Hi, thanks for all the positive reviews on chapters 1 and 2! YAY! So for anyone who reads this, here is chapter 3!
Percy's POV
Ok, so I'm not taking Annabeth to the library, if anyone had guessed. I just have to hope she feels something or anything for me. Otherwise this is going to be probably a complete waste of time.
Annabeth glances down at our hands, fixed together. I thought she was going to tell me to leave her alone, me being the almost complete stranger she'd only met today. I thought she was going to let go and run off. But she didn't, which kind of surprised me. What is this to her? Just a friendship or what?
I jog along the side of the school building, nearer the sports hall, and round past at least halfway the entire building, bringing a silent Annabeth with me. Eventually we reach the place. A dark red door with peeling paint that might as well be a janitors closet. It has no label saying what it is, but I know. I pull open the creaky door with the thin and cold metal handle that sticks a little to the original position. I look sideways at Annabeth, curious to see her expression at going somewhere unseen. She still looks apprehensive but, still, she doesn't protest. I drag her inside the door, smiling.
"Percy?" she asks. "Where are we going?"
"Don't worry, I'm not kidnapping you," I grin in the dark as the door closes, leaving us in a black space. I feel Annabeth shivering in my grip at the shadows of unknowing. "I just want to show you something."
I raise my hand to the wall, having done this a million times over the years, and find the light switch. I flick it and a dull yellow light fills the room. If you can call it a room. It's the size of a storage office with some stairs leading to our destination.
"After you," I say politely. Annabeth tentatively takes the first step up the stairs. She turns back to me and I smile in what I think is an encouraging way. Clearly not by her grim expression. She gulps and begins to climb, hauling her rucksack further up her shoulder. I follow, still smiling, maybe mischievously, I don't know, I can't see my face.
We seem to walk for ten minutes in solid silence but I know it's only three. I counted when I was bored of the girl only friends at school when others had been at home. Why did half the school have to get flu?
Finally, we reach another metal door, this one cream and dark yellowing in the dim light. Annabeth turns to me in question. I gesture for her to open the door. She turns back and pushes down the handle and uses her small hand to let in the light through the now open door. Bright light floods my vision and the dim room vanishes and I am momentarily blinded. Annabeth shelters her eyes with her hand and walks into the cool afternoon air. The wind blows her soft blonde curls over her face. She merely brushes them away, smiling. My eyes adjust to the light and I can suddenly see the landscape of New York spread out in front of us.
"Where are we?" Annabeth asks.
"Quick, we're not really supposed to up here," I say, taking Annabeth's hand in my own, yet again. I crouch down and scoot along the concrete roof of the school toward a huge triangular slab of concrete, coated with flowers on one side only. I sit down and smile back at Annabeth who seems apprehensive and a little worried. "Don't worry about it," I say. "No one else knows how to get up here." She doesn't relax.
"Why did you bring me up here?" she asks, staring out over New York.
The buildings stand tall, competing against each other for competition in the sunlight to raise the tallest shadows on the streets where we sit by. The dark shadows climb above one and other into the ground, falling across our bodies. I can't help but think how Annabeth's hair looks in the sunlight as it twinkles in the shiny curls. I smile again.
"I dunno, I guess you seem like someone who'd appreciate it a bit differently than my friends," I say. "You said you like Architecture. This is about as good as it gets here." She smiles back and it's like my hopes came true. The reason I brought her up here is because I like her. And yes, I did just say that...I'm sure I know her. And I'm sure I know she is holding something back. It's only her first day, though. Who reveals everything on one day? Well, I did, but who's counting?
"I did say that," Annabeth says, so quietly almost to herself.
"So what brings you to Goode Highschool apart from the most awesome people you've ever met?" I ask, grinning in the almost blinding sunlight.
"A change. I just can't stay where I was anymore," she says, her smile quickly fading.
"Where were you?" I ask, my smile disappearing also.
"With my Dad and his awful wife. I guess you could say I ran away," she mumbles. I feel all cold inside, finally knowing a bit of her secrets.
"Why?"
"I couldn't stay somewhere I didn't exist." I immediately felt bad for her and felt bad for how I argued with my mom sometimes.
"Where are you staying now?" I ask.
"At the school in the boarding houses, I don't know which dorm yet."
"Juniper stays in the boarding houses," I say, trying to be helpful.
"Hopefully, I'll be with her, but with my luck.." She smiles a little sadly at this.
"You'll be fine," I reassure her.
"I was going to ask you, what's the deal with Thalia and Nico, not to pry or anything?" she asks. I grin broadly at this. It really was even obvious to an outsider something was going on between them. But outsider probably isn't the right word for Annabeth. She fits right in and it feels like we know her already even though she is new. It's strange and sort of feels wrong to say she is an outsider. Long lost friend?
