Famous Fate

1

September 2020

It was lightly raining in New York City as Annabeth Chase, world renowned actress and superstar, walked through the city, flanked by several reporters.

Her body guards surrounded her, all of them glaring intimidatingly at the swarm of reporters, although that didn't seem to intimidate them.

Annabeth had several people holding up umbrellas for her as if her arms were too weak holding up her purse.

"Miss Chase?" one asked, breaking through the crowd and getting close to her. "Miss Chase?"

Annabeth continued walking like she always did. These reporters didn't get to her, especially when her bodyguards were there.

"Miss Chase, what's your comment on the rumors swirling around that you're newly single?" the same one asked.

In an instant Annabeth froze, causing several people to bump into each other. She narrowed her cold eyes at the reporter and singled in on him.

The reporter winced as she stepped closer to him and leaned in his face. Her body guards nearly restrained her.

"Why do you believe you have the right to ask me that?!" she demanded as he stared down this reporter.

He gulped nervously even though Annabeth was about a foot shorter and a hundred pounds lighter than him. Her glare alone could make all these reporters run.

"It's just your fans, they want to know!" the reporter defended, his face growing red with embarrassment.

Annabeth laughed bitterly as she took the sunglasses off of her face and placed them in her designer purse. "No fans of mine ask such rude questions like this!"

The reporter's eyes widened. "I didn't mean for you to take offense, Miss Chase, your fans care deeply about you—!"

"If my so called 'fans' cared for me they wouldn't bombard me with personal questions like this!" she screamed. "Why can't you people leave me alone?!"

Annabeth tucked a piece of her golden hair behind her ear and crossed her arms. She was dressed from head to toe in designer, just like she wanted you to know she was loaded.

"We're just curious, Miss Chase," he said while frowning. "Is it true that you're single because you're too difficult to be in a relationship with?"

Before the reporter could take back his words, Annabeth lunged at him. Before any real damage was caused one of her bodyguards grabbed her and restrained her.

"This is none of your business!" she screamed as the reporter was pushed back by one of her bodyguards. "Why can't I ever have peace?!"

Then the television changed to show some news anchor, who was blabbing on on about something. "And that is Annabeth Chase nearly attacking a reporter. Fans speculate wether or not this will impact the sales of her upcoming movie or not...."

"Jeez, she looks like a real spoiled brat," I commented as I switched the channel, bored of her scandal anyways. "Right, Grover?"

Grover, my best friend, shrugged as he tousled back his auburn hair. "I dunno. I wouldn't be so judgmental if I were you, Percy. You might find yourself in her situation in a few years."

I laughed as I peered at the television. I had accidentally turned on some dramatic soap opera in a language I didn't understand. "Yeah, because I'm as famous as Annabeth Chase! Pfft, I wish!"

"Percy, you've got a record deal. People practically scream whenever you leave your apartment!" Grover protested.

He was right. Although I somewhat hated it, I was famous. It hadn't started like that, though. I just used to be some guy who would stumble up to stages on open mic nights at bars. Then I was spotted by a talent agency, and the rest is history.

When I was eighteen some record label owner had found me in a bar and 'discovered' me. That guy, named Chiron, became my manager and now, seven years later, I was a household name. According to Chiron I was.

"Well, don't expect me to do that anytime soon," I said with a chuckle. "I don't think I'd ever attack the paparazzi."

Grover frowned. "And you think she wanted to? She's been in the acting industry for, what, twenty years now?"

I shook my head as I folded my arms across my chest in defiance. "Probably more, but all celebrities are monsters. I was hoping I could be the only exception."

"Well, do it, then," Grover replied. I liked hanging out with Grover since we'd been friends even before I was famous. He made me feel normal. "Speaking of that, when's your next album coming out?"

I laughed. "Ha ha, Grover, very funny. With that big mouth of yours I wouldn't tell you even if I knew. Chiron set up some sort of urgent meeting for me for tomorrow, so maybe it's to announcing the dropping of a new album."

Grover nodded as the rain started to clear outside. "Yeah, maybe. Let me know. I've gotta go, though. Juniper's waiting."

Juniper was Grover's girlfriend who he lived with. She was nice, but she, like a ton of other people, never got used to me being in the room. She's always all awkward around me.

"See you tomorrow. I'll call you about that meeting," I responded. "Or maybe you'll hear a new song of mine on the radio."

Grover chuckled as he stood up. "Whichever comes first."