Chapter Four
I could tell that Thalia was worried. She looked really scared. She didn't know what was going on with me. Ava and AJ then saw me staring. They walked over to me. Ava had on a skirt that was way too short with a tank top that was way too small for her body. She had dirty blonde hair and wore too much make up. She was a life sized Barbie doll. AJ wore saggy jeans that showed his boxers with a big shirt. He wore a beanie on his head and Osiris shoes on his feet with brown hair.
"Hey Annie girl. I knew I smelled rotten meat. You're all sweaty. No wonder you can never manage a relationship." Ava and AJ laughed. I felt like I was going to cry. All my life, I've been bullied and I wasn't able to do anything about it. I didn't have the guts to stand up for myself. I didn't go to anyone because I'd be called a tattle tail. Most of all, if I did anything to upset them, I'm afraid that I won't be able to fit in with anybody.
"I don't know who you are, but Annabeth is the best person in the world. I bet that you will never be able to live up to her. You guys are pathetic," Thalia insisted. Whoa. That came out of no where. I felt better because of what she said. Then, Percy, Nico, and Jason stood up for me too.
"Yeah. Thalia's right, If you can't buzz off, we'll deal with you. Right guys?" Percy said confidently. Nico, Jason, and Thalia agreed and nodded their heads. I heard Ava and AJ scoff.
"Well I see that you got friends, but they are freaks just like you. You guys have no purpose in life. You guys are just followers for leaders like us," AJ retorted back at us. That really hit me, And my friends.
"Watch your mouth. You have no idea who you're talking to." Nico shouted.
"Whatever. Like I said, you guys are just freaks." And with that, they left.
"Don't worry, Annabeth. Don't listen to them. They just want to bring people down to make them feel better." Jason insisted.
" Yeah" repeated everyone else, but I couldn't hear anything. I was lost in thought. Me? A freak? No. I had awesome friends who stood by my side. The only thing I wanted was a friend. Right? As if I want to be popular. They just hurt people. But what about the good popular people. Like Luke. At camp, he was pretty popular, but was actually nice. That mysterious boy from the Poseidon cabin. The sea green eyed boy. He never really hung out with anybody, but I can see from the look in his eyes that girls must swoon over him. I was the only girl that he ever socialized with. Every time I tried to ask him about his name, he quickly changes the subject. He was always popular, but nice.
"Annabeth? Annabeth...ANNABETH!" Percy yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Oh. What? Sorry, what were you saying?"
"We were asking you who are they and why were they bullying you?" Thalia sounded worried. She was on the verge of tears. I know that bullying is a touchy subject for her. I am the only person that she told me about people bullying her. She thinks that no one is able to help her. That just hurts because I know how it feels.
"They were Ava and AJ. The 'It' couple at school. They...bully me. They say that I will never be as popular or pretty or as smart as them." By now, I was on the verge of tears and a major meltdown. " They say that I will never make it into the best schools or win any competitions or have any friends. You don't know how much it hurts." Now, I'm really crying. " They like to make fun of me to make themselves look better. I hate it. They bring me down and-"
"STOP IT!" Percy surprised me long enough for me to calm down for a minute. "Annabeth. It's okay. If you would've just told us, we could of helped you a lot. W-we could have been able to stand up for you. Even if you were a hundred miles away. And I've been bullied before. I know what it feels like. I've been through it all my life. I was never that cool at anything. I have ADHD and dyslexia. Teachers don't call on me, classmates don't even give me a second glance, I-I'm never able to sit with a group of people I enjoy being around. Never able to turn my back for a second without people whispering about me. Except when I'm with you guys."
" Me neither," said Nico, sadly. " I am known as death boy at school. People don't take the chance to know me. I can be a cool person to be around." He chuckled a little. "I might look scary and uncomfortable, but I just need someone to really know me." He looked devastated.
Then, it was Jason's turn. "And I don't tell this to anyone, but at school, I'm being bullied by this big, ugly, scary kid named Christian. He likes to take my lunch money and make me feel like a preschooler compared to an adult. A big, ugly, scary-"
"I think I get it. Thanks for telling me this. It makes me feel like you guys trust me enough to tell me your stories. You guys are my best friends and I'm never letting you go. Never. Thank you." We all hugged each other. Big group hug.
