Chapter 3
-Percy-
"Hey asshole!"
Percy turns and sees Jason calling out from his car. He and his group have followed them to Leo's property where they plan to... well, make plans.
"Fuck you, too, Grace! Now come on! Everybody else is waiting!" Percy shouts.
Jason grabs a duffel bag from his backseat and runs up to Percy. They walk towards the warehouse where Leo and Frank set up tables and chairs so they can get started.
"I talked with my group," Jason said. "They're all for this idea of yours."
"Leo thought about speaking Greek, too. We all know a little bit of it, right?"
"That's a question for the council," Jason said.
"Council?" Percy laughs.
"Hell, why not?" Jason asks. "But we're not actually going through training for this, are we?"
"I wouldn't say training," Percy says. "Just practice the formation a bit and get familiar with the orders in Greek."
"This is such a nerdy thing to do," Jason says, grinning. "But it sounds fun."
"Besides," Percy says. "Luke is leading one of the other groups not included in this meeting. Maybe I can finally whoop his ass in front of everybody."
"Mr. Brunner said nobody gets hurt," Jason said. "But that would be nice. He needs to be taken down a peg or two."
They reach the warehouse and enter, meeting up with the rest of the guys in the group. They even have the Stoll twins on a video call thanks to Leo, who had set up cameras and mics so they can hear them.
"Hey guys!" Connor says from his side of the call. Travis sat next to his twin brother. Both of them looking a bit pale, but that didn't stop them from grinning mischievously.
"What's the plan?" Travis asks as everybody takes their seats around the table.
Everybody looks at Percy expectantly. "Okay, right now we're going over what we have to work with. Leo, Frank and I have thought about making the armor out of cardboard and plastic. The swords and shields either wooden or plastic, and the spears would be better with cardboard, using broomsticks as the spear shaft."
"What about the helmets and the plumes?" Grover asks.
"Frank?"
"I have something we can use for that. Lots of blue threads from old brooms," he said.
"Do we have a battle plan yet?" Jason asks.
"I'm not really sure yet, but I'm hoping Luke and the other group just enjoy the dance. Our two groups could meet somewhere in the school and march in formation," Percy says.
"I like this sound of this so far," one of the guys from Jason's group says.
"We all have said something about a mock battle during the dance. We all talked to the principle about it," Grover said.
"Yeah but Luke is arrogant," Percy says, beginning to show the better side of him that most people at school don't even know he has. "He probably wouldn't use Greek formations."
"Most of the guys in his group play football with him so they'll have a strength advantage. They'll use that to overpower us," Frank says.
"Frank, you're stronger or just as strong as those guys. We could use you in the center," Leo says.
"But Frank's the only one of us that can match them," Connor says.
"No," Jason says. "Percy can match Luke."
"No I can't," Percy says. "Connor is right, but what they have in strength, we have in smarts, right?"
"Not really," another guy snorts. "But hey, any chance to knock them down a bit, I'm in."
"Let's focus on making the gear, first," Percy says. "Then we'll talk battle strategy."
Everybody starts talking about how they'll pull this off while making the equipment. They know the materials, they just need help to get it done. That's where Leo's expertise comes in.
"I already have the designs drawn up," Leo says. He taps around on his computer and the Stoll twins seem interested.
"So just like Percy said," Travis says. "Plastic, wood, and cardboard. That's easy to get."
"Not easy to put together, though," Grover points out.
"I can do it," Leo says. "I can use some of the materials here to make the molds and make the shields. But if this is going to be a mock battle, I'll make the shields and swords out of plastic."
"Good idea," Jason says. "It's lighter, and won't hurt anybody."
"I'll get started making the weapons, but I'll need measurements so I can get the armor right," Leo says, holding up some measuring tape.
"Connor, Travis," Percy begins. "How are you two feeling?"
"Not bad. Might come to school tomorrow. Normally I wouldn't be excited but... I'm looking forward to this," they say.
"This mock battle will take place during the dance so we have plenty of time to prepare," Percy says.
"I vote Percy as our commander!" Jason calls out.
"So do I," Frank says.
"Me too!" Leo shouts.
"You're not serious," Percy grumbles.
