Annabeth has a twin sister who's completely spoiled and rotten in every possible way you can possibly imagine. But what happens when she rises to fame and gets even more spoiled and rotten as the days go by? And how come she happens to steal away he very thing that Annabeth likes?

Disclaimer: Rick Riordan's Characters, not mine.

I I I

You ever feel like time stops around you? Things start to go in slow mo and your heart rate suddenly decreases. Either you can't believe what's in front of your eyes, or you can't believe that that thing was ever possible.

You freeze, unable to grasp any simple concepts of life. Life itself suddenly doesn't feel real, and that stiffness your feeling? It's that feeling you get when the dentist numbs you when they're about to pull a tooth. The numbness is raw and constructed, but it's there. It's there and it's slowly creeping up your back.

Like you've got your own personal ghost.

I felt all those things when I saw my sister with Percy. The guy who drove me home, the guy that made me laugh at stupid cinnamon jokes and nearly getting us into more crashes than we guaranteed for. The guy who I've been thinking about for days, only two, but still.

I just couldn't believe it.

I didn't want to believe it.

I wanted it not to be true

I'm not sure how long I'm standing there, but a waiter tapping me on the shoulder jarred me back into reality.

"Miss, are you alright?"

I stare at him for a moment, unearthed with the ability to realize that people are real, that this is real life.

"Yeah." I croak, a brilliant idea suddenly pops in my mind. I'm not sure what I'm feeling now, but I know I want revenge.

"Those two." I point towards Molly and Percy, who hooted in joyous laughter, oblivious of my presence. "Those two are celebrating their one year anniversary."

"Oh?" The waiter turned towards the two of them, probably grateful that I was jarring him out of work. "So...?"

"So I want to give them something." I'm not sure where the words come from, but I know it's through my own intuition. "And I'll give you a nice tip."

The waiter's eyes widened. "Alright. What is it?"

I shut my eyes. Inside I'm a gloomy gray cloud waiting to overpass a happy town city, but on the inside I'm grinning.

It's great being smart.

I I I

"I can't believe it! That skank! That bitch!"

Thalia slams the door of the car in fury. I'm lost in words as she guns the engine, driving right out of this hell.

"Should've told you about Percy earlier." I said in a tinny voice.

"Who cares? She went on a date with the guy you like and-"

"She pretended to be me obviously. He would never go out with Molly. Well, knowing him for just the car ride-"

Thalia cuts me off sharply. "Again, who cares? I can't believe you didn't do anything. You just took the picture and left."

"I was in shock." I said, defending myself. "Besides, I don't care for Percy that much. He just crosses my mind once in a while. That's all."

Thalia gives me a look of distress. "Whatever you say. Your call. Your guy. Or, not your guy. Or that one guy that you see and are in awe of and-"

I turned on the radio, blasting it on some cheesy pop song station to shut Thalia up. She glared daggers at me. I didn't care, I just needed some time to think.

Thalia knew I stuck it to Molly though, not in the way that I was hoping, but I still stuck it.

Back at the restaurant.

The waiter's eyes widened. "Alright. What is it?"

My eyes dart back and forth towards Molly and Percy, eyes finally resting on Percy, whose grin was unmistakably related with my sister. Having thoughts of her making him laugh made me sick.

"That guy over there," my finger stayed pointed. "He can't know that I was here, okay? Don't tell either of them actually."

The waiter nodded.

I give a long, heavy breath. "Tell them the meal is for free, don't worry, I'm paying for it, and also don't tell them what's in it."

I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew all I wanted to see was Molly being thrown out of the loop in front of me.

"So what will I be serving them?" The waiter asked.

I give a wicked grin. "Salad. With a hint of crab and lobster."

I I I

Funny story time: When I was a kid I hated seafood, not the same as now anyway. Molly on the other hand, loved everything that had to do with seafood. Shrimp. Clams. Muscles, but her world turned around when she tried lobster for the first time.

Big mistake.

Long story short her face was a disaster. Red and puffy and just all wrong. I had a minute of joyous celebration as Molly screamed at how incompetent my parents had been. Since then, Molly's steered clear away from anything that had to do with seafood.

But she couldn't ignore crab.

And that's where one of my strengths were. I ended up spending my own money on the damn dish from most of my savings as a babysitter, but I knew it was worth it.

