A/N: This chapter is going to be a flashback chapter taking place in Zack's mind, which is why it's in italics. Next chapter will get to everyone else and what's happening on the outside. It'll switch back and forth.
14 year-old Zack sat on a bench outside on the campus of the private school he'd been going to since Kindergarten when it was clear even then he wouldn't fair well in public school. After skipping a few grades, 4th, 9th, and 10th to be exact, he was now a senior despite his young age. He was small, shy, and as his siblings repeatedly lamented, 'far too smart for his own good'. Needless to say this didn't help his nonexistent popularity among his peers.
He picked at the Mac and Cheese that he'd been made for lunch, glad for even a moment's solace from the constant bullying. His mother said everyone was just jealous and not to worry about it. That was her advice for everything, though it had never been his intention to make anyone feel inferior. He loved her and the rest of his large family, but they couldn't understand. So he'd resigned himself to being alone with his thoughts that he could never seem to quiet all the way, even in sleep.
This was why he was surprised when a girl a few years older than he was sat beside him on the bench, stretching her arms above her head with a contented sigh before offering him a small smile of greeting. "You're Zack right? Boy genius around these parts?"
Zack peered up at her through shaggy brown bangs, nodding. "Yes, I'm Zack." he agreed, looking at her with curious puppy-like eyes.
She chuckled softly. "Well Zack, I'm Annabeth. Nice to meet you kid. Mac and Cheese is a favorite of mine too." she said lightly.
Zack had to admit that objectively Annabeth was good looking. She had nice symmetrical features, her heart shaped face and lightly tanned skin framed by thick dark mahogany waves down past her shoulders that matched her dark eyes. But of course he couldn't express those thoughts aloud. "You can only be a few years older than me at most. And 'kid' refers to someone not yet in adolescence. Or a baby goat." he found himself saying instead.
Annabeth blinked, and then to his chagrin she just laughed as if she didn't have a care in the world. "You're cute, you know that? And I'm seventeen by the way, so not that much older. We're in the same grade. I had to take the long way here." she said with a wink.
Zack's pale cheeks flushed a bit. "I've been told as much before." he murmured.
Annabeth's eyes sparkled playfully and she ruffled his hair. "Oh you have? Don't let it get to your head now Zackaroni." she teased.
Zack wasn't sure what to make of the new nickname, or the girl sitting beside him. She didn't appear to be like anyone he had met here so far. Although that was a limited selection he would admit. "I don't know what that means." he deadpanned, honestly not sure what she thought would get to his head besides blood and oxygen.
She smirked. "I think we're going to be good friends you and I." she decided, quickly snatching one of his noodles despite his squeak of protest, and popped it in her mouth as she turned her face to the sky to enjoy the beautiful day.
Nothing like feeling like crap to get those creative juices flowing. It's not as long as the last, but I enjoyed writing it. So let me know what you think if you want to and I'll try to keep on writing. See you all around!