He heard the whispers of the students as he passed, the not so subtle look from the girls and some boys but ignored them. He walked into the classroom and put his bag on his desk and sat down at his chair drinking his coffee and looking at his phone. Curious to see the new news in politics and events around the world before looking up and seeing some of his students peering into his classroom who had knocked on his door. He sighed and waved them in, a group of 7 students came in and took their seats talking about their plans for summer break coming up in next week and gossiped about more things in the school's social circles. He started to ignore them before he noticed that the room was silent causing him to once again look up from his phone. The students were staring at him expecting an answer.
"Mr. Jackson are you dating Ms. Bell?" A student named Melanie asked.
Percy raised an eyebrow at this and responded. "What gives you the impression that I am dating Ms. Bell?"
The students looked at each other before responding, "Apparently a couple students saw you and Ms. Bell grabbing coffee the other day and word spread you two were an item." Another student by the name of Anthony told him.
Percy nodded before taking a sip of his coffee.
"No Ms. Bell and I are not dating, we were meeting to discuss the plans for the year end gala that the staff were going to have, we have to go over the betting pools of course and distribute winnings." He said making up the last part.
"Betting pool what betting pool?" Melanie asked confused.
Percy smiled and laughed internally he had them now, "The betting pool on which students will end up dating which, we have so many categories, most likely to end up together most likely to break up and our favorite and the most lucrative, the most unlikely couple⦠Why do you think we always assign you seats, you children aren't the most subtle about who you crush on you know ask Mr. Blofis." Percy said smiling.
The students gaped at each other processing what they just heard. Just as they were about to bombard them with questions the first bell rang signaling students that class would start in 5 minutes time.
"Well time to get the quiz ready." Percy said getting up and gathering his papers, today was going to be a fun day.
Percy sat down at the staff table and looked around at his colleagues who all were looking at him before laughing.
"You told them about the betting pool?" Mr. Slade asked.
"Of course, they wouldn't believe me anyways. You would have loved the looks on their faces Phil." Percy responded while smiling.
"Why did you tell them?" Ms. Bell asked.
"Well Jessica looks like some of our students saw us at Starbucks and asked if we were dating, I told them no and we were discussing the staff gala and brought up the betting pool." Percy responded.
"Hm smart, and sorry Percy but you're not my type." Ms. Bell responded.
"You wouldn't be able to handle me if you tried, trust me." Percy shot back while laughing. "Anyways good luck cause knowing how the rumor mill works here it will already have spread.
As the teachers laughed the door burst open and a very angry Paul Blofis entered the room.
"Which one of you told them about the pool, because I am being accused of seating students who had crushes on each other together." Paul said looking around the room before the staff burst out laughing.
"Sorry Paul that was me." Percy said not regretting it at all.
"Percy did you really have to do that to me. The students are calling me cupid now." Paul said glaring at his stepson.
"Well at least you'll have a costume for next Halloween." Phil muttered being heard by both Percy and Jessica who laughed even more.
Paul sat down in a chair and looked defeated, "This day is not going to go well."
"Nope Paul no it will not." Percy responded smiling at his stepfather.
"Anyways, I got to get back and get ready for next period, so see you on Sunday Jessica?" Percy said grabbing his things.
"Yup same place, same time?" Jessica responded.
"What's this a date?" Paul asked looking at Percy.
Jessica laughed, "Nope just going over the plans for the gala."
"Okay you two whatever you say." Phil said while chuckling.
"Don't forget Percy, you promised to take Hannah out shopping Sunday." Paul reminded Percy.
"Don't worry Paul I'm meeting her at Starbucks after we go over plans for the party. Anyways see you all later." Percy said while waving and walking back to his classroom.
Time Skip
The final bell rang letting the students out for the weekend, a weekend that Percy was looking forward to. He packed up his things and grabbed his bag and made his way outside saying bye to some students along the way. His cousins and Luke would be coming to visit which always made the weekend more fun, loud but fun. As he stepped outside the school getting ready for his walk to his apartment he heard a voice call out.
"HEY KELP HEAD OVER HERE!"
Percy looked around confused unable to spot the only person who would call him that.
"HERE YOU DOOFUS IN THE PARKING LOT!"
He turned and was terrified at the sight in front of him, a black SUV was parked with Luke deathly pale in the passenger's seat a pale Nico (if he could be paler) in the back seat and Thalia with a smile in the drivers' seat. He shook his head and walked over aware of all the stares he was getting from his students.
"I thought I told you to meet me at my apartment." Percy said looking at Thalia angrily.
"Well where's the fun in that Kelp Head, it's my job to embarrass you especially in front of your students." Thalia explained.
"Why does it look like Nico and Luke just died and went to Hades?" Percy asked looking at the other two who had yet to acknowledge him.
"I don't know I drove here safe and sound." Thalia shrugged.
"S-s-safe? You call that safe?" Luke asked turning his head slowly.
"Well yeah, did you die?" Thalia smiling at Luke.
Instantly Luke was out of the seat and grabbing the keys to the car, "Never again do I let you drive my car." He grumbled making Thalia get out of the car.
"It wasn't that bad was it Death Breath?" Thalia asked Nico who had yet to respond.
"Never again," Nico repeated, "Never again."
Percy sighed before getting into the passenger's side, "So where to?"
"How about some burgers?" Luke asked while pulling out of the parking lot.
"Anything to get Death Breath up." Thalia said while poking Nico who was starting to regain a little bit of color.
"Off we go!" Luke proclaimed while driving forward. Percy shook his head and looked out the window.
