"MOM!"

"Yes, Percy?" She answers as she walks out of the kitchen, smiling at me. She is holding a plate of blue waffles and sits it down in front of me. Blue food was sort of our thing, it has been since I was younger. It was moms way of saying anything can happen. This tradition started the first time I got expelled from a school, which was fifth grade. An 'incidint' came up with Gabe, where he lied and switched the story around, like always.

Gabe is my alchoholic, step-father. He always smells and never does anything besides drink and play poker with his "friends." My real father ditched us when I was baby and apparently Gabe swooped in and saved our lives when I was nine. I do not remember much of it, but I believe my mom.

"Are you going to drive me or...?" She shakes her head sadly at me. I am used to it, Mom normally has to leave earlier than this. I grab my bag and answer, a bit mad, a bit worried, I am not really sure. "Okay, then I'll see you tonight." She nods, trying to make me feel better, which does not work.

The school I am starting at is about a half-mile walk, so about fifteen minutes. It is early February so I am starting late and being assigned to someone to show me around for a week. I was at a school before Christmas, but there was an incident with me and another student. The consequences for my actions were expulsion. It does not bother me. I did not have much friends there, besides one boy named Josh. He was quiet and did not talk much, but at least I did not look so lonely at the lunch table. I know not to get too comfortable and this high school. We will move or something will go wrong. Like always. I never make too many friends anyways. I guess you can say I am shy or the others just think I am weird. I am sixteen years old and going into my junior year at Goode High School in Manhattan.

I walk up to the front of the school and hesitantly walk in. It is like every normal high school. Students running around, talking, lockers are on either side of the halls. I arrive about twenty minutes before the bell rings, to start first period. I have already gotten my schedule and books so I do not need to do anything. I start walking down the hall to the room number of my first period class. I seem to avoid all the other students and get to Chemistry. I am the first one and sat down. The room is small, and painted white. Inspiring posters cover the walls and there is a hamster cage in the corner, although I do not see a hamster in it. After about five minutes the teacher walks in.

She looks to me about fifty, has short gray hair and glasses. She walks over me, the corners of her eyes bunching up when she smiles. "Why, hello. You are the new student?"

I nod.  "Yes ma'am. My name is Percy Jackson."

She smiles warmly. "Nice to meet you. I'm Mrs. Mason. The other students should be in here soon. And I will assign you to one of my best students to show you around." I nod and get out my books.

That is when she walked in. She has curly blond hair that falls onto her shoulders giving off that princess look. Although, her eyes are what caught my attention. They are a stormy gray. She is tall, skinny (but not sick skinny) and beautiful. I know this seems to always happen. There is always a pretty, blond girl I begin to develop a crush on, and number one; she has a boyfriend, number two; she is a jerk, or number three; I end up moving again before I get the guts to talk to her.

She is walking next to a shorter girl, who has short choppy black hair giving off that punk rock look. Truthfully, she scares me. I have never been into that personality. I do not know why the two would be friends, they seem like polar opposites to me.

The girl and her friend come to sit right next to me, not paying any attention to me of course. I try not to look over, you know, then I would look like one of those creepy stalkers. I keep my attention forward, acting like I am reading the board. I hear the the bell ring, to signal the start of class. Ms. Mason welcomes the class then starts to introduce me.

"This is Percy Jackson. He will be with us for the rest of the year and let's try to make him feel welcome. Annabeth Chase," The blond girl looks up (the one I was admiring).

"Yes Ms. Mason?"

"I would like you to show Percy around for the week. Let him know which classes to go to." I can hear her grumble, while she looks back down at her textbook. That can't be good. After class, I catch up with Annabeth and her friend.

"Hi. I'm Percy."

She looks over at me, her eyes scanning me up and down. She looks away giving the punk-rock girl a look. That couldn't be good. "Yeah. I'm Annabeth. And this is Thalia. I guess we're babysitting you." Babysitting me? What is that supposed to mean?

"Babysitting me?" I shouldn't have said that. I should have just stayed quiet. But I couldn't. I don't like being insulted. Annabeth does not even look over, though.

Thalia smiles at me though. "Come on Annie. Give the kid a chance. I like him. He's got potential." Annabeth grumbles and walks ahead while Thalia stayed behind.

"She's not always like that. She's usually fun. But her mom was messing with her again. So she's a little ticked off." She smiles at me.

"Thanks. Uh. I think we have the same schedule." Thalia's eyes light up.

"Good! We have gym next with everyone else. We will introduce you to our other friends. There are six others." Wow she has a lot of friends.

"Not really. They are all super nice though."

Damn it, did I saw that out loud?

"Yes you did."

I really need to stop that.

"Yes you do."

Crap.

