Chapter Four

A Bit of Exasperating

Annabeth's POV

I'd been sitting on the bed, but as soon as Percy walked in I leapt up.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

His sea-green eyes locked on me. "Wise Girl. I wondered when I'd see you here." Percy smirked.

"Silena, whatever you're planning—"

Percy moved forward, staring at my knockout of a manager. "Hel-lo there," he purred—there was no other word for it.

"You two are cabinmates!" she beamed, her perfect white teeth gleaming.

"What?" Percy and I said together.

"Well, we needed to have chemistry between you two, and we figured that we couldn't do that if you holed up on opposite ends of the resort. So," she continued, looking very pleased with herself, "this is where you two will be staying while the filming is done!"

Percy and I burst into protests as she finished.

"I can't stay with him, I'd never be able to—"

"She's like poison—I wouldn't be able to—"

"There isn't nearly enough space for both of us, Silly please—"

"I can't stay with Wise Girl but you're kinda hot. Can I get your number—"

"Guys!" Silena said. "This is final, I cleared it with Mr. D. You can stay here together or lose the movie." She studied our faces and grinned. "Okay then, I thought so. Now—you two will go everywhere together, understand?" She gave us a fierce blue glare.

My face was frozen in a strangled gasp. I couldn't see Percy's face but I was sure he looked similarly.

"Good." Silena tossed the keys on one of the dressers and walked out, shutting the door and leaving me alone with Percy.

Percy POV

My mind was spinning as fast as my current freestyle time. Shut up with Annabeth? For months? I couldn't believe it. Usually I was inclined to trust what came out of a pretty girl's mouth, and Annabeth's manager had been pretty hot. Still. My childhood enemy and I—who happened to hate my guts—staying in the same suite?

Annabeth was the first to recover. She faced me, hands on her hips. It didn't look like she was horrified or depressed or anything, but c'mon. She was an actress.

"I don't know what Silena was thinking, but we're going to have a few rules."

Ah. Here we go. "There's the Wise Girl I love to hate," I quipped, flopping down on the bed.

Annabeth ignored me. "First one is, you're sleeping over there." She pointed to the couch.

"Um, no," I told her. "I'm staying here. But you're welcome to join me." I patted the space beside me, inwardly laughing as her pink lips pressed into a line.

"I'd rather not," she snapped tersely.

I snickered and prodded further. "Can I sleep naked?"

Annabeth cringed. "You do that and I will stick pins in your eyes."

I crossed my arms behind my head and laughed. If she was anyone but Annabeth, I'd want her in my bed any day. She was cute, I'd give her that, with her long curly blonde hair and big gray eyes. Unfortunately, she was Annabeth and I just couldn't stand it.

Luckily she stormed out, looking frustrated. I turned over and snuggled deeply into the blankets, sighing. When Annabeth came in later I was asleep.

Annabeth POV

I glared at Percy while he slept sprawled out over the king-size sheets. It was amazing how someone so annoying could look so innocent, even in sleep.

Suddenly the room seemed stifling. I grabbed my phone and the room key and walked out.

The resort was small but well-maintained. For two hours I just wandered around, exploring the resort and nodding to crew members as I passed them. Finally I found an empty stretch of beach near the Royal Palm I and plopped down on a washed-up driftwood trunk. I sat there, staring at the waves. I remembered sitting in exactly the same position at camp, watching the water crash over Long Island Sound. I thought of the freezing beaches in San Francisco where my dad lived, when he'd taken me there...

No. I couldn't think of my dad without crying. I got up, brushed sand from my shorts, and headed back to the Royal Palm I.

When I got back Percy was sitting up in bed, holding a note.

"Says we're supposed to go over to the restaurant for a cast dinner," he said, running a hand through his tousled black hair.

"Whatever." I brushed by him and grabbed my suitcase.

"I don't like this either, Wise Girl." He pressed me into the wall and leaned close, so I could smell his cologne. "You're an actress," he murmured. "Couldn't you even pretend to like this?"

Probably any other girl would've gone crazy, but I had to try hard not to hurl my Corn Puffs. "I could never like you, fake or real," I snapped, shoving him back.

He stepped back and smirked. "This is going to be really fun, you know."

"Try anything and I hurt you."

"You're not really in a position to be making threats, you know," he commented, leaning against the doorframe.

I pushed past him and ignored his laughter, blasting the shower and thinking, I wonder how long until I spontaneously combust.