ANNABETH

The next day, we all submitted our projects and sat there. Frank Zhang was not there today. Hazel now looked genuinely worried. During lunch, Frank entered the cafeteria looking fierce, tired and had an arm around his stomach. I thought I saw blood.

Percy and the others rushed up to him. He smiled at them so affectionately. Percy took him out. They returned after five minutes. Frank was now fine and did not look like a soldier. He was walking with Percy and laughing at him.

It was weird. The others just smiled at Percy and shook their heads saying," You never ever mess with Frank on strategy."

"We know that. His strategy saved all our hides. If he hadn't forced us to leave Leo… "Piper trailed off.

They all looked sad for a moment as if they lost someone or something.

"But I came back!" Leo said jumping around." Supreme Commander of the Argo two Baby!" He grinned.

They all laughed and Piper smacked him on the head saying," Repair boy! Stop joking. We missed you. We are still angry though that you came back much later. You could have at least informed us!"

"Yeah! We burnt a shroud and everything!" Katie said.

"My father is still mad. I haven't seen him this mad since the 'Hercules' Disney movie."

They all laughed. They clawed each other for support.

"Zeus!" Percy gasped. It made them laugh harder. Thunder rumbled on that clear day. They just laughed harder. They calmed down only after 5 minutes. What was so funny? It was a good flick. They burnt a shroud for the people who have left them? Weird. They saw us and frowned. They obviously shared stories.

"What are you gawking at?" Percy asked me

"Frank came in so late and looked sick. After five minutes, he is laughing with you. How?" Hazel asked.

"I had stomach ache. I vomited and it got better. Not that you can or want to care." Frank spat.

Hazel just slumped. She did not deserve it so I went up to Frank. "You hurt her bad. I hate you loser."

Percy walked up and stood between us. "Before you do something so fun…scary, consider that this is not between you and me or you and Frank, It is between two people who used to be friends. I trust my friend enough to let him fight for himself. If he needs my help, he will ask. Try the same for your friend. Before you go on about how he hurt her, consider how she hurt him." He turned and took his friends and walked out.

I turned to Hazel. She was on the verge of tears. I took her to the bathroom. She broke down right there.

"I hurt Frank so badly! I can't even begin to apologize!" Hazel sobbed.

"How did you hurt him?" I asked. Only if I know the problem can I diagnose it.

"When he came back, I was new to your group. He was different and I could see it. I treated my friend like a nobody. He came up to me that day. I was sure he was going to explain. But I ignored him and talked to the 'cool' kids. He even came up to me and asked me point blank as to why I was doing that. I called all of you and we ridiculed him. The whole school laughed for a week. Do you remember?" She asked.

I remembered. I had seen the hurt and sadness in Frank's eyes that day. His eyes had changed since that day actually. After school that day, he came up to us at the parking lot and stared at Hazel. There was a fire in his eyes that made anyone in a five mile radius want to run away. The warmth and compassion in his eyes was gone and his eye color was now blood red. He looked like a leader. He had the gait and stance I had never seen before with Frank – A panther ready to leap at a moment's notice.

We all actually backed away. Hazel was shaking in her spot. She was terrified. None of us had seen Frank like this. He was always smiling or frowning, slouching and crouching and was kind to everyone to the extent of doing homework for them – except us.

"Today, you did not just lose my friendship or acquaintance. You lost the respect I had placed in you. If you ever talk to me again, remember that I, Frank Zhang, will not forget this easily. I would have not felt like this if we disagreed and refused to talk to each other."

"It was funny." Hazel said smirking.

"What you did today was low. It showed that you are as cold and heartless as to laugh at a person who trusted you in front of the entire school. You lost that trust. I am fine by that. But you betrayed me and betrayal does not deserve compassion."

"Whatever loser" Hazel retorted that day.

"You are not Hazel. You may share a face and a body, but the Hazel I knew would never become a stuck up, spoilt, inconsiderate and rude animal you are." He said glaring at her. That day, when I saw that scene, I knew he was putting up a show here. It seemed so unlike him. So we did not take him seriously. The next day, Piper, Leo and Katie joined. We were all surprised they knew Frank because he was very antisocial. He did not even participate in gym.

For a long time Hazel was fine. She would glare at Frank in every opportunity for her insult in the parking lot. He would not care. We tried to make him become that person but he never did.

Hazel sobbed in the bathroom for another five minutes and wiped her tears. I cheered her up with gossip I heard from the jocks. She just smiled. I could tell she was deeply hurt. We had Gym. The losers were again bored in a corner. I 'by mistake' threw a ball in Percy's direction.

"Oops" I said.

He caught it when it came in arm's length, threw it and hit my legs to make me trip all before I could process it. He just frowned. The others looked bored as if expecting this and Coach Hedge just looked at Percy and smiled saying," I've seen better Jackson." Better? How did he do that? And how could anything be better than that? I have not seen anyone do that with those reflexes.

"Sir, how could a loser like Jackson play dodge ball?" Will asked. It was a valid question.

Coach blew up and started yelling," HE CAN DO ANYTHING AT LEAST BETTER THAN YOU UNGRATEFUL WIMPS. HE HAS BEEN THROUGH – "

"COACH!" Percy yelled.

Hedge stopped, sighed and looked at Percy.

"Sorry. I do not like it that they insult my star student."

"No problem Coach. I love the fact that you think so highly of me. But I am not that good." He said softly while shrugging and walking up to coach. His hoodie was now at his hairline. I could see his face. He had the most beautiful eyes. They were swirling sea-green. He had a defined jaw line and little stubble. His smirk and his eyes made me think he was up to a trick. His friends joined him and they were laughing and punching each other.

"Why the hell did Coach call you wimpy scrawny kids good in gym?" Jason asked.

Percy just froze. His eyes glazed and he collapsed yelling," NO! TOUCH MY MOTHER OR ANYONE IN CAMP AND I WILL PERSONALLY SEND YOU TO BACK TO TARTARUS!"

Nico was on the other hand, shivering just crying and saying," Reyna! Don't! I do not want to lose you! I do not want to die!"

Tartarus? Was he a Greek fanatic? Coach Hedge ran up to them and all their friends crowded them. Percy woke up with a start. He then turned to Nico and shook him awake. The first thing they did was to check if every else was okay. It was a good gesture. Percy stood up and turned to Jason.

"I practice. Never use the word…hell…in front of us again. It will not end well for you." He said glaring properly. His eyes reminded me of storms at sea. I knew he would make good on that threat if he was aggravated.

"Can we do hand to hand combat one day coach?" He asked the coach.

"Sure. I could use some help in that one. Will you help?" Coach asked.

"Sure. The jocks can." Will said grinning at Percy. Boys.

"Not you snails. These five here. They will be my assistant for next class when we have to do rock climbing and the basics of hand to hand combat."

"What would they know? They are just losers." I asked

They all chuckled. It seemed as if they knew something I didn't which was not comforting. Coach let out a hearty laugh.

"You will wait and see for tomorrow" Piper said smirking. She looked downright evil but also beautiful.

"Bye. Come buys. One more week and winter break will be here. Just grin and bear it." Percy told the coach and signaled his group to follow him