Hey guys! So sorry for the long wait :l I explained to all those that pm'ed me very sorry. I must have scared a few of you, since one or two of you thought I was dead XD Anyways I managed to write three chapters on word while the wifi was out so here is number 1

ONCE AGAIN IF YOU HAVE RANDOM IDEAS FOR THE STORY OR CUTE MOMENTS JUST TELL ME AND I"LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO! IT WOULD REALLY HELP WITH UPDATES BEING FASTER

BTW my exams end in a week and a half so yayyy more chapters throughout holiday! Pray for me as I go into my exam hall not knowing wtf to do for accounting :l

Disclaimer: Don't own anything besides Oc's yada yada yada let's get to the story ;)

ALSO:

Chickennuggets, (A persistent reader who always makes me smile) I hope these few chapters compensate for my absence and your waiting and waiting ;) sorry hun :)

ZoeArtyAwesomeLover, Miss you :(

COMPETITION: Which ever readers send me an idea they would like in the story like a flirting scene I will give the lucky winner whose idea I use a small role as a brief OC character in the story. You can create a OC and I will add them into the story

CHAPTER 6

My senior year epiphany, took me long enough...

I sucked in my breath as I did my 15th bench press, the last one was always the hardest. Especially since I had upgraded from 105kg's to 120. My body was covered in a layer of sweat, it glistened in the light of my indoor gym. I had installed it at the beginning of last year.

From that night at the party, to the poolside epiphanies, my whole thought process had changed. I no longer focused on just grades. I lacked confidence, as my sister said. I remember our conversation clearly. It was the afternoon after that embarrassing party.

"You look in the mirror and what do you see?" She asked me.

"A lanky, unattractive and rather pizza faced guy." Was my response.

"That response right there, is the total opposite of what you really are. I know that for a fact, well you have a point with being lanky. You are not happy with your body you say?"

"Yes, or my pimples…"

She smiled, "I'll make you a deal. I will provide you with a cream that can slowly, but surely take your acne away, but...you have to install a gym."

"Deal!" I grinned.

"Buh buh buh buh!" She held up her index finger, "You have to actually use it, and our swimming pool. If you want to be happy with your body, you have to work for it."

I frowned, "Ugh, I hate sports…"

"But you love swimming!"

I sighed, "True...oh alright. I need to google a workout plan then."

She smirked, "No need, here is one I know is guaranteed to get results." She handed me a piece of paper with steps. I raised my eyebrow at her.

"When did you even-Oh nevermind. You're sure?"

"Trust me. You wanna look the part, you gotta think you're the part. Do you think Artemis would date a pussy? No, she, like all girls, is attracted to confidence." My sister stated bluntly.

"I don't want you to help me get her. I want you to help me be happy with what I see in the mirror. She will never see me as more than your geeky older brother, why can't you see that?"

She opened her mouth to retort, but could think of no reasonable reply.

"Exactly." I added.

"Oh keep quiet, now come here. We're gonna get you a gym."

I sighed and rubbed the sweat off of my face with my towel. I worked out every single morning before school for a full year, and every day twice a day during the summer. I stayed at home alone with my Aunt, while my sister went with Athena to Artemis and Apollo's holiday house at some ski resort over christmas, Hermes was the only guy who I had to spend the holidays with, even then, he barely saw me until after christmas day.

I was so determined to change my physical appearance, body wise, that I barely did anything other than train, swim and the occasional party with my friends all through last year.

I observed myself in the mirror, throwing the towel to my feet. Boy did all the hard work pay off, I lifted my shirt above my head, casting it aside.

I flexed, my eight pack stood out like a rose amongst the thorns. My eyes travelled down my body, each dip and cord was pure muscle. I could have modelled underwear if I wanted to. My v-line alone was as sharp as a fine blade. My eight pack was only as apparent when I flex though, if I had washboard abs it means I was unhealthy. (An: It's true, google it if you don't believe me)

I had a classic surfer tan, from swimming in both the ocean and pool. I swear if it were not for my face, I could be a model. Even if the pimple stuff my sister had given me, worked miracles, not only was my skin clear, I had no scars whatsoever. My braces had come off, I looked like a whole new person.

I wondered if anyone would recognise me.

"This place smells like sweat." I heard my sister's voice from the door.

