Awesome 110 reviews! thanks to blackbutterfly21, styx-gal, kellypr, whichamacallit5, TheFoundHero, ELMO-fAN cLUB MeMbER, jahfreenalam, JayJay-Lynn, Alexandra Nightshade, DaughterOfPoseidonxD, KitKatCyn, PJOWiseGirl , Huntress of the sky, candy0304, iluvfantasy, lovestories, BlueCottonCandy839, listopian, The Daughter of the Greek Gods, Damon-salvatore-lover15, and Annabethchaserox13 for reviewing and those who added me as fav authors/fav story and followed me and/or my story :) you guys made me feel so encouraged to hurry and finish this chapter that i tried finishing it in ELA class :D ill try to edit the chapters so the english words are beside the greek ones. so enjoy this chapter! (sorry if i bore anyone with the fighting scene).
Percy
"You finished with that Honda yet?" Beckendorf called me.
"Yeah," I called back. I was helping my cousin Beckendorf with his auto shop so I could gain some extra money for the family.
"Good, 'cause the guy who owns it keeps nagging at me to finish it."
" A Half-Blood?"
"Yea, a friend of Ares."
After screwing the last bolt to the tire, I grabbed my towel to wipe off the dirt and sweat from my face.
"This whole gang thing. Sometimes I wished I wasn't the leader. Sometimes, I wish…you know," I trailed off, wanting to say that I wish I didn't get myself into this shit.
He nodded in understanding. "Yeah, sometimes I feel the same way. But you better not have Ares catching you questioning your loyalty to the Half-Bloods."
Ares is the ultimate leader of the Demigods. Lemme explain. The Demigods are divided into groups, the Hunters and the Half-Bloods. The group I lead is the Half-Bloods while Zoe leads the Hunters. Ares decides what territories we get, any fight we have to get into that involves more than two groups overall. He's a decent guy, but he likes tough, loyal fighters. If he thinks you have the slightest thought of leaving, you're as good as dead.
Suddenly, Connor's RX-7 raced through the garage door with Connor driving and Rachel in the back. Her eyes looked bloodshot from whatever alcohol she was drinking this time and her messy red hair showed that she was probably fooling around with someone. I knew pretty well what Rachel looks like when she's been fooling around with someone.
"Yo, Beckendorf, close the door. I astynomía (the police) are after us," Connor yelled, slurring a little and stumbled slightly as he got out of his car.
"Fuck guys, what the hell did you do this time?" Beckendorf asked them while pressing the button to close the door. He finally saved up enough money to open up this shop last month and if this place received bad publicity, he'll be forced to shut down.
Before Connor could answer, sirens blared outside the garage. Beckendorf killed all the lights and we ducked down to the floor. A beam of light shined through the window and passed by when the police assumed they couldn't find what they were looking for. Once the sound of sirens faded, I decided it was safe to get up and start talking.
"Okay, Connor. So again, what the fuck happened?"
"Well, Chris in the back decided it'd be oh so hilarious to try to shoot an Olympian's ass. Then again, it's one of things he'd do when he's drunk."
"Dude, when you're drunk, you're no better."
"Well, it was pretty hilarious to see that Olympian newbie yelp at the sound of Chris's gun," Rachel commented, slurring over her words.
"Huh? What the hell did I do this time?" muttered Chris, sticking his brown tousled hair out the window. So he must be the poor guy Rachel's been messing around with. Connor smacked his head.
"Dumbass, you tried shootin' an Olympian," Connor reminded.
"Whatever," Chris mumbled as Rachel pulled him back. Sounds of heavy moaning and kissing were close enough to make me wanna throw up. Thankfully, someone knocked on the garage door. Beckendorf opened it to find Clarisse coming inside.
"Hey, Prissy," she said to me. She's the only one who can get away with calling me that since she's the first who started calling me that since I was initiated. "I heard sirens blaring and I was wonder-"
She stopped mid-sentence when she heard Chris moaning in Connor's car. She stormed her way to the open car window.
"Fyge apó ekeí (get the fuck out of there)!" she yelled at the two of them. I'll admit,it's pretty entertaining to see Clarisse get mad. Both Chris and Rachel stumbled out of the car and Clarisse grabbed Rachel by the collar of her jacket.