Jason grins. "All in favor?"
Everybody raises their hands and Percy facepalms. "Why me, though?"
"You're the one who called us here, right? This is your idea," Jason explains.
"Yeah well... fuck you, Jason. Fine, I'll be the leader but Jason is my second in command!" Percy says. "All in favor?"
Everybody but Jason raises their hands again.
"Only fair since I'm leading the second group," Jason shrugs.
"Should we have a battle cry?" Leo asks.
"Yeah we should have one!" one of the other guys agrees.
"Maybe the Spartans in the movie 300!" Connor suggests.
"Ha-ooh?" Percy asks for clarification.
"Yeah, that's it!"
"I guess we could do that, but why that?" Grover asks.
"Why not! It's cool!"
"We'll see about that when we get everybody here in person. For now, everybody here, let's see what we can do about the outfits," Percy says, adjourning the meeting.
...
-Annabeth-
At a cafe, not far from the school, Annabeth is hanging out with Rachel, Silena, and a couple other girls, talking and drinking coffee. It's a nice sunny day with a few clouds, the late September - early October air is starting to get cooler as the sun gets lower in the sky, so they're sitting at a table outside on the sidewalk.
"I forgot to ask," Silena says. "Where do you live, Annabeth? Maybe we can hang out there someday."
"I'm currently rooming with an old friend of mine. Do you know Thalia?" Annabeth says.
Everyone's eyes grow wide.
"Hell yeah we know Thalia!" Rachel says. "She was so cool! She graduated a couple years ago."
"No, she dropped out," Silena corrects her.
"I thought she graduated," Rachel says, frowning.
"Nope," Annabeth says. "She dropped out. It's not the school or the students, though. She just didn't like... well, school in general. But she managed to find a decent job and has her own apartment."
"That's so cool," Reyna says. "I haven't seen her in a while. How's she doing?"
"She's great," Annabeth says.
"Sorry I'm late guys!" Piper runs up and catches her breath next to the table.
"Piper! Where have you been?!" Rachel asks.
"Traffic is terrible!" Piper explains. "There was an accident about a mile and a half from the way I came. I just found a place to park and ran here."
"Well, take a seat and join us. Do you want some water?" Annabeth says.
"Please," she replies, with a grateful look in her eyes.
They catch a waitresses attention and ask for a glass of water. The waitress smiles. "Of course, I'll be right back."
"So, has anything happened between you and Jason, yet?" Silena asks.
Silena is basically the love expert of the group. And the makeup artist. Whatever you want done, she can do it.
"No, and I'm getting impatient!" Piper exclaims. "I don't think he knows I like him yet, though..."
"He's probably scared of getting rejected," Annabeth suggests.
"He shouldn't be," Piper says. "I smile and wave at him all the time. Sometimes, I even talk to him in the hallway. I'm dropping so many hints on him he must be blind if he hasn't figured it out by now!"
"Boys will be boys, am I right?" Rachel laughs.
"Any idea what he's up to now?" Reyna asks her. "You should go see him."
"I texted him," Piper says. "But he said he's meeting with the guys in his Greek mythology group. Percy's idea, he said, but he couldn't tell me what it's about."
Annabeth glances at Piper at the mention of Percy. "Percy takes that class, too?"
"Are you kidding me?" Piper laughs. "The guy is really into that stuff with ancient Greece. Nobody outside of our group knows this, but one of the reasons we think he's a weirdo is because he's always looking up something about them. Achilles, Hercules, Leonidas, all of them. Hell, he's named after a Greek hero! But I guess I can't blame him for that.
"Sometimes I feel bad about teasing him about it, honestly," Piper adds. Reyna and Silena roll their eyes playfully. "I'm serious! He's not a bad guy."
"We never said we was a bad guy," Rachel says. "It's also that he's really awkward in a conversation. That's what most people think when we say weirdo."
Annabeth thinks back to what happened during lunch. The way he just stared at her. She thinks it was admiration in his eyes. There was nothing confident about him, but his smile when she laughed was breathtaking. It's really a wonder how he's not popular, but either way that doesn't matter to Annabeth. She doesn't care much about popularity. She's seen how it tears relationships apart. But then she remembers that Rachel said she was going to tell her something about Percy, and she said something, but it seemed like there was more to it. But, she doesn't want to press her new friends about it. That's a good way to ruin things.
