Alrighty. I have fifty three reviews and about four chapters. This fic is coming along really well. I have an idea in my head that NOBODY knows about, I know who Annabeth will chose in the end of the Bachelorette, but... well... read to find out, I guess. Oh, and I have a question, would you mind if I switched POV's sometimes? 'Cause I mean... well... I had to think a lot about this chapter, like how to make it in Annabeth's POV. It was originally going to be in Percy's... but... yeah. This chapter was really thought out and it had to be written just right to please you guys. I had to think, and take this literally, almost forever, to have a reason why Percy and Nico could get to the mansion. I hope you guys liked this chapter, because I know I do. One more thing. People in Korea. People in France. People in Bulgaria are reading my fic. Thank you so much for that. It really means a lot to me, and I'm not just saying that, because I won't say something that means a load of crap. Keep in mind the endish of the chapter is where the rating comes in. Again, it's not for fluff. Yet.

-Blue.

I checked my watch for the hundredth time and took a sip of my water. Then, I checked my watch again. 11:17. Still.

"Dearie, are you alright? You look like you're going to have to skydive without a parachute or something." The elderly lady wearing sunglasses sitting next to me said.

"I'm fine." Just pray Athena and Zeus haven't gotten in any fights lately. The fact that I have to chose between a bunch of amazing men doesn't help my nerves either. "Just fine."

"Are you sure?" She asked. The lady was getting on my nerves, but I knew she was being sincere, and not trying to be annoying. I think.

"Positive."

"Say, aren't you the girl on that hip chic TV show, what's the name... The Bachelorette?"

Great. Old ladies watch the show too. "Yes ma'am."

"I love that show. Young romance and drama. Two of my favorite things."

"Erm, young romance?"

"Why, yes."

"Aren't you, and I'm not trying to be rude or anything, a little old to like young romance? Shouldn't you move on to older romance?"

"Oh." She looked like she made a mistake. "Sorry. Habit."

"Habit?"

"You know, I used to be beautiful in my day. Elegant parties every night with handsome young men. Ah. I wish I could be there now. In fact, that's where I'll be going when we land."

"Huh?" I asked. This lady was confusing me. She looked around, and lowered her sunglasses. Where the sunglasses had been, young, smooth, tanned skin and beautiful chocolate brown eyes showed.

"It's Aphrodite." The lady said, her voice changing from old and cracked to young and sounding like bells.

"What!" I shrieked. People stared. I lowered my voice. "What are you doing here?" I hissed.

"Now, now. That's no way to treat a goddess." She said uncaringly, checking her perfectly manicured nails. "And be quieter. I'm incognito. It took me ages to get rid of Zeus's prying eyes. I had to use the best of my form and turning into this old lady instead of my usual teenage form. Before I got on the plane I kind of let Zeus know I was here so he wouldn't blast you and the others to pieces."

"Wouldn't it be the other way around?"

"Well, yeah. We're flying inside a super-strong bubble that Zeus is determined to break. Don't worry. The bubble is as strong as newlywed love."

"Umm, alright."

"Actually, Percy and Nico couldn't come on the plane." She admitted. "It was too hard to get them on without them dying."

I had taken a sip of my drink, but when she said this I sprayed it all over the chair in front of me. "What?" I growled. "Where the hell are they?"

"They had to take a different form of transportation." She said carefully. "They'll make it. I promise."

"Where are they?" I repeated.

"They'll be fine. If Percy bothers to use his powers."

"They're on a boat?"

"Of course. It's the fastest form of transportation."

"Besides, oh, I don't know... A plane, a car, a helicopter, basically any other freaking form of travel!"

"Relax! He's the son of Uncle Po. He'll get there faster then on a plane... if Zeus doesn't strike them with a lightning bolt first."

"What?"

"Never mind!" She said quickly.

"Couldn't you just tell Nico to shadow travel?"

She waved it aside with her hand. "Pssh. Ladies first. They can't arrive at the mansion before the lady. What fun would that be?"

"I don't want fun. I want order! I don't want them to die!"

"Why?" She said, raising her eyebrows suggestively. "Do you loove them?"

My cheeks burned. "No! Well, maybe. But that's not the-"

"Annabeth and Percy or Nico sittin' in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love-"

"Shush! Couldn't you have just let Nico shadow travel or something?"