I chuckled, "Well I've been using it all day." I began to wipe my body with the towel at my feet.

She eyed me from top to bottom, "Well my oh my. You'll have all the girls drooling brother."

"Yeah right, my face'll put em off." I picked up my spectacles and put them on my nose.

My sister rolled her eyes, "You're not ugly you dumb fu-" I threw my sweaty towel at her face, interrupting her lecture. She threw it off and gagged, "Gods! You're disgusting!" She laughed.

I smirked and put her into a headlock, basically stuffing her into my armpit.

She squealed and glared at me venomously.

"Let go!"

I laughed, "What do you have to say?"

"I won't say it!" She declared.

I squeezed harder, she made a gagging sound.

"You're the best brother in the entire world, I worship you oh great and mighty Perseus!" She growled with a narrowed eyes. I let her go.

"Now was that so hard?" I mocked.

She gave me a very a rude hand gesture as her response.

"Ugh now I have to go shower!" She groaned as she sniffed her shoulder.

"Be nice if you did it sometime." I smirked, she gave me a mock glare, "Alright, but where are you going?" She looked all dolled up, I meant more than usual.

She blushed, "Well since it's our senior year, which starts in two days, I thought we could go to the salon. You would get a hair-cut next door, under my supervision of course, we'd get groomed I guess you could say."

I raised my eyebrow, "You got the hots for Kyle don't ya?"

Kyle, a hairdresser where we get our hair cut. I've been told he's incredibly sexy, a real ladies man, I couldn't see it though. Perhaps it was his well groomed beard? Or more than likely, his british accent. Yeah, probably the accent. My sister was a sucker for british accents.

"That too." She winked.

I laughed, "Alright, but I am NOT getting a bikini wax, I hear that hurts." I joked.

She rolled her eyes, "Give me two minutes."

In girl language that meant one hour, I've learned to never rush them, even if you're desperate, it just pisses them off and they don't land up being satisfied with how they look and take extra slow. Or they do land up being satisfied because they ignored you and took their time but will give you hell about how rude you were. I promise you, girls ain't putting makeup on for you, it's for themselves, so don't rush them. Yes, all these years of living in a house full of women has taught me many things.

"Take your time." I smiled.

I grinned as I touched the side of my hair. My new hairdresser really listened to every word my sister said, and I'm glad she did. Although, my sister was not very happy about Kyle being switched to another shift.

But back to the topic at hand, over the holidays my hair got a bit...scruffy looking. Growing over my ears and the tips touching my lower neck. Now it was short on the sides, neatly groomed at the ears, and my thick locks longer at the top, allowing me a variety of styles to use.

"Thanks Jess." I smiled brightly, for some odd reason she went a deep shade of red, stuttering a quick 'You're welcome' before rushing off.

"She's just shy." A squeaky voice said beside me. I looked, no one was there, then I looked down. A twelve year old girl sat in the chair reading a teen-zone magazine, her hair frizzy and knotted.

"What?"

She stole a glimpse my way out the corner of her eye, "You're hot, you make girls swoon. She's shy, don't stress."

I laughed, "Alright uhh?"

"Margaret Ashley Olympia, but don't you dare call me that prissy name. Call me Maggie." She held out her hand for a handshake, I raised my brow and shook it, she had a very firm handshake, better than mine if I was gonna be honest.

Her surname seemed oddly familiar, Apollo's surname was Olympia. I wondered if they were related? Not likely, I would have heard of her or met her before. Her dark brown hair was curly and frizzy, how could I forget her if I had met her? No wonder she was here for a trim.

"Uhh-I'm Percy Jackson."

She smiled, "Nice to meet ya!"

I frowned but soon returned her smile, "Likewise, tell me, where are your parents?"

"Oh I'm here with my sister, Elizabeth" She muttered.

I smirked, "You mean your parents named you like the queen of england and her sis-"

"Yes like them! Don't remind us." She rolled her eyes before returning to her magazine.

"Sorry. It's cute man!"

"Mmm." She murmured, "I think your sister is calling you."

My brow creased, then I lifted my chin, my sister was waving for me to come over to the salon. I stared at Lizzy in shock.

"You have the same mouth and eyes, besides, I heard her flirting with Kyle as he was leaving, saying she was a Percy Jackson's sister."