But it wasn't enough.

I watched as the waiter brought the dish over to Molly and Percy, who both struck a confused glance at the waiter. He opened his mouth, and from how well I could read lips, he hadn't said a damn thing about the lobster. Oh joy.

That's when Thalia and I slipped out. She was still furious about the whole thing as I explained to her who exactly Percy was during our walk to the car.

She was as pissed as I hoped.

"He's just a boy." I told her. "I'll get over it, and eventually Molly."

Thalia sighed, shaking her head. "But Annabeth, your sister took advantage of you. Somehow. I don't exactly know those two could have met-"

"It doesn't matter. All I know is that she's posing as me. Wearing my clothes, and he's probably calling her Annabeth right at this minute!"

Thalia smirked. "Right as she starts to look like a chipmunk."

"Let's just go back to your place." I stared down at the leftovers in my lap. "I'm not in the mood to talk."

Thalia gunned the engine. "Fine by me."

I I I

"Hey Collie." I patted the dog on the head as soon as she patted up to the front door. She seemed in an unusually good mood today, wagging her tail happily and giving me one of those doggy smiles.

"Dog is tuff." Thalia noted. "Let's go."

"On a walk?"

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Upstairs. I have exactly what you need in my room."

"What?" I asked, but she was already making her way towards the stairs. I shook my head and went after her, Collie in tow.

"Your sisters been making your life miserable for how long?" Thalia asks as she flops onto her bed.

"As long as I can remember." I sink into her bean bag chair. Collie comes to curl right up right beside me.

Thalia pursed her lips. "B, she's taken advantage of you, and now it's your turn."

"You mean get back at her?"

"Yeah." Thalia says, like it's the most obvious solution right now. "Or you can let her rain right down on your parade. Your choice."

I thought about it. "I don't know, won't it be enough once Percy finds out that Annabeth-err, Molly-isn't who she really says she is?"

"Who cares?" Thalia droned. "Payback is a bitch, and I'm not doing anything this summer."

"So what then? I can't do much to her, you know that."

"Hey, but the possibilities are endless. Am I wrong on this one?"

I reach my hand out to pet Collie. "I think-I think I need time. Just to get over this. Whatever it is."

"You said that Percy was just some guy." Thalia pointed out. "If you're that into him, you would try and win him back."

I shook my head. "We were never together. It was just one car ride, that's all, and he was just doing it to be nice."

"But he's obviously into you!" Thalia protested. "I mean, he asked you-your sister-out on a date. Isn't that enough proof?"

I had my doubts about it before, but that could be a possibility, or maybe Molly told Percy who she really is….. But then why would she be wearing my clothes. Well, she was only wearing my jacket, that's it, but still!

"First things first." I picked up my phone, swiping the unlock button to go to my pictures. "Cash in this picture for lots of bucks, and then shamelessly laugh at Molly's blow fish face, if she ate the lobster."

Thalia made a face. "How does that even work? I mean, your both twins wouldn't you both be allergic to lobster?"

I gave her a sly smile. "Never said I wasn't now, did I?"

Thalia nodded. "Impressive. Doesn't make up the giant plot hole in all of this."

"And what that?"

"The obvious!" Thalia shouts, making Collie and I jump. "You were sent here against your will, with a brat sister and a fabricator of a father, no offense."

"None taken." I say sarcastically.

"But you have every right to feel bitter and want to stab a bitch-meaning figuratively of course. But still, have the upper hand and knowing how to using that for your liking, don't you want that? To feel like for once, Molly is the one who will regret all of her actions right before she even gets the head dump? I'm asking you Annabeth, if you're with me of not, even though she's not my sister, but still, you know, it would be cool to get some revenge."

My mouth curves up into a smile. "What college do you even go to?"

Thalia starts to massage her temples. "Oh god, what hell did I land myself into this time?"

"Look Thalia, I'll confront her about it, sometime in the future."

Thalia grimaced. "That's not good enough. And neither is getting her to have an allergic reaction, although could you send me a picture?"

I sighed, exasperated and tired with this conversation. It's just a repeat and a reminder of how confused I was about Percy, and I wasn't a huge fan of that.