"None of us know. They used to be really good friends surprisingly, but they just fell apart. There was once a blip when they knew everything about each other and you couldn't separate them," I say, still grinning. Annabeth frowns. "Do I know you from somewhere?" I ask.
"No, we've never met," she says quickly, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red. "We might have, but no. I don't think so. We can't have." I hold my hands in a surrender sign. "What's the time?" she asks.
I look down at my scruffy little blue watch and see. "Nearly one o'clock. We better get downstairs before the bell rings," I say, my face falling at losing time with her. I don't know why, but I want to spend more time with her, but don't need to get to know her. I know I keep saying this but, from the moment I saw her, it was like her biography is written in my head.
"Maybe next time you can actually take me to the library," she says smiling. "Thanks for showing me this."
I smile at her and lead the way, shuffling on my knees, back to the door and back to the place I want to be least right now. School. I wish I could fake being ill and stay at home all day. Just for time to think.
Annabeth's POV
Percy took me to the roof top of the school. It was a good sight while it lasted. The architecture was amazing. Percy does know me inside him. Now the bell is about to ring, but I don't want to leave his side. I just want him to remember me. And all my friends. They know me. I can feel it. Just that inkling of a thought. Maybe you've seen that face, maybe not. I know I say I want them to remember me, but I hope they don't remember why.
Percy and I run back down the stairs to try to beat the bell. We run through the dark, hand in hand, and rush out of the door into sunlight again. Percy turns out the light from outside and shuts the door. No one will know about this place other than us. That's what he says. I smile back at him and he grins the way he used to with me. Like a winner. A hero. The person he...never mind.
We arrive back on the tarmac and walk back into the hallway with purple doors this time (I don't know why every door is a different color). The bell rings and I turn to Percy, having forgotton which lesson. He stares back at me just as blankly.
"Is it Geography?" he asks.
"History!" I cry, smiling. Percy looks at me in mock amazement and takes the lead. Unfortunately, he has let go of my hand. Something about being seen with a girl. I have no idea what he means. Suddenly he whirs off to to the left down another brightly colored hallway. But I don't realize soon enough. I keep on walking and turn around to see where Percy has gone, only to see a huge crowd of people covering him from my sights. Great, lost already. Then something slams into me with such force I think a wall has started closing against me, forcing me forward. I stumble backward into a group of people and some pretty hard lockers. All I can say is...ow!
I look up to see the wall. Which isn't a wall. It's a girl. I think.
A tall girl with long, stringy brown hair that falls short of her shoulders which are broad and thick. Like she could move stone with just one hand. The rest of her body is bulky too. Not as in fat, as in really strong. On her face is a short nose squashed to her face as though it's been broken several times, but not bothered to be put back. Also, a pair of dark piggy irises that stand against the whites of her eyes like tiny beetles. Her lips are pressed into a thin line, showing annoyance, though I never did anything wrong. Clarisse.
And there is no point asking how I know that.
"Watch where you're going, Blondie," she spits at me. So we aren't on the same terms as we were when...I have got to stop thinking about that place. My superior said it would slowly kill me from the inside. Knowing what I know.
I instinctively move back from Clarisse, knowing exactly what she is capable of. I have learned through experience, though revenge was good when it came to my hand in those situations.
"Will do," I say, walking away.
"What did you say?" she asks, shoving me. I turn back to her, my anger boiling, but my training was for this. To prepare for complete control of emotions.
"I said 'will do'. As in, 'I will watch where I'm going'," I say slowly, as in trying to get into her sometimes logic-thick brain.
"Don't be smart with me," she says, standing a little closer. "I smell your fear."
"Maybe you should see your doctor," I say. "That can't be good for you."
Clarisse spits onto the floor.
"You better watch yourself, new girl."
"Will do," I say, saluting this time.
Oops. Bad move. Clarisse grabs me by the shoulder and bangs my already sore back against a locker. Ow. Clarisse is about to smash my skull into the locker to turn my lights out when something pulls her back. Percy. I breathe a sigh of relief. Too late. I get smashed against the locker again and fall to the ground. I can't get up, but watch on as Percy saves me like he used...no.
"Get off me, Jackson," yells Clarisse as Percy pulls her away from me. A few of Clarisse's posse utter for her to give up. A teacher is coming. Mr Brunner! I am safe with him around. Whether from friends or enemies. Clarisse stops struggling and Percy lets go. It's almost as if nothing happened. I don't know if that means Mr Brunner is respected or not. Then again, no one wants to be caught by a teacher.
"Get to class before I give you all a weeks detention for after school hours!" he yells as he passes, not even stopping to check on any damage or any unresolved problems. Then again, there aren't any.
