-I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians, just this and a couple other fanfics.-
Fish gills and swimmer skills
By: Potatoe Man
Chapter: 1
My name is Percy Jackson. I've live a normal life since….. well actually, I've never had a normal life. I was born in California and lived there my whole life. I don't know what hospital I was born at because my mother never told me. I go to a boarding school called Chiron's school for troubled teens. My mom said it was the only school in her price range she could send me to. The school says it's for troubled 'teens' but it actually is one of those 'preschool all the way up to twelfth grade' type schools. ever since elementary level I had been on the school's swim team. I was in love with the water and everyone told me I was like a fish in the pool. I traveled up the team ranks quickly, becoming the youngest ever team captain in my freshmen year of high school. When I first told my mom that I was on the swim team, she had flipped out. She had kept rambling about how I shouldn't be in water. I was confused by her reaction since she knew I loved to swim. After she got over the initial shock, and after she made me promise that we weren't going to practice at the beach, she said that she was happy that I had found something that I loved to do. My mother, since I was born, never took me to the beach. She said that she meet my dad at the beach and it was too painful to go there. That didn't really explain why I couldn't go, but I listened to her. The way she talked about the place, it was like she thought if we went I would disappear. Actually, I've never even swam in salt water before. It was always fresh or chlorinated water. But that all changed one weekend of my sophomore year.
I had just finished lunch when my friends Annabeth and Grover came by. We were all sixteen and we had become friends the moment we met in elementary school. Well, me and Grover became instant friends. Annabeth took a little longer to warm up to me. They pulled up in Annabeth's grey shevy. Her dad worked in the 'historical museum of mechanical warfare' and got pretty good money for keeping the exhibits clean and prepared for the public. He bought her the car a week ago after she passed her drivers ED class with flying colors and got her driver's license. Her and Grover got out as I opened the the door. My mother stood behind me and waved. "Good morning Grover, Annabeth." They booth nodded and Annabeth said, "Good morning Mrs. Jackson. Can we kidnap Percy for the rest of the day? I need his help on a shopping situation. We might also stop for a quick dip to cool off." She said it innocently enough, but I knew her better. She was up to something. "Don't call me 'Mrs. Jackson'. It makes me feel old. And I guess you could steal him for the day. He's finished with his chorus and I see no reason he can't hang out with his friends." she smiled at them and chatted while I got my bag. When I got to the car she called, "Make sure to bring him back before seven." and waved as we drove off.
As soon as my mom was out of sight I turned to Annabeth. "OK. what do you really want me for?" She faked a hurt expression. "Do I need a reason to hang with my two best friends. Do you really think I would keep something from you?" she said Innocently. I rolled my eyes. "What do you want?" I said, already regretting my decision to come. "It's not what I want, It's what you require. And first of all, I do need you for shopping advice," I rolled my eyes again. Why did she assume that just because I was gay that I had great fashion sense. If she looked into my closet she would stop asking for my advice. ",and I know for a fact that a little prince of darkness is hanging out at the pier." I lean against my seat and groan. "Why do you do this to me. I will find a way to talk to him when I'm ready." I say, trying my best to not get made. "That's the problem. You'll never be ready. You always put it off and when you actually run into the kid, you start Mumbling incoherently and become very clumsy. Last time you tried to talk to him you covered the poor kid in syrup and powdered sugar from your funnel cake."
I blush at the memories of my terrible attempts at talking to Nico Di Angelo. Every time I try to talk to him my mind freezes up and I become all thumbs. Annabeth had taken it upon herself to try and hook us up. She's sent me to the store for something only for me to find that Nico worked there. She told me to meet her in the band room and I discovered Nico eating lunch and I made up the lame excuse of walking into the wrong room. Annabeth had tried and tried to get us alone together so we could talk, get to know each other, fall in love and get married. Literally her goals for our lives. She had tried everything except handcuffing us together, though I wouldn't put it passed her. "Well….. I can't go to the pier." I say, trying to wriggle out of the situation. "My mom won't allow me to go to the beach. It's literally her top rule of the house and my life. 'No Beach'! She would kill you if she knew where you were you were planning on taking me." I was desperate. I doubt my mother would actually kill Annabeth, but she wouldn't talk to or trust her for months. "First, I told your mom where we were going, just in a different order. And second off, I told your mother we were going for a 'quick dip'. I didn't say we were going to the pool, and she didn't ask." I rub my hand down my face. I was only nerves about the whole Nico situation. I actually really wanted to see the beach. I've had dreams about when my mother finally took me there and I wished they would come true. Now I was being dragged there to be forced to socialize with my high school crush and, by the way, I don't even know if he's gay. I would even take it if he was bi.
The car stops and I look around in a panic. We couldn't be there yet. Apparently Annabeth knew a shortcut. We were parked right next to the pier. Annabeth and Grover got out and Annabeth opened my door. "Your love life awaits." she said with a bow and a hand stretched out behind her. I cross my arms and grumble, "I'm not moving." her eyes darkened and before I knew it I was lifted into the air and was slung over her shoulder like a bag of potatoes. She closes the door and marches off with me.
Grover steps behind her and looks at me. "I'd just like to point out that this was all her idea. I only went along because jupiter said she would be very angry at me if I didn't help you find the 'best boyfriend ever and make sure he didn't hurt you'." He put air quotes around the last part. I snickered softly. "Don't forget the part where I would hurt you if you refused to come along." Annabeth commented. I laughed harder at the face he made. "OK! Where is- Aha! There he is!" I could feel her body slope as she walked downward.
I heard the crunch of feet stepping on sand. I looked down and saw that we were now on the beach. I squirmed and kicked, trying anything necessary to get out of Annabeth's grip. I failed miserably. Suddenly she stopped and flipped me off her shoulder and sat me in the sand next to the water. "We're going to go get ice cream. Be good boys and we might bring you some." she and Grover turned on their heels and marched up the slope connecting the beach to the parking lot. I turned and was met by the lovely face of Nico Di Angelo.
