Percy Pov
I was flustered to say the least. Annabeth 'encouraged me' to become more open to my fellow teammates and classmates. Who's to say that I liked being outgoing? I mean, I know I am a people's person, but I don't think I fit into this preppy school. I was contemplating my thoughts as I walked down the hallway, I did like Jason and Thalia. The rest of the group probably wouldn't be so bad, hell I even talk to most of them already. The only reason I've felt a little hesitant being around everyone at once was because I didn't want to force friendships. When I first came to the school it would've been corny to beeline straight toward the other football guys. This was the reason I sat back and tried to make other friends, but honestly I didn't have a lot in common with the kids here. They were just annoying, in a way that seemed like they only cared about themselves, and I didn't think that was what a good friend was. I also could be looking at the situation unfairly. I was being judge mental before really knowing anyone.
As I walked down the hall I noticed Grover and said group at their usual morning spot. Knowing I actually had to be more open and friendly, I decided to greet all of them instead of just Grover.
"Hey guys what's happening?" I asked as I slapped Grovers back lightly. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Annabeth trying to stay indifferent, but I could tell she was trying hard to hold back a smile.
"Percy, what's up?", Grover asked, his voice wavering a little bit.
"Ahh nothing much man, just wanted to say hi to the group before I head off to class." I said as I looked at each one of them, giving off a smile. "Anyway", I continued, "I'll see you after math, and I'll swing by the cafeteria with you for lunch." I slapped Grovers back again.
"You're actually going to grace us with your presence?" Thalia said, with a slight edge in her voice.
"Well what can I say, I just liked spending time with you so much, I just can't stay away." I put my hand over my heart for dramatic effect. "Are you saying you don't feel the same way, I thought we bonded over making fun of Jason."
Thalia responded with a smirk, "Yeah we did have some fun before you up and left." She then began to frown, "Do you feel better what happened?"
"Yeah you kinda bolted out of there, what happened." Leo said as he poked his head up from his phone.
I rubbed the back of my head, "Yeah I just forgot to drink water after the game. And apparently I'm not that used to California heat yet. I felt like shit." They all exchanged confused looks at eachother.
"You could of just drank something at the party." The girl with choppy brown hair spoke. She was standing next to Jason. As I studied her she seemed to be of Cherokee descent, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
"Yeah but I was hot in there too, just felt like I was overheating", I shrugged, not really afraid of their questioning. I've had to lie my way out of tougher situations then this.
"So you just had to drag Annabeth along with you the whole night for some water?" Thalia asked with an eyebrow raised.
Clever. I thought as everyone started glancing between me and Annabeth, who grew red in the face. "Oh Thalia, you aren't jealous, are you?" I gave her a puppy dog type pout. "Don't worry my little angel of death, you can spend the night with me whenever. No need to be jealous." I gave her a wink and a smile, just to be extra annoying. Her face grew bright red as she tried to find words to comeback.
"Jackson! That's my sister!" Jason yelled as he lightly punched my shoulder. I just laughed along, amused by the two siblings.
"I know Jace, but I already told you she was the prettier one, sorry bro." I laughed giving Thalia a one armed hug around her side. "Besides Thalia wouldn't actually do that, would you Thals?" My voice grew quieter as I leaned into her to whisper the last part in her ear. She stomped on my foot in response. Hard.
"Fuck Thalia, I was kidding." I said as I jumped away from her. The group laughed as Thalia began to chase me down the hallway, yelling some very vulgar things. Maybe they could be a fun group to be around after all.
The week flew by faster than normal. I can only assume it was because I was actually talking to more people than normal. I would constantly be talking to the football guys no matter what class we had or didn't have together. Let's just say they added me to their text group chat and I had to silence it so it wouldn't buzz continuously in class. Although, most of the messages were from either Leo or the Stolls. Mostly focusing on planning pranks, rather than school or football. As the week went by fast, the football game went by even faster. It was a higher paced game then the last one, and it was an away game. I had much more energy this game then the previous one, I assume it was because I was actually eating properly. My stats were similar to the first game but I had 2 interceptions rather than just one, and 3 fewer tackles. I would have been more upset about the tackling statistic if I didn't have the interceptions. It's weird, growing up I didn't care about stats and having a certain amount of tackles, but now I constantly check. This is because all the scouts for school will mostly look at statistics, so I'm constantly checking my own to see where I stand with other good players. It was exhausting, more tedious than practice in my opinion, but it was important to know where you stood. As I was walking off the field I was trying to count up all the tackles in my head, when I heard a voice call out to me.
"Hey superstar!" I turned my head to the voice yelling to see the school reporter. Her red hair was a frizzy tangle of locks, and her black shirt had multiple colors of paint on it. The only difference was this was a day game and it was rather hot, so instead of jeans she was wearing cute athletic shorts. The ones that were above mid thigh level. I finally realized she was talking to me, so I clawed my eyes off of her long legs to meet her eyes. Green stared back at green, and she was clearly amused.
"I knew you would respond to that, anyway do you have time for an interview?" She raised up her notebook to show me.
"I guess, although I'm kind of mad with the school media" I was happy to see a quick flash of surprise on her face.
"What why?! I'm the only one that interviewed you from school!" She raised her voice, she was clearly a little defensive about the school paper.
I gave her a smirk, "Well we never got to finish or last interview, so I was kind of disappointed"
She responded with an eye roll, "I know, I just couldn't get the time to finish it. I was busy last week." I motioned her to walk with me before I spoke again.
"What were you busy with?" I asked curiously as we slowly walked back to the oppositions locker rooms. We were rather close, walking almost shoulder to shoulder, I looked down to see she was rather tall. Actually the only shortish girls I knew at the school was Thalia and Hazel, the rest seemed tall in standards of female height. Must be something in the California water, or maybe I just haven't really noticed any shorter girls.