"Annabeth Chase, what are you blushing about?" Piper asks, a playfully accusing tone to her voice.
"Oh, she ran into Percy right before lunch ended," Rachel explains. "She claims nothing happened, but I don't believe it."
"You told her how weird he is, right?" Piper asks.
"Of course, but she's intent on meeting him and talking with him."
"Hey, it's not my fault," Annabeth says softly. "I like getting to know people. My dad always tried to control who my friends were and such. I mean, he's not a bad guy, don't get me wrong. Most of it is my mother's influence."
Everybody stares at her.
"She opens up!" Silena declares.
The waitress appears from inside the cafe and puts the glass of water on the table, apologizing about the time it took.
"Oh, don't worry about it," Piper tells her. She fishes out a few dollars from her bag and tips the waitress, who thanks Piper and returns inside the cafe.
"Wait, so you were being controlled?" Rachel asks Annabeth.
"My mother is very influential on my father, yes," she admits. "She wanted me to go to this academy she went to, but I didn't want to. I never knew what it meant to be a normal teenager so I kinda... ran away from them. I talked with Thalia about it beforehand and she offered me her place to stay."
"That's awful that you had to do that," Silena says, reaching across the table and taking Annabeth's hand.
"It's alright," she says with a sigh. That weight was off her chest now, but only a little bit.
"So who's paying for your tuition at Goode?" Rachel asks.
"My dad, but only in secret. He thought it would be good to give me something since he's done nothing else for me. It surprises me, actually," Annabeth says.
"You know," Piper begins. "We were all wrong about you, Annabeth."
"What do you mean?"
"Well... we thought your family looked down on people like us because we don't fit in your social class," Piper admits. "We were excited to get to meet you but also scared. So for that, we're very sorry. Or, I am anyway. I can't speak for those three."
"Hey, I'm with you on that, Pipes," Silena says.
Rachel and Reyna all agree.
Annabeth smiles. "Well, you're not wrong about my family. Thanks you guys, but you don't have to apologize."
"Do you like shopping?" Piper asks then.
"What kind of question is that?" Annabeth laughs. "Of course I do!"
Rachel smiles. "Then what do you say, after we're done here, we go to the mall?"
"Oh, I'd love to," Annabeth begins. "But can it wait until Friday? I have something to do for Mr. Brunner. It's kind of important."
"Oh yeah that's perfect! Friday it is!" Rachel says. Everyone else agrees with their shopping plan. Reyna mentions their original plan for pizza at her house and they agree that after shopping they can do that.
After another hour, the sun is hiding behind the buildings so everybody says their goodbyes and go their separate ways.
Annabeth paid the bill, in spite of everyone's protesting, and starts walking home. Thalia doesn't live very far from Goode High or the cafe so she just walks.
As she does, she hears a familiar voice behind her and she turns to see who it is. It's Percy and seems distracted as he walks past her. She notices he's talking to somebody on his phone.
"Percy! Hey!" She calls out.
Percy stops walking and turns around. A nervous smile forms on his lips when he locks eyes with her.
"Hey! Umm... One second!"
Annabeth waits as he finishes his phone call and he walks up to her.
"Hey. Umm, how are you?" He asks her.
It's clear to Annabeth that he's nervous and trying to hide it.
She smiles and meets his eyes. "I'm good. What about you?"
Percy grins. "I'm doing pretty good. Hey umm..." His smile fades. "I'm sorry about earlier. At lunch."
Annabeth's smile turns a bit nervous. She tucks a few strands of hair behind her ear and avoids eye contact for a moment. "Oh, don't worry about it. It was an accident, no big deal. So, what are you doing around here? I mean... Do you live around here?"
Percy shoves his hands in his pockets. "Yeah. Just right up the street. About a block from here."
Annabeth's heartbeat quickens a bit. She's getting lost in his eyes. And he lives so close to her.
"What about you?" he asks.
She snaps out of her trance. "Oh. I live with my friend here."
Percy looks up at the building. "This one here?"
