Hello everyone! Welcome back to yet another chapter of Half- Blood High. Things are getting serious!
So first of all, I would like to address one of the common responses of the reviewers for the last chapter. I don't believe everyone appreciates Percy's character much. Again, this is only the starting. No one is what they seem.
OH MY GOD! I'm sooooo happy with the response from the last chapter! All you're lovely reviews have fueled me on.
Flaming eyeball: If I were Annabeth I would too. Here's Chapter 3!
Paintingbubbles: That was sort of the intention ;) Thanks a lot for reviewing!
Saoirsechase: Thank you! And here's chapter 3!
AlphaX14: I know, I get that feeling too. Thank you for your constant support!
FlyingShoes135: Nope. Not British at all. But I do read lots of stories by British authors so I really like that slang. I'm trying my best to keep it up, so advanced apologies for any mistakes. Yes Rachel may not be at fault but still…I don't really know. When I read The Last Olympian I nearly ripped out that page! ( Nearly. I love books.) But again, this only the starting, not everyone is what they seem.( whoa, that's the third time I've written that sentence.) Thanks a lot for reviewing!
lovelyloveme: Thank you! Hope this one was more torture ;) I'll probably finish the story first and then come back again to correct the mistakes. Frankly I just don't have much time. There's classes, then tuition, then coaching; it's a total nightmare. So I just rush through the chapters and they may not all be perfect. You did sound a tiny bit crazy by the second time you mentioned you were ;) Kidding! Thank you so much for the advice and keep following this story.
Guest: Thank you! I thought the chemistry between them needed a boost;)
SuperGigi: I'm really glad you liked the last chapter. Keep following the updated and enjoy Chapter 3! And also a huge thanks to your constant support.
Xoxocullenluverxoxo: Thanks a ton for the pointer. I had no idea about that. But I just really like including this part in my chapters so I'm just going to continue it like this. Does it really make you laugh? Your review definitely made me smile!
DemigodSassReaders: Here it is!
Special mentions to Amphritite102, Anilia, FlyingShoes135, Happyducks2, LTAVirgo77, Mentalcase97, Ship Royalty,The God Of Darkness And Ice, allinthebooks25, carrotsharkbooks, gabrielasayshi,johndoe7699, katemac14, piefilo1, thecliffhanger, therealwhiskey xoxocullenluverxoxxo, LuciferMorningStar669, Wildone Y, 0143 and myflying mokingjay who have all followed/Favorited this story from last chapter (Hope I didn't miss anyone! If I did, please tell me!)
~0O0~
Half-Blood High
Chapter 3
The cold wind slapped her face as she raced down the dirt track bordering the forest. The looming sounds of thunder and Porkpie's uneasy neighing filled the silent air, as Annabeth continued on with cold determination. She had to forget. She had to.
"Come on, boy. Just a few more minutes." Annabeth urged her skitterish mare as he slowed down to a trot on his own will. A streak of lightening cut through the grey sky and another growl of thunder shook the empty grounds. "Please, just…just till the stables."
Porkpie whined in unhappy agreement and they set of in a brisk pace over the wet fields towards the distant silhouette of the castle. It was evening and the field of Half-Blood High had been taken over by thick, white fog. The grounds were empty with the school population all inside, toasty and cheerful in the warm cafeteria. Annabeth clenched her teeth in frustration as her mind started to replay the events of that afternoon, the very reason she had dragged an unwilling Porkpie into this stormy weather to forget.
She could barely see a few feet in front of her, white mist draped on all her sides. The grey sky was just slightly visible overhead and it was easy to forget the outside world ever existed and believe there was nothing else around her than calm, white mist and the eerie silence.
