Disclaimer: Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus are owned by Rick Riordan.
Chapter Four
Annabeth Chase is standing outside the science room at four in the afternoon, and Percy isn't sure why.
"Detention?" she asks him.
Percy nods. "I think Mr. D just hates me."
"Mr. D hates everyone."
"Why are you here?"
She flicks a curl out of her grey eyes and frowns. "Same as you, though I honestly have no idea." Annabeth pauses. "Luke's in here with us. He punched some kid."
Percy chokes on his own saliva. "No way," he groans. "The one time I get detention–okay I lied, I've gotten loads of detentions, but come on! Luke," he spits, "is a jerk."
She nods. "He's always been one, Seaweed Brain," she says smiling.
"I'm sorry, did you say 'Seaweed Brain'?" he asks incredulously.
"Possible swim team member. Not the brightest kid. Hence, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth laughs like she hasn't just insulted him.
He takes a deep breath and turns away from her, anger bubbling in his stomach. "If you're trying to call me stupid, don't." He looks down at his shoes, then straight into her eyes. "Just because you think you think you're some type of genius, doesn't mean–"
Mr. D strolls up to them and shoves them into the classroom. "Be quiet. Sit down. Don't bother me," he says when explaining the rules. "That's it."
Percy doesn't want to fight with her. He likes Annabeth. She's nice and smart and fierce. But what she said wasn't okay.
"Percy," she frowns, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean like that. You're right, that wasn't okay of me. And I know I'm not a genius, I just." She sighs, her voice starting to crack. "My mom puts so much pressure on me. I try so hard and I'm still not–" she looks up to a bright light, trying to stop the tears pooling in her eyes from shedding. "I'm sorry."
He puts a hand over hers. "I shouldn't have taken it like that." Breathing in, "I-I'm sorry, too." He grins. "Hey, now that I have a nickname, you need one, too."
She wipes a hand over her eye, smiling slightly. "Like what?"
"Bananabeth?"
"No."
"Annie?"
"No!"
"Beth?"
"No."
"Wise Girl?"
A stretch of silence.
"Yes? No? Maybe?"
"Yes."
The door bangs open and Luke struts in, a backpack slung over one shoulder. He's smirking, as usual, and the scar across his face gleams in fluorescent lighting. He dumps his things down on the desk next to Percy's.
Percy doesn't want to fight. He doesn't want to yell at Luke for being a jerk, and he doesn't want to punch anyone again. Maybe he isn't so bad, maybe–
A pencil tip hit's Percy's cheek, scratching the surface of his skin.
He tries not to glare at the other boy, but finds it difficult. He can see Luke smiling out of the corner of his eye. Annabeth clutches his arm. She's warning him. She holding him down. She sending him a message in words she won't say out loud:
Don't do it.
Mr. D isn't noticing a thing, of course. He seems to be scanning a magazine of gossip. Or wine. Or possibly gossip about wine. (Percy can't read it from this far away.) He slowly turns the page and looks up just as Luke unzips his bag.
Percy rips a paper out of his binder and scribbles on it:
Hey, Wise Girl, wanna go home? Go anywhere, really. I bet we can complain to the principal that we were unfairly put in detention.
Were we? she responds below his messy words.
Tell me one thing you did wrong enough today to get detention.
I see your point, Perce.
We shouldn't be doing this.
It was your idea.
You shouldn't be backing me up.
But you're right.
ooo
Percy was right. The principal lets them go.
"Have you always been like this?" Annabeth asks.
"Like what?"
"Do you always do what you want?"
He ponders this, finally replying with, "Not if it hurts anyone else."
"Good." She nods, pulling a hoodie over herself as they walk down the pavement. The air is cool and crisp. Their feet make loud sounds on the ground. They are alone.
"Good? Why good?"
"Because I do what I want, too."
ooo
They end up in some coffee shop. And who else is there but Sally Jackson and some man Percy's never seen before in his life.
It hurts for a moment. Agony in his chest and in his arms and in his legs. And he realizes–this man looks like him. Just. Like. Him.
Annabeth is at the counter getting their drinks. His mom doesn't notice him, but the Mystery Man does. He does, and his face drains of color. His black beard seems even darker in contrast. His green eyes are suddenly greener. His jaw hangs open, mimicking Percy's own facial expression. Sally follows the man's gaze to–
Percy.
Her face is pale, but her ears are red.
"Oh, Percy, this is Poseidon–the new swim coach at your school." Her voice wavers.
He has no doubt she's telling the truth.
But he also has no doubt she's leaving something out.
ooo
Annabeth sees him standing there. She sees him looking shocked, if not completely terrified. Something's wrong. Something's wrong. Something's wrong.
She wants to ask him, but he turns to leave.
"Percy, wait!"