She looks at me funny, clearly trying to hold in a laugh. I give her a look saying 'Go ahead' and she doubles over in laughter. I chuckle and shake my head, running my hand through my thick hair. But, Thalia seems super nice and if she says so, I trust that her friends are too.

When we walk into the gym Annabeth is laughing with another group of students and they all look over at me when Thalia walks over with me. Thalia smiles and skips over, giving a tall blond boy a peck on the lips. A short, scrawny, curly-haired boy laughs saying, "Get a room you two!" Making everyone else chuckle and Thalia slap the boy on the back of his head. The tall blond that Thalia kissed notices me standing next to them awkwardly.

"Thals, who's this kid?" The blond takes a step towards me, resulting in me taking a step back as first instinct.

Thalia smiles and throws her arm around my shoulder. "This is Percy. He's our new best friend." Everyone seems a little taken back, but I see a few small smiles, except for Annabeth who rolls her eyes. She really has a thing for that. The curly haired boy steps forward smiling.

"Why hello Percy. You can call me Supreme Ruler of Hotness-" Another girl with braided brown hair smacks the boy.

"LEO!"

Leo rubs the back of his head. "Ow! What's up with hitting me today?!"

The girl yells back, "Because you deserve it." Leo just sticks his tongue out and crosses his arms letting out a huff. I can tell he is the jokester of the group.

The girl smiles at me. "Hi Percy. I'm Piper and that idiot there is Leo. Don't listen to him." She points to the other blond boy. "That's Jason." Jason smiles and waves. Piper points to the taller blond that seems to be Thalia's boyfriend. "And that's Luke." She then gestures to a Chinese boy with a small chubby face, like a baby actually. "That's Frank and Hazel." The girl next to Frank, Hazel, has darker skin and large brown hair. "And I'm pretty sure you have already met Annabeth." Annabeth crosses her arms and refuses to make eye contact with us.

I nod. "Yeah I did." I guess is normal for Annabeth to be like that. Piper smiles and stands next to Jason. It seems they were dating as well.

Everyone is silent, staring absently at me. I rub the back of my neck slightly. "Yeah. This is a bit awkward. Uh. Sorry for intruding on your group. I'll just see you guys in class." I turn and start to walk away when someone grabs my wrist. I swing around to see Thalia smiling.

"Come on Percy. We just don't know much about you. Tell us about yourself." I turn to see them all nodding. Except Annabeth. Who still looks as if she will rather be wrestling a bull.

"Okay. Uh. My name's Percy." Thalia laughs.

"We know that. Something we don't know. What happened before you came to Goode?"

I smile and nod. "Well I'm sixteen. I've moved schools-" I think about it all. "I think seven times this past year. I've never been at one school longer than two months. Probably why I'm a bit like this. Uh. I like pizza and blue food. I'm dyslexic and have ADHD and not very good in school, clearly. I'm a good swimmer, I guess. Uh, I have a step-father. I don't really like him. It's like Cinderella with him. Except I don't clean, I have no step-sisters and I don't have mice that can talk. But if I did. That would be awesome."

Everyone stares in shock at me.

"Blue food?"

"Pizza!"

"Your just like Annie."

"I told you I hate that name."

"Cinderella?"

"I like you dude. You seem cool." That one is Luke. I smile.

"Thanks. And how am I like Annabeth?"

Thalia looks at Annabeth, who's snarl is the same. "She is dyslexic and has ADHD. She also has a step-mother she doesn't like."

"Cool." Maybe that will be something to get her to like me, or at least tolerate me.

We are cut off by the teacher yelling. "Alright cupcakes! Today we are playing dodge ball. Don't kill each other. Go."

Okay? Everyone starts pelting each other with dodge balls. Leo keeps throwing them at the back of Jason's head. Annabeth acts as if she wants to kill a player on the other team (I will not be surprised if she did) Piper is in the back with Frank and Hazel who seems to be struggling not to be hit by the other team. Interesting group of people I've got here.

As soon as class is over we move on to third period. I have third period with just Annabeth. This ought to be a joy. Maybe I can get her to like me. I quicken my pace to get up next to her.

"Uh. Why do you hate me?"

She does not even look over at me. "I don't hate you. I just don't trust you."

Trust me? What? "Wait. What? All I said to you was 'Hi'."

"I just don't think you're telling us everything. That's all. You're lucky I don't hate you. But don't give me a reason to."

"Okay." I say, dragging out the word. She rolls her eyes and does not say anything else. We simply walk in silence, which I must say, is a little bit awkward. When we get to classroom she sits with some other friends of hers. I sort of drift off to the other side of the room, taking a seat in the front of the classroom.

The rest of the morning goes normal. I have the rest of my classes with Annabeth, who ignores me the entire time. At lunch I sit with Luke, Thalia, and everyone else.

