Yes. 2 chapters in 1 day. Hoo-ha!
Did I introduce enough mystery from the ending in Chapter 1? I hope I did.
This being my first ever fanfic, i'm really encouraged and appreciative of the follows/favs and reviews :') So i just couldn't wait but post the second chapter. Enjoy!
Percy's POV
It's been 3 days now… And I haven't the slightest clue about what to do or where to go.
"Who's going to want to take me in?" I sighed, "Let's review my portfolio shall we? Kicked out of 7 schools, and all 7 were a result of violence and self-defense. Dyslexic with an ADHD combination. No money and influence."
"Yeah, I'm just surprised they haven't scolded me for even applying to their schools!" I shouted. I was absolutely stumped. Completely and hopelessly stumped.
3 days ago, I had applied to every single Boarding school in the country. Mum told me that beggars can't be choosers. Heck, I think I even applied for an all-girl's school.
And the official day for boarding schools to start the term was beginning in 2 days. I was all but ready to give up.
I lay down on the front yard in a singlet and boardshorts, just lazing about and waiting for the day to end.
My mind was racing with worries about the future and what I was going to do. Would I have to find a job? How am I going to face my mum when I tell her that it's too late?
Eventually, my mind leads me to the events that had caused this entire predicament. 'The fight' on YouTube had now garnered over 5 million views in the span of a week. I was practically a celebrity. The comments had gone from 'that modern day Goliath just got his ass kicked by David' to the second-coming of Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris.
I still remember the fight so vividly. It was the first time I had experienced that tingling at the back of my head right before I was hit hard. Since then, it hadn't really come back but I still didn't know what that was.
The bruises on my back and the cuts I got on my hands and arms from the fall had also completely vanished the very next day. I couldn't even feel the bruise on my back where the bat had hit me.
My mind was filled with more questions and thoughts, when the sound of a car pulling into the driveway distracted me away from them.
I sat up, and saw my mum's red Toyota parking. I lazily waved my hand towards her as she got out of the car.
She smiled and waved back, looking back down through the mail that had arrived this morning.
"OH MY GOODNESS, PERCYYY!" she suddenly screamed, "COME QUICKLY!"
I jumped up and saw that her expression had changed. What in the Hades? I sprinted towards her, her expression had changed and she was looking delirious.
"What's wrong mum?! Did something happen? Are you ok?" I asked, "Is everything alright?"
"Yes Percy, Yes!" she exclaimed, "Look, You received a letter from the Demi-Goode Academy!"
What? I received a letter from who now? I don't recall sending in an application to them… But the questions in my head were quickly erased by the anticipation of an opportunity! They never sent back letters unless there was a chance or positive reaction!
I took the letter from her outstretched hand and ripped it open. I was too shocked to even say anything.
What awaited inside the letter was a beautiful silver a6 sized card, engraved with lightning bolts and clouds as a border. The words were in a Greek Font, and were in bold and capital letters.
It read "DEAR PERSEUS JACKSON, THE DEMI-GOODE ACADEMY IS PLEASED TO INVITE YOU TO IT'S ANNUAL ENTRANCE PROGRAMME. YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AND CHOSEN OUT OF MILLIONS OF APPLICANTS AROUND THE WORLD TO TRYOUT. IT IS OUR SINCERE HOPE THAT YOU WILL MAKE THE VERY BEST USE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS!"
I looked down at my mum, who was looking up at me with teary eyes.
"Thank the gods. Oh thank the gods Percy." she exclaimed, "I'm so very proud of you Percy."
She pulled me into a tight hug and cried into my chest.
I didn't know what to say. Oh my gods. This was my chance. A school actually gave me a chance.
"I wanted to give up mum. I really did." I whispered, "I won't let you down."
We stood there in front of mum's red Toyota, crying and hugging until we started laughing.
I put the last of my luggage into the trunk of my Subaru Impreza and slammed it shut.
All packed and ready to leave for the entrance programme, I turned around to say my goodbyes. My mum stood at the porch smiling and opened her arms for a hug.
I walked up to her and hugged her with a big smile on my face.
"Did you make sure you packed everything?" she asked.
"Yeah I did mum." I replied, "Don't worry, alright?"
"Hmm what about shirts, or shorts!" she asked, "You didn't forget those did you?"
