Chapter 1: The New Kid on the Block

As the secretary of Lincoln High, Mrs. Murdock, handed the new student his new schedule, she couldn't help but think of the school's star student, Annabeth Chase.

It wasn't an unknown fact that the girl was extremely attractive and well-rounded in her studies; however, her lack of a boyfriend piqued the interest of several of the boys in the school. Much like the one standing before her.

The said boy held a mischievous glint in his eyes. His form towered at 6 "1 and he held a confident yet relaxed vibe. He was ruggedly handsome, with a lopsided smug smile painted on his face, as if he knew something she didn't.

Brushing it off, she couldn't help but mutter a prayer that he wouldn't end up in the hospital or the Principal's office like all the other boys, who radiated the same vibe, had been sent to, courtesy of Annabeth.

Maverick Wolfe had never known such a great student in his whole career of teaching history. Despite of her struggle with dyslexia and ADHD, she was still top of the class.

However, he couldn't help but hear from the gossip around school, that she was apparently lacking in the boyfriend department. Love life, especially Annabeth's love life, was such a trivial thing for students to gossip about, yet as he stood by the door of his classroom, murmurs and whispers echoed soundly through the hallway. The things he managed to catch were, to say the least, not exactly... pleasant.

Not one to show favoritism during class, he couldn't help it when it Annabeth, as her intelligence and participation in class always brightened up his day, much like his 2-year-old daughter, Lilith.

Naturally, he felt protective, like a father, and didn't appreciate the leering stares of a majority of the male student body. He couldn't stand their wolfish gazes, eyeing her like a piece of meat and property. He couldn't do anything except try to at least humiliate them slightly, but he knew nonetheless that Annabeth was a big girl and could handle her problems.

That was how he found himself staring at a new student, in his first block class - Annabeth being in his fourth block - aghast at his seemingly cocky and yet incredibly oblivious nature.

The boy, so far, had answered most of the questions and participated in class with an enthusiasm that showed he was trying. Hard.

Skimming down his roster, his eyes lingered on a new name added to the list. "Perseus Jackson," he muttered softly, before glancing at the new student, diligently trying to understand the reading.

Though he was focused on class, he had failed to notice the number of girls surrounding him and the number of glares he was receiving. Either the boy was really, really, really oblivious. Or he was just really, really, slow. Maybe both.

"I hope to God I don't see you in detention." He huffed before shaking his head.

Amy Lancaster had her fair share of being underestimated because of stereotypes. Back in high school, when she was cursed with glasses and teen acne, she had been called a dumb blonde, with everyone seemingly enough, somehow overlooking her "nerdiness". She had been teased and tortured and she had loved college the moment she had stepped on campus.

Years later, she's considered a model by her looks - thanks to her mom's weird acne cream back in high school - and was now a successful architect of a world renown firm. Everyone at the 5 year reunion was in shock when they learned of her accomplishments and how much she'd accomplished in only five years.

Now, she stood in her classroom waiting for next class. Her first block consisted of her favorite bunch of children, which included the Annabeth Chase.

To her knowledge, Annabeth was the youngest intern to ever join Olympians Consolidated, a world-renowned firm which includes an incredibly luxurious architect department. And judging by her sketches, Amy was certain Annabeth would be the next youngest architect in the world and she was happy and very proud of that. Another blonde to mess with stereotypes.

Until she met him, though he wasn't a blonde. He had looked pretty lost, and incredibly oblivious to all the hungry stares coming from the girls who had come early to her class. He had his schedule in his hands, and it seemed he had walked into the wrong room.

"Um... Miss?! Can you tell me where room 304 is?" She met his eyes and found young innocence in them. She found herself thinking maybe he'd be another one to break the stereotypes (since all the other jocks, who'd taken her class, only drooled because of her looks).

"It's two more rooms down the hall to the right." She tersely replied, as she smiled at him.

"Thank you, so much!" Was his answer, before he looked towards his schedule once again and headed out the door. But ended up crashing into Annabeth Chase. Her books and other materials flew every, and the boy was not hesitant to apologize and chivalrously begin gathering her items.

"Oh gods, I'm sorry! I'm such a clutz," The boy muttered, rambling under his breath. He stooped down, gathered her fallen books and items before politely handing them to her and moving out of the way.

"It's fine really, I was just distracted," Annabeth had answered, looking flustered and slightly disoriented before walking into the room. After the boy had fled, she noticed that Annabeth, the Annabeth Chase, was blushing. That never happened.

Who was this boy? And could they have a future of breaking stereotypes as a couple?

No had ever shown such interest in Flint Morayes's class as the new kid had. He had taken the seat next to their aquarium, which had contained two eels (donated to the school by Olympians Consolidated's marine biology sector, thanks to Annabeth Chase).

The boy looked animated in the lesson, and was incredibly enthusiastic for a first day of school (and during first period, nonetheless).

He was broken from his thoughts when the boy had raised his hand urgently, as if he were in need of a restroom pass.

Nodding to him, the boy's face broke into a grin. "I think you have something wrong, sir." The classes "oohed", but went silent when he gave them a look.

