'All a dream needs to be done is someone who believes it can be done'

Roberto Shinyashiki, doctor and writer

Pov. Percy

When I arrived at the Yancy gym I practically wanted to run. She was huge, but that wasn't what scared me. When I got off the bus at the school door and got in, that's right, practically all the students there without exception stopped whatever they were doing and looked at me like I was a freak or an ET DE underwear

I didn't know if they would have faced it because they arrived by bus or because they were new students, but from the eyes of the majority I think it was due to the first option.

As I passed a good part of those little daddy's children they turned their faces and looked at me crookedly. And to think that the majority there was the son or daughter of great businessmen and such and I was a member of the court. They would definitely freak out when they found out. My dad is sure to laugh a lot when I tell him about my first day.

From a distance I saw Thalia parking her car, a black Camaro SS. From the first day I met her she decided that she hates me and would torment me. Something she did often. I think I knew the reason why, since I arrived, all the attention has turned to me, not that I wanted it.

I remember perfectly when even in the first month we started living in the same house Thalia started to wake me up by throwing a bucket of water at me. Man, that was frustrating, thankfully she stopped after my father's threats. It was funny to see her face when mine said he would take his car away.

My parents had told me her story, which was certainly no better than mine. Thanks to heaven I still have a father and mother, but she? Well, I wonder if it were me.

From what my father said, she didn't even know her mother who died in childbirth and the mother's family hates her because of it, except that afterwards she had that horrible accident with her father making him go into a coma.

I think my parents didn't know, but Thalia was still crying over it. I remember that twice I caught her crying calling for her father. This was not a pleasant thing to see. She always played tough, as if she didn't care about the situation.

In those months I really tried to approach her, but she wouldn't let me. As far as I could see she had no friends and lived closed and isolated in a world of her own. It was depressing.

I walked for a while trying to find the principal's office. This for some should be an easy task, but for me it is not. I was never very sociable and I didn't have the courage to ask where I was even more with those looks on me.

I was turning into a corridor when I saw a scene that made my blood boil. I might be shy and quiet, but one thing I couldn't stand was cowardice towards others. Maybe because I always remembered everything I went through.

There in front of me was Ethan and some colleagues. I didn't recognize any of the others. He was always taking advantage of helpless victims. They surrounded a boy who looked my age, curly brown hair, thin and with a look that looked more like a cornered goat.

The boy seemed to have some kind of problem with his leg, as he tried to hobble away in a strange way, as if each step was more painful than the others. Ethan and his henchmen laughed at the boy's fearful face and every time he tried to leave he was pushed like a sack of potatoes.

When I saw that, the blood rose to my head and I moved forward. Anyone who saw the scene would surely think that I am crazy or something to go towards the guy who almost killed me once, but to tell you the truth I didn't care. I didn't want anyone to go through what I went through.

"Drop him, Ethan," I said, putting myself in front of the boy.

He and his colleagues stopped laughing and looked at me. I didn't know if he remembered me, but I hoped he wouldn't, otherwise I'm sure that this time I won't be so lucky.

- Who are you, useless? Do you also want to catch up with the fish here? Ethan asked in advance.

I looked at the boy beside me, who was staring at me with astonishment and even admiration. I noticed him more closely and saw that he was trying hard not to fall, only at that moment that I noticed that one of the big guys was holding a pair of crutches.

- It's none of your business, Ethan, leave him alone.

I don't even know where I got the courage to say that. The boy next to me looked at me in astonishment as if I were crazy and made a strange sound. Ethan? Well he looked at me with a murderous face that even the devil would run and walked at a slow pace facing me, but stopped. Now he analyzed me as if he wanted to see my soul. My blood ran cold right away.

- I know you brat - he said and that was not a question.

In the past four months, I had changed little. My hair was shorter, but it was still the enemy of the comb, I was also eating better and consequently had gained more body, the doctor had recommended that I practice some kind of sport since my motor coordination was not yet 100% and functioning , with that my body became more athletic. Other than that, I hadn't changed anything else.

He continued to analyze me as if he wanted to remember where he knew me, but thanks to the gods he did not remember

- Whatever boy, you will also get what you deserve.

He and those guys that I counted as five thugs who looked more like a wardrobe moved towards me. I thought about my parents, they would definitely miss me.

