Chapter Twenty-Nine: Exposed Explosions
Disclaimer: I do not own Rick Riordan's
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
and the Heroes of Olympus Series, and I do not
own the songs I put into this book either.
I only own my fan made characters and of course
the plot line.
Added Songs – In Order of Appearance
Skyscraper - Demi Lovato (Boyce Avenue feat. Megan Nicole acoustic cover) on Apple & Spotify
Warrior – Demi Lovato
~Author's Note~
Surprise everyone, early update yet again, i'm on a role, left you with a pretty big cliffhanger didn't I, yes I did indeed and now, for the real deal kicker everyone. I hope you all are excited for this chapter, cause I am. I had this written since the beginning so prepare everyone cause this is the chapter and so will the next one but this is where all will be revealed.
It was a good day at Apollo records. Apollo couldn't stop grinning like an awe struck fool in love because today was a truly exciting day. It was indeed a historic event today because for the first time ever, a music video would be recorded inside a recording studio, his multi-million dollar recording studio with one of the top artists in the world right now.
Apollo was so proud of Annabeth for accomplishing what she had done. For overcoming the adversities that came her way as she rose to the top, she had overcome all the devilish and cruel deeds done to her by selfish artists like Calypso and cruel people like Luke who broke her but she rose up again and proved that phrase right. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. He knew from the first moment he heard her sing, that she was unique and the one he was looking for.
He couldn't help but smile at the memory of the shy girl who walked into the recording room and threw everything she had into her song, her song that she had created...
Apollo sat in the sound room, his sound manager seated next to him in his black shirt with the Apollo Records label. Apollo bobbed his heat to the beat that Calypso Greaves, one of his finds who he offered an audition to. She was good, had a very unique tone to her voice and she would make it big. Her range was pretty impressive too and she held the youthful vibrancy that he was looking for in his artist he would offer a record deal to.
"Thank you Miss Greaves." Apollo announced through the microphone with a smile at the young sixteen year old with chestnut toned hair and mocha eyes as she grinned, skipping out of the recording booth, her white dress frolicking through the wind. "Annabeth Chase, we are ready for you." He called up and leaned back in his chair as the familiar girl with grey eyes and blond princess curls came into view with a spiky black haired girl and a blonde haired teenage boy pushing her forward and into the room.
With a jerk, Annabeth stumbled forward but maintained her balance as she turned round, nervously rubbing her arm are through her baggy and loose hanging brown, open jersey that resembled an open night gown. Underneath it was a loose white dress with a plain black belt around her waist, her blond hair in a messy bun, her round framed glasses resting on the bridge of her nose.
"Hi," She said nervously as played with the sleeve of her loose jersey, "Is it okay if I use one of your guitars because we forgot the music track." She stuttered nervously, looking so innocent and shy in the moment. With a nod, Apollo pointed her to a wall decorated with precision placed guitars. Annabeth ran her hand over each of the guitars body, occasionally running her fingers over the strings to test the sound. It was a good five minutes before she arrived at one particular guitar that personally, Apollo liked the best out of his entire collection.
It was a beautiful guitar, a beautiful rich color to the polished oak wood used to construct this masterpiece, a label etched into the wood. Sonnet was a guitar he had gotten from the local music shop in California where her met Annabeth. It was indeed a beautiful piece and a wise choice as Annabeth carefully brought the guitar off of its rack and carried it back towards the microphone.
"Ready Miss Chase." Apollo asked as Annabeth hung the guitar strap around her neck but pulled it off and removed her jersey and her glasses and let her hair down. Apollo's opinion changed dramatically, in terms of looks, Calypso certainly had a rival because Annabeth looked beautiful, in the natural way because she had no make-up on.
Annabeth bit her lip as she nodded and closed her eyes, taking in deep long breaths as she started strumming the guitar, her hand moved against the strings in a delicate, enticing manor as the beautiful melody filled the air before Annabeth began to sing.
Skies are crying
I am watching
Catching teardrops in my hands
Only silence as its ending, like we never had a chance
Do you have to make me feel like there is nothing left of
me?
Her voice was breathy, as she sang the first part, her strumming slightly out of tune with her words and Apollo was about to stop her when she opened her eyes and stared him down as the music and words she sung molded into a beautiful harmonic song, her voice growing in strength and power as she continued.
You can take everything I have
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper!
Like a skyscraper!
Annabeth's melody grew in strength and power as she skilfully strummed to tune to match the lyrics, a drumming in the back ground and Apollo looked and saw the spiky haired girl hitting a wooden box like a drum adding to the song. Apollo could hear the heart and soul Annabeth conveyed through her words as she continued. It was a beautiful and enticing and Apollo was enjoying ever second listening to it.
