12:10, Monday, November 7th, 2010
Sydney Lise watched Percy Jackson, and with every moment, her worry grew.
His shoulders were hunched as he looked out the cafeteria window. His strange pen flicked between his fingers, a flash of bronze. His eyes seemed glued to one spot on the New York Skyline, and his food was left cold in front of him.
Sydney, Cameron Dales, and Damien Mills sat at the same table as him, but it was like an invisible barrier had been placed between them.
Sydney had known for a while that something was off about Percy Jackson. It was barely noticeable, little things that just barely crossed the line. But this was the first time Sydney had seen him without his group of friends, and his oddities seemed more pronounced.
His eyes were unnatural, swirling with storms. His skin was marred, and something seemed to shimmer beneath it. He reminded Sydney of the Sea; calm yet swirling, gentle but rough, and tamed yet untamed.
Percy Jackson was unnatural. Danger flocked to him like he was its god, and being a part of who he was, was the altar. Percy Jackson held something, an unidentifiable element that set him apart.
The bell rang.
Percy abruptly got up and dumped his food out. Sydney, Damien, and Cameron follow him. His movements were stiff and jerky, reminding Sydney of a robot.
He walked to his locker and opened it. Sydney's locker was on the other side, so the three of them congregated there. They were lucky, they had a free period right now. Cameron and Damien continued their conversation from Lunch, while Sydney continued to watch Percy.
His back was to her, but she could almost see the frustration and loneliness he was holding. There was something there, a thin line, a line Sydney couldn't see. A thin line between tamed and untamed.
A clear day or a storm.
And Percy, unbeknownst to her, was teetering between the two. Alone and forced to endure his secrets with no one nearby for even one day was breaking him down. Shattering his supports, toppling his platform, bending the bars holding him back.
Sydney's eyes narrowed when Cain Van Wes came. He was alone, a single person, but his mannerisms still made her slightly afraid. Cain looked like he was out for Percy's blood, and would stop at nothing until it was spilt.
Sydney knew that Cain was jealous of Percy. It was obvious from the way he looked at the captain of the swim team, a position Cain thought would be his, every time he wore the swim team hoodie. Cain had made it onto the team but had been kicked off because of his poor grades from the year before.
The season was now over, yet Cain's jealousy had not subsided in the least.
Cain started to taunt Percy, trying to rile up the other teen. Percy's back was to Cain, clearly ignoring him. Cain continued to taunt him, getting worse and worse and more personal, until he got a reaction out of Percy.
"Heard your girlfriends an utter idiot! Guess the same people are attracted to one another!" Cain laughed. Sydney, along with everyone else watching, knew how untrue Cains statement was. Anyone who had come in contact with her could confirm, Annabeth Chase was wicked smart.
But it was enough to get a reaction out of Percy. He turned around, opened his mouth to speak, and-
Cain punched him.
There was a sickening crack as Cain's fist connected with Percy's nose, and the punch caused Percy to slam against the lockers. Percy's reaction was a strange one, as not only did his hand come up to his nose, but when a drop of blood splattered on the tile, Percy swore.
His eyes looked around wildly like he was waiting for someone to pop out.
Sydney felt sick looking at the blood dribbling out of the space between his fingers. As more and more dropped onto the floor, Percy seemed to grow more and more worried, his eyes growing unfocused.
Cain grinned, and his words broke Percy Jackson's reverie, "Awww Jacksons gonna stand up for his whore of a girlfriend. How cute!" Percy whirled, ready to attack but Cain caught him off guard again. Another punch found the side of his face, then another one his torso.
Cain stood there, smiling like a madman at the hurt Percy Jackson who was in front of him. Percy was leaned against the lockers, one hand on his nose, trying to stop the blood.
Percy's eyes slowly looked up, and time seemed to stand still for just a moment.
His eyes were holding a coldness and darkness that Sydney had never associated with him. Something burned beneath his eyes, untamed and unmatched. Cain, who was bathing in the mirth of Percy Jackson's apparent defeat, didn't notice.
