Hey, I'm back again! I'm not quitting on this story, or any others, I literally haven't been home most nights until around ten or eleven. I get up again at four thirty, I've no time to write most nights, but here it is since I'm home early tonight. Enjoy!
ON WITH THE SHOW!
(I hope you know it's in Mark's POV by now, right?)
I tapped my foot impatiently as I stood in the locker room, waiting for that idiot to get in here. I had to do something to assert myself. Maybe he was hiding some stupid tattoo or something weird. Maybe he had a piercing! Loser. I had already changed and I breathed a small sigh of relief when the door burst open and the room swelled with noise, Percy at the forefront. I quickly scowled. Show no weakness, right?
"Hey, Fish Boy, what's with the swim shirt?" I called out. Everyone silenced, a few turning to stare at me. "So? Spill the gory details. Got a heart tattoo? Maybe a belly button ring? Huh?" Percy glared at me and I tried not to cower slightly.
"Mark, it's none of your business."
"I'll find out soon enough. And why would you, our glorious captain, hide anything from the team? What else are you hiding, huh?" I taunted. Percy looked completely shocked for a moment, before recovering.
"Terrifying," Percy remarked drily. "Really, tell the kid who's fatal flaw is loyalty that he's a traitor. But," he added, "To prove I'm not." He quickly yanked off the blue shirt and shoved it in his locker before turning back to face us. I let my eyes widen before restraining myself at the scars covering his torso. They were pale, but they were there, the most prominent a slash mark from his shoulder to the bottom of his ribs. I also noticed his ridiculously toned muscles. Absolutely unfair. A few other kids gasped or turned away.
But I had to keep up my facade, crumbling or not. "So, Jackson, what'd you do, make Annabeth mad?"
Without missing a beat, he spoke as he tossed a shirt on. "Nope, saved her life." And with that, he left. Dramatic much? I waited a few minutes before hurrying out among the whispers. Some of my friends tried to stop me, but I bulled by, finding my dad's car and tossing in my bag before plugging my headphones in and settling back. Percy hopped in a few minutes later with my dad. I ignored them both on our way home.
Two months of Greek class and trying to kill Percy later, I got myself a date for homecoming. She was really to make Annabeth jealous, but I would go with it. She would be coming to our place, then we'd all leave together. I wanted to go separately from Percy but Dad said we couldn't. With one last tug on my tie, I headed into the living room, where Ms. Sally and Dad were sitting while we waited for my date, plus Percy and Annabeth to show up.
"Mark! Don't you just look dashing!" Ms. Sally enthused, smiling brightly. "I can't wait to meet your date!" Dad nodded in agreement.
"What was her name again?" he asked.
"I told you, I'm not telling!" I said triumphantly. He groaned. "Ha! Got you! Anyway, where's idi- Percy and Annabeth?"
Ms. Sally's expression momentarily flashed to something resembling fear. "I'm sure they'll be here soon, Mark. Don't worry." I heard a knock on the door as she finished and jumped up, hoping it was my date. Dad snickered and I shot him a glare before opening the door to find Emberly, the girl I'd asked out.
She grinned, and I must admit, she looked nice. "Hey, Mark! I'm super excited!" Ah, there it is. The breathy, 'popular' voice. I still have no clue why she agreed to go with me, but whatever. Didn't matter. Annabeth needed to be jealous.
"Erm, hi, Emberly. Come on in," I gestured to the hallway and she daintily stepped past, heels clicking. Her dress dipped down in the back, almost entirely exposing her back. Dang, she was good-looking. But not as nice as Annabeth. I snapped myself out of it as she spoke.
"Hi, I'm Emberly Dusanna, you're Mark's parents, right?"
Ms. Sally smiled warmly. "Welcome, Emberly. You look very nice." She blushed, picking at the folds of her black dress.
"Thanks, Ms. Blofis. Hi, Mr. Blofis," she muttered, playing with a gem on her strap.
"Hello, Ms. Emberly. We'll be off as soon as Percy and Annabeth get here," he said. She nodded and settled into the loveseat, so I took the opportunity to sit right next to her. A curl of her hair tickled my shoulder. I frowned slightly at its dull brown shade, so unlike Annabeth's gold curls. Ah, Annabeth. This better work. The room was silent for a few more minutes, which was unusual, since Ms. Sally would normally start conversation. I leaned back and sighed. Percy better not ruin this. Ms. Sally suddenly shot up and raced to the door, yanking it open, then practically sprinting back to us. Only she wasn't alone and I heard small, muffled sobs from the figure next to her before I noticed the curly gold hair.
"Annabeth!" Dad exclaimed. Annabeth's head shot up as she reached for something belted at her waist before relaxing slightly.
"Hey, Annabeth," I said suavely, "What's up?" She shot a glare at me before turning back to Ms. Sally and whispering something in her ear. The older woman stood there for a moment, dumbfounded.
"Sally, dear, what's wrong?" my dad asked anxiously. Annabeth gulped before turning to us.
"Percy- he's gone."
