The week passed by slowly. Annabeth's maids sensed something was wrong with her, Percy sensed it too. They tried to help her but she pushed them away and they, not wanting to push her, let it go.

Percy maintained his daily routine of dropping by Annabeth's room every night where the two would talk for hours in the end and would separate with a tight hug, and Annabeth tried desperately not to read too much into his lingering touches.

Annabeth and Luke came a lot closer too. They talked in the hallways and sometimes took a walk down the garden. He never mentioned their late night conversation and neither did Annabeth.

Hazel, Lizzie and Ankita were working tirelessly on her dress for the first report and the ball, and Annabeth often lent them a hand.

Thus Annabeth spend her time, surrounded by her friends and it helped her keep her mind off of things.

But on Friday, Annabeth had nothing to do. Percy was on a date with Katie and Luke was posted in the King's office.

She went to the Women's Room but there was nothing to do as she had collected the basic information of all the girls. But she couldn't sit idle. Sitting idle would cause her to think and thinking would inevitably lead to Percy and right now, Percy equals Hurt. But there was also the Report. It was the first Report of the Selection and it was tonight and despite of being assured by Victoria that they would not have to do anything other than sit properly and smile, they were all very tense. And that tense group of girls included Annabeth.

Annabeth told Percy about her worries and he reassured her that everything would be fine. That did little to calm her.

She spotted Piper talking to Lou and decided to join them. They were talking about how good the shrimp they had for lunch had been, when Hannah and Drew came up to them.

"Hey Annie!" Hannah said in a slightly nasally voice.

Annabeth frowned and said, "Don't call me that." She could not think of a reason as for why they would suddenly wish to talk to her.

"We heard," Drew said ignoring her. "That you worked here before you got into the Selection?" She said that loud enough to be heard by the entire room.

"Go away Drew." Piper said from beside her.

"She wasn't talking to you, dirt skin." Hannah snared.

"And we don't want to talk to you, you racist pig." Lou said through gritted teeth.

"And I didn't come to talk to you," Drew spat. "I came for answers from Annie."

It got deadly quiet as they waited for Annabeth to answer but when she didn't, Lady Carly, a Lady of the Court spoke up.

"Oh yes she did!" She sneered. "She was a lowly slave."

"Oh really?" Drew asked. "Then I assume you know Prince for longer than I?"

Annabeth swallowed and replied with, "Yes. Yes I did."

"Don't you think," Drew said leaning dangerously close to her face. "That its a bit unfair?"

The other girl shrugged. "Life is unfair."

Drew's sneer did NOT make her look pretty and Annabeth was filled with an irrational fear.

"Hey!" A voice said from behind Drew. "Leave her alone, Drew."

Drew turned around to reveal a beautiful girl with flowing black hair and skin as pale as milk. Her bright blue eyes stood out against her dark hair and made her look mysterious.

Selena Beauregard.

She strolled up to them and stood boldly in front of Drew. She kinda towered her even though her heels were shorter than the other girl's.

"Mind your own business, sis," Drew snared.

Her half sister frowned and said something so quietly that only Drew could hear it. Well it must have been something very bad as her face paled and she stalked off with a scoff, with a confused Hannah behind her.

After a few quiet moments, the room went back to its usual conversations, but there was chill in the air that wasn't there before.

"I'm sorry about my sister," Selena said. "She's crazy."

Annabeth smiled and said, "Thank you for saving me."

"Oh it was nothing! But, " she clapped her hands together. "If you want to repay me, you could give me a tour around the Palace! Since you worked here and know it and all."

Annabeth grinned and said, "I'd love to!"

"And," Lou said. "Since you didn't tell us you worked here, you have to give us one too, as a repay."

Piper nodded excitedly and so the girls went on tour. But Annabeth could not keep a thought out of her mind.

How did Drew find out?

∆¶¶¶∆

"Please don't look bored girls," Victoria pleaded once again. She was almost as nervous as the Selectees.

"Madame Victoria," Percy stepped in to save the girls. "I think they got the memo. Please show them to their seats."

Victoria curtsied, blushing tremendously and motioned for the Selected to follow her into the Rec Room.

A blonde head caught his attention and as he gazed at Annabeth and her dress that showed off her sides, he groaned internally. It was going to be a lot hard to focus.

The Report started after 10 minutes and Percy could barely stop looking at Annabeth. When it was his time to give the Reports about the capture of a few rebels, he nearly stuttered.

Sally could barely contain her laughter and Gabe looked like he was plotting a murder.

Finally Percy welcomed Apollo to the stage and handed over the mice to him.

"Hello everybody!" He shouted at the camera and the crowd of spectators cheered.

"We've already heard the Weekly Report from their Majesties and His Highness and I'd like to thank them for that."

The Royals smiled politely.

"I know we can't wait to get on about the biggest gossip of the Selection, so let's get on with it," Apollo continued.

Percy wondered if the cameras would burn from his bright smile and flashy outfit and shining hair. It really hurt his eyes to look at him, like he was looking at the sun.