Holy Gods. "You certainly are something Lizzy. I gotta go, maybe we'll see each other around.

She shrugged, "Probs."

I chuckled quietly, you certainly meet the weirdest people in New York. She didn't look like she was from here though, he would have recognised her.

As I walked over to my sister, she grinned.

"That girl did a great job. I would have cut it the sides a bit more, but this is still great." She muttered as she fiddled with my hair.

I rolled my eyes, "Yes, yes." I looked over at the hairdresser, Lizzy intrigued me. Peculiar and assertive, yet so young.

"You're getting your eyebrows done by the way." My sister said as she disappeared into a room.

My eyes widened, "What? No way! If you think-"

"Oh quit lollygagging and man up." A woman that looked about 50 or so in the salon's official uniform said with a thick irish accent.

"Whuh?" Was all I could say before she pushed me into another room.

By the end of it all, I wished I had locked the gym door earlier that day. All of that pain for what? My eyebrows looked no different, perhaps neater, but I honestly didn't care. My sis had a habit of getting me to do things I didn't want to. Like the whole of today for example, or when I wrote her entire english curriculum essays in grade 10 for a full year.

"You look great. Feel good?" My sister asked as she led me to my car. A ferrari, blue obviously. My most prized possession...just kidding, but I do love it.

I stared at her blankly, "I'm never going to the salon with you again."

She giggled, "It'll all be worth it, trust me."

"I hope so." I murmured.

I stood in front of my school building, staring up at it, how could a lousy pile of bricks be so intimidating? I drove to school with my sister, I kinda like the way freshman stared in awe and envy. I was dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans, a long-sleeve button up shirt and an ordinary jacket, despite my sister's best efforts to dress me like a doll for today. I already got my hair and even eyebrows done, the thought of how my sister managed to get me to do that was beyond me.

Senior year. The things I do for you. I hear they're supposed to be the best year of your entire high school career, I've heard amazing stories. I just hope and wished it wouldn't be boring as hell. Besides, senior year is where most guys say they get laid, I won't lie and say that thought doesn't excite me, but I also know girls require loads of convincing for it, I wasn't exactly expecting to get the chance to at least try convince them.

"Senior year! Can you believe it Percy!" Apollo exclaimed, I hadn't even heard him come up behind me.

"Yup, our last year here." I replied. Apollo was incredibly excited, for his own reasons, as I said, he was comfortable with his status, unlike me.

"Whoa, what happened to you? Is this what you were doing all summer?" He asked as he poked my bicep.

"Yeah actually." I smiled bashfully.

"Well job well done. Someone's getting laid this year, my money's on Annabeth as your first." Apollo winked and nudged me.

"Unlikely." I laughed, "Although it would be nice to get some before I'm thirty years old."

"That girl wants your ass man! When you get laid this year, you have to pay me 1000 bucks." He smirked, "Just think, one more year before we can leave this dump and actually live!" He seemed to love the thought of leaving the place and never having to return. Then again, it was rather appealing.

"I guess." I was a little less excited on leaving.

Apollo looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "What's up with you? Last year you couldn't wait to finish. All you wanted was to leave these assholes and go start a life of your own."

"I'm just thinking about the cool clique." I admitted.

"Why are you thinking about them? They don't even know we exist, except when there's a really hard test or they're bored and need someone to humiliate." He rolled his eyes.

"Well think about it, we're always gonna remember the populars, right?"I asked.

"Yeah...and? Not for good reasons."

"They've made their mark, they've had their fun, what have we done. No one will remember us, everyone will forget that we even came to this school. That thought irritates me." I sighed.

"So what? They will when we're billionaires! We won't need them or this stupid school ever again, we've been tortured here. Why would you want to stay?"

I wanted to be remembered, I didn't wanna be those people that when people look in our yearbook they think, 'Oh that guy looks familiar' I want them to say, 'Holy shit I wonder where Percy is now'

"But I want everyone to remember us for what we did this year. I want us to remember this year forever! Maybe even get a girlfriend or hang out with the cool clique. I really think we could be...popular." I said passionately.

"Then do something about it. Personally I think you're in way over your head Perse" He laughed.

"Hi guys!" Hermes shouted running up to us at an incredible speed. "Who's in way over their head?"

"See Apollo, look at the remarkable speed Hermes ran up to us at? He could be Goode's star athlete, with your looks alone you could probably get laid as many times as you'd like." Unlike me.

