I wake up with a sharp pain in the back of my head. I put my hand to the back of my head. There is something dry and crusted in my hair.

Oh yeah that's right, blood.

Blood is in my hair.

Not. Pleasant.

I lift my head and a sharp pain shoots up through it. Either it's just me, or that couch is moving. Nope, it's me. I have to hold my head to keep myself steady. I use to wall and table next to me and lift myself up. I look at the clock and wait for my eyes to steady.

7:50. Damn. I was supposed to leave twenty minutes ago. I'm going to be late. Thalia is going to be waiting, probably worrying her sick since thst just who she is.

I quickly change and shower to get the blood out of my hair. I grab two pills of Tylenol and run out the door. My mom's car is gone from the lot. I wonder why she didn't get me up. She probably was rushing and did not even notice.

I start jogging down the street to the school.

Ouch. Nope. I'm walking.

I guess the Tylenol does not work too well or just has not kicked in yet. It has been only a couple minutes. I should probably get my head checked out. Then again... Nope. I'm fine.

I come up to the school at 8:20. Twenty minutes late. That's not too bad. I have English first period today.

I run in, interrupting the teacher, and getting a worried look from Thalia and a rather odd look from Annabeth.

"Sorry sir. I...uh...had an appointment this morning."

He nods and gestures to my seat which is next to Annabeth in the back. Thalia sits two rows in front of me and she looks back, raising an eyebrow. She clearly does not believe my excuse. I smile at her innocently and take out my notes.

~

"I know you didn't have an appointment this morning. You're a terrible liar you know. Now spill." Thalia says harshly with her hands on her hips. I'm not going to lie, she looks down right scary. But much to my surprise, Annabeth is standing next to her staring at me with the same look I can't seem to identify. "If you were trying to skip, Percy-"

I hold my hands up "Calm down, Mom." It is just in Thalia's nature to be so controlling. She cares for her friends more than anything and is always looking out for them, even me after only meeting me a short while ago.

Thalia smacks the back of my head. I hold my hands up defensively. I am not about to tell them about Gabe. I say back confidently. "Okay. Okay. I just overslept. My mom went out early and I forgot to set my alarm."

She looks at me still with suspicion and all that was ringing through my mind is Annabeth. Throughout this conversation, her stare has not wavered. A look I still can not decide what it means. Before I can think any more of it, Thalia nods. "Okay. Whatever, now come on. You have second period with me today."

She grabs my wrist and pulls me along as Annabeth more of stumbles along behind us. Thalia still has that look of worry in her eyes. But, I have learned that the look of worry is normal with her.

She turns to me in a more of a quiet corner of the school. She crosses her arms. "Now tell me what's up. No one is around now."

"I thought we were going to second period?" I cover.

Thalia seemed shocked by my sass. "Don't sass me, boy." At that moment in time, Thalia looks scarier than my mom when I don't clean my room. If she was in a cartoon there would be smoke coming out of her ears. But this is not a cartoon.

I shake my head and take a step back from her. "Nothing's up. I overslept and came in late. That's all."

She playfully slaps my upper arm, causing me to wince. "That's not-"
Crap. Crap crap crap. Her eyes shift down to my arm. She takes a small step forward, resulting in me taking another step back, leaving the same amount of distance in between us. "What's wrong with your arm?" She slowly reaches her hand out but I knock it away.

"Nothing. I just...bumped into the wall this morning. Oops! Clumsy me. You know me." I play it off.
I don't think she bought it though.

She nods. "Oh yeah you just bumped into the wall." She says that mimicking my voice. Yeah she does not believe me. I look back at Annabeth standing behind her. I had completely forgot she was there. Annabeth has a faint look of worry on her face. At least the intense stare was gone.  "Percy. Tell me. Did someone hurt you? Was it Ethan? Because I can beat that pulp if-"

"No." I instantly shake my head. She does not need to know anything. "I cut it on a nail sticking out of the wall this morning. Took care of it. Got a couple stitches. That's why I was late. I'm sorry for not telling you." Wow that was a good story. High five for Percy.

Thalia's look of worry disappears but Annabeth was still staring at me suspiciously. No worries. Not like she will say anything.

"Thank you. Now let us go." She smiles and takes my arm around hers, locking them together. And she starts to skip off humming that song from that movie with the scarecrow. I cannot remember the name of it. But I know we probably look very weird.

Annabeth just sulks behind us. I offer my arm out for her but she just gives me that Go-shot-yourself look. There's the Annabeth I know.

~

"Percy!" I turn back to see Leo running towards me in the hallway. "Where were you this morning? You missed the prank."

"Aw. I wish I could have been there. I had a doctor's appointment. How did it go?"

Leo laughs, before looking around to check who is in the halls. "It was great. They all flipped out. I can feel a bruise on my shoulder from Annabeth. And I am sure Thalia and Jason are planning something against me." Leo must see the look on my face. I am hoping they do not know I was somehow involved in it. "Don't worry, I did not mention you at all. You're safe."

I smile. "Thank you, Leo. But I wish I could have been there. Sounds great. I gotta get going, but good luck with Thalia and Jason."

He nods. "Will do."

~

At the end of the day I am walking home with Annabeth and like always, we are completely silent until Annabeth says something I was dreading all day.

"I know your lying. There's more to what happened than 'scratching yourself on a nail.' Don't be afraid to tell us. We are your friends."

What? Is this some kind of girl hormonal thing? She has never shown any interest in me before, what is different now? Maybe I should not say anything. Maybe Annabeth is trying to become friends. But then again, she has had plenty of time for that.

"Last time I checked you're not tallking to me." Crap. I thought I was going to keep that in.

She looks over at me. "Look, I am sorry, you don't need to be a jerk about it?"

Now she is making me angry, "What sort of apology is that? 'I'm sorry you're a jerk!'"

She steps closer, getting up in my face. "I did not say that and you know it. You're just over-reacting."

"Oh really? Because it seems more like you. I'm sorry you don't trust me. Here let's go eat s'mores and tell each other our deepest secrets! You've known me for a week, Annabeth! Give me a proper reason for you to hate me, besides 'you're annoying' because I already know that crap."

"You're a jerk! You come in here and act like you have known all of us for years, like you said, it's been a week! We have known each other for years. And you're just the awkward kid who won't leave us alone!"

Okay that might of hurt. I know I have not been here long, but I am comfortable around them."Well don't worry Annabeth. In a month I am bound to be gone so I will be out of your hair forever." I turn away from her and walk away, leaving her speechless on the sidewalk. I know what I just said is probably true. I will miss all of them when I go, except Annabeth. I know now we could never get along as friends. In a short time, I will not have to deal with her anymore.

~

[EDITED]

Again this is short, sorry. 

-Lu <3