Chapter 4

The answer is explanations.

My shrill voice echoed throughout the cafeteria and suddenly food was flying everywhere! It was awesome, I am so proud of my fellow students.

I pushed the three new guys out the door and waved my arm for Thalia to hurry. She stuffed one more piece of bacon in her mouth and ran across the cafeteria, somehow avoiding to get hit by food.

We all rushed down the hallway with me in the lead. Thalia shouted, "Where are we going?" I rolled my eyes, "Narnia, Thalia, we're going to freaking Narnia!" I said sarcastically. She snorted and I smiled.

The truth was we were heading towards our dorm. I think Thalia realized that when I grabbed the key out of my pocket. We ran down the 4th floor hallway and I jammed my key in the keyhole. I shoved everyone inside and then shut and locked the door behind me.

I stared at everyone breathlessly, "Well," I said as everyone breathed heavily in confusion, "I'm obviously Jay."

The tall guy smiled and held out his hand, "We talked before, I'm Percy." I took his hand and smiled, "You do seem like a guy that would choose pirates over ninjas." Percy and the other two laughed a little while Thalia just stood in confusion.

I waved to the girl, "I'm guessing you're Annabeth, because I seriously doubt his name is." I said pointing to the guy my age. She nodded, then I turned to the youngest, "And you're Nico, right?" I asked. The boy nodded and I smiled.

Nico spoke up, "So, why did you cause a food fight back there?" I could feel my face whiten, "Nothing, you'd think I'm crazy." I said smiling unsurely.

Percy stepped forward, "Come on, and tell us!" I sighed and nodded, "Okay, but don't laugh!" They nodded and I lowered my voice, "Well, at first I was just trying to get you guys away from there but before I, well, shoved a waffle in her face I swear I saw a. . ." I made my voice lower, ". . . tail."

They looked at each other. Before anyone could say anything I said, "I know it was probably me just being crazy and all, but ever since that girl came I've been trying to look out for things."

Annabeth looked at Thalia, "What girl?" Thalia smiled worriedly at me and then said in a low voice that I could still hear, "I think Rachel dropped in for a visit."

I raised my eyebrows, "Explanations needed." Thalia shook her head at me and said, "Jaybird, I really don't think . . ."

"Now," I said flatly. Thalia looked at her friends and they seemed to have a silent conversation. I leaned against the wall until their staring contest was over.

Thalia sighed in defeat and came up to me. I swear she was going to walk right through me but instead she did something completely out of the blue. She snapped.

Everything in the room was silent, as if the sound had scared everything into silence. Thalia had a reluctant look on her face but she finally said, "Jay, you're going to forget the tail and Hannah, you're going to go on the trip today and you're going to pretend like that didn't happen."

I felt a little dazed and looked at her in confusion. Annabeth and Percy seemed like everything was okay, but Nico stared at me in pity.

Thalia was about to turn around but I grabbed her arm, she looked at me in question. I cocked my head and snapped too, "Yeah and you're going to forget that I have a D in Literature and do the chicken dance. Seriously, Thalia, what's up?"

All four of them stared at me in shock. I shrugged, "What?" I asked. No one really answered. I sighed, "Whatever, I'm taking a shower before we go. Do I need to pack anything?"

Thalia nodded, a little dazed, "Uh, yeah, pack 5 pairs of clothes for now, I don't know how long we'll be there."

I nodded and did what I was told. Then I walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. I stripped and stepped into a warm shower.

I squirted shampoo into my hands and washed my hair, then I conditioned. I used a loofa to wash my body with a body wash that smelled like honeysuckle and cinnamon vanilla.

I washed off, shaved and shut the water off. I blindly grabbed for a towel and wrapped it around me, still standing behind the checker board shower curtain.

I stepped out into the cool air that gave me goose bumps and quickly dried off in order to put my clothes on. I pulled my shirt and pants on and looked up at the mirror.

I saw my reflection and shrieked in shock. Like literally, I screamed at the sight of myself. In the mirror I saw my purple hair had just magically changed into its original auburn color. I watched as it grew down to my waist and my eyes bugged.

I heard Thalia pound on the door in response to my scream. She shouted in worry, "Jaybird? Are you okay? What happened?" She asked.

I stuttered in confusion, "I-I'm alright. My hair is . . ." I trailed off and just looked at it. It was dry although I had just gotten out of the shower. It was smooth and straight, and looked like the fading embers of a fire with small streaks and highlights of black. My bangs had grown and fell straight across the bottom of my eyebrows.

Thalia knocked again, "Jay, come out here." I shook my head, "Only Thalia can come in." I said, still shocked. I heard them murmur to each other and Thalia said, "Okay."

I opened the door so that I was blocked by it and Thalia could come in. She walked forward and I shut the door and locked it. Thalia turned to look at me and she yelled out in surprise, "AH!" She shouted.

I put my hands over my eyes and leaned against the bathroom wall. Thalia gaped at me, "What'd you do?" I dropped my hands, "I just got in the shower and I come out looking like this!" I replied gesturing towards my hair.

Thalia smiled, "You look awesome, though." I rolled my eyes, "I always look awesome and this is not an exception." Thalia laughed, "Really, Jaybird, I don't think it matters, let's just go."

I nodded and opened the door for her. She walked out and I followed feeling as if I was being exposed to the world. I looked at the floor as I walked over and sat on my bed. I looked up to see Percy and Annabeth looking at me in confusion, Thalia packing stuff in her bag, and Nico looking emotionless.

"Wha . . .?" Percy started. I shrugged, "Magic hair, it's the new rage, didn't you hear?" I said sarcastically. Annabeth furrowed her eyebrows and then turned to help Thalia pack. Percy stood there for a moment just staring at me and then shook his head and started playing with a cheap pen. I sighed and looked down.

I felt someone sit down on the bed next to me. I looked up to see Nico's cave-like eyes staring at me. I smiled weakly and then stared at my hands. After a while of the girls packing and Nico staring at me we were finally ready to go.