"Unfortunately," the anchor continued. "We won't be talking to any of the Selected today, but our dear Prince Perseus is in for a long interview with me! So please welcome His Highness to the stage and take a seat with me."

Percy grinned, aware of the cameras focused in him as he made his way towards the white couches set up in the middle.

"Good Evening Your Highness. How are you today?"

Percy was already feeling sick of this. "I'm very well Apollo, thank you."

"Well let's stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point. How would you describe time in the Selection so far?"

"Oh its been wonderful. I've met so many amazing women and most of them would make wonderful queens. But some would be better than the others and my job is to find the best among them."

"Very well said, Sire. So far, who do you think would make the best Queen?"

Percy shrugged his shoulder. "Well, I haven't really talked to all of the ladies to know them very well, so I can't say anything yet."

"Well how many ladies have you got to know exactly?"

Percy smiled impishly. "Don't pretend like you don't have thousands of photos of all the dates I've been on, Apollo."

Apollo laughed loudly. "Okay, okay you got me there. But shall we take a glimpses of a few them?"

Percy nodded and gestured for Apollo to go ahead. Apollo clapped his hands and all around the room, the screens switched from the national emblem to a picture of Percy and Rachel painting in the Art Room.

"I believe this was your first date?"

"Ah, yes it was. Lady Dare and I painted while having a little snack. It was amazing."

"How is the Lady herself?"

"Oh she is a wonderful person. She is joyous, creative, intelligent, witty and funny and so much more."

Apollo went through all the dated one by one and after the last one, he asked a very dreaded question.

"Well Your Highness, rumors are, Lady Chase here is a very good friend of yours?"

Percy stiffened slightly and glanced at Annabeth, who was also very stiff but revived her smile when she felt the cameras shift to her face.

Percy too quickly reorganized himself and grinned. "Oh yes. we are very good friends."

Apollo raised his eyebrows as if to say, 'Very good friends huh?'

"Well don't you think, your Highness," he said slowly. "That it is a bit unfair?"

"Unfair?"

"Because you two know each other very well and that gives Lady Annabeth some advantage against the others?"

"Well Apollo," Percy said slowly. "You must understand that I believe in equal chances and anyone will not get undeserved privileges. So my friendship with Lady Annabeth will not give her any advantage over the other Selected. I promise that."

Apollo nodded though he didn't look convinced.

The Report ended soon after that and after listening to a lecture about how they should've smiled more from Victoria, Annabeth quickly went to her room, not wanting to speak to anyone. What a day.

She entered into her room and was greeted by the girls who confirmed that she had done a good job.

Once they had taken off her make up and helped her out of the dress, Annabeth put on a comfy night gown as the girls started to head to their quarters, but not before Hazel provided her with a warm cup of green tea, without even her asking of it. That girl is a gift from the gods.

Annabeth sat down with her tea on her desk and thought about Drew and what happened at the Report. She knew that people would find out soon about Percy and her friendship, but not this soon. It's barely been a week.

And what Drew said was right too. Her knowing Percy beforehand was unfair, but her not having any chance to be with him was unfair too. But could she really ever be with him? She knew that Percy cared for her but does he really like her the way she does? And even if he does, being with him comes with a lot of responsibilities and pressure. Would she be able to handle that?

Wait. What is she even thinking? Being with him would mean... marrying him. Being his wife. His one and only. The love of his life. Wow. Those are the downsides of being in a relationship with the Prince. You don't get to actually date him. You straight up marry him. And if you do get to date him, you either have to be from a high caste or share him with a bunch of other girls.

Am I really ready for that? Am I really ready for the pressure, responsibilities?

Then I think about Percy. His smile, his eyes, his voice... and maybe, if she could have that forever, all to herself, she wouldn't mind taking on the duties. Annabeth smiled at the thought but it disappeared when she remembered that she could never have that. Because of her stupid, stupid caste. And besides, Percy doesn't like her like that, Luke confirmed it just a week ago. So how can she even imagine

As she sat there, thinking about her unfortunate, miserable love life, there as a knock on her door. She sighed, not wanting to talk to anyone, but knowing that she had to answer the door. And she kind of hoped it was Percy.

But unfortunately, it was a maid she didn't know.

"Milady," she bowed. " Price asked me deliver this to you." she handed Annabeth a neatly folded white paper.

Her heart did a slight summersault as she took the note, blushing and smiling.

"Thank you," she said to the maid who bowed and left.

Annabeth shut the door and went to sit on the bed before reading the note.

Dear Wise Girl,

Wanna have lunch with me tomorrow? 12 noon, rooftop. I'll be waiting. It's a date. Feel free to reject.

Annabeth giggled and laid down, holding the paper close to her. Maybe she couldn't be with him in the end. And maybe it would be unfair to herself to hope. But she could pretend. She could pretend that they have a chance.

This chapter is dedicated to my friend, who has been my biggest support :)