"What would be wrong then?" He heard himself respond. The boy eagerly stood, grabbed a dry erase marker and proceeded to correct his lecture on water currents.

Though his handwriting was incredibly sloppy, and he often slipped into a different language (Greek, it sounded like), this boy had some potential in an academic field of marine biology.

Dash Vanderbeek did not like sharing girls. He didn't like thinking of it, especially when the new kid decided to show off during gym class in 7th period. The class had studied Ancient Romans and their fighting styles, comparing them with the Ancient Greeks. He hadn't enjoyed it since he couldn't show off with anything, so he'd been miserable.

Why couldn't they just play a game of football so the girls could scream at his muscular physique? Being the jock on campus, with the bright platinum blonde hair and light blue eyes, most of the girls in the school had been dying to be with him, whether it was a fling or not. The only exception was Annabeth Chase (who claimed she had a boyfriend, though he knew she was lying to save some feelings) and he didn't like that.

She was his for the taking, not just some new guy who probably couldn't bench more than 200. He decided when the new kid had bested him in wrestling (which was apparently modern day's translation of gladiator fights), that he needed to be taught a lesson. Nobody messed with Dash Vanderbeek and got away with it. Nobody!

Mira Ashcroft stared dreamily at her mirror, hanging in her locker. She could see her reflection and couldn't help but fall in love. Who cares if people think you're a narcissist, you're still beautiful. That was until a shadow appeared over her, covering the light which would make her skin so unpleasant.

"Get out of my way, you're blocking my light!" Was her snotty response.

"Sorry." Was the rugged response and when she turned she found herself face to face with Adonis, err... someone who should be named Adonis since he looked so fine. He barely glanced at her, even after she gave him her most seductive eyes. Instead, he was looking towards Annabeth who was chatting with her few friends, coughnerdscough.

How dare she try to steal her new man!? She, Mira Ashcroft, was supposed to have all the boys drooling. How dare Annabeth try to steal her man?!

Nobody did that to her and ran away with it! No one!

When Emily Blake had first met Annabeth Chase, her first opinion was that Annabeth was another bottle blonde, concerned with her looks and boys. She had been touring her and expected Annabeth to launch into an 'interesting' conversation of boys and the works. She hadn't expected her to be asking about college, internships and with one look at the new girl's schedule of Multivariable Calculus and Post-AP Advanced DNA and Genetics, all of her previous thoughts vanished. That day, she had come to know Annabeth as one of her best friends, especially when Annabeth had blatantly turned down the idiotic jocks' king, corrected one of the meanest teachers, and trampled over Ashcroft's crew like mud. Sweet, sweet victory!

Now, Emily smirked as she listened to Annabeth rant on and on and on about how great her internship was or something like that. She was used to feeling lost in conversation already, so today was nothing new. She was smirking slightly because she'd had a few things planned, and to her knowledge, things were smoothly sailing. All she needed to do was pull the trigger.

"So, Annabeth? Meet any new guys recently?" She questioned, feeling a bit smug, which stopped Annabeth in mid-rant.

"Y'know, I'm thinking of transferring back to Goode if you, and the rest of the school, keep butting into my social life. I don't have to share my personal life." Annabeth stated, annoyed. "I already have a boyfriend, he lives in New York, and I'm never bringing him here. Who knows what horrors Mira and her girls, and the rest of the school, will come up with." Annabeth responded before picking up the pace towards her locker.

Emily, being the one to pry and pry and pry until one breaks, followed Annabeth. When she finally reached her, Annabeth was already getting ready to leave, however Emily managed to snag her sleeve. "How'd you do that?" Emily asked panting. She had seen Annabeth speed through the crowd of hormone filled high school students to her locker, but then vanish as if she was never there.

"Walking fast?" Annabeth raised a questioning eyebrow, before shaking her head and proceeding to walk towards her next class.

"Oh no, no, no, no! You are not escaping from this, miss!" Emily exclaimed, and tugged Annabeth by her sleeve once again. Annabeth huffed, rolled her eyes, before complying.

"What?"

"What?'What?' is all you ask? Why didn't you tell me you had a boyfriend?!"Emily squealed.

"Gods, you're starting to sound like Drew." She heard Annabeth mutter, before actually addressing her. "I like to keep things a bit private, y'know, since the gossip in this school is either all about my love life, which has now become like a used tissue, or my apparently 'scandalous' family life." Annabeth huffed once more.

"Okay, I'm sorry I pried on you. I just feel really left out." Emily confessed, looking down ashamed of how she'd sounded.

She heard Annabeth sigh deeply and felt a hand on her shoulder. "No, I should be the one who's sorry. For snapping and everything, stuff's been going on lately at camp and I've been feeling stressed, so..." Annabeth trailed.

"I get it okay. So, what were you saying before? About the St. Louis Arch?" And with that Annabeth looped their arms together as they walked to AP Bio.

Emily smirked inside, she would definitely find out who this boyfriend of hers was. She chuckled to herself as she quickly made up her mind on a plan. She hadn't failed to notice the new boy staring dreamily after Annabeth.