Chapter 7: Two weeks out

Jason POV.

Jason was seriously worried about Percy. As he walked to his first class of the day, Math, he thought about what had happened that morning. After spending close to a month with Percy, Jason had started to pick up on some of the strange things that he did. Like how Percy rarely said anything about his past, or how much he hated Annabeth, Luke and the others. Even though the "Popular Crowd" had other victims, and all of their victim hated them, none of those victims could produce even half of the hatred Percy had for them.

He was so lost in thought that Jason didn't notice where he was going, until he walked straight into someone. Not just someone, He mentally corrected himself. Luke. Sure enough, Luke Castellian and four of his football players standing in a half circle in front of some lockers.

"What the he.." Luke growled, whirling around to face Jason. "Oh. It's just you Grace"

"Yeah. Sorry man. Just wasn't paying attention" Jason said, trying to act calm.

"No Problem." Luke said, clapping Jason on the back. "Now get to class", Luke said, giving a small laugh.

'Will do" Jason replied, giving a forced laugh. "But shouldn't you?"

"I've got some business to finish" Luke said, pointing to the lockers were his four friend stood. Huddled at he bottom, was a small, scared looking freshman. He looked up at Jason with pleading eyes, begging him to make it stop.

"What did he do?" Jason asked, gesturing downwards.

"Doesn't matter" Luke said, and if it was at all possible, the freshman shrank further back into the lockers.

"Then let it go" Jason said

"And why should I do that?" Luke demanded, visibly angry

Jason shrugged. "Annabeth will kill you if you get caught." He could almost see the gears turning in Luke's head as Luke debated whether or not this freshman was worth getting killed by his girlfriend. Finally he sighed.

"I guess you're right Jason. Come on guys." he said, and left, the four football players behind him. Soon it was just Jason and the freshman.

"Scram kid" Jason said before the freshman could thank him. "And hope he doesn't remember you."

With that, the freshman shot off like a bullet, sprinting to his next class. Jason sighed, and continued on his journey to math.

Later that day

Jason's morning had dragged on in a seemingly endless cycle. And, he still hadn't gotten When lunch finally arrived, he rushed out of his class, and quickly found his "friends" standing around by the doors.

Trying to avoid Luke, after what happened that morning, Jason found himself in the back with Rachel and Drew.

"What took you?" Rachel asked when they started walking outside.

"Mr. Blofis held us late. Something about trying more on tests."

"Fun." She said, following Drew out the doors.

"Yep." He said. Finally he got around to asking about the microphone. "Hey Rach, do you know..." He was cut off by a wall of very familiar guitar chords. Not again. Jason inwardly sighed, bracing himself for what was coming. The whole group stopped.

"God, couldn't he play something actually good!" Drew complained, shocking Jason to the core. To him, this was some of the best guitar he had heard. He could barely contain his outrage.

"W..What?!" Jason said, the shock written all over his face.

"Like, why can't he play some Michael Jackson or something?" Drew continued. "I mean, he'd still suck, but it wouldn't sound this bad." By now, it took all of Jason's willpower not to slap her. But before Jason could open his mouth in Percy's defense, Annabeth butted in.

"You don't actually like this crap, Jason?" She asked.

"Nope" He said, swallowing nervously

"Good" Annabeth replied, nodding her head like that was the acceptable answer. Then she started walking towards Percy's table, pulling the rest of the group behind her. As the walked up to Percy, the crowd around him disappeared in a flash. Jason guessed they didn't want to be recognized by Luke. But Percy didn't notice, and kept playing.

"Jackson, turn that crap off." Annabeth said loudly over the music. Percy looked up, a small smile on his lips, but kept playing. "Come on, Jackson. Stop that god awful noise you call a pathetic excuse for music" Annabeth tried again. This time, Percy's smile only got bigger.

Quickly making sure no one was looking, Jason managed to catch Percy's attention, and dragged a finger across his next, a pleading expression on his face. Percy, still smiling, gave a barely noticeable shake of his head, and keep playing, never breaking eye contact with Annabeth.

