Hello!

This chapter is up later than I had wanted it to be, but it's finally here! I originally had planned to post this three days ago, but my lovely friend Jackie, (Karmaric,) was extremely helpful and she helped me improve and revise the whole thing. Thank you so much Jackie! I know it took you forever to review every single sentence. ;P

I also want to thank my readers! I honestly didn't think I'd get as many views as I have. Just by getting a hit on my story, it encourages me to keep writing. (: Thanks to everyone! :D

~Chapter Three~

Percy

She was so stupid. Who did she think she was, insulting me like that? I had only come across a few girls like this one; nice at first, but then controlling in the long shot, and that was not something I liked. It was just a second impression of her, but I had this gut deep feeling that I was seeing her for who she truly was when she had snapped at me.

Janelle's insult wasn't going to haunt my every nightmare, thought, or dream. I couldn't let it, because honestly, why would it? I didn't even know her, so why would a strangers opinion bother me? I couldn't fully grasp the concept of why it did.

Rolling over in my bunk, my mind wandered from Janelle to Annabeth. Even though this was another subject that was starting to bother me, I was happy for the small change. Annabeth had seemed a little suspicious about Janelle, and I could understand why, since Janelle wasn't necessarily a regular newcomer. If Grover hadn't been the one to find her first yesterday, I would've probably never even come close to talking to her though. I felt a little leap in my chest as I realized that Annabeth was the reason I was so angry at Janelle. First step to solving the problem is stating the problem, right? Annabeth was apprehensive of Janelle; therefore, I found myself a little cautious around her too. Yes, Annabeth hasn't even met her yet, but I believe she may be a little correct on her assumption. No one knew Janelle, or had ever even heard of her. It was a little weird.

And I truly didn't get why she had snapped at me. All I had done was played a minor joke on her, and she completely jumped down my throat about it. Maybe the experience had reminded her of something? It was kind of a far off thought, but a theory, nonetheless.

Annabeth's absence from yesterdays dinner was kind of odd. She was usually at the gatherings. I hadn't even talked to her since we were on the battle field yesterday after I had talked to Jane for the first time. I vowed to go over to her cabin as soon as my eyes permitted to open properly.

Apparently, Grover was being serious last night about me sword-fighting with Jane the next morning because his half-goat, half-man self arrived at my doorstep, bright and early with her at his side. The slight knocking on the door had no effect whatsoever on getting me to arise from my now extremely comfortable bed, but I cracked my eyes open a little. Luminous sunshine flooded the room, which automatically overpowered my senses. I closed them and buried my face in my cozy pillow. The knocking came again. "Perc! Open up!"

I sighed. He'd never leave if I didn't. I climbed out of bed slowly as the rapping continued. Trudging over to the door, I rubbed my eyes uncomfortably.

As soon as I opened the door, Grover fell forward, catching himself just in time before he fell on top of me. He smiled sheepishly. "Ready?"

I glanced at Janelle who was behind him with her arms crossed over her chest. She looked uneasy, and I wasn't a fool to see that she didn't want to be there; Grover had probably dragged her here kicking and screaming (figuratively of course, even though it could have been in her character,) with him. She was wearing a short sleeved cherry-colored shirt— v-neck of course— that showed off her ebony hair. Her skin looked even more pale in the sun.

I squinted in the overwhelming sunlight, "Does it look like I'm ready?"

Janelle looked off in the distance, pretending she wasn't there, I supposed.

"Dude. You're supposed to be up by the crack of dawn. Remember?" Grover huffed humorously, "Ever since you've put the lightening bolt in it's true place, you've gotten lazy."

He meant it as a joke, of course, but his words reminded me vaguely of the bitter conversation I had had with Jane the night before. I took a deep breath and rubbed my bedhead matted hair. I should have probably made sure I looked at least half way decent before I opened the door. "Yeah, sure. I'll be out in a second."

