Part Three

After the awesome realization that Mister Percy-Smoking HOT-Jackson was really in my History class, I started plotting once again.

The teacher introduced himself and began talking about things we hope to accomplish over the next semester. It wasn't until he mentioned something about a project and working with a partner that I really perked up to listen.

"Excuse me, sir?" I raised my hand.

"Yes?" the teacher asked.

"Could you please repeat that last bit?"

"Of course," he said. "I will be splitting you all up into pairs to work on your current events. You and your partner will get together every week and pick something from the newspaper, internet, news... it doesn't matter, just so long as it's current and-" the teacher paused to laugh briefly, "an event."

He looked at me to make sure I got it. I nodded and crossed it my ankles in front of me, stretching out my legs.

Perfect, I thought to myself. Percy is so mine!

Later that day, I flopped down on my bed. My room had orange-pink walls, a large vanity stocked with make-up, a window seat, dresser, and flat screen TV on a mini-frig television stand.

"Marvin!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

The butler came running in. "Yes, Cara?"

"Excuse me?" I asked in a cold voice, sitting up slowly.

"Is there something wrong, Car-" he started.

I cut him off, "Miss Cara. Miss Cara! Get it right!" I shrieked.

"I am sorr- Please accept my apolog-" Marvin stuttered.

"FORGET IT!" I screamed. "Just get me my soy latte and I won't tell my dad about your little screw up!" Marvin knew better than argue instead he bowed and began to leave the room quietly.

"WAIT A SECOND!" I screeched. "Bring me the phone." Sighing, he walked over to my bedside table then offered me my phone. It was wireless and covered in a hot pink fur case.

"Now," I leered, taking the phone, "get me my laptop and my soy latte!"

He opened his mouth but I interrupted him again. "My laptop is on the basement couch."

I waited until Marvin had bowed then left, to flop down on my back once again and tap in Amy's phone number. After four rings Amy picked up. "What up, Whore?" she greeted.

I laughed, "Can it, Slut. We have to talk."

"Fine. Hold up, though, 'cause I need to get to my room."

My hair sprawled out above my head and I tapped my foot against the bed post. "Hurry up," I told her.

"Whatever." I heard a door slam on her end of the line. "'kay, I'm in the clear. What's up?"

"Amy, I want Percy to be my History partner."

"Get to the point, Cara. I've got yoga in ten," she sighed.

"I know," I snapped. "You made Sophie and I take that stupid yoga class with you for over a year! Trust me when I say: I know what time it starts."

"It's a great class!" Amy insisted.

"Look, I want Percy to be my History partner," I repeated.

"You said that. What do you want me to do about it?" she asked.

"I want you to make sure that happens." I walked over to my mini-frig TV stand and pulled open the door. Pepsi, spite, cherry coke, root beer, Vitamin water, diet in everything... I slammed the door of the refrigerated.

"Come on, Cara, that's a lot of work."

"You mean you can't do it?"

"I can," she admitted. "Tell me what I want to hear..."

I propped up my feet onto the end of my bed frame. "Well, what do you want?"

"What I want is simple," Amy said. "I want you to give up this... I don't even know what someone would call this! Give up this- this- this chase!"

"Well, Amy, if I gave up this 'chase', why the heck would I need you to make Percy Jackson my History project partner!" I yelled into the phone.

"You yell at me one more time and I swear I will hang up on you Cara Kray!" Amy threatened. "I didn't mean right away! I meant after a certain amount of time..."

I gritted my teeth, "How long?"

"Hmm, I don't know," she allowed.

"Six months."

"No way," Amy objected. "I was forced to give up after about... four or five months."

"That's more than enough time!" I laughed.

"All right then. You have four months from today to get Percy Jackson then when you fail-"

"You mean if," I corrected, "If I fail."

"Whatever! You are to give up," she continued, "this stupid pointless, dumb-as-"

"Get to the point, Aim-me," I mocked, making her name have two syllables.

"That's all I want," she finished.

"Hold up!" I smirked. Marvin walked into the room with my laptop and drink. I waved my hand in dismissal and I began to set up my laptop. "Let me get this straight. You want me to keep this going full force until the four months are up?"

"Yep," Amy said, "then you have to give up this stupid-"

"Yeah, yeah," I replied. "Stupid, pointless, dumb-as-"

"That's what I want."

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me over the phone. "In return you will make Percy my project partner?"

"Yes," she promised. "I swear on all the secrets you have hanging over my head."

"All right then," I decided with a smile. "See you tomorrow, Slut."

"At the corner, Whore. Be there," Amy told me.

"F-off," I snapped, hanging up the phone.

