The One From Before

Part Five- Oi vey another cliché

Present time - Mid-late October something

Almost a month had passed since Percy was last confronted by Jason. It was obviously nothing but Percy couldn't get his mind off it. There was something really bugging him by that fact that Annabeth kept neglecting him. Whatever it was, it was Percy's fault obviously.

    Percy walked forlornly down the scuffed tiled floors of schools hallways. The sounds of students dispersing away faded along with the smell of sweat and some kind of fragrant cologne.

Today, Percy had a mandatory visit with his Guidance counselor, Mr, Brunner. Unlike most teachers, Percy felt like Mr.Brunner understood him. He was probably the only staff member that Percy would want to be around. Sitting down on an ugly green couch across from Mr.Brunner, he let out a long stressed sigh.

"Percy," Mr.Brunner started. He sounded tired.  He looked tired, if you looked close enough, faint dark circles ringed under his eyes."You know that exams are very important to your final passing grade,  right?" Percy nodded and the guidance counselor continued. "Well, I was looking over some of your reports and you need some help in... certain areas, if you want to pass..." Mr. Brunner looked at Percy straight on, he knew, he was dead serious.

Percy tried to swallow the knot in his throat. He knew this was coming, he always did. He tried pushing himself harder if anything to make his mom prouder of him. He would get her attention from failing. That's how he used to get her attention, from getting in trouble. It worked for a while and then eventually, it just stopped. Maybe if he tried being excellent, if he got things turned around, if he could make his mother proud, maybe then she would be around more.

After so long of getting in trouble, of staying behind, it was too hard to catch back up. No matter what Percy tried, he couldn't grasp the contents like the other students could. They were doing too much, too fast and he just couldn't get it.

Last year he had passed at least. His grades weren't very high but at least he made it. This year was a struggle. He was barely passing. It was as if the entire world wanted him to fail, pushing against him until he did.

"Which ones?" Percy asked. The guidance counselor read off what he was failing and which he could just use some extra help with.
Math and English were the main things he needed to work on.

"Look, I know it's a bit early in the year, but we care about your success. We will focus on it more around the Winter break time, but it never hurts to get a head start. I've talked to your mother, and she has signed you up for a Math and English tutor. We will generally take one of the top students from the class and ask them to help tutor and luckily for you, the same student we asked to help you is one of the top students for both the classes with you. When I talked to her about a student struggling in some school areas, she was willing to help."

Handing Percy a small folded piece of paper, Mr. Brunner provided a smile, the skin at the
pulling slightly to create small wrinkles by the corner of his eyes. "Here's her contact information. I suggest you email her and formally introduce yourself if you haven't in class,"

     Percy nodded nervously and left the room. He walked out of the building, school was over by the time the meeting finished. Through the courtyard, all the way to the empty bus stop and sat down on a bench. He unfolded the piece of contact paper and stared at the name he knew was going to be on there....
    Annabeth Chase

At least it would give Percy a chance to talk to her...

Or maybe not. They hadn't chatted in class. It was in and out right at the bell. They had emailed and had a meeting with the guidance counsellor to talk about the details of it and set up meeting times. It was all very formal. He hadn't gotten the chance to bring anything else up. Planned around swim practice and debate etc. They finally decided on Tuesdays and Thursdays right after school. Alternating subjects.

He tried to talk to her once and it went horribly.
She was walking and wouldn't even stop to talk to him.

"I'm sorry I have to go." Annabeth spoke hurriedly, not slowing down her pace. Her curly hair was loosely flowing around with the way she walked.

"Don't run away" Percy frowned, annoyance creeping into his tone. This has gone on too long, "Please can we just talk?"

"I'm not running away." Annabeth scowled, "I am going to be late meeting with my cousin."

"Magnus? I'm sure he can wait five extra minutes."

"No Percy I'm sure he can't," she slowed down just a bit, stumbling over whatever was happening through that great brain of hers.

"And why not?" Impulsively and agitated, he reached out to grab her arm. Just give me a chance! He wanted to yell. Just give me a chance and listen!

"Because we're visiting my mothers grave!" she snapped and tugged away. Pushing further. "For god's sake Percy it's part of the reason we moved back. So she could be buried closer to her home. If you ever cared, if you ever bothered to call you would've known! So excuse me but I have to go." She seemed to get choked on her words. Her gaze turned away, Annabeth wouldn't face him.

Percy didn't say anything after that. He wasn't sure if he could and if he could he wasn't sure what to say. He stumbled back at the hit of her words and let her go without anymore fight. He would stop pushing it, there was no hope for even a sliver of what they ever had. He had to stop trying to find hope where none could be found. He dug his hole too deep a while ago and now he was stuck, unable to climb out.