"But that's no fun." Aphrodite complained. "Anyway, we're descending. Zeus is getting weaker as we get closer to the ground. By the way, you won't be happy with your choice."

"What?" I asked, really confused now. But she just puts a finger to her lips then points to the ceiling.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are descending into Hollywood, California. We will arrive at the destination in approximately twenty five minutes. Thank you for flying with Jet Blue, and we hope to see you again.

I turn toward the goddess, but she has earphones on and is staring intently at the screen, which is blank. "Aphrodite?"

She beckons for me to shut up and points to the screen. "Shh. Watching."

I groan and fall back into my chair. I put my seatbelt on and hand the remains of my water to an attendant. She smiles at me. "Thank you miss. I hope you enjoyed flying with us." She told me, before heading back into the pilot's cabin. I close my eyes. Yeah, only my journey's not over yet.

-o-

The second I step out into the bright, overly sweltering sunshine, I'm swarmed with security guards and paparazzi.

"Is it true you've met Nico before?"

"Is it true that you once dated Percy?"

"Have you secretly been having an affair with another man, and this will be revealed in the grand finale?"

"Is it true your part of a top secret government agency to bring justice to people who don't believe in Unicorns?"

"What?" I asked, kind of creeped out by the last one. "Unicorns?"

"Yes, Unicorns." The man said, eagerly shoving the camera and mic into my face.

"Ms. Chase, come with us." A burly man said. Together we were led inside, where someone distracted the swarm of paparazzi and I was shoved into a cab. Why was security so tight? And I mean, Unicorns?

A low beep told me I had received a text message. I took out my BlackBerry and opened the text.

Were you tackled by men with cameras too?

It was from an unknown number. Who is this?

It's Percy. On Justin's phone.

Oh. And yes, I was.

Where r u now?

In a cab. U?

Same.

We should prolly stop txting. I dnt want another mnster attack.

Good idea. C u at the mansion?

Yeah. L8r G8r.

L8r.

I sighed and put away my phone. "How far away are we?"

"Oh, about ten minutes or so.

"Okay. Thanks." I said and sat back. I looked out the window and mansions with thirty foot tall windows with large chandeliers hanging in plain sight. After a while, we pulled up to a gigantic pale orange villa with vines climbing up the sides. It had italian roofing and a ten foot tall and wide oak door, and a limo and eight different cars were parked out front, all sparking like new. The doors opened, and out stepped Chris, wearing a chocolate brown tuxedo despite the hundred and eighteen degree heat.

"Annabeth," He said warmly, and spread his hands. "Welcome to the Bachelorette Mansion." He then walked over to me and air kissed me. Air kissed. "So great to see you! I trust your flight was okay?"

I thought of Aphrodite, and how Percy and Nico probably wouldn't make it into the mansion for a while. Maybe even until the show was over. Curse you Aphrodite! Chris hooked his arm in mine and led me up the stone stairs. I breathed in semi-relief once we were inside and the doors were shut behind us; sealing away the outside world. And maybe my freedom.

-o-

Ten minutes later I was in a warehouse full of clothes with Gigi, Scarett and Mimi standing next to me. They were silent, staring at row after row after bathing suits of every kind known to man. Tankinis, bikinis, one pieces, sport suits, wet suits, swim trunks, speedos. Occasionally, one of the girls would squeal, pick something out, hold it up to me, then toss it aside after a moment of thought.

"Gigi-"

"Shh. Concentrating."

"But-"

"This is a fashion emergency, Annabeth! You need to shush. You must look fabulous for the pool party. In order to look fabulous, you must be quiet, so we can concentrate. Alright?"

"But Sc-"

"Shush!"

I huffed. "Gigi-"

"Annabeth? Doll? Be quiet."

"But-"

"Shush!" They chorused together. Then, they threw another bathing suit on the building pile. I shut my mouth, not wanting to get my head chopped off with professionally whitened teeth and manicured nails. Finally, I couldn't contain it any longer.

"Where's Scarlett?" I burst out.

"Sh- wait. She's right. Where is Scar?" Gigi asked Mimi.

Mimi shrugged. "Dunno. Scar! Scarlett!"

Nothing.

"Scarlett?" Gigi and Mimi shouted into the humongous warehouse. Their voice echoed, but no reply came.

