Disclaimer: I do NOT own Percy Jackson.
The next morning, Annabeth woke up feeling sick.
It didn't necessarily feel like a flu type of sick, but a 'something bad will happen' sick. She'd gotten used to it over the few weeks of school, though. The feeling of regret and annoyance that she woke up every morning to, knowing she'd be seeing Percy Jackson that day.
And everyday of the school year.
Trying to push the irritation rising inside of her at the thought of his beautiful eyes, Annabeth glanced at the clock and jumped.
Her bus would be there in four minutes.
She rushed off her bed, almost sliding off in the process, and cursed as she threw on a random blue shirt and squeezed her jeans on. Pulling out socks from the nearest drawer, she hurriedly ran her fingers through her hair in hopes of getting it smoother. When no such thing happened, Annabeth grabbed her hair tie and messily tied her hair up. She didn't have time to care about her curls.
Almost running to the bathroom, Annabeth splashed water on her face and brushed her teeth within two minutes. She let out a breath as she ran downstairs and put her boots on, grabbing her backpack and leaving the house, just as the bus pulled up at her stop. Looking around, a wave of disappointment ran through Annabeth. Percy wasn't there.
A sigh escaped her lips as Annabeth walked speedily to the stop, smiling at her bus driver when he opened the door. She looked around the bus, taking a seat in the fifth row with her face burning. Everybody had someone to sit with, and she was always alone. It definitely wasn't the cold breeze outside causing it, but it only worsened when she heard Percy run into the bus at the same time. He flashed a quick grin at the bus driver, murmuring good morning.
Annabeth took a moment to analyze him, at his messy hair sticking out in opposite directions, the bags under his eyes, and when his eyes met hers, she averted her gaze.
Even though it was just five seconds, the time slowed down. He looked around before turning to her, an unreadable expression on his face. "Can I sit here?"
Annabeth nodded mutely, pulling her backpack on her lap and staring out the window. She shivered slightly when it hit her that she'd forgotten her jacket. Great. It was just what she needed.
When the bus driver began moving again, Annabeth tried to ignore the tapping of Percy's fingers against the leather seats. She bit her lip, inhaling his fresh scent and shutting her eyes. The sea and cologne, how he'd always smelled before he changed drastically.
As the tapping got louder, Annabeth grit her teeth and attempted to ignore it. She could hear the whispers from the students behind her, and before she knew what she was doing, Annabeth turned to him. "Will you stop?"
His fingers abruptly stopped, and Percy let a sheepish and embarrassed expression rise on his face. "Sorry."
Annabeth rolled her eyes and turned away, but her victory was short lived.
"Where's your jacket?"
"That isn't your business." Annabeth ignored the way her heart rate sped up.
"It's below thirty degrees, are you crazy?"
"No."
"Anna-"
"Can you shut up and leave me alone?"
After that, Percy was silent. He turned away from Annabeth, and they didn't speak a word the entire time.
When the bus finally pulled up to the school, Percy rushed towards the exit. Annabeth waited a couple minutes for everyone else to leave before standing up, and then her eye caught the black leather lying next to her. She felt her heart constrict when she recognized it.
He'd left his jacket for her.
"Attention, please!"
Annabeth glanced up at Mr. C, who was looking confidently at the class, a wide grin abroad his face. When the class finally quieted down, he began talking.
"Now, as we all know, this is a history class. Since it's the start of the year, I will not immediately be jumping into difficult projects and activities. So, for your first project in here, you'll be working for a partner." The room squirmed with excitement until Mr. C shook his head. "I've chosen your partners, based on your previous grades. But, before we get into that, let me explain what exactly you will be doing. Each of you will pick a certain time period from the thirteen I have up here on the table, and you will be doing research and presenting it later on. Understand?"
Some of the students nodded, while others just yawned. Annabeth took a steady breath, praying that she wouldn't be partners with him. Anyone but him. She felt his gaze on her, but pushed it away. Mr. C pulled out a piece of paper, and began to read off names. She was the second one.
"Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase."
Annabeth's heart stopped.
The class went silent for a moment, murmuring in hushed voices before they stopped. Teenage minds could only handle five seconds of one topic. As Mr. C went on to read more names, Annabeth struggled to breathe.
Out of everyone. Percy Jackson. The same one who'd ignored her for weeks, barely bothering to look at her other than when he smirked with her friends. The same Percy Jackson she wished she had nothing to do with for the entire school year.
She could feel his gaze on her, and looked pointedly at the floor. It was just a project. They could handle each other for a week.
"Okay, class, one of you come up here and choose a time period. I will give you two weeks for this, and will pass out the criteria tomorrow. As of right now, since we only have twenty minutes of class left, you have the entire class period to talk with your partner. No switching partners." Mr. C set down the papers and finished talking, his voice being drowned by the students'.