"Yup!" She smiles.
"We're practically neighbors..."
"I guess so. So who were you talking to a moment ago?"
"Oh. That was Jason," he replies.
"Can I ask what you were talking about?"
It's none of your damn business, Chase!
Percy's nervousness seems to fade and he grows serious. "No. I'm sorry, it's just... I can't tell anybody outside my Greek mythology group."
That surprises Annabeth. One second he looks nervous, the next he completely changes. But it was... Kinda hot to see him get serious.
What the hell are you thinking, Chase?! You're supposed to be playing hard to get!
"Oh, okay. Umm..." She thinks a moment. "I've heard you're really into Greek heroes and stuff like that."
He blushes deeply, his seriousness fading and replaced with his usual nervousness. "Oh, yeah. I can't really help it. It's kind of one of my hobbies, I guess. The movies, some games... It's the only thing I really enjoy researching about in school, actually."
"Oh, that's cool," Annabeth says with a smile. "You know, I want to be an architect and Greek architecture happens to be a favorite of mine."
"Really?" he locks eyes with her.
"Yeah," she replies.
Maybe his eyes could be another favorite to look at...
Annabeth shakes the thought away. Knock it off, Chase!
They look into each other's eyes for a few moments before he clears his throat. "I should get going. I'll see you tomorrow?"
Annabeth smiles. "Yeah. See you tomorrow."
Percy smiles back and starts walking down the sidewalk towards his apartment building, but then he turns around and rushes back to her.
"Hey, sorry but umm... Can I get your number?"
Annabeth's jaw slackens a bit in surprise.
Yes! Of course you can!
"I don't know," she teases, ignoring her thoughts. She crosses her arms and shifts her weight to her left leg. "Can you?"
Percy blushes. "I mean... We're friends, right? So I was thinking..."
Annabeth laughs and locks eyes with him yet again. She can't get enough of them. He's so cute when he's nervous.
"Try again tomorrow. Then we'll see," she tells him with an amused smile.
"Alright. Sorry... Umm... See you tomorrow!" He turns and runs over to his apartment, this time entering the building.
Annabeth enters her building and takes the stairs to the third floor where Thalia lives. She unlocks the door and enters.
"I'm home!" She calls out upon entering.
Thalia calls out from the kitchen. "I'm in here!"
Annabeth sets her things by the couch and enters the kitchen. Thalia is in the middle of cooking dinner of steaks, fried potatoes, and fresh green beans from her little garden on the porch. Annabeth inhales the scent of cooking food and leans over the counter.
"So..." Thalia begins. "Who were you talking to outside?"
Annabeth blushes and smiles. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Thalia grins. "Like hell I don't. You're blushing! Was it a boy?"
Annabeth slowly starts backing out of the kitchen, her hands clasped behind her back. "I've got homework to do."
"Annabeth Chase, you come back here and talk to me," Thalia laughs. "Who was it?"
Annabeth's blush deepens and she stops to lean on the door frame. "It might have been a boy. But that's all I'm telling you."
"Alright," Thalia sighs, changing the subject. "How was your first day?"
"It was good," Annabeth replies, returning to the counter. "Made some new friends."
"And was the boy outside one of your new friends?"
"Yeah..." She says with a blush. "I don't know much about him other than his name and that he apparently loves Greek mythology."
"Ooh a Greek boy? What's his name?"
"Percy Jackson..." She finally admits.
Thalia almost drops her spatula in the potatoes and stares at Annabeth.
"What is it?" She asks.
"Percy Jackson... I think I know him," Thalia says, seemingly deep in thought.
Annabeth sighs. "Let me guess... You're going to tell me how much of a weirdo he is and that should probably stay away from him..."
"Partially right," Thalia says. "He's definitely weird, but he's not bad at all. I used to be friends with him a few years ago."
"Really? What happened?"
Thalia shrugs. "We just kind of stopped talking. There wasn't a fight and he didn't scare me off or anything. Just, stopped talking."
"Oh, wow... Wait, so you're not going to tell me to stay away from him?"
Thalia looks at her friend and smiles. "No."
"Sooo..." Annabeth blushes. "What can you tell me about him?"
"Where to begin..."