At precisely eight o'clock, Percy pulled up to the Grace residence. As he got out of the car, he saw Jason in the driveway, fussing over Rosie and Colin's outfits.
Jason spotted Percy, then tossed him a long blue strip of cloth.
"What's this for?" Percy asked.
Jason tapped his own black tie.
"Aww, can't I just wear this?" Percy gestured to his clean but slightly wrinkly black dress shirt that he had worn to Rachel's party on Friday.
"Just put it on."
Percy sighed, then fumbled with the tie for a moment, finally securing it correctly.
Jason had finished tying Colin's shoes and turned to check Percy over.
"Nuh-uh," he said, tightening Percy's tie to secure it closer to his neck. "You're going to church, not playing in a band."
Percy coughed. "You're choking me!"
"Oh, grow up," Jason dismissed, also rolling down Percy's sleeves. "See, look, even Colin can wear his tie properly!"
At that, Colin decided to mimic Percy. "It's choking me! I can't bweathe!" he squealed, running around the yard.
Jason rolled his eyes and tried to get the wrinkles out of Percy's shirt, while Percy snickered and pulled his worn leather jacket on.
"Eh, not bad," Jason said, stepping back to examine him. He reached over to brush some dirt off Percy's jacket. "The jacket even adds character."
"Wonderful."
"Are we ready to go?" Mr. Grace asked, his deep voice thundering out.
"Yeah," Jason nodded, catching Colin by the arm and pulling him towards the car. Everyone piled into the Grace's van, and Mr. Grace pulled up to the church fifteen minutes later.
A well-dressed man greeted them with handshakes at the door, but the second glance he gave Percy made him want to fix his tie and comb his hair again.
"I'm gonna go take Rosie and Colin to their Sunday School room," Jason told Percy. "I'm teaching the adult's lesson today, so you can either sit in there or go to the teen class. I'd recommend the teen class, though, it's more fun.
Percy nodded distractedly, looking around. "I'll go to the teen class."
"You need help finding it?" Jason asked. "It's just down those stairs in the hallway. First door on the left."
"Got it," Percy said, and headed in that direction.
A group of girls passed him on the stairs, and they both gave him strange looks. Percy was suddenly very aware of the bruise that Luke had left on his cheek, his dirty sneakers, and his wrinkled shirt. He hastily tried to smooth himself out, but the girls flounced past him and into the first door on the left.
Percy frowned. He could tell those girls had been judging him, and it made him feel bad. He was feeling more and more out of place with every second that passed.
He spied an Exit door at the end of the hallway, and passed the door to the teen class and headed for that one instead.
He stepped outside into the cool air, and dug a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. He quickly lit one and took a long drag.
Percy wasn't sure why he felt so uncomfortable. It couldn't be that he cared what those girls or that man thought; he never cared about what others thought of him. It also wasn't the church itself, since his mom used to take him at least once a month, though to a different church.
He exhaled the smoke and sat down on the concrete steps, and waited there until nine o'clock, when a bell rang and he figured class must be over.
When he stepped back inside, he slipped into the crowd of teens emerging from the classroom and walked up the stairs with them.
When he saw the door to the adult classroom was still closed, he leaned against a wall to wait for Jason.
Suddenly, Percy's chest spasmed, and he doubled over in a violent coughing fit. When his breathing had evened out, he glanced at his hand to see it speckled with bright red blood again.
He stared at his palm for a moment, not noticing the adult class had gotten out and Jason was walking towards him.
"How'd it- oh, man, did you cut yourself?" Jason asked, grabbing at Percy's hand.
Percy pulled away and hastily wiped his palm on his jeans. "Yeah, don't worry, it's just a little scratch," he said dismissively, and thankfully Jason dropped it.
"So, how was the teen class?" he asked, pulling his friend out of the crowd.
"Good," Percy lied. "They talked about Jesus."
Jason laughed. "I figured they would- wait. Have you been smoking?"
Percy pretended to give him a confused look. "Just this morning, why?"
Jason sniffed the air. "Oh, never mind. I smell cigarette smoke, but it's probably just one of the other kids. Some of them skip class and go outside to smoke; can you believe that?"
Percy shook his head. "That's terrible."
"Isn't it?" Jason snorted, scanning the crowd of teens. "Oh, there's Piper! Let me introduce you," he said, grabbing Percy's wrist and pulling him through the crowd.
"Piper!" Jason exclaimed, wrapping her in a hug. "There's someone I'd like you to meet. This is Percy Jackson; he goes to my school."
"Welcome!" she said, reaching over and giving Percy a hug as well. "I've heard a lot about you."