"Oh I had to finish up some painting for art class." I once again looked down to her shirt that was covered in paint.
"Seems to me like you paint outside of school too." I scratched on a paint stain on her shoulder with my finger.
She looked up at me with a smile, "Yeah I do it mostly in my free time. It just calms me when I do it ya know?" I frowned a little trying to think if I've ever done anything art related pst kindergarten.
"I'm not sure, I haven't painted ever, I don't think." I scrunched up my face in concentration, trying to remember a time I had. "Yeah, no I've never painted. We didn't have art in my old school".
She grabbed my arm to stop me, "What! That's great!" She said shaking my arm in excitement.
"What why is that great?" I was now confused, not knowing why she had a sudden burst of energy. Well more energy than she already gives off, which is a lot.
"I can show you the skills of painting, and I can get some juicy interviews in return!" She began walking again, her hands still shaking my arm.
I let out a laugh, "And who said I want to paint?"
"You do." She said, as if she was giving an obvious answer.
"You know Rachel, if you wanted to spend more time with me you could have just asked." I gave her another smile. "Although I guess I could try painting."
She smiled, excitement practically jumped from her eyes. "Perfect come to my house after school on Monday. I know you guys don't have practices then." She pulled out a sharpie from her pocket and grabbed my arm, she quickly scribbled down her phone number.
"You know I could have just put my phone number into your phone right?" I asked, giving her an amused look.
"I know but it's more fun this way"
The weekend went by slowly. After the game I didn't want to partake in a party so I just stayed home. But seeing as though I had no way to entertain myself I just started doing various exercises. I love working out, preferably with weights, but seeing as I don't have any at my house I just settled for some push-ups and sit ups. The only time I interacted with anyone is when Annabeth stopped over to my house on Sunday to see if I needed more groceries. She was shocked to see that I still had plenty.
"I'm rationing well right?" I said as I smacked her shoulder playfully.
"I'm surprised, actually" she said as she stared into the fridge and freezer. "I was expecting you to have went food crazy"
I gave her a genuine smile, "No I didn't want to have you keep driving to the grocery store all the time."
"Huh, well okay then. I guess I'll head out of here." She closed the fridge and started walking toward the door.
"You know you could've just texted to ask me right?" I said as I followed her.
"Yeah but I wouldn't know if you would willingly tell me you needed anything so here I am." She turned to face me as she spoke, her hand was on the door knob.
"I don't want us only spending time with each other when your buying me groceries. So let's hangout more. So I don't feel weird about this whole thing, you know? I rubbed the back of my head, this whole situation was still very awkward to me.
"Yeah" she said with an amused smile, "that's why you went to spend time with me." I looked at her shocked.
"Don't throw my lines in my face!" I always said things like that in front of her and Thalia to try to get them flustered. Clearly she was going to start dishing some embarrassment back.
"Too bad, see ya tomorrow!" She singsonged as she sent me a playful wink. I just rolled my eyes in response.
The next day came and I went through the mundane morning routine before heading off. I hated school, it was so boring. Sure the socializing was nice, but the classes just sucked. I made my way toward Pipers locker, just like every other day.
"Yerrr what y'all talking about?" They all turned away from their previous discussions to greet me.
"Hey Percy we are all swimming after school today at my house if you want to come." Piper said as she broke off her conversation with a timid looking Annabeth.
"I'm going over to Rachel's today or else I would, I'll come for sure next time though" I said as I finished slapping up the guys. The normal greeting gestures for guys.
"Rachel's?! What are you going there for?" Annabeth went from timid to annoyed fast. She might be bipolar I thought to myself.
"Oh I'm just going to paint, she told me she paints and I've never done it so why not." I shrugged in response.
"Oh so your going to go there and paint her like a French girl?" Thalia asked, clearly enjoying my discomfort from Annabeths outburst.
"No Thalia, although it was my intention to learn how to do that." She looked at me confused before I spoke again, " So I could capture your beauty perfectly"
Thalia's face turned a bright red as Piper and Hazel laughed. The boys just rolled their eyes, but Annabeth was still looking rather mad. "Next week your coming to swim." She pointed at me threateningly.
"Okay okay, next week I'll come to swim." I didn't really care if they saw all my scars, it was always annoying to get asked about them. So putting it another week off was fine for me.
"Percy!" I turned to see Rachel bounding over in excitement.
"Hey Red, whats going on?" I greeted her just as enthusiastically back. I always felt comfortable and energetic around her.
"Nothing, just wanted to talk to you before you came over today that's all" Rachel said as she stood right next to me quickly waving at the group, who were mostly watching amused.
"Okay well I'm walking to class soon, so let's just walk slowly there now." I said as I started walking away giving the group a wave goodbye. Annabeth looked more pissed off then she was 5 minutes ago. Which I didn't think was possible.
"Sounds good but I gotta show you the art room first, so you know where to meet up after school, before we head to my house." She said as she grabbed my arm with both her hands quickly pulling me toward the opposite direction.
I just laughed, "Okay, okay, calm down I'm coming."
I forgot all about the group who was watching the exchange, they were glancing between me and Annabeth looking nervous. I didn't know why they were acting so weird but I brushed it off. Today I was focusing on painting. I'll deal with the problems of revealing my body next week, as well as the problem of me not knowing how to swim. I tore my curious eyes from the group as Rachel dragged me along to an unknown area of school. Her red hair was bouncing as she speedily made her way down the hall. My brain cleared, usually bombarded with thoughts and problems, now it was just replaced with red.