Cain swung another punch, but this time Percy wasn't caught off guard. He caught the punch with his free hand and squeezed. Sydney heard a pop and winced. Cain yelped and jumped back, clutching his hand.
That's when Percy swung the only punch he would throw. It met Cain's cheek, and it was so strong that Cain fell to the floor. Percy stood over him, and the words of the strange boy Leo echoed through Sydney's head.
"You know, messing with Percy Jackson doesn't even end well for anyone. If he doesn't beat you up, someone else will for him."
The first time Cain had messed with Percy someone else had dealt with him before Percy could. But now there was no one coming to Percy's rescue, and Percy had stepped up.
Sydney almost wished that he hadn't, because something had been pulled back from Percy for just a moment. A curtain that had covered the wild edge of him. But now it was on full display for everyone.
Sydney had wished she had listened more to her therapist dad, and his warnings. He would always tell her how to identify the signs that someone was about to lose it, and in hindsight, the red flags had been waving for a while.
From Leo's warning to the darkness in his eyes. The heavy bags under his eyes signalled a lack of sleep, which always heightens people's emotions. The rumours that surrounded him, specifically the manhunt rumour.
The rumour was a kind term. Everyone knew that the Percy Jackson that stalked the halls of their school had been the centre of a national manhunt. He was the same person who had been suspected of blowing a hole in the side of the gateway arch, who had been kidnapped, who had been the victim of the worst summer ever.
The boy who had been wild enough to do those things. Who had been brave enough? Stupid enough. The boy who had done all those things had not disappeared as everyone had thought. Percy was still filled with a wild force, that no one, not even Cain Van Wes, could combat.
She remembered being twelve, curled up between her dads watching the TV. She remembered how afraid she would be if she was the centre of a manhunt, alone and on the run. Nowhere to turn, no one to go to. It was a wonder that Percy turned out how he is.
She looks at Percy Jackson again.
He's standing in the hallway, glaring at Cain, who's gotten up off the floor. His blood-stained hands are clenched at his side, and his nose is still bleeding, staining his shirt.
He stands with a malevolence Sydney can't understand. His shoulders are squared, his eyes are dark, his hands are steady. He looks ready, prepared and trained. The strong scent of salt drifts through the room.
Before either boy can make another move, Mrs Childs, along with a handful of teachers arrived on the scene.
Cain starts to wail and spin a tale of how Percy had attacked him, and how his self-defence moves had done barely anything.
Mrs Childs slowly turned to the other boy. Percy's eyes were narrowed into slits, and when the Principle of Goode High asks him to defend himself, he spits out a single word.
"Liar."
Mrs Childs looks around at the congregated students, silently begging for someone to speak up and tell the truth.
Sydney knows she should speak up and defend her friend, but she looks away like a coward. She wants to defend Percy, she does, but more than anything she wants to stay off the radar of the Van Wes'.
Mrs Childs sighs, and mutters quietly, "Well I guess I'll have to get the security footage." Sydney almost laughs at the slight panic that crosses Cain Van Wes's face, but she can't find it in herself too.
1:00, Monday, November 7th, 2010
Percy Jackson was slouched in his chair, eyes focused on the barely visible Empire State Building. Or more specifically, Olympus hanging above it.
Percy Jackson barely noticed his broken nose, the bruises on his face or torso. He could feel Cain's glare on his back, spiteful and full of hate.
Percy Jackson wishes his friends were with him. Annabeth was upon Olympus, working on some architecture stuff. Piper had the flu and was over at Camp, where she could heal better. Jason had gone to California for the week and was a replacement Praetor for a few days. Apparently, Frank had gone back to Canada to clean up some family things.
His mom was at a writing conference in Boston, and Paul had taken a vacation to join her.
So Percy Jackson was alone.
He didn't expect to lose his cool so quickly, but without someone who truly understood him, there to ground him, it was almost inevitable. His father had told him once that the sea didn't like to be restrained, and Percy had never understood his statement so much.