Percy was caught off-guard by the hug, but at Jason's pointed look he returned it. "I've heard a lot about you, too."
Percy had heard a lot about Piper, but Jason hadn't done justice to describing her beauty. She was, by far, the prettiest girl Percy had ever seen, aside from maybe Annabeth. She had thick, choppy, long brown hair that was in several braids, and her eyes were the color of warm cocoa. Once Percy started looking at her, it was hard for him to look away.
"You look incredible, Piper," Jason complimented.
"Really? Thanks," Piper blushed, and looked at the ground like she didn't quite believe him, which Percy found strange.
"How are you?" Jason asked.
"Nervous for my choir solo," Piper confessed, then suddenly gasped. "I can't believe it- I forgot to bring something red to wear!"
"What for?" Percy asked, not knowing the situation but wanting to fix it for her. She really was breathtaking.
"Everyone in the choir is supposed to be wearing black," she gestured to her dress, "and a little bit of red, for color, but I forgot my scarf!"
Jason snapped his fingers. "Stay right there, don't move," he said, rushing off. He came back less than a minute later, holding a bouquet of red carnations.
"These were for after your solo," Jason explained, pulling a bobby pin out of Piper's hair, "but I guess I can give them to you early."
He plucked one flower out of the bouquet and slipped the stem through the bobby pin. Then, he pinned the new accessory back in Piper's hair.
"How's it look?" she asked Percy, turning towards him.
"Beautiful," Percy answered, because that was the only word that came to mind.
Piper turned back towards Jason and hugged him. "You're the best!" she smiled, and Jason looked extremely pleased with himself.
"No problem," he said. "These will be waiting for you when you're finished," he held up the bouquet again. "Now it's time for you to go up there and sing your heart out! Don't be nervous, you'll do great."
"Thanks," Piper smiled. "I'll see you guys after the service!"
Percy and Jason both waved as she ducked into a back room to join the choir.
Percy turned and punched Jason in the arm.
"Ow! What was that for?" Jason asked, rubbing the spot he had hit.
"You didn't tell me she was that hot!" Percy exclaimed. "I would have told you to go for her sooner if I had known!"
"First of all, that's shallow," Jason frowned. "She's really nice, too. Second of all, she's beautiful- not hot; that's degrading."
"Whatever," Percy said. "Hot or beautiful, either way you've gotten lucky."
"Haven't I, though?" Jason sighed happily. "Come on, we have to get into the sanctuary. If we're late, the deacons will yell at us."
Percy followed Jason through the swinging doors, where they sat on the right row of pews, with Percy on the left end and Jason next to him with Rosie and Colin, who were on their best behavior.
Percy glanced around the church. There was a huge stained glass window in front of him depicting a cross, and candles were burning on the table at the front. He looked up and down the pews, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw a familiar face sitting across from him.
No, he decided. Piper isn't the prettiest girl I've ever seen.
Annabeth's eyes met his, and her jaw dropped for a split second before her face broke into a delighted smile.
Percy rose to greet her, but felt himself be pulled back down.
"What the-?" he asked, but Jason shushed him.
"The service is starting, you guys can talk later- the Chases usually stay for potluck."
Percy frowned and slumped into his seat.
Suddenly, the congregation rose, and started singing a song Percy didn't recognize. He remembered a trick his grandpa had told him when he was little, which was whenever you didn't know the words to a song, you just mouth the words, "watermelon, cantaloupe," and it looks like you're singing it right.
Percy tried it now, earning a subtle thumbs up from Jason.
When the song was over, the congregation sat back down. The man who had given Percy a dirty look at the door stepped up to read a Bible verse, then two deacons walked down the aisles holding offering plates.
When the deacon reached their aisle, Percy couldn't help but notice how the deacon raised his eyebrows when everyone in his row put a few dollars in the plate except him. He blushed and stared at the toes of his scuffed shoes as even Rosie and Colin dropped their coins in.
As the service continued, Percy glanced around the pews. He could see Annabeth, sitting tall with her legs crossed; Piper sitting with the choir with her perfect posture, hands folded on her lap, ankles crossed and listening attentively; and Jason right beside him, sitting up straight. Percy's eyebrows knitted confusedly, and he slowly leaned back and straightened up to copy the other's posture.
He coughed and tugged at his tie. Jason saw this out of the corner of his eye and elbowed him softly. Percy's hands dropped back to his sides.
The choir soon got up to sing, and Piper looked radiant as she led the choir with her solo. Percy found himself captivated, and was hanging on to her every word. Piper commanded the attention of the congregation, and Percy was extremely disappointed when she began her final note.
