Wow… you guys are all awesome! Thanks a bunch for being the best reviewers, readers, and PMers EVER! Enjoy!

~GoGreen52

Chapter 3- Lock Down

-Annabeth POV-

I was absolutely pissed off.

How could Mr. Brunner do this? I mean, he had to have known about how bad of a student Percy probably is, and how great of a student I am! It's just not right to have us be partners. He's going to slow me down- keep me from reaching my full potential.

And he's probably going to make my life a living hell.

I looked at Jackson, and his face was a mirror image of what I thought mine would probably be like. It was red, his eyes showing pure anger.

"Mr. Brunner, in all respect, I absolutely cannot sit next to this… this Neanderthal for the rest of the semester!" I exclaimed, cringing at the thought of actually being Jackson's partner.

"Miss Chase, I am sorry you think that way. But this can't be changed," Mr. Brunner said. "You two just have to find a way to get along with each other."

"But that's crazy! He probably can't even spell his own name correctly while I can speak it in multiple languages. You have to be kidding me here. He's going to do nothing but hold me back, Mr. Brunner."

Mr. Brunner, though, seemed to disagree with me. "Now, you obviously don't know-"

Jackson cut him off. "You think I'm going to hold you back Chase? You think I'm not good enough to be at your level or something?"

"Well you certainly seem smart enough to know what I'm saying," I said, sounding shocked. "But how is that possible?"

That seemed to make Jackson tick. "I actually work hard in school, Chase. Looks like you've assumed about something that you actually had no idea about. Who would've thought, Annabeth Chase, not knowing about something."

"Why would you out of all the people in this school, be able to work hard enough to be my partner?" I asked. "Now, something about that seems off to me."

"Putting yourself on a pedestal that easily, huh? Who's the self-centered one now?" Jackson smirked at me, getting that daring look in his eyes as if he knew a come-back to anything you might say.

"Why you little-"

"That's enough!"

Jackson and I stopped fighting, but continued on glaring at each other. Mr. Brunner wheeled himself in between the two of us, and looked up at us in what I thought was amazement.

"I've never seen two teenagers, both who have much in common, fight like this. Now, I know you both are smart enough to understand me- if you ever act like this in my classroom again, you are going to the office, and will have to speak to the principal himself about your actions. Do I make myself clear?"

"But Mr. Brunner-"

"No buts Miss Chase. I do not tolerate that kind of behavior in my classroom."

Jackson snickered a bit at the word 'but' and Mr. Brunner gave him a body chilling stare, cueing Jackson to shut his mouth with a 'snap'. He scratched his head anonymously, as if that didn't just happen. But I saw it.

I had to bite my cheek to keep myself from bursting out in a laugh. I mean, I've never had Mr. Brunner before as a teacher, but considering he just shut Jackson up like that- he's got to be one of the best in this building. I've never seen that before.

I nodded, and paused for a second when I noticed that the whole class was watching us like we were some kind of TV show that no one could get enough of. Where's the popcorn?

I blushed, but still held my ground, glaring at Jackson. He glared back at me, and I swear I could see a little brush of red on his cheeks. This was quite the revelation. I guess Jackson actually does have blood going through his veins.

Looking at him with that death glare was getting a little annoying. I decided to get a move on and go to my assigned seat, feeling like a preschooler. I mean, when was the last time I had assigned seats in a class? How about never?

I took my seat, sitting down angrily while crossing down my arms. Jackson smirked at me before he went to take his seat right next to mine. Why did Mr. Brunner have us sit next to each other?

Jackson took his time sitting down, making a show about how he was disgusted to sit next to me. I was seriously getting pissed off at his antics, and as soon as he lowered his butt down to the chair, I kicked it away ever so slightly.

Making him fall flat on his butt.

Everyone started laughing, and I smiled in triumph. I lost my 'bad girl' attitude, and uncrossed my arms to set them pleasantly on the top of my desk. I'll even admit that I did wear a smirk, but it was directed to the girls that 'loved' Percy and were glaring at me.

Mess with the bull you get the horns… Mess with Annabeth Chase you fall flat on your butt.

My smirk lasted for only a second longer as I remembered how Mr. Brunner didn't want us to fight or whatever, and that if we did we would have to talk to the principal about our actions. And what did I just do? I'm so freaking stupid! Bad Annabeth. Bad!

My eyes widened as I looked over to see Mr. Brunner looking at me with a frown. I sunk in my seat and looked down at my desk, suddenly finding the little dots everywhere very interesting. I heard Jackson sit back into his chair very loudly and I sank even deeper into the chair.

Mr. Brunner started his lesson as soon as the class calmed down. He wheeled himself around the classroom, through the rows of desks as he explained what we were going to learn this semester, and his expectations for us.

