Hey guys.. I'm back! Sorry for not posting but I was seriously bored! So anyways lets start the next chapter! Happy Reading!
"Hey! Leo! Jason! Come on! We have to go and meet the girls!" Percy shouted over the buzzing noise of the other boisterous boys playing around just like Leo and Jason. Frank and Nico were already by his side, waiting as impatiently as Percy was.
After a few minutes of shouting his throat raw, Leo finally heeded him and ran towards Percy, leaving Jason with two other boys, Luke and Grover.
When Percy saw Leo coming, he exclaimed,"Oh, thank the Gods on Olympus! I thought you were never going to come!"
Leo marched in front of Percy and put on a defiant face."Percy, this is the last time I am going to let you order me about. No more.."
Percy had started laughing and punched Leo in the arm, playfully. "Oh, gods Leo! You look so funny with that expression. Okay, okay." He said, seeing Leo's expression go up in protest. "But hurry up. We're going to be late to meet the others. It's already !2:05."
Leo grinned letting go of his anger, as soon as it had reached him."Okay, -on-time. I'll call Jason. Then you can go and meet your Miss. Perfect Annabeth."
Before Percy could register the comment, Leo ran off to find Jason. Meanwhile, Jason had been talking to Luke and Grover. As Leo rushed towards them, Jason hastened to explain."Hey guys. I'm really sorry but we have to meet a few friends in the nearby ground."
Luke was intrigued. Jason almost never left playing, so interested was he in sports. But today he seemed almost eager to go. "That's okay. But why are going, again."
Jason hesitated. "Uhh... we were going to meet some friends." He said stupidly. Leo saved it, though. "Yeah, he's right. We were. And no matter the reason."
He pulled Jason away from the duo, and said crossly."Jason, I've told you so many times to stay away from that.. guy. Why don't you?"
Jason replied indignantly."Well, you too hung out with him today, didn't you?"
"Yeah, well. It's impolite to leave a conversation in the middle after the start." Leo said, with a tinge of shame in his voice.
"Oh?! Since when did you start worrying about politeness?"
"Since today." Leo closed the topic by glaring at the former, as they neared Percy. "So, let's go?"
Annabeth and Thalia, along with the other girls had been waiting for at least ten minutes. Still, they had seen no sign of the boys. Piper heaved a great sigh."Maybe they are not going to come after all."
Thalia disagreed."My brothers must be goofs but they don't break their words."
"I do hope so." Annabeth said in a dull voice. Suddenly the noise of noisy, pattering footsteps could be heard. The girls turned around to see five boys racing at full speed towards them. Well, at least, four of them. Nico was tagging along at the back.
Percy stopped just in front of Annabeth and despite himself gave her a hug. To his surprise, Annabeth returned it. When they pulled back Annabeth smiled."Nice to see you again. You're so early."
Percy glanced back at Leo, who had a solemn face and was staring at the pair."Oh, go on, go on. I don't want to interrupt." Percy continued glaring."Okay fine. I admit. It's my fault we're late. And yeah, Jason's too."
Thalia, who was until now cross at the boys for being late, forgave them the minute they had given the apology. Still, just to make them feel even more sorry, Thalia faked anger. "What the HADES were you thinking?! We've been here for ten minutes, and that's a lot of time!" She added hurriedly as she saw Nico raise his eyebrows."What explanation do you have?"
Jason went to her sister, joined his palms and said in a humble voice."Holy Thalia. Please accept our apologies. We were playing with Grover and Luke. We are extremely and deeply sorry for being late. Please forgive us."
Everyone laughed but Thalia's face had gone rigid and her eyes had hardened as soon as she had heard the word 'Luke'. Leo gave a pierced look to Jason, before saying."Okay, everybody. We are, as Jason said, extremely sorry and will dutifully promise that we'll never be late to any meeting again. Now, to lighten up the mood, can we have a game of truth and dare?"
Thalia recovered and put on a smile in support of the idea. Annabeth wondered what had gone wrong with her.
Everybody nodded their heads in agreement and sat down on the soft grass. Suddenly another voice sounded."Can I join too?" The boys and girls turned around to look at Luke Castellan.
"Castellan?! What are you doing here?" growled Percy.
Luke raised his eyebrows."Well, this is the school ground, isn't it? I have a right to roam, haven't I?" Jason looked sheepish."Oh, hi Annabeth. Mind if I sit next to you?"
Without waiting for her answer, Luke squeezed in between Percy and Annabeth to sit down. Annabeth visibly winced, half because of Luke and half when she noticed Percy's expression, and turned her head towards Thalia. Thalia looked as pale as a ghost. She managed a shaky smile and said,"Guys, I'll be back. I need some water." And she ran off without another word.
Leo and Annabeth exchanged worried glances. Annabeth got up to go after her, but Luke caught her hand and wrenched her back saying,"Nah, she'll be fine. You don't need to go after her, sweetie. She's strong, I know."
Annabeth's face had a look of disgust, and thus placated Percy a little. At least now he knew there was nothing between them. Or was there? Percy shook away the thoughts in his head. Why was he even thinking about this? He had no say in the matter anyways. And..
His thoughts trailed off as Leo started speaking."You know what? I need a drink of water, too. Be back in a minute." He was partly gazing at Annabeth when he said this, so it seemed to Percy that a knowing, silent talk had passed between them. He went back from his sullen attitude to his happy self.
