Annabeth didn't know why, but a fiery explosion erupted in the pit of her stomach, as soon as she saw the girl wrapping her arm around Percy's toned waist. And what she was insinuating, well, it made Annabeth sick. She knew why, and she didn't like it. She was jealous. Annabeth Chase, the USA gymnastics National Champion, queen of dedication and focus, was jealous. Of some trampy, jealous, apparently crazy, ex-girlfriend of a guy she had known for six hours.
It was safe to say that Annabeth had hit a low. She noticed Percy glancing at her nervously, as if he expected her to burst into tears, or suddenly start yelling at him. Annabeth did neither of these things, keeping her face impassive. However, the guilty glances were an indication that Percy felt guilty. And there was only one reason why he would feel guilty, and it scared Annabeth to death.
Percy quickly shrugged out of the diver's grasp, and Annabeth breathed a little easier when he did. Turning to her, Annabeth saw a mask of irritation evident across his face. "Calypso, what are you doing here?" He asked bluntly, in a tone that indicated he obviously did not want her there.
The girl looked surprised, and Annabeth took the time to appraise her. She was definitely pretty, gorgeous actually. She had rich tanned skin, the color of rich caramel, as if she spent all her days lounging on a beach. Annabeth snorted in the confines of her mind. If that was the case, then she'd be likely to get skin cancer. Calypso's hair was a rich chocolate brown with blonde highlights, matching her eyes perfectly. Her hair was currently tied up into a pony-tail, and her swimsuit was a modest one-piece, but she managed to make Annabeth look like a middle school girl when standing next to her. How Percy could even hold the two in comparison was beyond Annabeth.
Evidently, Calypso was wondering the same thing, glancing between Percy and Annabeth, as if asking what the Hades was going on between them. Realizing the tension in the air, Percy reached his arm up behind his neck, and rubbed the back of his head. Annabeth had already picked up on the fact that this was a surefire indication that Percy was uncomfortable. And currently it was making Annabeth uncomfortable, considering it lifted his jacket a little higher, giving both Annabeth and Calypso better views of his well developed chest.
Realizing this as well, Percy flushed, and quickly dropped his arm. It also brought his attention to a previous statement that Calypso had uttered, one which he was quick to address. "And actually Calypso, the whole world has seen me without a shirt. I'm a swimmer, none of the guys wear shirts in a swimming competition. Don't make it sound like it's anything more than it really was."
The petite diver raised her delicate eyebrows, and then frowned in confusion. "I didn't mean to make it sound like it was anything other than that. I'm here for pictures too Percy. What's with all this Calypso nonsense by the way? I've always been Cal to you."
Percy rolled his eyes, and Annabeth had to hold back a smirk. "Yeah, well that was when we were dating. If I recall correctly, I ended things last year when I found out you had lied to me about everything."
Annabeth's good mood plummeted. Percy had broken things off with his girlfriend because she had lied to him? Obviously honesty was something he prized. However, Annabeth reassured herself with the fact that she wasn't technically lying to him. To her mom and to Thalia, she was Anna. With the exception of her mother, she allowed people close to her heart to nickname her. She hadn't lied to Percy, and besides, it wasn't as if he would despise her for being Annabeth. She was confident in the fact that he would like her all the same.
Calypso pouted, and Annabeth rolled her eyes. Percy obviously noted, and another guilty expression crossed his handsome face. "And when I said 'you look stunning' I was talking to Anna." Percy told Calypso, though his eyes never left Annabeth's grey ones.
Once again, Annabeth blushed. She hadn't turned as red as she had when he first said it, thank the gods because she looked like an ugly tomato, but she still flushed. Percy smiled softly, as if it made her look pretty, which Annabeth knew it didn't. She didn't know why she was blushing, he had said it to her only moments before. But Calypso had taken away from the moment, stealing the compliment, as if it were meant for her.
"Thank you." Annabeth said softly, meeting Percy's eyes. She wasn't afraid to look a person in their eyes, especially Percy. His eyes were such a gorgeous sea green. The seemed to change with his emotions, turning darker or lighter. The hormonal part of Annabeth couldn't help but wonder what they would look like, should they be full of lust. Annabeth had never really seen that look in a guy. Not when looking at her anyways. Though her taste in men had proven to be bad, the two times before this.
