A/N Ok, let me begin my some-what carefully thought out apology by saying that I think you're all wonderful people and I love you all. My life is just so insane right now (hey, what can I say, being a teenager sucks), I hardly had time to write this at all. I have to handle everything from suicidal friends to suicidal thoughts to mega family issues to a custody battle between my parents to helping my friends with relationship problems to my own relationship problems to getting bullied at school…yeah, a lot of shit…oh well, you guys don't want to hear all that, do ya? Anywho, the winner of the contest was OysomePerson! A lot of you tried but no one gave me the name, band, AND completed the lyrics. He/She was the first one to do it right! Um, on another note, I've been working on this chapter as often as I could, and hopefully its long enough to satisfy you all until I can get the next one typed out. I actually already typed this one and the next one, but then my computer got a virus, all my files were gone, and I lost all motivation to write. SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY!

Okay, I think I've rambled long enough! Enjoy!

Chapter 21: Velocitized

We arrived in LA pretty damn early. 8 o'clock in the AM. My brain doesn't function this early, so I can only imagine how Percy feels right now!

Anyway…

We didn't have to be at American Idol until around 6 in the evening, so we headed straight to the hotel where Abby and the rest of Velocitized were staying. She promised to show us the song she wrote for NaRae. I still can't believe she writes songs for money! If I wasn't always on top of everything, I'd be going to her for songs…too bad I write my own…hmm…

We went up to the room that Abby was staying in with Alyssa and Miranda. 4001. Why does that number ring a bell?

"Hey Wise Girl," Percy whispered as I knocked on the door. "Wasn't 4001 our room number at the Lotus Hotel and Casino when we were twelve?"

I gulped and nodded. Oh. That's why it was familiar.

Before I got the chance to start reminiscing about our first quest, Alyssa opened the door.

"Come in," She said. "You're just in time. She is about to play the song she wrote for NaRae." We walked in, and Abby put a cd into a stereo. Guess she already recorded the instrumental. This is gonna be good…and then Abby started singing.

Sometimes, I feel the fear of
Uncertainty, stinging clear
And I, can't help but ask myself how much I
Let the fear take the wheel and steer

It's driven me before
And it seems to have a vague
Haunting mass appeal

But lately I'm
Beginning to find that i
Should be the one behind the wheel

Whatever tomorrow brings I'll be there
With open arms and open eyes, yeah
Whatever tomorrow brings I'll be there
I'll be there

So if I, decide to waiver my
Chance to be one of the hive
Will I choose water over wine?
And hold my own and drive, I-I-I-I-III-ohh

It's driven me before
And it seems to be the way
That everyone else gets around

But lately I'm
Beginning to find that when I drive myself
My life is found

Whatever tomorrow brings I'll be there
With open arms and open eyes, yeah
Whatever tomorrow brings I'll be there
I'll be there

Would you choose water over wine?
Hold the wheel and drive

Whatever tomorrow brings I'll be there
With open arms and open eyes, yeah
Whatever tomorrow brings I'll be there
I'll be there…

I swear, my jaw dropped. No wonder people pay her to write their songs! That girl can write!

So... she looked really nervous for some reason. "What do you think?"

I grinned. "What do I think? I think that was amazing! If you weren't in a band already, I'd offer you to join ours!" she blushed, and looked at the ground, a meek smile on her lips. She looked as though she wasn't used to getting many compliments. Talented AND modest. I'm beginning to like this girl. "You know what? I'm gonna go get my journal out of the car, and then you and me are gonna write a song together!" I turned and walked out the door, eager to get started.

Percy's POV

Annabeth just walked out the door. Here's my chance! "Abby, quick, I need your help with something!"

"What's up?" She looked confused, along with everyone else in the room.

"Okay," I took a deep breath. "I like Annnabeth and I want you to write me a song to sing to her to show how much she means to me!" I didn't know I could talk so fast.

After a while everyone seemed to decipher my words at the same time and "AWWWWW"'ed in unison. I couldn't help blushing.

