Percy walked into school as he pulled his hood over his head keeping his head down, backpack swung over one shoulder and headphones blasting his favourite songs. It was his first day at Goode on the first day of the school year. He knew he could easily go unnoticed amongst the crowds of people hugging and laughing as they caught up on each others summers but he still tried to be as discreet as possible, not wanting to risk it. His stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, had been clear that this was the last school he would tolerate paying for before he'd "homeschool" Percy himself. Percy knew what that meant. Either he graduated this year without any fights or incidents, without getting expelled or Gabe would make sure he would suffer everyday, physically and in any other way that Gabe managed to find. Percy knew that he should tell someone about the abuse he had to suffer through. After all the amount of councillors he'd seen come from class to class in his old schools talking about "abuse and bullying", he knew that what Gabe was doing was wrong. He knew he didn't deserve it. Gabe was just an ass. However, he was an ass who threatened him with the notion of hurting his mother, saying that whatever he did to Percy, he would do to Sally if he ever told anyone. Percy knew that his mother had enough on her plate with all the jobs she was holding to pay for Gabe's gambling as well as all the other expenses; not to mention having to share a bed with that pig. Percy shuddered at the thought. He just needed to get through one more year. One more year and he'd get a job so that he and his mother could move out of Gabe's house and get their own place. Maybe they would be better off. Who was he kidding, anything was better than Gabe Ugliano's sty. Sorry, apartment. He knew that the only he could get through the year was to lay low and avoid getting himself into trouble.
His hand went to rub his free shoulder that was still sore from his last beating. He looked up for a second to make sure he wasn't running into anyone before spotting the principals office. Having reached his destination, he quietly snuck inside, dropping his hood and walked up to the secretary.
"Hi. I'm Percy and I was suppose to meet with Principal Garrofolo for my schedule or something like that? I'm new." He says scratching the back of his head. The secretary gives him a big smile and points him towards the door that had the principles name on it.
"Just knock and go right in. She's been waiting for you." she says softly making him nod softly. He made his way to the door, knocked and went right in. The lady at the desk turned and gave Percy a bright smile. She looked nice enough, compared to his other principles. He was usually greeted with a glare, due to his horrible record with school. She gestured to the seat in front of her so he sat down. He rubbed his neck slowly feeling uncomfortable as the principal stared him down, analyzing him basically.
"So, looking at you now, I can tell that you aren't really what your records say. Am I right?" She says putting her arms on her desk looking at Percy pointedly. Judging by how nervous he was, she could tell he didn't seen like the cocky kind of kinds who usually held records similar to his. Something about him was different to her.
"I… I think you might be right… I usually tend to be at the wrong place at the wrong time." He agrees nervously. He knew he wasn't a bad guy but… bad things just happened around him all the time. He looked down at his hands, fumbling with his fingers.
"Well hopefully that won't happen hear at Goode. I know that your grades are not stellar and it was hard for us to accept you because of this. I would hope that this isn't something that would continue to happen here as well. We expect you to hold an average above a C+ Perseus." She explains making him wince.
"Just Percy, please." He says looking up from his fingers. She nods and smiles a little. She then goes on to explain roughly the way the school works and how his behaviour should be and how to find his classes. There were three levels and three wings, say your class was A314, you would have to go to the A wing, which was the main wing and head to the third flood. There were however, clear signs to show students which group of classrooms were where. After all this, she started talking about the schools extra amenities.
