A/N: Hey guys sorry for not updating in so long. Finals were brutal on me! But I'm back now and I'm going to do my best to try and have a regular update schedule. I will more than likely update every Monday from now on so if you like the story, please follow so you can get notifications when I update!
This chapter is much more of a filler than anything because I just wanted to publish something for you guys. It's a bit shorter but it is the start of a new beginning for Percy so enjoy! Thank you so much for reading!
Percy felt incredibly at ease when he woke up this morning. He felt as though a giant weight had been lifted off his shoulders and he could finally breathe again. He thought back to the day before and could not help but smile at what had happened. After a heavy conversation with Annabeth, she had stayed while he played the piano. They would occasionally talk between songs as she kept trying to make him laugh in order to lighten the mood. While she may not have been incredibly successful in making him laugh, her efforts did cheer him up and he found himself cracking jokes along with her, making her laugh in return. Time flew by and soon enough, they found themselves being kicked out because it was so late. She had offered him a ride home, but Percy had declined. He did not exactly live in the best part of town and while she knew that his situation at home was disastrous, he would still feel embarrassed if she saw where he lived. His home was nothing compared to hers or her friends. And so, they parted ways and he went home. His mother was absent but surprisingly so was Gabe and he was able to head straight to bed without worry.
Percy sat up in his bed rubbing his eyes looking down at his phone. School was suppose to start in an hour so he still had some time before needing to leave the house. He stood up and got dressed, actually taking time to choose what he was going to wear today, deciding on a pair of dark blue jeans and a white t-shirt. He then proceeded to make his way to the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. His eye was now a weird yellowish colour, something he was thankful for as he would no longer have to hide his face too much. After finishing up in the bathroom, he slipped on his black converse and stuffed his head into his blue hoody and made his way out of his bedroom. He heard Gabe snoring away in the room next to his and decided it would be best to get out of here before his step-father woke up. As Percy found his way into the kitchen, he saw that his mother had left some cookies on the counter and some money for his lunch so he quickly put them in his bag and headed for his school. As he was walking, he kept his hands in his pockets, thinking about how today would go. Last night, he had told Annabeth that he would try and spend some time with her and her friends during their mutual lunch in order to open up a bit more and let more joy into his life. He just did not know how anybody would react to him trying to be nice all of a sudden after being so incredibly rude to them all on Monday. His thoughts were interrupted by someone calling out his name. He turned to see Annabeth, who had stopped her car on the side of the road. She smiled at him as he walked over to the open window on the passengers side.
"Need a ride?" She asks as he leaned his head down. He smiles back at her slightly.
"Only if you don't mind" He responds, feeling like an idiot all of sudden. Of course she did not mind, she was the one who had asked him if he wanted one. But she only smiles back at him nodding.
"Of course not Percy" She unlocks the doors and he slides into the passenger seat.
"We just need to pick up Piper on our way there. I hope you don't mind." She adds as Percy puts on his seatbelt. Percy bites his lip, feeling slightly nervous before shaking his head.
"Why would I mind? You're giving me a ride to school. I'm not going to complain about that." He says giving her a small smile. She glances over at him, still smiling as bright as ever and nods. She was glad she had run into Percy because it gave her the oppurnity to try and get him to open up and make more friends. After yesterday, she could honestly say that she thought Percy was one of the most selfless, strong individuals she knew. He put himself through pain so his mother would not have to suffer and endured such hardships without so much of a complaint. She was amazed by him and thought he deserved to have some joy in his life, which is what she would try to give him. They sat in a comfortable silence, listening to the radio as they made their way over to Pipers house. Annabeth honked her horn as she pulled up in Pipers driveway. Percy looked up at the house in awe. It was a bigger than Annabeths house, still standing at two stories high and it looked modern yet classic all at the same time. Piper quickly ran out of her house, backpack barely slung over her shoulder. Seeing Percy in the front seat made her stop dead in her tracks. She quickly recovered, a sly grin forming on her face as she slipped in the back.
"Annabeth so lovely to see you this fine morning. You didn't tell me you were bringing someone along today" She says teasingly as Annabeth rolls her eyes. Percy looks down frowning.
"Sorry, I can go if this is a..." He starts to say before Piper lightly taps his shoulder, feigning to scold him.
"Don't you even dare finish that sentence Percy. I'm glad that you are here. Confused but glad" She says giving him a smile. He looks up and returns her smile as Annabeth starts driving.