"What's happening?" Hermes asked, "Who's getting laid? Can I join, that's unfair!" He was completely clueless. I wondered if the blonde hair on his head really was a sign of ditzy traits.

"Nothing Hermes, Percy is just dreaming. He thinks we could hang with the cool kids this year."

Hermes laughed, "Yeah right! That with getting laid mixed in one sentence? Ha! Who ever gets laid this year out of our group, tell me and I will run around the block in my underwear."

He'll probably be keeping his dignity, I won't be getting laid till I'm thirty at this rate.

"Well we aren't by just standing here, as Apollo said, do something. It's not impossible guys!" I tried my best to convince them we weren't as worthless as the school treated us.

"Whatever, let's just get to homeroom Percy." Apollo said while pulling me to our class.

We got to about halfway across the hallway, until someone grabbed the three of us and pushed us to the side.

I turned to find Hephaestus and what looked like a freshmen, "What the fuck man!" Hermes yelled, "My hair!"

"Oh suck it up!" Hephaestus rolled his eyes.

Hephaestus had really buffed up over the summer, just like me. No wonder I didn't see him. Hephaestus put even me to shame, compared to him I was a stick. He had muscles the size of Ares ego, which was gigantic. I knew Ares's large ego was just compensating for something else-cough, cough-his very small sexual organ.

"Don't yell at me, I saved you from getting clobbered. The Populars are coming and Ares and his buddies are beating up any freshmen or scholar who isn't part of their group that stands in their way" He added.

"Even Artemis and Aphrodite?" I asked.

"Well they are the head cheerleaders, so I'm willing to bet on that." Apollo said sarcastically.

"The head cheerleaders are always be part of the cool clique you idiots!" Hephaestus declared. That held truth to it.

"Hold on! Who and what are you talking about?" The boy asked

"Who are you?" Apollo asked bluntly.

"This is my cousin, Alex" Hephaestus answered, "Tiny huh?" He smirked as he patted Alex's head.

"You a freshman?" I asked, he definitely looked like one. He was short and lanky, had a goofy haircut which didn't suit his face shape- Gods I've spent too much time with Aphrodite.

Alex nodded, "That obvious huh?"

"That explains your ignorance" I smirked, "You'd know who we were talking about if you'd seen em."

"Make way!" Someone shouted.

We saw the Populars making their way down the hallway. There was Ares, Dionysus and the rest of the jocks, stuffing poor unsuspecting high scholars in their lockers. Orion Hunt at the front, leading them like always. Their senior year would be amazing, unlike mine.

"You see, unfortunately in high school there's two main groups. The populars and the losers. The different stereotypes of people making up the groups, so the system would function. For example, there are the losers, which consists of the burn outs, the wannabes, freaks, the fatties or unattractive and the nerds/geeks. And then there's the populars, which is everyone else. The cheerleaders, jocks, athletes, swimmers and basically just attractive people."

"What are you guys?" Alex asked, seeming hopeful.

"The geeks" Hermes said plainly.

"Oh" He looked disappointed, I wanted to laugh, how could he think we were anything other than losers.

"The populars are a bunch of assholes, but if they like you, your life is all green lights, if they don't, then you're nothing but trash in their eyes." Apollo said, "And they treat you like so." He pointed to the poor freshman getting thrown into lockers.

"The guys stuffing freshmen into their lockers are Ares, Dionysus and their buddies. They are what we call the jocks, in other words, the asshole kings. Steer clear of them" We ducked behind the corner as Ares and his buddies walked past, "Then there are the cheerleaders" I said this as the cheerleaders came running down the hall giggling in their short skirts and pom-poms.

Hermes took over, "The cheerleaders get new recruits every year, so the team has girls of all ages. All of them have pretty faces and are the girls with the hottest and most flexible bodies in the school. If you want to get laid, then they are the ones you want. But if you're not pretty or skinny then you can't become cheerleader."

"That's stupid, who made up that rule?" Alex's face scrunched up in disgust.

"My sister Aphrodite...The captain of the varsity cheerleading squad. Two years running."

"If your sister is the captain of the cheerleading squad, what are you doing hanging out with these guys?" Alex exclaimed, "No offence."

