AN: What? Two fic's going on at once? Crazy! And what's more, it's not The Maze Runner! We hope you enjoy this, it's a bit different to the others as it is not the maze runner. Percy and Annabeth are main characters in this, do not worry, we just like using a lot of OC's ;) If this is the first time you're reading from us, check out Glader Girls, our first fic which is now finished, and Calypso which is ongoing. Thank you! ~ Emma and Sarah
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Percy Jackson
He took a deep breath in. He'd never moved schools, not since pre-school. He'd grown so accustomed to his group of rowdy jocks from LA. New York was a very different city. Not to mention a very different temperature. Wishing he'd worn a long sleeve, he pushed open the car door and headed to the front of the school. He felt like pulling his hood over his messy dark brown hair, but he couldn't let anyone know how scared he was, not if he was going to reclaim his status as captain of the swim team.
Once inside he followed signs to the school office, where he expected some pathetic, nerdy student to be waiting to show him around. When he was called into the Principles office, he couldn't be more surprised by the girl he saw sitting there. She was tall, blonde and it was clear she didn't just sit around all day with a body like that. He guessed she was on the cheerleading squad, but he then found himself asking why she has been chosen to induct him.
"Mr McKenzie, would you please take a seat," the old bat called from behind the desk, her voice thick with a New York accent and a wheeze of a long time smoker. She peered at him over her square glasses that hung on an ancient beaded string looping behind her neck.
He did as he was told, signing the relevant paperwork, nodding when required, as he was given his timetable. She kept commenting how it was 'so unusual to get a transfer student half way through High School'.
Not that he would tell her why, the woman seemed about as sharp as a spoon, why did she need to know?
"Miss Annabeth Chase will be showing you around for the rest of the day," She said raising a shrivelled finger at the beautiful girl to his right, "she transferred here herself last year, didn't you dear,"
"Yes, Miss Albery," the girl said sweetly behind a grimace,
"She settled in nicely with her 4.0 GPA," she said letting out a laugh that came out as a single shouted, "Ha!"
The room went awkwardly silent as the headmistress typed away at a painstakingly slow pace on her computer.
A few minutes later she looked up and almost jumped at the sight of them,
"You're still here?" she cried, "What are you waiting for, you'll miss first period! Go!"
The blonde girl (what was her name again?) stood up and quickly walked out of the room,
"Thank god that's over," she said with a smile that was almost flirty,
"Good, now it's just us," he said letting out his most dazzling smile,
She snorted with laughter, and turned away from him. A challenge. He liked a challenge.
"Well, we better get to class, first up is Mr Matthews and he hates it when students are late, even newbies. It's Rory right?"
"At your service," he said with a smirk.
Maybe new school wouldn't be so bad after all.
The morning's classes were dull, with special thanks to an actual teacher called Dr. Boring. Like seriously, who has a name like that. His English teacher was cool, actual tried to make A Tale of Two Cities seem semi-interesting.
He walked out the classroom and saw the hot blond girl (Annabel was it?) coming towards him. She was eager.
"Lunch?" she asked sweetly,
"My pleasure," he said, throwing his arm around her. She looked at him bewildered and knocked it off her shoulder,
"Okay buddy, take it down a notch,"
"Too forward? My bad, LA must be more different than I thought," he said smoothly. Not a cheerleader then, he thought, too uptight,
"So, I gotta ask, what's the swim team like here,"
"It's actually our top sport, the Goode High Seals are top of the tables, thanks to our captain,"
"Guy must be good then,"
"Yeah he is," she said with a subtle smile,
"When are tryouts?"
"This Thursday,"
"Nice," he said nodding at her,
She led him into the cafeteria and asked him if he wanted to sit with her friends,
"Not like I know anyone else," he said chuckling,
They sat down and he took the moment of silence as a chance to work her out. She was constantly fidgeting and looking around, which was strange,
"Can't sit still?" He asked,
"ADHD, I don't take meds for it,"
"Why not?"
She looked at him with wide eyes, as if she hadn't been expecting that question,
"Why would I take pills that change who I am, besides it can be useful,"
"I'll take your word for it, why did you transfer from San Francisco,"
"Urm, family stuff, I suppose," she said looking a little shifty,
"Have any siblings?"
"Urm, a lot," she said with a laugh,
"How many is a lot?"
"Well I have a few on my mum's side, but two half brother on my dad's,"
"Fair enough, hobbies?"
"I like archery,"
"Boyfriend,"
"Yeah, she does," said a loud voice from behind them. The owner of the voice was tall, but only a bit taller than he was, with black hair and vibrant green eyes,
"Okay, Percy, calm down, you don't have to fight the new kid," the blond girl said rolling her eyes,
"I'm Rory McKenzie" he said defiantly, sticking out his hand,
"Percy Jackson," the boy said shaking it with a firm grip,
Rory looked the guy up and down, noticing an extremely annoying thing about him. The kid was wearing a Goode High Seals sweater, and embroidered on the right below the logo was the little word of 'Captain'.