"Well? Are you going to stop?" She cried. Jason could tell Annabeth was getting very angry.

"No." Percy said. His was voice low, gravelly, and deadly serious.

"What?!" Annabeth demanded, outraged. If Jason had to guess, he would say this was the first time anybody had said no to her.

"You heard me." He replied, his voice still dangerously low.

"You did not just..." She shouted, until he cut her off.

"I did. Now leave."

Annabeth stood there, shocked, unable to speak. No one else moved. Percy stood there, glaring at her, his eyes blazing with fury. Jason had never seen someone look that angry.

After a long, hated filled moment, Annabeth stepped backwards, then turned around, and walked away wordlessly. The rest of the group followed close behind. This was the second time Percy Jackson had left them speechless.

One Hour Later

The startling events of lunch played through Jason's mind like a broken record. He was seriously starting to worry about Percy. First, Percy collapsed in the morning, then he makes a near-suicidal stand against Annabeth, and won! All Jason could think was Luke's gonna get him for that. He'll grow a pair when he's surrounded by his thugs.

He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice what was going on around him until someone tapped him on the shoulder. He whirled around, and came face to face with red hair and a pair of green eyes. It was Rachel.

"Jason, you do know that class is over, right?" She asked, gesturing to the fast emptying room.

"Oh, thanks Rach." He replied, only half paying attention.

"No problem" She said as the two of them walked out of the classroom. "So, what did you want to ask me at lunch?"

"Huh? Oh..right!" Jason replied. He hadn't remembered to ask Rachel about the microphone, and he hadn't expected her to remember he wanted to ask her something. "So... Do you know where I can get a microphone?"

Rachel shook her head. "No, sorry. Singing's not really my thing."

"Oh, alright" Jason said, hanging his head, disheartened.

"Try Reyna. I think she's in the choir."

"Will do. Thanks Rach." Jason said, before rushing off to his next class.

TIME SKIP

"And why do you need one?" Reyna asked him, annoyed. Jason had caught up to her after school had ended, praying she'd be helpful.

"Um..." Jason began. He hadn't truly thought about how he was going to explain this to the people at school. It's not like he could just say "Oh yeah. I'm in a band with Percy Jackson. You know, the kid you all hate for no reason. Anyways, we're performing in two weeks, and I really need one."

"My friend wants to make a CD" Jason said after moment. "And I'm helping. We're looking for a microphone for the singing, and we're in over our heads." He hoped he sounded convincing.

"Fine" She grumbled. "I'll show you were they are. But you owe me."

"Thank you!"

They walked in silence, until they reached a room in the music hallway. Reyna fished around in her pocket for a few moments, them pulled out keys and unlocked the door. It was full of music stands, chairs, and other instruments. At least two dozen microphones stood on their cases in one corner

"What kind of vocals are they?"

"Um...Rock. But loud. And angry." Jason said, weakly. She walked towards the microphones, and Jason barely heard her mutter "Why am I doing this?" Soon, she picked one out, broke it down, and put the stand, chord, and microphone into case.

"Here. This should be fine." She said. "How long do you need it?"

"Just over two weeks." He said, and she sighed.

"Alright. But you better make it up to me. I'm not technically supposed to be doing this."

"Right." Jason said, and searched his pockets for a scrap of paper. When he finally found one, he wrote down his address on it. Seeing her confused look, he elaborated. "There. Be there on Friday evening in two weeks. If you don't enjoy it, then you can decide what I owe you. Deal?"

"Deal." She said, handing him the case. When he took it, she turned around and left. When she was about halfway down the hall, she called back. "This better be worth it, Grace!"

"Oh it will be!" He shouted after her. When she turned the corner, Jason turned and left. He had to find Percy. He only hoped that Percy hadn't managed to get himself killed since lunch. With Jason's and Percy's luck combined, Jason thought that was almost impossible.