The blinding lights might have fascinated her two years ago, but they were starting to get old. The recorders shoved near her face were a nuisance, the excruciatingly loud voices pounding inside her head were indescribably irritating, and once again she had to thank whatever omnipotent being existed for body guards.
"Tristan, Tristan!" they shrieked, either trying to get him to spout some wise words or get into his pants. In many cases it was both. She didn't want to know at this point, and just followed as her father pushed his way through the crowd with a wink and a pretty smile.
"You hanging in there, Pipes?" he flashed her a grin and she swear she heard three people's bodies hit the ground as they fainted. She held back from rolling her hazel eyes and just nodded her head in response. The less she interacted with her dad during times like these, the more she could pretend that the Tristan McLean wasn't her father. Her dad was just a normal guy who only showed his face when hoards of paparazzi weren't tracking Piper and this other man she sometimes went out with. This other man, oddly enough, had the same face and voice as her father. But her dad was just a normal guy.
"Tristan!" one particularly noisy reporter screeched, managing to snag both Piper and Tristan's attention. Her blood-red lips curled up into a smile that looked more like a scowl through the BOTOX. "Do you have a current girlfriend? And who is Piper's mother?"
Tristan put a finger to his lips, "No comment."
The reporter's eyes glazed over long enough for Piper and Tristan to get back into their house. Piper slammed the door shut, and looked up at her father. "Dad, those people are insane."
"They're just doing their job," he laughed it off with one of his deep soulful chuckles. Piper shook her head, but couldn't help but smile up at her dad anyway.
"So, can we do something today? You said after the press conference, we could do something," she reminded him of his promise, her naïve mind still believing that such oaths were impossible to break.
"Aw, sorry, Pipes," he ruffled her hair and showed her a thick packet of papers with sticky notes poking out of most of the pages. "I have to look over my script and finish reading the director's notes, and then I have to make my own notes. You have to understand, it's going to take a while. Sorry, kiddo."
Piper held back a melancholy sigh. No matter what florid language she used to try to ignore it, it would stay true; Tristan McLean was her father. She was a movie star brat and any normal life she could try and fathom would remain fantasy.
The moment her dad disappeared into his room, Piper became unbearably bored. He was the only person she could really have enlightening and stimulating conversations with. She finally settled on their French cook, Pollux.
She waltzed into the kitchen where Jared was already whipping her up a snack. His dirty blonde hair was tucked underneath a white chef's hat as he stuck a cinnamon stick in his handmade hot chocolate. She picked it up and sipped it, giving the young chef a thumbs up, "Good job, Pollux."
"Merci, Piper," he grinned at her. Piper didn't like having a chef in the house, but Pollux was smart and pretty funny, actually. She silently thanked her Dad for getting rid of their old ancient chef and hiring this younger – and slightly attractive – one a month ago. "What's wrong? You seem a little… sad."
"I dunno, things are just kind of weird, I guess," she studied the golden designs that swirled around the white mug. Even their silverware was opulent.
"How so?" Piper secretly relished his appealing French accent.
"Dad doesn't notice it, but he doesn't really hang out with me anymore. His idea of together time is going to movie screening together. With about a hundred other people." Piper rested her head against the white marble counter.
"Maybe you should do something to get his attention," he suggested, handing her a plate with a warm brownie drizzled with chocolate syrup. "Like, get all A+'s, or make him a present."
"Been there, done that," she groaned, remembering the hours she spent this year in seventh grade with her nose in a book, striving for those A's. The painting she crafted that took her weeks was received with a thank you hug and nothing more.
"Now, I'm not saying you act out, but for me, personally," he scratched his neck that was quickly turning a flushed red, "I only got my dad to notice me by doing some bad things. The kicker was I stole a car," he looked at her curious expression and back tracked immediately. "But that was just for me! Your dad probably wouldn't like it all if you did that."
"You're right," she murmured introspectively. "He probably wouldn't."
Piper nervously tied her chocolate-brown hair back and shoved her hands in the back pockets of her cargo pants. She slowly strolled into the car dealership, trying to hide her anxiety at what she was about to do. Her eyes locked on an isolated car saleswoman and she timidly approached her.
She looked at Piper with disdain over her purple glasses. "Hello, little girl. Can I help you find your way home?"
