"How's dad?" Bianca asked politely as Nico groaned. What do they teach kids in British Boarding Schools? Instead of saying 'hi' or any form of greeting him during the beginning of their rare phone calls, Bianca asked about their parents. Their friggin parents. "And how's mom? She wrote a 5 pages email last week to update me about our families' current affairs. Is dad still away?"
"Yeah, they're both fine." Nico grumbled. "And he's still in the middle of nowhere. He didn't tell anybody where he's going. He just said it's a business meeting although he doesn't really have a job."
"Ah. That's what mom wrote too." Bianca's voice drawled from the phone. "Maybe dad finally found a job!"
"Unlikely." Nico said shortly.
"When is dad coming back?" She asked in the same courteous manner that Nico found quite irritating.
"I don't know." He replied.
"Oh." Bianca said quietly.
"Can you stop speaking like how you're speaking now?" Nico complained and imitated a posh British accent. "This is exactly how ridiculous you sound." (AN: I actually love the way how British Accent sounds so don't take this personally! It's just that Nico seemed like the type to start complaining.)
"Ridiculous?" An indigent voice came from the other end but still in the grand manner. "Many people around the world would love to have a British Accent. It sounds cute. Besides, it's almost impossible not developing one after spending so long here."
"Sounds cute?" Nico repeated. "Now that is awkward coming from you."
"Whatever."
"How's…school?" Nico asked trying to continue their conversation. Every phone call shared between the siblings, none of them really knew what to say so it ended up being quite formal.
"Great. You?"
"Fine. Just fine." Nico said grimly.
"I'm coming back for the Christmas holiday." Bianca said offering another conversation topic.
"I know." Nico answered. "You always do."
"Is there anything you want to tell me about?"
"No. Is there anything you want to say to me?"
"Not really." Bianca admitted.
Reyna walked into Mr. Freyers class nervously. Had he figured out that she was cheating? Did he change her grades back? However, Mr. Freyers didn't seem to look suspicious at all. He just looked at Reyna - and the whole class - how he always does.
As Reyna sat down in her seat, she pulled out what she needed for the lesson gingerly refusing to look at Mr. Freyers.
"Today, we will be continuing our topic about World War 2!" Mr. Freyers announced. Reyna cringed, she was hoping to move on so the teacher won't be checking her grades again. Hopefully, Mr. Freyers won't realize the little boost of her grades.
"First of all, let me remind everybody of their grades on the previous project so they have a target to aim at."
Reyna felt like that was directing to her. Target to aim at. Of course she had one, but she cheated out of it.
"Let's start with the back row!" Mr. Freyers smiled at the students in the back who didn't really care about their grades. "Rubin, you got an E on your last project due to the lack of research. I was tempted to give you an F but you really did improve from the beginning of the year. However, a page of font 48 essay about how you hated Adolf Hitler because a lookalike stole your cheese-sandwich would not be getting you any high grades. I have to say that you did incorporate some facts of Hitler but only very minimal."
Reyna looked at the back as Rubin continued staring into space. At least there are a lot of people to get pass before her.
"Tiffany, you had achieved a rather average grade. Your project had been beautifully put together but you are missing quite a lot of points. So that's something for you to think about when we're doing our next project about World War 2."
As the time goes ticking, Mr. Freyers got closer and closer to Reyna. She felt anxious and jumpy. She had never felt like this before in a classroom. She always had her homework complete, if not on time it's earlier. She always gave her full attention in class. She never had anything to worry about before.
Reyna must have looked pretty sick by the time Mr. Freyers was explaining how to improve to Josh, this guy sitting two rows behind her as Mr. Freyers looked worriedly to her direction. "Reyna, are you feeling alright?"
"Just fine." She gritted her teeth.
"Well, I'll tell you what, you better run down to the nurse." Mr. Freyers gave a sympathetic smile. "But before you do, let me give you a target to aim on in case you're not back when we get to you."
Reyna felt butterflies in her stomach. This isn't what she was hoping for. Couldn't she just go down to the nurse straightaway?
"Reyna."
"Yes?" She looked up weakly as the rest of the class were busy doing their own thing.
"You have done brilliantly." Mr. Freyers nodded. "Except, you could have added…"
Reyna wasn't paying attention either. She didn't know whether to feel overjoyed yet. After all, Mr. Freyers is the sneaky kind of guy who makes you feel all happy and relieved in one second and attacks you in the next. He is probably waiting for her to look content with herself then he'll accuse her of cheating.
"…Your project is truly an A-worthy." Mr. Freyers continued. "Well done! Now you may go down to the nurse."
"Thanks." Reyna stuttered as she ran out of the classroom quickly. Your project is truly an A-worthy. A-worthy my ass, Reyna thought. Somehow, she knew that Mr. Freyers had known about hacking into the school system. She felt guilty but also eased.