"Look at me. I'm a geek! I even look like one, especially with these nerd glasses, but unfortunately I need these to see."

"At least you got your braces off" Hermes tried to cheer me up, "You have great hair too I guess?"

"But still, just being related to her should give you a good social status" Alex stated.

"It doesn't work that way. I am related to Aphrodite's number two/ best friend, but I was still labelled a geek. It's just how it works, they judge you on your looks and ability to impress them." Apollo told him as he fiddled with something on his phone.

"Who's you're sis-" Alex was cut off when we were all shoved to the side by ours peers, who cleared a path. The hallway was literally empty. It reminded me of a movie, how the normal people would part for the cool ones.

"What's happening?" Alex panicked, he wasn't used to our ways, poor kid.

"Don't worry, they are just clearing a path" I reassured him, although that didn't seem to help.

"What for?"

Three girls walked down the hall, answering his question, yet he still had more.

"Who is that?" Alex's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. He had never seen such beauty, all of this was happening so fast.

"The Leaders of the Cool Clique and school." Hermes announced.

"We call them Charlie's angels" Apollo said.

"Isn't that a movie?"

"Yes" I replied, "Because just like in the movie they are sexy girls who can kick your ass."

"Charlie's angels, where do I start with them? Ahh yes. There are three of them-"Apollo was cut off.

"Clearly." Alex says sarcastically.

"Freshman." I rolled my eyes.

"As I was saying, there are three of them, and not of one of them have the same personalities or looks. It's quite amazing how they're friends actually. There's a the head cheerleader, the nerd, but a cool one and then the perfect well-rounded one that everyone likes."

"All three of them are utterly beautiful and all of them are cheerleaders. Every girl wants to be them. Every guy wants to be with them."

The first girl was wearing a black mini skirt with a bright pink tank top, pink heels and black Gucci sunglasses. She had blonde hair that went to her mid-back and it was straightened. She had a lot of makeup on but she still looked good.

Ahh my sister, she was so dramatic, I chuckled.

"That's Aphrodite. She is the hot one and the leader of the angels. She's has it all, the looks, the car, the guy and is even the captain of the cheerleading squad." Apollo said dreamily while looking at her.

The second girl was wearing blue denim jeans, with a white bat-sleeved shirt, a simple but pretty grey cardigan, nice sandals and Guess sunglasses. Her honey-blonde hair was shoulder-length and wavy. She had some makeup on, but not a lot.

"To her left is Athena, the smart one. Never failed a test, never even got a B. She's A+ student all the way. Though, good luck getting her to go all the way." Hermes muttered, "Athena is the one you go to for information. She knows anything to everything about everyone and everything." Hermes said.

The third girl wore ripped, light blue high waist denim jeans, with a loose white tank top tucked into the top of her jeans, heels and light blue mirrored silver framed Ray Ban aviators. Her waist-length Auburn hair was in a constant blow wave and she had very little makeup on. Because of this she had a more natural look than the others did, which is what lots of guys like. Including me. Artemis, I smiled goofily, she was beautiful.

The three girls strolled down the hall like it was their catwalk and us their audience, they walked straight past us.

"To Aphrodite's right is Artemis. Aphrodite's Best friend, her number two, her sister. Artemis is the one all the guys want...besides Aphrodite of course. She's perfect…" Hermes sighed, a blush expanded across his face. I raised my eyebrow, did Hermes like her too? No, he would have said, I rationalised with myself.

"Why?" Alex asked, I looked at him with a 'seriously' look.

"Why? What do you mean why! Just look at her, look at that body. Imagine what she could do with it! Every guy wants a piece of that, she's smart, sexy, athletic, sweet, kind, caring-"I was cut off by my friend's laughter.

"What!"

"She's smart, sexy, athletic, sweet, kind, caring. You poor lovesick boy." Hephaestus laughed

"I'm not a love sick boy! I am just quoting what people have said about her" I defended, glancing wearily at Apollo, luckily he and Hermes were fooling around and not paying attention.

"Right. I'll see you at lunch Alex. Let's get to homeroom guys." Hephaestus pulled us to homeroom.

We walked towards our class, joking around and making the best of the situation. By situation I mean the fact that we're all nerds.

Then I smashed into Hephaestus, him and the guys just stood at the doorway, not moving a muscle. Despite the pain in my nose, I felt the need to speak.

