The Follower

Chapter 2

I whizzed past groups of people talking outside coffee shops and bakeries on my way to school. I was riding my skateboard there, which got me some strange looks because it is apparently odd to be a skateboarder if you're a girl. Oh, well. I didn't anticipate San Francisco to be so friendly-looking. Sure I had lived here before, but that was when I was seven. I didn't pay much attention to scenery when I was on the run. There were people smiling and laughing with friends, people drinking coffee... more people drinking coffee. I started seriously craving a Frappacino, so I slowed my skateboard when I came to the next shop and bought a coffee. I then proceeded to skate to school, arriving in about four minutes.

I was early, there was almost nobody else in the hallway. I did see Caleb, Micah's identical twin brother, so that ment Micah was here. I was not considered a "new student" at Lincoln high, I just took a leave of absence, so I already new where my locker was from the other year I went here. I found my locker and organized my books in it neatly. I put a few pictures on the inside to decorate it. I had one of every person in the seven, and then a picture of all of us together. The picture reminded me that Hazel and Frank were very close to my school. They decided to make a life in Camp Jupiter. I decided that I should visit them when I got a chance. Leo's picture made me sad-he still hadn't spontaneously appeared at camp half-blood yet, like we hoped he would in the beginning. Nico said he was dead and dead is dead, no matter how much you don't want to believe it.

I closed my locker and sat on one of the benches inside. I played on my phone for a few minutes, then walked to the gym. I did some pull-ups on one of the bars. I probably shouldn't have because my arms were very tired afterwards. I checked the time on my phone and saw that it was only 7:40. I got here way too early. I went to see if all my friends were here yet. We used to hang out by Chris's locker, so I went there to check. When I turned the corner, I spotted all three of them, smiling and talking. They all looked exactly the same, except Tajah had cut off her dreads and had a mini afro. I was surprised, but it looked really good. I walked over to them like everything was perfectly normal. They didn't see me at first because their backs were turned to me.

"What's up guys?" I asked nonchalantly, pretending to dig through my bag for something. For a few seconds, all they did was stare, jaws dropped.

"What?" I asked playfully. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

"Annabeth!!!" Chris cheered in delight. Everyone who hadn't noticed my return immediately turned to look at the spontaneous reunion. Chris hugged me. He was like a little brother, always cheery and lighthearted. Tajah and Micah both looked surprised at me, but their shock quickly morphed into happiness and they both hugged me as well.

"What are you doing here?!"Micah asked.

"I go to school here," I explained with a 'duh' face.

"Not for the past year you haven't," Tajah retorted.

"Yeah, where have you been and why didn't you tell us you were coming back!?" Chris ranted happily. We all talked and laughed for the remaining time before our classes started, telling them I ran into some family problems, which was partly true. My first class was Social Studies with Micah and Tajah. I saw that Caleb was also in this class. I was good friends with Caleb too, who didn't know I was here yet. Class hadn't started yet, so I went up behind him and covered his eyes with my hands.

"Guess who," I said, disguising my voice.

"Ummmmm...Myka?" he tried. Myka was his girlfriend, who I was also friends with. She loved to play basketball and wasn't all that into girly stuff like makeup and clothes. Most of my friends are like that.

"Nope," I answered. Giving up, Caleb turned around to look at me. When he saw that it was me, he did a double-take.

"Oh my God Annabeth! What are you doing here I haven't seen you in forever!" He said smiling and giving me a hug.