As the smoke clears
I awaken and untangle you from me
Would it make you, feel better to watch me while I bleed?
All my windows are still broken
But I'm standing on my feet
The blonde haired male was a tambourine throughout the whole thing, giving it another level as the song progressed, diversified and grabbed at Apollo's heart as he listened to her create such a beautiful piece. They played like a team, all of them joining together to help Annabeth showcase her talent.
You cant take everything I have
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper!
Like a skyscraper!
Apollo couldn't help but watch her hands move effortlessly across the strings. It was like watching Picasso paint his masterpiece, like listening to Bach construct one of his beautiful pieces in her own perfect way. He loved how comfortable she looked, how natural and in her element she seemed as she played. He honestly had no idea what she planned to do when she said that they left the track, now, he was actually glad that they did.
Go run, run, run
I'm gonna stay right here
Watch you disappear, yeah
Go run, run, run
Yeah it's a long way down
But I am closer to the clouds up here
At the end of the bridge, her voice turned to a whisper like her strumming as she moved onto the next part, putting such emotion and heart behind her words, like they were a deep confession that she had been waiting to tell.
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
She pushed her voice far and Apollo heard, he had found what he was looking for. He found it in her voice as she finished the song. The special quality, that single most powerful feeling that she effortless exposed in her words as she finished the song, her eyes closed, letting the music, her words, her voice tell him exactly what he had been hoping to hear.
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper!
Like a skyscraper!
Like a skyscraper!
Like a skyscraper!
Annabeth looked at Apollo who rose up from his seat and he smiled, nodded and then started clapping his hands in praise as the words he had be waiting to say came out, "Welcome to Apollo Records, Annabeth Chase!"
In all honesty, Annabeth looked like she was about to burst into tears that day but it was understandable because Apollo was making her dreams come true and look how far she had come. He was proud of her and he knew that day, if he hadn't of picked her and instead picked Calypso, he would have lost the one in his opinion. Calypso is talented but her voice and music came nowhere near Annabeth's.
The difference between Annabeth Chase and Calypso Greaves music is that Annabeth's about honesty, purity, meaning, soul and they are personal and easy to relate to for everyone else, and Calypso's always about the party, about herself, her music lyrics were pointless and confused but the beat is catchy and she could put on a show. That is why she will never be anything like Annabeth, she will never be able to compete with Annabeth, not unless she changes her attitude and her style and regains the innocence she once had when she arrived.
When Apollo looked at his watch, he realized that the crew should be here right now and right as that thought crossed his mind, the director walked in and asked if they were ready to make some magic. Apollo nodded and headed to Annabeth's private music room to call the girls.
"Annabeth, Thalia, the camera crew and director have just arrived." Apollo announced as he entered Annabeth private music room where Annabeth and Thalia were currently getting ready. Aphrodite and Venus were both finishing off the two's make-up, whilst the two best friends were in the middle of rehearsing the ending when Apollo walked in.
"Thanks Apollo for letting them know but we have to finish them up so could you please skedaddle." The breathtakingly beautiful woman who bared great resemblance to Piper Mclean spoke. Her shoulder length brown hair hanging loosely behind her graceful neck that fitted perfectly with her amazingly perfect figure that was comfortably wrapped into a casual pair of designer jeans and a snowy-white top. Her sky blue eyes sparkled playfully as she watched Apollo with amusement.
"Sorry to have disturbed you Aphrodite." Apollo laughed with a carefree demeanor, smiling in a friendly manor at Aphrodite as he raised his hands in a defensive position.
"And what am I, chopped liver compared to my sister?!" The other equally gorgeous woman with dark chocolaty curls and amber eyes that sparkled playfully, but in the light, her eyes appeared as though they were a sky blue that were similar to Apollo's in tone, only slightly darker though. Dressed in a white summer dress and flats, she stood in front of Apollo, pouting and Apollo thought he had offended her in some way.
"I didn't mean it like that Venus." Apollo pleaded but when she saw the smile growing on her face, he frowned as the two sisters crossed through arms and cocked their head to the side at exactly the same time with identical smirks crossing their faces and the two giggled. Apollo shook his head and raised his hands before he spun on his heel and walked out the room, closing it behind him.
The two sisters smiled and turned back to their pet projects with their daughters on both of their sides. Aphrodite smiled and nodded with Piper, and Venus and Silena mimicked their action as their admired their work.
