Back back back with a new (and hopefully good) chapter eleven.
Well, let's let the chapter do the talking, shall we?
Chapter 11
The morning was amazing and beautiful. The sweet chirping of the birds filled the air. The cooling wind blew past. The blue sky was pretty – Okay okay, I shall not induce the hurling. No more cliché introductions today for you my good friends. I've something important to say. Get ready for whatever you're going to read.
Yours truly, Percy Jackson (I wish.)
Nico shuffled uneasily towards the couch and watched silently in dismay where Grover was furiously napping away. He had his black leather hat covering his snoring mouth.
This had been going on for awhile now – Grover coming to the office every day without even going an inch near the computer or his files. MTV Disaster Date had officially been put on hold for almost a month now. There were rental loans to pay, bills to pay, schedules to follow, but those were frozen as well.
Nico sighed as he watched his best friend's sorry state. "Grover."
Grover shifted slightly, ignoring Nico. He obviously didn't want to be talked to at all.
"Grover," he urged again.
There was a muffled "get away" but that was it.
There was a cold silence. Nico's eyes narrowed.
"That's it," Nico said. "Get up. Now."
Grover didn't move even a bit. He was as still as a pole, stationary and unreal (not to mention cruel).
"I give up."
A sudden urge told Nico to grab Grover violently by his shirt collar and slap him awake.
Obediently, he pounded him against the nearest wall and looked him steadily in the eye. Grover cringed in pain and blinked as he tried to steady his nerves.
"What was that? You could've got me killed!" Grover screamed in horror. He struggled but was pressed beneath the strength he never knew Nico had. As far as he knew, he was just that quiet and reserved boy with an emotional issue.
"Nico," he said. "Put me down."
Nico panted ferociously as he considered the idea. His angry eyes never left Grover's. "No."
"Put me down."
"Why should I?"
"I'm your friend."
He hesitated but finally did with a reluctant grunt.
Grover adjusted his shirt and tie and turned towards Nico. He still couldn't believe it. What was that?
"You know," he began, "you could've told me nicely."
Percy's POV
"Going to school now, mom," I said, lightly patting my mother on the back. I gave her a mother-son good morning kiss on the cheek.
Mom gasped and frowned slightly. "Already?"
Paul looked away from the television which was currently screening, ahem, Glee. (Yeah yeah, my stepdad is a closet fan, don't ask why) "Your mother wanted to bake chicken pie for you."
I shrugged my shoulders as I looked on in envy. Her chicken pie was like nothing I've ever tasted. The crackling crust, the buttery base, the rich chicken stew filling, the addictive aroma – God, I've got to stop myself from drooling. The other chicken pies on the face of this earth probably taste like shit. Well, to me at least.
"You have got to be earlier next time, Mom."
"Morning, morning, settle down."
Percy was in his first (but not so favourite) class of the day, military history. The teacher, as kind and petite as she looked, was disappointingly boring. Seriously, are all history teachers like that? He was warm and snug in his University of California jersey and favourite seat way at the back, but wondered why he didn't bring gloves (joke). Man, that class was like a freezer.
"Now, I would like you to take out your handouts…."
"Psst," a feminine voice whispered from behind. "Psst."
Percy turned to look. Unless his eyes were playing tricks on him, he confirmed that he saw a lady. A fashionable one at that. But definitely not someone his age.
Hmm, maybe it was the hot chocolate last night.
"Pssssssst."
Percy looked again. Then he looked around. There was no one at the back but him and the lady. The lady was still there. She sat still at the corner, with an empty desk and hands. He never saw her before and clearly she was too old for school. She had dark sunglasses on, dark hair and wore a floral printed dress that touched the ground. Her chair made strange noises that sounded vaguely like hooting.
"Me," he said. "You're talking to me?"
The lady lowered her sunglasses. She fixed a firm stare on Percy. The lady had the most striking yet beautiful grey eyes.
Now where did I see that before?
You know what to do when they ask those kind of questions.
Well duh, answer them. How? Why, review, silly!
