Thirs Person
Percy was just lying on his bed, trying to process everything thtat had happened. Annabeth had hd to leave to get back to camp just a few houors ago ad his parents had come to visit (Mum and Paul, not Poseidon) and coach had left just a few minutes ago because he had to get back to school.
"Percy." His doctor had walked in. "Hey lad, are you excited? One more surgery, a bit of recovery time and you're out of this place.2 percy smiled at the man's enthusiasm, they'd taken his xygen mask off earlier in the day adn it was gradually getting less painful to do normal things like smile and by tomorrow he might even be able to speak a bit. At the moment all he could manage was one painful sylabel at a time. "You're bored aren't you?" Percy smiled ruefully at the was a good man who tried his best to keep Percy happy, but hospitals weren't exactly the most exciting of places for a teenage patient confined to his bed. "Well, it seems you have some more visitors."
Percy raised an eyebrow. He wasn't expecting anyone else.
"A young lad, been in the waitingroom a while, says he's called Nat. Do you want me to send him in?" Nat had come to visit! Thst made percy's day better already. Since being shot hed only gotten to speak to his friend briefly on that disasterous first day back at school, it would be nice to speak to a normal person for a bit. He'd missed Nat while he was in hospital the first time.
He took a deep breath.
"Please." It still hurt a lot, but it was clearer than before and one step closer to proper speaking. THe doctor smiled.
"Then I'm on it, take it easy though. Can't have you wearing yourself out, recovery first, if you do wear yourself out I'm sending him home, got it?"
Percy smiled at him innocently. The doctor snorted and opened the door for Nat, leaving as the teenager came in.
"Percy! Oh my God I've been so worried, the whole school has! What do the doctors say? You're going to be ok right? I am so mad at those stupid jocks, they desere to go to hell for what they've done! We were so scared! When the ambulance came there was so much blood and you were unconscious and the coach was so freaked out! It was bad mate..."
Percy tried to smile reasuringly. Nat looked up, worried.
"Can't you speak mate?" Percy inhaled.
"Slight-ly." He had to take a painful breath between each sylabel, but he could just about comunicate.
"God, Perce. I can't believe this is hapening to you. Do you know when you'll be back at school?"
Deep breath, "Two-ish wee-ks." Speach was definitely more tiring than it was supposed to be, his chest really hurt, as if someone had stuffed it with cotton to block it, then set it on fire. Not fun.
"Does it hurt to speak?" Percy smiled sadly at him. "God Percy...I can't believe this...I was talking to the man outside-your doctor-he said that when you come back to school you'll be in a wheel chair and you'll have an oxygen mask strapped to it, just in case." Percy grimaced, he hadn't been told that. Though, he did understand that it would be necessary and as much as he hated to admit it, having the mask helping him felt amazing. "Everyone's worried about you at school, if those scumbags do ever come back it will be hell for them! I'm supposed to pass along messages." He rifled through his pockets. "All of which I've managed to , the teachers mostly said they hoped you were ok and that if-when you do come back you could take it easy in their classes and other encouraging stuff. The other kids basically said they couldn't wait for you to come back, they were glad the bullies are gone and they hope your not in too much pain." Percy grimaced at the reminder, but Nat didn't see. "That it really...some of the students were lying through their teeth though," He laughed a bit, "When those cheerleaders said that it looked genuinly painful for them and others were so fake about it, you could tell they just wanted the good press." Percy's eyebrows furrowed in comfusion. "Oh yeah, the press is up at arms because of what happened! They're constaantly out at the school gaits trying to get an interview and things. Everyone's really mad that the 'heroe's' homecoming welcome is to be beaten nearly to death." ercy grimaced and flinched, hissing in pain. "Oh my God Percy! I'm so sorry that was really insensitive! I'm just so angry and that's what all the newspapers have been saying. Sorry Perce." Percy tried to smile at him through the pain, moving around was going to be hell if just flinching slightly felt like he was being torn apart.
"Well, I gotta go mate, but I'll see you soon., Good luck on that last surgery." And with that he left, and Percy finally got some well-deserved sleep.