Disclaimer: I am not worthy to claim PJO as my own. Characters belong to Rick Riordan.
Claimer: plot belongs to me :)
grey area:
1.a topic that is clearly not one thing or the other.
2: an area or part of something existing between two extremes
3. a subject or problem that people do not know how to deal with because there are no clear rules.
4. A bleak expanse Annabeth Chase is lost in
Why did I even have to go back to school? In only a few months I'd have enough points to graduate, even if I am a sophomore. But, for some reason, Mother thinks it's best I have a high school experience. Actually, I'm sure she'd rather me switch places with Malcolm and get a life.
I still love school, but its the people that's the problem. I wonder if Mom'll let me take online school. Probably not. She believes online school is only an artificial experience. But she did go to online school when she was pregnant with Daedalus.
For someone so opinionated, she sure was quite the hypocrite.
Actually, she believes it's either an exceptional education, or we wont get a head start in life. She also believes that many jobs (especially art) are unsuitable for her children, yet she's a fantastic artist. Maybe that's why she and Malcolm are so similar. She doesn't want him making the same life choices as her. But he's already halfway down that road.
I knocked on the glass doors on the side of the gym and waited. Knocking again, I turned and sat on the cold concrete ground, watching the rest of the sun rise. This was our routine. I would do a special knock, and Bob, who promised out be in the area, would let me in.
It had started in the middle of freshmen year last year, when I'd mistimed my arrival and ended up half an hour early for school. I'd stood out in the snow for a few minutes, and Bob, seemingly pitying me, let me in even though he wasn't supposed to. Even after I got myself situated, I would help Bob clean up or wash down the tables.
I hoped it'd be the same thing this year, the reason why I'd arrived extra early. But I had to be waiting for forty five minutes now, and I could almost feel the freezing wind rip through me. Why hadn't I worn a heavier sweater?
I stood up and knocked again, practically banging on the glass now.
Several minutes later, when I was about to give up and go home and come back later, the door opened. I looked around, but didn't see anyone behind the glass door.
"Down here," a voice said. I yelped and jumped back, nearly falling down the cement steps, and regained my balance, peering inside. Sure enough, a middle aged man in a wheelchair looked at me, an amused smiled on his face. I didn't know who he was, but I'm certain he wasn't Bob the janitor.
"Well, come inside child, its freezing," he said. I nodded and quickly scurried in, shutting the door behind me. The man studied me for a moment, and I stared back. He seemed nice enough, curly brown hair and a scraggly beard, but the warm brown eyes behind his old-fashioned, thick-rimmed glasses unnerved me.
"I don't recognize you," I stated bluntly without realizing how rude that sounded. "Are you new, um, sir?"
He smiled. "Yes, I suppose. I started during the summer, teacher for summer school. But I suppose there's a reason I haven't seen you there, am I correct?" He asked, rolling out of the gym. I followed after him.
"I don't- summer school isn't necessary for me." I winced, realizing it sounded like I was gloating. If he noticed, he didn't say anything. "I'm Annabeth. Um, sophomore."
He turned and smiled. "Sophomore? I guess I'll be your new teacher, then."
I awkwardly smiled. "Fun."
"I'm Mr. Brunner. New foreign arts teacher." He rolled over to one of the doors in the hallway and unlocked it. New teacher? They hadn't mention any new additions to the staff last year. Or maybe they'd replaced Bob with this guy. Maybe foreign arts was a new curriculum. "Annabeth," I mumbled.
As he rolled into the classroom that I recognized used to be the chess club room, I stood in the doorway, unsure if I was welcome. Once he reached his desk and saw me, he shook his head. "Come in now, Annabeth. I don't have anyone else to keep me company." He smiled and I awkwardly shuffled in, turning on the lights as I entered.
"Why are you here this early? I've only come in to mentally prepare myself for the first day."
I shrugged, sitting in the seat across from him. "Same reason as you. It started last year. I just like being alone."
He raised an eyebrow. "Mind if I intrude?"
"Not at all, uh, Mr. Brunner."
He chuckled, setting his glasses on his desk. "Call me Chiron."
The routine has already begun. Well, minus the Mr. Brunner thing. He was a surprise. But the rest of the classes went by at snail's pace, me idly listening as I stare out the window. I already knew most of what the teacher's were talking about, so why did they find the need to call on me when I so obviously wasn't paying attention? It only embarrassed them further when I got the question right.
I mean, even with dyslexia I could teach their class.
"Annabeth Chase," Mrs Dodds called in my fourth period advanced calculus class. I raised my hand. "Annabeth Chase," she said again, growing more agitated. "Here!" I yelled from the back of the class. No one paid me any mind, a few girls in front of me giving me dirty looks for yelling in their ear.
"I guess she's late."
I gritted my teeth. It was always the same thing during attendance. They'd always think I'm late or absent and I'd always have to go to the office to fix it. Considering I'm on principal D's 'Student's I don't hate' list, I always have access to the files.
A few minutes later, she handed us pop quizzes, ignoring student's excuses of it being the first day back from summer vacation. I finished it in under five minutes, a new record for me, probably because I had studied that last year while the class was still on Euler's formula.
Mrs Dodds looked up form her book, and her eyes narrowed when she realized who I was. She snatched the paper from my hand. "What'd you do? Cheat?"