Time Skip
The 4 of them were sat inside the Marauders Den, a small establishment near Percy's home and were waiting to order.
Percy looked around the table at his closest friends and couldn't help but feel out of place.
"Then the next morning the Stolls were hanging upside down courtesy of a couple of plants, Katie finally caught them, and boy did they pay." Luke finished while chuckling.
"So not much has changed?" Percy asked noticing the owner of the restaurant approaching.
"Hey Harry, how's business?" Percy asked the young man in front of him.
"Good good. How are you Percy?" Harry responded. The man had a British accent and wore round rimmed glasses and a unique scar on his forehead.
"Same old same old, can we get 4 cheeseburgers with fries." Percy ordered while looking at his friends, "A coke for the pale guy, a sprite for the blonde one, a root beer for the girl and a cherry coke for me."
Harry wrote down the order before shaking his head, "I'll grab the burgers for you asap."
Thalia watched as he left, "You come here often?" Thalia asked.
"Yup, I liked the name and Harry's nice, seems like he's been through a lot though but always puts on a smile and makes great food." Percy said while leaning back.
"Like you." Nico said quietly.
Percy looked at Nico confused. "I don't think I know what you mean?"
"The smiling part, you've been through so much but you always put on a smile." Nico said examining Percy.
Percy looked at Nico then to Luke then Thalia.
"Do you all think that?" Percy asked them.
They all nodded, "Percy you've been a part of a lot of quest, been in 2 wars, had your memories taken and the girl you loved left you. I would say you've been through a lot." Luke said while looking at Percy.
Percy sat there in silence before looking up and sighing. "I don't know but I guess I never looked at it that way before. Now that you put it into perspective I have been through a lot." He said rubbing the back of his neck.
Thalia snorted, "Of course you wouldn't notice it Kelp Head, you're you."
Percy smiled and was about to respond when Harry returned with a tray full of food.
"Here we are folks, 4 cheeseburgers with fries and your drinks. If you need anything else just let me know, as for now, enjoy." Harry said before walking away.
Percy looked at the others before digging in and enjoying the burger in his hands.
"Wow this is so good." Thalia exclaimed eating the burger with gusto.
"Yeah you weren't joking about how good it was." Luke said while eating more of the burger.
"Yeah it's alright." Nico said while taking a bite of his fries.
Percy shook his head and finished chewing, "Anything new I should know about with the gods?"
They all stopped and stared at him before Luke responded.
"It looks like we have another fight coming, but we don't have too many details yet. It's not we can't handle, if we need your help we'll let you know."
Percy looked at them strangely before responding, "Feels like there's something you aren't telling me. Whatever, if you need the help let me know."
They finished the rest of the meal in silence and left saying their thanks to Harry and leaving.
"We got you these as some snacks and stuff Perce." Nico said giving Percy a bag filled with chips and candy.
"Thanks guys come out more often, it's gets a little weird being around non-demigods you know." Percy said smiling.
"Well there is another solution you know." Thalia responded giving Percy a hug.
"You know I won't ever feel comfortable there anymore, besides it's not like I don't visit." Percy said shrugging.
"The last time you came to Camp was 3 years ago, and all you did was stay on the beach with Rose. By the way Rose says hi." Luke told Percy.
"Doesn't matter, I got to go guys, got an early morning tomorrow and I'm all booked on Sunday so gotta do all my marking tonight." Percy said giving the other two hugs before saying bye and leaving.
He ran into his neighbor who was leaving her apartment and walked into his own apartment the smile on his face vanishing instantly, his eyes which were kind and had a kind glow turning dark and finally the weight of the Hero of Olympus was revealed, the eyes which once were bright and glowing, looking to the future were dimmed and hollow, just like the person who the eyes belonged to. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair before setting his bag down and getting out the papers he had to grade and got to work.
"Percy."
Percy got up Riptide now in his hand before relaxing, his father stood before him leaning against the wall.
"Hey dad, what are you doing here?" Percy asked before sitting back down.
"Well, I figured that you would be feeling a little lonely and I haven't seen you in a while that didn't involve business." Poseidon said shifting and walking to sit on the couch.
"Nice to see you too, so what's the real reason." Percy said looking his father in the eye.
Poseidon laughed and smiled at Percy, "That obvious? Well there's a fight coming, a bigger threat then we have had before. As much as I would like you to not be involved. It appears that we will need you, I am unsure of when, but we will need your help once again."
Percy looked down and nodded before looking at his dad.
"I'll help on one condition."
Poseidon looked at his son before nodding.
Percy sighed and looked his father in the eye,
"I want to die. I want to move on with my life, this will be the third war I will have fought in. I have seen too many friends die and I have caused enough bloodshed in my life. If we win this war I just want to rest, and I believe that I will never get that so long as I am alive. I'm tired dad and I just want to move on."
Poseidon looked at his son in shock, the words that came out of his mouth the thought that he would even want to die was appaling.
"Percy, you know that I cannot do this to you, think of your mother and your siblings, your friends. You would leave them all?" Poseidon asked.
Percy looked down ashamed, "Yes, I just want to move on, I'm tired dad and want to rest. Everywhere I go I think of her, I see her, I go to sleep thinking of her. Without her here its hard, I want to not have to worry about that. Try for rebirth and make it to the Isles of Blessed."
Poseidon was shocked and got up not knowing what to say.
"Please, I'm just asking for one thing, that is all I want, I feel that you all owe me this." Percy said.
"It will not be my decision to make, it'll be up to Zeus and the council." Poseidon responded still in shock.
Percy looked up, "Then I shall ask them myself."