"It' kind of funny that we are all in the same homeroom huh guys" I chuckled, they didn't respond, instead they just stood there-still frozen-and stared into the classroom.

"Guys?" Still no answer. I pushed them aside to see what was so interesting. I froze, in the class was almost every single Popular in our grade. Shit! I thought. The world really did not like me, what did I ever do to it? I recycle for heavens sakes! There was hardly anyone I knew, well that was actually my friend.

The guys and I shared a look, deciding on the same option. Run. We turned and were about to do so, but the teacher saw us and called us in, her voice raspy.

"Boys! What are you doing, get in here." She yelled, making all attention in the class to turn to us.

"Ma'am I don't think that's a good idea." Hermes said nervously.

"I think it is, now step inside!" This teacher sounded like a bitch. We haltingly stepped into the class.

"I would like you four to know I don't appreciate tardiness. I won't be so lenient in the future"

"Yes Ma'am" We muttered. I would have said something cheeky, but I needed to distinguish if she taught me another subject that actually counted to my grade.

I looked around the class, the Populars were staring at us as if we were pieces of shit. Like we didn't belong, which we didn't. We stood out completely amongst the crowd. For some reason everyone was standing in two lines. The relief I felt when I saw Annabeth wave at me and call us over was unlike any I had felt in a while.

"Senior year guys!" She grinned.

"Y-yeah…" We murmured. The populars were still staring, leaning in and whispering to each other, making us feel even more uncomfortable than we already were.

Annabeth rolled her eyes at them and nudged me with her shoulder, "Looks like someone hit the gym."

I chuckled, "A little."

"A little? Percy, your arms are huge!" She touched my bicep, squeezing it.

I blushed but smirked mischievously, "You just want an excuse to touch them."

Her cheeks suddenly went a rosy colour, "Pfft whatevs." She winked.

We laughed quietly, I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, "It's good to see you."

She leaned onto me, "Ditto. We should arrange a party or something, I refuse to stay at home all night every weekend like last year."

I nodded, "Exactly what I thought."

She opened her mouth to speak, but was quieted down by the teacher.

"Sorry for the delay, I needed to find my list of names. I was just about to give you guys your seats, now all of you come stand in two lines. One boys line and the other is girls." She pushed her glasses up her nose and squinted her eyes to read the paper, "Hephaestus and Aphrodite! There-" She pointed to first desk from the wall in the very back.

My sister was in my class? I hadn't seen any of the angels. They were most likely late then, as only Hephaestus stepped forward.

The teacher who I had already forgotten her name raised her eyebrow and looked around the classroom.

"Ms. Aphrodite Jackson?" No answer. "Ms. Jackson-" Her voice had gone higher, she was just about to shout when my sister stumbled in.

"Here ma'am! Sorry we're late!" She smiled at the teacher, who did not look impressed. Especially when Athena came in after and Artemis being the last person to enter. She had a very natural look with her makeup, but simply stunning still.

I stared, "Beautiful…" I whispered so quietly no one but me could hear.

"All three of you?" The teacher asked.

"We could not find homeroom, but we tried as you can see from our uhh-" Athena paused, not knowing what to say.

"Disheveled appearance!" Artemis quickly said with an innocent look.

Our teacher merely rolled her eyes and waved them off, "Get into two lines please. We're assigning seats. Aphrodite, you are with Hephaestus-"

My sister shrieked, "Ma'am please! Anyone but him!"

"And why not him? He looks like a nice enough boy."

"He's...a geek. I cannot mix with geeks, I'm a cheerleader for god sakes!" She declared, using excessive hand movements, emphasizing her diva demeanour.

My sister was so dramatic. The teacher looked at her for a moment, then suddenly she started laughing.

"I'm sorry...what?" Ma'am managed to say between laughs.

"I said he's a scrawny geek, and I don't want to sit next to him" Aphrodite can be so stupid sometimes. She hadn't even seen how he had changed over the summer.

"Go sit in your assigned seat please!"

My sister sniffled, wiping fake tears, she sounded like a wailing baby as she protested.

The teacher must have eventually got tired of it and said, "Fine, I'll give you someone else."

My sister stopped whining instantly, "Thank you Ma'am! You're the best!"

The teacher rolled her eyes," Hephaestus step forward please" He did as he was told.