When the closest person whose face was deformed by acne pushed me, my salvation appeared.

- May I know what's going on here? - a female voice spoke

The thugs stopped and looked in the direction of the voice and I did the same. Standing across the hall, a very beautiful lady with red hair and intense blue eyes almost white stared at us, or rather, stared at Ethan and his friends and didn't look happy.

- Let's answer me, what's going on here?

- It was this boy director - Ethan said pointing at me - he started to tease us

The director looked at me, and I was apprehensive. It is not possible for me to be expelled on the first day. The other boy was already eating the strap of the backpack, it seemed that he was more nervous than me that I took the blame.

- Don't try to deceive me Ethan - she spoke again - I know you and I know very well that he didn't do anything, so I think you better go to the living room before I call your parents and the same goes for all of you, except You, "he said, pointing at me," and you, Mr. Underwood

Ethan and his colleagues, stomped out, not without first giving a deadly look. The slight boy bent down to pick up his crutches. The director looked at us and said.

- Grover, I know it's been hard for you, but you can't lose your temper like that. And there's no point in saying that you kept quiet that I know it's a lie - she said when the boy started to open his mouth - you know very well that I can do almost nothing about it, much less being his father who yes - completed looking with pity at the boy who just nodded.

I didn't understand anything about that conversation. If she, who was the director there, could do nothing, I was afraid to think who the father of that demon was, you see, it was the devil himself.

- Now go to the Grover room, you're already late.

Before he left, he turned to me and spoke.

- Thanks man, I don't even know what would become of me if you hadn't arrived, but if I were you would have been more careful Ethan will certainly not let it go

I smiled at his concern, he would certainly be a great friend

- It wasn't nothing even because friends are for these things it really isn't

He smiled openly when he heard the word friend, he certainly never had one like me or if he did it a long time ago. When he walked away I remembered all the times I was in trouble. No one has ever helped me, but I want to do it differently. Doing for others everything you never did for me.

- So Mister Perseus - the director said

Where did she know me from? Okay, she was the director and everything, but as far as I can remember I've never seen her in my life. She looked at me with a smile when she saw my confused face.

- No need to be scared, your father had already told me about you.

- Ah ... ok ... - I said in a smart way which only made her smile more

- You don't have to be nervous dear, your father and I met a long time ago, you are certainly an improved copy of him - he said laughing

My mother and the employees always said the same thing, but to hear it from a totally unknown person is embarrassing.

- What a lack of manners I didn't even introduce myself - he said reaching out to me - my name is Artemis and as you have heard I am the director here.

"Ah, pleasure director," I said, but I still had several doubts.

- Come dear, let's go to my office, I hope you are not like your father, because if not I even imagine - he said laughing.

She was cool for sure, but the way she talked about my dad clearly realized that they were more than friends.

The room was spacious and very modern for a school, at least I thought, because I still remembered clearly the orphanage director's room, which looked more like an abandoned place full of cobwebs and cracks all over the wall caused by the infiltration. I sat down in front of your table and waited.

- So Perseus ...

- Err ... you can call me Percy Headmistress.

- Okay then Percy, you must be curious how I met your father is not - I just nodded - so it was a few years before you were born and all that confusion came.

My father had already explained to me how it all happened, but even today I cannot understand why this is all. Even though my grandfather didn't like my father's marriage to my mother, he shouldn't have put someone innocent, which in this case was me in all this. Because of that, I never had a childhood.

Artemis looked at me with pity and must have noticed my discomfort.

- I'm sorry dear, it must still be difficult for you isn't it - I didn't say anything, however much I wanted there would always be a void filled with sadness in my heart. What I wanted most at that moment was to get out of that room - well the other day I'll tell you how I met your father, here's your schedule.

I took the paper and was about to get up when she spoke again

- Listen to Percy, the football team this year is still being formed and you seem to be fit for this type of sport, what about the test? If you want you can stop by later.

- I don't know ... and how good ... I like music and stuff more - I said embarrassed.

I really liked music, but it was at my mother's insistence that I started taking piano lessons two months ago. I preferred something less classic, like a guitar or even drums, but when I said that to the face she made it was scary. I even tried to get my dad to help me, but it looked like he was more scared than me. Despite not having the blue blood of the British court, he was from a classic Greek family.