"Boo." A soft voice said from behind us. And sadly, even though I've been through almost ten years of training and fighting monsters, it couldn't prepare me for a small girl with neon red hair who says, 'boo.' So, I screamed and whipped around. Scarlett was standing there looking quite pleased with herself.

"Scarlett! We were worried sick! Where were you?" Gigi demanded.

"You almost gave me a heart attack!" Mimi said, checking her pulse. "Don't do that again!"

"Think if it as revenge for the season one prank you pulled on me."

Mimi paled. "Alright, alright. I forgive you."

"Where were you?" Gigi demanded again.

Scarlett whipped out something bright green (and, I noticed, uncannily similar to a certain contestant's eyes.) with a black blotch that faded away on the bottom. Weird. Either way, it was gorgeous. It was beautiful. It was sleek. And most important, according to the girls, it was sexy.

"Put this on!" Scarlett said. "It'll look fabulous on you."

"Is there a reason it's the color of Percy and Nico's eyes?"

"Pssh." Mimi said, waving her hand. "Nah. Maybe." She shoved me into a dressing room and handed me the bathing suit. I shut and locked the door. I tried it on, and looked at the floor length mirror. It fit me perfectly, which was weird.

"Scarlett? Where did you get this?" I called, admiring myself in the mirror.

"Does it fit?" She called back.

"Yeah. But where did you get it?"

"Oh, I just... found it laying around."

"Even though it's exactly my size?"

"Yep."

"Even though it's the color of my former boyfriend's eyes and his good friend?"

There was silence. Then, a rush of words. "Yep."

"You dated Nico?"

"Percy and Nico know each other?"

I didn't answer.

"Answer us!" They all cried harmoniously.

"I didn't date Nico." I said slowly. Carefully. "And yes, Percy and Nico know each other."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Scarlett yelped. "This would make great gossip to Us Magazine! That money could be used to pay rent! A secret nobody knows... Why didn't you tell us?"

"What do you mean, secret?" I demanded, opening the door and stepping out. They paused to scan the outfit and in turn they nodded in approval. "Never mind the outfit! We can go over that later. What do you mean, secret?"

"Well. Everybody who's anybody knows that you and Nico used to be enemies. But nobody knows that you and Percy dated!"

"I never said we dated!" I said, panicking. If Percy didn't want anyone to know we dated,(which we totally did, for the record.), then he kept it secret for a reason. Gigi looked straight at me, her piercing gray (gray?) eyes analyzing me, drawing out my secrets.

"Did you?"

This was a choice. I could say yes, and remain the naïve young women who tells the truth about everything. (That they know of.) Or, I could lie and say no and still keep the naïvety, which is a good thing, but all good things would have to end. I bowed my head. Anything to get away from those familiar eyes. No wonder Percy never looked me in the eye when I was frustrated or angry.

"Don't tell anyone." I pleaded softly. "Please."

"I don't know." She said, just as softly. "If the rent goes up, I might have to. Now put this on," She said, handing me a blue faded dress to put on over the swimsuit. "it's time to go."

We got up silently, each sunk deep in our thoughts. I don't know what the others were thinking, but I knew one thing; Gigi is not the innocent makeover-ist she says she is.

-o-

Justin splashed me. "C'mon in Annabeth. The water's great." He said, pushing water over the edge onto my legs. I pulled my legs out of the water and hugged them.

"Nah. I'm good." I turned to the guys surrounding me. "Hey, guys? Can I have some space?" They apologized and backed off. Justin splashed me again.

"Please?"

"It's okay." I said. "Promise."

He gave me the big lip and made his eyes as large as they could be. "Pwetty Pwease?"

"Alright." I said. I took off the blue dress and jumped in. I let myself sink to the bottom where I stayed, enjoying the silence. Letting myself think clearly for the first time in ages.

"Annabeth!"

What? How can anybody talk under- ohhhh. I'm an idiot. I thought, and opened my eyes. Everything was blurry and dark; the only light came filtering through the surface eleven feet above me. I started straight at the fuzzy blob that was Percy.(He had arrived a minute late at the pool party, him and Nico had taken one of the eight cars parked in the front driveway.) I raised my eyebrow, since I could not talk.