Before Annabeth could get up, Percy was walking towards the table in the middle. Annabeth bit her lip and sat down, and when he turned with a piece of paper in his hand, she didn't look away. He shot her the tiniest hint of a smile, and her heart melted.
No.
She wouldn't let him do this to her again.
Annabeth didn't return the smile, and he set down the paper awkwardly on her desk, sitting at the empty one in front and turning to her. Annabeth's eyes scanned the paper, and she almost jumped up when she read the two, simple words.
Shakespearean Era.
They were silent for a moment, and Percy glanced expectantly at Annabeth. She kept her gaze downwards, but couldn't help smiling. It was her favorite time in history, where her favorite writer had lived.
"Okay," Percy said.
They didn't speak for five minutes, before Percy finally cleared his throat. "So. Any ideas on this? Annabeth?"
Taking a mental breath, she looked up. "Yeah. I'll do half, you do half, and no communication will ensue. I already know about this era, I don't know about you-"
"It isn't a group project if we don't talk." Percy cut her off.
"It is," Annabeth said. Why did he care, anyway?
"Annabeth."
"Don't say my name," Annabeth got up, pushing him aside. He watched her, a scowl on his face.
"Why are you overreacting? Just act normal so we can get this done with!"
She ignored him, gathering her stuff and walking to the teacher's desk. "May I go to the bathroom?"
Mr. C gave her a look and then at Percy. He sighed. "You may, just don't be late for your next class."
Annabeth nodded, Percy's voice lingering in her mind. She shuffled her things before walking out the classroom, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
Luke Castallen's laughter echoed throughout the hall, and Annabeth stopped short of walking. She heard it again, a devious and annoying sound.
Soon enough, his voice began to speak out. "Really? You gay faggot," he spat. "You're nothing."
Unexpected anger burned inside of Annabeth, and she turned the corner, to find Luke pinning Nico di Angelo against the lockers. She glanced around the hall for any adults, but it was completely empty. No sign of teachers.
His back was turned to her so he didn't notice her presence, but Nico caught her eye. When she locked gazes with his dark orbs, she saw nothing. No emotion whatsoever to show that he felt anything about the situation he was in. It reminded Annabeth of what she saw whenever she looked at her reflection.
"You deserve to die," Luke growled. "You piece of shit."
Rage boiled inside of Annabeth, and she stalked toward Luke. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
He tensed, but his grip on Nico didn't loosen. When he spoke, Luke's voice was low. "Don't come into this, Blondie."
She scowled, "Watch me."
He laughed, and then completely let go of Nico. Turning to face Annabeth, Luke smirked. "Who do you think you are, sweetheart?"
Annabeth pushed at his chest. "Don't call me that. Do you want me to report you? What do you have against Nico?"
Luke's eyes darkened, and he shoved Nico away from the hall. "Leave," he growled.
Nico bit his lip and with a slightly emotional face, nodded at Annabeth. She hoped her expression could be comprehended. You're welcome.
"You have no right to do that," Annabeth said. "Bitch. Can't you leave people alone?"
Luke raised an eyebrow. "You ask too many questions. It's starting to irritate me."
She laughed sarcastically. "And you're starting to make me wish I could break your jaw. And possibly your whole face."
His eyebrows hit his hairline, an amused expression setting onto his features. "Don't be like that, princess." When he leaned closer, Annabeth could smell the cigarettes on his breath.
She gagged, and pushed him away. "Leave me alone."
He shrugged. "That's what I was trying to do. You're a hypocritical one."
And with that, Luke left, leaving Annabeth's heart pounding. She checked her watch, and sighed.
Of course she'd miss the bus.
When arriving home, Annabeth wanted nothing more than to throw herself onto her bed and cry. She shivered, the rain sticking to her skin in droplets.
Having walked for what seemed like an eternity in the rain, Annabeth was soaking. She blew the hair out of her face, setting her backpack down.
Immediately, her father greeted her with a slap to the face. "Why are you late?"
"I missed the bus," Annabeth answered calmly. She knew it was useless to make up some stupid excuse.
He grunted, grabbing her by the hair and throwing her onto the staircase. "You better not do it again, or I. Will. Make. You. Pay. Understand? I expect dinner to be ready in five minutes."
Annabeth nodded mutely, and before she could get up, a figure walked into the room, laughing. She stopped when seeing Annabeth, all signs of laughter dropping from her face.
The woman's hair was wildfire red, and her emerald eyes hardened when she saw Annabeth. She looked mildly annoyed, and wrapped her arm around Frederick's waist, kissing him on the chrek.