- Ah, but this is very good, we will have a new art teacher, and he will certainly look for new talents here - he said excitedly - and what do you play? Guitar, guitar ...

- Err ... I'm actually learning piano.

After that she looked at me skeptically, no wonder, if what they said was true, that I was my father's clone, I would certainly be more like a crazy guitarist than a classical pianist, not that I'm against it. I liked it a lot and, in fact, the teacher was always amazed by my affinity with the instrument, but I was sure that it was not my face.

- Piano? Good for a son of Poseidon this is ... new. Idea of him?

- Well it was not my father but my mother

- Sure, of course, dear, but it doesn't matter, you are worth gold for sure, we never had a pianist in this school, you will melt the hearts of the girls - he said, giving me a wink.

- Err ... thanks.

- Now you can go to Percy, you are already late for the next class which if I'm not mistaken is math with Mrs. Doods and she is not a big fan of students who arrive late.

I left there and headed towards the next class. As the principal said, Ms. Doods really doesn't like students arriving late to her class. It was no use trying to explain the reason for the five-minute delay and I would almost be in detention right away if I wasn't a new student.

When she asked me to introduce myself I crashed. What did you want? I had never spoken in public before, except that I was shy and could not speak who I was. I was certainly not a good liar so I did what I could.

- Err ... he-hello - I stammered what made everyone laugh, it was like a wave of energy for me, no one would ever laugh at me again, I took a deep breath and oddly enough I was calm and spoke as if there was already done that several times.

- Well, my name is Percy Jackson, I'm 16, until recently I didn't live with my parents despite living here in New York, but I've been living with them for a few months. I don't know what you expect me to be, or that I talk a lot about myself, but I have nothing to say, my life cannot be simply told with words like most of you, but it will only be understood with acts. Well, that I am.

I spoke and sat down again. Everyone looked at me with astonishment, perhaps because they never believed that I could say something so full of meaning, trembling the way it was at the beginning. This seemed to frighten Mrs. Doods, who at first scorned me, but now seemed to have a certain admiration for what I said.

The class was boring. First, because everything she explained I had already seen with Mr. Pufferfish, secondly, I got strange looks from the other students. Some boys looked at me with disgust, others with interest, those in fact saw more of the girls and some boys that I prefer to forget, there were also those who looked at me as if looking for the best way to loosen my pockets.

When the bell hit, I practically ran outside. Thanks to the gods that it was already interval. I couldn't take those looks on me anymore, and look, they didn't even know whose son I am. I wonder when they know. I was so caught up in these thoughts that I almost jumped when I felt someone touch my shoulder.

- Dude, it's okay - the boy on a crutch, Grover said, shaking me

-Our guy you almost killed- I said putting my hand on my chest

- Err, I'm sorry, is that I, err ... I ...

- Come on, manspeech

Grover'swas already red as a tomato looked ashamed to say something, in that several other students had already stopped to observe the scene.

- It's just, it's just ... - he took a deep breath and spoke so fast that I almost didn't understand - it's just that I wanted to know if you don't want to sit with me.

After saying that she lowered her head as if she already expected no for an answer. I smiled at that, he certainly must have been a very nice guy, but it was more than obvious that everyone excluded him because of his problem.

- Man, I started - I thought I wasn't going to ask.

He lifted his head and smiled in disbelief, as if he thought I would never do that. He spent so long with that face that he was already scared.

- Hey man ... man ... Grover wake up - I shouted

Even so he hardly moved, just winked and looked at me with amazement.

- Y-you know my name ...

Okay, now this is scaring me, but ... is it? It can't be, after all he seems to have been studying here for a long time.

- Of course I know your name, man, or you think I would forget the director saying that Grover piti.

- Bééé - he said, awakening once and for all - I didn't piti.

- Dude - I said laughing - what was that? That was so ... goat.

Okay, I couldn't take it, I almost fell on the floor laughing. The other students looked at me with disbelief as if I were some kind of madman, I don't know whether because I was laughing like one or because I was talking to Grover since many cast contemptuous eyes on him.

- Haha, very funny oh fish face

If by chance someone thought I stopped laughing after that, that's right. I didn't look like a fish, in fact I was smarter than one.