Thalia was seated in her chair with her short spiky hair, and it was combed over to one side, with added extensions in hair and Venus, had flared the lower half's color by dying it light almost neon blue so that in a way, it looked kind of natural, with very light make-up, to which Thalia was grateful though. It was more natural and it suited her very well, no black thankfully.
Thalia was dressed in a simple leather jacket with a plain white circle necked shirt underneath it, and a pair of regular jeans and a pair of tanned boots that had that almost kind of cowgirl style shoe. "You look simply to die for, Thalia."
"I will say this, but if you ever tell anyone I said this, I will kill you all." Thalia said threateningly as they all crossed their hearts as Thalia spoke. "I hate to admit this but I actually like this." Venus beamed and high fived her daughter who was grinning like a Cheshire cat as they felt on cloud nine. Getting the Thalia Grace's approval on an outfit they put together for the queen of pickiness was the icing on the cake.
Aphrodite turned to Annabeth who was inspecting herself as she looked in the mirror that her stylist had chosen for her. Annabeth stood in front of the mirror in a grey knee length dress. It's style was a casual summer day chiffon dress with loose short sleeves and a black belt that wrapped around her waist. It had a not to revealing V-neckline that Annabeth liked very much.
Her hair was combed to one side like Thalia's except Aphrodite had enhanced her natural blonde hair color, brightening it and making it look more lively and shiny. Around Annabeth's neck, she wore the necklace that Percy had given her on their one month anniversary, and it actually suited her dress and she wore a pair of brown low heeled ankle boots to go with her dress. And of course Annabeth had the camp necklace that Percy gave her wrapped around her wrist. She always kept it close.
Annabeth turned to Aphrodite, her natural skin highlighted by the natural toned make-up Piper used, with a light layer of cherry red lip balm to highlight her naturally flawless beauty. "Aphrodite," she turned to Piper, "Piper," as a smile graced her face, "It's perfect." She whispered and the mother and daughter team cheered happily, doing a happy jig.
Annabeth was never a very easy person to please so for Aphrodite to get approval alone is something big, but the fact that she got an "it's perfect," from her favorite artist had absolutely made her day. Annabeth shook her head and smiled at Thalia who stood up from her seat to examine herself. She looked so un-Thalia like and yet at the same time it did. "You really do look great ,Thalia."
"Thanks." Thalia replied mutually, smiling at her best friend. The door opened, and in walked Hazel who had a bright and excited smile on her face.
"Everything's set up guys." She announced as she handed Annabeth and Thalia their sheet music that they needed for the recording. "We are just waiting for the two of you." Thalia looked at her best friend and they nodded as they followed Hazel out the room, where a large number of Apollo Records employees were gathered on both sides of the hallway clapping as the two walked through them and it wasn't just employees but countless artists too.
"Guess you're famous already Thals." Annabeth whispered and Thalia grinned, bumping Annabeth's shoulder with hers. As they entered the recording studio, their friends stood there, smiling at the two. Thalia gasped and nearly burst in tears when she saw Nico, leaping into his arms. He hugged her back, promising he would kiss her later, something about not wanting to lose his manly hood for ruining Venus and Silena's masterpiece.
Jason greeted his sister happily whilst Annabeth smiled, getting words of encouragement from all of her friends. "Alright ladies. It's time to make some magic, you all have the stage directions managed, and lights ready so let's do this." Apollo spoke excitedly as Annabeth offered Thalia her hand and the two walked hand in hand into the recording room.
"Let's do this." Annabeth whispered to her best friend as Thalia nodded, releasing her hand and walked over to black grand piano that Apollo had brought in which was now had a recording boom and microphone set up and Thalia set her music down and put on her headphones whilst Annabeth raised her stand and set her sheet music down, reviewing the lyrics again as she tucked her hair behind her ear as she put her microphones on.
The two's gazes met one last time as Annabeth gave a thumbs up to Apollo who gave a nod and put his head phones on and the two way glass blackened to hide the cameras and their faces from the camera's that faced towards the window. Apollo still could see them as he spoke into his head set and the recording sign switched on and the cameras turned on, with all the lights diming around Annabeth and Thalia, signaling for them to begin.
As Thalia started playing, the light around her lit up, the cameras around her catching her movements as she skillfully began her song, and when it was time for them to start singing, the light around Annabeth lit up and she closed her eyes, holding one hand against her headphone and the other on her heart.
