Double Life? Make it Triple

Chapter 7

A/N

Okay, so this is kinda a boring chapter, but I wanted to get something up, so here it is. As for the answer to my last question, since I said top two, Solangelo is obviously number one, but I also like Chiara and Damien. I dunno why, I just do. So yeah. Also, READ THE AUTHORS NOTE AT THE BOTTOM. Thank you.

Enjoy!

The next day at school, I was shattered. I'd just remembered my disguise as I slipped out the door. Piper was waiting by my locker, looking curious. Oh, no.

"How'd the showdown go?" I spun my lock, and took my books out of my locker as quickly as I could with my fatigued mind.

"With who? There were several," I replied blandly.

"Okay, worse than I thought," she said. "What, Luke, Jackson, Clarisse, who else did you manage to wind up?"

"The Half-Bloods want to kill me. The Titans want to kill me. SPQR's expecting their payment for bailing me out. The Hunters'll be up my ass if I don't agree to join them again. Maybe I should join the Amazons," I answered dryly. Piper's mouth dropped open.

"Annabeth, what the hell did I just hear?" Jason asked, popping up behind Piper. She scowled at him, before turning back to me, anticipating my response.

"The s**t has officially hit the fan," I announce loudly. "I'm screwed." Jason's gaze travelled over my shoulder, and his face blanched.

"Um, you sure about that? Because I think you're about to get a second helping." I glanced over my shoulder to where he was not so subtly pointing. Clarisse and a blue eyed brunette guy I'd never paid any attention to before. I guessed I was about to find out that I knew him quite well.

"Annie-beth!" Clarisse ground out, grabbing my arm. Toughened street fighter that I was, I didn't flinch. She threw me against a locker in a more secluded part of the hallway.

"What's this about you being in a gang?" She demanded. I raised my hands.

"I've actually just quit. But I was part of that gang for ten years," I told her, putting the same emphasis on the word 'gang' as she had.

"Don't get smart with me, Bethy," she snapped. I felt my eyes roll skywards.

"Your point?" I asked boredly.

"What?"

"You dragged me over here for a reason, didn't you?" She was speechless. Was she serious? She'd pulled me over here just to confirm I was in a gang?

"Listen Clarisse, and listen well. I'm not in the mood for your s**t, so leave me alone or you're gonna find out what ten years of gang fights are like, all in less than five minutes. Chris here will tell that I was pretty high ranking back then, and you do not want a piece of me," I whispered quietly, and glanced over at Chris. The look in his eyes confirmed my suspicion.

"Don't mess with her, Clarisse. We can deal with her in...other ways," he said hesitantly, as if still trying to comprehend that I'd quit the gang. I didn't blame him. He'd always been pretty cool, and now he was being forced to choose a side.

Clarisse looked conflicted, but obviously realized that I would pound her if she decided to fight me. "Watch your back, Annie. You being in a gang doesn't change anything." So why was she making such a big deal out of it?

I watched her head down the hallway before blinking and making my own way back to my friends.

"I suppose English is probably seeming pretty redundant to you right now, huh?" Jason asked jokingly, falling into step beside me. I groaned and met his eyes.

"That's not even funny."

He raised his hands in surrender. "Hey, I'm not Leo, don't expect my jokes to actually make you laugh." That made me crack a smile.

"You're implying that Leo's jokes are funny?" I inquired pointedly. He tilted his head, then shook it.

"You're right. Leo's jokes are terrible."

By the end of my last class, I was more than ready to go home. I didn't need to go to any gang meet-ups now, so I was free to do whatever I wanted. Except that maybe, that would get me killed. Life was ironic sometimes.

"Yo, Chase." I spun around, and nearly jumped at the boy who had appeared by my side. I'd seen him before - everyone had - but I'd never really talked to him before.

I tried to remember his name. "di Angelo, right?" He waved a lazy hand, then shoved it in the pocket of his dark jeans.

"Call me Nico."

"So," I said. "I suppose you want to talk to me?" He shrugged, examining a ring on his left hand.

"I wanted to know about your...status with the Titans," he replied.

