CHAPTER 5

APOLOGY

-Annabeth-

I hate Percy Jackson.

Why? Why would he grab my arm, and make me dump all the food on me? That was so embarrassing. Not only does he have to be a jerk to me 24/7, but he has to do this. I will get my revenge on that kid if it's the last thing I do. Even more revenge than the chocolate milk.

After that big incident in the lunch room, I rushed toward the bathroom to try to get myself cleaned up. I struggled to get the paper towels out of the dispenser, but of course with my luck, they ran out of towels. I got so frustrated, that I punch the dispenser. "Ugh!" I shout.

Then I ran to one of the stalls and grabbed the toilet paper. I moistened it with water and wiped the apple juice and pizza sauce and cheese off myself and clothes. It barely worked; now I was wet and smelled like lunch.

As I was getting all the food off of me, I heard the restroom door open and in came Thalia.

"Hey, Annie. You alright?" She asked.

"What do you think?" I snarled. "That doosh bag just dumped all that food on me in front of the whole freakin' school!"

Thalia sighed, "I know, I know. Look, I talked to Percy and he said it was an accident."

"Oh, an accident?" I reply, sarcasm dripping. "Pulling my arm and making me spill all my food on myself was an accident?"

Thalia was silent for a few seconds as I was cleaning my shirt which left a red stain from the pizza sauce. "You need some help with that?" She said at last.

"How?"

"Well, there's thing called soap…" Thalia said, her lips slowly turning.

"I knew that." I snapped and glared at her. I got some soap and the stickiness of my skin was almost normal.

Thalia and I stayed in the bathroom for a few more minutes. When we got out, lunch was almost over. We decided to get to our lockers and get our stuff for our afternoon classes.

I heard my stomach grumble. "Great," I mutter. "I didn't even get to eat anything."

"I thought you might say that," Thalia perked. "I found the chocolate chip cookie you dropped on the ground. It was the only thing that didn't get dumped on you." She handed me the cookie from the inside of her jacket pocket.

I grabbed the sweet out of her hand and inhaled the cookie in one bite. "Hmm." I munched. "Thalia, I love you."

Thalia chuckled and patted my head. "Love you too, Annie."

I smiled. I was glad Thalia made me feel better. I almost forgot about the whole Stupid-Percy-Dumped-Food-On-Me-In-The-Lunch-Room-In-Front-Of-The-Whole-Entire-School incident.

Almost.

As Thalia and I were walking to science class, we past the principal's office. And guess who was sitting in the 'bad kid' seat? Percy. He looked the same when I left him in the lunch room: dripping wet with milk. It was probably getting dry.

"Why is Percy in there?" I whisper to Thalia.

She shrugged, "Don't know, don't care."

I smirked at Thalia's carelessness for her cousin. But I still wondered what happened. Did he get in trouble for dumping food on me? Did he get into a fight? Did he get hurt?

I shook that thought out of my head. Why should I even care?

Just when we walked past the office, I saw Percy look at me; I couldn't determine what his expression meant. I looked away quickly.

The rest of the afternoon went surprisingly fast. I just had 3 classes to get through: science, English, and art. I loved art, it was the only subject in school where I can do something freely. When I was finished with the daily project, I would usually just draw some building ideas I had in mind. I really can't wait to be an architect, I always thought that job would be supporting, yet fun.

The assignment for the day was to draw something you think you could change or do better.

Change? What could I draw for that?

For a brief moment, I thought of drawing my mother. But I knew if I did, I would start crying in front of the class. I didn't need another embarrassing event in one day.

So, I decided to re-create the Empire State building. I've studied that building and it has an amazing history. It took many years to draw, build, and put together the Empire State building. True, the building is beautiful, but I wanted to edit it. Edit the design a little, make little adjustments to it.

I was so in to this assignment that I didn't even notice the bell had rung until the next class came in.

The rest of the day, one word kept circling in my mind: Change.

I was so relieved that this day was over. I couldn't stand to be in that hellhole any longer. I usually love school, a lot more than the average kid, but today I just wanted to get out.

After last period, I went straight to my locker, grabbed my backpack, and headed out the doors. I noticed that the weather was very different from the morning. It was raining like crazy and it was cooler. I regret not bringing a hoodie. Thankfully, I didn't have to walk much because Thalia was waiting at her car in the parking lot.

