When I got to the gallery, I was a bit freaked out. Mrs. Dodds was no longer a person. She had bright eyes along with long talons for fingers. She turned into a large leathery hag with bat wings and yellow sharp teeth.

"Percy!" I yelled and threw the pen at him.

Mrs. Dodds lunged and Percy and he dodged her to grab the pen, which was no longer a pen. It was a sword. Mrs. Dodds turned to face Percy,

"Die honey!" She snarled and flew towards Percy.

My mouth dropped open as Percy swung the sword and he cut her in half and she turned into sand. Before Percy could turn to me, I ran back outside and over to Grover.

"Is he okay?" He asked me and I nodded,

"He's fine. Maybe a little traumatized." I answered. "Mrs. Dodds is dead."

"Okay, Em, you got to pretend like Mrs. Dodds never existed." Grover said.

"What? Why?" I questioned.

"Just do it."

Percy came outside, his facial features frozen. I think he's in shock or something. After Nancy talked to him, he walked over to us,

"Where's Mrs. Dodds?" Percy asked.

"Who?" Grover replied after hesitating.

"Not funny, man. This is serious." Percy scowled before going over to Mr. Brunner.

On our way back to the buses, Percy grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the group,

"Em, what happened back there?" He asked.

"You pushed Nancy into the fountain and Mrs. Kerr yelled at you for it, Seaweed brain. Maybe we should check for more." I joked.

You see, when Percy and I were ten, his mom took us to the beach for the day. Sally sat on the beach while Percy and I swam. The next day Percy complained about having an ear ache, and I said that he probably had water in his ear. Instead of water, it was seaweed. I've called him 'seaweed brain' ever since.

"No, Em. You know exactly what I'm talking about. The thing with Mrs. Dodds. What was she?" Percy questioned.

"I don't know who you're talking about." I told Percy before getting onto the bus.

I hated lying to Percy.

For the rest of the sixth grade year, Percy got into fights with Nancy. His grades began to drop and he snapped at teachers. Yancy Academy sent a letter home to his mom saying he wasn't allowed to come back next year.

One night, while Percy was studying for finals, Grover and I went to Mr. Brunner's office, where he was a centaur.

"We're worried about Percy, sir." Grover told the man. "We can't leave it alone this summer. I mean, a Kindly One in the school! Now that we know for sure, and they know too-"

"We would only make matters worse by rushing him." Mr. Brunner replied, "We need the boy to mature more."

"But he may not have time." I retorted, "The summer solstice deadline-"

"Will have to be resolved without him." Mr. Brunner interrupted, "Let him enjoy his ignorance while he still can."

"Sir, he saw her." I said, referring to Mrs. Dodds.

"His imagination." Mr. Brunner insisted, "The Mist over the students and staff will be enough to convince him of that."

"I don't like lying to my best friend." I told him.

"Sir, I... I can't fail in my duties again. You know what that would mean." Tears formed in Grover's eyes.

"You haven't failed, Grover." Mr. Brunner said to Grover kindly, "I should have seen her for what she was. If it weren't for Emerald, he could have died. Now let's just worry about keeping Percy alive until next fall-"

There was a thud outside the door and we all went silent. Mr. Brunner went out to see if anyone was there,

"Nothing." He announced, "My nerves haven't been right since the winter solstice."

"Mine neither." Grover said, "But I could have sworn..."

"Go back to your dorms. You two have a long day of finals tomorrow." Mr. Brunner ordered.

"Ugh. Don't remind me." I mumbled before Grover and I left.

On the last day of the term, I quickly packed my stuff, which wasn't much. I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. I sat outside under a tree, waiting for Percy and Grover.

Percy wasn't coming back. But that doesn't mean I won't see him this summer. We live across the street from each other. Since Percy wasn't going to come back, maybe I can stay at Camp Half-Blood year round.

"Hey." Percy mumbled as he sat next to me.

"Hi." I replied, putting my head on his shoulder, "It won't be the same around here without you."

"You'll make it. At least you'll have Grover." Percy responded. "You're gonna have to deal with Nancy Bobofit, though."

"Ugh." I replied and I saw Nancy talking with her friends, probably bragging about what she's gonna do this summer.

I lifted my head, "Maybe not."

"What?"

I stood up and began walking towards her, Percy behind me, "Em, what are you gonna do?"

"You'll see, Seaweed brain." I smirked.

When I got up to Nancy, she scowled at me, "What do you want, freak?"

"This." I raised my hand and punched her in the face.

Bye-bye Yancy Academy.