"Who the fuck do you think you are, making out with my boyfriend?" she demanded.
"Well, he seemed to enjoy it," Rachel slurred, still drunk. Clarisse released her and punched her hard across her face. Rachel stumbled backwards and I managed to catch her before she could fall. Clarisse turned to her cheater of a boyfriend. I like Chris and all but I was looking forward to Clarisse beating up his sorry ass.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she yelled at him. "Just because you're fuckin' drunk doesn't mean you have the fuckin' right to screw with-"
She got cut off when Chris decided to smack his lips to hers. I think she completely forgot her anger 'cause she was kissing him back and they were both moaning again. Gods all these couples makin' out are making me sick.
Rachel turned to look at me. Her eyes seemed to ask me Can't we make up like them and forget about the past? But the problem for her was that I never forget the past. Sure I knew a bunch of guys liked Rachel but I didn't expect her to cheat on me. I thought she really liked me enough that she'd remain faithful. Well, I'm not going to make the same mistake. With my eyes, I told her No way in fucking hell.
"What's the matter with you, Percy?" Rachel sighed. "Before, it looked like what I did bothered you. Now, it looks like you don't give a damn."
"Honestly, Rachel, I really don't anymore. You can screw around with whoever you want now," I told her a bit too harshly.
"Lovers quarrel?" Connor joked."
"We ain't lovers anymore," I reminded him. And we never were, I silently added.
Before he could crack another not-so-funny joke about me and Rachel, Juniper ran into the garage.
"Percy! Grover's in trouble!" she exclaimed.
"Whoa, Grover? As in the Grover who stood out from all the gang fights? The Grover who refuses to carry around a knife or gun? That Grover?" Connor asked.
"Yes! All that happened was that Pollux gave him a couple of beers and Grover got so high that he managed to piss of a Cyclopes."
"Whoa, a Cyclopes? Grover's scared like hell of the Cyclopes," I pointed out.
"I know, but he started cursing at them in Greek, got one of them pissed and now he's meeting them at Half-Blood Alley."
"C'mon guys, we gotta go help out Grover," I finalized, grabbing Connor, a somewhat sober Rachel, and Beckendorf, leaving Clarisse and Chris to blissfully make out and Juniper to stay far away from the couple with a disgusted look on her face.
Once we arrived at Half-Blood Alley, I could easily make out a sober Grover fiddling with his T-shirt. Half-Blood Alley was clearly our property but we were always constantly fighting with other gangs over this property.
"Percy, I'm so, so sorry, I was drunk and I had no idea what I was thinking, you shouldn't even risk yourselves-"
"Grover, once you're in the gang, whatever fight you're in, you can count on us for help," I reminded him.
As shadows started to appear, I gestured to Connor, Rachel, and Beckendorf to join us. Overall, we seemed like a pretty intimidating group. Beckendorf is as strong as he looks with his buffed muscles and killer punches. Connor's not so strong, but he's swift and a quick thinker. Rachel may look a bit innocent to others but her sharp nails have often brought permanent scars to her victims.
The shadows formed into three Cyclopes. Two of them swayed slightly, obviously still a little drunk. The third was more stable and I could hear him cursing at his friends for arriving drunk and outnumbered. I couldn't help but smile through the dimness of the alley. I must have scared them 'cause I could see the fear in their eyes. Newbies could be so easily scared.
"So what did G-man do to make one of you guys so pissed?" I asked point-blank.
"You're little friend called me an ilíthos (idiot)," slurred one of the newbies. "Now, I don't know what the fuck that is, but it sounded bad."
"That's all? He called you an idiot and you're pissed?" I scoffed at him.
"He also said that the Minotaur looked better than me and I'd be lucky to get Medusa as a girlfriend," he added. I glanced at Grover. He shrugged.
"Well, what he says is true," Connor tried muttering under his breath. Unfortunately, the Cyclops heard him.
"What did you say, pretty boy?"
"First of all, I'm only extremely sexy, not pretty. That kind of gay flattery will get you nowhere. (AN: I have nothing against gays by the way.) Second, you are ugly as a Chimera anyways so it's probably true."
