I just finished reading "The Lost Hero" in my Percy Jackson marathon. I was completely thrilled for the series gets better and better. Unfortunately, "The Son of Neptune" won't be out until this fall. Fall. It seems like waiting forever! I put the book down and laid down on my bed looking up the ceiling. I didn't realize how tired my eyes were after days of nonstop reading. Or maybe not so nonstop—I would occasionally put whatever I'm reading down for a short trip to the bathroom or some snacks. I rarely slept and I skipped school a couple of days just to read. And now, Rick Riordan is asking me to wait until fall.

I'm Phoebe Wilson or at least one of those girls called Phoebe Wilson. In my entire life, I've never been so unique. There's always a Phoebe, a Wilson or a Phoebe Wilson around one way or another. I study in a prestigious school somewhere in the middle of nowhere as a fifth grader. I'm only fourteen though or so I think.

I live alone in the house of my aunt who passed away last winter. Actually, she disappeared much like my dad. But I was used to it so I didn't even bother looking for her. Yes, I did say much like my dad. He left me when I was three. A few days later, my aunt found me locked up in our own house and my dad was nowhere to be found. That is probably why I liked the Percy Jackson series. It makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one left by everyone else. Of course, I'm nothing like them—again, or so I thought.

For the first time in three days, I came out to greet the warm sunshine. It won't be too long until summer vacation starts and I would have to find a summer job soon. The Glendale Academy has scholarship slots that help those like me who cannot afford to study. We are given allowance every month which I use for my everyday needs. However, that does not include vacations. And thus, to feed myself, I have to work every vacation.

Upon entering the school premises, I went towards the lockers walking as fast as I could without running. I really couldn't tell why but it's probably my Sheila instincts telling me I should make a run for it. You see, Sheila is the stereotypical popular girl every school has. She's not really pretty but she is filthy rich. She's the captain of the cheer leading squad and the drama club. Typical. She likes backstabbing the other cheerleaders and making fun of the scholars (which includes me). To top that, she hates me. I don't know why. She just does.

I marched towards my locker and got everything I needed before going to our first class-Math. I have always been good in Math. Our teacher, Mr. Lee, proved to be an excellent teacher. Today however, I found myself wondering if he could be anything like Mr. Dodds like what happened during the field trip of Percy's school. But I didn't hate him. He was fair and funny he might even pass as Chiron.

I sat up front like I always do. I looked around and saw the same faces. Deep inside, I knew part of me hoped I'd see something like an empousa instead of a classmate or probably a Cyclops. I sighed. Percy Jackson really got to me. It was actually the only book I have ever finished. I'd like to say it's because I'm dyslexic but I'm not. I'm just plain lazy. Besides, it will make my English teacher Ms. Ricks happy and that is like the last thing I'd ever want to do.

I paid attention to everything Mr. Lee taught and I'm not boasting but I am quite sure I understood it very well. I didn't take notes. I just kept my eyes on what he is scribbling on the board and my ears were focused on his explanations. Okay, so maybe I wasn't that concentrated. Occasionally, I would look at Mr. Lee's warm brown eyes and his curly hair which makes it hard for me to fail him. He is the only one in the school who thinks I deserve to be here and that I am as good as everybody else even without a family. Yeah, he sounds very much like that centaur to me.

Next stop was English. I wasn't very enthusiastic about it. I'd skip it if only doing that won't get me into trouble. I was never good in English. It took me longer to understand essays and such as compared to others. And it doesn't help when your teacher is just waiting for you to trip and embarrass yourself just so she can embarrass you more.

I was trying not to think about her when my friend Alice tapped my shoulder. She was so late she had to skip the first class.

"Great. Now I have a hell lot of detention I might as well set camp there!" she exclaimed in frustration. Last time, she was given a week of detention because of throwing an eraser in the face of one of our classmates who kept on throwing paper airplanes at her.

We entered the Math lab together a few minutes late. Ms. Ricks looked at me with pure hatred but I don't think it's because we came in late. I personally think it's because I dared show my face again after three days of heaven she must have felt. Our mistake was stopping by the door waiting for her verdict on both of us. As expected, we were both found guilty.

"Ms. Wilson", she said in a very calm you're-not-getting-away-with-this-and-you're-so-dead manner. She would go on smoothly (and coldly) if only Clandestine Wilson didn't raise her hand inquiringly. Oh, namesakes.

"Ms. Phoebe-Wilson. Meet me in the faculty lounge during lunch. You alone. Unless of course, you can bring your parents with you."

I felt a strong urge to grab a chair and rearrange her face with it. But I knew well that it wouldn't help. She'd still get what she wants. If only I could manipulate the Mist around her. I dragged my feet towards my seat and took a pen and paper out. I didn't intend to listen to her endless blabber about endless authors and all. Instead I started doodling.

