Hey guys, sorry about not uploading in ages! I got stuck on Merlin fanfics (reading not writing). I cant believe I missed the series when it was on T.V it's amazing. Press conference part 2 should be up soon...

Disclaimer: If you recognize it I don't own it.

Chapter 7: A Press Conference

Piper was very glad she had grown up around showbiz. Sure she was sent off to loads of boarding schools as soon as it was socially acceptable- but she had grown up seeing how her dad handled it. It meant she wasn't immediately overwhelmed by the amount of reporters at the press conference, and she immediately felt sorry for Jason- but then, be used to be praetor of the twelfth legion, so he was used to being in the metaphorical spotlight. Only this time the spotlight was a little more literal.

There were only five of them at this press conference. Sebastian, because he was the director, obviously; her dad, because it was the great Tristan McLean's last film; Troy Richards, because he was one of the key actors, and he was available that day; herself, because she was one of the main characters and this was her first film, and she was the great Tristan McLean's daughter; and Jason, because he was another main character, and had, as Sebastian put it, extraordinary talent.

Before they went out and sat in the five seats in front of the sea of reporters and cameramen, Sebastian dragged her and Jason away from the other two. "Now listen guys, reporters and the media are vicious. That's a fact, and you two are fresh meat. Particularly you Jason, as people have already started to unravel the mystery that is Tristan McLean's so called secret daughter. Be careful in what you tell them- don't even hint at anything you don't want them to know. If you want to send them on a false trail, or anything else, don't tell them straight out. Drop a hint, and see who gets it- they're the ones to watch yourself around. The press like to hunt for information, not have it handed to them on a silver platter." Sebastian let out a loud sigh- "I think that's it... No wait, the reporter at the very back, Mrs Danno, she is about as close to totally evil as it possible to get in the media- which is pretty darn close. Her late husband was an actor who was always second to your father Piper; she will be out to get you, as she knows he's out of her reach. All I can say is... good luck."

Piper winced and muttered under her breath, "It's not enough that monsters are after me cus of mum? Now reporters are after me cus of dad. I think I'd rather take the monster".

Jason grinned at her, having heard the statement, but Sebastian was already walking towards the other two as the door opened for them to go and sit down. She and Jason were going in last. Well, he was going in last, she was second last. She assumed it was where they were sitting that lead to the order. It was Troy, then Sebastian, then her dad, then her, then Jason. She put on a small smile as she entered; she wanted people to think she was nice after all... However fruitless that might be with Mrs Danno in the audience.

Apparently each reporter put up a hand to ask a question, and Sebastian would pick who would ask, and they could direct their questions at any of the actors. Piper was very glad it wasn't going on telly live. Although, being a press conference with Tristan Mclean, it had to be on telly somehow. Sebastian had decided that it would be too big a shock for Jason. In fact Piper had overheard Sebastian and Mr Martina arguing about it- she was very glad Sebastian won. It would have been worse on her than Jason- she really didn't like the spotlight. It had been hard at the beginning to even talk to the rest of the seven without getting embarrassed- live on the TV might be a bit too hard on her.

Piper sat up straighter and looked over at the reporters as the hands started going up. She took a deep breath, as Sebastian pointed to a guy on the second row. "Ok, this one's for Mr Mclean, You've said you're retiring from acting. Is this permanent, or just for a while?"

Piper watched as her dad leant forward, an easygoing smile on his face. "Well, I'm not exactly sure if I'm going to come back, but the break is for at least five years."

He smile again and leant back, looking relaxed, Piper wished she could do the same. It was one of the few moments in her life she wished she could be more like her dad- which was actually rather sad, that she'd admired him so little...

"Miss McLean, we've already heard of your friend Leo; is there any creditability to the rumour that he is your secret boyfriend?"

Piper knew the importance of keeping a mask in public, she was always acting anyway, to her dad, and anyone who wasn't a demigod, or wasn't Rachel, or just didn't know the truth about the world- so she had almost got rid of the emotion of shock- being a demigod tended to do that to you. But this was the exception to that rule; she couldn't help but feel shock at that question, although she hoped she had hidden most of it from the audience. That was one rumour she didn't want spreading- although Leo would probably just find it funny.

"Leo? No, he's just a really good friend, like a brother. Me and him together would be really weird... No he is defiantly not my boyfriend."

Piper saw Mrs Danno in the audience make a note on her pad- what on earth had she got against Piper from that sentence?

The next person Sebastian picked had a question for Jason. "Mr Grace, you're past seems to be all over the place- if you wouldn't mind, would you explain how you got into acting."

Jason smiled "Sure, basically, I lived with my dad and stepmom till last year, I always liked acting, and it seemed like an escape for me, as my stepmom well... Let's say I wasn't exactly her favourite person, so it was nice to pretend I was someone else. It made all my problems go away for a bit, and I started to love it. When I left home last year I got an acting role in a mini film, and I was told about these auditions, so I went along, and here I am."

Piper internally laughed, a mini film that had been made last week at camp, when Leo in a rare (very very rare) moment of foresight decided that Jason would be needing a back-story for the auditions, and organised a half hour film with Jason as the main character- then posted it online. It was actually pretty cool how many kids at camp were good at acting. It must have been the whole pretending to be someone you're not that half-bloods have going for them the majority of the year.

Immediately a load more hands shot up. Sebastian picked one on the third row "What was the name of this mini film, may I ask?"

Jason grinned. It's called To the Death, it's... well, for a small film we had quite a lot of money to blow, so that where I learnt how to swing a sword decently. I'm pretty sure that it was put on YouTube."

Piper could see most of the reporters noting this down, and since she hadn't actually seen the film- because it only been finished and uploaded yesterday, though Leo had paid Sam, a son of Hermes, to hack YouTube and change it so it said that the film had been uploaded a month ago. She didn't even know the plot so the film was as much of a surprise to her as anyone else- and she was so watching it when she got home; and after she had been totally interrogated by her well meaning siblings, (or not so well meaning in Drew's case.)

Another hand went up- and a chill went down Piper back, in the moment that Mrs Danno had raised her hand, she had briefly caught Piper's eye, and the amount of hate in them could have rivalled Octavian, may he rest in many many pieces.

"Mr Grace, if you would be so kind, do you have any moral issues with kissing a girl who has a boyfriend?"

See you soon *grins and leaves before you shoot me for the cliffhanger*