You see, Cyclopes always lose their temper easily and are easily predictable especially when drunk. The pissed-off Cyclopes lunged forward and tried to punch his jaw, but Connor expected it and ducked while landing a punch in his chest. The other drunken Cyclopes hurled himself at Rachel, but she quickly sidestepped and slashed at his face, missing by a few centimeters. Beckendorf headed over to help out Connor which left me with the serious Cyclopes.
He took a pocket knife that glowed dull silver. From the hidden pocket inside my leather jacket, I took out Riptide which is my two-inch bronze pocket knife with a leather handle. On the surface, the words are engraved in silver. Ares gave Riptide to me at my initiation, saying it was my father's.
The Cyclopes instantly lunged at me and I easily swerved out of the way. I quickly took of my jacket. Wouldn't wanna get any blood on it. As I moved, I aimed Riptide at his arm. He moved, but not before Riptide drew a line of red down his arm. He cursed under his breath as a few drops of blood dripped from his new wound. It didn't stop him from fighting and he charged at me again. He tried slashing at my chest. I dodged again and tried for his shoulder this time. But before Riptide could slice his skin, he elbowed my chest and knocked the breath out of me. I stumbled a little, but quickly recovered. He tackled me against a wall, knocked Riptide out of my hand, and kept throwing me punches. Every single one felt as if stones were being thrown at me, but I held my ground and gave him my own punches.
After a while, his normal breathing turned to gasps and he made the mistake of hesitating while trying to deliver a punch. I took this opportunity to give him a punch to his throat which left him kneeling on the floor and choking for air. I half ran, half limped across the alley, clutching my chest in pain. Riptide glinted dimly in the street lamp light and I quickly grabbed it. Behind me, the Cyclopes I was fighting loomed over me with his own pocket knife. He was too quick for me to dodge and I felt the cold edge of metal slice through my T-shirt and through the skin of my left arm. I gritted my teeth, he sliced really deep. A river of blood was already pouring from the new wound. I slashed Riptide at his cheek, seeing red gushing from the wound I made. He was about to strike once more when someone kicked him aside. I looked to see Grover holding out a hand. I took it, grunting as pain began to fire through my body.
"Thanks," I said to him. He shrugged.
"You came here to help me. I outta help you. 'Sides, I might need you alive just in case I need your help again," he grinned. Through all the pain, I managed a weak smile.
"We're brothers, G-man. I'll always be there when you need help."
Then, everything turned a stormy, hazy grey.
Annabeth
I tapped my pencil nervously. Percy was two minutes late. Where in Hades was he?
"Where's your trouble-making partner?" Travis asked, smirking behind me. "Some chick actually teaching him how to read?"
"Travis, quit it," Katie scolded.
"Thanks."
You're welcome." Katie might not always understand me, but only she and Luke know about my dyslexic brothers.
"Oh fine, only for you, babe," he said to Katie, flashing a quick wink that made her blush as red as her roses.
At that moment, Percy came into the room and casually sat next to me as if this was all normal.
"Where were you? It's two minutes pass the late bell," I pointed out to him.
"Glad of you to notice," he responded, but this time he didn't add a teasing smile. "I was busy stapling my wounds."
I stared at him. "Who in the world would staple their wounds? Have you ever heard of something called a Band-Aid?"
"Didn't have time to get one, nurse. It was bleeding too much and I just stapled it quickly."
"Where did you get the wound from anyway? A fight?"
"For your information, I was helping my dearest mother with dinner and I accidentally sliced myself while cutting tomatoes."
I scoffed. Yeah right, I thought. It's not like a knife can magically fly from your hand to your shoulder.
"I still think you got in a fight," I insisted.
"Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't. But I do got scars from previous fights. Wanna see?" he asked, lifting up the right sleeve of his T-shirt and showing a fraction of his tan muscled skin. I smacked his shoulder.
"No thanks," I assured him, stealing a glance at Luke. His hands were curled up into fists, but loosened when I told Percy no. Thank the gods, Luke can be so overprotective sometimes.
"Are we still goin' to the library after school?" he asked.
"Yeah. Why? Since when were you so interested in school projects?" I asked.
He shrugged. "I just wanna get the damn thing over with."
Gods, this was going to be one, long year.
"Okay...what the hell does that mean?" Percy asked.
