Percy Jackson and the Olympians: the Rosetta Stone

A/N: I haven't updated for ages! Ironically, when I wrote most of this story it was during exams, and next week they start again, so it seems kind of right! I can't bear to leave this story any longer, so here comes the chapter I wrote last summer!

Chapter 17

Percy's POV

Somehow, while all flights to and from Heathrow were cancelled and the perimeter was evacuated while the fire alarm went off, Grover managed to find all our bags. He hoisted them onto his back while I led the way, Annabeth still unconscious in my arms, trying to dodge security cameras and policemen rounding people up for the evacuation.
When we finally reached where we would have been had we taken a normal exit, Grover hailed a cab and told the dude behind the wheel to drive towards the British Museum.
"Will do," he replied, and stepped on the gas. I lay Annabeth down on the backseat so that she was half sitting and half lying. The driver glanced in the rear-view mirror and asked, "What's up with her?" He was seemingly surprised at a sixteen-year-old passed out on the back seat.
"Shock," Grover said, leaning his crutches to his seat.
"Right... from what?"
"The excitement."
"Is she unconscious?"
"Yes."
"Will she die?"
"No."
"How do you know?"
"STOP ASKING QUESTIONS AND DRIVE, MAN," I shouted, having heard enough London brawl for one day. The driver shut up and navigated his way through London at midday, which was a challenge, even I could see that.

A full two hours later we pulled up in front of the museum. Annabeth was asleep now, the regular rise and fall of her chest making me a little less jumpy. I quietly pulled Annabeth's cell out of her pocket.
"Can you take us to Elm Street?" I asked the driver. He nodded and pulled back into the traffic. A right turn, a left turn, another right turn and we were there. I looked out for number 10.
"There, there, there," I said, pointing at the house. The driver stopped, and I opened the door, trying to get Annabeth out of the car without waking her. She mumbled something but let me stand her up and walked her into the house. The door was open, but I had worse things to worry about.
I lead her into one of the tiny bedrooms and trenched her out on the bed, then tiptoed out, closing the door softly behind me. I breathed a sigh of relief as I walked into the kitchen to look out of the window to see what Grover was doing. I saw him peeling notes off a wad that he got from the Gods know where, hand them to the driver and get out. He hobbled up the steps, dumping the bags and joined me in the kitchen.
"Coffee?" I asked.
"Coffee," he agreed, as he let himself sink onto a bar stool in the corner.

"Now, that," he asked, taking a mug from me and sipping it, "was the most stress I have had in a while!" I nodded in agreement and leant against the work surface.
"So," Grover said after a while, "what's the plan for tomorrow?"
"School, meet people, mingle, museum visit," I listed, counting them on my fingers.
"Is this fair trade?" he asked me, referring to the coffee.
"Yeah, 'course!"
"Organic?" I just rolled my eyes. He insisted on this stiff lately.
"Okay, okay. So tell me about this school."

That turned out to be more of a problem, because I had no idea what school we were mean to be going to, nor did a further search of Annabeth's cell bring any more info.
"I have no idea," I admitted, dropping back onto the sofa in the living room where we had moved to.
"Oh well, "Grover sighed, leaning his head back against the rest.

"Good thing someone pays attention pays attention then."

I turned around. "Annabeth!" I exclaimed "You're awake!"
"Yeah," she replied dryly. She flopped onto the sofa next to me.
"We're going to St. Elm's High. Apparently we have to dress smartly." She didn't look very impressed.
"And that means...?" I prompted.
"A suit."
Me = not impressed.
"Yes, I thought your face would look like that," she said, smiling slightly. "Deal with it. Chiron suspects something."
The room fell silent. Annabeth gazed out of the window, looking at the Elm trees that lined the street. It was sunny outside, even though some whit fluffy clouds were roaming the sky.
"I want to go out," she announced, jumped to her feet and walked towards the door.
"Wait!" I shouted after her, grabbed my coat and followed her.
"I guess I'll stay here then," Grover muttered to himself sarcastically. He turned on the TV, but by that time I had slammed the door and sprinted after Annabeth who had managed to cover a considerable distance in the time.
"Wait!" I called out to her again. She turned around, but continued to walk backwards. When I finally caught up with her I was out of breath. She smiled.
"How did you get here so fast?" I wheezed.
"I ran." That made sense. I didn't ask any questions, just took her hand and started to walk down the road.
"I want to find St. Elm's High," Annabeth said, "so it doesn't take so long tomorrow." She scanned the horizon for the school.
"How about there?" I suggested, pointing to where a flow of kids in uniform were coming from. Annabeth pursed her lips without saying anything. I knew she didn't like it when I was right.

Annabeth's POV

As Percy pulled me through the crowds we got curious glances. We were going the wrong way, weren't wearing a school uniform and looked as though we should be. When we finally made it past the school gates and into the buzzing school yard, I stopped and tried to get my bearings.
"Ok," I said, "let's go that way and go to see the head teacher." Percy just nodded and followed me. I noticed that he hadn't taken his hand out of mine since we left the house. It, surprisingly, didn't make me feel uncomfortable, but strangely secure. This was one habit I didn't need to break him of. I squeezed his hand a little tighter and walked towards the reception building.
People were still coming out of the school when we got there, making us have to push our way through again. A girl about my age crashed into me, running after a boy who was striding towards the gate.
"Sorry," she muttered to me, and continued after the boy. "THEO!" she shouted, making heads turn. I stopped and followed her neon pink leg warmers and dancing gear run towards the boy. She said something I couldn't hear to him. He just shook his head and continued walking. The leg warmers followed him though, and it seemed as though the girl was trying to apologise. Percy tugged on my hand, and for a fleeting moment my eyes left the neon legwarmers and met his sea green ones. Eyes, I mean.
"Come on," he said to me, smiling. I gave one last glance over my shoulder at the girl and boy, but then followed Percy, digging a piece of paper from my pocket as we made our way into the reception. I wondered what had happened to the girl to make her run after that tall boy. Had he broken up with her and she wanted to apologise? It seemed that I would never know.