"The gym is open everyday until 9pm, which is four hours after school hours end. The library stays open until 9pm if you ever need to do some studying and the music room is open until 9pm as well. With the permission of the music teacher who graciously stays until we close the room, you can rent out the instrument until the end of the day so you can wander about the halls with whichever instrument you desire; other than a piano obviously. If you wish for a more private room with a piano, we do have a couple of music rooms spread through out the main building, but you will need the permission of the music teacher Mr. Apollo. If you wish to join the football team or the basketball team, than practise starts at 4pm and ends at 6pm." She explains making Percy nod. The one thing he was really interested in was the music room. Ever since his father died when he was three, he had been self-teaching himself, with the help of his mother, as his dad loved to play. And now, he could play the drums, the piano and the guitar. He had tried to play the violin but he hated the noise. After handing him his schedule, she let him go and he just wandered the halls, heading to his first class: Musical Theory. He had this class three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This class was than followed by English on Monday and Wednesday. After English was lunch, making his last classes Latin and Chemistry on Wednesdays and Fridays. Monday afternoons he had Math and Biology, having these classes on Thursday mornings as well. Tuesday mornings he had World History and Art as well has having these Thursday afternoons. He finished his Tuesday with a free period and Gym. [Recap Monday- Musical Theory/English/Lunch/Math/Biology, Tuesday - World History/Art/Lunch/Free Period/Gym, Wednesday - Musical Theory/English/Lunch/Latin/Chemistry, Thursday - Math/Biology/Lunch/World History/Art, and Friday - Musical Theory/Free Period/Lunch/Latin/Chemistry]. He slowly made his way to Musical Theory which was in the main building of the school. As soon as he walked into the music room, which was where the class was held, he couldn't help but be amazed by the excessive amount of instruments. There was the most beautiful grand piano ever sitting in the middle of the room. Percy walked over to it, noticing he was alone in the classroom and ran his fingers along the ivory keys. He closed his eyes smiling as his touch let out the beautiful sounds of the grand piano.
"She's beautiful isn't she?" A deep voice says from behind him. He jumps and turns around, not so used to being startled. Leaning against a doorframe was a 25 year old man (at the least) in black dress pants and a sky blue shirt tucked into his pants. There was no denying that this man was good looking. You'd have to be blind not to notice it, but it didn't faze Percy.
"My name is Mr. Apollo Livingston but I prefer Mr. Apollo or just Apollo. I'm the music teacher," the man said as he made his way over to Percy.
"You must be Perseus Jackson. Do you play?" He added pointing towards the piano. Percy felt himself nod, not trusting his words.
"Well we have a good 15 minutes before anybody else shows up, would you mind playing me something? Maybe a Chopin? Unless you prefer Satie? or Mozart? You know what I'll leave that up to you." Percy didn't think that Apollo seemed to notice how nervous and/or scared Percy was. But none the less, Percy had promised his mother he would try his hardest to impress his teachers and get good grades. He sat on the piano bench and let his fingers do the work. When he played, it was as if the world stopped turning, as if he and the piano were one. Percy had heard this description when people fell in love and he was in love. He was in love with music.
What Percy was playing wasn't anything that Apollo had ever heard before and it seemed, and Apollo was pretty much certain of this, that Percy was playing something of his own creation. And hearing this melody, hearing Percy play, Apollo hadn't been this moved in a long time. He smiled widely as Percy finished playing.
"That was beautiful. Did you write that yourself?" Apollo asked despite already knowing the answer. Percy nodded and spoke for the first time.
"I wrote it last semester… I used to sneak in after school hours to use the piano from eleven to one in the morning… We don't really have a piano at my house. I haven't touched one since I got caught sneaking out of the school." Percy admits. The only reason he snuck in was because Gabe passed out drunk and snored too loud. Percy used music as a way out. Apollo laughed loudly hearing this confession, a reaction that Percy definitely wasn't expecting. He cracks a smile and Apollo taps his shoulder. Percy winces slightly but this goes unnoticed to his teacher.
"Well that won't be a problem anymore, you can feel free to use the school piano's at any time. Is this the only instrument you play?" Apollo asked him. Percy shook his head.
"I also play the guitar and the drums. I tried playing the violin and even though my mother said I was good… I never enjoyed the sound much." Percy explains. His teacher grins and nods.
"Stay a little after school ends, I'd like to have a word with you." Apollo than gestures Percy to a seat and as Percy sits down, students start flooding in.