Disclaimer: Does it look like I magically turned into a middle aged man who lives in Texas overnight? No. So despite wishing upon a star, I don't own PJO, or HOO. *goes to cry in a corner*
Amber POV
'Sup. I'm Amber, and I'm seventeen, with multi-coloured hair and an eyebrow piercing. Hence the nickname, 'Angry Amber'. I hate stereotypes. Oh, she has a piercing, she MUST be emo. Oh, she dyes her hair different colours, she MUST be scene. Oh, she's white, so she MUST be racist. God. Did I mention the fact that my best friend is 'hot', so I MUST have a crush on him? His name is Percy Jackson, and I have the feeling that if we weren't friends, we'd kill each other. Just because we're close doesn't mean we're going to be a couple. He has a girlfriend, anyway. Her name is Annabeth, and Percy showed me a picture once. She's really pretty in the classical way, with long, curly blonde hair, a deep tan and long legs. A lot of people say her stormy grey eyes ruin the image, but I disagree. Being different isn't bad, despite what my parents try to tell me, and he's lucky. Lucky that he found a cool-looking girl who can put up with him. Trust me, if we were dating, I'd strangle him. Within minutes. And hide the body. Hey, I'm a naturally violent person, and Percy isn't really bothered by my death threats. He just laughs it off.
" Amber? Amber? Are you listening?" Percy waves his hand in front of my face, and I roll my dark green eyes. Percy's so self-centred, he thinks that the world bows down him and hangs on to his every word. Of course I wasn't listening, but Percy only ever talks about one thing.
" Let me take a guess: You're trying to give me every detail of the weekend you just spent with Annabeth, who, by the way, must have superhuman powers in order to put up with you." Cassia, my other best friend, choked on her lime kool-aid. James, one of Percy's friends, just narrowed his eyes. He's such an idiot, and all he does is grunt and nod and swim.
" How did you guess?" Even James hid a smirk at that one. I took a deep breath. I must've explained it at least ten times, but it goes straight in one ear and out the other with Percy. I have the feeling that if we split open his head, all we'd find is Annabeth and kelp.
" Hmm, let me see. Oh, wait, you always give us graphic detail of meeting Annabeth, making out with her, then sparring with her. I have a short attention span, and even the most focused person could zone out when you're in the middle of these explanations. So sue me, which I know you can't, Mr ADHD." Percy sat, flabbergasted. Cassia chucked a yoghurt pot at his head, and he caught it. Show off. James decided to 'talk' to his other sports buddies, and I picked at a loose thread on my black hoodie, which was unravelling anyway. Might as well help it along. Alexandria Howsham, the school slut (no offence to any Alexandria's out there) sashayed towards our table, and Percy put his head in his hands.
" No, Alex, I'm not going to your place, I have a girlfriend, she's very real and I'm going to call her if you don't back off." Alex hadn't even opened her mouth, but she stomped off, irritated. Cassia tutted.
" One of these days, Percy, your big head is going to get you in a lot of trouble. Imagine if you met the first female President-No, ma'am, I have a girlfriend, go screw some other hot teenage boy. Stop assuming they want to date you." Percy made a noise at the back of his throat, and grinned.
" So you think I'm hot?" Cassia groaned.
" Shut up." I fist bumped Cassia, and she went back to eating lunch. She'd bought an entire store's worth of health food, and was picking her way through some olive bread (who puts olives in bread? It's just wrong.) when a messenger arrived. They're usually freshmen looking for extra credit, and today was no exception-a small girl with blonde hair in a pixie cut and big blue eyes.
" Cassia March? Cassia March? Miss Allen would like to speak with you." Cassia pulled a face, and Percy glanced at the messenger, his features changing into that of surprise.
" Kimberly? I didn't know you came here!" 'Kimberly' grinned, and high fived him.
" Yeah, my dad decided that Pollux was a bad influence, and sent me here. I think the Stoll's have gotten worse since you left, and they've roped Cabin Seven into the prank war. I heard that someone thought it was a good idea to put spiders in Cabin Six. Annabeth nearly pulverized them." Percy nodded. Kimberly buzzed off to carry more messages, and Cassia cursed as she walked towards Room 19. I pulled out my blue iPhone, and sighed. My dad promised he'd text me, but, hey, I'm just the kid that wasn't supposed to happen!
" Ambie, I'm going to call Annabeth. I'll put her on loudspeaker, kay?" I growled. Ambie? Really?
" Ambie? Really? And sure, go ahead. I want to know her secret. " Percy looked confused.
" What secret?"
" How she puts up with you. DUH." Grinning, Percy dialled Annabeth, and I heard a girl yell,
" Annie, it's the one and only Captain Kelp!" I recognised her voice. Thalia, Percy's cousin, and my pen pal. We'd bonded over insulting Percy and a hatred of boys.
" Hey, Seaweed Brain. What's up?" Percy smiled, and nudged me. I shrugged, and motioned for him to carry on. Well, it is HIS girlfriend.
" Uh, hey Annabeth. Do you want to talk to my friend Amber?" I face palmed. The first thing you do not do when you call your girlfriend, is ask her to meet his friend who is a girl. God, he's so stupid!
" Wait, you mean Thalia's pen pal? Sure." Percy passed his phone to me.
" Hey, Annabeth. I have a question." Percy gave me the thumbs up.
" You're direct, I like that. Fire away."
" How do you put up with him? He's annoying, idiotic, big headed and zones out in all lessons." I heard a laugh.
" PERSEUS JACKSON! Did you clone me and rename her Amber without my permission?" Percy grinned at me.
" Doubt it, Wise Girl. I'll IM you later, okay?" I smiled. They were so cute!
" Okay. And to answer your question, Amber, I spar with him. It gets out all my frustration. Gotta go, bye!"
" BYE!" Percy and me chorused. He high-fived me.
" I think that went well."