Annabeth – Normal
Thalia – Italics
Both - Bold
This is a story that I have never told
I gotta get this off my chest to let it go
Annabeth opened her eyes and stared at the camera. Her eyes filled with so much emotion as she sang the next part with her hand on her heart, Thalia continuing to play effortlessly.
I need to take back the light inside you stole
You're a criminal
And you steal like you're a pro
That line stung when Annabeth sang it because it made her remember Luke and hoe he broke her. She pushed it away as she slowly built her voice up and pushed it further. Thalia's tune getting louder and louder, and more powerful yet still gentle and melodic as they progressed through the song.
All the pain and the truth
I wear like a battle wound
So ashamed, so confused
I was broken and bruised
Now I'm a warrior
Now I've got thicker skin
I'm a warrior
I'm stronger than I've ever been
And my armor, is made of steel, you can't get in
I'm a warrior
And you can never hurt me again
Thalia opened her eyes and stared at the roof, breathing deeply as she sang with her heart and soul, singing with everything she had in herself as she put herself out there.
Out of the ashes, I'mburning like a fire
You can save your apologies, you're nothing but a liar
I've got shame, I've got scars
That I will never show
I'm a survivor
In more ways than you know
Cause all the pain and the truth
I wear like a battle wound
So ashamed, so confused
I'm not broken or bruised
'Cause now I'm a warrior
Now I've got thicker skin
I'm a warrior
I'm stronger than I've ever been
And my armor, is made of steel, you can't get in
I'm a warrior
And you can never hurt me
There's a part of me I can't get back
A little girl grew up too fast
All it took was once, I'll never be the same
When Thalia sang her first part, she felt the overwhelming emotions as she recalled the day her mother died and all her hardships after that, having to be the motherly figure for Jason who never even go to know their mother. She had to grow up quickly in order to be the sister her baby brother need.
Now I'm taking back my life today
Nothing left that you can say
Cause you are never gonna take the blame anyway
Annabeth was in control of her life and she wasn't going to let anything destroy it. She was going to show Calypso, Luke, her mother that she was stronger than they ever thought and she was going to succeed.
Now I'm a warrior
I've got thicker skin
I'm a warrior
I'm stronger than I've ever been
And my armor, is made of steel, you can't get in
I'm a warrior
And you can never hurt me again
No oh, yeah, yeah
You can never hurt me again
As the song came to a close, Thalia closed her eyes, letting a tear fall down as the lights faded to black around both Thalia and Annabeth. The red lights all switched off, and the recording light followed before the lights turned on and cheering erupted through the microphone as Thalia and Annabeth removed their head sets and took each other's hand as they walked out and were embraced by their teary eyed, over enthusiastic friends.
"That was incredible girls. I mean seriously, that was incredible." Apollo said calmly as he approached the two, a smile on his face. "I am proud of both of you, that was just so breathtaking and passionate that I actually shed a tear." Thalia smiled at her boss, a feeling of euphoria washing over her as she hugged Annabeth.
"Thank you Annabeth." She whispered and Annabeth squeezed her tighter. They pulled away when they heard shouting, and then they heard a girlie man scream and they got worried. The second they saw Leo run past, screaming for help, his voice full of terror and no playfulness what so ever, as if he were in a life or death situation did they think something was wrong. The second Frank ran past, threatening Leo's life did they think that something was seriously wrong because sure Frank had his issues with Leo but what was this about.
Jason sprinted out the room faster than a bullet as Apollo pulled out his phone and called security in case they needed to intervene as Hazel ran out the room with Annabeth and Thalia leading the rest of the pack. They heard loud clattering coming from the Heart Throbs recording studio and gasped when they saw that Frank was holding Leo by his shirt his fist ready to plough into Leo's face which already had a swollen black eye as he begged for forgiveness and everybody didn't know what he had done wrong.
Jason was holding Frank's fist back, trying to find out what was wrong with Frank but the second Annabeth looked into Franks eyes did she see the swirling rage and weirdly, there was betrayal and sorrow in his eyes and she didn't know what happened. "Frank please!" Jason begged as he fought against the beast, "Please man! Let him go!" Jason pleaded.
"He deserves the beating I am going to give to him. He is dead to me for what he and Hazel did behind my back." Frank spat, trying to wrench his fist away from Jason who somehow managed to maintain his now vice grip on Frank's fist.
"What is he talking about Hazel?" Jason yelled as he fought with Frank, gritting his teeth as he used every bit of strength he had in him to hold back Frank's fist that was ready to destroy every bone in Leo Valdez's face.
