Chapter Text
The lights faltered one last time as the cheering got louder. Sweat and perfume mingled in the music charged air. People talked and danced all around the stage, almost swallowing what was left of the music with their own voice.
Annabeth smiled to herself, looking at the people chanting her name for the last time before she was led backstage. The last notes of the song still ringing in her head, she thanked the staff for their help, proposing to go celebrate the official end of the world tour over dinner in the next few days.
Her world tour.
She bit her cheek to stop herself from yelling out in excitement. This was it. All that she ever ever worked for had finally led her to this moment.
The countless hours in the recording room. The negotiations to get her songs publishized. The fight with her mother. It had all led somewhere. She hadn't wasted the opportunity she was given.
After one of her songs was featured in the acclaimed adaptation of the Odysee and had gone viral on social media a few years ago, she was propelled into stardom practically overnight. It hadn't been easy being in the eye of the media at the ripe age of seventeen but Annabeth wouldn't trade it for almost anything.
Almost.
Because what she really needed right now was a break. Yeah, being able to live her dream was fun and all but the constant moving for her concert was really starting to take a toll on her. She had barely slept at night for the last week, not being able to get used to the difference in time zones between Paris and New York. The skillfully hidden bags under her eyes could attest to that. She swore that if the paparazzi didn't kill her, then the jet lag definitely would.
But this was all over now.
She was free from all obligations for the next year. She made sure of it when she talked with her manager last month. The pop-star had practically threatened him that if he dared book her for more activities she would make him regret. The genuine fear in his eyes told her that she was pretty much assured a year long rest. Her reaction was probably a bit exagererated but needed.
Annabeth sighed as she opened the door to her changing room, sinking into the first chair she found without even thinking. The wooden legs creeked under her weight but she payed no mind to it. The chair could crumble under her weight for all she cared, she was almost emotionally bonded to it now. There was no way in hell she was moving. Her feet were aching and she wasn't sure if the painful thumping in her head was caused by the loud music, dehydration, or a strange mix of both.
She leaned towards the last option.
The sound of the door opening made Annabeth look over her shoulder, at the room entrance. A dark haired woman walked in the room without bothering knocking. She gave one look at Annabeth a look that immediately makes her heart drop right down to her stomach.
Her best friend, Piper, had tried meeting her for a few months now but their schedule had never really matched up due to Annabeth flying around the world while Piper had to stay at New York to finish training for next year's Olympics. So when she discovered that both of them would be in New York at the same time, Piper had insisted on accompanying Annabeth to her last concert of the tour.
She cleared her throat. "So I have a good and a bad news", Piper attempts a reassuring smile but dropped it as soon as she realized that it didn't seem to reassure her friend. "Which one do you want first?"
-"Just hit me with the bad news", Annabeth said, her voice still hoarse from the hours of singing.
-"I'll give you the good news first anyway" Piper took a step closer, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I think we can both agree that this tour has been a huge sucess. You're trending on twitter right as we speak and your fans are already requesting another tour but..."
-"But?"
Piper looked away."Remember a few months ago? When you promised Grover that you'll be a part of whatever tv show he was working on when he was done with his last show. You know.. to thank him for putting your Song in The Odysee movie and-"
-"I know that already. What does this have anything to do with the bad news?"
-"Well Grover just called your manager to tell you that he was finally done with all preparations"
-"Okay? Why are you the one telling me this instead of my manager?" Annabeth frowned in confusion "And you still haven't answered my question. Why is this bad news?"
-"Annabeth," Piper looked serious now "You're not getting the year off. Grover needs you to start filming in three weeks.
Annabeth froze.
She stared at Piper, mouth left slightly open
Yep, now both her heart and her stomach had dropped, which was probably quite unhealthy. If she ever gets the time, she should probably get it checked out. Yet another reason to take time off, Annabeth thought to herself. Maybe if she just closed her eyes, it would all turn out to be a nightmare and she would wake up?