"What's there to say? I quit," I said shortly.

He arched an eyebrow. "I heard you're also wanted dead by the Half-Bloods. I'm impressed."

"Yeah, well. Do you have anything important to say to me, or was that it?" I asked impatiently.

"Do you know much about a Percy Jackson?" He inquired. I racked my thoughts for anyone I knew named Percy.

"I don't know anyone named Percy, but..." I trailed off and clicked my fingers. "Jackson! Yeah, I have the displeasure of knowing him. In the Half-Bloods, yeah?" So now I knew his name. What do to with that knowledge?

Nico's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way, he's in the Half-Bloods?" I nodded. "That complicates things. Do you know anything else?"

"I mean, I've fought him multiple times, and punched him yesterday, actually," I said thoughtfully in reply. That only made his jaw drop lower.

"You punched the second in command of the Half-Bloods?" He exclaimed incredulously. I made hushing gestures with my hands.

"Keep it down, will you? I don't need the whole gang on my ass right now," I whispered fiercely.

He looked apologetic. "Right. Sorry. I don't suppose you know if he was at the bank on Main Street a few days ago, do you? My employer; he's a curious man," he added at my confused expression.

"As a matter of fact," I drawled. "He was. So was I. I hit him over the head with a bag of money."

"Why...you know what, I don't want to know," he said, shaking his head. "Thanks, Chase. See you round." And then he was gone. I didn't bother looking around to try and find him. I had more important matters to attend to, like how I was going to get myself home without being murdered.

I peered around the corner, scanning the streets for anyone dangerous. I was still in Annabeth Carter mode, so hopefully no one would recognize me. But just as I was turning the corner, I heard voices. Oh gods.

"So I think we should hit on...shh, someone's coming!" Someone hissed. Which meant they were probably discussing illegal business. Which also meant it was probably more gang plans. It would seem suspicious if I suddenly turned the other way, so I kept my chin up and continued walking through the alleyway. Sending a quick glance to the right, I saw the orange bandanas. Why?

They all watched me as I passed by. I didn't dare look at them, and only faltered when I heard the ringtone.

"This girl is on FIIRREEEEE!" Oh NO. Hopefully, it was someone else's phone. Someone with my exact same ringtone. Leo wouldn't be calling me now, right? No, surely not. Had I told him my phone had been stolen? I couldn't remember. But as soon as I made it to the next wall, I stuck my head around to see what was happening. An all too familiar person was answering the phone. MY phone.

"Hey, Annie?" Oh gods Leo. Why now? At least he didn't say Annabeth. That could've been bad.

Jackson was clearly revelling, but he must've realized that if he talked, it would be over, so he quickly shoved the phone in the brown-haired girl who I remembered he'd called Benvenuti's direction. She gave him a sour glance, and he made 'talk' motions with his hands, mouthing the words 'it's Chase'. She sighed, but complied.

"Hey. What's up?" A pause from Leo's end.

"You sound weird. Are you okay?" Good old Leo, blunt as ever.

Benvenuti didn't miss a beat. "You know how many fights I get into. My lip's swelling from some kind of bruise." Damn, she was good.

"Well, could you meet me at the workshop? I'm having some difficulties with the suspension." She sent a glare at Jackson like, 'what do I do now?' He shrugged.

"Keep him talking," he said quietly.

"Yo, who was that? I just heard someone else," Leo asked. I would commend him tomorrow.

"I'm at a café," she replied, then facepalmed in frustration.

"So the café was completely silent before?"

"Yeah."

Leo probably didn't believe that. "Hey, if you've got yourself another boyfriend, good for you. You don't needa hide it from me. But whatever, just come to the workshop, okay?" Then he must've hung up, because Benvenuti handed the phone back to Jackson.

"You're actually a decent liar," a blonde guy mused, and Benvenuti turned to scowl at him.

"No kidding, White," she said, then punched him in the arm. I wouldn't be surprised if she was the leader of the Half-Bloods, she seemed tough enough for it. He retorted with something I didn't catch, and the two began bickering.