"She knows. Why don't you tell them how you fucked Leo behind my back?" Frank spat viciously as he shoved Leo to the floor who scrambled away backwards as far away as he could from Frank, thankful that he was no longer focused on beating him to a pulp. Frank wrenched his fist from Jason who fell to the floor. Frank fumed as he stalked forward, towering over Hazel, so many emotions written on his face that you could barely tell what they were as Hazel's eye were filled with guilt and fear.
"Frank…"
"No, I want to know why! Why didn't you tell me that you didn't feel anything more for me? Why did you have to go and fuck one of my best friends behind my back?" He spat, his hands shaking violently as he tried to maintain his composure. "Why couldn't you have just come to me and told me? Why the fuck did I have to find on the fucking gossip show that my girlfriend was cheating on me behind my back?"
That is when Hazel retaliated and she retaliated hard. She moved so blindingly fast that he didn't even see it coming. The loud clap of the skin of Hazel's hand striking Frank's cheek with vengeance had everyone cringing at the sound because it sounded like it hurt like no tomorrow.
Frank clenched his cheek that Hazel had just slapped, when you looked at her, she had tears in her eyes, her lip was quivering so violently that it could start an earthquake as her emotions spiraled out of control. "How dare you? You have no idea what the fuck happened between us but it was a mistake. The biggest mistake of my life! Leo was comforting me the day that happened because you had fucking left without so much as a fucking goodbye."
"But that doesn't mean you could go screwing behind my back!"
"I didn't!" She screamed. "If I had slept with him, why was I still a virgin when you made love to me that night, huh!" She cried, tears streaming down her face. "You hadn't told your family about me when we had been together for almost a year and a half. I had a right to be upset. Leo was there to comfort me when you weren't there. I was hurt and then we kissed. It was an accident and then it got to the point where we lost our shirts but we both stopped it because it was wrong because you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I love you, not him you!"
Frank was dumbfounded. In fact everyone was dumbfounded by the raw passion and honesty in Hazel's voice as she confessed those three words many people were terrified of say to their significant other. Hazel's eyes were filled with buckets of tears that flowed from her already reddening eyes as her voice shook from regret. Hazel's hands found their way around her waist, as if protecting her tummy as she looked down at the ground.
"I loved you Frank, no, I still love you and I always have. I will never forgive myself for letting that happen."
"How do I know you didn't do it after we slept together then, Hazel?!" Frank suddenly retaliated, Hazel's face falling as the tears poured.
"The fact that you question my trust says it all. You never fucking gave a damn about me. You were ashamed of me, of my color, of everything about me!" She shouted back, unable to contain her tears any longer. "You were ashamed of me, all because of my skin color. That's why you never took me to meet your family or your other friends or take me out in public because you were always ashamed of me."
"That's not true!" Frank shouted back but Hazel wasn't backing down, not by a long chance.
"The why did your family leave a message the other day and asked if you had dumped me. And I quote your mother's exact words, 'I look forward to you bringing that sweet girl you've been telling me about. I am so glad that you came to your senses and dumped the pompom headed negro. I look forward to the visit and meeting this wonderful girlfriend of yours.' Explain that to me Frank!" that completely shocked everyone. Is that really what Frank had said to his grandmother about Hazel? Had he really told his family that he had dumped her?
Frank was frozen on the spot. His silence gave Hazel her answer as she reached up and cupped the necklace he had given her for her birthday and stared down at it.
"I love you and you were ashamed of me all this time. I can't believe I thought you cared about me. All you cared about was your family's approval but you didn't even give me a chance to even try. I honestly wanted to tell you about the kiss but I was so afraid that you would leave me and hurt me again like you always did, so Leo and I kept it a secret and agreed to forget it happened." She struggled to breathe as she gripped the necklace as tight as possible, her knuckles dulling in color as her tears stained her cheeks, "Turns out that you were planning to anyway all because your family hated my skin color."
"Hazel, I…" Frank was too shocked, somewhat ashamed of himself.
"I kept it a secret for so long and then Luke approached me." The mention of Luke's name attracted Annabeth's ears. "He was the one who had the picture; he used it against me, made me do an awful deed. He made spy on Annabeth and Thalia." She said regretfully as she looked at Annabeth and Thalia. "I'm sorry guys but he made me follow you like paparazzi."
"You mean all this time, you were spying on us. We trusted you Hazel!" Thalia shouted; the betrayal evident in her voice as she looked at Hazel with disgust where as Annabeth stood there frozen in fear.
"I know and I am sorry. I will never forgive myself, and I am sorry. Luke sent that picture to the press because I told him I was done, I should have done it from the beginning but I did it now, and it has cost me everything." She looked away and at the ground, squeezing her eyes shut as the tears gushed from her eyes. "I am sorry guys."
