CHAPTER 8

Rivals

CALYPSO

Before it suddenly became the best day of her life, it was the worst day of her life.

Her rich father, Richmond Atlas, or "Atlas the Titan" who was the CEO of Atlas Corp, just bought her something. Most people would be happy and thank their dads for buying them one. But that wasn't how her dad gave it to her.

She'd been alone in their mansion for 2 weeks now, as her father was on business trip and she gave the maids and her butler some time off.

Her father never paid much attention to her, as his attention was always in his work. Perhaps maybe that was one of the reasons she became a bit of an introvert and a geek.

She'd expect her dad to come home and he himself will give the Xbox, but no.

She'd woken up to a ring in the mansion's doorbell, and there was a man in a suit and tie and sunglasses and a phone.

He looked like a man from the supernatural series Callie liked, Men In Black.

He extended a hand out to Callie, and shook it.

"I understand you're Ms. Atlas?" he asked her.

Oh, great, one of dad's bodyguards.

"Uh, yes." Callie replied.

The man nodded and snapped his fingers at his back. He was signaling from the black Chevrolet car from behind. The car's door opened and another Man In Black got out, holding a box wrapped in stripes with the logo of the Atlas Corporation.

"Regards from Mr. Atlas." The first man said, handing the wrapped box to her.

"Speaking as his mid-level manager, Mr. Atlas sends his condolences." The second man said.

Then they left, but not before the second man whispered something to Callie.

"And speaking as a messenger, Your Father's sorry he hasn't been home lately. He says he loves you." He said one last time, patting her shoulder.

Callie reacted with mixed emotions.

Anger.

Sadness.

Confusion.

Angry that her father was never there for her even when she never had a mom. Angry that he always put his work before his family. Angry that he think keeping on buying Callie things that were expensive paid for his bad excuse as a poor father.

Sad that he couldn't come home after weeks again, sad that she will never have the father-daughter relationship that other people have. And,

Confused. Because she'll never understand how her father's brain works.

As the double doors of the mansion closed, she went up to her room and unwrapped the present.

An XBOX 360.

She had always wanted one.

But never this way.

All Callie wanted to see was Percy.

She was currently in her 7th period, Social Studies, and Percy was nowhere to be found. She kept looking for him earlier during breaks and he wasn't even in lunch. But all Callie could see was Annabeth; Percy's best friend. For some major reason, Callie was jealous of Annabeth.

It was the fact that Percy and Annabeth have been together as friends for 11 years, and the lingering thought that Percy might like Annabeth. Or that Annabeth might like Percy.

Callie always had this 'sixth sense' of hers to tell if people were lying. And given how Annabeth fakingly acted like during the moment they met on Percy's car, she was not happy to see her.

But Callie had to try.

It was the very lingering thought that Annabeth might figure out that she liked Percy, and the fact that if Annabeth were to become jealous of her, it would not be pretty. She'd seen first hand how Annabeth acted sometimes in class. She acted with pride, leadership, and seriousness. And she definitely didn't want a girl like that as her enemy. But once again, Callie thought:

She had to try.

She had to see Percy.

So after class, she went up to Annabeth's locker and there she was, reading some magazine in front of it.

Callie found tons of reasons to be jealous of her.

The fact that she had blond curly hair. The fact she was one of the most prettiest girls Callie has ever met, and those gray eyes that looked like it wants to watch you all day. She'd understand why Percy would like a girl like this.

So Callie did try to talk to her.

"Hi." Was the only thing Callie said to Annabeth. She smiled at her.

Annabeth didn't. She studied Callie like she was some trespasser.

"Oh. You." Annabeth tried to ignore her by reading the magazine.

"Um, uh, it's nice to see you. I was wondering where's Percy?" Callie tried to casually smile.

Annabeth sent her another glare and vaguely replied, "What'd you want with him?"

Callie understood the message perfectly.

So she was right.

Annabeth did like Percy. It was pretty obvious at this point. And Annabeth was sending her the "get-away-from-my-man-or-I-will-personally-escort-you-to-the-gates-of-the-underworld" look. She'd just made up her own enemy.

"Uh, it's nothing. Just wanted to see him, haha." Callie tried to play along, but Annabeth wasn't buying it. This girl was at least an inch taller than her, and Callie was already scared. Callie mentally slapped herself in the face. What else was she going to say? 'Oh, because I have this huge crush on him even though you like him too.'

"Nothing? If it's nothing, then forget it. Percy doesn't like people who just want to see him for nothing." Annabeth was really trying hard to hate her.

Callie has had enough.

"Look, could you stop being such a hypocrite? I just want to talk to him, what does it matter to you?" Callie fumed.

Annabeth was about to say something back when Percy arrived.

And speak of the devil. . . .

Percy immediately appeared besides Annabeth. He playfully punched her arm and smiled. He seemed to light up Annabeth's face every time she sees him.

"Annabeth, what are we doing here? We have Art Class in less than 2 minutes."

"Hey, Percy." Callie said, trying to alert the two that she still existed.

Percy's bright smile expanded as his eyes bore Callie's, and Annabeth's cute smile turned into a disgustful frown, like she thought of Callie as a disgusting person.

"Hey. Meeting later at the SGC?" Percy asked.

"Um, yeah. See ya later. I gotta head back to class." As Callie left, both of them glared at each other, like they were ready for some sort of war.

Callie couldn't talk to Percy with Annabeth around, and she couldn't talk to Percy when he had class. Her art class wasn't in the same time as Percy's.

But Callie knew well enough that she had a rival for the affections of Percy Jackson.

And her name was Annabeth Chase.

I AM THE KING OF SHORT CHAPTERS!

MWAAHAHAHAHAHAHA

The next one's probably going to be short, too. But the next one after that's going to be very long. Anyways, leave a

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Chapter 9 - ?! #!# $$ !%$!$E#

Percy ?! #%$^$%*&(*&&$^# Callie ?! # $#$# #$ #$ # Annabeth ?(*(*( ^&^%$#% $ #

?! # #!? ? #%!^?%^&*?(^?#

Coming s00n?! #!

(Glitch)