"Yes I packed all of them mum." I smiled, "You were there packing with me remember?"
"Well I could've made a mistake" she sighed, "You know how forgetful I can be!"
"Just don't forget you're an amazing mother, and all will be well!" I exclaimed.
We both laughed.
We separated and I looked at my watch, smiling and nodded to her.
She smiled sadly, and nodded back.
"I love you Perce!" she smiled, "Bye! Remember to call!"
"I love you too Ma!" I shouted, as I opened the car door, "Bye! I will!"
I closed the car door, teary eyed. A rush of emotions flooded me as I turned the ignition and pulled out the driveway. Determination replaced the tears, as I swore to myself; I wouldn't let the most important person in my life down.
After a full day drive and getting lost more than a couple of times, I finally pulled into the huge parking lot of the Demi-Goode Academy.
The school was situated in a lush, green forest, and the journey that led up to the entrance was a winding pathway decorated with black Victorian lamp posts. The scenery that surrounded the pathway was breath-taking and almost impossible to not admire. The beautiful greenscape and mixture of trees, grass, fruits and flowers made it seem like I was driving through the Garden of Eden itself.
I had taken a good hour longer to arrive, just because I was busy admiring the lush greenery filled on the way here.
The open-to-sky parking lot was massive. It must've housed nearly 200 parking lots for both cars and motorbikes. There were even elevated platforms for what I assumed to be helipads.
I took out my backpack from the backseat and slung it over my shoulder. Just as I closed the door, the sound of whirling blades and a strong gust of wind nearly knocked me over. I spun around and was greeted to a huge helicopter fast descending onto the helipad platform.
What in the Hades? There's actually a freaking helicopter here?
My thoughts were abruptly disrupted when the helicopter finally landed as, two long and slender legs then slid out from the passenger cabin, followed by a body and lots of bright red-hair.
She was gorgeous. She had green eyes just like mine (but hers was paler), 5'7 without heels, freckles on her face in a cute sorta way and frizzy red hair.
I found myself staring, and when she looked my way our eyes met for about 4 seconds before I immediately blushed and turned around. I wasn't used to looking at girls, let alone models.
I sighed; this is all because of the fact that every school I've been in has been an all-boy's school.
Damn it mum! Ha.
As I walked away, my mind wandered back to her, she was wearing what I assumed to be the school uniform, a dark blue blazer with a collared orange shirt inside.
Huh, I wondered if the guy uniforms looked the same. The blazer had an engraved emblem that resembled a Greek helmet with 2 swords forming an X behind it. Next to her emblem, was a small badge that I couldn't make out. Below her badge was a name tag. I couldn't make out the name written, but i doubt i'd forget her face. Interesting, I thought to myself.
Little did I know, that if I had stared a little longer, I would've caught the smile that she gave me.
I made my way through the parking lot filled with expensive sports cars, and motorbikes. I stepped onto the freshly cut grass of the campus and was immediately taken aback by the huge buildings and beautiful landscape.
The place was incredible! I had thought the parking lot was huge, the campus itself was massive. The site had 5 huge visible buildings that must've been taken from a site in Ancient Greece. All the facades were completely Greek-a-nised. There were huge grass fields in front of each building, and they practically filled the entire landscape.
The buildings themselves each stood on a small hill that was accessible by a winding path surrounded by trees, fire-lit lamps and green grass. In between the buildings were different, but smaller buildings that joined to them or connected each other building. It looked like a scene right out of ancient Greece.
However, the huge tent like structures that provided shade over the grass fields that were held by white-steel columns was almost definitely modern. All over the place, students in dark blue blazers and orange shirts lounged about everywhere. Lying on the grass, running across and drinking grape sodas.
A huge screen that could rival the Dallas Cowboys Stadium Screen, hung at the center of the Structure. I was in awe at the spectacle around me. Everything was furnished perfectly and the attention to detail was almost… well, god-like. The Goddess Athena herself must've been proud of the design, if not was the architect.
Somehow, I managed to pull myself away from the grandeur of it all, and focus in on the Entrance Registration sign pointing towards a small building.
The building resembled that of a small temple in ancient times, with its highlighted pillars supporting the triangular shaped roof at the entrance.
Huge words were carved into the stone façade reading: Admin Building
That must be the right place, I thought to myself. I was so caught up in the moment, I didn't realise that I had actually read the words perfectly without jumbling it up.