She turned to Frank. "Hazel…"
"I am sorry Frank. I already know that it is over between us since you told your family that you had dumped me and I deserve it but I just want you to know that I love you and I won't ever stop loving you even if you are ashamed of me. So I am going to go because I know I am not wanted here." Hazel hugged her chest as she turned on heel and ran out the room before anyone could say anything.
Frank's eyes were filled with tears as he looked at Leo who had tears in his eyes as he pulled himself to his feet. His eye that Frank had punched was now swollen shut, he looked so broken it was nearly unbearable. "I am sorry Frank. It never should have happened, you are one of my best friends and I will never forgive myself for letting it happen." Leo winced as took a step forward, his ankle throbbing do to the fact that he must have injured it trying to get away from Frank.
Frank just remained silent as he looked at Leo with a regretful gaze.
"I once upon a time had feelings towards her but I respected that she was with you but I hated how you kept hurting her. That day you hurt her and I comforted her and I took advantage of her and I regret it. I wanted her to love me the way she loved you, I loved her and wanted so badly to treat her right." Leo confessed to his friend, seeming to no longer be afraid anymore. "Then you came back and you made her so happy and I let her go. I got over her and fell in love with someone else and I'm happy now."
"Leo, where are you going?" Jason asked as Leo slowly made his way to the door.
"Sorry Jason but I need to get out of here. I can't be in the band anymore. I am sorry but I need time to think. This band has wrecked everything I care about and right now, I have somewhere I need to because I have some explaining to someone very important to me, so this is good bye bud." Leo whispered sorrowfully as he limped out the room with one of the security guards helping him down to his car to get home.
Frank looked at Jason with the same look that Leo had. "I am sorry Jas, but I am leaving the band too. After everything that has happened, I can't do this anymore either. As much as I love the band, it's gotten to the point where it is coming between everything." Frank spoke regretfully, his voice breaking further and further, the longer he spoke.
"But Frank, we're more than just a band. We're a family and families are supposed to stick together." Jason pleaded, he looked desperate now.
"I am sorry Jason but I am done." Frank said sorrowfully, "I will be by to pick up my stuff later because right now, I just can't…" He couldn't finish his sentence as his voice broke and a tear escaped from his eye, and he clenched his fist and turned on his heel and left the studio, unable to stay there, in that room for a minute longer.
Jason stood there dumbfounded, unable to process what had just transpired here. "The band is over, isn't it?" Jason asked, his voice cracking as his eyes lost the bright light they once held. "So that's it. It's over and done. We won't be playing for Annabeth anymore, no more gigs at the Rodeo. I lose the contract, I have nothing now."
Before Thalia could step forward, Apollo walked forward and placed his hand on Jason's shoulder, forcing the young man to look up at Apollo. "Jason, if you are willing to continue on your own as a Solo Artist then I would be more than happy to draw up a contract for you but your contract as a band would be basically placed on hold encase the band might someday come back together. It's your choice Jason, you don't have to decide now but promise you will think about it."
Jason nodded his head as he embraced Apollo briefly before heading over to Thalia who had her arms already open for him and embraced her brother. Piper hugging him from behind him, sandwiching him between them. Annabeth was so lost in thought and then it hit her.
Luke.
"Thalia, I have to go. I have to tell Percy the truth before Luke has the chance to ruin it all." Annabeth whispered into Thalia's ear who nodded and wished her best friend luck as she rushed out the room, descending in the elevator, texting Charles to get ready to take her to Percy's apartment. Little did she know, she was already too late.
Percy opened the door of his apartment, smiling as he placed his rucksack down on the ground, smiling as he closed the door behind him. He almost missed the envelop that was on the floor and he picked up the large A4 envelop and looked at it curiously. He flipped it over and saw that a single message written on it.
Want to know the truth,
then look inside
and all will be revealed.
L.C
Curiosity got the better of Percy and he headed towards the kitchen and pulled out his pen knife from the drawer he kept it and flicked it open, slicing it open and opened the slit wider, curiously looking inside before inserting his hand and pulling out the contents and placing them on the table.
There was a pile of photos and a flash drive.
Percy picked up the piles of photos and looked down at the first one, frowning when he noticed that it was just Anna with Thalia in what looked to be a board room, although, they looked like they were arguing, cause Thalia was waving her hands frantically.