They were getting closer to the end of their ride, as the dim golden lights of the Castle appeared in the blonde's vision, floating with no support in the white, soupy background. Annabeth yanked on Porkpie's reign, a sudden grip of terror taking over her. A cold sweat broke out her face as the white fog and silence, which had been comforting only a moment ago, suddenly started to close in on her, making it hard for her to breathe. Something in the air felt wrong all of a sudden…
"It's okay boy. We're safe now." Annabeth whispered gently to her anguished horse, as they crossed the gates into the brightly lit stables, the smell of hey and grunts of terrified horses filling the air. Outside, rain had started to fall, bringing with it a very harsh wind in the direction of the open stable doors. Annabeth dismounted Porkpie and led him to his stall as the slanting rain drops streaked the golden hey in front of the building.
A week had passed since the beginning of school. It was the weekend tomorrow and Annabeth had been excited to visit the small village at the base of the hill, a collection cozy little bookstores and cafés. She and Piper had made plans to visit the trendy new boutique that had come up last month, just like most of the other girls in their dorm. Then they would head to the Half-Blood pub for lunch, an old structure rumored to have been built around the same time as the castle. Everything had been perfect that afternoon until had she picked up that call.
She could remember feeling a little anxious when the familiar tune had filled the room, as her phone started to vibrate on the bedside table, the dorm room filled with the bright sunlight outside which was not expected to last soon. Piper had just left to fill Hazel in on the plans they had made together during that free period, lounging on their beds and giggling at the most absurd reasons. She had picked the phone up with slightly shaking fingers and the room was filled with silence at the sudden cease of the ringtone.
Athena Chase had been on the other side, checking upon her daughter in the five minute window between meetings and presentations. They had exchanged awkward pleasantries and few tense pauses. Then her mother had dropped the bomb.
"What do you mean you're moving to England?" Annabeth had demanded shrilly, pacing the length of the room.
"I mean what I said. There is a…very important project that needs my immediate attention." Her mother had sounded distracted. Annabeth could hear Lacy, Athena's personal secretary, chattering away in the distance. "It's not for long. Just a year or two. You'll be fine at school. If I'm not back by then, the New York penthouse has just been finished remodeling. So-it's going be fine. Just tell them I'll be there in a few seconds!"
It had taken her a moment to realize that her mother wasn't speaking to her. "What about Malcolm?" she had whispered, suddenly feeling lonely and cold. Please not her little brother. Not the only other relative that she had in the whole world, the sweet little boy she had grown up with…
"He's coming with me."
Ten minutes later Piper had found her sitting on her chair, staring out the window like a lifeless doll. She'd been gently questioned and prodded, though she had spoken to no one about what was wrong. Hazel had sat next to her, squeezing her hand in support, her gentle inquiries falling on deaf ears. Leo and Jason had arrived an hour later, both of them silently smuggled into the girl's dormitories. But their reassurances and half hearted jokes had no effect on the blonde, as she continued to watch the sun being taken over slowly by faint grey clouds. It would soon be dark, just like everything else in her life.
Suddenly, in that room full of people she had felt lonely. And the next thing she knew she was slipping on her boots and shouting at Piper to leave her alone.
Piper was there now, sitting on the stone steps leading to the Castle, a white towel clutched in her hands. The sight of her friend filled Annabeth with relief. She didn't want to be alone anymore. Didn't want to be out there in those silent, lonely grounds with the feeling of something wrong in the chilling air.
Piper got up at the sight of the drenched blonde and quickly enveloped her in a hug. Annabeth hugged her back and shed the tears that had been threatening to spill the last few hours.
"Pipes…I'm sorry…they're moving- I don't know-" Annabeth sobbed into her friend's shoulder, as the brunette rubbed soothing circles on her back.
"Shhh. It' okay darling. We're here for you." Piper hugged her closer and started to dry the blonde's hair with the fluffy towel. "Let's get you inside."
~0O0~
"It's all right to talk, guys. I'm not going to snap again." Annabeth muttered in resignation, toying with the bowl of cereal in front of her. "I'm-I'm fine now."