"Hey! Shut it," Jackson said, turning the phnoe over in his hands. "Let me think in peace."

"You, thinking? Please," a red head interjected. To my total and utter surprise, she didn't get punched. "Besides, you're missing something pretty important right now."

"Oh yeah? And what's that, Dare?" He asked, rolling his eyes. The name 'Dare' rang a bell, but I didn't know where from.

The girl folded her arms and shifted her weight onto one foot. "Our private meeting isn't so private anymore." Oh my gods, seriously? Every freaking time. I tried to duck out of sight, but it was no use. Soon, I was surrounded by about seven people. Crap.

Jackson's face scrunched up. "Carter?" My eyes widened. How did he know that? "What are you doing here?"

I had no cards left to play, except possibly the element of surprise. So I played along. "Do I know you?" Innocent enough.

His eyes narrowed. "Yeah, I..." he seemed to realize he was doing something stupid. "My friend knows you," he finished lamely. I smirked and raised my eyebrows.

"Really, Percy? What friend?" I had the satisfaction of seeing the look of confusion on his face before turning tail and sprinting down the street as fast as I could. I heard yells, and they started running after me. If any of them went to my school, they'd know who I was. My only anonymous alias was Beth Charman, so maybe I'd have to start going by that. I realized I couldn't go home, and if Leo wanted me at the workshop, well...who was I to disappoint? I'd just have to make a few detours. After all, I knew the ins and outs of this city like the back of my hand.

I dodged into another side alleyway, and turned down several streets, turning right every time. After about ten turns, not many of them were still following, but I knew a few most likely still were. I hung another right, poured on the speed, and turned left at the next intersection. Hopefully they'd just keep going right and not bother me. Pressing myself against a wall, I tried to control my breathing. I mentally calculated how far away from the workshop I was, and estimated I was around two minutes away, so I started sneaking down the footpath, trying to blend in with everyone else. Then I did something even more risky, and took off the wig. If they could only see my head, I'd be fine. Hopefully.

Panting, I ducked into the workshop and pressed myself against the wall where no passersby could spot me.

"Annie? You good there?" I looked up and saw Leo jumping down the stairs, spinning a hammer in his right hand.

I took a breath. "You know that phone call? It wasn't me you were talking to." He snapped his fingers, dropping the hammer in the process which landed on his foot. He swore, and hobbled down the rest of the stairs in agony.

"I knew you sounded weird! But, uh, who was it then?" I slid down the wall and rested my chin on my knees.

"You were talking to the Half-Bloods," I said dully. He stared at me for a second, then the grin dropped off his face.

"Holy s**t Annie! Did I mess up your life even more than it's already been messed up?" Sometimes Leo's attitude was refreshing. Far different from the pricks I was used to working with.

As I was formulating my answer, the realization struck me. "Jackson knew who I was."

Leo hopped up on the counter and grabbed a pack of gum. "What d'ya mean? Doesn't he already know you?" After popping a piece of gum in his mouth, he offered the packet to me. "Want some?"

"No thanks," I replied. "But...I was in school disguise, and when he saw me, he said 'Carter'. That means he knows me from school." I tapped my hand against my knee, trying to figure out who he could be.

"Maybe he really is Peter," Leo mused. I nodded absentmindedly.

"Yeah," I said. "Maybe he is, and you and Jason won't have to do the forfeit."

"Now, I wouldn't mind that," Leo said, examining a blueprint for something. I was amazed by his ability to switch whatever activity he was doing within seconds. Even with ADHD, it was impressive. "Or, we could just not tell Jason so he does it on his own. That'd be hilarious."

"Yeah," I smiled. "So, you needed help with a suspension issue?"

He groaned, and put the blueprint out on the desk. "Ugh. If you can work this out, I salute you."

So, I've made an update schedule on my profile near the top so you don't have to scroll through all the random crap on there, but it says the estimated time of when I'm gonna update stuff.

This chapter's question: What did you guys think of the Dark Prophecy (the second Trials of Apollo book) excerpt? If you don't know what the hell I'm talking about, there's an excerpt, so go read it.

HV