Percy sulked, looking out the bus' grimy window as the rock music blaring through his headphones drowned out the whirring sound of tires going over asphalt and other kids yelling and making out noisily. Third year in high school and I still have to deal with this shit. Percy silently chastised himself for thinking that. Times had been tough for the Jackson household ever since... well, ever since Percy could remember. He knew he had a father-who doesn't-but he had left before Percy was born, and that's when things started going south. His mother had to raise a child all by herself in the middle of Manhattan. She couldn't bring herself to move when she found a good, cheap apartment on the South Side, fairly close to a good high school that would accept Percy.

His phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his back pocket and read a text from his mother. Have you gotten your report card yet? Percy held his breath and thought carefully before replying.

Yes

Good Grades?

Define good.

Percy continued his dramatic stare out the window. Getting good grades was hard enough for him as it was, but throw in dyslexia and ADHD? Getting one A went from improbable to impossible. Percy didn't mind that much though, he didn't really want to do anything that big, just move someplace like Hawaii, somewhere on the coast, and go sea diving and swim among the fish. See coral, explore the depths of the ocean, like an underwater Star Trek.

The bus screeched to a halt, the brakes screaming for release, piercing through Percy's music and into his mind. He stood up and threw his back pack over one shoulder and moved his way to the front, hardly anyone left on the bus now. He muttered his thanks to the bus driver and stepped out, hearing the whoosh of the door behind him as the bus roared off, the left back wheel still squeaking from the time that the Stoll brothers took off all the bolts on the wheels, slightly breaking that one. How they managed that, no one knows. Percy started the trek home, weaving through people on the sidewalk. he was just turning the corner to his building when his phone buzzed again.

You home yet? Jason Grace this time, Percy's best friend, quarterback of the football team, and all around awesome dude. They had created a friendship when this girl, Piper, was being bullied by the plastics. It wasn't really 'bullying' though, more like Drew and her bitch squad trying to pick on a girl who was way too smart for them. Percy was actually amused listening to her verbally smack them when Jason's not-so-awesome teammates showed up, helping with the picking. Piper started to look just a little bit worried, and Percy was getting up off the bench he was sitting on, ready to beat the shit out of Drew's boy toys when Jason swooped in, blond superman that he is, and made the other guys start to back off with a few words, menacing stare, and something that strongly resembled a growl. Percy came and backed him up, wanting so bad to just go and beat the shit out of every single guy there.

"Were you raised by wolves?" Percy had teasingly asked after making sure Piper was alright. When Jason looked at him questioningly, he brought up the growl.

"Oh, yeah, that." Jason flushed a little bit and ruffled his Letterman jacket. "Yeah, something like that." He smirked a little and Percy laughed.

"And here am I, thinking you're a total douche when you're all right."

They had talked for a bit days later, and eventually became friends.

Going in my building now. Why? Percy texted him back.

Because I'm starving and your mom always has good stuff around. She has to, appetite like yours. Percy stifled a small laugh

Sorry, no can do. I got my report card today. She's gonna flip. Percy's stomach churned. Every time he came home with a report card he felt like he was disappointing her, like she knew he could be so much better. Percy knows that he just can't though. He's tried hard but C's were like an A now. He nodded to the doorman and turned to the elevator, waiting for the ding. When it finally came he pushed his floor and started to rise. Percy shifted uncomfortably in the little shaft, biting his lip with anxiety and listening to the light elevator music playing. When the elevator doors slid open he pushed out as fast as he could, unable to postpone the inevitable. He unlocked the apartment door and called out a greeting.

"Percy!" His mom came rushing in, arms enfolding him in a warm embrace.

"Calm down mom, I'm just coming home from school."

"I know but it's been a while okay? You know I had to go to class yesterday." Sally Jackson reluctantly let go of her son. "Now come on, I have food." Percy went to the kitchen, happy to eat whenever the occasion arose.

When they both were seated at their small dining table, littered with papers and miscellaneous items, Percy's mom started talking again softly. "Now, your report card." Percy looked at her with the best puppy-dog eyes he could.

"Do I have to?"

"Yes," she said more firmly.

Percy rifled through his backpack a bit more before coming across what he was looking for and haltingly handed it to his mother. He heard a sharp intake of breath and knew she saw his Algebra II grade.

"Percy..."

"I know, I know, I'll try harder."

"No, no, no it's fine I just..." She trailed off for a second and Percy looked at her, confused. "I got a call from the school." Percy sat up rigid.

"I didn't do anything! I swear!" He started gesturing wildly around the room. "I've been good! I haven't broken anything in almost a month!"

"No it's not that."

"Then what is it?"

"Percy, they assigned you a tutor."

"A tutor?" Percy felt slightly relived. Hey, I'm not expelled, he thought somewhat gladly. "That's not so bad."

"Her name's Annabeth."

"Annabeth?" Percy knew the name. He knew that she was 'that preppy chick' whom he hated. She always acted so stuck-up in front of him, little know-it-all that she is. Every time they passed in the hallways she turned her nose up at him, like he smelled, or he was somehow beneath her. "Why does it have to be Annabeth," he groaned.

"Now listen Percy, your going to have to go to the library every Tuesday and Thursday right after school, and every Saturday from around 9 in the morning to three in the afternoon."

"Five hours? I have to spend five hours straight with Annabeth Chase?" Percy stood up now, gesturing wildly once more. "Why five hours? Especially on a Saturday! Thanks a lot Principal Hedge, thanks a lot. Now you've ruined my weekends, the only time off I have from that hellhole."

"Percy!"

"Sorry mom." He looked away, still angry but always embarrassed when his mother catches him cussing, even though he's seventeen.

"Percy, you have to go to tutoring."

"I know mom but why Annabeth? I mean seriously, she practically hates my guts and the feeling is definitely mutual. I don't know why the school would make such a bad pairing."

"Because she has the highest grades in the entire class, and, frankly, you have the lowest."

Percy calmed down some and ran his fingers through his hair. "Tomorrow's Tuesday right? Do I have to go tomorrow?"

"Yes."