Chapter 1 - The Delinquent Student

I walked down the hallways to my homeroom, not really caring if I was late or not. I always was. Students around me rushed around, trying to find the proper classroom. It's the fourth week of school. Not much to look forward to, but our teacher did say something like having a new student today. I hoped I could be friends with him or her.

I walked into the noisy classroom. As always, I was late. The teacher looked up from a pile of papers and sneered at my lateness. I scowled at him and took my seat at the back of the classroom. The teacher stood up.

" Well, class, today we have a new student coming to join us. Come in, now," he gestured to the door and a boy with startling green eyes walked in.

" So, this is Percy Jackson, class. I expect you all to be nice to him on his first day. Percy, you can sit over there." The teacher assigned him a seat in front of mine. Percy looked at me, smiled, and plopped his bag on the floor.

The class went on for a couple more minutes, then ended. As the class scrambled to get out, I turned to Percy.

" So, aren't you, like, that guy who battled the kidnapper person on the beach of Santa Monica Bay?" I asked. He thought for a moment, then nodded.

" I'm surprised they allowed me here," Percy said. " I'm kinda a delinquent."

" Yeah, this school lets in "disturbed kids". We're allowed to take whatever classes and the teachers are weird. So what classes did you choose?" We compared schedules:

Archer, Irene

7:30-Homeroom

7:45-Archery

8:30-Greek Mythology

9:15-Literacy

10:00-Math

11:00-Science

12:00-Lunch

12:30-Instrumental Music

1:45-History

2:15-Latin

Jackson, Percy

7:30-Homeroom

7:45-Fencing

8:30-Greek Mythology

9:15-History

10:00-Marine Biology

11:00-Swimming

12:00-Lunch

12:30-Gym

1:45-Literacy

2:15-Latin

" Wow, you've got some weird choices there." I said.

" Yeah, well, my mom requires some classes." he replied. The bell rang and we realized we were late.

. . . . .

The first class passed pretty quickly, considering I had ADHD. I hurried to Greek Mythology and saw Percy waving to me from the back. I grinned and sat next to him. Soon, a blond haired teacher walked to the front of the class.

" That's not the usual teacher," I frowned. Percy looked confused.

" Kids, I'm a substitute for today, your teacher didn't feel well, so I came to take her place." I saw kids grinning at each other, planning tricks against the substitute. But Percy and I, though, weren't so sure.

She started the class and it seemed pretty standard stuff at first, until I noticed some weird things. She seemed to speak of the monsters with love, but the gods with hate and distaste. Next to me, Percy frowned. One student raised his hand.

" Yes?"

" I was just wondering. What does a hellhound look like?" a boy asked. The teacher smirked and snapped her fingers, her hair erupting into flames. A huge dog jumped through the window, shattering glass and sending the pieces flying through the air like shrapnel.

" A hellhound!" Percy whispered in horror. I nodded, having seen many in my day. The teacher smiled mockingly at the cowering boy who asked the question.

" Well, there's your answer," she said, her voice poisonously sweet.