' I threw my fuzzy pink phone across the room. "I'll do what I want!" I shouted to no one. I flipped onto my stomach and screamed into my pillow before kicking my latte over with my foot. I sighed as I watched the drink spill onto my white carpet.

"MARVIN!" I squealed.

He came rushing in. "Yes, Miss Cara?"

"Why would you put my drink near my feet?"

Before he could say more I shouted at him again. "Draw me a bath! I want a relaxing bubble bath to soothe my muscles. We played soccer today and it was bru-tal! So make sure it is the perfect temperate!"

"Oh and I want a hot cup of chamomile tea in a china tea cup waiting for me, too," I added.

"Yes, Miss," Marvin said wearily. I smirked and went to pick out my pajamas for tonight and clothes for tomorrow.

My second morning of school was the same as the first. My mom yelled at me to hurry up, I told her things I won't back, and then headed to the corner to meet my friends.

"Hey, hey, check who's late today!"

I flipped my hair, "Shut up, Sophie. I am so not in the mood."

She laughed and adjusted her dress. Her dress made her look like she had just walked out of a 1950s movie. It was a poodle skirt shape, sky blue, sleeveless, and had small white poke-a-dots all over. Her blonde hair was thrown up in a complicated twist with large purple flower clips holding it in place.

"Nice dress," I told her.

Sophie eyes flashed to my face to see if I was serious. Once she saw I was she smiled, "Thanks." She looked me over. "Nice shirt."

"And shorts," I added, playing with the end of my shirt. My shirt was a deep blue with U-neck that was decorated with a sexy bead pattern. The shorts were white and... short.

"We're not waiting for Amy?" I asked as Sophie started walking toward the direction of the school.

"She left early. As soon as I got to the corner she was like: 'I got to get to school. Office work to do.' Then she took off muttering something about four months. Weird, right?"

I smiled slowly. So, Amy was going to keep her side of the plan... good. "Not really," I shrugged. I filled Sophie in on History idea. She was practically glowing by the end of my story.

"That's a great idea, Cara! You are so smart!" Sophie exclaimed.

"Thank you, Soap." These were the times I remembered why I hung out with Sophie or Amy.

"Now, this week I want him to come over to my house. I'll call Marvin and make sure my room is clean and perfect. Then-"

"Whoa," Sophie stopped me. "Are you forgetting something? It's Wednesday. We're getting dresses tomorrow then Friday we're planning on leaving early to get manicures and pedicures to match our dresses! Friday night is the dance! When were you planning to do all this?"

"Sophie," I sighed. "We are skipping school tomorrow to get dresses. Which means we will be done by four or five sooo..." I trailed off waiting for her to pick up on my plan.

"Oh! Now I get it! You two will just meet afterward!"

"Yes," I nodded. "There you go!"

We both laughed at her moment of stupidity while we walked into school.

"Amy!" I yelled when I saw her coming out of the office.

Her brown hair was French braided back and she was wearing a mini plaid skirt and dark red polo; halfway unbuttoned to show cleavage, of course.

"Hi!" She skipped over to us then in as lower voice added, "It's all set."

"Yay!" The three of us cheered then headed to our lockers which (thanks to Amy) were right next to each other.

Our in-depth plotting was quickly interrupted by the sound of the school door closing. The hallway sound dropped drastically in level. Suddenly, everyone was whispering instead of shouting.

"What the hel-" I started but stopped when I saw who walked in.

The girl was maybe sixteen and was wearing tiny black shorts with chains hanging down the sides. Her top was a spandex tank with the straps running behind her neck. Black fingerless gloves ran tight all the way up to her elbows. Her hair was shoulder length with a razor sharp line of bangs across her forehead. It was so black, her hair appeared purple in spots. Dark, smoking makeup clouded her eyes. The girl's accessories were nothing flashy; just a studded choker and a weird, simple circlet tiara like thing in her hair. She also held a black bag hanging over her shoulder.

She walked down the hall ignoring stares, whistles, and whispers. There was an intense air to her. An intense air that said: If you mess with me, you will be sorry.

"Who is that?" I screeched. I was more than one hundred present sure I did not see her yesterday.

"That would be the next thing I was about to tell you about," Amy stated.

"What do you mean?" Sophie asked.

"I mean," Amy sighed, "there's a new girl in school today."

The three of us looked over at the new girl again. She was popping open her locker and putting some things into her locker. Her locker was right across the hall from ours. Amy continued, "Her name is Thalia Grace and she's from... well, it didn't say where she was from.

It wasn't until she turned around to glare at the three of us with startling electric blue eyes that I realized we were staring straight at her.