- Okay - I said after calming down - let's go sit kid boy - I said remembering what happened.

- Okay, now it's enough - he said, but he didn't look hurt at all, but he seemed happy to have someone as a friend - let's sit down, but before I don't even know his name.

- There it is, good pleasure Mr. Grover Underwood - I said making my eyes roll - my name is Perseus Jackson, but for friends how can you call me Percy.

Upon hearing the mention of the word friend, his eyes shone with a child who had just been given a gift. He was going to say something but stopped when he looked over my shoulder. I followed his gaze and what I saw made my blood boil.

Thalia was lying on the floor. It had certainly been pushed by the blonde girl who looked at her with contempt. I had seen it before. I would never forget that curly blond hair. The first time I saw her, I thought she would be different. Don't be mean like all those rich, spoiled girls. But seeing that, I realized how wrong I was.

The blonde took Thalia by the shirt and that was the limit. I ran over to them and pushed her away. That seemed to take the blonde by surprise as she was staring at me with her intense gray eyes. If it weren't for the situation, I might have been lost in those eyes, but anger had already taken over me. I hugged Thalia who immediately responded, a clear sign that she was not well, except that she was shaking a lot.

She couldn't like me, but I treated her like a brother, even though she didn't like it. Sometimes I noticed how she felt out of place, distant. Her father was in a coma, but from what my mother said, she never came to visit him.

- Thalia, my God, did you get hurt? - I asked afflicted

He looked me in the eyes and I could see gratitude and joy for seeing me there. As much as she didn't admit it, I was the only person close to her who understood and tried to help, even in the face of so many kicks.

- I-I -am b-well P-percy, o-brigade - she said, making an enormous effort not to cry.

That sobbing voice made my heart sink. Thalia was not one to cry, in fact in these last few months I never saw her cry, but when a single tear fell from her eyes there I promised myself that I would make her happy even though she didn't want my company.

The gray-eyed girl was still staring at me with a strange look, she didn't even seem to care about the situation of the girl she had pushed. It made my blood burn with hatred for her neglect.

Never listen well again, never touch a finger again - even I was startled by my tone of voice, I always tried to remain calm, but now every word came out loaded with hate.

And who do you think is a boy? You don't even know who I am. You are going to tell me that you are her boyfriend, because if I am, I feel sorry for you - she spoke in a harsh voice full of contempt as if she owned something.

It reminded me of all the humiliations I went through for being who I was, a street boy, dirty, without a father, without a mother, without anyone. She was like all those people I met, petty, thinking they were owners of God and the world, forgetting everything and everyone, just thinking about themselves. I took a breath and said everything I always wanted to say to these types of people.

What I am of her or what I am no longer is none of your business - I heard a lot of woes, woes, sip, coming from all sides - what about you? Well, I don't really know who you are, but I'm sure you are just a hypocrite, a spoiled girl who thinks that everyone has to obey, when in fact you have nothing, there is no one who likes you. He is more jealous of others than he has real friends. Today you can be humiliating, stepping on others, but you will end up without anyone if you are not already.

That seemed to shake her, she looked at me again and blinked hard as if she wanted to hold back the crying. Thalia on the other hand couldn't take it anymore and started to cry compulsively. It made my heart cut. Anger, worry, hatred and many other feelings overflowed inside me.

I took her backpack and went out to hug Thalia, who was crying on my chest. From what I could see before leaving, the blonde also had some tears, she just didn't know if they were real or fake, since she seemed to have no heart for her cold eyes.

I walked to a place farther away and sat under a tree still hugging Thalia who was crying like a child.

- Hey Tha, don't be like this - I said trying to calm her down - now that blonde in a tavern will not move like you anymore.

It made her calm down a little and give a shy smile.

- Percy? - she said

- Yes.

- Why did you protect me there? I've always treated you badly and everything.

- Time Thalia, you are my little sister - I said what made her roll her eyes and smile - and after all, younger sisters are always bothering the lives of their elders, but I forgive you little, but don't do it again - I was serious but then smiling.

With that I managed to get some laughs from her. She pulled away from the hug and looked at me smiling.

- You can leave big brother, I won't bother you anymore.

She said laughing, but I could see her crossing her fingers. That would definitely be a fresh start. A fresh start not only for her, but for me as well.