As she finished, Percy started clapping loudly. He was confused when the row in front of him turned around to give him scolding looks, then his confusion turned to embarrassment when Jason caught his eye and gave a slight shake of his head.
"Amen," echoed throughout the congregation, and the man on the platform gave Percy a pointed look.
Percy mumbled an "amen," to the ground, and was silent for the rest of the service.
When the sermon was over, the congregation stood once more to sing another song, and Percy used his "watermelon, cantaloupe" trick again.
The crowd shuffled out of the sanctuary and into the fellowship hall. Jason led Percy to a far corner table, while Mr. and Mrs. Grace took Rosie and Colin to another table, and they sat down.
Another sharply dressed man came up to them.
"Hello, Jason, how are you?" he asked, shaking Jason's hand.
"I'm good, thanks Pastor Tony," Jason smiled.
"Who's your friend?" Pastor Tony asked, looking at Percy.
Jason's face froze. "This is Percy Jackson. You haven't met?"
"No, thank you for introducing me," Pastor Tony smiled. "Nice to meet you, Percy. I'm the youth pastor here, and I teach the teen Sunday School class. I hope you'll join us there the next time you visit. It's kind of a small group, but we have a lot of fun."
Percy just nodded, silently cursing himself.
"I hope to see you again," the Pastor smiled, then drifted off to socialize.
"Percy?" Jason asked, looking confused and a little bit hurt. "I thought you told me you went to the class?"
Percy was saved from having to explain, because at that moment Piper came up to their table.
"Piper!" Jason exclaimed, handing her the bouquet of flowers from off the table. "You were amazing."
"It was incredible," Percy agreed, and Piper smiled at them.
"Thanks," she said with a small laugh, like she thought they were being sarcastic. "Oh, Jason, guess what?"
"Hmm?" he asked, leaning forward so he looking interested.
"My Dad's back!" Piper said, reaching out and straightening Jason's already faultless tie. "You can finally meet him!"
Jason suddenly looked nervous, and leaned back. "Oh, that's great!" he replied, glancing around. "So how soon do we have to- uh, I mean, how soon until we get together?"
"We're having Dad's promotion party next weekend, you should come then," she answered.
Jason looked flustered. "Great. Perfect! That'll be fine. Yeah," he said with false enthusiasm.
Percy was confused, as Piper turned towards him. "You're welcome to come too, Percy," she said graciously. "I'm going to invite everyone from the church, so there'll be lots of people your age."
Percy was about to decline, but Jason looked at him pleadingly. Why is it that I can never say no to him? he wondered.
He turned his head shake into a nod, and smiled. "Oh, sure. I'll be there."
Piper beamed at him. "Wonderful!" She then glanced back at another group of girls. "Oh, I need to go, I'm going to sit with the girls from my school. See you guys later!" she said, giving Jason a peck on the cheek. She rubbed her lipstick smear off him with her thumb before rushing away.
Jason still looked uncomfortable.
"Okay, what was that all about?" Percy asked.
Jason sighed worriedly. "I haven't met her dad yet."
"So?"
"So, her dad is very traditional! I'm supposed to ask her dad if I can date her before I ask her, and in order for him to say yes he has to like me! What if he doesn't?! Then Piper will hate me!" he said, wringing his hands.
Percy burst out laughing, causing several old ladies to glare at him sternly.
He quieted his laugh to a soft giggle, and Jason stared at him perplexedly.
"What's so funny?" he demanded.
"Are you serious? That's what you're worried about?" Percy asked incredulously.
Jason nodded emphatically.
"Dude, everyone loves you! Especially stuffy old rich people! You'll be fine," Percy assured him.
"Well, just in case," Jason said sheepishly. "Come with me. I'm terrified."
Percy shrugged. "Eh, as long as there's food, I'm in."
"Who's this handsome young man?" an old lady who came shuffling up to their table asked Jason, examining Percy and speaking much louder than normal.
Percy's face immediately became annoyed, but Jason gave him a quick, hard stare.
"This is my friend, Percy Jackson," Jason introduced politely, speaking nearly as loudly. Percy figured she was pretty hard of hearing. "How are you, Mrs. Atropos?"
"Just fine, dear, thank you," she smiled. "Dorothy! Evelyn!" she screeched to another table. "Come over here, we're going to sit with these good-looking boys!"
Two other old ladies came up, one with a walker, and Percy fought the urge to shiver while Jason tried not to laugh. Old people creeped him out, and Jason knew it.
"This is Ms. Clotho, and Mrs. Lachesis," Jason told Percy. "They're on the charity committee."
