I sat down in the passenger seat while Triton started the car engine. I leaned my head against the window watching the New York scenery go by. I jumped when Triton's voice filled air.

"Now remember I don't know you, and you don't know me. We have different last names since you took your mother's name, so hopefully no one links us together. We should get there early enough so they won't see us together."

I fought the urge to scoff at his reasoning. Despite us having different last names, we both inherited our father's looks. We have the same hair, sea-green eyes, and we both have tanned skin, somebody will connect the dots at some point.

Instead I nodded silently and prayed that the awkward car ride will end. In reality the drive should take fifteen minutes in New York traffic. One of the longest fifteen minutes of my life.

Triton pulled into a parking lot in front of a rather large building. The bolded letters on the center read GOODE HIGH. What could be so good about a school that you have to name it Goode? I chuckled to myself.

Triton already slammed the car door before I even processed what was going on. I quickly grabbed my crutches from the backseat and opened the car door. I stood up so fast I almost toppled over face first into the pavement, luckily I held my balance with the crutches. Amidst my struggle I looked up and Triton was already at the front doors, not even sparing a glance back if I needed any help. Figures.

I finally made it to the entrance of school and Triton was nowhere to be seen. Probably already at the pool. No tour no help nothing. That's my brother. Might as well make the best out of it.

The entrance of the school is grand. On either side of the walls there's a long line of trophies the school has earned over the years. Along with photos of the students whom earned them. Once the trophy cases reaches its end, there is two set of stairs on the left hand and right hand sides of the wall. And behind the staircases are two different hallways filled with lockers and classrooms.

I sighed and trudged down a hallway in hopes of finding the main office. The hallways are empty given the time of day and only the sound is the clinking from my crutches hitting the wood floors. The majority of the classrooms are dark and empty, there's an occasional room with an early bird teacher catching up on their work. I didn't bother to go and ask for directions from them since they seemed too busy with their last minute lesson plan.

I continued my way down the hallway observing the different ways I could get around without being pummeled. Another clinking sound became apparent around the corner. My mind quickly connected the sound as heels; a teacher.

A young women rounded the corner her head down as her hands are frantically flipping through papers. She almost passed me without noticing that another person is here. I cleared my throat to get her attention.

Her head snapped up, "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. I was too busy looking through these last minute plans, and I- Oh my!" She cut off after noticing that half my leg was missing.

My face quickly heats up in embarrassment. But I managed to stutter out, "Do you know where I can find the main office. I-I'm new here".

She tucked a loose caramel colored curl behind her ear, " Oh- um.. Of course! It's that door to the left just behind the main entrance staircase. Do you need help?" She asked politely though still red from her outburst.

"No thank you, I think I just passed it. Thank you Miss.."

"Miss Atlas, or Calypso. I don't like being called by my last name even though it's professional. Most of my students call me Calypso. I'm an environmental science teacher by the way."

"Well thank you again Miss, um Calypso. I'll find my way".

With that I turned around and made my way back to the entrance. And true to Calypso's word is the main office hidden behind the stairwell. The lights were on and so I turned the doorknob and opened the door. Inside was a small desk space and a tiny hallway behind it.

"May I help you?" Came a sharp voice from the desk. There's a middle age woman typing at a computer with her glasses at the tip of her nose staring at me.

"Um yes I'm new here and-"

"There's 737 new freshmen here, what makes you so special? I thought the principle told you all to meet at the auditorium." She sighed and went back to her typing.

I bit my tongue at her interruption, "Ma'am I'm not a freshman, I'm a transfer from California and I need my schedule so I can go to class."

She glanced up and down at me, her gaze lingering on my short limb, "Ah you're THAT student. You're early, usually kids like you are late. Hold one minute..."she typed the rest of her sentence before rolling her chair out, "Nightshade the new disabled kid is here. Are you ready to give him a tour?" She called into the hallway.

I bit my tongue until I tasted blood. I cannot get expelled on the first day. Footsteps of another adult came down the hallway. It was another young women with a dark blouse and dress pants, with her dark hair pulled up into a messy bun. Unlike the rude secretary she gave me a genuine smile.

"Are you Perseus Jackson?" She asked politely.

"Yes, but I go by Percy" I corrected.

"Alright Percy, I'm your counselor Miss. Nightshade. I'll be giving your a tour around the school and feel free to a ask any questions"

She led me back out into the school's hallway.

"I want to also apologize for Ms. Em's behavior she's not really a morning's person"

I held back a snort. And followed my counselor throughout the school. I underestimated how big the school really is. There's six floors and two different basements all together and the passing periods are only six minutes to get to class to class.

"Well I showed almost everything that you should need. I'm sure your brother should fill in the rest of the blanks for you. Oh I almost forgot" she grabbed a key from her pocket. "This is the key to the elevators. The elevator won't open unless you have the key. Every teacher should also have the key just in case you forgot it or something. Here's your schedule, we already walked by all the classrooms you have. The last thing is your locker. It's on the first floor right by the wall of acknowledgements. Here's your number and combo. Do you have any questions?" I shook my head as I was handed my schedule and the key.

"Good my office is in the main office if you have any questions or concerns. It's great to have you here Percy!" The counselor waved and walk back to the main office.

I looked at my schedule. Instead of the block scheduling I was used to in California where we alternate classes every other day. I now have the same nine periods every day. Luckily for me the destination between each class wasn't horrible, so I should make it to class on time.

I sighed and headed to find my locker. It's a small locker that was on the top half of the wall. I picked up the paper with my combo on it and opened my locker. As I was setting aside some notebooks in my locker I heard two familiar voices.

"Alright Jason the auditorium is right down the stairs to your left. Remember to text me if you get lost and if anyone gives you any trouble."

"Ok thals I will. I got to go Piper is asking where I'm at."

I froze. I haven't spoken to my cousins since before the accident. After I got to New York I was too busy thinking about my new life, my brain totally spaced about my family. Are they mad at me since I didn't attempt to make contact with them?

I shut my locker and took a breath. Prepping all the courage I have and asked, " Thalia?"

Thalia turned. She didn't change at all. She's wearing a Green Day T-shirt paired with black ripped skinny jeans with combat boots. Her hair is a choppy mess falling below her chin, and her eyes are a sparkling blue pop in contrast to her thick black eyeliner and mascara.

Her eyes turned to surprise to fury. "Perseus Jackson what the hell are you doing here? Why have you not talk to us since May? We've been trying to talk to you all summer! You didn't even tell us when you got to New York! Aren't you supposed to be in California at this time? Why haven't-" Her Eyes widen even further than what I thought was possible. "Your leg! What the fuck happened to your leg?!"


Ah nine months is a long time. The COVID thing wasn't even a global threat yet last time I posted. I'm still kicking, just trying to beat this survival mode. This chapter was supposed to go up in March. In fairness I only had 200 hundred words of this chapter completed then. I'll try not to wait so long next time. Thanks for all the support!

Calypso Atlas the environment teacher. - Calypso in the regular series

Miss. Nightshade the counselor- Zoƫ Nightshade book 3; the Titans Curse

Ms. Em the secretary -Aunty Em (Medusa) book one; The Lightning Thief