Then Abby said, "Wait. You want ME to write a song for you to sing to Annabeth?" When I nodded, she grinned, and it looked slightly evil. "I'd be honored. But if you're gonna do this, it's gonna have to be big..."

She just sat there, looking eviler by the second, and Annabeth walked in. She looked at Abby and gulped. "What's up with her?"

Miranda shrugged. "She's plotting again." Now I gulped, too. What the hell is she planning to make me do?

Abby's POV

I couldn't help the evil grin that spread across my face when Percy asked me to help him out with Annabeth. A plan was already starting to develop in my mind. It'll be perfect! The lyrical juices are flowing, and I know just the place for this shiz to go down...they're going to my school after this, right? Mwahahaha...

Annabeth's POV

Well, despite Abby's creepy smile, we managed to get a lot of work done. In fact, we somehow managed to finish it! Our friends all wanted to hear it, so me and Abby each pulled out an acoustic and everyone got in a circle. We smirked at each other and started playing.

Some people you can never please
You might as well just let them be
They mock everything not their own
From their imaginary throne
But I won't bow down,
Even if the whole world thinks I'm crazy

So hey hey, this song is for us
So put your hands in the air
If you're crazy like us
Hey hey
Hey hey, that's freedom you hear
Coming' right to your ear,
That's the sound from our bus
Hey hey

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

Why try to be like someone else
When you can only be yourself?
No one can sing the song you do
Be true, be legendary you
So I won't sell out,
Even if the whole world thinks I'm crazy

So hey hey, this song is for us
So put your hands in the air
If you're crazy like us
Hey hey
Hey hey, that's freedom you hear
Coming' right to your ear,
That's the sound from our bus
Hey hey

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

Why kiss the feet of the people who kick you
When you can be anything that you want to? (X3)

So hey hey, this song is for us
So put your hands in the air
If you're crazy like us
Hey hey
Hey hey, that's freedom you hear
Coming' right to your ear,
That's the sound from our bus
Hey hey

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! (X2)

Awesome! I finally looked up and saw that there were a few more faces than when we started. Abby smiled at them.

"Annabeth, you've met Scott and Cameron," she gestured to them and they smirked and gave me a nod. I returned it, of course. "And then these are our good friends, Alex," the girl she pointed to had super short, curly, gelled hair with bleached tips and a nose piercing. "Paige," she had straight brownish blondish hair and a pink sideswipe. "Zoie," she has straight brown hair, and reminded me of silena. "And Madi," she had shortish red hair (kinda like Hayley Williams from Paramore). "They're all demigods, too."

"Cool, nice to meet y'all... hey, won't it be kinda dangerous with all these half bloods together?" I questioned.

"Nope. Uncle Zeus gave us a blessing, so monsters rarely ever attack us. Oh, and one more thing I should mention... Annabeth, I'm your half sister."

Holy shit!

I jumped up and down. "SERIOUSLY?"

She copied me. "HADES YA!"

I squealed and hugged her, both of us still jumping. I know what your thinking. What the hell are we on? Well, it's kind of sad actually. None of the other sons and daughters of Athena have any musical talent, whatsoever. This is huge for me.

I pulled out of the hug and turned to all our friends. "All boys get out. Now!" after the boys had all cleared out and gone off to Scott's room, I let a grin overtake my face. "Time for some SERIOUS girl talk..."

