I thought.
We were in the middle of chatting with the producers, managers, and record labels as a group of people walked forward. But naturally, not just any people. A team of the most well known celebrities that made people extremely known walked towards us. Piper, who was standing to my left, shook my arm and started muttering, "Catch me, catch me please."
Standing in front of us was Thalia Grace, major producer and studio manager, Leo Valdez, extreme special effects for stage and vocal attributes and also stage manager, and the one and only Apollo Solace, founder and owner of Solace Records, the number one record company IN NORTH AMERICA! I don't know how I managed to stay on my own two feet. They stopped about five feet away from us, effortlessly flawless. I'm sorry, I just realized how bad I'm fangirling...
The thought hit me. That person on the phone... I gasped. That was Leo Valdez... calling Apollo. At that point, I thought I had shit my pants.
Apollo gave us a warm, flirty smile and said, "Hey there, ladies. I heard that we had a case of trying to figure out a record company and managers, am I right? So I was wondering, if you're willing to work hard and prove your worth-"
"Yes!" The word plunged out of all of our mouths at the same time, seemingly slightly stunning the celebs in front of us. A smile quickly grew back on their faces though, as Leo Valdez said, "Alright then, chicas! Let's get this show in the road! I hope you don't mind making a small aperence on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon tomorrow..."
"Not at all, Mr. Valdez," I said, utterly shocked at how fast this was moving.
"Great! And please, Leo's fine. Or if you really want, the Flaming Hot Valdez!"
"Uh, I'll stick with Leo."
He shrugged. "Eh, worth a shot. Also, you probably won't be able to make it to school in Monday."
"Why not?" Rey asked, clearly shocked this would take more than a day.
"Because you'll be working on your new album. Duh." He smirked at our slack jaws and and shocked expressions. "We don't move slow at Solace Records."
I'm sure that my jaw fell out of its socket, it open so fast. Wow. We really were moving fast!
"Fine by me!" Hazel said estatically.
"Perfect! If you don't mind calling your parents and telling them that your coming with us, or whatever excuse your probably going to make, you guys should stay at our guest penthouse tonight."
"Aaaand there goes my chill," I said. "A penthouse, a record deal, working with Leo, Thalia, and Apollo... dreams really do come true."
Thalia laughed and said, "If you work hard enough, sweetie. If you really work hard enough."
We started to walk towards the exit as a few voices could be heard behind us. The boys were coming over to ask about what happened, by the looks of it. Then I realized, I might never get to hang out with the guys again...
"Hey, Leo?"
"Hmm?"
"Can you guys hold up a bit? We need to talk to some friends for a sec."
"Sure thing, but you've only got about a minute and a half. We got to get to the pent at 12:00."
"Thanks." I grabbed the girls arms and hurried towards the guys.
Once we reached them, Markus asked, "What happened? Where are y'all going?" The girls seemed to realize what I did, and solemn looks crossed their faces. They each picked their crush and moved away from each other a bit, leaving me to drag Percy a little further from the door.
"Well?" He asked, worry crossing his features. "What happened?"
I took a deep breath and said, "We got a record deal..."
He then smiled a huge smile and gathered me in his arms. "That's amazing, Wise Girl! I'm so proud of you guys... why're you so upset?"
I sniffled as the tears that I knew would fall started dripping from my eyes. "We... we..." I stuttered. Finally, I got out the words. "I don't know if we'll be able to see each other again..." His arms suddenly went ridged, and I knew that he was shocked and upset.
We were quiet like that for a moment, me in his arms, until Thalia yelled, "Come on, girlies! Time to go!"
I gasped as I turned to Percy and said, "I'm so sorry, but there's something I need to tell you. I wish I had time but... I don't. I'm out of time. I should have told you earlier." I spill out my feelings as they break through the dam that I've built up for years. He looks at me with a confused expression, and Thalia yells, "Ladies, let's hurry!"
"Percy, I... I... I- Can't do this! Please don't hate me!" I don't know what over came me, but I couldn't stand not seeing him for months. So I gave him the thing I dreamed he'd one day give me. I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his.
For a moment, nothing happened. I was scared that I was right, that he didn't love me the way I loved him. But then his lips moved under mine, and we were kissing. In all the cliche romantic movies, first kisses with your true love are described as fire works. I always thought that they were exaggerating to make sound more romantic and sappy, but I know the truth now. It really was like fireworks on New Years Eve- a brilliant display of colors, lighting up the sky as if it were a painting that could be constantly changed and never compared. This- this 'true loves kiss,' it was real, and it was magical.
I pulled away as Thalia yelled, "ANNABETH! Let's GO!" I stared at Percy for a bit, then whispered, "I love you, Percy Jackson," with tears rolling down my face. I turned and darted towards the girls, not daring to look back at Percy's face. I met them at the entrance, with the girls in the same shape as I am.
I laughed and said, "Well, you guys look terrible." I got a few chuckles out of this and many sad looks.
Sorry about this, girls, but it's what we have to do. You want this, don't you?"
I looked at the girls. Their faces said it all. We were ready to take on anything thrown at us, and we weren't looking back.
I looked at Thalia and said, "We want this more than anything." She gave a curt nod and soft smile, and we followed her to the limousines waiting outside, one for us and the other for Thalia, Leo, and Apollo. We stepped inside without looking back. There was no way I was going to face the past when I had to focus on my future, and there was no one who was going to stop me.
Not even Percy Jackson.
YAY! Finally done! And may I say this one took forever! ... mostly because of my procrastinating. So I finally put Leo in there. BAM! Now the girls have to perform on Jimmy Fallon and nail it, come up with a bunch of songs from the album, deal with a bunch of school work, stress over the guys and deal with the stress or stardom...
Best of luck to them!
Also- since no one is really all that truthful and loves with a passion to blame others, I'll tell you that I have no idea what Nikki Minaj and Alicia Keys are like. I just assumed they're incredible people.
Bye Bye!