-"Beth..? Beth?" The brunette shook her friend by the shoulder. "Don't stay silent. You're scaring me right now."
Annabeth blinked, letting out a breath she was keeping and looked up at her friend.
-"Do remind me on why you're the one telling me this news instead of… I don't know, my manager?" Her voice was calm. A perfect contrast to the storm brewing behind her eyes.
Piper gulped. "Well, Michel said something about being scared of telling you himself and that maybe the blow would be less...uhm.. impactful? If I was the one telling you?" She gives her a sheepish smile, taking a step back.
-"I see" Annabeth nodded, her stare turning blank.
-"How do you feel?"
-"As well as someone that just got told they got their vacation taken away." she sighs
Sitting down in the couch in front of her, Piper pursed her lips, "Maybe you can just tell Grover that you can't do it anymore? I am sure he would understand."
Annabeth shook her head, "No. After all that he did for me, what type of friend would I be if I got out of our agreement at the last minute? I have to go through with it"
-"What type of show is it anyway?" Piper raised an eyebrow, mindlessly passing a hand through her hair.
-"A baking show..."
Whatever sound she expected coming from her friend, Piper choking on her laugh felt the most insulting one. Her friend clutched her stomach with one hand while slapping the other on her mouth, a mix of badly hidden giggles and deep breath escaping her mouth.
-"Oh come on!" Annabeth frowned, the illusion of her anger quickly broken by the smile tugging at her lips at Piper's reaction. "I haven't burned anything in years for your information.
Piper sat back up, throwing a complicit look at the woman in front of her.
-"Yeah, because you're not allowed within a three meter radius of an oven. Don't think I don't remember your mother forbidding you from even entering the kitchen when we were teens." The dark haired woman laughs, tears blurring her vision.
-"Fine" Annabeth rolls her eyes."Maybe. Just maybe, I should've thought of that before signing the contract with groover." She crossed her arms, "Kind of too late to regret now anyways."
So what if Annabeth couldn't bake to save her own life? It wasn't her fault that she always gets distracted when the food is in the oven, leading more often than not for the fire alarm to be the thing reminding her of whatever monstrosity she left in the oven. Not that she will admit it to anyone else than Piper or Thalia. Both women had to eat salty, burned cake for their birthdays because as it turns out, salt and sugar can get easily confused with one another if not careful.
-"Well you got three weeks to start and try to get your skills to improve a bit. Hopefully you'll use that smart brain of yours in the meantime and learn some recipes or at the very least how not to mix up sugar and salt."
Annabeth nodded, not bothering to refute the last statement. There's no point in feeling defeated, she could very well rest on the days where she wasn't filming. And knowing Grover, he probably made sure the schedule was reasonable.
What's the worst thing that could happen on a baking show anyway? Getting ridiculed? That didn't scare her. If being in the eyes of the media taught her anything, it's that no amount of awkward or embarrassing moments couldn't be made into an endearing 7 minutes compilation of her doing something stupid on Youtube.
She learned years ago that camera crews had a thing for catching her at her worst.
.
.
.
The paper fell out from between her fingers as she tried taking it out of the box. She huffed ,but picked another one, one closer to her.
The camera focused on her reaction, waiting for her to reveal the color in the small envelope. She tore open the side of it, letting the blue confetti scatter to the ground around her feet as the other contestant cheered.
-”Blue team!” Someone yelled out from behind her.
Annabeth looked around. Expecting the pretty girl she caught a glimpse of in a blue dress to come up to her. Cheers and music made her dizzy. The sound resonated in her head as she saw a tall man walk toward her. The polite smile on her face dropped at his view.
Of course she would get paired up with him out of everyone. The sorry joke that is her life just had to take another ridiculous turn.
He stops in front of her, extending his hand with a welcoming smile.
She should have never agreed to participate in this baking show.
“Percy Jackson. Happy to finally meet you Annabeth Chase. Let’s work well together.”
Maybe she should burn down this kitchen.