I began scribbling lines forming some kind of path. It wasn't exactly pretty but I somehow knew there was more sense to it so I went on. It became dull and gloomy. Death was written all over it. I was drawing idly. I didn't know what I was doing. It was my imagination taking over. I started drawing Ms. Ricks. I felt a smile in my face. It would have looked weird but the class laughed simultaneously probably because of a joke shared by our dear teacher. Sweet serendipity.

I went on. Revenge is sweet. I gave Ms. Ricks a donkey leg and a prosthetic one for the other to make a pair with blazing hair and sharp eyes. I made her a trying-hard enchantress. Unknowingly, I started drawing two more figures on the act of descending down the path I have drawn just to avoid Ms. Ricks. Instead of falling heads over heels for her, the two figures preferred to run towards their end which laid beneath them in what seemed to be the Underworld. I couldn't blame them. Had I been in their place, I would have severed my head toss it to Cerberus for him to play with and head towards the Fields of Punishment for eternal damnation. All that would have sounded better than being seduced by creepy old Ms. Ricks.

The joke seemed funny to me but I am quite sure Ms. Ricks didn't find the picture hilarious. Maybe if she looked at it from behind where nothing is visible, she would laugh or even giggle but she didn't. She picked up the paper and her eyes widened suggesting pure loathing and rage. The class was already dismissed so I thought I should make a run for it but my feet were heavy like lead.

"We will talk about this later", she said sternly.

Oh great. We'll chat. I tried giving Alice a SOS look and she returned a no-thank-you face. Oh, joy. More trouble for me.

The bell rang announcing lunch. I ran immediately to the faculty lounge in an attempt to lighten the mood between me and my favorite teacher Ms. Ricks. She greeted me with a smile that seemed to say, "Come on, now. We're going to talk." I gulped.

I've been here a couple of times and it still hasn't changed. There was a long sofa that leaned on the wall. Across the room directly in front of the sofa, there's a small television on top of small cabinet with glass doors that housed numerous CD's. There were songs and movies as well as educational videos. There was also a counter nearby where they prepare coffee and snacks. A water dispenser was around the corner behind the counter just beside the mini refrigerator which was also beside the sink. Only the two of us where in here judging from the silence that only broke when either she or I spoke. Great. A private chit chat. I am so pathetic; my first lunch date would be with a female English teacher who hated my guts. Yeah, very funny. If only it wasn't literally taken.

"Who are your parents, honey?" she asked after making me take a seat beside her. She offered me some coffee which I denied hoping that was to prolong my life.

"I beg your pardon?" I answered defensively. She knew I was left by my parents. How should I know who they were? Oh, wait. My father was the sister of my aunt. Does that sound reasonable? Their surnames must have been Wilson one way or another. Helpful enough?

"Oh, so you'd be the damsel in distress? How ironic."

Okay. I knew I must have freaked out too much because I ran towards the door. Part of me wanted to scream but my voice was too frightened to go out and be heard. The fact that the door was locked and I have no other way out must have contributed that.

She held my shoulder so tight for one second there; I thought it was going to snap. She inched closer-so close I can feel her breath go in and out of her system. She held my hair and pulled it down to one side exposing my neck which she, err, licked. Yes, she licked it. I closed my eyes and tried not to think of what was happening. Hey, Cerberus, want another head to play with? It's not a big red ball but you can crush it between your teeth! I remembered the drawing.

"So the drawing was actually a picture showing something you really have done, huh?" I asked. Don't ask me why. I was acting on impulse here.

"What do you think?" answered Ms. Ricks in a voice that was supposedly seducing except I'm also female.

"It was all true except for the appearance part." I sounded so brave, it almost fooled me.

"No, darling. It's all true. Including the appearance part."

She pinned me against the wooden door and mumbled "I'll offer some of the food after I eat" in some language. Normally, one would have been shocked to find hidden talents revealing themselves for the first time but in this situation, I guess I have better things to think of. One, how to get this psycho teacher off me and two, how to stay alive while I think of the first one.

Turns out, I didn't have to do something and moreover, there was nothing I could have done anyways. Someone on the other side of the door was trying to unlock it. I was thankful for that. But the moment he or she opened it, the door swung open and going after my head which knocked me down. At least Ms. Ricks let go of me and thus, I safely lay on the floor. I was still conscious. In fact, my eyes were still open. But I was far to dizzy to move a muscle. All I saw was Ms. Ricks' legs which were very much similar to what I have drawn. The other one was furry while the other shone like a medal given during Recognition Day. Her face was all blurred to me. But as far as I can see, she's not even wearing teacher's uniform anymore. And the one who came in. I couldn't see his face clearly. But he fought Ms. Ricks. He did some kind of magic and yellow powder filled the room. It was so bright I passed out.