My sister looked at him and her jaw dropped. I nearly laughed at her expression. She was in awe of him, her eyes travelling from his feet, over his buff arms and to his now defined jaw.

"Ma'am wait! I changed my mind!"

The teacher raised an eyebrow, "Oh, and what pray tell, made you change your mind"

"Well last year Hephaestus was a scrawny geek, now he's, Oooh" She started fanning herself,"So muscular and...Big" Hephaestus blushed like mad. The jocks glared at him in jealousy.

"Very well, just sit down."

Aphrodite squealed and grabbed Hephaestus by his strong arms, and sat down at their assigned desk. I noticed Apollo growl, clutching onto his belt tightly.

I saw Aphrodite wink at Artemis. It was highly unlikely that this teacher was as naive enough to put Artemis and my sister together.

"Artemis Olympia! Go sit next to Aphrodite please." The stupid teacher stated. Not realising her mistake.

People laughed quietly as mockery to this teachers lack of info on her students, then again, maybe she was apparently just stupid.

"Yasss boo!" My sister smirked as Artemis sat next to her. They were already giggling like children.

I eyed the seat next to Artemis, I longed to be there, I hadn't seen her in ages, I wanted to be able to be in her presence even if just for a couple of minutes.

Annabeth poked me, "Let's sit together."

I let out an awkward laugh, "That's not for us to decide unfortunately."

She sighed, "Oh yeah…" She continued to lean on me. She was acting like normal, we were always hugging and stuff, but there was something different about the way she spoke, it was almost with a flirty tone. My thoughts were interrupted as I heard my name called.

"Perseus, you can join your sister and her friend. I am putting you there because you look like you could keep them in check." She muttered the last bit to only me as I walked past.

"Yes ma'am." I tried not to laugh.

"You guys got put with brace-face" Ares taunted. I have no braces or pimples anymore, punk. I thought to myself with a growl.

"Careful, he might infect you with his nerd like tendencies!" Dionysus teased. Not even their insults were smart, or made any type of sense.

Artemis didn't seem to give them a second glance, she wasn't fazed at all. As she looked at me, she did a double take, with eyes as wide as saucers, she scanned me from top to bottom repeatedly. Like she couldn't believe her eyes. She looked like she was thinking, 'Who the hell is walking towards me?' I smirked, just the reaction I was hoping for. My new body was a way of getting her to at least ogle me for a split second.

"Hey Artemis." I smiled as I sat down next to her.

She blinked, "Pe-Percy?"

"That's my name!" I leaned on my arms, trying to act as cool as possible, even if inside I was nervous as hell!

"Is that you-Oh my god, you've changed…" She lifted her hand towards my face. She grasped it and made me turn my face as she inspected it. "Your skin…"

"Yeah, I got this weird face stuff from Aphrodite." I smiled, my dimples were now apparent with my skin clear.

"I can barely recognise you." She gasped. Her hand dropping once she realised she was still touching my face. The pink in her cheeks showed her embarrassment.

"Well it's safe to say I have changed, physically. Do you not like it?" I frowned. Her reaction was still that of shock and surprise, I thought by now we would be back to normal.

Artemis shook her head, "It's not that, it's just…" She trailed off as she noticed my biceps, I didn't mean to flex, but I did when I bent my arm to adjust my spectacles. "Wo-wow." She muttered.

"What?" I asked with a small smile, completely oblivious to her apparent interest in me.

Her hand inched closer to my muscular arms, I wondered I she was really surprised or if she was just bored and decided to play a trick on me. No, she said she'd never play with me again, so I was officially confused.

"I thought you were good before, but now!" She brushed a stray hair behind her ear, sending me a coy look. "I wasn't expecting this, even your hair is great."

Now it was my turn to blush, she really did like my new look. I sent my sister a bright smile, but she was too busy with Hephaestus to notice.

"Is this why you never came with us over christmas?" She asked, "I was looking forward to you being there." She sounded almost flirty. I could hardly believe it myself, Artemis was actually starting a conversation with me. Me, Percy Jackson, school nerd.

Athena sat in the seat in front of Artemis, which interrupted our conversation.

"Hey Thee!" Artemis smiled.

Athena groaned, she looked to the person sitting next to her. Apollo was glaring at Hephaestus, who didn't notice as he was too busy flexing his newly found muscles for my sister. I realised this would cause some hassles.