Percy moved on to the next one and his eyes grew wider when he saw that the next picture was of Anna lifting up what he thought was her hair, revealing a bald head and Percy went to the next one and his eyes widened when he saw that Anna was removing a bald cap, revealing luscious blonde locks escaping from beneath its prison.
He moved to the next one in disbelief, and saw that Anna was removing colored contacts from her eyes because one eyes was a bright almost a platinum/stormy grey and the other eye was the color Percy knew and had fallen in love with; dark and electric blue. The photo was legit because Anna and Thalia's clothes hadn't changed, that and the fact that Percy could see the necklace that rested around her neck that he gave her.
He shifted onto the next photo, ignoring the sense of betrayal that was brewing in his heart. This photo had Thalia with Anna once again except she was helping Anna put her fake wig on. Thalia knew the whole time? He thought in disbelief. His own family had been lying to him. As he looked through the photos, getting faster as he flicked through them, tears pouring from his eyes as he counted every person than had betrayed him and lied to him about who Anna really was.
The penultimate photograph was double split photo. On one side was a picture of Anna climbing into a car, looking directly at the camera, with her blue eyes and her black curls and the other side was exactly the same car, except it was a blonde haired woman with grey eyes, wearing exactly the same thing as Anna getting out of the car, both were zoomed in and Percy looked closely at the facial features unable to comprehend what he was seeing.
He looked at the bottom and saw the time stamps at the bottom of each side, the dates matched, the times were only several minutes apart, the location still the same, the number plate still the same, the car still unchanging, nothing had changed. This happened right outside what Percy had believed to be Anna's apartment building. He could see the bead necklace he gave Anna around both women's necks. There was no faulting that it was the one he gave her.
The last photo was the worst of all. It was a picture of Anna standing behind the kitchen counter of her apartment with the black wig on the counter and his mother standing in the doorway. That must have been the most painful betrayal of all. His own mother knew, the woman who he had adored for years, loved him since the day he was born and taught him to always tell the truth was hiding the biggest secret from him. How could he have been so stupid?
Percy dropped the photos onto the table, his hand covering his mouth as he tried to force down the sobs as the betrayal finally hit him. He finally realized who the person was. No one named Anna Olympia existed; it was nothing but a cover. The woman beneath the hair and eyes was Annabeth Chase. Percy didn't know how much more hurt he could take as he picked up his bag and pulled his laptop and switched on.
He waited for it to load before he plugged the flash stick in and waited for it to load. As soon as it had, he opened it and found a video, wasting no second, he clicked play and the screen went black before a message appeared.
I know, such a shock aint it. What kind of a person does that. Well, if you still don't believe that Anna Olympia isn't real, then this video should help my dear boy.
So please, enjoy the show.
The screen lit up and it was obvious that the camera was in a recording booth and the second two figures appeared, Percy felt the hurt grow tenfold as he recognized his cousin.
Thalia all but shoved the blonde woman into the room. "Thalia, what's wrong? Why are you so angry with me?" The blonde haired woman asked in a confused voice as she nursed her red wrist that Thalia had gripped very much too tight.
Thalia laughed as she slammed the door, "That's really rich Annabeth." She laughed as she turned round and growled angrily and punched the wall, causing Annabeth to jump back in fright, "What's fucking wrong is that you have gone and done exactly what I told you not to fucking do you stupid blonde." Annabeth looked completely and utterly confused at what was going on.
"Pray tell, what exactly did I do that you told me not to do?" She said with a raised eyebrow as she crossed her arms across her chest and glared at Thalia.
"I told you to fucking tell Percy who the fucking Hades you are before you go and fall in love with him!" Thalia all but screamed which caused Annabeth's face to fall as Thalia continued to let her anger grow. "This is so fucked up!" Thalia growled as she punched the wall again in anger.
"Thalia, it's not like I can control who I fall in love with." Annabeth said in a defensive tone.
"Get it through your thick skull, Annabeth!" Thalia yelled as she turned over a couch which made Annabeth back up against the sound board, actually a little afraid of Thalia right now. "Your fucking secret identity and double life is going to wreck people's lives! You were so careless. You let so many people find out who you are. Jason knows, I know, for god's sake, Sally, his own mother knows! What do you think finding out that people he loves and trusts have been lying to him!"
"I didn't mean for Sally find out Thalia. I made a stupid mistake; don't hate me for a mistake that wasn't my fault." Annabeth cried, tears forming in her eyes. "Do you think I want to keep lying to him, but at this stage, I don't know if I can tell him? I am too far into this hole, Thalia."
