Mortals (A Percy Jackson Story)

Chapter 4

Percy's POV

The next few days went by in a haze. Gabe was never home when I was, and passed out on the couch when I left for school in the morning. I had classes with all my new friends. I know I'm years past I had said that I wouldn't make friends, but it was to amazing to pass up.

I spent my lunch period hanging out with the actual friends. We spent the whole time laughing. Life was good. I had friends, almost all my bruises faded, and I'm almost positive that Annabeth likes me.

So far, Luke had kept away from us. No one had told a teacher, but I could tell he was plotting revenge. He was always surrounded by his weird gang, and gave Annabeth these looks in the hallway.

///////////////////////////////DANCEPARTY////////////////////////////

I rolled out of bed on Tuesday and immediately got a shower. My back had since healed, so I was able to get in no problem. I grabbed a long sleeve blue shirt with tan cargo shorts and threw them on. I tamed my hair as much and I could and slipped on my knockoff converse.

On the walk to school I couldn't stop humming. I was pretty excited. Today they were going to announce the winter formal dance. And I was going to ask Annabeth.

Since that day in the woods I had seen her in a new light. Her hair wasn't just blond anymore, it was a waterfall of gold cascading down her shoulders in glistening ringlets. Her eyes weren't just gray, they were calculating and beautiful and they seemed to just stare right into you.

See? I sound like Shakespeare or something. That's how much of an effect she's had on me in the past week.

I was about a block from the school when a hand clamped over my mouth. I was pulled back struggling into a cluster of bushes. When I finally broke free I turned around to find.... LEO?!?

He smiled devilishly.

"Well isn't someone jumpy today? I heard you were going to ask Annabeth out to the dance today," he said, a smirk playing across his lips.

"Yeah, so?" I said, it being painfully obvious that I was nervous about it.

To be truthful I had been getting pulled aside by A LOT of people lately. Apparently Annabeth and I are the ship or something like that?

"So, how you gonna do it?" Leo said with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Um, well, I thought I might you know go up, ask, and walk away. Unless of course I have to learn a secret handshake or something." I said sarcastically.

"Dude, Annabeth will never want to go to the DANCE. Lucky for you, I'm here. This girl Thalia is throwing a huge party. Jason, my best friend got us in. Despite Annabeth's appearance she would much rather go to a party than a dance."

With that he walked out of the bushes. Could Leo seriously been right about something? I looked at my watch. 7:24. Crap. I raced out of the bushes and made it to school just in time to smash into, yep you guessed it, Annabeth.

"Oh geez, sorry Perce," she said, her voice like silk flowing through my ears.

Wait WHAT? Since when did I use that language? I looked up and saw Annabeth staring at me expectantly. I muttered an apology and stood up. Well, now is a good a time as ever. I took a deep breath.

"Annabeth, I was, um, wondering," I felt my face go bright red, "if, ah, maybe you would, possibly, go to this party on Friday. With me," I stuttered over half the words, and I'm almost positive I spit in her face. She smiled. Probably thought I was some loser or something. What she said next surprised me.

"Sure, just don't come with bush in your hair," she laughed and pulled a branch out of my hair.

If possible, I went even redder in the face. The bell rang, signaling three minutes till class begins. We said bye and went to our lockers

P-A-G-E-B-R-E-A-K-

The rest of the day I spent talking to Leo. I didn't see Annabeth at all. But I did sign up for swimming.

The afternoon air chilled me to the bone. The wind was so strong that when I got to the apartment- I refuse to call that place home- the door slammed open and smashed against the wall.

I cringed, waiting for Gabe, but stood up when I remembered that I hadn't seen Gabe in a while now.

Then I heard this weird thunking noise. Crap. Gabe's boots. His grotesque face peeked around the corner, a smile on his face. That's not good.

"Finally, the little brat is home. I got some new toys," he ground out, get closer to me.

I tried to back away but came in contact with the door. Gabe walked over and punched me in the gut.

"I may not have been punishing you lately, but that doesn't mean I haven't seen the bad, bad things you've been doing," he wagged his finger at me, like I was a child being scolded.

"Yeah where were you all this time? Trying to find your dignity?" I said, knowing I shouldn't but glad I did.

See, the thing about drunk Gabe is that he gets offended easily. He slammed me against the door, the handle digging into my back. He giggled like a little kid.

Gabe grabbed the back of my shirt and dragged me to the living room. He pushed me onto the floor and took off his belt. I thought it would be the usual "whip me until I pass out" but instead he wrapped it around my head like a gag. Everything I said was muffled.

He laughed again, and pulled out rope from who-knows-where. He wrapped it around my hands, leaving my feet free. He pulled out this weird gun-like thing. A Taser. The next few hours were the worst I've ever endured.

Hi....been a while, how ya been? good good. So yeah here is the update. I've decided to do dedications, so this chapter is dedicated to @Warrior_of_the_Sea Go check out her stuff!