I shut the door without looking at them again. Apparently going over to Annabeths would have to wait. This was going to be such a fun day.

After showering, dressing, and making sure I was at least a little presentable, I headed out the front door.

Janelle's eyes were fixed upon the ground. It actually appeared to me that she was counting strands of grass. How exciting. The door submitted a loud screech as I pushed forward. Her eyes were immediate, snapping up to meet mine. I looked away.

Grover was laid out next to her with his eyes closed, but he jumped up when he heard the hinges on my my door creak. "Took you long enough!"

"Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this over with."

I saw Grover glance at Jane out of the corner of my eye, again, trying to see if she was offended. She looked pissed only momentarily, but her face quickly regained its regular composure. Great. She was in a bad mood again.

I headed toward the open field, trying to stay out of everyone's way while they trailed behind. It was so crazy how everyone could wake up so early and not feel the least bit tired. True, I had once been like this, but Grover was right; ever since I went on that quest with Annabeth and him, I had gotten lazy.

I'd made up my mind to try to fully ignore Janelle until the last moment possible. It was too early in the morning for me to even attempt to get into an argument with her.

Stopping short, I turned once I found myself in an empty area, waiting for them to catch up.

An awkward silence settled around us that Grover seemed oblivious to. He was looking around at the others on the field. I risked a glance at Janelle. She was looking from Grover then back to me.

"Grover. . ." I said hesitantly, hoping he would get the idea. Even though I would really rather not, I knew this lesson was going to have to be one on one. Grover would just get in the way.

He reeled his head back around and read our expressions perfectly. "So, I'm gonna go over there so I don't get killed. But y'all have fun," Grover trotted off towards the sidelines.

I turned to Jane, who was giving me this unenthusiastic look. "Look, I know you don't want to do this. But Grover. . ."

"It's fine. I understand," She said dismissively and twirled her sword around as her eyes slid across the field, looking at the others.

I rose an eyebrow that she didn't see. I had honestly expected some sort of snappy remark from her. She didn't seem to be paying much attention to the situation at hand though. We both didn't want to do this, so why were we?

"Right." I nodded, and raised my sword, getting ready.

Her gaze swiveled back to me, and she gave me an innocent, alarmed glance. "You're not going to teach me anything first?" She asked.

"Oh. Um, yeah." I lowered the sword. She honestly seemed a little handy with a sword, so why would she need me to teach her? I hadn't had instructions. I just. . .did it. It should come naturally when you're one of us, right? "So you--"

She spun and jabbed her sword at my leg, unexpectedly. I stopped the blow, my sword clanging against hers, and my head shot up towards her.

"What the hell."

She grinned demoniacally, and spiraled her sword up away from mine. I watched as she tried to bring it down on me. Jumping back, I let her weapon hit dead air. As she lost time trying to bring the sword back up, I thrust my own at her. During the first blows, I concentrated on my defense and let my muscles settle into the rhythm of swordplay. With every jolt, I realized this wasn't going the way I had originally planned. I had expected a quick defeat and easy humiliation, not an equal opponent, and my simmering anger with Janelle now boiled.

The group of onlookers that had crowded around, who had once chattered and cheered for me, became completely silent, and the air rang with the tintinnabulation of the singing blades and the hoarse rasp of both Janelle, and my breaths. Our weapons caught each other high in the air, and we stood belly to belly, face to face. She looked a little startled. We were both breathing heavy, but I didn't relax yet.

"What the hell are you doing?" I whispered urgently to her.

This question seemed to snap her out of her alarmed state and she grinned cooley before lurching away from me. She then swiped at my fighting arm, and my shirt tore there, revealing now bloodied skin. I cursed, and brought my empty hand to it.

In a fight, there was no time to do anything foolish, even reach for a wound. Everything happens so quickly that the first second, you could be winning, and the next, you'd be on the ground.

To prove this very fact, she closed the space between us and slammed the butt of her sword into my face, and the next thing I knew, I was out.