Are You Okay?

Annabeth POV

Because of Luke, I was sitting in a coffee shop on a Sunday evening. Usually, I would be reading a book and rehearsing my lines or songs for the musical. However, when Luke asked me out for coffee, I had to accept for multiple reasons. First, I didn't want to say no to someone that I worked pretty close with as he was also in the musical with a minor role. But, more importantly, I always liked Luke ever since the Frozen musical we worked on during my freshman year.

"Here you go, Annabeth," Luke said as he handed me my caramel iced tea.

"Thanks, Luke."

"So, I cannot believe that you didn't get the role of Jenny Lind"

"Yeah, I was upset about it. But, you must also be upset about not getting a lead." Luke got cast in a minor role who interacts twice with PT Barnum, who Percy was selected to play. I couldn't even believe that Percy got cast. He didn't care for the musical at all. Sure, he was unexpectedly good during auditions, but he didn't even want the role. I was pretty sure he would reject the role and Luke would take over.

"Yeah, it's a bummer."

We entered into silence, an awkward silence. I didn't really know what to say, especially as Luke just stared at me with an expression I couldn't quite decipher. However, I did know that I didn't completely like that expression.

Luckily, a phone call interrupted the situation. As Luke talked on the phone, I watched his face change as he looked out the window. I've never interacted with Luke outside of school, so I didn't know much about his interests or friends.

"Hey, Annabeth. I know we just started talking, but is it okay if we take a raincheck. Something has come up at home."

"Yeah. Of course. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, but I gotta go as soon as possible," replied Luke before kissing my cheek, lingering, and then rushing out of the cafe. I was caught off-guard by the kiss but easily got over it. He didn't really look concerned but seemed to be in a hurry. As an actress, I knew how to decipher emotions and facial expressions, and he wasn't holding worry on his face.

Through the window, I noticed Luke with a group of boys. They seemed to be talking aggressively before rushing off together. The baseball bats some of the boys were holding didn't go unnoticed.

I just shrugged before getting ready to leave the cafe and head home.

***

I was so excited for the first day of rehearsal. I had accepted my role as Charity and moved on to figuring out how to give my best performance. This goal involved learning my many lines as well as perfecting my voice for A Million Dreams and Tightrope. Currently, I was sitting on stage where a circle of chairs was set up for all the cast members involved with the soundtrack. This involved all the main singers of the songs on stage while the ensemble and background singers were sitting in the first three rows of the auditorium. One stage chair was still empty.

"All right, everyone. Thank you all for accepting your roles and coming to the first day of rehearsal for this year's production of The Greatest Showman."

Cheers erupted through everyone's mouths as we clapped. Everyone was excited about this musical as it was such a popular movie in our community. It was rare to find someone in this small city who hasn't seen or at least heard of the film. Plus, it wasn't a Disney musical like it had been in the last four years of Goode High's production history.

"Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Bruner, Ms. Artemis, and I are very excited as well. So, we're going to jump right into it. The next two weeks of rehearsal will be working through the songs, specifically the songs with multiple crew members involved. We will go through the single-person songs as well, but that's later next week."

Apollo's plan made sense because songs with multiple singers always required the most attention as everyone had to be in sync and a few aspects had to be tweaked.

Just then, the auditorium side door burst open as Percy ran towards the stage. Shit. I couldn't believe he was actually taking the role. Gods, I would have to perform as his leading lady. He stood outside of our circle, nervously rubbing his backpack's straps with one hand and his swim bag was in the other.

"Awesome, welcome Percy. Please take a seat. We'll be needing you after all."

Percy did as he was told setting his stuff down behind him. His seat was next to mine. Miss Artemis made it a point to seat individuals that would spend the most time together next to each other.

"I do have to request that you don't come late every day, Percy." Miss Artemis said with a reassuring smile.

"Yea, um I'm so sorry. I'm still trying to figure my new schedule. It takes a few minutes to shower and change unless you all want me to come in here in my swim trunks and soaking wet," he replied genuinely at first, but then sarcastically.

"I would LOVE to see that," Rachel cooed. I rolled my eyes at her flirting; this wasn't a new thing. Rachel and Percy had dated according to Piper, but I couldn't care less about relationship gossip. But another idea dawned on me, Rachel pulled strings for the part of Jenny Lind because she wanted a role close to Percy. After all, Jenny Lind and Barnum share a passionate, yet unexpected kiss in the film. This thought only made me angrier at Rachel and Percy, too.

Percy ignored Rachel and turned his attention back to Apollo and Miss Artemis, who were summarizing each character to start. They went around in a counterclockwise circle starting with Percy (aka PT Barnum) and ending with me.

"Finally, we have Charity. She is a sweetheart with a strong heart. She cares deeply for her two daughters and Phineas Barnum, her husband. That's you, Percy. Also, she grew up in a rich lifesty-"

Miss Artemis was interrupted by coughing and gagging from next to me. I was annoyed that he just had to have a fit while my role was explained, but I was also concerned.

Everyone's attention turned to Percy as he continued to gag. Apollo asked, "Woah, Percy. Hold on, are you okay?"

"Percy cleared his throat, easily recovering. Yeah, um sorry, everyone. I guess that's just my body's reaction to Wise Girl being my wife." he replied gesturing to me.

Several laughs came from the crew including Apollo, but I only felt heat and venom rise. He couldn't be serious, that idiot. I shot him a glare that he easily ignored. But, his smile did lessen. This is what I meant when I thought Percy was trouble and infuriating.

Rehearsal ended soon after that with Apollo mentioning that everyone should be practicing their songs. We would be starting with A Million Dreams but also starting work on The Greatest Show (which required mostly the whole cast and ensemble) tomorrow.

As I was packing up my stuff, a voice spoke up behind me. "Hey Wise Girl, guess you're my wife."

I snapped around deadpanning the boy with a glare. "All right, let's be very clear. Stop calling me Wise Girl. You know what just don't talk to me outside of rehearsal because like I said all you do is annoy me."

Percy's mouth hung open for a second before he closed it. "You know, I- I was kidding before. It was just a joke to make everyone laugh. I didn't mean for it to hurt you." He said it quietly as he meant it.

"Well, I wasn't joking Percy. Drama and singing are very important to me, so you cannot come in here with a joking attitude and ruin it by distracting everyone or not caring."

"Yeah, I know, but I can't help my personality, Wise Girl. And, I am taking this seriously. It's just a big change, and I'm figuring it out by getting people to know and like me. Clearly, not doing a good job, though.

I stared at him in shock. I never thought he would ever say something so deep with so much sense. I guess he was possibly serious about this commitment, and I didn't know.

I smiled before replying, "Some of the crew is watching The Greatest Showman again. If you want, then you should come over to Piper's this Saturday."

A brilliant smile graced his features as he breathed out a sigh of relief. Yup, his face looked much better, more handsome, while smiling. Wow, I did not just think that.

"I'll be there, Wise Girl" was Percy's smiling reply.