HELLO EVERYONE! First of all, let me say how fantastic it is to be writing with you all again! Even while I have been away, still seeing people favourite and like this story always makes me want to come back to it, so I decided I would!

I love you all so much.

I believe that School is extremely important in perspective, school doesn't last very long at all, and it prepares you, or at least provides basic knowledge for most things that will happen in life. So yes, I do listen, I do pay attention, and I do strive to do well. Unlike some people…

Chapter 4

Choices

Percy POV

I plonked myself down on one of the countless red, decaying chairs that littered homeroom class. The walls, once white, were now stained yellow from years of countless different things happening in here, I'm pretty sure someone lit one of the chairs on fire in here once, that probably accelerated the yellowing process by a large margin. Displays of pointless awards and unbearable class rules and etiquette filled the blank space, keenly reminding us all to not speak unless spoken to! Please raise your hand! Do not interrupt class! All of it geared into reminding you that you're the inferior in this class, a concept I had always hated and done my best to counteract.

I think its morally wrong to make kids conform to that concept, if you're wired to act like the inferior in situations then you're not going to ever take control in your life. That was a lesson my father taught me when to took control of his company, an undersea exploration company, and he's now the most successful owner they've ever had. So no, I won't be raising my hand or waiting to be spoken too, if I want to do something then I'll do it.

To be honest though I'd done pretty well with my homeroom this year, at least the carpet didn't smell like vomit and B'O, I'd already experienced that last year… And I was with nearly all of my friends! Something Goode really should have put more thought into if they wanted this year to run smoothly. Not that I intentionally go out of my way to make teachers lives nightmares but sometimes the things they are teaching just have zero relation to the real world! So why waste my time with it when I could be out doing something better with it.

I reached out and gave a solemn looking Jason a light tap on the shoulder, freeing him from his deep melancholy thoughts. "You okay Jace?" I said with concern and pity laced in my voice. I knew why he was sad, his girlfriend Piper hadn't been put in the same homeroom as him, instead being banished for a year of hell with the Stolls, likely being tormented for hours upon end, and sitting next to Silena and Beckendorf who weren't doing a very good job of hiding they're P.D.A was kind of rubbing it in.

I mean the Stolls are our friends and nothing will ever change that, but when they're barrage of pranks is directly aimed at you and no one else? They can get a little difficult to deal with. Actually, that's an understatement they're a nightmare and I could easily kill one or both of them if ever put in that scenario. Piper was probably as downbeat as Jason was if not more, I really felt for them.

In fact, I was kind of feeling the same way, not that I was letting anyone in on that little secret. I had been hoping and praying that Annabeth was in the same homeroom as me this year after our morning together, she had really left her mark on me, already putting me through the range of emotions on her behalf. I nearly had my soul ripped out when that car was hurtling towards her on our run, then it was like I was having CPR when her mum was yelling about us getting married, and complete and utter jealousy and disgust when those guys cat called and grabbed her outside, I had only really known Annabeth for a day and I'm already feeling like this! What is wrong with me?

And why am I feeling like this at all! My love life had come to a disastrous end only a week or two ago! Despite my outward demeaner about it, it was something that had left me pretty devastated and hurt. I spent a few days alone after that and didn't let anyone see me, indulging in a few of my more destructive tendencies and going to some dark places. I had seen a future with Rachel, but she had changed. She had become vain and petty, always making digs and undermining, a complete control freak, and just not the person who saw that future with anymore, so I killed it off. I went to her one day and said it all to her in the nicest way possible, hoping she would recognise my point and see the truth, but it wasn't to be. She called me a Bastard and said I was jealous that she was cooler than I was now, completely missing the point of what I was saying to her. The Rachel Elizabeth Dare I knew was gone and to be honest I felt culpable in some ways, but I knew I had to end it now. Her being her though she spun the story to everyone, and not even a day after, the whole school knew that RACHEL had broken up with me, not the other way around. I couldn't be bothered to even fight it. I didn't care anymore, I didn't care about a lot of things anymore…

So, these feelings I was having about Annabeth, no matter how good they felt and how well intentioned they seemed, I reserved them. I liked Annabeth as a person, she would be an amazing friend to have, but anything more than that I would hold off on right now. I was keeping it all hidden and played close to the chest, right up until Thalia sat down next to me.

