Define Beauty

Step brothers, man, aren't they the worst?

Annabeth walked back into her house and didn't see her step mother anywhere near.

She did see her step brothers though. Mathew was smiling like he couldn't wait to enjoy tormenting her.

"So the great Piper McLean not only asks you out but takes you to her house, fucks you, brings you back and manages to charm the pants off of mom enough that she forgot she was furious as all balls at you from daring to stay at someone else's house. You must've been a good bitch to her too, if she asked to see you again tomorrow."

Annabeth turned red with rage and started trembling. "You can't talk to me like that." She growled her fist clenched together.

"Oh just watch me." he leaned forward with a smug grin.

And Annabeth punched his face.

By the time Bobby had ran to his mother and told her a completely bullshit story of Annabeth attacking Mathew unprovoked, Mathew had a black eye, a broken nose, a large patch of hair ripped off the side of his head, a large bruise on his cheek as well as a ringing in his ear from it nearly being pulled off, and three diagonal scratches just below his eye.

"Annabeth Maria Chase what in the name of Christ do you think you're you doing!?!" Shrieked her step mother tearing the two apart. Mathew had barely managed to land a punch on her gut while she had pummeled his back and shoulders leaving many many dark purple bruises.

"He called me a whore!" She yelled.

"She is one! Slept with McLean and you expect to get away with it that easily, no you won't! You wait till Monday the whole school will know you let her bang you!"

Annabeth lunged at him again fist aiming for his already darkened eye but her step mother managed to pull her back.

"Your room! Now!!!" Screeched Mrs. Chase. Annabeth made to start up the stairs but suddenly turned around and kicked Mathew squarely between his legs.

The boy crumpled to the floor in a matter of seconds, groaning in pain and Annabeth's step mother slapped her and sent her up to her room with another yell.

Annabeth sat on her bed facing the ceiling.

"My knuckles hurts" she said to herself.

She thought about what would happen to her if people suddenly start talking about her. Especially the way that Mathew wanted them to.

"Piper will tell them its a lie" she reasoned with herself. "Everybody believes Piper"

And with that comforting thought in mind she lulled herself to sleep.

★★☆★★☆★★

"Piper your father wishes to speak with you. In his office" added Jane when she saw the girl enter her house and veer straight towards where her bedroom was.

Piper stopped in her tracks and stayed still. "What?" She asked.

"Your father has requested to see you personally in his office. It's a pretty simple concept, little girl, you should be smart enough to get it the first time." She mocked.

Piper took a deep breath and swallowed back all the insults bursting in her mouth.

"I'll go talk to him after I go up to my room. Tell him I'll be with him in a moment." She felt like she was a buisness person trying to score a meeting with her dad.

That's not how speaking to your father should feel.

She trudged up the stairs and sat down at her bed. She saw that people had already come in and made her bed. Then she saw Annabeth's discarded jeans.

She picked them up and tossed them in her hamper. She'd give them back tomorrow.

The thought sent a thrill up her spine. She was gonna see Annabeth again so soon after the last date. It was electrifying.

She walked back down the stairs and headed for her father's office. She stayed in front of the door contemplating whether to open or not. The right answer was not but Piper opened it anyway.

"Dad?" She asked as she went inside. He was sitting at his desk looking through a contract. When he heard Piper's voice he imediately put the papers down, a first.

"Take a seat, dear" he said motioning to the chair in front of him.

Piper walked forward without a word and took her seat.

"You asked to see me?" She questioned looking around at a room she was barely ever allowed into.

"Yes. I-" his phone went off in his pocket. Piper once again swallowed back insults that coursed through her mind. He pulled out his phone and ignored the call.

"I wanted to have a word with you. I wish to apologize for last night. I was wrong, very wrong. And I know I haven't been around as much as you'd like me to but the buisness is rough. It does that to people. You're gonna need a little bit of patience if we both want to make it through." He said softly.

"I'd like to make it up to you. Any three things you want." He stated.

Piper decided not to celebrate too early. "And the catch?" She asked. "No catch. None at all. I made a mistake and I'd like to redeem myself. Nothing in return."

"Fire Jane. Get a new secretary. That woman hates me." Tristan said nothing just stared at his daughter as if saying 'go on'.

"Take me to your next shoot. I don't like seeing you on tv, I want to see you in front of me." Tristan still remained silent.

"And get me a licence. I don't like depending on Fonz to drive me around places."

Tristan nodded. He picked up his phone and dialed someone. "Jane? Call the director and tell him I'm bringing my daughter to Friday's shoot. Tell him she gets a seat next to him to watch or else I'm not doing the movie. When you're done with that schedule a date for Piper to take her drivers test. Then pack up your things and leave."

There was an outraged splutter from the other side of the line, loud enough for Piper to hear.

Tristan hung up without another word.

"Would you like to go out and eat somewhere? I cleared the afternoon just for you." he said and there was a sliver of content in his voice, like he was so happy that making it up to Piper meant an afternoon off.

Piper didn't mind.

"I heard there's an all day long breakfast at McDonald's. How about getting some pancakes?"