Percy Jackson was an impulsive person. And when someone riled him up, pushed his buttons, he was going to lose it.
He peeled his eyes away from the window when the door opened again, and Mrs Childs walked in. She dismissed the teacher who had been watching the two teen boys and sat at her desk.
Her amber eyes bore into Cain first. "Your parents are on their way." She turned to Percy. "I called your mother, and while she can't come, she contacted your father." Percy's eyes widened and he heard Cain snicker. "Mr Van Wes, do not dig yourself into a deeper hole than you are already in." She snapped before continuing her previous statement. "Your mother says that he and your stepmom will be coming."
Percy nodded, and his eyes looked back at Olympus. He was fairly sure that his father would be unhappy with him, but he wouldn't be ridiculously mad. Percy was likely going to get a lecture about attacking mortals, but he had resigned himself to that long ago.
Amphitrite, on the other hand, would not be pleased. His stepmother was a kind woman, but she would be far less happy with Percy punching someone, mortal or not. He had already been knee-deep in trouble, but now he was in over his head.
In other words, he was screwed.
Cain's parents arrived first, and they were everything Percy expected. Perfectly displaying the stereotypes of a rich businessman and his wife, with the dad wearing a black business suit, and the mom wearing a dress and a string of pearls around her neck.
He saw both of them glared at him, before settling into their seats behind Cain. A minute passed and he heard Cains mom mutter, "His parents couldn't even bother to show up." The dad whispered something to her, that Percy couldn't quite make out.
Percy yet again turned back to look at Olympus, when he saw a flash of gold. His parents had arrived. Oh, joy.
A minute later, the King and Queen of the Sea stepped into the room. His father was dressed more professionally than he was used to, in slacks and a button-up shirt. Percy gave him a questioning look, but it was waved off. Amphitrite looked herself, with a long flowing blue dress, a simple necklace with a jewel strung on it, and her celestial bronze and pearl ring.
Percy couldn't help but think that the Van Wes' looked pitiful next to the sea monarchs. They looked like how the rest of the New York elite did, with their expensive jewellery and nicely tailored clothing.
But Poseidon and Amphitrite were not only Olympians, but they were the rulers of the unconquerable sea. Poseidon, at least in Percy's opinion, didn't always look like the king he was. He tended to wear Hawaiin shirts and Bermuda shorts. Not very kingly.
But Amphitrite was a queen in every aspect of her life. Her dark hair hung around her head in curled ringlets. Percy noticed that pearls were woven into her hair, creating a beautiful look. Her blue dress had hints of green, and it seemed to fall around her like waves. Her brown eyes were cold as she looked at the Van Wes'.
His parents sat behind him.
Ms Childs explained what she had seen initially; A bleeding Percy Jackson standing over a collapsed Cain Van Wes. She told them of the sob story Cain had pulled and Percy's response to it.
She pulled out a tape and told them that this was the security footage from the hallway. She put the tape in and clicked play.
The video was black and white, and after some speeding up they saw the scene from earlier today. They saw Percy walk to his locker, sift around for a few moments before Cain came up.
They saw Cain taunt him, and they saw when Percy started to turn. They saw the first punch that gave Percy's bloody nose. Percy could almost hear his parents gritting their teeth behind him.
They saw the next two punches, then saw Percy's single punch. When Cain went down, he could hear his father snort.
The footage ends and Mrs Childs looks angry. She slowly turns to the Van Wes family and speaks to them cooly, "Your son lied to me, and for that, he is getting a week of detention. Two more weeks, because this is his second warning. And finally one more week for starting a fight on school grounds. Four weeks of detention, do you understand me, Mr Van Wes?"
Cain nods glumly and shoots a glare at Percy. "You may leave. Mr Van Wes, you are dismissed from classes for the rest of the day." Mrs Childs says. The family files out, each of them shooting glares at Percy and his parents.
