Chapter 13-Cherry De Pon

Piper

I'm Mushy Like Mac's Applesauce 3

So My friends forced me to go to the talk show alone. It's for the Battle Of The Bands contest. And since I'm lead singer they insisted I go. ALONE. Which sucks. And since our band is in first place, we get to go onto a talk show called The Emma Show (A/N Pretty much Ellen...).

I'm counting numbers in my head. Trying to calm down. I promise to myself that I'll speak only truth. "So! You've all probably heard of the battle of the bands! So, we've brought in the lead singer of the #1 band, Singing in Harmony!" Emma shouts into the microphone. The crowd explodes with cheers. I gulp and walk outside. More cheers erupt until they finally quiet down. I sit on the plush couch.

"So! Piper, how does it feel to be on this show?" Emma asks. "I'm so nervous I'm sweating.' i tell her. Some laughs come from the crowd. "How does it feel to be #1 in the Battle of The Bands?" Emma asks. "Well, it feels great knowing that I'm actually considered a good singer by a famous person." I say. After awhile Emma starts asking some questions. "How do you feel? Like in real life?" Emma asks. "TO be honest, I feel like absolte crap, but everyone thinks I'm okay." I say.

Emma nods, her face softening. "So, when Battle of the bands is done, what do you want?" Emma asks. "I want to stop running away, I want to find something to run towards." I pause and take in a breath. "I've pushed people away because I was scared to trust them." I explain, all of a sudden interested on my shoes. After a while the whole shows over and I'm free.

I walk to Cherry De Pon, Ella's been taking care of me for the last few days. Ever since the... The... 'The' problem.

I sigh and push open the door. "Ella! I'm Here!" I singsong. A small crash and then footsteps. Ella's head pokes out from the back of the store. "Great! You're here!" Ella exclaims excitedly. "Come on! Help me with the store!" Ella demands. I notice it's a bit crowded. I walk behind the counter. After a few minutes someone comes up to the register. I'm doing homework while doing the register, isn't that fun. "Hi, Welcome to Cherry De Pon what can we get you?" I ask, without looking up. "Mango Smoothie please." A male voice asks. That voice...

I look up. "Joey!?" I ask in shock. "Piper?" Joey asks. Joey used to go to my middle school and we used to be 'Besties' is what he liked to call it. "Did you move back here?" I ask, cocking my head. "Yes, yes I did, I'm going to this school called Half-Blood High." I found my smile widening. "Let me buy you a welcome back smoothie then." I say. "Oh No you don't-" "Ap! No, I am determined to get you one, now stop whining." I interrupt. Joey rolls his sky blue eyes. "Ya' know? You're still annoying." Joey points out as I type in the price. "And you're still an idiot." I tease. Joey snorts before running a hand through his light brown hair, a milky chocolate kind of brown.

"One Mango smoothie Ella!" I call. I put some of my money in the register and get back to my homework. The door opens to Cherry De Pon but I still don't look up. Joey peeks at my laptop. "You still suck at math?" He asks though you can tell he's smiling. "Yes, Yes I do. I had a tutor but..." My voice trails of and a few tears well up in my eyes.

No! I am NOT crying!

I sigh. "Well, yeah, I had a tutor." I mutter. "MANGO SMOOTHIES DONE!" Ella shouts. I sigh again. "Be right back, Joey, Be right back, Math." I say. I here Joey Laugh. That sweet ringing laugh. I've missed that laugh. I reach Ella and she hands me 2 smoothies. "Two? I said one." I tell her. Ella smiles. "Oh Com'on, take a break and go with Joey." Ella tells commands. I blush a bit and walk back.

Joey raises an eyebrow when he sees me. "I'm pretty sure I ask for one." He points out. I shrug. "Ella said I have lunch break." I explain. I hand his smoothie. "Let me just.." I get onto my laptop and log off. A few people walk up to the register as I bend down to put my laptop away. "Just a sec Joey, let me take these peoples orders." I say. "Peoples isn't a word." Joey says. I roll my eyes.

I stand back up. I really hate who I see. Octopus, Hazel, Frank, Jason and Reyna. Worst part, Jason was holding Reyna's hand and Reyna had a winning look on her face. I manage a fake smile, trying to contain the salty tears. "Hello, Welcome to Cherry De Pon, What can we get you?" I ask. Everyone seems confused to see me. "You work here?" Hazel asks. I nod a bit. "I am wearing my name tag right? I'm pretty sure it says, Employee of Cherry De Pon." I say sarcastically. "So, what may we-" "I said it was your lunch break!" Ella calls from the next room.

