~Two days after~
~Language Arts (Class before study hall)~
Thalia POV
Thankfully, I had to finish my "Be who you are" essay during Christmas break. I'd probably get Annabeth to help me…or do it for me anyway. I pack my things after declining Ceyln, AKA, creepy, stalking girl's, offer of carrying my books.
After the bell rings, I rush out of the classroom to catch up with Piper. I just found out our classrooms were in the same hall.
I walk out the door and wait at the entrance of my class.
I scan the hall filled with students of different ages in search of my brother's gf.
As soon as I spot her, I snickered.
She seemed to be struggling with the multitude of people. She wasn't having any luck pushing herself through the crowd.
Once she spotted me, she finally pushed everyone else out of her way with a frown. I stifle a laugh and wait for her to reach me.
"This school is so going to kill me" she muttered.
"Tell me about it" I reply.
We make our way to the courtyard, looking for our friends.
"Oh! Quick question: what's going on between the Percy guy and Annie? Not to mention the blonde dude and Rachel?" she asked.
"Oh, come on. You know their chemistry going on between the four" I say.
"Totally"
"Yea. The reason I know is because of the way you acted around my brother when you first met us. What makes it funnier is the fact that you started drooling over him the first day. The first day, Pipes!"
I bust out laughing.
She playfully slaps the back of my head.
"Don't deny it, McLean" I singsong.
She lets out a short chuckle and nods in agreement.
With that being said, we continue to look for everyone else.
~Linebreak~
"No more music? What? They're going to let miss 'I-run-the-school' stop everything?" Leo complained, raising his arms in desperation.
"It doesn't matter. You weren't going to join anyway" Piper replied.
"You're evil"
"Why thank you"
Everyone stifles a laugh at their short argument.
"Plans for next semester?" I ask out of the blue.
Percy's hand shot up eagerly.
"Oh! Octy, Nico, and I are planning on forming a band" Percy answers.
"Cool. Thought of a name yet?" Annabeth asks.
Percy frowns and lowers his hand slowly.
"We haven't exactly thought of that" Octavian muttered.
"I'm starting school band next semester!" Rachel says with a squeal.
"We heard. Congrats, Julie" Piper says.
We sure were getting a hang of calling each other by our fake names. It luckily seemed easier.
"What do the superstars have in mind?" I ask.
"Eh, more recording I guess" Jason answers, shrugging.
"Has anyone seen Frank lately?" he asked.
"He was with us yesterday" Piper replies.
I smirk.
"Yea. Hazel was with us yesterday, too. There're both not present. What a coincidence"
Nico nearly chocked on pomegranate juice.
"Hazel probably stayed for tutoring or something" he quickly responds.
"Isn't tutoring after school?" Percy asked.
Nico sent him a death glare. Percy shrugged in innocence.
~Hazel POV~
Frank and I walked down the hall awkwardly. It still felt a bit weird to walk around with someone so famous. The fact that he treats me so kindly made it even weirder. I've never been treated with so much respect. Except for Nico and our few friends.
I met Frank on my way to my locker. He insisted on joining me. I couldn't decline so he tagged along.
"Had a good day?" he asks
'No! Never, ok? I never have a great day' I wanted to exclaim. But I didn't.
"Yea. You could say that"
He glanced at me curiously. I brush it off.
"I could join you on our way to campus if you want" he says shyly.
I giggle.
"Of course. I mean, we are heading to the exact same place, are we?"
He blushes.
He's so cute when he blushes! He looks like a cuddly panda. Except with a well-build body…and a proper height
"Yeah. True. Silly me"
"Yea, you silly goose" I give him a light push.
He clears his throat and straightens himself.
"So how are you and your brother?" he asked.
I shrug.
"We're ok. He had an encounter with some…old enemies of his last week" I say.
He nods understandingly.
"He's such a nice guy. Is it even possible for him to make enemies?"
I lightly chuckle.
"You wouldn't know. He can really cause trouble and mischief"
However, we made it to my locker.
My jaws drop and I suddenly hear a thud from behind me.
I turn my head to see him.
His books were all over the floor. He had the exact same reaction.
"Oh my god" I hear him mutter.
I turn to the image once again. It was completely normal. It was daily. This wasn't anything new.
With red spray paint, the word 'witch' was written on my locker.
"Who would do such a thing?" he asked.
I sigh.
"Once again, Frank…you wouldn't know" I say, my voice barely a whisper.
"Why do you let this happen? Hazel, you don't deserve this" he says, now standing right next to me.
I shake my head and look up.
"No, Frank. They're completely right. I am a freak. I'm a witch"
Tears were threatening to spill.
I close my eyes and turn away
He forces me to look straight at him
"No! Don't ever think of yourself like that"
"I don't have to. Everyone in the school does the job for me"
I took off running without him.
I hear him call me name, but I don't look back. I couldn't take it anymore. I let my tears run down freely.