Your project is truly an A-worthy. False, Reyna thought angrily. It should have been 'Your project is truly a B-worthy.' Now that's how it should have been. She had never cheated in her life and this did not feel good. Percy Jackson, Annabeth's boyfriend always cheated. How did he not regret his actions? Wait, regret? Reyna almost did.
Reyna didn't know who to feel irritated at. Leo? For hacking into the school system and helping her. Mr. Freyers? For giving her a fucking B before. Her parents? For pressuring her to get an A every time. Hylla? For being such a genuine good role model so her parents always have such high expectations for their other daughter. Or most importantly, herself. For letting her project get a B and allowing the thought of hacking enter her mind.
Annabeth Chase looked at the sign-up board for activities she can choose to do over the weekend for extra credit. Usually, only people who seriously needed help or points to move on does these activities but Annabeth liked doing them anyway. It does give her extra points (although she already has an outstanding amount) to gain a higher level.
Trip to Thailand for Community Service? Nah…her parents won't agree. A) Too expensive. B) Her brothers need babysitting. C) Waste of time.
Boat ride on the river? Now that is an easy option for lazy people. Apparently, teachers believe they can teach students about rivers or whatever. Nobody is going to pay attention. Annabeth rolled her eyes as she saw the huge list of names scrawled on the list trying to get in.
Visit to the library? Done that last year, she thought. It was pretty fun when the teacher allowed free time but most of it was useless as Annabeth already know 90% of the things you need to know about the library.
Museums. Perfect. Annabeth saw the empty piece of sign up paper and wrote her name neatly on the top. She never understood why people dreaded museums. Annabeth loved them, especially when it's the History one. She often get absorbed into the endless exhibits of museums whenever she's in one.
"Annie, going to those absolutely delightful museums again?" A mocking voice trilled behind her.
"Stop calling me that." Annabeth growled. "And if you find them so delightful, why don't you sign up as well? I see that you actually need the points, Drew."
"I would love to but the boat ride sounds rather more glamorous, doesn't it?" Drew's perfect lips drew into a smile, one that is obviously forced on.
"Then have fun on your boat ride." Annabeth returned the same fake smile. "I hope the alligator gets you."
"When are you leaving? You said you'll only stay for 2-3 days but guess what? I don't think a week is a few days."
Leo Valdez froze. This voice is familiar…it's Annabeth. As curious as he always is, he walked stealthily towards Annabeth.
"I'm sorry, okay? Sorry! I'll only be around for a few more days. I promise!"
"Promise?" Annabeth raised her voice indigently. "Your last promise didn't turn out well."
"That was different." The person Annabeth spoke to replied coldly. Leo peeked and saw a tall guy with blonde hair and a huge scar across his face. Leo didn't recognize him but he felt like he should know who this unfamiliar boy is. It's almost like he had seen him before. Maybe he did, but that didn't exactly recall in his mind.
"And how is this not the same?" Annabeth demanded.
"Calm down, Annie."
Leo narrowed his eyes and hid behind a tree. Annabeth never let anybody call her 'annie', except for Percy and that was only occasionally. Somehow, when this guy said it, she only flinched but didn't correct him like she would normally do. Who is this guy?
"Leo?" Leo looked up and saw Annabeth and the boy staring at him.
"Um hi!" He tried to make himself look innocent as if he wasn't eavesdropping.
"What were you doing?" The boy raised his eyebrow almost expectantly.
"I was walking to Jason's place and absently-mindely walked into this tree. You know, with all that gears and tools in my mind." Leo gave them a blast of his award-winning smile as he patted the tree.
"Okay." The boy still seemed pretty unconvinced.
"Do you recognize him?" Annabeth asked hastily.
Leo studied her expression. She seemed anxious about this encounter and was more than keen to know the answer. "No. I mean, I feel like I should know who he is but really, I don't." He answered truthfully.
"So you don't know who I am?" The boy questioned.
"Yup."
"Well, this is my cousin Luke." Annabeth explained. "He arrived a week ago saying that he would only stay for a few days."
"Man, why didn't you tell us that your cousin is here?" Leo complained. "We could have hosted him some welcome parties or whatever."
Luke looked at Leo as if saying 'seriously?' and added briskly. "I'm not suppose to be here, So keep this a secret, okay?"
"Uh..sure man. Does Perce know?"
"Perce? As in Percy Jackson?" Luke turned his attention to Annabeth who turned as red as a tomato.
"No, he doesn't. Just don't tell him."
"Well, you can keep your secret with me!" Leo said cheerfully. "My mouth is zipped. See?" He used his fingers and made the gesture to zip his mouth.
Luke stared at him as if he's a little kid who just interrupted a grave funeral for a while but eventually grinned. "Okay."
Yay! New chappie! :) So Leo meets Luke Castellan but doesn't remember who he is...and Reyna got really lucky, or did she?
Next chapter would be a relatively long one so expect more surprises! ;)
~Kisses, Emily