"I need to tell you something." He said, swimming over to me. The little scumbag was completely dry and breathing easily. I, on the other hand, felt like I was turning purple. I moved my hands around motioning for him to continue. "Justin in not the man he says he is."

I furrowed my eyebrows here, and he repeated it. "Justin is not the man he says he is. He's not all good."

I successfully attempted to mouth something. Explain.

"He already has a girlfriend. He's cheating on you with someone else."

I shook my head no.

"Annabeth, I read his text messages. He kept texting this girlfriend-boyfriend stuff to a girl name Katie Farnel."

At this, I gasped, which was my first big mistake. I inhaled water and started frantically coughing, only to inhale more water. Percy grabbed me and within seconds we were enveloped in a large bubble with me hacking up chlorinated water. Blackness was closing around the edges of my eyes as I desperately tried and failed to get air.

"Are you okay?" Percy asked, grabbing my shoulders.

I kept choking, and tried to speak, the black growing with each word. "Do-cough-I-cough-look-cough-okay? Coughcoughcough."

Then I blacked out.

-o-

I didn't think I was out for long, because when I came to, I was still underwater, and Percy's lips were on mine. At first I thought he was kissing me-kind of like the kiss that woke sleeping beauty- but he pulled away and took a breath before doing it again, breathing for me. Mouth to mouth. I jerked up, coughing like a maniac, and causing the bubble to rock dangerously. I hacked up more water, tasting chlorine and who knows what other chemicals.

"Annabeth! Are you okay? You told me something and you passed out. You were turning blue. Are you alright?" Percy asked. I coughed as much as needed before staring into his beautiful green eyes and answering him.

"You saved me." Which really wasn't much of an answer, but it's what I said anyway. He blushed.

"Yeah. I guess I did."

I cocked my head. "You look like a Christmas Decoration. Green eyes, red face."

He laughed. "Now I know you're alright. Criticizing me before your breathing for a minute."

"Who said I didn't like Christmas?" I said, still looking into his sea-green eyes. He stared into mine, and before I knew what was happening, we were leaning in for a kiss. Just as our lips touched I caught a flash of brown hair coming towards us. I pulled away.

"Percy, pop the bubble! Justin's coming." I hissed. His eyes popped open, and soon we were both floating toward the bottom of the eleven foot pool, staring into each other's eyes. Thankfully, as Justin came down to us, Percy had remembered to will himself to get wet. I could still faintly see his torso moving up and down, signaling he was breathing. I stared into his eyes once more, and this time, when we kissed, there was nothing extremely unusual about it. I got the feeling we only pulled away because of me. I needed to breathe. I winked at Percy before 'suddenly' turning to Justin, as if I hadn't realized he had been there. I looked between the two men and shot up toward air, where I took a huge, much-needed breath. Justin appeared not long after, followed by a Percy with a hand to his eye.

"Lets go to the shallow end. I'm exhausted." We swam toward the not deep water, and we sat on the stairs.

"What were you doing under there? I mean, besides kissing Percy."

"I was just seeing how long I could hold my breath." I lied smoothly. He squinted at me.

"Liar. Percy did something to you, didn't he?"

"Maybe."

"It also has something to do with the thing you refuse to tell me, doesn't it?"

"Maybe."

"You and Percy knew each other, didn't you?"

"Maybe."

"I'm gonna find out eventually, Annabeth. If I don't, someone will."

"Someone already knows." I whispered.

"Who knows?" He asked, taking my shoulders in his hands. "Annabeth, you've got to tell me."

"No, I don't. And I have to tell you, just like you have to tell me about your 'girlfriend'?" I shrugged off his hands.

His face was blank. "What?"

"Katie Farnel...?"

"My boss?"

"Your girlfriend!"

"How is she my girlfriend?"

"You were texting her all this romance-y stuff."

His eyes lit up. "Oh! I work at a romantic hotel for couples only. I was suggesting ideas for new stuff."

"Oh. Annabeth, how do you know about that?"

"I have my sources."

"Who? I need to know."

"No you don't! You don't need to know every freaking detail about my life!"

"If we get married then I do." He said, raising his voice, getting out of the pool.

"Who said anything about getting married?" I said, raising my voice to match his. I followed him out of the pool, where he was drying off by his chair.