"The exam at the end of this semester is going to cover over four main topics. The age of the titans, the age of the gods, the many heroes of Greek Mythology, and lastly, why the Greeks believed in the gods and titans. I believe in learning through hearing and seeing. I do not force any one of you to read books to get facts on Ancient Greece, but I do want you to at least listen to the stories, and see the history that Greece is full of."

Mr. Brunner took a second to acknowledge a hand raised in the air. "Yes, what is your question?"

"How can we study, then? I mean, if we don't have any books or stuff to study with, how will we do well on tests?"

Mr. Brunner was wheeling on by me, and I stiffened when he stopped right next to my desk. What did I do now?

"Miss Chase, will you please answer that question? It seems you have a head start on the studying technique for this class."

I looked up at Mr. Brunner questionably. What did he mean I have a head start?

"Of course she does," I heard Jackson mumble next to me. I turned to glare at him, but he just rolled his eyes and turned to look out the window that was on his side of the room. Shaking it off, I turned around to look at Mr. Brunner again.

"I'm sorry… I have no idea what you mean by that," I explained truthfully.

Mr. Brunner chuckled, and took the Ancient Greek book off my desk. "I'm talking about this. You're reading some of the epics by Homer. I usually don't expect my students to read more into Homer until we talk about him. Also, this book itself is written in Ancient Greek- a dead language. I definitely do not expect my students to be able to read it."

I blushed when I felt everyone's eyes on me, but most specifically the glare from someone right next to me that was burning at the back of my head. "My mother taught me, Mr. Brunner," I explained softly, trying to not drag any more attention on me.

Mr. Brunner nodded and wore a thinking look on his face, then turned back to me slightly. "Athena, right?"

I looked shocked for a second, then got a hold of myself and nodded. I didn't know that any teacher of mine would know about my mother, normally people don't care enough to know about who does math for NASA and who stops in all over the country to help top-notch professors.

I guess Mr. Brunner did.

He started wheeling forward, and talked about how we were going to go into depth this year and stuff. To be honest, I really wasn't listening. I just couldn't understand how Mr. Brunner could know my mother. All of her teachings were given somewhere other than New York.

In fact, right now she was in Penn State.

My thoughts were cut off when I was jabbed in the hands by something thin, and it hurt a lot.

I looked down and saw a piece of paper, and a paper cut on my hand to go with it. I looked at Percy weirdly, but he just continued to stare at the front of the classroom anonymously. Like he didn't know what was going on.

I rolled my eyes at his childish behavior. I mean, passing notes? Seriously? Kill me now.

I shook my head, amazed at myself when I opened the paper. I didn't really like that paper after it gave me a nice paper cut. Those things sting, you know? It's like Chinese torture.

I looked down at the paper, and had to hold back a laugh at what I read.

You know pushing chairs out from under people is illegal in some countries, right?

I quickly wrote something back, my messy handwriting looking messier that I would think next to his.

I'm not aware of that. I'll keep that in mind for next time.

I slipped the paper to him under our desks, and he snatched it back from me rudely. Ok then… A few seconds later I was met with the paper again.

Well you better watch out. You never know when something like that will come back to bite you in the butt.

I glared at the paper, annoyed at Jackson's antics. I quickly wrote back, pretty much stabbing the paper with my pencil before I could get started in anger.

Screw you.

I handed it to him, and he snickered when he read it. Mr. Brunner looked over at us weirdly, and I just shrugged, as if I wasn't really sure what was going through his head either.

Jackson handed the paper back to me, and I choked at what I read.

Sure. Where and when, babe?

I meant metaphorically. Not physically, you idiot. Besides, I thought you would never date me, right? Or are you a liar?

Be careful at who you're calling a liar, Chase.

Make me.

You're a lie. You're cold to everyone who wants to get close to you just because you think no one is good enough for you, Chase. Face it- you're no better than me.

I took a deep breath, glaring down at the paper, and wrote back stiffly.

So you're admitting your bad, huh? You're saying that I'm at your level… I though no one was at you're level, Jackson.

You just wish you were like me. That's why you're so cold. You don't get what you want, and you act like a two year old.

Who said I wanted to be like you? If I was like you, I'd dig myself a hole and die in it because of how self-centered I would be.

Okay. Go ahead and dig yourself a hole right now because Chase- you are JUST like me.

"Mister Jackson. Miss Chase. What is going on here?"

I sat up rigidly, and turned slowly to see Mr. Brunner sitting there, looking at us with a small smile. I tried to make a cover for myself. "Mr. Brunner, we were just-"

"Miss Chase, you were passing notes, is that correct?"

"Yes, but-"

"You are aware that I told you to not fool around with Mister Jackson, or there would be consequences, is that correct?"

Jackson decided to be stupid and step in to hold his name. Jerk. "Mr. Brunner, we were only-"

"You were only passing notes. Now, I want you two out of this classroom and in the office right now."