"I don't care how far in you are Annabeth!" Thalia retaliated, rage evident in her voice. "Gods, I wish I had fucking told him the day I found out but I just had to go and fucking give you more time because you are my fucking friend."
"Oh, so you regret not hurting him. Huh, what kind of heartless bitch are you Thalia. This is my secret and I have to be the one to tell him. Just because he is your cousin doesn't mean you have to tell a secret to him that isn't yours to tell." Annabeth wrapped her arms around herself, tears still gathering at a rapid pace in her eyes. "You think I want to lie to him. If you do then fuck you because you know it isn't like that."
"Then why-"
"Shut up and listen for once because this isn't about you and it doesn't even concern you, Thalia!" Annabeth interrupted, her voice held so much vengeance and anger, anyone who heard the screaming match stayed as far away as possible.
"Who the fuck gives you the right to say that this doesn't concern me!" Thalia screamed back as she shoved Annabeth, causing her to stumbled back which only fueled the raging fire that spiraled out of control as she shoved Thalia back.
"This is about me not you for fuck sakes, Thalia. If you really think I enjoy this then you obviously have a screw loose in that stubborn brain of yours. First calling me a coward, then relating me to that piece of garbage called Calypso Greaves who took everything from me and then saying I'm exactly like that lying piece of garbage who I once thought I had feeling for and now this." She looked like a fragile porcelain doll that was about to shatter into dust. "If you really think that I don't understand why we are still fucking best friends."
Annabeth walked towards the door when Thalia grabbed her arm.
"For Zeus's sake Annabeth. You can't be Anna Olympia forever; one day it's going to come out who you are and it will cost you a friend." Thalia whispered; her voice softer than a whisper as she released Annabeth arms. When she had finished what she said, Annabeth gasped and reached up, covering her mouth with both hands, in complete shock.
Annabeth said nothing in retaliation.
The screen went black as Percy stared at the screen, before he crushed his eyes shut, grabbing his hair in handfuls, tears pouring from his eyes as he bit down on his lip to contain his gut wrenching sobs that wanted to escape, accidentally biting down hard to the point where he drew blood but he didn't care. The pain didn't amount to what he was currently feeling right now.
He breathed out and headed to his bathroom and grabbed some toilet paper, pressing it against his lip when he heard his apartment door open, along with a voice that he knew all too well, calling out to him. Percy threw the toilet paper down and headed to the lounge where he saw Anna, looking like Anna, black hair and blue eyes standing in front of the kitchen counter, looking at the pictures he had just received but he knew that she wasn't real.
"Do you want to explain Anna, or should I call you by your real name because Anna Olympia is just your cover, isn't it." He spoke up coldly, and almost soulless as Anna looked up from the photos and stared at Percy with sorrowful and disbelieving eyes as he stared at her. "Why don't you take off your disguise so I can see who the person I really fell in love with is."
"Percy, I can explain. I was going to tell you but…"
"Stop hiding behind the façade, stop lying to me because I am already betrayed so let me see the real you before I come over there and do it myself." He forced out, the tears falling once more. "Just show me who you really are."
Anna had tears in her eyes as she stared at him. It really was too late, he already knew and there was nothing she could do except do what he asked and finally come clean. She sighed guiltily as she reached up and removed her wig, revealing the bald cap she was wearing and then she removed it, revealing her golden blonde hair before reaching in her pocket and pulling out a small black case, and one by one she took each of her blue contacts out and placed them in her case.
She looked directly at Percy, her eyes filled with so much sadness but they didn't rival the betrayal and sadness in Percy's now dull green eyes. They had lost their sparkle and Annabeth's head broke, knowing that it was because of her lie. "Who are you?" he said in a stoic tone as his emotions went rampant inside him. It wasn't a question, because he knew who she was already, he just needed to hear her say it.
"My name isn't Anna Olympia." Annabeth forced out, her voice filling with so many out of control emotions that she was losing herself as she gave him what he asked. "My real name is Annabeth Chase."
And the secret was finally out.
Well there we are people. I said there would be a shit storm of note when the truth came out. Everything has fallen apart, Frank and Hazel, the band is wrecked, trust has been broken between friends and family. Heart ache and devastation all around. The next chapter is of course the big confession, the tale of Anna Olympia and how she came to be. What will poor Percy do? What will Annabeth do and say? Just gonna have to wait and see so see you all when I get the next chapter up which will be posted on December 3rd, the exact day I posted the first chapter of this story. Part I of this story is coming to a near end, so don't forget to review, pm, favourite, follow and let me know what you thought. See you all soon my dear fictioneers.
Peace out!
~Michaela~