"Tell me about Annabeth, now." She barked, staring at me dead with those electric blue eyes. She could intimidate most people easily with that look, but not me.

"Well she's a girl that studies at Goode, blonde hair, grey eyes, about 5'7, is an amazing runner, what else do you want to know?" I quipped back, the look she gave me signified this wasn't the answer she was looking for.

"Percy! Tell me now why are you interested in her all of a sudden? You haven't given a shit all these years so why now? Thalia stabbed at me with her words, why did I have to justify anything to her? Why couldn't I just speak to Annabeth like I speak to any of my other friends.

"What does it matter to you, pinecone face?" I spat back. "I'm not going to fuck her if that what you're worried about! I thought you would know that there's more to me than that but apparently fucking not." I raised my arms in the air in a huff before turning around and facing the other way. I don't know why there is a reputation of me being a lady's man at this school, it's not true and yet everyone, even my own friends sometime propagate it. It hurts sometimes.

"That's not what I was saying kelp head, but the fact your brain went there is a dead giveaway. Annabeth is not yours to play with, you've done the bare minimum in the way of sticking up for her over these years, just about keeping that red-headed bitch away from us, but not anything more. So no, I would appreciate it if you stayed away from MY friend, thank you Percy." Thalia sunk daggers under my skin, before turning around and facing the other way also.

Her message was as clear as daylight, stay away from Annabeth. And so much for playing my cards close to my chest, Thalia read my face like a book, and the worst thing was I was scared she had a point. I'd asked Rachel to stop talking to Thalia and Annabeth when we were together and I thought that was the end of that, Rachel was my girlfriend at the time and while I knew about her beef with Thalia I thought it was something that they would just put behind them, not that big of a deal. Besides making demands of your other half isn't the best way to maintain a loving relationship.

But seeing how Annabeth reacted earlier on the way to school, at the thought of even being put back on Rachels radar this year simply by being associated with me, really made me realise how much she had affected Annabeth and Thalia's lives up until now. I felt awful that I hadn't done more, that I hadn't acted in an effort to maintain my relationship which had burst into flames anyway. And now here I sat, in a huff, with my back turned to my cousin who I knew was right and who had a point, but I couldn't admit that to her now could I?

So, I sat in silence, looking out of the window of class at the world going past. I saw birds flapping about in the wind and clouds shaped like cars, mountains and waves. Only thinking about how I couldn't wait to be out of school. Away from all of the petty drama and stupid rules, where I would be able to live free and do whatever I wanted to do.

-[Line Break]-

"Please make your way to the auditorium in an orderly fashion!" Shouted Mr Stanley, a half bald man with a monk's haircut, dressed in three different shades of brown. He had spectacles that were definitely too small for his head and a very large nose that he like to look down at you from. He just screamed of someone who had failed and is now living a life he didn't want to live, the literal embodiment of hell for me. When his back was turned I made a quick dash into the nearest doorway to escape dreariness of the yearly introduction lecture. I hadn't gone last year or the year before that, I figured once you'd gone once you didn't need to go again, and hey I'm still here aren't I? clearly not that important.

I hadn't spoken to Thalia since our little argument, and the others always knew I didn't go to this lecture so they wouldn't be surprised if I didn't turn up, so instead I set my mind to finding something to do for the next hour. Until there was a bang on the glass of the door behind me.

"Hey Percy…" Drew said, lacing her voice with as much seduction as she possible could. She was one of Rachels closest friends if you could call them that, In reality they compete all of the time and are mostly looking for ways to one up each other. I could tell straight away that was what this was, an attempt to one up Rachel by getting with her ex. "Why don't you and me go and skip together and have some fun." She said winking at me. "I know this great spot on the third floor…"

I knew where she was speaking about, and I knew what she was implying. But I had already experienced Drew like that once and I wasn't willing to do it again, especially when I knew what a stir it would cause with a certain red-head. Thalia's words rung in my head that I hadn't done enough, well this is me doing something now. I'm not a lady's man I don't sleep around, but that doesn't mean I hadn't had my fair share of adventures before. No, I'm not a cheater but Rachel and Drew had decided they were more than friends one day and decided to get me involved. That's all I'll say on the matter.