I stomped on Amy's foot to get her and Sophie's attention.

"Ouch!" Amy cried as I spun around to mess with something- anything- in my locker. "What was that for?" she hissed at me.

"That was to get you and Sophie to stop staring."

"You could have just-"

We were stopped again, by a noise behind us.

"Oh, my gods!" someone said. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Annabeth and Percy hug Thalia Grace.

"They know her?" I asked Amy.

"I guess so," she shrugged. "This is her first day."

I pretended to fix my lip gloss while I eavesdropped on their conversation.

"-doing here?" Annabeth asked excitedly.

"Apparently there's some 'law' about a bunch of teenage girls running around in the forest without high school diplomas." Thalia rolled her eyes. "Anyways, when I asked if I could get sent here with you all, Artemis thought that was a good idea since all of you probably attract a lot of monsters too."

I mind reeled. Forest, where? Artemis, who? Monsters, what?

Just then, Nico and Leila walked up to the trio. "Thalia! Oh, my gods! I can't believe it!" Leila smiled, hugging the Thalia.

"Leila! Hey," she replied.

"I can't believe you're here!"

"Neither can I," Thalia growled, scowling at everything in sight.

Leila laughed a little. "You're almost as bad as Percy. Come on, it is not that bad!"

The four of them looked at her incredulously.

"What?" Leila shrugged. "It could be worse." They all nodded at that statement.

As soon as the five of them were down the hall and out of sight, Sophie voiced the question that had been running through my head for the past twenty-four hours. "What the heck was all that about?"

Amy closed her locker. "I don't know."

I shook my head and shut my locker, too. "This is too weird! How do all five of them go to the same school, summer camp, and seem to know so much about each other they can shrug off whatever the other person says like it's no big deal!"

"Maybe it is no big deal..." Sophie muttered under her breath.

"Sophie!" I rounded on her. "If it was 'no big deal', why would they all appear so serious about everything!"

"Stop yelling at me!" She yelled in my face.

"Hey!" Amy cut in. "We are going to be late for class and I prefer not to get detention on the second day of school!"

"Whatever," I flipped my hair and stalked off seething.

After I picked my seat in Math, the teacher came in talking with a certain Goth girl that captured my attention earlier in the hallway.

The teacher didn't have her introduce herself, which made me a little unhappy but that moment of unhappiness was quickly replaced by smug delight as Thalia took the seat behind me.

I smirked and pulled my cell from my purse. OMG that Thalia goth gurl is in my math class!

NICE! more damage control

I scoffed at Amy's answer. I wouldn't need damage control at this rate. not needed

maybe not now

I ignored Amy and waited for Sophie answer. I didn't wait long.

Wow just ur luck score big in the goths book and maybe that will bring you closer to percy...?

Idk I think if the history thing doesnt work iIll go 4 that

true dat ttyl class starting this teacher is a BIG cell phone hater

just ur luck c ya at lunch

I went straight to the Greek classroom after Math let out. I tossed my purse into the chair next to me to show it was saved. I had decided it was best to sit in the back of the class since I didn't feel like paying attention.

My phone buzzed from my pocket. where you be?

oops sorry Amy wanted to get a good seat in greek hav a spot saved 4 ya lets go get u and ur cute boots in this classroom!

Kk

Luckily, it didn't take Amy or her cute boots much time to get to class.

"Thanks," she said, handing me my purse. "Anyone we know in this class?"

"I don't know," I finally looked up from my phone to scan the room. No one caught my eye so I went back to texting.

"Who are you talking to?" Amy asked, reaching for my phone.

I pulled it from her grip. "A guy from my old school texted me and told his parents were away this weekend so he was having a party. He was wondering if I wanted to stop by after Homecoming."

"Ooooo," Amy hopped up and down excitedly in her seat. "We should totally go!"

"Yeah," I said, rolling my phone over in my hand. "I want to really bad because well, I know for fact this certain boy happens to be a great kisser," I paused to smirk, "but if I only have four months to get Percy then I want to put everything I have into it... you know?"

"Okay, then," Amy said. "Invite Percy to the party."

"Still," I shrugged.

"Here's what you can do: Invite Percy and hopefully show up at the party with a new awesomely hot guy on your arm or you go and have a night away from the pressure this new awesomely hot boy is causing."

I peered over at her, "Keep going..."

"How amazing would it be to show up at a party where all your old stuck up school friends will be with new friends, new guys, and a new outfit! Think about it! We are totally going! Text him back girl! Tell him you will come if you can bring friends!"

I smiled at her. "This is why I am friends with you."

"And this," she replied, gesturing toward my phone, "is why I'm friends with you."