I lean over to Luke and Thalia. "If you two are done making out," Thalia smacks me for that one and I just laugh. "Anyways. Any idea why Annabeth doesn't 'trust' me.'" Thalia looks shocked.

"She really said that to you?" I nod. Still expecting an answer. "I don't know Percy. That's weird. I didn't really know Annabeth had trust issues. But just don't give her a reason to not. She'll warm up on you." She pats my hand, then turns over to talk with Hazel. I nod and when lunch is over I follow Annabeth to our afternoon classes. On the way to seventh period Math, some kid decides to come up to us, I guess he is a friend of Annabeth. He has black hair and does not look very nice to me. "Hello Annie."

"Annabeth." Judging by her tone of voice, it sounds like he is not a friend.

"Who's this freak?" Standing right here, dude.

"None of your business."

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Is that anyway to talk to me Annabeth. Remember last time." Annabeth looks away. Okay, this kid is a jerk.

"Just leave Ethan."

"No." He starts to curl her hair around his finger, she is clearly uncomfortable, which makes me uncomfortable.

I cannot control myself. I step in between Annabeth and the Ethan kid. "Just leave her alone alright?"

He snarls at me. "Who are you?"

"I'm Percy Jackson. Annabeth's friend. And she's clearly uncomfortable around you. I don't know what's up but how about you just leave, okay?"

Ethan snickers and looks around at his other friends. "What if I don't?"

This kid is starting to annoy me. "Come on man. Just stop it. Give it up. I don't want this to-" All of the sudden I cannot talk and I feel a sharp pain in my stomach. The kid punched me! Who does that? I straighten up and look around. Ethan and his friends (when did they show up?) are laughing. A few people gather around to watch. Annabeth is gaping at me. I grab her wrist and start walking away but we are stopped by Ethan.

"Can't handle this? To chicken to stand up and fight." Do not, Percy. Think, you actually might have some good friends. Do not screw this up.

I shake my head. "No. I just don't want to start anything unnecessary. Come on Annabeth. We are going to be late." I push by Ethan but Annabeth is stopped by him. He starts messing with her hair again and getting closer to her. I don't know why but that bothered me. I walk straight up to him and punch him in the face. He is shocked, he steps back and let go of Annabeth. I push her back.

"Nice hit Jackson." He stands up and swings at me. Seriously, last names now? I dodge and grab his wrist hitting him back on his butt.

"Just leave us all alone, got it?" He does not answer. I nod. "Good."

I grab Annabeth's wrist and start walking down the hall. Her and all the students are too shocked at me to say anything.

She seems to gather herself. She shakes herself out of my grip and walks next to me. "You know you didn't have to do that. I could have taken care of it myself. I'm not a stereotypical girl who needs a guy to protect her. I had that under control." I look at her. I know she is not like other girls. But I did not do that for her protection. More like I was jealous. I'm wasn't though. Was I?

"Yep, you had it under control"

She grumbles and sneers at me. "I did. I don't need you coming in saving me."

I laugh, taking her off guard. "Can't you just say thank you?"

Her eyes widen and she huffs, running off in front of me. I smile at her, following her down the hall. Annabeth doesn't say a word to me for the rest of the day and after class I meet up with Thalia and Luke. As soon as I walk over Thalia runs up and smacked my shoulder. I sit there shocked and look at Luke for answers but his face is free of emotion.

"What the hell, Thalia!?"

She looks up and me, anger clear on her face. "We heard you stood up to Ethan Nakamura." I think the expression in my eyes is saying, 'So?' "Percy. You'd have to be stupid to do that! Ethan is tough. He's not someone you want as an enemy. He doesn't seem to pleased in you. Just. Be careful. Please?" I nod, hoping she will not hit me a second time and her smile widens. "Okay. Well. Lets get out of this prison cell. Where do you live?"

"About four blocks down on 42nd."

Thalia smiles. "You live about a block away from Annabeth."

"Oh great. That'll be fun." Thalia and Luke both laugh, Luke then looks at Thalia, clearly having a silent conversation.

Thalia quickly turns her head to me, smiling. "Percy, we all usually go to my mother's restaurant after school. Want to come with us?"

In an instant, I would have said yes. But I hastily stop myself from responding and think it through. I do not want to seem desperate, but I also do not want to seem I do not like them. They are great people and I will love to hang out with them, but maybe Thalia is just asking me out of courtesy. Percy, listen to yourself, you sound like a teenage girl after being asked out by her crush. You're sixteen and a guy, stop over-reacting. I look at Thalia in the eye and answer, "Sure. My mom doesn't care. She won't get home until late."