"Hey Artemis" She replied dryly.

"What's wrong?" Artemis giggled, she knew exactly what was wrong. Apollo was not very subtle with his actions.

"He's what's wrong! I couldn't even get stuck with a happy geek" She pointed to Apollo, who was sulking in his corner. Not listening or caring about our conversation. Understandable, but childish.

"Don't mind him, he's just upset that Hephaestus is getting all of Aphrodite's attention." I blurted out without thinking.

Athena raised an eyebrow, "And you are?" She smiled and leaned forward, her chin balancing on her hands.

I didn't know what to say. Athena didn't recognise me, did I really look that different?

"Umm, I'm-"

"It's Percy, Athena." Artemis said with slightly narrowed eyes before she smiled.

Athena's jaw dropped, she frowned as she inspected my face, as if I was some undocumented species she wanted to poke and prod in a lab.

I could see the gears in her head turning, already concocting questions she could ask.

"Oh my…" Her eyes twinkled, "You look-" She smirked as she eyed my arms, "Different."

I blushed, "Is that good or bad?" Her reaction was beginning to make me question whether or not I should have gone through all of that. Sure I'm more confident in myself, but I didn't wanna be made fun of or something.

She opened her mouth, intending to answer my question, but Artemis seemed to shoot her a look, making her clear her throat and turn away, leaving my question, unanswered.

Really? I thought.

Artemis tapped my wrist with her finger, I turned to her, still curious as to what Athena's answer would have been.

"I'm glad we sit together in homeroom." She balanced her chin on her hand, sending me one of her signature smiles that had the uncanny ability to make even passing classmates of the same gender blush.

My knee was bouncing on the balls of my foot from my agitated state of mind. I didn't know how to respond, should I play it cool? Should I flirt with her?

"Me-me too." I landed up spewing out. Real smooth, Percy. Real smooth.

"We could catch up since we didn't get to spend the summer together, or christmas holidays." Artemis had a flirtatious undertone to her words. But I was probably just imagining things, like she'd ever flirt with me.

"S-sure. What subjects are you taking? Maybe we could uhh talk then too, if we get the same teacher." I smiled awkwardly, "If you want to that is hehe…"

She only seemed to lean closer to me, "Biology, physics/chemistry and business. What about you?"

I grinned, "Same here! Maybe we will be in the same class!" I realised I was talking a little loudly due to my excitement. A few classmates looked at me with amusement, as if they thought that me hanging with Artemis was preposterous.

She nodded, "Maybe…"

I felt like breaking out into song, Artemis could be my physics partner all year again, or even biology as well. I'd get to hug her and say hello to her in the hallways if we became close enough.

"Hey Arty!" My sister whispered out of the blue, "Remember the party this weekend."

"What party?" She asked.

"The one at Athena's house, don't you remember?" Aphrodite frowned.

Artemis sighed, "Oh yeah, that's still gonna happen?"

"Hell yeah! It's tradition to host some huge ass party the first week of school, you know that!"

"True…" Artemis eyed Hephaestus, who was holding my sister's hand. "Taking anyone other than Ares this year?" She asked with a smirk.

My sister giggled, "Thinking about it, what about you, anyone caught your eye?"

This question intrigued me. I always thought Orion and Artemis went together to these parties. Why would she want someone else if she was taken. Then again, who wouldn't want someone else if their boyfriend would openly kiss another girl in front of you at a party. I wondered if she had broken up with him.

Artemis whispered something to my sister that made her pout, "Aww come on! Spill!"

"No!" Artemis laughed before turning back to me. "What are you doing this-"

RINGGGG! The school bell echoed through the walls of the class and my ears. It was a horrifying sound, especially due to the fact that the one outside our class was broken and made it deeper and more irritating.

But the bigger question was, what was Artemis saying? 'Doing this' what? I screamed internally. Was she gonna invite me to the party? My mind was about to explode.

"We'll chat some other time." She smiled as she stood up, gathering her books.

I sighed, the fates hated me, or they just loved to see my pain.

"Oh and Percy, about you looking different-" She leaned down, her lips touching my ear, "It's a good thing."

Mischief was laced into every word. I gulped and nodded very slowly, not being able to actually concoct a proper english word.

When I finally looked up, she was gone.