Piper swallowed and tried to insert as much persuasion as possible into her voice. "Give me the keys to your nicest car."
She looked like she was about to tell Piper to scram, but her eyes clouded over and she started nodding. "Very well. Let me fetch you the keys to our most expensive BMW."
Piper's heart started racing. People usually listened to her, but she had no idea they would listen to this extent. Her mind had entertained the possibility that this influence she had was maybe a power, and this daring move might support the theory.
The saleswoman dropped the shiny keys in Piper's awaiting and sweaty palms. She gripped them tightly, and briskly strode away to the car. She slipped into its leather interior and inserted the keys into the ignition. She drummed her fingers rapidly against the steering wheel and finally shifted the car into reverse. She pulled out of the parking space, thanking her Dad for giving her that illegal driving lesson last year. She thought he was insane at the time for allowing an 11-year-old to drive, but she couldn't have been happier about it now.
She drove slowly into the street and cruised down the road to her house. The uptight woman would probably snap out of her reverie in five minutes, and call the authorities immediately. Unless she calls her dad first.
The actions of what she was doing finally sunk in, and Piper couldn't stop laughing. The severity of her theft and the consequences would reach her later. She mused what boarding school her father might send her to this time. He would probably end up giving her an apology gift a month or so later. This isn't the first stunt she'd pulled, they were just never this extreme.
"Thanks, Pollux," she burst into more raucous laughter. She accelerated and giggled a little more; if she was driving to hell, why not have fun?
She pulled into her driveway and parked the BMW next to her dad's Mercedes. She smirked one more time at her now fondest memory and marched into her home. Piper swung the door open and bolted up the stairs to her room, and promptly locked it. She jumped on to her king-sized silk bed and opened one of her favorite books. It was time to wait.
About forty-five minutes later, somebody pounded on her door. "Piper!"
"Who is it?" she called innocently, flipping the page. She was at the part where the main character decides to defy the system instead of conforming to a standard.
"It's me, and you know it!" her dad angrily exclaimed, continuously beating the door, with what she could only assume was his head. That's what she would do if her child decided to steal a car.
"Don't know any me's," she told the door bluntly, flipping on to her stomach. Now the protagonist rambles on for a bit of all the lessons she learned. The only bull shit part of the story.
"Pipes, why'd you do it?" he stopped his incessant banging and Piper felt guilty for the first time about what she did.
Piper weighed her options. She could tell him the truth and make him feel like a bad father on top of the current stress, or she could lie and just leave him with the stress. She wanted her dad's attention, she didn't want him to go crazy. "I felt like it."
"Piper, I feel like this is all getting out of hand," her father's voice broke in the middle of the sentence. "I don't know what I did wrong. I'm sorry your mother wasn't here when you grew up, but I feel like that isn't a valid reason for your actions!" his sentences slowed down and he sighed wearily. "Pollux suggested this place I could send you. They're going to be here to pick you up in an hour. I'm sorry Pipes, but I-I don't know what to do."
Piper expected this, but something felt wrong. Maybe it was that he found a school so quickly. Or maybe it was that Pollux suggested the school. Piper's eyes narrowed and she tossed her book to the side. It was too coincidental. She was 'rebellious', she wasn't an idiot. There was obviously a correlation between the two. She just didn't know what yet.
The hour flew by faster than a blink of an eye. She packed up her stuff in a duffel bag and sat on her bed, not wanting to think of the future. She slid out of the room and noiselessly made her way down the steps, careful to watch out for her father. When she saw no sign of her father in the kitchen, she wordlessly sat by the island as Pollux cooked God knows what.
"Pollux," Piper began carefully, "I know something's up."
He placed a slice of cake in front of her and gave her a pearly white smile. "What do you mean?" the French accent was gone.
"I mean there's some serious bull going on with you and this school I'm going to," Piper pushed the plate away, not trusting his food anymore. "What's the end game here?"
"I'm afraid you won't find out until you're at the school," he shook his head with feign sadness. "But thanks for taking my suggestion about the car. It really sped things along."
"No problem," she glared at him and hiked her bag over her shoulder, walking to the front hall. She paced back and forth in the foyer, the minutes ticking by.
