.Albiet this is a bit short, but I will get another chapter up super quick! Promise :)
Disclaimer: As much as I would love to say I own this series, all of it belongs to Riordan.
Chapter 2: In which my math teacher turns into a horse.
Meadow Creeks Prep was the last place I expected Dad to choose as refuge from a monster. When we pulled into the parking lot, I couldn't help but ask, "Really Dad? Here? Are you sure?"
He only nodded and motioned for me to follow him. As we walked, Dad started explaining something. "May," he started, getting a little choked up for some strange reason, "You're going to have to leave for a while."
Well that much was obvious. A monster had invaded our flower shop, scaring away the customers. And nearly killing me, but that was beside the point.
"So where are we going?" I asked as we climbed up the steps to the school.
Dad pushed open the door. "Well, May, that's the thing. It's not we. Where you're headed, I can't go with you." He gave me a sad look as we stood outside Ms. Hawkings's classroom.
"Wait, why?"
"Honey, it's not like I want to do this, but I've been selfish, keeping you with me for too long. This place is safest for you now, now that they've realized…" Dad looked at the floor, and gave me a warm hug. "It's not right for me to tell you. Listen, we'll go out to eat tonight, okay? Then we'll pack your bags and get you all set up for your trip."
I held back some tears. "How long am I going to be gone for?" I whispered, clinging onto him. He had that kind of warmth, like sunshine on a spring day, which just made the world so much more homely and bright.
"Until they say it's alright," he answered, and then the door to Ms. Hawkings's room opened, and there my math teacher stood, in all her liver spotted glory.
"Well hello there!" she said brightly, "Come on in! Aren't you just a lively lot? WHOOHOOOO!"
This was not Ms. Hawkings. She did not say anything in a chipper voice, nor say hello to anyone. Or cheer. Loudly.
I was wary, and almost didn't go into the classroom. School had ended a few hours ago, and the fact that she was still there was enough to persuade me that she wasn't ordinary.
Ms. Hawkings rolled her eyes. "Ok, I know I haven't been the nicest to you, but it wasn't intentional, I promise."
"Just go in May," soothed Dad, gently nudging me in.
Ms. Hawkings closed the door behind us, and I suddenly felt locked in. I wanted to make a run for it, but Dad gave me a reassuring smile.
"Hey, so you guys want some root beer or something?" asked Ms. Hawkings, reaching into a minifridge hidden in her desk.
Now that was a surprise. But months' worth of verbal insults wouldn't die out as a warning, so I coldly refused. Dad on the other hand, accepted the drink with a cheerful nod.
She rolled her wheelchair over to us, and then stretched her arms with a yawn. "Well, let's get down to business then. I would headbutt you in greeting, but I'm too old, and I think you've had enough odd happenings for today."
Then she rose from her seat as if she had been walking for ages. The wheelchair suddenly seemed enchanted, like it was never there in the first place. Ms. Hawkings grew taller and taller, the blanket that was always on her lap fell away in the process. She didn't have two legs; she had four. And they were not normal legs. They were horse legs.
So she had refrained from headbutting me. Awesome. But I may have preferred that shock than from what I had just seen.
"Centaur," I breathed, hardly believing one was right in front of me. I wasn't too sharp on mythology and all, but Ms. Hawkings was most definitely half-horse.
"Yeppers, correctomundo girly-Q," she laughed. "Aw, haven't stretched my flanks in ever! Here, have a cough drop." She tossed me a cherry flavored one, and I missed catching it in my hands, awkwardly letting it land in my lap instead.
Curse bad hand eye coordination.
"Hey, Lars, why don't you come out now?" Ms. Hawkings called, whistling.
Trip-you-boy appeared like lightning. "What can I do for you?" He drawled, so unlike his previous demeanor on the steps. He was not scared, nor crying in a corner. He noticed Ms. Hawkings form, and chuckled. "Man, we going all out? Suppose I should too then."
With that, he pulled off his legs, revealing hairy limbs with hooves.
I was done being stunned. After seeing Cindy and Ms. Hawkings's leg surprises, this one just seemed commonplace.
That didn't stop my draw from droppoing.
"So in case you haven't noticed, I'm a satyr. Not a goat," he explained, doing some stretches. "Yeah, Phan and I were sent to keep and eye on you, May."
"You know my name?"
Lars rolled his eyes. "Um, duh. Anyways, we're sending you off to camp for a while, honing the powers and all that jazz."
"And why do I need to go to camp again?"
Dad answered, gently squeezing my shoulder. "Your mother thought it would be the best place to send you, but…I didn't listen. Its time for you to…ah, finally figure out yourself."
