I 00. I

𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒐𝒓𝒔

❝ punk ❞

A BODY SLAMMED AGAINST THE LOCKERS. People crowded around the duo who were arguing, but they gasped quickly as it turned physical. They oohed and awed as the body fell to the ground, groaning.

She stood over them with a glare on her face, her hands picking the person up from the floor by their jacket collar. They were forced against the lockers as they kicked around, hanging in the air.

Ariadne leaned forward, a scowl forming on her lips. "What did you say?"

The boy tried hiding his fear. "I said— you're a punk ass wimp."

He was slammed even harder against the metal lockers, his back scratching and bruising. She glared at him even harder before she released one hand from his collar, pulling it back before letting it smash against his jaw.

Crack!

Everyone turned frantic as the boy screamed in pain, crying out while holding his jaw. His friends helped pick him up, moving him from the group and down the hallway.

She watched as they left before rolling her eyes and picking up her backpack, throwing it over her shoulder. A blonde with blue dyed tips stepped in her way as she tried to leave, her hand son her hips. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Gee," the brunette started sarcastically. "I don't know, you tell me."

"You're going to the principle's office."

Ariadne rolled her eyes against before moving around the girl— only to be shoved back. The blonde, who was also known as Ellie Kemper, gave her a superior look. She was only a year older than the brunette, but she believed that made her have authority over the girl.

Ellie crossed her arms. "Lets go, punk."

Her heart rate picked up and so did her anger, causing her to smash her shoulder against the blonde's and walk away. But Ellie wasn't finished. Her hand reached out and yanked the girl back, but was met with purple eyes in a glare.

"Just because you were missing for seven years, and you were thought to be a nation fugitive, doesn't mean you can go around punching people."

Ariadne clenched her fist before trying to remove her arm from the girl's hold, but she was unsuccessful. The brunette was getting angry and that wasn't a good thing. When Ellie wouldn't let her go, she glanced down at her right hand.

On it sat her usual gold ring with the green trident on the middle, but on her middle finger was a small amethyst ring with silver leaves and vines. It had been a gift from Percy for her birthday, she immediately told him to take it back because it looked expensive, but he said he had been saving up for it. When she heard that, she kid you not, her face was red for hours and butterflies floated around her stomach.

"What, are you in shock that you're in trouble, punk?" Ellie questioned, starting to pull the girl away.

Ariadne gave her a wicked glare and lifted her fist, a kid in the crowd noticed. "Ellie!" they shouted. "Watch out!" But the blonde looked over, only to get socked in the eye by a powerful punch. She gasped in pain and placed her hand over her left eye, tears springing and falling down as people crowded around.

When she pulled her hand away, there was a small cut under her eyebrow where the brunette's amethyst ring had hit. A sickening bruise that was blue and black created a ring around her eye, swelling and teary.

Ellie looked at her with her one good eye. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

She just shrugged. "I don't know. You tell me." The girl turned around and walked away, feet padding down the hallway as she exited the building.

Her eyes scanned the busy street where cars were parked as parents waited to pick up their child. The bell tolled from inside and kids flood fed outside, many pointing at her and whispering.

Ariadne originally thought going to school in New York would be nice. Her stepmom did it for her safety, wanting the girl close to camp and her father. Both Sally and Aria has decided that Percy and Ariadne wouldn't go to the same school, because based on their past experiences, it would end in them being banned from any school in New York City.

She wished she was back in Miami with Aria who was staying back at the beach house with Beckett. The girl had been sent to stay in an apartment across from the Jackson's, while the goddess hung out by the beach and IM'd her stepdaughter everyday.

Since last summer, a lot had changed. For one, Ariadne has become even angrier, having less and less control as the days went by. Of course, she was never angry at the Jackson's— she couldn't be mad at them. Her meds had been upped to a higher dosage, and she had therapy and anger management every Tuesday and Thursday.

The girl hadn't spoken to Thalia at all, not since the last day of summer. Annabeth and her talked quite frequently, so did her and Grover. The satyr was on a mission at another boarding school a few hours away, she wished to see him but never had the time.