" Can't...breath!" Nico gasped for air. We all laughed and started to play tennis again, this time, actually motivating each other. When it was around four o'clock, we started to head back, but we all were hungry. So, we stopped at McDonald. I mean, we were all sweaty and dirty, but hungry. No one looked at us like we were a couple of sweaty, dirty, teenagers. I guess it seemed pretty normal.
I ordered a crispy, honey mustard snack wrap with some fries and Pepsi. When we all were done ordering, we sat down all together and talked about school.
"And then, Mrs. Smith actually fell backwards and everyone laughed! It was so funny. But then, Mike and Jake got detention for doing it. It was fun while it lasted." I guess Jason's story was really funny because Thalia started choking on her fries. Then, it was my turn.
"Well, I have this really big test coming out and when I say big, I mean REALLY big. This test can determine where I go to college, or where I'm going to work, or-" I was cut of by Percy's laughing. I looked at him confused. "What?" I asked.
"It's just that you are only in your sophomore year of high school and you're freaking out about college. Just chill out for a while. Spring break only comes around once every year. Enjoy it while you can." Percy's speech made me relax.
"Thanks, Seaweedbrain. I should enjoy this break and I will."
"Anytime, Wisegirl."
Now, Percy really looked like that boy from camp. I got lost into his deep, sea green eyes. He had the same hair, eyes, smile. I could see that something was bothering him, but decided not to ask.
When it was time to leave, it was already six. We have been in there for two hours! We all went outside to find the subway and take the closest train to where Thalia parked her car. We all fit into the car comfortably and started to drive home in silence. I'm really sick of this silence. It makes me really uncomfortable. I'm comfortable for one second then, BAM, uncomfortable the next.
When we reached Thalia's house, it was already six-thirty, but neither my mom, or Mr.. Grace cared. Thalia told me that her mom was away on a business trip like my mom, but in France. That makes me want to talk about the beautiful architecture of the Eiffel Tower.
"Did you know that the french called the Eiffel tower La Tour Eiffel and that it's nickname, La dame de fer, means the iron lady? People were shocked by it's shape. It was criticized by people because they thought it was too artistic. Engineers knew that if they want to build the tallest structure they would need the understand the importance of wind force. And-" I was cut off...again.
"Annabeth, I think we should hit the showers and just crash on the couch, watch a movie, and fall asleep." Thalia said with a smirk. I blushed because I knew that I always get too excited when it comes to structures or architecture.
Thalia went upstairs to shower, while I wait in her room. I couldn't help but sneak around the place. As I was looking on her bookshelf for a good book, I accidentally knocked it over. Something landed on my head and I groaned. I picked up what fell on my head and it surprised me. It was a picture of Thalia and Luke. Thalia was about twelve and Luke was about seventeen, but with no scar. They both smiled widely at the camera with the Stoll brothers behind them, wrestling each other. I couldn't help but smile because I knew that Thalia was especially happy that year. Whenever she called me, she would be all happy and excited. I wanted to know what's up, but I never got the chance.
I heard Thalia get out of the shower, so I put the picture back on the shelf, took a random book, and sat on her bed, pretending to read it. Thalia walked in with her lightning bolt pajamas on, her hair a hot mess.
"I heard something when I was in the shower. Was everything okay?" Thalia looked puzzled.
"No. Nothing happened. Just reading, uh," I looked at the book title. The Day My Butt Went Psycho. "Just reading The Day My Butt Went Psycho. Nothing much." I probably looked really stupid when I tried on my fake grin. Apparently, I might of looked too stupid. Thalia looked kind of creeped out, but her face softened.
"Alright, Annabeth. Your turn to hit the showers."
"Okay." I grabbed my pajamas and took a shower. I couldn't help but think about Thalia and Luke. Why hasn't she ever told me that she knew him. I mean, I told her I knew Luke Castellan. I'm her best friend, right? Relax, Annabeth, relax. This was going to be an interesting break.
I just wanted to say that I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Rick Riordan does. I hope that you guys like it so far. I will start to use Percy's POV in chapter eight, and might switch to other characters because I've already wrote the next three chapters. I will still use Annabeth's POV. Hope you guys enjoy!