I open the janitor closet and close it with all my might.
I plop down and hug my knees, hiding my face in them.
I've experience this before but why did a he have to be present?
The only popular person who I was close to and treated me kindly had seen just what a freak I really was.
~Frank POV~
I can't get myself to move. I keep my gaze on the direction she, the only girl who I knew was perfect, had ran off to.
Then, the question hit me like a bullet.
Why was I stupid enough to keep staring? Why cant I man up and go find her? Why cant I comfort her and let her know how great she is?
~Campus~
~No ones POV~
Nico had had enough.
He stood up from his spot on the ground told everyone he'd go and find their missing friends.
He ran past the two opened doors and headed towards his sister's locker.
The only person he saw was Frank, who had his back turned and gaze centered on the end of the hallway.
"Frank?" Nico called.
The said boy immediately turned around. He seemed frightened by the brother of the girl he seemed to have an attraction for.
"Where's Hazel?"
Frank gulped and suddenly looked guilty.
He rubbed his neck and sighed, looking down and pointing behind him.
"She ran off that way. I was to coward to follow her. Im sorry, Di' Angelo" he says, not meeting Nico's gaze.
It was clear he regretted it. Nico felt bad for the guy. He found it strange, too.
Why would someone like him be apologizing to someone like…Nico? A normal, teen boy. Sure, Frank was just a couple years older but it still seemed quite strange.
"I-its ok, Frank. Im going to go look for her" Nico says.
Frank nods.
"Could you let me know if she's ok?" he asks
Nico nods in response and runs off towards the same place his sister had.
~Nico POV~
I knew it'd happened again. As much as I tried to stop it, I couldn't get it to stop. I'd lost a sister. I wasn't going to lose another because of ignorant people.
I hear nearby sobbing from the janitor's closet.
I should've known. She always hid in there when she could.
I take a deep breath and approach slowly.
"Hazel?" I call, my voice barely audible.
No answer.
"Can I come in?"
Still nothing.
I began to worry.
If she wasn't going to answer, then I might as well take action.
I slowly and quietly turn the knob, the sobs immediately stopping.
"Nico?" she croaked.
I kneel down and wrap my arms around her. She hugs me back and begins to cry into my chest.
I rub her back and rest my chin on her frizzy hair.
"Frank saw what they did" she whispered.
I nod.
"I know. I saw him standing there, regretting how he hadn't followed you" I reply.
She looked up with teary eye.
"He did?" she asked.
I smile and nod.
"He's a great listener" she comments.
"And a good friend" I add.
"Did you know he yelled at the multitude that were at my locker calling me names?" she asks.
I raise an eyebrow and smirk.
"Well well, looks like you've got yourself a body guard"
"And a great friend. Sure, the others are also good friends but I've hung out with Frank the most" she says.
"Even though you share a dorm with the electric pianist from the band?" I recall.
"Well, we do talk but we're not the bestest friends ever if you get what I'm saying" she replies.
I smile and nod understandingly.
She giggles.
"You should smile more often, Neeks"
I throw my head back and let out a laugh.
"You should smile more for Skylar" she says with a smirk.
"Hey!" I complain with fake anger but still keeping the smile that made my sister happy.
"She might be your girlfriend by next semester" she singsongs.
I scoff.
"Yea right. A pretty girl like her wouldn't notice go for a creep like me" I say with a sigh.
"Don't say that, bro. She'd be blind if she never sees anything in you. You're a great brother, your handsome, your protective, and you care a lot about your friends and I. You'd make a great boyfriend" she says.
I chuckle and ruffle her hair.
"We have to go, Hazel. Our friends might be worrying" I say, standing up and offering her my hand.
She gladly accepts it.
I open the door and head out. I wrap an arm around her shoulder and we make our way out
~Friday~
~Annabeth POV~
"Its Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday!-"
"Oh my gosh, Thalia! Stop singing Rebecca Black!" I yell, throwing a pillow at her.
I grab another one and bury my face in it, muffling a scream.
To be honest, I didn't want to wake up. Proof: I usually had to wake up the girls.
"We have to practice the song Rachel wrote when we get back" Thalia says.
I groan.
"We did it yesterday"
I don't hear a reply coming from either of them.
I lift the pillow from my face and open an eye.
They're both staring at me in shock. It was kinda funny. Rachel stood there with her toothbrush in her mouth while Thalia had stopped while she was in the middle of applying eyeliner. Now imagine her with her bottom lip tucked out and her eyes wide. She had the habit of doing that with her lip.
I couldn't help letting a chuckle as a I stand from my oh so comfortable bed and make my way to the bathroom, shutting the door in the process.
"I would've never guessed miss's I'm so responsible would have the gut to say she doesn't feel like learning" I hear one of the girls call.
I roll my eyes and take a small shower.
~Second Semester starts in the next chapter! Oh I cant wait for the juicy drama ;D And more romance!~