I sigh. "I'm getting this last order, silly!" I shout back. Silence. She got it. I turn my head back to the group. "Milk Shake." "Root beer float." "Ice cream Sun Day." "Bubble Tea." "I'll just have frozen yogurt." I write all the orders down and stare at the list.

I turn my head to look at the open door to the cook room. I rush inside, hand Ella the note and rush back out. I grab my bag and my backpack. I take off my apron and sling my backpack over my shoulder. I walk over to Joey. He smiles. "You know those peoples?" Joey asks, teasing me with the word 'Peoples' I roll my eyes and take a sip of my smoothie. "Yes, Yes I do." Joey smirks. "The blond dude's staring at you." I nearly spit tanked my smoothie. I also nearly fall off my chair.

Joey raises an eyebrow, obviously noticing that I was about to spit tank. "I take it you think that's really awkward?" Joey asks. I nod a no. "No it's... It's-He's my ex-boyfriend and my old tutor." I mutter. Joey's eyes widen. "Oh." He says awkwardly. "Sorry I brought that up." He says, turning red because of embarrassment. I shrug. "I'm fine with it, I was naive." I say quietly. "I was stupid." I add. "Oh com'on 'Bestie'" He says. I groan, closing my eyes and throwing back my head. "Would you shut up with that word already?" I ask him, just as 'The' Group decides to sit next to us, courtesy of all the tables being used. Joey smirks, showing his white teeth. I find myself smiling too.

Then my phone just had to buzz. I groan, pick it up and answer the phone. "Hello?" I ask. "Hey beauty queen!" Leo shouts from the other end so loud I've gained the attention of 'The' group. "Leo, what did I tell you about that name? And no yelling, I'm in Cherry De Pon." I explain. I hear a sigh. "I was just about to ask you where you are. Are you with Ella?" He asks. "Nahh... I'm with Joey." I tell him. "Joey!? I thought Joey moved." He says. "He did, he just moved back, nimrod." I tell him. "Okay, well, bye." Leo says. The line goes dead.

"I figure that's Leo?" Joey asks. "You bet." I tell him, proping my elbow on the table with my chin in the palm of hand. Great, I'm quoting songs. I sigh. Soon I'm finished with my smoothie. "Well, I better get going." I say. "Thanks for the smoothie." Joey says with a smile that make Girls freak. I shrug. "Hey, Welcome back." I say simply. With that I left.

-Percy's POV-

Annabeth smiles. I lean down and place a kiss on her lips. I wrap my arms around her as we break away, swaying slowly to the soft music. "Remember how we met?" I ask. Annabeth let's a laugh escape her lips before punching me in the arm. "Not funny Seaweed brain." She growls but I'm already saying everything.

-Flashback-

I was running through school before I banged into a girl. "Watch it!' The girl barks. Her blonde hair fell over her shoulder in a amazing pony tail. Her stormy grey eyes were narrowed on mine. she walked away, lips pursed. I made sure to remember what her locker hers was. the next day I got Leo to pick her lock and we filled the locker with fake rubber spiders from the dollar store. instantly when she got to school we waited, peeking our heads over the corner. As soon as her locker opened she was screaming bloody murder and crying. After the whole crying and screaming our eyes locked and she walked right up to me and punched me. I remeber saying "Ow'" and blacking out.

When I woke there she was and- "You drool when you sleep."

-End Of Flashback-

"You gotta admit it was funny." I say, kissing her temple. She let's a fake laugh bubble from her lips before frowning and giving me a: This-Is-A-Waste-Of-Air-So-I'm-Telling-you-that-it-wasn't-even-close-to-funny. I gulp. "I mean it was so mean..." I stammer. Annabeth smiles. "Of course." She leans on her toes and kisses my lips. "Good-night Percy." I watch as she leaves, walking across the street to her house, she blows me a kiss before entering her house. I sigh. Man, I'm wrapped around her perfect little finger.

Late update Because I had a sleep over party at my friends, then the internet wasn't working, But, HEY! No school today! *Does The Snoopy Dance* Ouch! Jason and Reyna... What's going on...? Maybe I'll tell you.. Maybe I won't! ADIOS!