"Soooo, have you guys seen the new kid?" Amanda spat out excitedly. She was the most boy obsessed in our group. Correction - probably the most boy obsessed girl in the school. But we loved that about her. Her boy-loving energy rubbed off on most of our friend group. I was the outlier. Sure I like guys, and I crush on them like everybody else, but I'm shy, arguably too shy. I never build up the confidence to talk to them. I'm much more content digging my nose into a good book, escaping the problems of the real world in favor of the fairytales of someone elses.

"No, is he cute?" Rachael curiously replied.

"I think Max got dethroned!" Amanda replied enthusiastically. That got everybody else at the lunch tables attention real quick, including mine. Max is the hottest guy in the school, or I guess was the hottest guy in the school, according to Amanda.

Everybody stared at Amanda eagerly, but she just sat there smiling. "Well!?" Hunter asked, breaking the silence.

"Well what?"

"What do you mean 'well what?' You know perfectly well what. What does he look like? Where's he from?" Hunter replied. "Tell us about him!"

"How much do you expect me to know about him?" Amanda replied defensively. "He's only been here for a couple of hours."

"Yes, but by this time on my first day you were badgering me about all 3 of my ex-boyfriends and asking me way too personal questions for a first introduction," Rachel replied. "You know things, share them," she added bluntly.

"Alright Ms. Relationship." Amanda replied. Rachel was the only one of us currently dating, but we were all hoping to change that. All except me, anyway. Amanda smiled, letting the anxiety and curiosity build in the dramatic silence. We all stared at her intently. Finally, when the rest of the group was about to burst, the ever-dramatic Amanda began her monologue. "Well," she began. "I was chatting him up in our homeroom this morning. I guess I lucked out there. He moved here from California last week. He wouldn't budge on why though. He's a surfer too, and he's got the looks to match it. He's tan, dark brown hair, sea-green eyes, tall - the whole package. And, he's single!"

"Please tell me you didn't ask him that." I questioned. Amanda looked downwards guiltily. "Oh my god Amanda, that's so embarrassing!"

"I'm sorry! I couldn't help myself!" Amanda replied. "It just kind of slipped out." We all started laughing, knowing full well that it didn't just 'slip out'."

"What's his name?" I asked. It wasn't often I asked about guys.

"Come on Annabeth, don't tell me you're taking an outward interest in guys now." Hunter chided playfully.

"Sorry if I'm intrigued," I replied sheepishly. "Amanda's painting him out to be some sort of godsend."

"Honestly I've heard more far-fetched propositions," Amanda replied.

"Is he that good looking?" Colette asked.

"Flawless."

"I'm assuming you swapped socials?"

"Of course, I got his Instagram. He wouldn't give me his snap though. He claims he doesn't like strangers on the app, it's reserved for his close friends."

"Well, then how does this sound - first to get his snap gets the friend group rights." Hunter proposed. The friend group rights were a simple concept. When more than one of us was into a guy, which, among the others was often, there was always a small competition to see who got to go for the guy. The rest of us had to let her get first dibs. If it didn't work out, the rest of us could try again. However, there were a handful of crucial rules - no holding grudges, no sabotaging each other's opportunities, and absolutely, unequivocally, no hating each other for winning.

We made the rule freshman year, Amanda, Colette, Rachel, and I. Hunter transferred into Wellington High sophomore year. It was this rule that locked up Rachel and her boyfriend, Ryan. Colette and Hunter both had the hots for him, but it ended up swinging in her favor.

"Deal." we all replied in unison.

"You know, you never told us his name." I added.

"Percy." Amanda replied. "Percy Jackson."

"Next thing we know you're going to tell us he's related to sally Jackson." Hunter chided jokingly.

"He's her son. I asked." Amanda replied with a smile. The rest of the table spat out whatever was in their mouth in surprise.

"You're kidding."

"No."

"So you're telling me the now most attractive guy in the school is the kid of arguably the most famous actress in all of Hollywood, he's in our grade, and he's single?" Hunter asked.

"Yeah, pretty much."

