The Morning Show: Percabeth edition

Chapter 10: Percy's POV

Blinding flashes of light. Reporters opening their mouths in shock. Annabeth's stunned eyes.

I had kissed Annabeth Chase.

I gritted my teeth and wove through all the reporters. I was done. Done with this job. Done with this life. I was a tool for the Morning Show. I was heading back to Philadelphia.

I shoved through the crowd. "Percy Jackson!" reporters hollered, "over here!" I kept my head down and kept waking to the exit. Just keep walking, I told myself.

I was outside now, but reporters were still swarming me. I was frozen in shock. Microphones. Cameras flashing. I just stood there, overwhelmed with fear.

Something caught my eye in front of me. A black Rolls Royce pulled up to the curb. "Hey Percy, need a lift?"

I didn't even care who it was. It could be Tony Lopez for all I cared. I just needed to get away.

"Sure thing I do." I hopped into the shotgun.

I stiffened once I registered the face. Blond hair. A scar. Blue eyes. I was in the car with Luke Castellan.

"So Percy, tell me. How's being the network's lap dog feeling for you?"

I let out a nervous laugh. "I don't know if I should be with you right now Luke. Really, you can drop me off right now. Thank you for the quick escape though."

He smiled. "You and me have a lot to talk about." He pulled over, and looked me squarely in the eye. "Together we can be a powerful team, Percy. Do you trust me enough?"

"I really don't," I reached for the door handle, only to find it locked like I expected.

"What if I told you Octavian was part of the cover up?"

I bit my lip. "And what proof do you have, Luke?"

He flexed his fingers. "I know you hate him as much as I do. Do you want him to get fired or not Percy?"

"What do you plan to do? You might be right Luke, but how do you plan on getting him busted? You have no respect anymore-"

His face suddenly hardened. "I can get people on the show with your help. People who Octavian silenced."

"These are the people who were harassed by you, Luke. You are the person behind this whole mess. I don't want to help you."

He sighed. "Percy, Octavian is a bad person who got no punishment for his crimes, while I sit back and suffer the consequences." He let out a bitter laugh. "Do you want to push him into the dirt once and for all?"

"No. I'm not choosing sides Luke. I'm going back to Philadelphia. This whole mess with the Morning Show. I'm sick of it."

He fiddled with his bead necklace. "I know about how false the film was," he arched his eyebrow at me, "will you go back home and let Octavian win the war? You see Percy, right now Octavian has only won the battle. You'll let him win the war if you go back to your home. Octavian has had payed absolutely NOTHING for his actions. We can change that together."

His voice turned softer. "I know how you hate being played around with. That feeling knowing that you can't trust anyone," his look turned faraway. Finally he said, "so I'll ask you one final time: will you join me?"

I thought for only a moment. "I will," I firmly said.