The door close and Mrs Childs sighs as she turns back to Percy and his parents. "Mr Jackson, I don't want to give you detention because I understand that your actions were merely self-defence. But I am required to because, in accordance with the rules of Goode High, this is your third warning. So three weeks of detention."
She sighs again, "I also have to put you on probation, and put that on your permanent record."
Percy nods glumly, and he plays with a loose thread.
"Mr…" Mrs Childs says,
"Olympia. Poseidon Olympia. And my wife Amphitrite."
Mrs Childs raised a curious brow but did not press further. "I am also required to request that you get your son some sort of counselling. Due to his reactions, and some of his incidents in the past."
Percy felt like he was about to cry. He's been told multiple times by Chiron, Will, his Mom, even Annabeth, that counselling, therapy will be good for him. The idea makes him feel like something that needs to be fixed, but he doesn't need to be fixed. He's fine.
He feels his parents gaze on him, and Amphitrite speaks, "We will talk about it."
"Thank you." Mrs Childs said, standing up. Percy and his parents follow suit. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr and Mrs Olympia. And Mr Jackson, you are dismissed from classes for the rest of the day as well."
"Likewise," Amphitrite says.
The three of them walk out into the empty hallway. At some point during the time they were in the office, the next period had started. Percy opens his locker, stuffs the things he needs inside it, and pulls on his jacket.
The three of them walk out of the school, and Percy is just about to go to his motorcycle when his father grabs his arm. "I'll bring it to your house later. We need to talk right now."
Percy nods, and they leave onto the New York sidewalks. They make their way to a nearby diner and step inside. They sit down at a table and order some drinks. The waiter leaves, and Percy is left alone with the King and Queen of the sea.
Amphitrite speaks first, "What did that boy say to you in the hall?"
Percy, not meeting either of their eyes, says "Nothing important."
"It had to be something important for you to punch him." Amphitrite counters.
"It doesn't matter, okay?" Percy says, glaring at the table.
"Percy…" his father says.
Percy bites his lip. He's losing the argument, that much he can tell. But he feels so stupid because honestly, Cain had just called Annabeth some names. His knee jerk reaction shouldn't have been to punch him.
Percy tells them, quietly, everything Cain said.
He can feel them looking at him, and he wants to curl into himself and hide, because this is stupid, and he was stupid, and he's too dangerous, and-
"We understand." his father says.
It feels like a thousand pounds have been taken off his shoulders. He feels like he can breathe again because they aren't mad and he isn't stupid.
"But we should discuss her suggestion of counselling." Percy's shoulders tense, and the breath is knocked out of him again.
He doesn't want to discuss this, he's fine, he doesn't need help, he has Annabeth for a reason. His hands, which are resting on the table, are shaking and it feels like everything is collapsing around him.
"No," he says sharply. "I'm fine. I don't need counselling, I have-" his voice catches in his throat.
"Percy, what do you have?" Amphitrite says, her voice laced with confusion.
"Annabeth," he whispers. Saying it out loud makes him the silliness of the statement. Annabeth isn't going to always be able to drop everything to help him. She has her own life, and Percy can't take that.
"Percy," his father ventures, "Annabeth can't always help you. Counselling will help."
"I don't need help!" Percy snaps, his head whipping up to look at his parents.
Amphitrite looks tiredly at him, and Poseidon's face is a mix of concern and a small bit of anger. Percy is heaving, and tears are forming in the corners of his eyes.
Percy lets out a choked sob, and he presses his eyes into his palms, trying to stop crying. "I don't want to go, I don't want people to look at me in pity, because I go. I don't want to be a burden to someone, I don't want to feel like I have to be fixed," he said.
One of his parents sigh, and he can almost see them glancing at each other. He hears the waiter deliver the drinks and his awkward, "Here's your drinks!" and "Would you like to order any food?"
"Were good." his mother says.
"Percy," she says, "We're not going to make you go. But you need to have something, something that can help you. And if that thing isn't talking through it, that's fine. But you need something."
"Yeah, I know," he says.
"I know."