What are we in a movie?"

"Lock him down and honestly you might be." I replied.

"There's gunna be a lot of competition, and I mean a lot. Imagine how the housewives are acting right now if we're this excited." Colette added. We all laughed in unison.

Who are the housewives I hear you ask? They're a friend group at our school. According to most girls, they are THE friend group. The "popular ones" if you will. Their full name is the housewives of Wellington High. They run the school, well, most of it. The five of us don't really give them their time of day, and they HATE us for it. When Rachel and Ryan started dating, that hatred grew tenfold. We don't mind though. Most of the time they just let us be, pretending that we don't exist. But assuming some of our girls go in for Percy, it might get a bit bloody.

Amanda, Colette, and Hunter spent the rest of lunch cultivating plans to get this Percy's number. Rachel and I got a kick out of it. She was tied down with Ryan, and didn't seem too upset that a new golden boy had arrived. I guess that meant she was truly in love. Good for her. Me on the other hand, well, let's just say I'm a little shy around guys. And by a little, I mean a lot. I've always been one to stay on the sidelines, not chasing after every boy that crossed my mind. Something I can't say for the majority of the girls in Wellington.

After a half hour of listening to the girls scheme, the bell rang. The scraping of chairs being pushed back was deafening. A loud and painful *screeeeeech* of metal on tile. Unlike my friends, I took a handful of honors classes - history and english. Sue me if I like to read and write. Unfortunately, this meant I had class with almost all strangers. I said goodbye to my friends as they left through the side door of the cafeteria, heading for their math class.

Thankfully, I had study hall right after lunch. I always enjoyed a good book after a nice meal. I made my way through the main hallway towards the library. On my way, I noticed a huge mass of people crowding in front of the computer lab.

"What's this all about?" I asked a guy I didn't know.

"The Housewives decided to post a list ranking all the friend groups in terms of popularity." he replied. Our school was very cliquey. Everybody had small friend circles, and all those circles had names.

"There's like 700 kids in the school, half of them they probably don't even know. How'd they manage that?"

"There's only 10 or so names on there. The ones she deems relevant."

"What assholes! Any surprises?"

"Not really. But there's one name way down at the bottom though. She has like a top ten, then everybody else she's too lazy to mention, then all the way at the bottom it says 'Low Class,' whatever that means."

I walked away fuming. That was the nickname the Housewives bestowed upon our group. We called ourselves the Vagabonds, due to our carefree nature and our attempts to remain blissfully ignorant of the social order around us. Unfortunately, that wasn't realistic at Wellington High.

As I stormed off towards the library my eyes found Sophie, the so called leader of the housewives. She was standing off to the side, absorbed in her phone.

"What's your deal?" I asked her.

"What are you talking about?" She replied airily.

"Really?"

"Really what?"

"I don't know, maybe ranking the entire school on popularity!" I practically yelled. Heads started turning.

"Oh sweetie, you shouldn't be so upset. We're just letting people know how it really is."

"And who gave you the authority to decide that?"

"You've got more pressing matters to worry about."

"Like what?"

"This." On cue, Sophie threw a cup of lemonade in my face. I was too stunned to speak. Did she really just do that? "Remember your place sweetheart. And make sure your girlie's steer clear of Percy. He's ours." Sophie taunted in a fake friendly voice.

She spun on her heel to walk the other way when she came face to face with none other than Percy Jackson. Amanda wasn't kidding, he was gorgeous. Please tell me he didn't just witness that whole thing. That would be so embarrassing!

"Hey Percy," she coed dreamily. "Good to see you around. I'm Sophie. Me and my friends are the ones you want to hang with, how about after school."

"I'd rather not if you act like that all the time." Percy replied, gesturing towards me. He walked right past Sophie and straight to me. "You good?" he asked with a smile.

I was too stunned to speak at first, I just kind of stared at him uncomfortably. Dammit why am I so awkward? My fast turned red as I turned to meet him, I put on an awkward smile.

"Earth to blonde chick," he said again, "you good?" he asked again. He was smiling, almost laughing.

