Chapter 3:

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO or HoO characters or plot. If I copy something from another fanfiction, sorry I don't have a great memory so if you could mention it to me in a review, I will credit the person or change it.

FACE EVERYTHING AND RISE

Piper's POV

Apparently, this school was full of elitists. I had yet to find someone who wasn't snobbish. That rumor, the one that says all private school kids are spoiled rich kids who only think about themselves? Not true, but this group of people were apparently brainwashed to think money is everything. And I could see where they got it from.

The teachers apparently thought I was a troublemaker who hated life. They immediately put me in guidance counseling sessions and classified as a 'slow' kid. Did I mention that dyslexia made all of this just that much better?

I hate that word. I've heard it enough to know that it really just means dumb, and nearly all the people saying it looked down on you.

And getting expelled is harder than it sounds. Apparently, as a part of the 'no kid left behind program,' recommendations for more insane schools or a stern talking to you and your parents (or your evil blond 'babysitter') was pretty much the worst thing you could do.

Plus, sleep was an issue too. In the week that I had been here, I had been plagued with dreams of perky yet deadly cheerleaders with one donkey leg and one metal leg. And I could have sworn that one of them had Jane's face. Although that could have been my hyperactive, ADHD brain. Did I mention that too? Add it to my miles long list of issues.

The roommate front was just as bad as the rest. Apparently, Jessica was the Queen Bee, and the girls who I saw on my first day were part of her hive. Everyday I got up early just to avoid them.

Along with all my other problems, I was increasingly lonely. You'd think that with all the practice I've had I would have been fine, but although I am a pretty odd kid, I still needed company.

I just kept living through my days, but not really feeling them. Does that make sense? It's like going through a maze you have been through a thousand times, but blindfolded.

One day, I went to the library. It was kind of pointless since I couldn't read anything, but I figured good friends might be in the library. The library was huge, and it was sad to think that most of the kids had probably never been in here.

Anyway, there was only the librarian, a girl, and a group of guys cornering some poor kids. My hands clenched into fists, but under my huge ski jacket you couldn't see them. Deciding that the girl was my best choice, I walked over to her.

"Hey! My name is Piper." I said, with my voice unintentionally wavering. The girl immediately looked up from the book she was reading. It took me a minute to decipher the title, yet the best I could come up with was Llki Ot a Bordmckign.

"Oh! You're Jessica's new roommate! We're all supposed to ignore you. Shoot! I wasn't supposed to tell you that," the girl said. "I'm Amy, by the way."

She managed to look preppy and individual with the uniform on. Amy seemed nice enough.

"So.." I replied. How were you supposed to ask someone to be your friend without seeming desperate? "Um, you new around here?"

Man! I mentally face palmed. I just used one of my dad's cheesy pickup lines. Obviously she wasn't new anyway! I was the new one! She just looked at me, and it was scary how well I could pick up on her thoughts. I think she was really hesitant.

"Um… I'm sorry, but I can't be your friend. I'm already Jessica's friend. She wouldn't like it if she found out we had this conversation, so could we keep this between you and me?" Amy asked.

"Um, of course. But that isn't why I came over. I ,uh, need that book behind you. Could you maybe move?" I said, trying to salvage whatever was left of my dignity.

She sighed in relief, then packed up her stuff and left. Great. Now I was alone. I left the library as quickly as I could so I could at least get to the showers before Jessica and crew took over.

As I left, I heard the group of guys talking. I quietly attempted listened (NOT eavesdropping, just staying informed).

"Yeah," one of the guys said, "next week we are having an off campus free time. Dude, lets go to the public schools and prank them –"

I stopped paying attention. Hmm… off campus free time plus me inevitably equals expulsion. Call the car because I am going home.

Thank you to my 2 reviewers. Happy end or beginning of Spring Break, depending on where you live.

So, request if you want any other POV. You will get a shout out and/or one of your ideas used in this story (credited of course) OR a sneak peek of the next chapter if you know where the title of this story came from. HINT: It is from a classic American novel. And I also mentioned it in the chapter!

Review, PLEASE!

Love you guys!