"Thank you but no thank you Drew, see you around!" I said before bolting away from that classroom door as fast as I could, rounding the next bend of corridors, until I was far enough away that she wouldn't be able to track the smell of my aftershave, something that I genuinely had to worry about with her.

I kept on walking aimlessly trying to find something to do, dodging and hiding from teachers who would send me straight to detention if they found me, not that I ever go but I didn't want them sending my mom letters all year about how much of an awful person I am. Eventually I think I went mad, because music started playing in my head. Arctic Monkeys, Alex Turner… No, it wasn't coming from my head it was coming from around the corner, I walked tentatively closer to see where the song was coming from, I'd never heard a singing voice like this one before, it was angelic.

Peering around the corner, I saw none other than the beautiful blonde-haired curls of Annabeth herself, singing perfectly to the song, instinctively I started to walk out behind her, before pulling myself back into the shadows. Again, Thalia's words rung in my head, reminding me about how I'd let them suffer under Rachel, how I didn't deserve to be friends with her. I could never change what I had or hadn't done in the past, only what I'm going to do in the future, and I made a promise to Annabeth this morning that I would be there for her this year to protect her from Rachel, and anyone else for that matter. I would be friends with Annabeth Chase, I'd prove to her and to Thalia that the past is behind me.

With new invigoration I stepped out of the shadows and started singing in time with Annabeth. "In other words, until I die…. Baby I'm yours." I echoed her singing, startling her with my presence, I smiled at her surprise.

"Jesus Christ Percy! You scared me! She yelled towards me, her voice had been so smooth, taking their song and perfecting it. It honestly left me awestruck, something which very clearly showed on my face. I walked over to where she was stood and slumped myself against the wall next to her.

"I didn't know you could sing so well Chase." I said, commending her on her voice. She had made singing seem so effortless, and I know from experience at too many karaoke nights that singing, especially singing like that, took a lot of effort. I wondered if she was effortlessly good at most other things she does in life, maybe I could get to write my essays for me I thought for a brief humorous second.

"Yeah… well, there's a lot of things you don't know about me." She sighed, a statement that sounded like she was almost putting up a wall between us. Was it an invitation to inquire further or get lost, I didn't know. Not that I had much time to dwell on it, Annabeth let out a cursive "Shit!" before stating to walk away briskly. "We're going to be late to the auditorium, come on…" I took an even bigger slump up against the wall signalling my intent on not moving from where I was.

Annabeth gingerly turned around and took a few careful steps back towards me. I'm not entirely sure what emotions I was showing on my face, Thalia's voice was still in my head telling me to get away from Annabeth and it was taking its toll. She is my cousin and one of my best friends and I didn't want her to end up hating me because I hurt her best friend.

I looked up and met Annabeth's stormy grey eyes looking into my own, dripping with concern, worry and inquiry, just like you could read all of my emotions on my face you could literally see her brain working in her eyes. I'd learned to read her on day one, like I was almost built for it. The thought made me smile and Thalia's words started to get quieter and quieter as I followed Annabeth along the halls setting off for the Auditorium.

-[Line Break]-

We arrived at the doors to the auditorium with a small queue formed entering one at a time per the teacher's orders. A banner hung over the door draping down where it had been so shoddily pinned up, it read:

"Welcome back to GOODE! With a fresh year of learning and fun!

What a contradiction, fun and learning in the same place? I almost laughed and snarled at the same time just thinking about it. Ugh what was I doing here! I never ever come here to this thing and I wasn't about to start now. I turned to Annabeth who was patiently waiting to enter and trying to catch her breath from the jog here, not at all seeing the pointlessness in the whole thing, or seeing the pent-up anger on my face.

"What do you reckon this is for anyway?" She asked me, I think she knew it was the introduction lecture but there might have been something else being announced this year, not that I know or care.

I gave my trademark "I don't know" for a response, too lazy to explain that I might have heard something else was being announced. Why couldn't our tutors just say all of this in homeroom instead of ferrying us all here? I echoed that sentiment to Annabeth. "Probably something dumb that could've taken about 5 minutes of Homeroom" I barked, rolling my eyes. "Yet because it's school they have to make it all unnecessarily long."