Upon first glance, the building looked old and ancient to a fault. But as I stepping into the glass automated doors, a cool and refreshing breeze of air-conditioned air struck me gently. It looked ancient, but the buildings were most definitely modernised.
Uniform lights filled the space, as I walked up to the receptionist. His badge said Argus and he eyed me warily as I approached. For some strange reason, I felt that I was being watched by someone else, but brushed it off as I looked around and there was no one else in sight.
"Hello, uhh my name is Percy Jackson? I'm here to register for the Entrance Programme?" I said.
He didn't reply, and pointed to a sign that read 'Please register with your driver's licence along with invitation card'.
"Oh, my bad man. I didn't see that." I replied.
I took out my driver's license, and started looking in my backpack for the invitation card.
I suddenly froze, oh my gods. I left it back at the house. Mum said that she was so proud that she wanted to frame it up. Oh my gods. Oh my gods.
I started panicking. What do I do? Oh gods…
I slowly looked up and was greeted to a look of caution.
"Look man, I forgot to bring my invitation card… My mum framed it at home, and it never mentioned that I had to bring it…"
He stood up and pointed towards the doors with a grunt.
"C'mon Argus, let's not argus about this. I'm pretty sure if you check, I was invited!" I joked.
He shook his head and eyed me down, pointing again to the exit.
Fuck. I just got here and I already have to leave. All because I didn't bring the damn invitation card? What a joke.
My shoulder slumped.
I turned to walk through those doors when suddenly I heard someone call out to me, "Wait!"
It was a female's voice. I turned around to see a beautiful woman with black rimmed glasses dressed in a black blazer and really tight black skirt. She had black hair that was tied up using chopsticks. Her eyes were jet-black and she was wearing bright red lip-stick.
She turned to Argus, and talked quietly to him, and he suddenly became wide-eyed. For a second there, I swear more than 2 eyes opened.
I shook it off, must've been my imagination from the stress.
After she finished talking to him, she slowly turned to me and smiled, "Hi, welcome to the Demi-Goode Academy. Don't worry, everything has been taken care of, please take this t-shirt and make your way to the orientation hall!"
"Uh okay..." I replied, "Thanks by the way. I'm Percy Jackson. Nice to meet you!"
"I already know who you are Mr Jackson, please make your way to the orientation hall, thank you!" she smiled and walked off.
Huh. Weird… she knows who I am? Then again, maybe she knows all the applicants for the entrance programme, I thought to myself.
I exited the smooth automated sliding glass doors. And stepped down into the plaza.
The smell of freshly cut grass entered my nose, refreshing me. I follow the stone pathway, whilst holding onto the t-shirt given to me.
I glance down.
Huh, it's orange just like the shirts the students have. I unfold it, and I see the words printed on the front of the shirt. It reads "HALF-BLOOD DEMI-GOD".
What a strange ass shirt, I think to myself, what does that even mean?
While I stood there thinking about the t-shirt, the smell of freshly cut grass that I had smelt was suddenly becoming stronger. It was refreshing and nice at first, but it was soon becoming way too overwhelming.
I looked around, where in the Hades is it coming from?
The tingling in the back of my head was back, and I was starting to panic. What was going on, it's back? Was I going to be hit again? I felt the tingle get stronger, and stronger and the smell increasing in its scent.
Behind me, I knew. It came as an instinct or as if my body was telling me where it was going to come from.
I spun around quickly only to see a tall, brown haired boy walk straight into me knocking the both of us down.
The smell of freshly cut grass tackles me along with the boy.
"Oh my gods, I'm so sorry." he suddenly stammers, "Are you alright? I'm so, so, so sorry!"
"Dude, its fine." I grunt while rubbing my nose, "I'm fine, just chill"
I get up first, dusting myself off and offer my hand to him. He gladly takes it and pulls himself up.
"Hi, I'm Grover!" he says.
Yay ok Grover is finally introduced!
This chapter was twice as long as the first. Was it okay? I'm not sure if I should keep going. I have some pretty interesting ideas about what to write next though… but I'm just not sure…
Please Review! More reviews, the faster I'll upload!
Bet you guys can't guess who's gonna be introduced next! Hint: Wheelchair :D