Clarisse shrugs and leads her posse to her next class, biology. Percy walks over to me as I lie on the floor, glaring up and silently thanking him. I did not have to go martial art on my first day. Especially in front of people I haven't called friends yet in this universe.
Percy holds out his hand for me to take but I still can't move. He takes hold of my arms and waist and hauls me up into his strong arms. Funny, just like old times. A jolt of energy bursts through me and my twisting body and I try to squirm out of his arms, uncomfortable with the horribly nice feeling of being with him again. I wasn't supposed to like his soft touch on my cold skin. I wasn't supposed to like being with him. This isn't old times.
"I'm fine," I say to Percy as he holds out his arm, trying to be careful with me not to fall. He moves his hand back to his side where it stays, awkwardly. I smile grimly.
"That was Clarisse," he says. I know. "Don't mess with her."
"She can take it. It's not like she feels pain." Percy glares at me.
"That's not what I mean," he says warningly, stopping in the middle of the corridor.
"I know what you meant. I joke with her, I get bones broken." He stares at me, worried, every trace of a smile gone. This is only day one. What have I done to get this on my first day?
"Are you sure you don't want to go to the medical room?" he asks, holding out his hands in a surrender, knowing me too much already.
"I'm fine," I say, wincing as we turn another corner and walk down more steps. "I don't want to miss a lesso-"
Please don't laugh. Me, being me, fell down the stairs in pain, trying to convince someone I wasn't in pain. Round of applause for Annabeth everyone! Advice, never try to prove anything when the truth is so obvious.
Percy pulls me up and puts an arm around my waist and I don't protest. I should. He leads me to the medical room and I try to walk on my own two feet. Impossible. Guess I'll just have to miss a lesson. My first lesson. Great. What a good first impression. Note to self, don't try to be smart just yet. (A/N: Is Annabeth too sarcastic?)
Nico's POV
Where is Percy? I seriously hope he hasn't dragged Annabeth into any trouble. That idiot always messes up things. Like Thalia. Annabeth is a nice enough girl and doesn't deserve to be messed with by Percy, the class jerk. Then again, I seem to be the only person who thinks this. Thalia thinks he is some kind of God. Why can't I be like that? Maybe she would hate me less.
Mr Tynan is going on about some kind of war essay we did before summer. I never handed that in. It was a waste of my time. Something about being disappointed with the results. He looks at me and I roll my eyes. I really hate history. According to Thalia's brother, we do ancient Greece next in history. I hope for boredom's sake that this will be better. I have high hopes.
Mr Tynan tells us to open a textbook at a page when Percy and Annabeth enter, looking like they've been running and Annabeth clutching something to her side. Judging by the position of her hand, it's not a stitch, so likely to be an injury. Percy hands a slip of blue paper to Mr Tynan and goes to sit down, Annabeth by him, taking the empty seat behind me. Annabeth takes an empty chair beside Thalia across the room from Percy but in the same line of seats.
"What happened?" I ask, turning around to face my best friend.
"Clarisse got a little stressed and the lockers happened to be in the way," he says, frowning. Maybe this won't be like before. I have to swear, these guys are suited together. It's like they've been together for years. I feel like I've known them both longer than I have. I can't explain it. But Percy is worried about her and it doesn't make sense. We barely know her.
"Where were you?" I ask. "I though you'd step in, being your usual chivalrous self."
"I can't believe I wasn't there. I was going to class." He sinks his head, ashamed. Great, another person hung up over a girl. That makes all of us. Except for Leo. But Leo is different.
I can't explain how boring the rest of the day is because it would stop you reading. History is completely weird, but I swear I like this Greek Mythology stuff. I just don't like the teacher. There are probably a million things I could say against him. There is one plus side to him, though. He sat me next to Thalia. I thank him for that, even if Thalia doesn't talk to me and rolls her eyes at my every move. I don't care.
After History was Math then finally literacy. Something about a bloke called Shakespeare. I have no idea what that's all about. Percy told me we have homework to write stuff about him from the lesson. Wikipedia, here I come.
At the end of literacy, Thalia lead Annabeth to the boarding house reception, because apparently Annabeth has some kind of depressing family life. Join the club. I left the room with Percy who was talking some rubbish about Annabeth being suspicious of me for something. I sometimes wonder what he is saying and if I should listen. Nah. He doesn't mind. He also says something else about Annabeth not being new. Yeah, I felt that too.
Percy leaves me to wait for Frank like I told him I was. He leaves and I smile for being alone. No point nodding my head to get me dizzy anymore. I don't have to pretend to listen.
My phone buzzes from my jeans back pocket. I take it out and see the text.
'Meet me at the bleachers'. Thalia.
So we're on again. I wonder how long this relationship will go on before someone finds out.