Percy smiled gently in return, his gaze full of kindness and some other emotion that Annabeth didn't dare name. The two seemed to be encased in each other, and absentmindedly, Percy reached up, and gently pushed a blonde curl behind Annabeth's ear. His hand lingered on her skin just a moment longer than necessary, and Annabeth couldn't help but shiver at the contact. He had brushed against a sensitive spot, and it sent tingles running up and down her body.
She felt her skin burning, and she knew she had to look as red as a tomato. A fact that Calypso was quick to pick up on. "Alright there Ally? You look rather like a beet at the moment." Annabeth flushed a darker red, a combination of anger and embarrassment. However, it would not do to pick a fight, especially not with Percy's ex-girlfriend.
She clenched her fists, and looked at the ground, but not before she saw Percy's eyes darken with anger. However, before he could say anything, Thalia beat him to it. "Well at least it shows she's human. And it could be worse, she could be in your position, looking like a bitch."
The dainty girl gasped, and Annabeth let out an unladylike snort. Percy snapped his head towards her, and a relieved look passed over his face, as if he was glad she was not crying in a corner. Annabeth simply raised an eyebrow, as if to say, 'I'm better than that'. She certainly was above fickle things like tears. However, it seemed that the same could not be said for Calypso.
Tears started leaking out of her caramel brown eyes, making them look wider and rather prettier. However, if the boys thought so, neither of them commented. Percy just rolled his eyes, and while it was rather insensitive, Annabeth really didn't mind, given the person and the scenario.
"Oh no, don't start crying." Percy said bluntly. Annabeth couldn't help but laugh. Though the words could be taken out of context, Percy did not speak lovingly, as if he actually cared about why she was crying, rather he spoke like any teenage male confronted with tears. Especially coming from an ex-girlfriend who refused to take a hint, it was particularly annoying.
Calypso glared at Annabeth, and opened her mouth as if to issue another rude comment, but she was cut off by a U.S.O.C. official coming out of the auditorium and shouting, "All members of the USA Gymnastics Team please report to the auditorium immediately!"
Thalia smirked. "Hate to abandon this little love fest, but that's our cue. Peace suckers." And with that, Thalia made her dramatic exit, retaining her dangerous edge that made Annabeth love her so. The blonde chose to take a less theatrical route, simply saying, "Well, I'll see you two in a few minutes. Try not to commit too many murders."
"No promises." Both Grover and Percy chimed in at once, and Annabeth laughed. Seeing Calypso's glare out of the corner of her eye, she decided to add salt to the wound, by leaning in and hugging Percy briefly. As much as she wanted to relish the feeling of her body pressed against his, she muttered softly in his ear, "Be good." She felt him shiver, and she smiled inside her head, loving the fact that she could make him shiver as well.
She blatantly ignored Grover's pointed smirk, and walked after Thalia, heading into the auditorium where she would await her doom.
It actually wasn't that bad. Sure, they took dozens of pictures, and Annabeth had to take twice as many, being the National Champion, but it actually turned out to be fun. The photographer was fairly young, and she just loved the appeal that Thalia and Annabeth had, practically forcing the two to do a photo shoot. She had assured the gymnasts that it would appear in several magazines, but neither of them cared.
As soon as the photos were over, Annabeth and Thalia proceeded to change quickly, and wait for the boys. Thalia quickly grew tired of the waiting game, and decided to go look for the list of rooms. Annabeth was nervous about being left alone, but Calypso was nowhere in sight. A few minutes later, both Percy and Grover emerged from the dressing rooms.
Grover made some excuse about finding enchiladas, leaving Percy and Annabeth alone, a fact Annabeth was slightly nervous about. She noticed that both she and Percy had changed from their original clothes. Percy was looking even better than before with a button up shirt, unbuttoned of course, with the sleeves rolled up, allowing Annabeth to appreciate his well muscled arms.
"So how did the pictures of death go?" Percy asked Annabeth teasingly. "Not bad. It would have been better if you were there." Annabeth said flirtatiously. Percy leaned in rather close, and opened his mouth as if to response, but he was interrupted by Thalia.
"Anna! We've got a problem!"
"What?" Annabeth asked irritably. She was not pleased that Thalia had cut Percy off. "I found our room list. We're rooming with Lena and…"
"Yes?" Annabeth probed, wondering who could be so bad.
"And Calypso Daveed."
A/N: Whoo! Two updates in three hours, I think that's my record! I apologize for how rushed this chapter was, but it was a filler, and I wanted to get it done. Anyways, thanks for reading!