Thalia snapped her fingers. "Well, this can't be permanent. Percy is going to have to figure out sooner or later than Molly isn't you. And I could tell by the dreaded look on your face that you really like this guy."

Like an idiot I responded with, "You're a dreaded look, bitch."

Thalia shook her head. "Come on B, get with the program. Revenge."

I couldn't imagine how she could be possibly right about any of this, but Thalia did have a solid point. Molly can't go on forever with thinking that manipulating Percy would piss me off. She might have certain things on her side, like a substance off passion or whatnot, but I had the brains. You can't manipulate a manipulator. You'd have to fight fire with fire.

"Fine," I stood up, suddenly feeling very nauseous. "But I call all the shots."

Thalia gave me a wicked smile. "Keep comin' captain."

I I I

"So, this is the young man Molly went on a date with."

Dad slid through the pictures on my phone, and although I only took a decent amount of Molly and Percy, without realizing it, I was afraid he was going to stumble on my more personal pictures.

"Yeah," I leaned over the table to peer out the door; Molly was upstairs in her room fighting off the hilarious rash that I gave her on her face. She could come downstairs in any minute, but I wasn't worried that she was going to accuse me of anything. I was more worried to confront her about the dating-the-guy-I-have-a-crush-on incident.

"What do you think of him?" My dad asks. He angles the phone so I have a better view of both Percy and Molly on their date.

I knew exactly what I thought of Percy, but I wasn't going to tell my dad. This was between Molly and me, the battle of all ages, something we'd have to figure out by ourselves.

I peered at the phone for only a second, catching the glimpse of Percy, mid-laugh.

"Dunno," I responded. "Kind of had to get out of there without being seen."

"Understandable." But he's still gazing at the phone. Can't he just give me my money now?

"Look, Dad." I sigh dramatically, knowing that this pep talk wasn't going to change his mind about anything. "I know you want us to be safe and know what's going on in our lives, but Molly and I are going to be seventeen next month," I had no idea where I was going with this. "Odds are, this guy is just a one-time thing."

Please let him be a one-time thing.

"I suppose your right." Dad handed me back my phone. "But that doesn't completely reassure me."

Predictable. "Truth or be told, this summer will end and I still won't be able to get to know the real you. Doesn't that bother you?"

Dad arched an eyebrow. "You know the real me."

I crossed my arms over my chest, becoming the absolute of defensive. "The house. The money. The money that you should be giving me because," I lowered my voice. "You wanted me to spy on my sister. Dad, I don't want anything to ever come between us, but I felt like it has."

Dad lifted his chin, regarding me like a fallen snowflake. You watch it taking it's time going down, a blur of a white speck drifting in the air, but once it hits the ground it either melts it sticks. I wasn't completely sure which snowflake I was.

The expression on the man's face in front of me was unfamiliar, and I hated how it drew me in. I wanted to know what he was thinking, I wanted to know exactly what he thought of me. Maybe as a dumb teenager who can't understand life for shit? Possibly. I don't think I've ever met an adult in my life who regarded kids in an adult manner. It's always the same. No matter how smart I was or how well I did in school, this man was going to look down on me. He was never going to see me as an equal.

But maybe that's to the extreme, maybe his thoughts were the reversed and he understood how I felt. The anxieties, the hopelessness in the world. If he did he had a pretty funny way of showing it. A part of me wanted to grab onto the handlebars of his working brain and yank at them viciously till they understood, but another part wanted me to let go. To never grab on in the first place. I knew that was my mistake, me being here. But I was helpless to fight it. Every word that I uttered to him would be useless. The impact would vanish as soon as it would hit reality.

Dad clasped his hands together, resting in his lap. It made him look middle-aged and arrogant. I assumed both.

"I know you didn't hit Molly."

Plot twist! He really does have a brain!

"What!?" I cried, because my brain hasn't fully processed this and I needed to pinch myself to see if this was real life.

Dad tilted his head, giving me a look of understanding. "You wouldn't do something like that to your sister, I know, even if the two of you aren't on the best of terms."

I opened my mouth to speak, but dad cut me off with a shake of his head.

"What this is, is a second chance."

"For who?" I demanded. "What are you talking about? And don't give me that crap that you haven't always been a good father. Shoot."

I could see the hesitation in his eyes. "A second chance for all of us. Don't be frightened Annabeth, but your mother and I are getting a divorce."