She could see Jason and Leo exchanging doubtful glances out of the corner of her eyes. Piper sat next to her in the crowded cafeteria, more concentrated on the blonde's face than the stack of pancakes sitting in front of her. Hazel had insisted on getting Annabeth coffee and was over by the buffet table.
"Are you sure you're feeling okay?" Jason asked nervously, concern evident in his tone. Leo, in all the years she had known him, was sitting unnaturally somber. He too played with his plate of breakfast and once in a while sent resentful glances at the buffet table. The hispanic boy looked strangely incomplete without his usual nervous energy and corny jokes.
"Last night was a bit of an overreaction-"
"You rode through a storm like a maniac-"
"-but now I've thought things through, it's probably for the best. I'm stuck here for the next two years and Malcolm had always wanted to travel. We can always, you know call each other or I could just pop over for a few days" Annabeth shrugged nonchalantly, trying desperately to hide the dull pain that still tugged at her heart strings. They were really going. Her mother had just left her in another country without a second thought. Was she really not that wanted?
"You're right. Everything is going to be perfectly fine." Leo shot her a watery smile, leaning over to tuck a strand of blonde hair that had escaped the messy pony tail she had tied her locks into. She hadn't been in the mood to recreate her make over from yesterday.
"I understand, Annabeth." Jason said quietly, giving her a little smile. "The last time I saw my father was at a project launch five years ago. You definitely have a better deal than me."
She returned his grin with a grateful smile of her own. Yes, her situation was much better than Jason's. At least she had Malcolm…
"You're coffee!" Hazel grinned at her, placing a steaming mug on the crowded table as she slid into the seat beside Piper. She gave a small wave toward the beverage area and Annabeth watched amused as a shy Frank Zhang returned it.
"Well, I think I have an idea what Hazel will be up to in the village." Piper said cheerfully, sending Annabeth a sly wink which the blonde found herself surprisingly echoing. "Swapping spit with Zhang behind a display rack!"
Leo chocked on his coke and Hazel turned various shades of pink in a matter of seconds.
The rest of them laughed and she felt the tight coils in her chest slowly unwrapping.
~0O0~
Percy's POV (YAY, finally!)
East Tower Common Room
The warm sunshine filtered in through the open window, accompanied by a cool breeze that played with the curtains and send smiles on the faces of the students in the common room, all of them rushing around and grabbing their jackets and umbrellas (one never could be sure about the weather), all eager to spend as much time as possible in the village in the pleasant weather.
Percy Jackson lounged on one of the many sofas by the bay window, twirling a small silver knife in his hands. He didn't use it often but it had been his mother's….
"Percy!"
The raven haired boy looked, briefly abandoning the object of his attention. Frank Zhang stood before him, clad in a blue sweater and a red umbrella clutched in his large hands. A small boy trailed behind him, dressed entirely in black, a venomous scowl fixed on his pale face. Percy mentally snorted at his cousin's attire. Did the idiot really think dressing up as a penguin was the right way to go on a date?
"Hey guys." The green eyed boy nodded, his hands already back to toying with the knife in his possession. "You'd better hurry before the sky decides to change its mind."
"Are you sure you're not coming?" Frank asked hopefully "We could catch a few drinks at the pub."
"The only thing I would be catching is nausea after seeing little Neeks trying to seduce Solace." He snorted as Nico released a small growl and glared at Frank who had covered a snort of his own in the pretence of coughing.
"Let's not forget little Frankie's date here." Nico mocked, pulling his black aviator jacket tightly around him. "How old is she? Thirteen?"
"Sixteen and she's very mature for her age." The said boy huffed back, crossing his hands over his chest. "At least, she doesn't tend to burst into random Taylor Swift songs."
Nico glared at the obvious jibe at Will. "At least I don't look like a fucking pedophile while I'm out with my boyfriend."
"No, cause that's what Will looks like every time he's out with you."
