Chapter 4: Butch

The next morning I woke up and went to the bathroom, yawning. It had been a tiring few days, and all I wanted was to start my morning with a nice warm shower. I opened the bathroom door and was blinded by the light. Then I heard, "Dammit, Percy, get out of here!"

When my vision cleared, Thalia was standing there in nothing but a towel. "Shit, sorry!" I covered my eyes and backed out of the bathroom, shutting the door. I'd forgotten Thalia was staying with us. I groaned and wandered into the living room. My shower would have to wait, but I wasn't going to waste the opportunity to go ahead and eat breakfast. I put bread in the toaster and hit the button.

As I sat waiting for my toast, I started to think. Life sure was going to be different with Thalia staying here. I'd actually have to start knocking on the bathroom door in the morning…

Finally, after a lot of hassle, Thalia and I managed to both get ready without getting in each other's way too badly. Then we loaded into the Prius with Paul and started on our way to school. On the way, Thalia turned to me. "You know, Percy, you really need to get a car."

"Why?" I asked. "I live in downtown Manhattan. The traffic is terrible, and we have the best public transportation system in the world."

"Because, Seaweed Brain, we need a vehicle to cart kids to Camp in. We can't borrow Paul's car every time we have to get demigods to camp."

"Ah, he doesn't mind."

Paul sighed. "I am in the car. Listen, I'm fine with helping out any way I can, but I need my car. And, also, you guys can't be missing a lot of class for this. Not only will it look suspicious, but, at least for you Percy, you're actually at school to learn, and you can't exactly do that if you're missing class all the time."

"Alright," I said. "So, how am I going to get a car?"

Paul spoke up again, "Well, my brother has an older car that he doesn't use anymore. We could probably get that for you. I'll call him tonight, see if he can bring it up this weekend."

"There," said Thalia. "See? Easy enough."

I nodded. I was getting a car. I was excited, but I'd also gotten to the point where practicality was more important. Owning a car in New York City? Not very practical. Not with the subways, buses, and taxis to get you everywhere. Plus, traffic was hell, and finding a gas station was impossible. I honestly didn't know why we even had the Prius. It was useful if you had to leave the city, but still…

When we got to homeroom, Thalia and I sat in our usual spots and settled in for another day. Then Helen's voice came over the loudspeaker. "Good morning everyone, and happy Friday!" Wow, Friday already. I was surprised at how quickly the first week was over. "So, just a reminder to everyone, tonight is the first home-game of the season, so I hope everyone comes to cheer on our team!" I rolled my eyes. Not only was I uninterested, but our football team was known for being terrible. No one else seemed to remember this, because the entire class started to cheer. I looked at Thalia.

"Do you know what that is?" I asked. "What Helen's doing, I mean? How does she make people do certain things, or react certain ways when she speaks?"

"It's called charmspeak," Thalia said. "It's a gift that daughters of Aphrodite sometimes have. When used properly and well, you can get even gods or Titans to at least partially heed what you're saying. The fact that Helen's charmspeak doesn't really work at all on us, probably has to do with the fact that she's not a daughter of Aphrodite. She wasn't born with it, she had to learn it. She's not as good, and will never be as good, as some daughters of Aphrodite."

"I guess that makes sense," I said. "Had any luck with either a god or Titan that has a grudge against you, or this Andromeda person?"

Thalia frowned and shook her head. "There's too many. It's like trying to compile a list of gods and Titans that hate you."

I thought about that for a moment. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Man, how are we ever going to narrow this down?"

"I don't know," Thalia said as the bell rang. "I suppose we'll just have to keep working away. Alright, I gotta get to class. I'll see you after school."

I nodded. "See you."

I was in the locker room changing after swim practice, when the football guys started coming in to change for their big game tonight. As I pulled my pants out of my locker, the list of demigods fell out of the pocket. I bent over and picked it up, glancing at it briefly, when a name caught my eye. The name was Butch. He was the quarterback of the football team. He was tall, burly, and had a shaved head. He had a reputation for being generally nice, but if you got on his nerves or made him angry, he was an enemy to be reckoned with. Once he'd shoved 15 pencils up a kid's nose. Impressive, but I'd once shoved 19 up my own. Long story…

Anyway, the list said he was a son of Iris. I snorted with laughter. The big football quarterback was a son of the rainbow goddess? Hilarious. I looked up, and there he was, goofing around with the other football players until the coaches came in and got them prepped for the "big game." I put the list back in my pocket and pulled on my pants. He didn't need saving yet, and there was no sense in worrying about him until there was. I was on my way out, when two guys I'd never seen before entered the locker room, carrying football bags. They were huge, even for varsity football players.

Something about them bugged me. I didn't put my finger on it until I was halfway out of the building. They reminded me a whole lot of that incident in seventh grade when I'd been attacked by Laistrygonian giants in gym class. I spun around and dashed back to the locker room. I walked in. The coaches had just begun their pre-game prep. I glanced at the football team. There, in the back, were the two that I didn't recognize. They were Laistrygonians alright. I could tell because they were the only ones not staring intently at the coaches, instead their eyes were pointed directly at Butch.

I quietly snuck out of the locker room and muttered, "Shit." Brilliant. It looked like I was going to the football game after all…

"Explain to me again your thought process, Percy," Thalia said as we sat in the stands waiting for the game to begin. "Really, because this is not how I wanted to spend my Friday night."

"How were you planning on spending it?" I asked.