Percy and her hung out everyday. Wether it be discussing homework, having dinner with Sally, or just watching movies and eating blue cookies, they hung out as much as they could. The girl hadn't told him about Aphrodite or how they're supposed to fall in love, because she had been instructed not to.

Her feet ran up the steps of the apartment building, choosing that rather than a packed elevator. She was trying to beat Percy home, so he didn't see her heated expression and get Sally involved.

Sally Jackson was an amazing women. Her and Aria were bets friends, talking about the kids constantly. Aria told her about Ancient Greek art and Sally was amazed, both of them teasing their kids any chance they got. But Sally was also incredibly scary when she wanted to be, so was Aria.

One time, Percy and Ariadne had skipped a day of school just to go to the skatepark ( Ariadne has taught Percy over the summer ) and the two women were pissed. Both of them grounded their kids from seeing each other for two weeks, forcing them to go straight to school and back home. Percy complained everyday to his mother about being bored and how the girl was lonely at the house, so they agreed to let them work on homework together at the Jackson apartment.

Ariadne luckily made it to her apartment building— only to see Sally and Percy Jackson standing in front of her door. Her eyes widened and she tried sneaking back down the stairs but it was too late, both of them laying eyes on her.

"Ariadne Phoenix," Sally said. "Why is it that I got a call from your school saying that you had gotten into another fight?"

The girl acted clueless, "I did?"

Percy raised his eyebrows as he tried not to laugh, but he shut up at his moms glare. Sally raised an eyebrow of her own. "You broke a boy's jaw and a girl was sent to the ER to get stitches. Their parents are calling to sue. Aria is at the school right now to talk with them, and then she's coming over."

Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "She can't! I-I have to pack. I have to change my name and move to Europe." Aria would be pissed, and since she's a goddess, things will get bad real quick.

Sally sighed, "Ari, we talked about this." And the girl felt guilty. She was causing unnecessary  stress for Sally, a single mom trying to raise an already impulsive and idiotic teen boy. Now, she had to deal with her son's angry and impulsive friend.

"I'm sorry, Sally," she whispered. "They've been giving me some trouble at school, and uh, that's the only way I know how to handle those situations."

"It's okay, Ari," Sally said. "Come on, you and Percy can start on your homework. I have cookies." The girl nodded with a small smile, following the women across and towards the Jackson apartment.

Percy sent her a smile before slinging his arm over her shoulder, but it slipped off. He moped at the fact that she was an inch taller then him, he thought they were the same height. He led them back to his bedroom where they placed down their bags, the boy immediately grabbing a water bottle and opening it.

She sat on the floor and pulled out her homework before giggling at the boy who was trying to create shapes with the water. He gave her a grin before they started on their homework. They were working on math, helping each other with anything they're ere confused about.

The best things about going to schools close to one another, is that the curriculum was the same. So if one had a test before the other, they could trade answers and help.

Percy looked up from his paper and his pencil stopped writing, watching as she was focused on her work. She had her tongue poked her slightly out of the corner of her mouth, eyes narrowed. The girl had gotten bangs, the sides longer and the front choppy looking, but it fit her. Her curls were in a ponytail, tangle slightly.

Ariadne has gotten even prettier in his eyes. She had started to wear a bit of makeup, which he didn't mind. The girl had grown another two inches,going from five-four to five-six. Her purple eyes seemed darker than the last years, hiding a lot behind them. Percy tried to keep her happy, but sometimes he would catch her staring at the ground sadly or sighing. He didn't think she slept, the bags under her eyes were becoming even more noticeable.

A knock sounded on his door, the boy clearing his throat. "Come in."

Sally walked through the door with a plate of blue cookies and two glasses of chocolate milk, placing them on his desk before giving the two a smirk, walking out.

The brunette placed her notebook down and shut her eyes tightly. Percy's eyebrows furrowed in concerns and he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?" he asked.

She shook her head and opened her eyes. "Yeah, I'm just... I'm just tired, that's all." Her hands went to pick her notebook back up before he stopped her.

"Aidan, you're not okay. What's going on?"

Nightmares. They had been plaguing her slew with terrible images of her causing her friends to die, of her aiding with Kronos and killing Percy, stabbing him through the stomach before doing the same to her father. It caused her to not stop, staying up late by watching TV or mulling over her thoughts.

