With her internet-famous roommate it was hard to focus on work on the days when she was shooting a new video. Piper had Jason film everything, she was a beauty and fashion guru that nearly every teenage girl in America looked to for help. To make matters worse, she was writing a book called Beauty By Piper, I hated to admit it to her face but Piper seemed perfect, she was gorgeous, had a perfect boyfriend, and was famous. She actually had her life together, I truly envied her, while I was hacking Google and Nike just so I could pay rent, she was carelessly shooting a video and never had to pay rent.
Some days Piper would use Annabeth for makeup tutorials or fashion things, today was one of those days.
"Lightly coat the top of the eyelid with a smokey grey eyeshadow-" I tuned out Piper, I was lost in my thoughts.
Work got into my head, I couldn't stop thinking about how I demoted. What did I do wrong? I had done everything to the best of my abilities, accept-... Oh no! It had to be that one floorplan for the new building downtown that I turned in an hour after he needed it! That has to be it, otherwise- does he just not like me? I try to get along with people, but I'm naturally an introvert.
"Annabeth. Annabeth! Earth to Annabeth!"
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and I saw Piper looking at me.
"Yeah, Piper?"
"Okay, something's very wrong, what's up?"
"Nothing, I'm fine." I looked up at her and faked a smile.
"No, no, no, no, no! You aren't fooling me again, something is off. What's up?"
"Work, that's all."
"Nope, you never stress over work this much. Ever. Look at your makeup," she said, handing me a mirror. A grey eyed girl stared back at me with smokey eyes.
"Good work, it looks great!"
"Thanks, I could upload it, if only my model didn't look gloomy and depressed…"
"Sorry, Pipes, I really am," I said.
"Uh huh, okay, we're going out. You need to be taken out of the apartment. You've been in here for way too long. Come on." She dragged me out the door.
Even though I protested, she forced me to go with her.
When we got back to the apartment I raced to my room and grabbed my laptop. I figured out that it was Nico that was part of this hacking group. I got a text from him.
Tonight: Apple. I need to know how secure their firewall is. When you're done text me and meet me at the bay lookout.
Apple has a fairly secure firewall, but I got past it.
"How long did it take you?"
"Less than an hour."
"Good. Here's your pay, I'll text you tomorrow night." He looked around as he talked, his hood always stayed up to keep his dark face from being seen.
"Nico, are you sure about this?" I asked, as I took the envelope.
"No, but I have to, I'm sorry Annabeth." He stood up and left.
As I started walking home I felt someone watching me. Percy popped out of behind the bush behind me.
"Who was that?" He suddenly asked.
I freaked out and smacked him on accident.
"Percy! You can't do that!" I hissed.
"Who was it? Are you cheating on me?"
"What? No! That's just Nico," I recovered quickly.
"Oh. I feel stupid now…"
I grinned. "It's okay, Seaweed Brain, come back to my place and we'll watch Disney movies until we fall asleep."
"Little Mermaid!?"
"Sure," I laughed.