Nothing was making sense. I was in a classroom with a centaur and a satyr after being chased out of my house by a cheerleader gone bad. And now they wanted me to go to a camp for some strange reason, which I really had no interest in. Not to mention, my dad was treating this as if it happened everyday, like having a root beer while talking to a horse lady was perfectly normal.
I closed my eyes. Maybe this was just a dream.
Ms. Hawkings chuckled. "Chiron will tell you in due time. Oh, lemme tell you, you were most definitely a hard one to find. Your father hid you surprisingly well, and for such a long time too. Haven't even been claimed yet."
From what I was hearing, I was more than just a little confused. There was so much terminology that needed explaining. I pinched myself, and opened my eyes.
Nope, still here. Not a dream.
Dang.
Dad gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that, Ms. Hawkings."
"Oh, please, no need for that pseudonym anymore!" laughed Ms. Hawkings. "The name's Auntie Phan." She turned to face me, a gentle smile gracing her normally scowling face. I decided I liked her better this way. "Anyways, May, you were a tough one. When Lars told me he thought you were a demigod, I was pretty suspicious. Had to make sure, right? So," she said, drawing out the word to sound like sooooooo, "I had to disguise myself. Necessary precautions and all that. And being my own self is just incredibly boring, so posing incognito was the best choice. Couldn't have you seeing through the Mist that quick or anything."
Ms. Hawkings shot me a wink. "Observing you wasn't too easy either. Sure, Lars was there to watch you when you weren't in my class, but even then…I mean, hardly any dyslexia, no real signs of ADHD…those are normal signs for demigods. But you were different."
I remembered certain times, where I moved unconsciously in the classroom, or got slightly distracted by certain things. I never thought too much of it. And dyslexia never even crossed my mind. Reading had been easy enough.
It was only when I realized all the work I had studied, that deciphering those mashed up words had become second nature. But still, I had gone through my life without even thinking about it…it just seemed false. Those traits weren't a part of me. I vehemently denied it, insisting I had neither ADHD, nor dyslexia, even though my heart was telling me the truth.
I plugged my mental ears and ignored it.
"Your father trained you," explained Ms. Hawkings/Auntie Phan. "He tried to keep you secret, hiding you among the scents of fresh leaves and pure flowers. He disguised your tell-tale signs. Sneaky, I'll admit, but some monsters aren't fooled so easy." There was a twinkle in her eye. "We finally found out who you really were when we noticed monsters following you. We took care of most of them, but some slipped our net."
She must have meant Cindy.
"Well, more explanations later!" cheered Auntie Phan, cutting the story short. "Who wants to party?"
Lars rolled his eyes again. I figured he did it often. "No partying, sorry Phan. Chiron would be so disappointed. Hey, so here's the place. Don't get lost, it's pretty easy to find. Even if it just looks like an empty field and all. Hope to see you there."
He handed me a business card.
It looked pretty authentic.
With only the slightest bit of difficulty, I read what it said.
Yo. Sup.
Lars Greenhorn
Keeper
Half-Blood Hill
Long Island, New York
(800) 009-0009
"I'm going to New York?" I whispered.
Dad laughed, giving me a pat on the back. "Yep. Long term vacation style." "So I'm just stopping school now?" I spluttered. But I still had so much to do…I didn't even make it to the Spring Dance yet!
"I know it's just the spring time, but I'd rather you stay there for safety reasons. Don't worry about school, you'll get some education there." He looked at Lars and Auntie Phan for reassurance. "She will, right?"
Auntie Phan scoffed. "I'm sure the Athena and Hephaestus kids would love to teach her…stuff."
"That settles it then," Dad said brightly. "Well, thank you for meeting us, Ms. Haw—I mean, Ms. Phan, and Lars."
"No probs," grinned Lars, putting his legs back on. "See you guys later."
As we stepped out into the parking lot, Dad looked up into the sky. "Your mom would be really proud of what you did today," he said, smiling at me and pushing his glasses up. "You did so well, May."
I felt tears well up in my eyes. I didn't want to leave him all alone, with only the shop for company. It would be the first time I was going to live without him.
As if he knew what I was going to say, Dad shook his head sadly. "It's for the best. I don't like it either, but I've kept you away from that world for too long."
Then, as if he wanted to change the subject, Dad asked, "So where do you want to eat? My treat. Big trip tomorrow, right?"
I could only swallow the lump in my throat.
Inwardly, I prayed up to the skies, to wherever my mom was, that she would keep Dad safe. He had lived a pretty lonely life, and now he needed help and protection more than ever.
Then, as if someone above had heard the message I sent, there was a rush of warm air like a morning kiss. It was so comforting and reassuring, bringing about the scent of fresh grass and springtime flowers. I breathed it in, letting it wash over me like the summer's rain. And as suddenly as it had come, it left me, leaving me with my dad outside my school in the cooling April air.
And so this chapter ends...R&R :)