I huffed grabbing my things and walked out of the classroom. I heard Jackson behind me, and walked a little faster, but I didn't at the same time. I couldn't believe that I was actually getting sent to the office. This had never happened to me before.

It's worse than detention.

"You know this is all your fault, right?"

I turned around to face the smelly bucket of nose drool that had just spoken to me.

"How is it my fault?" I asked, angered at his accusation. He was the one who actually started this whole note-passing thing. Besides, what did I do wrong?

"Mr. Brunner caught you with the note! Not me. Besides, your facial expressions definitely gave you away at the end, there." Jackson smiled at me coldly.

"And who started this whole note thing? If you wouldn't have started this, then I wouldn't have gotten us caught, therefore, we wouldn't have to be walking to the office right now!" I exclaimed, ending in a shout.

How can this guy make me so mad? Someone please tell me, because this has to stop.

"I happen to remember you kicking the seat from under me. You should be smart enough to know that I would do something to counteract that, Chase!"

"So you're admitting you did something stupid?"

"No! I'm just proving the point here! You were the one who provoked me to do this!"

I couldn't say anything back to him. I shook my head in disbelief. I clenched my jaw, glaring the living right out of him.

"I can't believe you actually think this was my fault. You obviously started this, you were the one who started the fight, but I'm going to be the one to end it. I don't want anything to do with you, Perseus Jackson."

I stalked away from him, walking towards the office.

"Chase! Wait up!"

I chose to ignore him and I walked even faster, trying to clear my mind. It was apparent that Percy Jackson was the very bane of my existence, and the one person that I could definitely live a long and happy life without.

So why did he want to talk to me?

I felt a strong hand grasp onto my shoulder, and turn me around. Immediately I crossed my arms, a steely glare coming into my eyes. "What do you want?"

"I'm sorry… that was out of line, and I'm sorry. I want to be able to have a somewhat-truce in Greek Mythology."

I looked at him shocked. Did I really just hear what I heard?

"This must be a first. The great Percy Jackson apologizing to someone," I announced, waving my hands in the air as if I were an announcer.

I have a thing for dramatics.

"It's actually not a first. And I'm actually genuinely sorry. I was out of line… it was too personal."

I was about to say something, but I was cut off from the main intercom.

"This school is now under a lock down, get to a secure room, students. This is nota drill! I repeat- this is not a drill!"

I looked at Jackson, wide-eyed.

He looked at me too, his face a mirror of mine.

I watched as something snapped inside of him, and how he dragged me into the nearest room… the girl's rest room.

"Jackson, this is the girls! And I have a feeling we both know you are not a girl!"

He scoffed, and looked out of the bathroom for a second before dragging me into the large handicapped stall.

"Sure, and I also have a feeling that this situation out-bids the fact that I'm a guy," he whispered, giving me a look, telling me to keep my mouth shut.

I shook my head, lowering myself to the ground. I can't believe that this is happening. I mean, I'm stuck in a lock down with Jackson, in the girl's bathroom.

This has got to be the worst day in the history of worst days ever.

Jackson sat next to me, leaning against the wall. I had my head in my hands, trying to keep myself calm. What if the person is out there? What if they find us?

"Hey, it's going to be okay. We're going to be fine," Jackson tried to coax, and instead of glaring, I actually for the first time in a long time- let my guard down.

"I'm scared," I admitted, a tear falling from my eye.

Jackson did something that surprised me… he wiped it away. Is that crazy or what?

"I told you, we're going to be alright. Trust me," he whispered.

In that split second, all of the sudden there was a bang on the door leading into the girl's bathroom. Where we were.

I had to hide the shriek, burying my head into Jackson's shirt. If not for the situation, I would spit in his shirt just to get him mad, but to be honest; I think that would be a bit out of line.

"Come out come out wherever you are, Annabeth Chase."

My breath came out in short gasps, and I held onto Jackson for dear life. I felt him hold onto me tighter when the guy said my name, something even Jackson hasn't really done in a long time.

I heard him kick the stall doors open, one by one, as he got the one we were in. I was shivering, cowering into Jackson, who I'm sure was just trying to stay strong for me… which sounded kind of weird when you think of it.

The man finally got to the stall we were in, and kicked it open.

My eyes widened as I saw exactly who it was. I knew this guy.

I can't believe it… I though he was gone forever.

"Found you, Bethy."

I was staring into the ice cold blue eyes of my child-hood friend, Luke Castellen.

The man who was supposed to be locked up in prison for abusing his loved ones.

I took a strangled breath, strangely finding it hard to breath.

Chloroform, I thought, as the world faded into darkness.

You asked for it, and it was delivered. Sorry for the wait, I had a bit of an writer's block halfway through this, and I ran out of my secret ingredient, Coke… then I went on vacay, and here I am now!

~GoGreen52