AN:/ Annabeth's hair, dress, shoes and jewellery in media above. I'm no Aphrodite girl so I'll make pictures to help you because I suck a make up and clothes.

The next week was a blur. People coming to see me about rules, regulations and expectations. (Ha I rhymed!)

I re-watched the report so I could see my 'competition'. There were ranges of skin, eye and hair colour. All beautiful in their own way. Some 7's as well.

Some big names were selected as well. Tristan McLean's daughter, Piper McLean, was chosen from Whites. A model, Drew Tanaka, from Clermont and a singer, Silena Beauregard, from Carolina.

That just made me even more nervous.

Percy hadn't talked to me much. Only had short and swift conversations at meals time. I tried to talk to him multiple other times but he said he needed to get work done.

On Sunday that week, the girls arrived. I stood on my balcony overlooking the driveway. Long slick black cars pulled in, each dropping off 4 girls then leaving. Each girl had white tops and black pants on with their province flower in their hair.

From 3 floors up I watched girls walk in, judging them. I know that's mean, but hey! It's human nature, especially since there coming into my home and dating my best friend.

Soon after 5 cars had pulled depositing 20 girls a maid came up to take me to the women's room.

When I entered the room it was absolute organised chaos. Maids and beauticians rushed around getting dresses, shoes and makeup. Shouting orders to others and directing the Selected to a station. A maid walked up to me.

"Lady Annabeth?"

I've never been called lady before...

"Yes?"

"Come right this way"

She led me over to the left-hand side of the room where the bathrooms were. When we got there 3 more maids came rushing up to me.

"This way miss. You must have a bath before you're dressed"

Bath?

They lead me into the bathroom where there was a big bath, filled to the top with warm water with bubbles coating the top. The maids helped me get undressed and into the bath where they immediately started to scrub my skin and wash my hair. I felt very self-conscious. Someone had never watched me bathe let alone scrub me while I bathe.

"What scent for your shampoo miss?" One asked

"Lemon" I answered at once. I always used lemon scented shampoo because it's proven to ward away spiders. I had a phobia of spiders.

"Sure miss"

She started to massage the shampoo into my scalp.

Five minutes later I was in a dressing robe getting rushed to the next station. Makeup.

I had never worn makeup before and I hoped that this wouldn't be an exception.

I sat down in front of a mirror while a maid blow dried my hair. Once she was done a beautician walked over

"Lady Annabeth, what look would you like?" She asked me

"Look?"

"Like, sexy, preppy, cute..." she listed off

"No, no. Just myself. Very little makeup please"

She looked disappointed but waved over some maids to get supplies

She applied some nude eyeshadow, light mascara, a soft pink blush and pink lipgloss. (Sorry, no Aphrodite girl here. I think I got names right...) While she was done doing my makeup, two maids did my hair. They made braids wrap around my hair with a few pieces hanging out to frame my face. When I looked up at my completed face it looked like I had no makeup on. I quickly thanked her and the maids before I was whisked away to the dressing rooms.

A tall woman walked up to me tapping her chin. She walked around me, then seemed to have an idea and disappeared into one of the many closets.

She came back out with a floor-length black dress with pink floral designs on it. At the top black fabric went up to the neck.

She gave me the dress and pushed me to a small dressing room where there was a maid to help me changed. She helped me change, still feeling self-conscious, then showed me to another maid who showed me my jewellery options

"I'm sorry to be a pain, but before I had a bath I had two necklaces on and earrings. Could I wear those?"

She nodded and walked back over to the baths. She returned with my jewellery and helped me put it on. I had dangly silver owl earrings that were my mothers, a silver owl necklace with small diamonds that my father had gotten me for my 16th birthday last year and lastly my bead necklace. It may not be fashionable but is very important to me. When Percy and I were twelve we each got each other friendship necklaces. Each year we would place a new bead on the necklace with a small image of something special from that year. Each bead represented a year of friendship between us. Most people don't see it because he is always wearing suits but Percy never takes his off. Neither do I.

"Seeing as most of this is silver, let's go with silver shoes," The maid said. She led me over to a large shoe rack and picked up some silver shoes to show me. Two had very high heels that I will never wear as long as I live. The others weren't that high and had sparkly heels and a buckle around the ankle.

I pointed to the latter "Those ones please"

I sat down on a stool and lifted up my dress so she could put my shoes on. I felt very Cinderella. Once the shoes were one they led me to were some cameras were set up. A girl with frizzy red hair and green eyes was getting interviewed. Rachel Dare I think. From St. George.

When Rachel was done the interviewer called me over

"Hi there, Lady Annabeth?"

"Yes"

"Just sit down there, I'm going to ask you a few questions"

A smiled and sat down in the chair, opposite the interviewer

"So Lady Annabeth, tell us about your self"

I smiled

"Well, I'm Annabeth, 17 years old. A 2 from Angeles. My father works here at the palace and I have 3 brothers"

"Your father works here?"

"Yes, General Fredrick Chase"

"Wow, so I take it you already know the prince?"

I nodded "We're quite close actually"

"No wonder he was so surprised when he read out your name last week"

"Yeah"

"Tell us about your look"

"Nothing special. A very light coat of makeup. Just being my self"

"Well, thank you Lady Annabeth, that's all for today"

"Thanks" I stood up and followed another maid to an area that had chairs and couches set up for the finished Selection. Some girls were in sparkly dresses, others in floor-length ball gowns and some others were... more revealing.

I spotted a girl in a red sweetheart neckline dress sitting alone. As I got closer to her I realised it was Piper McLean from Whites.

I sat down next to her "Hey, Piper right?"

"Yeah, Annabeth?"

I nodded

"This is crazy for me. Never worn makeup before" I explain

"Yeah, it's a bit different from home"

While we waited for the other girls to finish we started up a conversation about our family's and home. When all the girls were finally finished and seated, a short woman with a clipboard in hand walked up to us. Her long brown hair was tied up into a bun on the top of her head, her brown eyes scanned the crowd, she had freckles all over her nose and she was wearing a blue pencil skirt with a white blouse.

"Excuse me, ladies!"

We all stopped our conversations and looked over at her

"Thank you. My name's Sarah and I will be your teacher and adviser during your stay at the palace. Right now we will head off on a tour, then I shall drop you off at your rooms to meet your maids, they will help you prepare for dinner tonight with the royal family. Tomorrow after breakfast you will meet the prince" Heaps of whispering and squeal erupted from the girls. I just rolled my eyes. He's not that exciting.

"Follow me, ladies"

We all got up and followed Sarah out of the women's room to start our tour