A smile crossed her face, "Nothing." He didn't look convinced. "I'm serious, Perc. I'm fine."

He was about to say something but they heard the familiar voice of Aria. The brunette cringed and placed her notebook back inside her bag, zipping it closer with a sigh. Percy gave her a sympathetic glance before standing up, pulling her with him.

The boy gave her a big hug, she tightened her arms around his neck before letting go. She gave him a last smile before leaving his room and walking down the hallway towards the front door, there stood Aria and Sally.

Sally sent her a look before giving her a hug. "Take care, Ari."

"Always, Sally."

She was then pushed into her apartment and the door locked, Aria facing her with an angry look. The women had her arms crossed and her nostrils flared. "Ariadne Phoenix, why did you punch those two kids?"

"They were being mean to me, am I not allowed to stand up for myself?"

"I'm not saying that, Ari. But this is the fifth time it's happened, and it's only a couple days before winter break. I have no clue what's happening to you, but you need to talk with me."

Ariadne scoffed, "Talk with you, about what? My teenage problems? You're a goddess. You were born centuries ago as a princess, I'm just a demigod in the eight grade."

Aria sighed before sitting next to her on the couch. She took the girl's hand in her own. "I get that. But that doesn't mean you can't talk with me about your sleep problems... and why you haven't been taking your medicine."

She tore her hands from the women's, standing up before crossing her arms. "I don't have sleep problems. And I have been taking my pills."

"No you haven't," the goddess shook her head. "I checked this morning, I got that bottle two weeks ago, you should only have six left. The whole bottle is full."

"Maybe I don't need them!"

"Yes, you do!" Aria stood up before raising her voice. "They're there to help you, Ari. If you even think for a second you can control it on your own, then you're wrong."

The girl glowered. "I have control."

"Yeah," Aria told her sarcastically, "nothing says control like breaking people's jaws and giving someone stitches."

Ariadne grit her teeth, sighing, "I haven't been sleeping well and they were bothering me. Okay?" Her purple eyes were turning hazy as she was growing frustrated, the goddess noticed.

"Ari, calm down."

But the girl keep going," I don't see the pony on the meds if my own mind doesn't rise them. Even when I take them, I'm still like this. I prefer not being sleepy and tired throughout the day compared to feeling refreshed. So excuse me, for wanting a change."

Purple was bleeding out of her skin, eyes glowing brighter and brighter. The goddess watched with a worried look as the girl was pacing around the room. "I can't even walk around school without people pointing. And ever since the extra dose, the office keeps forcing me to sit out of games that make people get competitive. Like dodgeball, I love dodgeball— at least there's no Laistrygonians like last year." she mumbled that last part.

She was sending waves out, the goddess creating a shield around herself. A flower vase off the the side was hit with a purple wave, it smashed against the floor as it sent water and glass everywhere.

Aria steppes forward and grabbed her stepdaughter's arms, calling her down. The purple waves stopped but the glass was still there. "Calm down. I talked with the parents, they're not suing, but you're expelled."

"Expelled?!"

"Yeah," the women nodded. "I'll have to enroll you somewhere else, maybe, if you're lucky, I can send you to the same school Percy's at."

"Please do."

The goddess gave her a tight hug, kissing her forehead gently before pulling away. "I love you, Ari. I just want the best for you."

"I know," the girl gave her a smile. "Give Beckett a great for me."

"I will."

Aria snapped her fingers and the air folded around her, she vanished from sight and left behind the conversation. The girl sighed before looking towards the called vase, she shook her head and stepped onto it, glass crunching under her soles.

She headed towards the closet to grab a broom, walking down the lit up hallway. When she opened the closet she grabbed the broom and walked back with the dustpan. She crouched down to pick up the bigger pieces before a corner sliced along her finger.

Ariadne cursed and stood up, putting pressure onto her finger as to stop telling blood. She quickly grabbed a wipe and a bandaid, wiping the blood off before wrapping the wound up. The girl swiped the wipe onto the trash and walked back towards the glass.

She picked up the pieces, not even noticing the small purple flecks in the dark red liquid.