'So, are you going to tell us why you were so pissy with us since Saturday?" Piper says, her tone slightly teasing but of course, she wanted to know why nonetheless. Percy looks over at Annabeth before looking back at Piper.
"I've just... I don't know what came over me. I'm not really used to having friends and I was scared that you guys were just drunk on Saturday and that you wouldn't like me as much if you were all sober" Percy lies effortlessly. Piper raises an eyebrow at him.
"That is the dumbest shit I've ever heard in my entire life. Percy of course we would still like you sober! Next time you want to be an idiot... don't" She says making him laugh a bit.
"I promise I'll try not to be" He says turning back to look at the road. His anxiety was slowly melting away because of how Piper and Annabeth were treating him. They were kind and funny... they wanted him around. As hard as it was for him to understand and accept that, he could not help but feel comfortable and at ease around them, something he never felt before but something he was looking forward to. After light conversations in the car, they finally pulled up to the school. The parking lot was starting to fill up considering there was still a half hour left until school started.
"I don't understand why we are here so early Annabeth, nobody is going to get here for another 15 minutes. What are we suppose to do?" Piper whines dramatically, putting her arm over Annabeth shoulder, leaning on her as if dying. Percy grinned at her antics as Annabeth rolled her eyes, a ghost of a smile on her lips.
"We could go to the library, we could sit in the courtyard and listen to some music or talk... There are plenty of things for you to do before Jason gets here. Then, when he does, you can go and find yourself a nice cozy closet to make out in. Does that sound satisfactory?" Annabeth teases her friend who blushes beat red as Percy chuckled at her statement.
"Just for that, me and Jason are going to make out right in front of you." Piper retorts leaning away from her friend who shakes her head smiling.
"Can't wait" The blonde replies knowing very well that Jason was not one for public displays of affection that went beyond hand-holding, hugs and singular kisses.
"Are you two always like this?" Percy asks them as they sit at a table in the courtyard. Piper grins looking over at Annabeth.
"Pretty much. You'll get used to it... Maybe" She says looking up at Percy who nods glancing over at Annabeth who was texting someone.
"Calypso said she and Leo will be here soon." She says putting her phone away. She looks up to meet Percy's gaze.
"What?" She asks smiling at him.
"Do I have something on my face?" She adds, her hand reaching up to touch her cheek. Percy looks away shaking his head, trying not to blush at the fact that he got caught staring at her.
"No it's just... it's nothing." He says. Annabeth looks at him confused as Piper smirks looking at the both of them. She could just tell that something was going to happen between Percy and Annabeth, and even if it wasn't, she knew she could figure out a way to make something happen.
Percy's morning had been more eventful than anticipated. Upon Leo and Calypso arrival, he had to face their shocked reactions at his presence. He fed them the same lie he had Piper and continued to recount this lie as more people came to join them. Their arrival had been followed by that of Nico, Will and Reyna. Their reactions had been different something Percy was thankful for. While Nico had been there for his outburst earlier in the weeks, his boyfriend and Reyna had not so they greeted him as they sat down. The freshman was a bit sceptical seeing Percy but acted as if the whole thing had not happened. When Travis and Connor arrived with their half-brother Chris and his girlfriend Clarisse, Percy started to feel overwhelmed at the amount of people fathered around what was now two tables stuck together. They paid him no mind, except for Clarisse who was staring at him intently. Annabeth had tried to reassure him stating that Clarisse was simply protective of her friends and after hearing about his weird behaviour, she was slightly wary of his presence. Annabeth figured that she would warm up to Percy eventually and he hoped so because she could be quite intimidating. Finally the last two people to arrive were the Grace siblings. Thalia, despite being one year older than all the other seniors and three years older than Nico, Will and Connor, who were freshman, had been held back a year for reasons still unknown to Percy. She greeted Annabeth, Percy gathered they were close, as she ignored him all together. Jason, however, was a different story entirely. He sat in front of Percy and looked at him inquisitively. Percy could tell Jason wanted to talk to him about what he had seen and about Percy's behaviour but the last thing Percy wanted was to talk to him in front of everybody. Annabeth caught the tension between both men and nudged Jason as if to tell him to back off. He stared back at her as if to say I'm not doing anything before looking back at Percy, saying four words that made Percy's heart want to stop.
"We need to talk."