I quickly text Frank not to wait for me as I'll go home because some 'family' business is going down. Yeah, because that's likely. I turn back to school to the playing field toward the bleachers where Thalia will be waiting for me.
Thalia's POV
Juniper and I lead Annabeth through bright yellow hallways filled with huge posters of successful people. Those posters are supposed to encourage us, but they're just patronizing. The bright colors are weird too. We're not in kindergarten anymore.
I've never been to the reception at the boarding house so don't really know the way. Juniper is the expert here. She stays in the boarding house, but I don't know why. It feels insensitive to ask.
The woman behind the desk has a pressed her lips into her thin line when she see's us.
"You must be the new girl," she says to Annabeth, completely ignoring me. I don't care. Annabeth nods her head and lets her curls fall over her face. The lady hands her a large booklet about the dormitories. She takes it and shoves it into her bag. I wonder if she will have read that all by tonight and memorized it, being the only keen reader, except Piper, in our little group.
"Can she stay in the dorm with me?" asks Juniper. "I have a free bed."
The woman looks down at her computer screen, clicks her mouse several times and nods appreciatively.
"Yes, that's fine. You're with Miss La Rue, aren't you? Room 56?" Juniper nods and the woman takes a key from a drawer and hands it to Annabeth. "This is your key. Miss Arbor, can show you upstairs to the dorm. No late night parties, lose it and you pay for it and breakfast and supper times are all in the booklet." She smiles for the first time. I roll my eyes.
"See you tomorrow, Thalia," calls Annabeth. My new friend and my other friend go up the stairs on the left of the little corridor, carrying Annabeth's suitcase with them. The woman behind the desk changes her face to a scowl. I don't smile as I turn around, going back the way I'd come moments ago with my friends. I see the football field through a window and see the bleachers. I think of Nico. And what would really piss off this woman at the desk. Rowdy teenagers.
I get out my phone and text Nico.
'Meet me at the bleachers'.
I smirk and take an exit round through an escape door at the side of the boarding house building. Nico won't be long. He never is.
Annabeth's POV
I see the purple numbers on the orange door. Just like the t-shirts back at my real home. 56. 5 and 6. How ironic. I smile sideways at Juniper who opens the door to a bright room filled with afternoon sunlight, showing the two well made beds and one empty one. Mine. One with a plain black duvet and red pillow and the other with a light green pillow and patterned green duvet. On the wall there are pictures of rock bands and famous environmentalists and various trees. I can tell which one is Junipers.
"Clarisse!" My stomach drops as Juniper yells the name I want to hear least. "Come meet our new dorm-mate."
Clarisse rounds a corner of the room to see me, her expression stormy.
"Hello again, Blondie," she spits at me.
"Oh, how nice, you know each other," says Juniper, breaking the silence.
"You made me late for class." Clarisse rounds on me. She doesn't look like someone who would take pride in her education, but don't judge a book by it's cover.
"You made me late for class," I equalize. She scowls and takes a step toward me. I put my bag down and roll up my sleeves. I promised not to antagonize anyone or go martial art on anyone, but if I need to, I can defend myself. I am not getting bruised anymore today.
"Are you going to hit me?" she asks, patronizingly. I glare back at her as she gloats.
"I would warn you," I say. "But you can guess." I can see it in her eyes. She knows, somehow, not to mess with me. That old instinct her Dad gave her. Don't pick the wrong fight. She does anyway. She takes a swipe at me and I duck and catch her large fist in mid-retraction and spin it round behind her so she is kneeling, her arm behind her back. I smile. Not bad for a bit long out of action, Annabeth.
"Alright, I get it, now let me go." I see Juniper smirking out of Clarisse's eye-line. I smirk too. Clarisse doesn't get beaten often. I see her face squeezed in pain and let her go. She stands up again and tries to hit me again. I duck and she stumbles forward. Oops.
Clarisse spits on the floor.
"I hope you're not cocky all the time, new girl," she says. I shake my head and ask Juniper where the washroom is. I put my bag down and unzip it, taking out my toothbrush.
I do try to talk to Clarisse. She is a bit off with me. Understandable but childish.
After food for the evening, spaghetti and pesto, we head up to bed. Clarisse has let her guard down a little and actually smiled at a joke I told. She doesn't always have to be the tough one.
My duvet cover is purple with an owl on it. I've had it since I was really young when I lived with my Dad. But that was along time ago, no matter how long ago my friends think it was.
I settle down into a restless sleep once again.
Thanks for reading!
So, thanks for reviewing the other chapters and everything!
Also, new chapter will be coming soon so no worries.
Homework is getting a little heavy so I might be a while with the next one.
AND we are writing a new story called 'RadioActive'! Yay!
Please review! :)