"That's kind of the point of this show!"

"Marrying you?"

"Marrying somebody!"

"That somebody certainly won't be you!"

"Hey, guys. Chill." Nico came over, pushing us away from each other. "Calm down."

Justin turned on him. "This is between me," He said, pointing to himself. "and her." He said, pointing to me. "Stay out of it."

"Dude. Chill. Calm down. This is getting-" He was interrupted by a blow from Justin. Blood poured from Nico's mouth and he spit it out. "Did you just punch me? Seriously? Do you want to go with me? Wanna go?" Nico swung at Justin, and his fist made contact with his nose. A good, solid punch.

"No!" I gasped. "Stop! Nico, we all know you can win. Can you just-"

"Nico can beat me in a fight? Yeah, right. When pigs fly." Justin said, throwing a punch at Nico, who ducked and kicked him in the stomach. The red light attacked my vision once more, recording our fight.

"A lot of shit is gonna happen when pigs fly," Nico said, dodging another punch from the other man before using his foot to knock out Justin's knees, causing him to plummet to the ground and hitting the concrete headfirst. "And I bet half of it is shit about you."I swear, Justin's head bounced. I have to hand it to him, he had great stamina. He got back up, gingerly touched his mouth, then spit out some blood and a tooth.

"Oh, you're gonna get it, punk." Justin snarled, and tackled Nico. Nico's head slammed into the concrete, and he went limp.

"No! Oh, gods no. Gods, gods no." I gasped. I knelt next to Nico, who's eyes were closed and his head was bleeding. Fury built up in me, and I punched Justin in the face. He fell back in surprise, and I stomped my foot on his chest, knocking the wind out of him. "When I say stop, you stop." I growled. "Look what you did. Nico might be dead because of you. Dead. You could be a murderer. You son of a bitch. How dare you do that?"

"How can you hit so hard? I didn't think women could hit that hard! You really pack a punch! Literally!"

I punched him square in the nose. "Listen to me you bastard! When I say stop, you stop. Thanks to you, Nico might be dead."

"So? The S.O.B. deserves to be dead."

I leaned in real close to him, so my nose was touching his. "He's always been closer to death then you think. He's been to Hell and back to get where he is now, I swear on the River Styx." Thunder rumbled, sealing my swear.

"The River Styx? That's a child's play myth."

I sat up and narrowed my eyes. "You'll see when you die."

-o-

Four hours later, everyone is waiting anxiously in the Rose Room for Chris to come through those doors and tell us news about Nico in the hospital so we can get on with the Rose ceremony. Everyone's already been interviewed about today's events, and from what I've heard, everyone had a different opinion on it. Percy came into the room five minutes late with a black eye. I jumped up, glared at Justin who was chuckling, and rushed to Percy's side.

"What happened to your eye?"

"That jerk punched me underwater. It's not as bad as it could be."

"Couldn't you heal yourself?" I said under my breath.

"Chlorine doesn't work with inner body injuries, apparently." He answered.

"Oh. That bastard is gonna get it-"

Chris chose then to burst through the doors with a look of worry on his face. Though I could tell by his eyes it was rehearsed for the show.

"Nico will be alright. He has a intermediate concussion. " He said to the waiting men and me. Sighs of relief and a single groan from Justin met his words. I glared at Justin once more.

"What about the Rose Ceremony?" Cody asked. Chris's look of worry changed for a split second to annoyance before returning to it's rehearsed state.

"I was getting to that." He answered. He turned toward us. "There will be no Rose Ceremony tonight."

Murmurs of confusion aroused, but only I dared to speak up. "What? Why?"

"Someone has chosen to leave already. They've decided they can't stay any longer."

"Who?"

"Me." Justin said in a monotone and stood up. "Goodbye, Annabeth. It was nice meeting you."

Then, without a second glance, Justin Chavez walked out the doors and out of my life.

Good riddance.

Sorry for the language. I thought it was needed. I mean, their not kids anymore. Their big kids now. I really liked this chapter, but I'm not really sure it flowed really well. I can't tell if this story is being read by serious readers who know what their talking about, or like, young kids. If your a flamer, can you please tell me what's missing? Can you please tell me what's bad about this fic? And maybe if you're nice, what's good?

And if you want you can tell me what your favorite part is!

-Blue.