I opened the passenger seat and got in. "Hey."

Thalia gave a nod, "Hey."

It was raining really hard and Thalia wasn't moving or starting the engine. "Can we go? I want to get home." I plead.

Thalia hesitated, "Yeah, um about that…"

I turned to her, "What?" I asked nervously.

Thalia respond a moment later. "Well, Percy doesn't have a ride, so…"

"What!" I explode. "Are you serious?"

She shrugged, apologetically, "Sorry, but I can let him walk home in the rain."

"Why not?"

Thalia snorted, "Look, I know you're angry with him, but he's still my cousin."

I slouched in my seat and crossed my arms, "Whatever."

I couldn't see Thalia, but I was guessing she was rolling her eyes.

We sat there in silence, the only sound was the buses were leaving and kids talking and the rain hitting the windshield. It was already 3:45.

"How long does it take to go to his locker and walk over here?" I asked annoyed.

Thalia sighed, "I dunno."

"If he doesn't come in 5 minutes we are leaving," I say.

Thalia looked like she was about to say something, when she got interrupted by someone tapping on the window. She unlocked the doors and Percy came in the back seat, his clothes were soaking wet.

"Hey." He said, nonchalantly, then he noticed me staring daggers at him, "Hey, Annie."

I didn't answer.

Percy sighed, "Look, I'm really sorry about what happened at lunch, ok? I just wanted to tell you-"

"Do you hear something, Thalia?" I ask her.

Thalia rolled her eyes again and started up the truck.

Percy smirked, "Really, Annie? Come on, I just wanted-"

"Seriously, what's that noise? Cause it sounds like a pest or a rat. Did you get your car checked lately?" I look toward Thalia. She was trying not to smile.

"A pest? You could do better than that, Chase." Percy grinned.

I crossed my arms.

Percy chuckled, "Aw, I knew it! You couldn't stay mad at me."

"Who said I wasn't mad?" I muttered.

"Ok, fine." Percy said, "But since you are talking to me, you should at least hear my apology."

I craned my neck to Percy, who was sitting in the back seat, "Alright, I'm listening."

He smiled, "Good. Ok, here's my apology: I am very sorry that I grabbed your arm and dumped all the food on you, even though it was extremely funny."

"It was not funny!" I snapped.

Percy was still smiling, "Oh, c'mon! You should have saw your face! It could've been the most viewed video on YouTube if someone recorded it."

"Not exactly an apology." I pointed out.

"I'm sorry." He said finally.

"Good," I say in triumph. "You should be."

Percy raised an eyebrow, "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"If I recall correctly, I believe that you also dumped a liquid on myself." He said with a grin.

"Well, you deserved it." I defended.

"True, true." Percy said. "But I still think I deserve an 'I'm sorry' from you."

"Fine," I said. "I'm sorry you're a jackass."

Percy laughed, "I'll take what I can get."

"Ok." Thalia had said her first words ever since Percy got in. "Glad you guys kissed and made up."

"Gross." I murmur.

"What?" Percy said, fake surprised, "You don't wanna kiss me?"

"Let me make this clear," I stated. "I'd rather kiss a donkey."

"Ouch." Percy teased, and put his hand to his heart. "That hurt."

I rolled my eyes, he is such a child.

"Alright," Thalia said, pulling to the driveway of my house, "We're here. See ya tomorrow."

I smiled at her. "Thanks, Thals. Bye."

When I got out of the car, I heard Percy's voice call out, "Bye, Annie!"

I sighed.

I fished for my key in backpack, when I found it, I opened my front door. I was usually the first one to be home. Since my brothers were still in school, and my dad doesn't get home from the college until 6.

That's why I was surprised when I found my dad in the kitchen.

And he wasn't alone.

HEYY!

I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK EVERY ONE WHO HAS REVIEWED, FOLLOWED OR FAVORITED. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THAT REALLY MEANS TO ME!

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

TalalAlkayalSonofPoseidon, BritneyGuerrero, May Salome Love, annieofida Jess, L1berty0rD34th, MegJackson ,and PJOfan4ever

YOUR POSITIVE REVIEWS WERE GREAT! THANKS AGAIN!

NEXT CHAPTER COMING UP!