Annabeth tried not to gag, and Frederick kissed her sloppily before turning to Annabeth. "Bitch, come here and greet the guest the way she should be treated."
Annabeth swallowed. "Hello."
The woman smiled tightly, and in her sugary sweet voice, said, "Hello, Annabeth."
"No offense," Annabeth said, "but who's this?"
Frederick's eyes flashed, but he grinned, showing off his nasty teeth. "This, Annabeth, is your new stepmother."
Annabeth felt as though a gallon of ice had been poured over her, and she had no time to recover. Her jaw dropped. "What?"
She knew her dad had multiple affairs, but never did she expect him to settle with someone she'd never met. Who was she? How long had her father known her? Were they getting married? Were they already married?
"Yes," the woman said in her sweet voice. "Darling, I am pleased to meet you."
It felt as though a million pounds of weight had placed themselves onto Annabeth's chest. She raised her eyebrows at Frederick. What about Athena?
He understood her message, and shook his hear threateningly. Don't.
The phone rang, cutting Annabeth from her mental conversation from Frederick. She jumped up, rubbing her arm from when it'd jammed when she fell. "I'll get it."
Frederick nodded, and pulled the woman against him. He shooed her, and Annabeth climbed up the stairs in disgust, throwing her jacket on the ground in anger. She picked up the phone, forcing her voice to remain unmoved. "Hello?"
"Annabeth?" Athena.
Her heart squeezed, and Annabeth shut her eyes tightly. "Yes?"
"How are you, darling?"
"Do you need anything?" Annabeth cut off. "I'm a bit busy right now."
Athena was silent for a moment before replying. "I wanted to check up on you. How's school?"
Annabeth furrowed her eyebrows, leaning against her bed. She stared at the rain tapping at her window, "It's okay. How are you?"
Her mother hummed, "I'm good."
"How's work?"
"Work is wonderful." Athena responded, and Annabeth felt a pang at her heart when she realized she felt jealous that her mother was happy. And she wasn't.
"That's good," Tension rose between them, and Annabeth sighed. "Mom, we'll talk later?"
"Wait, honey, I need to talk to you about something."
I knew you didn't actually care about me.
"Yeah?" Annabeth walked over to her window, placing her forehead against the cold glass. Shivers ran through her body.
"I heard about Frederick getting married."
Coldness coursed through Annabeth's veins, but she was sure it wasn't because of the window. "He's getting married?"
"You didn't know?" There was hardness in Athena's voice.
"I don't know anything!" Annabeth burst out. "I didn't know anything about any woman until now, let alone that she'd be living with me. Hell, I don't even know her name!"
"From what I've heard," Athena cleared her throat, "her name is Susan Dare. And the wedding is in a few months."
A/N: *breaths sigh of relief* Finally done. After weeks of trying to get through writer's block, it's done! How was it? Let me know in a review. :)
Purplicouspolkadot: Thank you! I'm so glad you like it omg ! I hope you have a good day too :)
DerpMuffinPJO: Yep, Bobby's the cutest. You'll find out whether your prediction was true or not in the later chapters ;)
clo7615: Thank you! So glad you like it!
CassylovesPercabeth: Hope you like it! :D
MajorCartooniac: Honestly, who understands teenagers? Especially broken teenagers like Perseus Jackson? Why, let's find out. ;) I will fully support this mob of Luke haters. You guys do a good deed. Apparently, Luke's going to be the bad guy in all of my stories. Aww, thank you! ;) and I agree, suspicious, but then again, who would Piper and Annabeth ever hurt? Athena's in SF, don't worry! I hope you liked this chapter :D (and don't procrastinate by reading this, Marshy).
uneednotnomyname: You're so sweet. Thank you so much. I try to update as often as I can for you guys :) Honestly, I don't know what I'm doing with this story. Not as much as I'd like to, so, we'll see where it leads to. Hope you liked the chapter!
ShatteredOwl: ..that fucking asshole. HE'S DEAD. WOW. You need to funeralize (not a word) him. Or else I'm deleting TWSH.
BookLuver4ever7: Yay! So glad you liked it. All these characters are just being introduced, even though it's like chapter 15, so we'll see what Calypso does. Piper's amazing. Hope you like the chapter!
Someone the World Forgot: I have no idea what you read, tbh. I don't even know what this is. *tired laughter* I agree. Poor Annabeth. Hope you liked this :D
ShadowSpirit020: Apparently, Bobby does know Annabeth. Hope you like this chapter :)
africaflower77: This made me smile. I hope you like this chapter ;)
KoelKat: I try to update, what do you mean, "add in a song"? :) Thanks!
And that's it of the reviews. Thanks to all my beautiful followers and readers for supporting this story and not giving up on it. Y'all are the real MVP. Keep smiling, xxx.