Chapter 6

"Hiya Becky," Travis said with a smile as he walked past "Becky" and headed inside. Based on the look "Becky" was giving Travis, I doubted he'd live until sunrise.

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I endured the Stolls blabbering on about which banks to hit and where as they drove on. It's not like I had much other choice.

But they had said they had hit banks 2 and 1/2 years ago... So Leo wasn't there as long as I was...

I shook my head and ran a hand through my too long hair. I hadn't gotten a chance to properly cut it.

Soon enough we arrived in front of a building. The building had two store fronts and apartments above them.

One of the stores was an auto shop with the sign Heph's Place. Around the corner on the side of the building I could see the garage and more. The other store front had Silena and Clarisse's Hair, Tattoo's and More!

Connor helped me out the car and we hobbled into the auto shop. It was void of any people at this time of night but Travis walked right up and knocked on the door to go inside. After a moment a huge African American boy stood in the doorway a scowl was on his face as he looked at the three of us. Suddenly this idea seemed worse.

"Hiya Becky," Travis said with a smile as he walked past "Becky" and headed inside. Based on the look "Becky" was giving Travis, I doubted he'd live until sunrise.

"Don't call me that," "Becky" said as he moved aside so Connor and I could clamber inside. We headed up the stairs slowly and came out at the living room of an apartment. Connor dumped me on the couch stretched.

"I'm Charles Beckendorf," "Becky" introduced himself holding a catcher's mitt sized hand for me to shake. "Everyone just calls me Beckendorf."

I took it slowly not wanting to have my hand broken. "Percy Jackson."

He nodded and shook my hand surprisingly gently. "Let me get some ice for your leg."

He retreated and came back moments later with a bag of ice for my leg. Thanking him I let the ice bag sit on my leg, it almost instantly made me feel better.

Bickering sounded loudly from the stairs as two girls emerged. The first was slim and pretty with dark eyes and black hair. The second was tall and certainly built. Her arms were covered in intricate tattoos and a bandana held back her stringy brownish red hair.

Both of their eyes landed on me.

"That hair has to go," the first girl states walking forward and grabbing a fistful of my hair with a slight tug.

"Not gonna even introduce yourself?" Beckendorf asked.

The first girl blushes slightly and released my hair. "Right sorry. I'm Silena Beauregard."

"Wasn't your hair brown?" Connor asked her.

She shrugged. "I'm a hair stylist. I change it."

"I'm Clarisse La Rue," said the bulky girl.

"Percy Jackson," I stated.

"So, Percy," Clarisse started. "How do you feel about tattoos?"

"Uh..."

"This better be good you two," said a new voice. I shifted my focus to where a Hispanic boy with black hair and brown eyes stood glaring at the Stolls. His arms were crossed and I could see the glint of light shinning off a detective's badge on his waist.

"Oh it is," Connor said he then pointed at me. "That's Percy Jackson. He's that guy who your whole department is looking foot for robbing that bank. And he worked with Valdez. Valdez is on his way cross country. He's bound to stop in Texas."

Travis picked it up. "We need to get him a new look and get on the road."

By now everyone was staring at me.

"I can't just leave," Chris said with a sigh. "It's too busy right now. But you all head out. Bring him back here."

The Stolls had identical smiles as they turned to the other three.

"I can get Nyssa and Jake to watch the place," Beckendorf said.

"Course I'm in," Silena smiled. Clarisse nods.

"Great," Travis said. "Then we need is to pack and get him made over. Girls that's all you."

I didn't get a chance to protest as Clarisse yanked me to my feet and pulled me down the stairs (thankfully most of the pain had subsided).

She pushed me into a chair and Silena appeared and pushed my head back in some water.

"So, is Percy short for something?" Silena asked as she began to wash my hair.

"Perseus," I said.

Clarisse gave a snort of laughter. "What are you the son of a god?"

"Shut up," I muttered. "What are you even doing to my head?" I asked Silena.

"I need to wash, cut and maybe dye it a bit. Anything to change your appearance," she responded.

"Like tattoos and piercings," Clarisse agreed.

"No," I said instantly.

"Why? Don't be such a Prissy."

"Pris-owe!"

"Don't move," Silena chided as she pushed my head back under the water.

Clarisse laughed as Silena finished and pulled me our from under the water and took out a pair of scissors and began to cut.

"Are you sure you don't want a tattoo? It's a good way to changes appearance if you get one on your face."

"No."

"Why does the pain of it scare you?"

"No. I just don't want one."

"What kind of things do you like?" Clarisse asked further choosing to ignore me.

"I don't know."

"You don't like anything?"

I sighed and gave in. "I like the color blue. I like beaches and water."

"How about a tattoo of a ship then? Or... Waves? A compass maybe?"

I blinked. Those weren't actually bad ideas...

Clarisse smiled. She turned around and pulled out a notepad and pen and began to draw.

As she drew Silena continuously fussed with my hair. Pulling it this way and that. She then had a eureka moment and shoved my head back under the water and pulled out a bottle.

Finally I was released from her evil clutches as she wrapped a towel around my head and told me to wait.

At this point Clarisse showed me her drawing. (Media).

"Fine I give," I sighed and held out my right arm. She smiled knowing she had won. Not much longer I heard the buzz of the machine and I was already regretting this. Needles weren't exactly my favorite thing after the last couple years...

She gripped my arm tightly and the pain began.

"Water?" I asked Silena who had taken the towel from my head. She nodded and came back with a glass of water which I sipped and felt better.

Hours later close to dawn, I could finally see my reflection. The tattoo was redish on my skin from the pain but it looked cool regardless. My hair was how shorter and in a mohawk (but I still had short hair on the sides) and the tips of it was dyed blue.

"I'd say we've done well," Silena nodded.

"Good," Travis said walking in. "We can get some sleep and leave tonight. Percy you gotta stay upstairs. You're a wanted man after all."

I nodded. They wanted me to sleep?

No objections from me.

~~~~~

I climbed in the back of the SUV. Literally.

Beckendorf was driving while Silena sat in the passenger. The Stolls and Clarisse sat in the back and I lay in the back with the luggage.

Yay. This was just getting more and more fun by the minute.

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Sorry for he boringish chapter. But Percy needed a makeover!

-Jaz