Shit.
"So you swim," Rory said, careful not to sound intimidated, though the terms of their introduction were less than ideal, he still needed to be on good terms with this kid, "that's cool, same here,"
"Rory was actually looking to try out on Thursday," the blond girl said giving a hard stare to her boyfriend,
"Think you can make the cut," Percy said raising an eyebrow,
"I was the best swimmer in California, I can't be too far off," he said flashing a smile,
"Best in California vs best in New York state, sounds like a challenge," Rory's smile was matched with an equally cocky one from the other boy,
"Sounds like a beauty pageant," the blonde girl said laughing, "Miss California vs Miss New York for the title of Miss Goode High Seal,"
"I'll have you know I'm a fabulous Miss Seal and do not need replacing," Percy smiled playfully turning toward his girlfriend and sitting down, "See you on the stage Miss California,"
"See you there Miss New York."
As soon as he was out of the dining hall he called his dad to let him know he wanted the car to come later than usual. He had to train, he had to make sure he was in top form to show this Percy kid he didn't know who he was messing with. Predictably it wasn't his dad who picked up, but his PA Melissa who sorted it all out. He sometimes thought it be nice to have at least one competent parent, but at least he had her to pick up their slack. It could be worse.
"Have fun training!" she called as he hung up the phone.
"Not bunking off the first day back are you?" a sweet voice came from behind him. He turned to see a girl in a purple and white cheerleading uniform with brown curly hair and the looks of a goddess,
"Not now I've seen your pretty face," he said with a smile,
"I like you," she said cocking her head, "I'm Betty, Betty Gardner, head of the cheer squad,"
"Rory McKenzie, new kid,"
"Thought I hadn't seen you around here before," she smiled brightly and lowered her eyelashes. It wasn't half subtle, but he liked to know a girl's intentions.
"I've got cheer team meeting now, but I'll see you at my party, right?"
"And where might that be, sweetheart," he said leaning toward her.
She flipped her hair over her shoulder, sat into her hip and held her hand out for his phone. He placed it in her hand and watched as she created a contact for herself,
"Seven thirty on the dot, be there," she beamed before turning on her heel and walking off, adding, "I put my number in there too, just incase you get lost," over her shoulder.
"Oh, of course," he said, raising the corner of his lips, "see you then,"
"Bye!"
Jeez that girl was loud.
When the school bell sounded at the end of the day he headed straight for the pool. He pushed himself hard, fueled by the anger and anticipation. He had to be the best. He had to. He didn't think he could face his dad if he didn't get onto the team because he'd flirted with the captain's girlfriend! Getting with girls was his favourite thing, but when it got in the way of his swimming? That was the line for him.
When he got out of the pool he was exhausted, he even contemplated skipping Betty's party, but he was the new kid and new kids stopped becoming new kids when they made friends. So far he was on one, and she was obviously the been there done that of the school. He needed to find the group of guys who he knew he would fit right in, every school had them. The Jocks.
He checked his phone when he was back in the changing rooms, six o'clock. He hadn't realised quite how long he'd been in there, but it felt good. He was the last one out.
He took a leisurely shower and got dressed before heading out to find something to eat. With google maps at his aid, he wasn't too worried about getting lost. He'd start wandering over at seven thirty. Didn't want to be the first there.
He rocked up just past eight, which seemed like a good idea as the place was starting to fill up. He wandered through the crowd looking for Betty, hoping she'd save him from being awkward.
"Rory!" he heard her high pitched squeak come from behind him. He swiped his head around and smiled at her,
"Hey Betty, how's it going,"
"All the better now you're here," she winked, "You have to come meet everybody,"
She grabbed his wrist and dragged him through the crows to wear a bunch of guys in purple varsity jackets were sitting on the sofas watching another do a keg stand. These were his kind of people.
"Everyone," she shouted and most of them looked up, he noted not to get on her bad side, before getting on their good sides, "this is Rory, he's new at Goode,"
"Hey buddy," one of the bigger guys said shaking his hand, "you up for a keg stand?"
"Hell yeah!"
So he did, and he did another. Drank some shots, belted some party anthems, and made his presence known. The guys loved him, he was one of them.
He knew Betty was watching him, but if they were too interested he didn't have as much fun. While scanning the room he caught sight of Jackson and Blondie having a good time, not that he cared much. At one point he saw them exchange panicked looks and ran out the door.
"What was that about?" he asked Betty who he noticed had also seen it,
"What?" she said nonchalantly,
"Nevermind, got any more booze?"
"In the kitchen."
He didn't have to be told twice heading straight for it. When he walked in he saw a girl standing in front of the fridge pulling out a jello shot.
"Hit me up," he told her, though he knew it must have sounded slurred from the way she laughed at him. She told him her name but he didn't remember it. All he remembered was the fact that by the end of the night they were making out on the bench on the balcony and he couldn't give a damn. His first party and it had been a huge success.
Rory McKenzie had arrived.