"I'll be fine." I managed to stutter out.

"What was that all about."

"Her and her friends made a list of every friend group in the school ranking them by popularity." I replied sheepishly. "Me and my friends don't exactly get along with them. Boy drama a couple of years ago. Some wounds just don't heal. She put us dead last, calling us low class."

"What a dick." Percy replied laughing. "Remind me not to hang out with her."

"I'll make sure to let you know everytime I see you." I replied, half sarcastically.

"What's your name, by the way?" he asked.

"Annabeth."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Annabeth. I'm Percy."

"So I've heard. You're the talk of the town today." I replied.

"Already? Damn, I thought I might at least get some peace and quiet after a transfer. I guess not, huh?"

"Hollywood gossip is everyone's favorite convo, well, most kids anyways. You were found out 5 minutes after you stepped through the front door."

"Huh." he replied. We stood in awkward silence for a moment, just looking each other over.

"I gotta go, uh, fix this." I said with a smile and a laugh, while gesturing to myself. This whole situation was hilarious to me. I was talking to every girl in the school's dream guy while covered in lemonade. What a first impression. To my surprise he laughed too. "I'll see you around Percy."

"I hope so." he replied. Did Percy Jackson just flirt with me?

I went through the rest of my school day as normal, stopping by the gym to change my shirt. I passed Sophie in the hall once after that and she glared daggers at me.

The Vagabonds agreed to hit the local coffee shop after school, and I wasted no time dilly dallying after I heard the final bell. We met up in front of the school. The bustling traffic of 34th street brought me some comfort. I've grown accustomed to city sounds having lived in New York my entire life. I used to escape out my window onto the fire escape every night when I was younger, engrossing myself in a good book. It was my escape from reality, my escape from the horrors of my home life. The city lights and sounds brought me solace. Nowadays, I only head out there when I'm particularly upset.

The rest of the girls were already out there waiting, engaged in a heated discussion, probably about Percy.

"How was your day Annabeth? And why are you wearing your gym clothes?" Hunter asked as I joined them.

"Sophie threw lemonade after I confronted her about the list." I replied flatly. I kept my interaction with Percy to myself. I would jump in the convo here and there when we talked about guys, but the convo was most certainly never about me. Of course I loved and trusted my friends, but I kept my unconfident and borderline nonexistent love life private, even from them.

"That bitch. Don't get me started on that list again though, I don't know if my blood pressure could handle it." Colette replied. I laughed. I didn't really want to talk about it either.

We took off westward in the direction of the Empire State building.

"So how was your guy's day?" I asked. Amanda, Hunter, and Colette all looked at me, slightly saddened. I assume their attempts at Percy didn't quite go as planned.

"I didn't get his snap." Colette mumbled.

"Ditto." said Amanda.

"Retweet." Hunter added.

"Sorry to hear it." I replied. "I'm sure one of you guys will get it eventually."

"Trust me. If I don't get it, it won't be for a lack of trying." Amanda chided.

It took about 10 minutes for us to reach the coffee shop. We filed inside just as the chilly April rain began. Yup, it's officially the end of spring.

DING

Everyone looked towards Rachel as she reached into her pocket for her phone. She pulled it out and read the message aloud. It was from her boyfriend, Ryan. "Hey, Mike's having a party this Friday and all the Vagabonds are invited. Well, everybody's invited. It's gunna be a big one. Are you guys in?"

"Yes!" Everyone but me answered simultaneously.

"Geez, I don't know. Big parties aren't really my thing." I said.

"Oh come on Annabeth, how are you ever going to learn to talk to a guy if you can't even show up at a party?"

"It just doesn't sound like my idea of fun. Loud noises, drunk highschoolers, and gods know what else. I'll pass."

"Would you at least consider it?"

"Probably not." I replied flatly.

"You suck!" Colette joked.

No matter how many parties I'm invited to, I will never go. Not that I get invited to a ton, I don't really, but a few. Enough for most people to know I'm usually a no show. Sometimes that's just the way things go.