"Guys, guys!" Percy sat up, immediately sensing the oncoming fist fight. Frank would probably give Nico a black eye and the other boy would chew out his ear or something. They were bloody idiots. "Both of you are creeps who shouldn't be let out into society. Now shut up and go suck faces with your dates."
The boys squared their chests, both of them hesitant to make the first move. Percy rolled his eyes and pushed them outside to the stair way, unable to stomach the excessive amount of testosterone hanging in the air. Why couldn't they accept they were both creepy bastards and move on? He definitely had.
He reoccupied his position on the sofa, leaning his hands on the window still, his eyes glued on to the throng of multi colored students laughing and shoving each other as they strolled through the fields and onto the road that led to the tiny village at the base of the hill. He easily spotted Nico, the guy was literary a black spot light in the cheerful background, his pale hands inter twinned with a boy in a bright yellow sweater.
Percy let out a small sigh as his mind started to wander, imagining all the things he was going to miss today due to his stubbornness. The latest football gear at Soccer Field, the tangy ale at the crowded pub with his friends, the blue candy at his favorite store: Demeter's heavenly sin.
It was just…he didn't want to go out today, surrounded by all the delighted laughs and happiness of his class mates, when he felt the urgent need to be somber, to mourn all those painful days he spent the past summer… Plus he didn't want to be a gross intruder in his friends' dates, how much ever they reassured him otherwise. He was not that pathetic.
Suddenly, among the sea of students, he spotted someone staring right at him. Someone with bright red hair and a malicious smile. Rachel. She caught his eyes and squealed and made an excited gesture for him to wait for her as she started to shove her way past the students and run into the castle.
Shit. He had to get out of here before the hag came bursting into the room with her ridiculously sugary sweet voice that made his ears bleed and her bloody sharp nails.
He found himself sprinting down the stairs and in the opposite way of the entrance, his footsteps echoing throughout the gloomy, empty hall way. Rachel was a good time pass and he intended to keep it that way. But the girl seemed to be living in a different world and was convinced that they were an item and religiously did her duty of trailing behind him like a lost puppy (she was anything but) and opening up her bottle of feelings, which was a concept that Percy lived in constant fear of. How many times did he have to tell her that he didn't care if she was upset about a chipped nail?
Percy stopped running and looked around, releasing a satisfied breath when he realized he was the only one in the hall way. He studied the corridor, trying to figure out where the hell he was when he realized he was just a turn away from the library. He shrugged and made his way to the house of books, figuring it would at least be empty and the last place Rachel would look for him.
What he didn't expect was to find a lone figure in one of the tables at the back, her head leaning on her hands, surrounded by stacks of thick books and papers. Just looking at those fat volumes made Percy sick. The only book that he had successfully managed to read without punching the nearest wall was Sports Illustrated because it was…illustrated.
He jumped behind the nearest book shelf when the figure raised her head. A pair of grey eyes met his vision, swollen and red as if she had been crying for a long time. He took a step back when he realized who he was staring at, who was spending this beautiful day inside the musty library instead of having fun at the village.
Sitting there among piles of torn up sheets and a spilled cup of what looked like dried up tea was none other than Annabeth Chase. Nerd Extraordinaire, the golden girl of the west and the bane of his existence. And she had started to cry.
~0O0~
So what do you think? Will Percy help Annabeth and start Percabeth or am I just cruel?
This chapter was rushed and isn't what I had originally imagined. Things are getting really hectic for me with coaching classes taking up every Sunday. The only reason I was able to update was because it's St. Thomas day today and school was closed.
If you don't have anything else to do, do check out one of my other stories; Coffee.
Coffee: 'He was a stalker', she thought 'Kelp head was a stupid, dangerous, sneaky, good looking kidnapper who liked to sleep in his victim's bed before murdering them' OR The one where Annabeth hates coffee but ends up working in a coffee shop and one evening Percy decides he wants a Vanilla café latte. Percabeth!
But any way REVIEW!