Thalia's eyes light up as she leads me out of the school and where the whole gang is standing. "Hey, guys, Percy is coming with us today. That fine?" Everyone shows their approval by nodding or answering with a small 'yeah' or 'of course', except Annabeth, who just stares at me repulsively. I ignor her stares and walk up next to Jason and Piper.

The two turn their heads to me. Jason speaks, "Hey bro. Great you're coming with us today. Our mom owns this little cafe down the street and Thalia and I work there after school, and the whole group usually tags along."

Piper tosses her arm around my shoulders, "You're apart of the gang now, Percy. Better get used to it, because there is no out." Jason laughs, whispering in Piper's ear, loudly so I can hear. "Piper, ssh, don't scare him off, we actually like this kid." Piper hits Jason aside with her elbow, causing in him to be over dramatic and fall over, as he grips his stomach, groaning.

Piper laughs and walks past him, calling, "Wimp!" behind her. I laugh as well, taking a look back at Jason, who at the moment is trying to stand back up and get kicked back down by Luke. Piper swings her head back, looking me in the eye. "So Perce," A reluctant look crosses her face. "Wait, is it alright if I call you 'Perce'?" I nod, showing my approval. My approval pleases her, as she smiles and moves on. "Great. Well, Perce, how was your first day at Goode High School?" She says to me, mocking most news announcers.

I laugh at her attempt (which is not too good). "Um. It was as good as a normal day in high school can be."

She grins, still carrying her voice. "So, in boy language, crap?"

I nod, "That about sums it up."

Piper laughs, about to say something before Jason calls her name from behind us. "Boyfriend calls. Better go see what he wants." I watch Piper run back to Jason and begin talking to him. I look ahead and see everyone split into twos talking. I catch up next to Thalia and Annabeth, who immediatly stops talking when I approach them.

The awkward silence drags on between the three of us. I reluctantly speak up, "Uh, I can leave...if this is a bad time..."

"No. It's fine." "Yes. Please do." The two say simoltaniasly. It is easy to tell which is Annabeth and which is Thalia. Thalia shot Annabeth a glare, shutting her up instantly.

"It is perfectly fine, Percy. Just girl stuff, that's all."

I nod, not saying anything because I still felt the situation to be uncomfortable. "Uh, Thalia, where is your mom's restaurant?"

She quickly answers, her face lighting up. "About a block down, closer to Central Park."

"And Jason told me you and him work there after school?" Annabeth huffs, crossing her arms at me.

Thalia smiles, rushing through her sentence. "Yeah, that reminds me, I have to go ask Jason something." She quickly runs off behind me, leaving me and Annabeth alone.

I turn to Annabeth, who is avoiding my gaze. "Why do always act like you want to murder me?"

"Because you're annoying." She grumbles.

"How do I annoy you? You don't know anything about me, besides my name. Give me a solid reason why I am annoying."

She stumbles over her words, still not meeting my eyes. "You are- um, you always, um, shut up!"

I laugh, someone seems to have pride issues. "Just admit it."

She finally meets my stare, and gives me her most intimidating glare. "Admit what?"

"That your hate towards me is completely ignorant."

Annabeth's eyes widen, "Well, I, ugh!" She storms off, walking far ahead of the rest of us. I laugh, shaking my head and continue walking on alone

Within five minutes, we reach the Grace's cafe. We stay and talk for an hour and a half. Annabeth avoids me the entire time. I sit and talk with Leo and Frank most of the time, while Annabeth sits with Hazel, shooting me glares every so often. I will send her a smirk everytime I catch her glaring at me. Percy-1. Annabeth-0.

As we are all saying our goodbyes, and Annabeth and I walk home. Once she realizes we are heading the same way, she speeds up ahead of me, not daring to look back. It stays that way the entire walk home, me trailing behind Annabeth by about twenty feet.

As we approach my apartment building, Annabeth walks right past, as I cut off and walk into  my building.

I approach my apartment door and walk in where I see mom standing in the kitchen. "Hi Perce."

"Hey mom. I'm going to do homework."

"Wait. Honey, how was the first day?"

Truthfully, it is good. "It was good. I made some new friends. Thalia, Luke, Leo, Piper, Jason, Frank, Hazel and uh. Annabeth."

My mom raises her eyebrow. "Got a little crush on this Annabeth?"

I roll my eyes. No. Defiantly not. "No." She just smiles at me. I turn and start on my homework. I usually don't but I do not want to continue the conversation. That will turn out awkward. I finish my homework quick then I think and decide to let myself get some extra sleep. I let myself drift off to sleep, thinking I may have finally found a place I could possibly stay at.

~~~

[EDITED]

Hey y'all. Welcome, I am Lucy. My life is about as boring as high school. Nothing you would want to know about so, I will leave you at that. Goodnight.

-Lucy