"So, who's going first?" Percy said, excitedly.
Leo had run off to find Thalia. He was just looking at the canteen when he saw a dark black head slumped over a table. He ran towards the figure and started his speech he had been rehearsing since the few minutes he had got. "Hey, Thalia! I've been looking for you everywhere! Listen whatever happened with Luke back then, I haven't forgotten. But you need to.."
His voice trailed off as the girl, whom he had thought to be Thalia, raised her head. She had caramel colored hair and a white angelic face. She gazed at Leo in surprise just the same as he did. The girl asked Leo a question; the answer to which should have been given by him long ago."Who are you?"
Leo in turn answered the question with his own, still gazing in admiration at the beautiful face."Who are you?"
The girl shook her head as if impatient."I am Calypso. I was sitting here lost in my own thoughts when you butted in."
That shook Leo out of his daydream."Oh.. Sorry. I- I'm Leo. Leo Valdez. I was looking for my friend, Thalia. Have you seen her?"
Calypso cocked her head at one side, which Leo found extremely cute and was about to say so when she spoke."If you mean the girl with a jet of dark black hair, she's right there." She said, pointing in front of her, three tables ahead. "She ran into here, half crying."
Leo went in shock. Thalia hardly ever cried. This must mean that the blow must have been real hard. He ran a few steps, forgetting all about Calypso, when the latter shouted."What do you say when people help you?"
Leo turned and smirked."No thank you!" He went on running, leaving Calypso half amused and half indignant.
Thalia had a glass of water in her hand and was taking big gulps, trying to stop the tears from rushing down her face. She screwed her eyes shut and two tears rolled down: the last two. Then as she was wiping her face dry with her handkerchief, she heard Leo's shout. She hastily wiped the rest of her wet face and tried for a smile as Leo sat down in front of her.
"Hi!" She said as brightly as she could.
"Hi! And now tell me what's wrong. Okay, no need. I know what's wrong. Just try to forget what happened okay?" Leo said as soothingly as he could, but that didn't stop Thalia's face from looking even more miserable.
"It's hard, okay? It's not easy! After all those.." Thalia shuddered. Leo dragged his chair beside Thalia's and said softly."That won't happen again. I promise. Now, we'll all be together to help you if something goes wrong. Okay?"
Thalia nodded half-heartedly. She couldn't cry anymore as no tears came. And she couldn't be miserable; that would be weak. So, she swallowed all her sadness and smiled a brave smile."Let's go back, shall we? We're missing out on a good game of truth and dare."
Leo grinned."That's my girl!" He hugged Thalia, a friendly and comforting hug, to show her that a friend was truly there. Then they made their way back to where the others were sitting.
The others were most certainly not enjoying themselves. Piper and Hazel were disgusted by the truth questions Luke was asking. Annabeth was tired of failing the attempts Luke was making to kiss her. Jason, Frank and Nico sat wide-eyed at what was going on. Percy was simply boiling with rage. Only Luke was smiling and laughing while the others were just making a show of enjoying his jokes.
It was a relief when Leo finally came with Thalia, both smiling and looking as cheerful as can be. Leo noticed the expressions of the others and quickly made a plan in his head and softly shared it with Thalia. They both grinned wickedly and then pierced the circle of friends.
Leo started."Oh my Gods! Do you know what the time is? It's !2:50! I do have to go for dinner. and if I am not wrong, don't you guys have to go too?" He gestured as silently as he could, Thalia supporting him, to make the others follow the plan. Luke didn't notice but his smile wavered.
Everyone was looking clueless. Annabeth saved it. She gave an enormous exclamation."Good Gracious! Yes! I do have to go for lunch. And I promised to leave Piper and Hazel home too! We should leave, shouldn't we?" She gazed pointedly at Piper and Hazel.
Hazel's mind clicked onto the plan and she nodded."Yes! We do have to go. Piper come with us, okay?" Piper nodded, still a blank expression on her face.
Percy had got onto the idea, too. So, eager to with Annabeth, he said,"Yea, Leo. Mind if you drop me and Jason home?"
Leo grinned."Of course Percy. Frank and Nico can come too if they want. We live close by anyway." Nico and Frank nodded, as if ready to do anything but sit alone with Luke.
Luke was sitting there, annoyed at the sudden discuss of departure. Still, he smoothed his expression and got up with the others. "Well, I guess this is goodbye. We'll sometime later, okay? Bye Annabeth." He reached towards Annabeth and gave her a hug. Percy started towards Luke in anger, but Annabeth stopped him with a warning glance. Luke gave a sickening-sweet smile at Annabeth and went away.
Percy gazed with disgust and indignation all over his face, when Annabeth said cheerfully."Well, he's gone now! We can play comfortably." That evaporated all his anger. He stared at Annabeth with a grin etched on his face."Yeah, you were great.'Good Gracious! Yes! I do have to go for lunch!'" He imitated her with exaggerated hand moments.
Everyone laughed, including Annabeth, who punched Percy in the arm, playfully. Now good friends, they decided that they were going to make the following trip together; a nice group of friends settled down to play another nice game of truth and dare.
So.. here was the next chapter! Hope you liked it! This was just the show of two new characters, one good and one bad. The next chapter will probably be the day before the trip.. Because I can't wait for the trip to start! Thanks to all those who read and follow/favorite my story! Please leave your comments/reviews! Need the encouragement!