Chapter 2: The New Kid Is A Total Weirdo
(Andi)
I had followed Grover and Nico to the Big House as they half-carried the strange boy. I couldn't understand why they didn't just give Peter some nectar by the river. Grover had gotten some but Chiron had said to go to the Big House, so here we were.
The boy was drinking his nectar and looking around the place like he was in a candy store. Now that he was feeling better, he was super smiley. He shot me a smile and my stomach flipped. He had a nice smile.
Chiron arrived after us. He was back in his wheelchair. The boy immediately walked over to meet him without giving me a second glance. I frowned and went over to them, Grover and Nico behind me.
"Peter," Chiron began sagely, "I know you must have many questions but first I have some questions for you."
Peter nodded enthusiastically.
"Kiss up," Nico muttered, darkly.[1]
I shot him a look. Nico actually ignored me. He was too busy looking at Peter like he was dirt. And there was nothing dirty about Peter. He was kind of cute and that smile...
I was pulled out of my thoughts about Peter's looks when he began to answer Chiron's questions, "I'm sorry, but I don't remember anything. As far as I know, I was teleported from my bathtub to that river. How long has that river been here anyway?"
Chiron nodded sagely, "I see. Well, Peter, I can only hope your memory comes back with time. In the meantime, why don't you have Andi here show you around."
Chiron gestured over to me and I smiled.
Peter glanced at me, but then he focused on Grover of all people. "I was actually wondering if Grover could show me around." He looked back at me. "No offense, Annie. I just—"
"My name is Andi," I corrected him, coldly.
"Oh? Sorry. I was only half-awake when you said it that first time. I'm Peter."
"I know," I said, shortly. Had he really forgotten my name? And he chose Grover over me. I take back the cute comment. The new kid was a total weirdo.
"Maybe he's gay. Either that or he's blind," Nico hissed, maliciously.[2]
I turned to him, shocked. That was taking it a bit far. "Nico!" I hissed. "Shame on you."
Nico blushed, "Sorry. I just—" Nico stared at the ground ashamed. Just because Peter was weird didn't mean he was gay or blind.[3] I mean he couldn't be blind. He was still looking at everything like a kid in a candy store.
"You should know better," I lectured Nico.
Nico continued to stare at the ground like he was angry at it.
I frowned confusedly.
Nico had been moody since Bianca had interrupted our quest earlier this summer to tell me that she was joining Artemis's hunters which meant she had forsaken all men which included her twin brother.[4] Back when it happened, Nico had cried about it and stuff. Now he had this bad boy edge that was far too alluring at times. Sometimes, though, I missed the old sweet Nico. The old Nico would never say stuff in that malicious tone.
Before I could say more, Grover asked, "Andi, you wanna come with us?" He was standing by the doorway. Peter had already gone outside.
I glanced at Nico. Maybe I should stay with him, but then Nico whispered, "You should go."
"Are you sure?" I asked, questioningly.
Nico nodded. I couldn't see his eyes but I thought he might be crying. He probably wanted some alone time.
"I'll catch up with you later," I promised, heartfeltly.
Nico nodded again and I left him to follow Grover and the new kid. I figured at least they would be in a good mood, but when I got outside, Peter's smile was gone and he was frowning, confusedly.
Seeing him like that made me think that he might be older than I thought he was. Peter was short, like barely taller than me and I was petite, so I had assumed he was close to Nico's age.[5] But seeing him look all serious now, I realized he must be around my age or older. I wondered what that would mean for the great prophecy.
"Run that by me again, Grover," Peter said, insistently.
Grover looked confused. "I said that Annabeth is missing. She left last summer."
"And Luke?"
Grover said sadly, "He's gone too. He went looking for me and…"
"But, that's not right," Peter said, argumentatively.
"What's not right?" I asked, adding myself into the conversation.
Peter looked up at me and bestowed a relieved smile on me. "Grover here says that Luke and Annabeth are gone, but he got the order wrong. Luke should have left first, not Annabeth. In fact…" Peter stopped to think. "If anything, Annabeth should be here. I mean that moat is definitely new. Did she design it?"
Grover looked uncomfortable. He appealed to me.
Peter was deep in thought and biting his lip. I had to do something. "Look, you lost your memory, remember?"
Peter gave me a strange look.
"I mean a lot has happen since you were turned into a river. Even though the fleece healed you—"
"Wait what?" Suddenly the new kid was very pale. "You used the golden fleece?"
"Yeah. Nico and I got it after we saved Grover from a Cyclops in the Sea of Monsters. Why?" I looked at Peter curiously.
"What…did you say your name was," Peter said, scaredly.[6]
I groaned. Seriously? "It's Andi," I repeated, feeling very annoyed. Peter was awfully forgetful. How hard was it to remember a name like Andi? Literally, everyone else did.
Peter licked his luscious lips. "No, I mean, what's your full name?"
Oh! Well that was a little better. "I go by Andi, but you're right, it's just a nickname. My full name is Andromeda Sunshine. I'm—"
I didn't say anything else because Peter had collapsed onto the ground. The weirdo had fainted.
Footnotes
[1] I'll let Andi explain Nico's attitude. She does so later in this chapter.
[2] So, I considered taking this line out. I really did. Because it's rude and politically insensitive, but I think that's the point. Nico is jealous. The authors might also be poking fun, since Nico is canonically gay himself. Though, in this series, Nico has a thing for Andi, so his sexuality is less clear here.
[3] I have no excuse for Andi's less than charming reaction. I will just say that her beliefs are not mine. Loving who you want is not weird in the least.
[4] This happened towards the end of Sea of Monsters. During their fight with Polyphemus the cyclops, they get an Iris message from Bianca. This was one of many. She'd been sending messages over the course of the book. So far in this fic series, Bianca has been characterized as having a brother complex and hating Andi. In the message, Bianca announces Nico was a fool to choose Andi over her and that he does not deserve his sister's love anymore, so she was joining the Hunters and forsaking all men as sort of a big screw you. Nico took this very hard. His emotional outburst creates a fissure in the ground which sends the cyclops to the underworld and ends the fight.
[5] So, ages: In this fic series, the prophecy will come true when someone turns 17 instead of the canon 16. Nico is 12. Andi is 15. Peter is also 15 or at least, he is in this world. I have more than once wondered about Peter's age.
[6] Again. I know. But it's how she thinks.