"We take donations from the community and give them to the needy!" Mrs. Lachesis croaked at Percy. "You poor dear. Would you like to look through the donation box before you leave today?"
"Excuse me?" Percy asked incredulously.
"Your jacket is so worn, poor baby, you must be freezing," Ms. Clotho added, gesturing to Percy's comfortable leather jacket, and Jason's eyebrows shot up and his mouth formed a small "O."
"No, Ms. Clotho, that's the style-" Jason tried to explain, but Mrs. Atropos cut him off.
"The child is obviously poor and needy!" she said, speaking loudly again, but this time the whole room went quiet. "Look at his dirty shoes, and his messy appearance! Why, even that black eye. The miserable dear is probably involved in a gang! And, was I the only one that noticed he didn't have a dollar to spare for Jesus?"
Percy heard Piper gasp from across the room.
"I think you need to turn your hearing aids up," Jason said quietly to the old woman, but she glared at him.
"Shame on you for dragging this impoverished youth to a place he obviously doesn't belong," she scolded, not lowering her voice. "Don't you know how much he stands out? Why did you bring him to the church service, and not to the soup kitchens we have?"
The rest of the room was silent enough to hear a pin drop. Finally, the man that had given Percy a judgmental look when he first walked into the church spoke up.
"Amen."
Percy shoved his chair backwards from the table and stood up. He could feel his cheeks burning, and his chest felt tight.
"I- I'm not," he tried to say, but Mrs. Atropos started speaking over him.
"Jason Grace, you should be ashamed of yourself," she admonished, nearly shouting, the whole room still listening. "On top of all that, the pitiful vagabond is as uneducated as a-"
"That's enough," Jason said loudly, standing as well and walking around the table to stand next to Percy. "We're going to be leaving now. I think it'd do you some good to read John 7:24. Have a nice day, Mrs. Atropos," he said, struggling to keep his voice even as he steered Percy by the shoulders towards the door.
Mr. and Mrs. Grace stood up immediately as well, with Rosie and Colin following close behind.
Annabeth eyes were stormy as she headed towards the table of confused old ladies, with Piper right behind her.
Percy could feel his entire face burning with shame, but he bit his lip hard to avoid showing any emotion.
The car ride back to Jason's house was silent, and by the time they pulled into the driveway, Percy was ready to crawl under a rock and die.
Mr. and Mrs. Grace could tell Jason wanted to talk to Percy alone, so they quickly brought Rosie and Colin into the house, promising them candy to get them out of the way faster.
Jason rubbed his temples hard. "I don't even know what to say, Perce. That was..."
"Awful," Percy shook his head, still feeling the sting of every stare he had gotten, and of every word Mrs. Atropos had said.
"I'm so sorry," Jason said. "Those women... They're head of the Fates Fellowship organization, and I will tell you that they're the most judgmental people I've ever met. The guy who was agreeing with Mrs. Atropos, Ron Terminus, is the most judgmental."
Percy shrugged. "It's okay. I don't care."
"I do," Jason frowned. "I'll understand if you never want to come back, but just know that not everyone there is like that. They're the exception."
"I get it," Percy nodded. "I'm okay, really. It wasn't that big of a deal."
Jason still looked upset. "I'm so sorry," he said again.
"I'm fine," Percy insisted. "I think I'm gonna head home now, though; I'm kind of tired."
"Alright," Jason said hesitantly. "See you tomorrow?"
"See you," Percy waved, then hopped into his own car.
Percy made sure he had rounded the corner out of Jason's neighborhood and was far out of sight before he started crying.
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A/N
Hope you guys liked this chapter! I hope it wasn't too slow... I needed to introduce Piper, and start a hidden ball rolling. (Lol, 10 points if you can guess what ball that is! Hint: Count: 3)
I have to say, though: Ron Terminus is based off of someone (an adult, whereas I'm only 16) I know in real life. Lol, he judges me every week, but that's okay because I'll just keep praying for him!
And, to be clear- I am NOT bashing church! I think it's very good to go to church, I just wanted to put this in here to show how the adults look down on Percy:)
Also, I'm personally a Seventh-Day Adventist, and I go to church on Saturday, so I hope I got the Sunday church thing right. Lol, for example SDA's call it Sabbath School, not Sunday School, but yeah... And I don't know about other churches potlucks, but most SDA churches have it every Saturday:)
(John 7:24, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.") :)
To the anonymous guest reviewers and ROFLcuzmyBFFfell again- you guys are so sweet:) I appreciate all your reviews, and thanks so much for reading!:)
Please review and tell me what you thought:)
Xoxoxo,
EmMarie