I stiffened at that. I was expecting this for weeks, months, years. They were never around each other, and although it saddened me to hear it, I was also relieved. But what did this mean for us kids? I knew what I wanted to do, and so did Molly, but Bobby and Matthew? They're still in middle school.

"Okay." I said.

Dad raised an eyebrow. "Is that all? Just okay?"

"Well don't be offended but I kind already knew."

For some reason guilt tripped up on me. A guilt that shouldn't have been there in the first place.

"Already knew?" Dad questioned. He didn't sound upset, just surprised. "How did you know…..?"

"I heard you talking to mom on the phone the other night. And you guys haven't seen each other in three months and you never called the house….."

Suddenly I had flash backs of when I was mildly hoping the phone would call in the middle of the night of sometime during the day after I got home from a shitty day of school, just hoping that it would be dad. Hoping that I would hang on to every word he said about his job or just his day in general, and I would shoot back a similar outline of my day to him. No wonder mom always got so mad when I asked her if we could take a trip up and visit him; or just simply asked what he was up to. No wonder whenever I called him he wouldn't pick up. No wonder those funny photos of him and his abstruse co-workers stop sending to mom's phone. No wonder.

"Do Bobby and Matthew know?" I asked. And just for good measures, "And Molly?"

Dad didn't look too thrilled to answer. "Molly was told this morning. After you left I told her. I was very odd because she ran out while grabbing your jacket I believe. Last minutes thing I suppose. Bah, that doesn't matter. Bobby and Matthew need to be told from the both of us. I knew you wouldn't care hearing it from your mother."

Well, he's right about that, but something else swimmed in my mind.

"So... Is this going to be a child custody battle?"

Dad grimaced. "She would want all of you, but I'm against it. And since you're not eighteen, anything could happen."

I sat back, imagining my mom with a smug face and haughty demeanor gathering all four of her children in her own personal coop, relief feigning her for winning. For not letting my dad have the chance in the first place. And hey, I'm not one hundred percent fond of him, as a father anyway, but I'd choose him over mom in a heartbeat.

"When's that?" I asked.

Dad shook his head. "I have no idea."

I sat back, a different type of reality dawning on me. It would make a lot of sense for mom to want full custody over all of us, but Bobby and Matthew? I mean, sure they're her kids but they were no Brainiac or star like Molly and I. Maybe I'm being too egotistical about this, but maybe that's why mom made me stay over the summer with dad? Did she plan this all along? I knew that she hated me but not this much.

"So, is everything going to be different from now on?"

Dad blinked. "Nothing is finalized yet Annabeth. This could take a while. Maybe till next year."

"Next year." The words were bitter on my tongue.

"You don't sound too upset about it." He observed.

I shrugged. "Isn't it better that way? No tears, no emotional hugs. I'm not so good with the close contact and I'm guessing you aren't either."

"Why don't you go upstairs in your room until dinner is made?" Dad said, ignoring the question. "I think its best I talk with both you and Molly at the same time."

"The same time?" I echoed.

Dad nodded. "Yes."

"And the money?" I asked, not daring to fill any sweet and savory moments with unnecessary bullshit.

"You want it now?" Dad said, sounding hurt and confused.

I tried to not let that get to me.

"Yes." I said firmly.

He sighed, dipping his head so he could close his eyes and think, I stood up, not wanting any of this right now.

"I'll be upstairs." I say uneasily. "I hope I did what you said."

I I I

When I rest my ear against Molly's door, I could hear sniffling and crying, something I never would expected from Molly. I never expected her to be upset from Mom and Dad's sudden split. I wasn't, at least, I wasn't taking it as hard as her.

For a second I forgot about Percy, I forgot about the fact that Molly pretended to be me just so she could get what she wants, like she always does. For a split second I felt bad for her, but only for a second, because memories came flooding back. Memories of her being the biggest bitch ever, and her being sad gave me a little triumphant, but then I felt terrible all over again. What kind of person was I to enjoy someone else's pain?

I was better than that, and just because Molly decided that she'd make my life a living hell, didn't mean I should do the same to hers. Funny, people would disagree with me, but I'm the bigger person. More mature, and I know exactly how to deal with this little Percy problem.

I need to call Thalia.