Finally, the door bell rang. She opened the door and there stood a man with sandy blonde hair and a long scar on his cheek. He grinned at her and presented his hand, "Luke Castellan, nice to meet you."
"Piper McLean, pleasure not reciprocated," she didn't extend her hand to shake his. His smile faltered but quickly returned.
"Our facility is great, you're gonna love it. There's this really clever girl there who I think you're really gonna like," he grabbed her duffel and her hand, leading her out the door.
"W-Wait, don't I get to say goodbye to my dad?" she argued, trying to relinquish his grip.
"Sorry Piper, but he already said that he didn't want to say goodbye," Luke's face fell as if he truly felt bad about her predicament.
Piper bit the inside of her cheek. She didn't believe in tears ever since her old nanny told her, 'Tears get you nothing. Being strong is what let's you go places.' Just another life lesson she didn't receive from her dad. Yeah, the same one who just chose to send his daughter away without another word. Her attitude became uncharacteristically submissive and she hopped in the back of his dark Honda. He started up the engine but didn't drive away. "Why are we waiting?" Piper asked in an emotionless voice.
"Pollux needs to gather his stuff," Luke commented nonchalantly, not noticing Piper's widening eyes. She still didn't know why they needed her, but clearly Pollux had set her up. Stupid fake French bastard.
Pollux hopped into the car and they were on their way. Piper dozed off and when she finally awoke, they were in the garage of some building. Luke turned around and unbuckled his seat belt, "We're at the facility. Follow us to your room; lucky you, you get your own."
Piper didn't comment and followed Luke and the traitor to her new room. She tossed her stuff on to her bed whose comforter was covered with lips. She didn't get it, but she didn't care. Why should she care about anything? Luke hadn't left yet.
"Since you don't have a roommate yet, we're going to introduce you to another girl in the facility. You know the one I was telling you about earlier?" Luke once again got a hold of her arm and pulled her down the hallway to another room.
They opened the door introducing a blonde girl who looked like a beach bunny, lying down restlessly on a bed littered with owls and quotes. She looked up, and Piper was stunned to see fierce and defiant storm gray eyes staring her down. "Luke, you know I don't like it when you visit me. And now you've brought one of your girl toys? Get the hell out of here before Percy comes back."
"Annabeth, this is Piper. She's going to be staying at the facility, and I figured she'd want to meet another girl." Luke backed away, seeming amused by her anger. Piper didn't understand. This Annabeth looked to be about the same age as her, but her eyes were so old and her demeanor so… untrusting.
"Hey," Piper muttered, kicking at the ground.
"Hello," Annabeth replied curtly. She looked at Luke and then back to Piper, and Piper squirmed under her unblinking gaze. "Luke, I want to talk to her. Alone."
"Understood." Luke patted Piper on the back and she cringed. "I'll be back to get you in ten minutes."
Once he was gone, Annabeth got off the bed and inspected Piper. After about a minute, she nodded as if satisfied and smiled, reaching out her hand. "Annabeth Chase. I can read minds and you don't like Luke. You're obviously smart and I like you."
Piper smiled, even though two hours ago, she felt like she would never be able to smile again. "Piper McLean. I'm pretty sure people do whatever I tell them to, and you're clearly a rebel. I like you."
"Piper," Annabeth's laugh was nice, like wind blowing through chimes, "I think we're going to get along great."
Three weeks later, there was a knock on her door. Piper frowned. Nobody should be visiting her. There wasn't group time and they weren't allowed to see each other otherwise. Luke opened the door, revealing a gorgeous boy next to him. Piper's eyes immediately drank in his cropped golden hair and gleaming blue eyes. She wanted to know everything about him. Why was there a tiny scar right above his lip? Why was his smile so beautiful? What was his name?
"Hello," the lovely boy grinned a cute dimpled smile, "My name is Jason Grace."
Wellllll guys, how'd you like it? I spent all day working on this because I was thinking, "I have brownies, I have free time, let's crank out a chapter for my followers who I adore so much!" Thanks for keeping up with this story and dealing with me! I literally have like no skill when it comes to writing but you guys read anyway, so huzzah! And by the way, about the lips on Piper's comforter, I had no clue what to do for charmspeak/her heritage, SO LIPS IT WAS. BYE! LOVE YOUS