Annabeth recognised the anger in my voice this time, "Woah, where'd that come from?" She softly asked. Her voice calming me down slightly but not enough to stop the existential thoughts from entering my head. There's just so much to life, so many places to explore and things to do, and yet were stood here having our time wasted! It just irked me so much that I couldn't hold it back.

"Annabeth, look…" I turned, looking directly into her eyes and making her stare intently into mine. I wanted her to know how seriously I think about this, and wanted to see If someone from outside of my group of friends shared my opinion, that we weren't the only sane people in this school. "I know we have the rest of our lives to live, but right now… do you not feel like this is pointless, that we could be doing so much more?" I was reaching out mentally to her, as if my stare was trying to take her stare by the hand and join our way of thinking, but I didn't get much back apart from a small sympathetic look.

I wasn't disappointed per say, but it was sad to think that someone as amazing as Annabeth didn't feel the same as I did. If I could dream about not having these limitations holding ME back, imagine what she could have accomplished already, all the things she could have done! She'd probably have a world record already, or a published book or something. But no, she was content being stuck here with people like Mr Stanley telling her what to do, telling her what she should and shouldn't know. It all just stunk.

I turned away from her stuffing my hands in my pockets. "Whatever Chase" I sighed, "I'm sure those math and English classes will keep you entertained." The crazy thing was though, that I was about to go and sit in this auditorium, listening to the same dreary teachers moaning on and on, purely because Annabeth was going to be there too. Plus, I didn't want to end up running into Drew again if I ended up stalking the hallways for an hour.

I walked past Mr Stanley in the doorway without uttering a word, spying Jason and Piper sat on a row nearby with the rest of the gang and 2 empty seats. Perfect, I thought, I get to sit right next to her too! Gods that makes me sound creepy doesn't it? I walked over to them, revelling in my excitement and hiding my shame at that excitement. IM IN THIS STUPID LECTURE WHY AM I EXCITED?

Jason and Piper waved for Annabeth to come over and sit with us as I was saying hi to the Stolls, asking them what they'd gotten up to in homeroom and if they'd pranked anyone yet. I noticed that Thalia wasn't here with the group which upset me slightly, I didn't want her to have taken our little tiff earlier so seriously as to stay away from me for the rest of the day. Then again, I am literally about to sit next to her best friend in assembly, somewhere that I never come to which she knows. I chewed the inside of my mouth thinking about this conundrum, for long enough that I didn't even see Annabeth walk completely past us to sit in the top row on her own.

"I did not expect to see you here Perce, don't you hate this thing with a passion?" Jason said to me, leaning in. "Yeah" Piper chimed in, "You've literally gotten yourself into detention before just to get you out of this place, what happened? Two small questions felt like a tirade, unable to answer them I leant back to get a glimpse of where Annabeth had gone to sit, she had her head down in her book already making extensive notes, not noticing my staring at her. Piper followed my gaze, her eyes also landing on Annabeth perched up in the back row. She looked back towards me with a small smile on her face before leaning back on her chair and giving a small, "huh." She was obviously content with knowing the answer to my question.

Jason on the other hand still had no clue, not catching my gaze at all, I had to play something off to him to stop the onslaught. "I was hoping to catch Thalia in here, we had a small argument in homeroom that no one caught, just wanted to check that she wasn't taking it to hard." I looked him in the eye hoping he'd stop questioning now. I saw a small hint of suspicion before he eventually became happy with my answer, no further questions required. "Yeah, she decided to pull a you and skip assembly today, I'm not 100% sure where she is but she said she'd be back for first period." Jason said, turning his attention back to the stage. He pulled a pack of peanuts and offered them about. Piper took a small handful still smiling about her revelation. I also took a handful and started to pick out targets in the crowd. Looks like this is what I'll be doing for the next hour… Good job Percy, you're a winner.

-[End of Chapter]-

(Authors note) Sooooooooo how did you find that chapter, do you like the direction I'm taking Percy and Annabeth down? I just can't believe I'm back on this story and invigorated again! Like I can see the plotlines I want to do and I'm so excited!

I hope seeing this story notification pop up made some people very happy! And I'm working extremely hard to get the next chapter out for you all as soon as possible!

I love you all, take care and see you next time!