Chapter 3
*BEEEEEEEP! BEEEEEEEEP!*
I rolled over in bed, and smacked the clock. I blinked slowly, my blurry vision finally coming back into focus. Lying in bed, I tried to claw my way back from dream-world. It was Wednesday. Two days after the meeting at Thalia's which also happened to be the day the partners were revealed.
Today is the day Percy and I had decided to meet after school to begin working on the project. Turns out, the project is a research paper that had to be submitted to Ms. Hanna, along with a powerpoint presentation about our topic to the class. Exciting.
I got dressed in a gray sweater and mint green jeans, pulled my hair back into my classic ponytail, dabbed concealer on my under-eye circles (I'm sleep-deprived), and went downstairs for breakfast.
I stopped at the table, where my step-mom, Susan, was unsuccessfully trying to get my half-brothers, Bobby and Matthew, to eat their cereal.
"Bobby, can you sit DOWN? Matthew, put the iPod awa- oh, Annabeth! Your waffle's in the kitchen, dear."
I gave her a hug and grabbed my waffle, taking a bite as I grabbed my jacket and bag. Susan and I hadn't gotten along all that well when she and my dad first got married, but had gotten pretty close over time.
I opened the door, and saw Thalia sitting on the front step, waiting for me.
"Hey Thals," I said, shutting the door behind me.
"Hey. Let's go."
Things were pretty quiet on the walk to school. Thalia seemed to be thinking hard. I left her to her thoughts. When Thalia actually thinks, no one should stop her. It's an improvement.
We got to school and parted ways to go to our first class. I had chemistry with Piper and Silena. I walked to the lab, and plopped onto the stool at my station. Piper was already there.
"Hey Annabeth," she said with a big smile, handing me my goggles and apron.
"Hey Piper, where's Silena?" I asked.
"Bathroom. 'Cause, you know, Beckendorf…."
I grinned, "Yeah, I get it."
Silena has had a huge crush on a guy named Charles Beckendorf for a while now. He was my and Percy's friend. Naturally, he was on Percy's side, but we were still on good terms.
Silena came back just before the bell rang. She sat down on the other side of me, and slipped on her apron and goggles, with a disgusted face.
Piper and Silena were twins, but couldn't have been more different. For one thing, Piper didn't try to be beautiful. She kept her hair choppy, and dressed in old jeans and hoodies with sneakers. Silena wore makeup (even though she didn't need to) and often wore dresses and tights, with boots. They were both gorgeous, in their own ways. But they were queens of attraction. Piper knew all about Personality, and Silena about Looks. If they worked together on a person, they would make them AMAZING.
I had a sneaking suspicion, judging from the looks they were giving each other as Percy walked into class, their next project was me. Piper smacked my back, making me sit up straight, and Silena slipped a lip gloss in my hand.
"Put it on," she hissed in my right ear.
I rolled my eyes, but did it anyway so I wouldn't hear her ranting about it afterward.
"Sit up straight," Piper hissed in my left ear.
"I am!"
"Oh," she said, smiling sheepishly. I shook my head.
During the remainder of class, they slowly worked on making me beautiful. While I was recording our results, Silena tugged my hair out if its ponytail, and raked her hand through my curls, slightly misting them with a mini hairspray she kept in her bag. This action didn't exactly help when Piper told me multiple times to stop scowling. When the bell finally rang, I grabbed my stuff and ran out the door, only to run into none other than Percy Jackson.
"Woah there," he said, grabbing my arm to keep my from falling over. "What are you playing at?"
"Don't you have the sense not to stand right in front of a door?" I retorted.
His hand let go of my arm, but moved up to my hair. He took a curl in his hand, and tugged on it.
"What are you doing?" I asked incredulously.
"Admiring you curls. It's not often I've seen a girl with hair like yours," he said with a smirk.
I took a step back, and he let go of my hair, looking at me questioningly. "Well, you can admire my curls from a distance," I said, turning around and walking down the hall, ignoring the stares I was receiving from people. I went to my locker, where Thalia was waiting for me, holding out her phone.
On the screen were two pictures, one of Percy holding my arm, and the second of him tugging my hair. The caption? "Percy Jackson In LOVE with Longtime Enemy?"
"Explain," she said.
"I wish I had one, "I replied truthfully. She shook her head, suppressing a smile.
"You enjoyed that didn't you?"
"He wishes."
After school- In hallway
I had just grabbed my Science binder out of my locker when suddenly a hand shot out from behind me and shut the door. I spun around and saw … Percy Jackson.
I was still annoyed from the drama that took place after first period. I was getting stares the whole day. Rather irritating, especially if you're friends keep texting you alerts of what people are saying. I hate gossip. So I wasn't exactly in the mood for a cheerful conversation.
"What do you want?" I snapped. (See? Told you.)
"Aren't we gonna work today?" he asked.
"Uhhh…yeah. Forgot," I muttered.
"That tends to happen when girls are talking to me, "he said, shaking his head. "It makes conversation difficult."
I wasn't really paying attention. It's hard to pay attention when your friends are standing behind the person you're talking to, and telling you to smile.
"Huh? I replied, distracted.
"You seem out of it, don't you wise girl?" he asked with a small smile.
That snapped me away from my glaring contest with Piper. He hadn't called me by that old nickname since the fight. I stared at him.
"What?" he asked, suddenly conscious of his appearance. He tugged on the strap of his backpack on his shoulder and ran a hand through his hair.
"Nothing. Let's go," I said with a smirk, walking in the direction of the door.
"You walk fast," he said, catching up to me.
"Mhmmm..."
"Umm… Annabeth? Where exactly are we going?" he asked.
"Outside of this building," I answered.
"Can't we leave the building after we find a place to work?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because my friends are in here."
"So?"
"They keep silently yelling at me to stand up straight and smile."
"Huh?"
"Don't make me repeat myself."
"Okay."
I pushed open the door, and headed to a bench. I plopped my things on it and turned to face him.
"Where are we going?" I asked, pushing my hair out of my face.
"I don't know."
"Can you find out?" I asked.
"Let's go to my apartment," he offered. "My mom will be pretty ecstatic to see you."
I smiled. "Okay then. I'll text Susan."
We didn't talk much on the way to his apartment. When we got to the building, he pushed open the door for me. I stepped inside. I hadn't been in here for 5 years. And it hadn't changed a bit.
We got in the elevator and he pushed the button to his floor. Horrible music began to play.
"Yeah, I keep forgetting to write a complaint about that…." He said apologetically.
I opened my mouth to respond when suddenly the lights turned off, and the lift jerked to a stop.
Hope that was okay...
Please follow, fave, and review! It really makes my day!
Also, please pray for my grandmother who passed away today.