"I was going to spend it kicking your ass in MW3," she said.

"I don't own Modern Warfare," I said.

"You do now," she responded, raising her backpack. "I managed to procure a copy today after I beat Steve in Boxing. The team had bet me I couldn't beat him, and MW3 was the reward."

I shook my head in disbelief. "You are enjoying High School far too much for an immortal girl. Especially one who's the lieutenant of Artemis."

"Whatever," she said. "I might as well enjoy myself while I'm here. But that's not the point. Why are we here?"

"Okay, look," I said, "the Laistrygonians will probably attack in a moment of extreme confusion. And what's more confusing than the end of a football game? The crowd running down into the field to cheer for the winning team. It'll be a mess. And that'll be the perfect opportunity to grab Butch and run off to cook dinner."

Thalia sighed. "Fine, but if you're wrong and I missed the opportunity to play a video game for the first time, then you'll be sorry."

"The PlayStation will still be there whenever we get home," I said. "Chill out."

"Sorry," Thalia said. "You're right. I just… really don't want to be here. To be quite honest, I hate football."

That struck me as odd. "Really? Why? I thought you of all people would enjoy football. It's your type of violent sport, I thought."

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Answer this, Seaweed Brain. How many professional football players are women?"

"There's a women's football league…"

"Yeah, where they dress in slutty uniforms and run around the field so all the guys can stare at them," Thalia snapped. "Look, unlike a lot of the hunters, I don't hate men. What I do hate though, is when women are turned into objects by men."

"Well how many professional boxers are women," I retorted, sure I'd gotten her. She loved boxing.

"Lots! There are tons of women boxers. There's a women's boxing league. And, unlike women's football, it's actually a competition, rather than a set-up for guys to oogle girls."

"Okay," I said. "I see your point. Sorry for assuming."

"It's fine, Seaweed Brain," Thalia answered. "I'm sorry I got all worked up."

I shrugged. "It happens." Just then, the football team charged onto the field. Immediately I noticed that something was wrong. The announcer called out the names of the team as they entered the stadium, and when he arrived at the quarterback, I knew the problem.

"And this year's star quarterback, Jake Jacobs!" he called.

"Damn it!" I said. "They already have Butch! Of course they weren't going to wait for the game to start, not when the Mist would cover up his disappearance! Come on, we've got to find Butch."

Thalia nodded, grabbed her bag, and followed me as we sprinted out of the stadium and back to the school. I burst in through the door leading into the pool area, then ran across to the pool entrance to the locker room, Thalia right on my tail. We ran into the locker room, while I called, "Butch! Butch!"

"He's not here," Thalia said. "Seaweed Brain! Why in Zeus's name didn't you stay around him! You idiot!"

We were both panicking, and I knew it. That didn't stop me from getting angry at Thalia. "You know what," I snapped, "I'm doing fine with berating myself without you reminding me how much of an idiot I am! You know Thalia, people make mistakes. You don't have to insult me every time I make one!"

"He could be dead already, Percy, and it's your fault! Did you even stop to think that they might attack him before the game? No, of course not, because stopping to think is below the 'mighty Percy Jackson.'"

I blazed with anger, and in that brief moment lost control. Water surged from every faucet, shower, and toilet in the locker room, which focused itself and blasted Thalia, as well as drenching everything in the locker room.

"Shit," I said. Then Thalia's fist connected with my face. I was fine, but stunned. Thalia, on the other hand, howled in pain, and clenched her hand. That's when I heard it. Sniggering. Thalia heard it too. We both peered around the row of lockers and saw the Laistrygonians. I'd had no clue they could be so quiet. And there, lying between them, was Butch, out cold and looking worse for the wear.

They looked stunned. "Oops," one of them said.

"Oops," Thalia and I repeated together as I drew Riptide and her spear appeared in her hand.

The giants each grabbed a locker door and hurled them at us. We ducked under. As we did, I noticed that Thalia was holding her spear in her left hand, and that her right was swelling and turning purple. Awesome. Guilt trip.

We charged the giants. They tried to move out of the way, but Thalia and I were to quick. Mine disintegrated when my sword tore him in half. Thalia's fell apart when it found her spear impaled in its stomach.

We both exhaled together, then laughed in relief. "Well," Thalia said. "That went well. Even left handed."

"Sorry," I said. "I really didn't mean to lose control…"

"I'm sorry too," Thalia said. "I didn't mean to insult you like that. Wow, we haven't fought like that for ages."

"No kidding," I said. "It's been since… well since that quest where we had to save Annabeth back when I was fourteen."

Just then Butch stirred. "What happened," he said. "Why am I in the locker room? Did we already play the game?"

"Yes," Thalia lied.

"Did we win?" he asked.

"Yeah, thanks to you," I said. "In fact… we were here to pick you up and take you to the after-party. One of the cheer-leader's cousins has a mansion out on Long Island." Thalia and I helped him stand.

"Why don't I remember anything?" he asked.

"Got knocked in the head," Thalia lied. "Nothing serious. They checked you for a concussion, and you're fine. The memory loss is only temporary. Now, come one, let's get you to that party."

"Yeah…" he said. "Okay. Who are you guys anyway?"

"I'm Percy."

"Thalia."

"Oh," he said. "Well thanks guys. I have a car, if you want to use that to drive us to the party."

"Sounds perfect," I said. I felt bad about lying, but we'd explain the truth when we had Chiron's help. Hopefully he wouldn't be too upset at us.