*A few hours later…*

So, we've all been talking to the girls for a few hours now. I've learned a lot about them. For example, Abby's bisexual and so are Zoie, Paige and Alex. They told us not to worry, cuz they "aren't like those other slutty bimbos who claim to be bi either because they want to get some or they are trying to get a guy to noticed them in all their whorish glory." Those were Abby's exact words. I learned all about they're fucked up family lives at home (they all had a story, just like us. I felt their pain), and they told us who all their godly parents were. Abby was a daughter of Athena (EEP!), Miranda was a daughter of Apollo, Alyssa was a daughter of Hades (apparently Hades broke the oath, too), Zoie was a daughter of Aphrodite (that explains it), Paige was a daughter of Ares, which is weird cuz she seemed completely sane and didn't have any of Ares' traits; Alex was a daughter of Iris, and Madi was a daughter of Nemesis. They told us that Scott was a son of Hermes and Cameron was a son of Aphrodite as well. Talk about a lot to remember. They also told us all about where we'd be staying. Me and the rest of my band would be staying in Abby's house, where she lives alone for some reason. If the rest of our friends wanted to go to school with us, they could stay next door with Scott or down the street with Abby's adoptive parents.

This is gonna be pump!

I looked at the clock. Shit, we have to be at American Idol in an hour. "Shit, let's go!" Me and the band busted out of the rooms and our friends stayed behind to chat with the Michiganders some more.

*At the American Idol place*

It's about time we got here! This guest judging thingy is going to be pump! I can feel it!...as long as we don't get attacked again...heh...

A petit girl with glasses and I messy bun met us as we were exiting the bus. "Josie! Band! Great to finally meet you! My name's Genine, Genine Heightsman. I'll be coordinating the event today and tomorrow."

Heh...Genine...

I held out my hand to shake. "Wonderful to meet you. Would you mind explaining how this is gonna work?"

She smiled. "Of course. Today, all you have to do is sit with Simon, Paula, and Randy (a/n I know that they aren't judges anymore, hush!), listen to the performers, and give your feedback. Tomorrow is the finale. At the beginning of the show, you'll perform your song. Then, right before the results, you'll perform the song with Fang, Recav, and NaRae. Sound good?...OH! One more thing I forgot to mention. We decided to make the performers sing one of their songs tonight with an artist of their choice...and one of them chose you! So if you would just follow me, I'll take you to her so the two of you can practice."

This was my face: O.O

Despite my shock, I followed Genine into the building, waving to my friends and family. She led me down multiple hallways, through several doors, and up way too many flights of stairs. Eventually, we reached the girl's room. Genine knocked, and someone opened the door.

Holy shit I can't believe they actually got you to do this! In the doorway stood a girl about my height with a dyke spike (really short hair put into a frohawk) and snakebites. She was wearing a TNL t-shirt with red skinnys and converse. Something tells me we're gonna get along great.

I smirked. "But of course! Nice to meet you..."

"Morgan. Morgan Shaw." I nodded. "So, you can just come right in here and we'll start working on the song."

I raised my eyebrows. "Wait, what are we singing?"

She smirked. "Patience, you're about to find out..."

Songs used: Drive-Incubus

Hey Hey-Superchick

A/N Okay, again I just want to thank you all SO SO SO much for sticking with me. I can't believe my last update was over a year ago! To avoid another period of absence, I am in DESPERATE need of a DEDICATED Beta Reader. Even though I have a decent plot line, there are a lot of technical mistakes. The words just haven't flowed like they should've been all throughout this story.

Therefore, I need a beta reader, and if you want to be the one that sees all my chapters earlier than everyone else AND fixes my stupid mistakes, make sure you have these three qualities!

Dedication. If you offer to beta for me and I choose you, I need you to be on top of things-even more than I am. You can't just offer, and then never edit the chapters I send you

You need to push me. Give me deadlines, and threaten to quit if I don't meet the deadlines. Give me goals. Make me more consistent and reliable.

Know what your doing. I don't want to send out a chapter, and get it back worse than it was when I got it. If you have an idea, make an authors note while your editing and I'll decide if I want to include it or not, but don't make any major changes without consulting me!

So, again, if you're interested in helping me out, shoot me a PM or review, and I'll get back to you ASAP!

AGAIN, IF YOU READ THIS AND YOU'RE ONE OF MY OLD READERS THANK YOU SO MUCH! And to any new readers, thank you for joining the ride!

I'll try to post again next week!

~Percabethatw