"Well, it basically means that Helen was telling Paris that he's a coward for relying on to save him from Menelaus."
"But he was about to die."
"Yeah, but if he wasn't such a wimp, he should've fought Menelaus to the death and won Helen fair and square."
"Not everything can be won fair and square," he scoffed. I rolled my eyes.
"Whatever. You're not supposed to force women into your bed," I pointed out.
"But what if she wanted to be with him?" he countered, looking straight at me intensely with those sea-green eyes looking at me. "What if she tried refusing because she knew it was forbidden for her to love the enemy?"
We just sat there looking at each other. It wasn't uncomfortable though. For a minute, he was allowing me to see past his gang member act and see what lay underneath. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of person Percy Jackson really is. Was he only calm and warm to those in his family or always so tough and impenetrable? Part of me wanted to know and part of me kept thinking that not knowing was better. Yet it seemed that he was looking through me too. I wonder if he really could see past my perfect and smart act. Then again, would I let him know the truth? Could I?
He was the first to look away and I looked down at the copy of the Iliad, hoping that the small blush in my cheeks wouldn't be noticed.
"Why did you keep askin' what happened to me?" he asked, his rough voice cutting through the silence between us.
"What?" I asked not so smartly.
"Are you worried about me or somethin'? 'Cause I can take care of myself," he said, a small smirk forming on his lips and a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"I just wanted to know. Wouldn't want my partner to drop dead in the beginning of the year," I answered, trying not to look at his eyes again.
"Just 'cause I get a bunch of scars don't mean I'll die from them. That knife cut from last night definitely won't kill me. It's not too deep. See?" he said, lifting up his right sleeve again. I smacked his left shoulder. What I didn't expect was a small cry of pain.
"Ierá theón. (holy gods) Are you okay?" I asked, putting the book down.
"No. Gods it hurts like hell. Like Tartarus," he groaned. "Didn't know you had a good arm."
"Oh gods, we need to get you to the nurse," I said, collecting our books and leading him out of the library and into the hallway. "Oh gods, you're bleeding a lot."
Blood began trickling down his arm and soaking through his T-shirt sleeve. He clutched his arm tightly, trying unsuccessfully to stop the blood from flowing.
"It's fine," he tried assuring me through gritted teeth.
"No it's not. Oh gods, if my mom finds out she's going to murder me for injuring someone and synetairismós me éna mélos symmorías(partnering with a gang member) and then going home is going to be akóm perissótero ánchos (even more stressful) and i just can't take it as it is-"
"ANNABETH!" Percy yelled, shaking my shoulders. I blinked twice as I tried to calm myself and let reality sink in. Oh, crap. Crap, crap, crap! I let Percy Jackson, the bane of my existence, see me during one of my panic attacks. Even Katie never got to see me panic because I've managed to calm myself until now. This wasn't good, this wasn't good at-
"Are you okay?" he asked, looking genuinely concerned. He tried brushing away a loose strand of my hair, but I quickly moved away.
"Yea, I'm okay. I'm sorry I end up rambling in Greek when I'm nervous," I muttered, nervously brushing my curls behind my ear. "Um, we should probably head to the nurse."
"Glad you could notice before I died from massive blood loss".
"So how did you get the cut in the first place?" the nurse asked.
"Cut myself while slicing tomatoes," Percy answered casually. I rolled my eyes at his blatant lie, but the nurse nodded her head and appeared to believe it.
"Okay then. All I have to do is wash the wound, apply alcohol, then patch it up with a Band-Aid. So Annabeth, you can go now," she told me, nodding in assurance.
I turned to head for the door. Before I left the room, I held my hand over the doorknob and faced Percy.
"Please don't tell anyway about earlier," I pleaded. "I don't think I can bear it if..."
I expected him to bark a laugh and tell me that he'll obviously tell the other Half-Bloods that genius Annabeth had a nervous breakdown.
"Okay, I won't," he said.
"Swear on the River Styx that you won't tell anyone," I insisted.
"I swear on the River Styx that I won't tell anyone about your nervous breakdown," he swore. "Now, swear on the Styx that you won't tell anyone that you were able to cut open my wounds."
"I swear on the River Styx I won't tell anyone I was able to wound you," I swore, giving him a small smirk.