Hello, I'm sorry I took so long to update! I've been so busy lately. I typed this up when I was on vacation, and I'm back now so I can post!
Chapter 3:
Right Under My Nose
"Percy Jackson," Mrs Dodds, my pre algebra teacher calls out.
I lift my head from my desk and blink, disorientated. I know I must have fallen asleep again. "Here," I slur, then place my head back on the desk.
"If you had been awake, Mr Jackson, you would be aware that the roll was called twenty minutes ago." Some kids behind me snicker. I can feel my face beginning to heat up when I sit up again.
"I'm afraid, Mr Jackson, that if this happens again, I'm going to have to send you to the principal's office. If this recurring cycle of disrespectful behaviour continues any longer, you will be granted a three- day suspension. If you reach three suspensions, you will be expelled from Goode."
That's when I start to panic. I can't get expelled from this school; no matter how mean some kids are here, it is by far the best school I've ever attended, and if I am forced to leave this school, I'll have to start looking for schools in Brooklyn, or Philadelphia. Yeah, I've been expelled from all the schools I can find in Manhattan, and New York, either from bad behaviour, or, like in Goode, dysfunctional sleep or nutrient patterns that have affected my schooling.
"I'm sorry, Miss," I say, trying to look sincere. "It won't happen again."
Mrs Dodds just rolls her eyes and calls on someone else.
I start to doze off again when raucous laughter wakes me up.
I wrench open my eyes and mumbled something unintelligible. I'm so tired...
And then I take full stock of the scene in front of me and realise that they are laughing at me.
Mrs Dodds has smacked her ruler down on my desk and nearly chopped my fingers off.
I look up at her tiredly. Why can't she just leave me be?
"Percy Jackson," Mrs Dodds seethes. I turn my face slightly to the side to avoid getting spit on. Mrs Dodds' salvia gun tends to go wild when she's angry. "I'm sick of all your messy work and falling asleep in class, and your excuses for your behaviour. Please report to the principal's office, where I'm sure he will have some menial task for you to complete."
I slump in my seat as I pack my bag. Kids are openly snickering as I make my way out of the classroom, trying to keep the dejected look off my face and keep my dignity intact.
"Nice going, Jackson," I heard a voice say that rose above the others'.
I try— no, really, I do— to hide a smirk as I hear Mrs Dodds' voice behind me saying, "And any more words out of you, Miss Chase, and I won't hesitate to make you join Mr Jackson."
Page Break
"Hey, mum," I say dully as I cross the threshold of my dingy house. Sometimes I actually prefer school to home. At least there's light at school. At least there's people to talk to, even if it's not amiable speech.
"Oh, hello sweetie!" My mother calls out. "I'm in the kitchen preparing dinner!"
What?! I think. My mother- preparing dinner?
I pretty much throw my ratty school bag down and sprint to the kitchen to see if she's started a fire yet.
As I enter the kitchen, a smell hits my nostrils and makes my mouth water. It's a scent I haven't smelled in… well, forever, really. It smells of home, of normalcy. Of loving parents who care, and innocence.
It's roast beef and vegies.
My stomach jumps into my throat. Hope fills my heart. Is my mum on the mend?
"No cure."
"I'm sorry."
"Terminal illness."
The doctor's words echo in my mind. Tears prick behind my eyelids.
"No hope for the redemption of her health."
I quickly wipe my eyes and paste a bright smile on my face. If my mum ever sees me cry, she'll start crying as well, and when she cries, her body gets stressed and things start going wrong. Sometimes she'll start hyperventilating, or even choking. Sometimes she'll break out in a cold sweat, or a roaring fever. Sometimes pass out.
It's better to just pretend.
Page Break
After dinner, my mum asks me how school was today. I can't believe it. Just yesterday she was raving to me about 'oh, how handsome you are now, Poseidon!' (whoever he is) and now she's asking me how school is.
"Uh, well—" I can't tell her about Luke and Annabeth and everyone else. She'll freak. I grin widely. "School's great mum. Can I go to my room now? I have homework to do." Don't think I actually do homework normally. I'm just using it as an excuse to escape.
"Any girls caught your eye, Percy?" my mum teases. I feel my face heat up, but not from embarrassment. More like, Yeah, right. Maybe in a blue moon, mum. But she takes it the wrong way. "Ooh, what's her name? What does she look like?"
My mind goes blank. The only girl I can picture is Annabeth Chase, with her perfect blond tresses and her unblemished athletic body and her pretty grey eyes…
"Uh, no, I don't have a crush, mum," I say.
She looks dismayed for a minute, but then she brightens up. "Don't worry, Percy. There will be a girl somewhere that will touch your heart like you've never known. I'll bet you she's been there your entire life, right under your nose, and you just haven't discovered her yet!"
I smile and hug my mum, trying to forget what she just said. All I can picture is Annabeth Chase, and I want her out of my mind because I hate her and her impeccable image is about to ruin my good mood. "Thanks mum, I'll keep that in mind. I love you." I say through gritted teeth. The colour grey is crowding my vision, and I'm getting more pissed off by the second. I'm afraid that if I stay any longer in this room, I'll snap and take my frustrations out on my poor mother.
"I love you too, honey," she whispers, and I completely forget about Annabeth Chase for a second when hazy memories of another time, another place, a happier place, come to mind.
Maybe my mum will never be what she once was. Maybe she'll never recuperate to full health. But at least I know that in the midst of all the bad times and problems and worries and concerns, my mum can still just be my mum every once in a while.
Do you like that? I know it's off to a slow start, but it'll get better, I promise. Don't forget to leave a review and tell me what you think!