"I don't believe in cheating, Mrs Dodds. Copying off of someone else is just preventing yourself from the achievement learning rewards you." I said politely. "Well, you have every answer word for word in my book." She said, comparing my answers to the teacher's workbook. I shrugged "Or maybe I'm just smart. I actually studied this summer."
I don't know why, but Mrs. Dodds seemed to have a personal vendetta against me after I showed her up last year by correcting everything she said. Accidentally of course.
Her lip curled and her nostrils flared. "Fine. Sit down, Chase." I couldn't hide the triumphant smile as I walked back to my seat.
(-(-P-J-O-)-)
No one paid me any attention as I walked off the lunch line, looking for somewhere to sit. I have friends- they were calling me over right now- but I knew they used me. They knew I knew too. And yet they continue trying to win me over. In their eyes, I'm just the key to getting all A's. Also the fact that they purposely dress prettier than me so I would be considered the ugly friend. Not trying to be vain or anything, but I think I'm way prettier compared to them with their clown faces of makeup. They would throw me in front of a bus without question.
I rolled my eyes and turned, walking out of the cafeteria and to the library. "Hey Ella," I greeted the assistant librarian. She blushed at the attention, waving at a spot past my shoulder and buried her face in her book. Even though she was a senior who was constantly accidentally placed in the spotlight, Ella really needed to work on her people skills. All I could see of her was a shaking pile of mousy red hair.
I found my usual seat at a table under a sunny window, and grabbed my latest book from where I left it before summer vacation. Maybe I am weird. I wouldn't consider myself an introvert- no, I can be very opinionated when I want- but I definitely wasn't a extrovert. I was in between. I'm weird. Sue me.
I'm sorry I can't just go to the mall, shopping for a new me. I can't be like Malcolm, a free spirit pretending to be who he's not to fit in. Sadly, I don't know how to be anything but me.
Being tardy was not on my possibility list. So, you must understand why I was practically having a mental breakdown when I realized that lunch ended almost four minutes ago. I like being early. What can I say?
"Ella? Why didn't you tell me it was time to go?" I yelled. She squeaked, then looked down. "I- sorry Beth."
I sighed. "I'm sorry, Ella. I didn't mean to yell at you. Just-please warn me ten minutes before lunch is over," I asked patiently. She nodded. I ran out of the library and shoved people out of my way, ignoring them bitching about me being a bitch.
I came in the second the bell wrung, stuck behind the last group of people entering the class. And of course, the one class I was excited for, I was late to; foreign arts. I didn't want Mr. Brunner getting the wrong impression, that I was a know-it-all who thought they were too good to follow rules. If I were him, that's what I would think.
"Hello Ms Chase," Mr, Brunner greeted. I froze, halfway through the door, my eyes wide. Everyone's eyes were on me. I'm pretty sure Mr. Brunner didn't try to embarrass me. He didn't seem like the type of teacher to do that. He seemed like he was only greeting me.
"Hi Mr Brunner." I took a seat at the front of the class, the last available place to sit. I overheard a few guys behind me talking. "Bro, who's she? Is she new? She's totally hot. Dibs."
"Isn't that Annabeth Chase? The weird girl with no friends? Dude, you can bang her; I don't think I want to deal with the weirdness."
My hand tightened against the edge of the desk and I took a deep breath. Weird? That's the best he could come up with? Of course those imbeciles wouldn't know what intelligence looked like if it was in the form of an alien. And who do they think they are, claiming me like I was some sort of prize?
I turned my head, my face burning with anger. "Why don't you mind your own goddamn business and pay attention instead of thinking about who you're gonna bang next? Actually, since you're so desperate as to not claim 'weird' girls, why don't you bang each other? It saves you the hassle of having to deal with my weirdness. Or better yet; I can cut both your testicles off and choke you with it, Dude and Bro." I glared at them, almost smiling at their terrified expressions.
I turned back around in my seat and crossed my arms smugly. Mr. Brunner was watching me with a slightly amused expression, curiosity in his eyes. My face burned with shame, and I looked down at my desk.
To my excitement- and to everyone's dismay- we were doing Greek Mythology for a few months. He gave us a quick evaluation test to see what we knew, and I practically flew through it, bouncing in my seat. I was fairly certain it wasn't because of my ADD working up.
After class, I was gathering my books as the class slowly fanned out, the idiot boys making a wide ark around me and scurrying out the room. I was about to leave when Mr. Brunner called me back, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Taking a deep breath, I backtracked and looked at him.
"You're not in trouble, Annabeth. I only wish to speak with you," he said, seeing me tense as he opened his mouth.
He kept me after school, not that I minded much. Now would be about the time Mom received word that Malcolm hadn't attended any of his classes. I didn't really feel like listening to them bicker.
He needed me to help him get situated around here and to take him on a tour. I kind of felt honored, especially because, out of all of the sophomores, he chose me.
Maybe this year was my year of change. Things were starting to change; I could feel it.
A/N:
Hi! I couldn't wait to update because for some reason I'm really excited for this story!
I'd really appreciate it if you'd review :)
Shout out to Daughter of Ares 1 for being the first review!
Next chapter gets more interesting, promise! Review :)
~greekfreak302