Sign {A Pernico Story AU} ✔

Percy - Chili with a Side of Spills

"I gotta say, Percy. I'm a bit disappointed"

I sighed. As if I've never heard those words before.

I should probably start over. Hi. My name is Percy Jackson. I'm 16 years old. And I'm in my second year of high school, with has already proven to be more than difficult than my first. I guess I'm considered the popular kid in these types of things. I'm handsome (if I do say so myself). I've got great friends (even if they are a bit much). And I've got an even better best friend, Annabeth Chase, who by the way, was the one scolding me.

I twirled my pen in my hand, pretty much tuning out the rest of Annabeth's lecture on how I should "apply myself" and "try harder". I've heard it too many times before. School was always hard for me. I guess that's why I focused more on making connects than actual schoolwork. I barely passed last year and when kid genius Annabeth found out she freaked and made me promise to try harder this year.

Spoiler alert: I wasn't doing great.

Finally, thank the gods, those friends that I mentioned earlier showed up and gave Annie and excuse to stop talking.

I stood up to wave them over to our lunch table. Jason, one of my other best friends saw me and made his way over. The rest of my friends left to go wait on the lunch line.

"Hey guys. Did Chiron give you back your Greek myth quizzes too? I got an 90." He said proudly, holding his test up. It didn't have nearly as much red ink as mine did.

Annabeth glanced in my direction. 

I pretended that I could no longer see her.

"Great job man." I said with a smile. What'd you get wrong?"

"Just a random question about Zeus. How was I meant to know who his favorite lover was? He had like eighty thousand!"

Jason continued mumbling about how unfair Chiron was. I had to disagree. Chiron was one of the cooler teachers here. His 'teacher name' was Mr. Brunner, but he insisted we called him by Chiron, his first name. He was crippled and rode around in a wheel chair but he was my favorite teacher none the less. Plus, his class was the only one I wasn't failing.

Y'know. Up until I bombed that quiz.

"Make room ladies! Bad Boy Supreme is coming through with a hot lunch just as hot as him!"

"Leo, shut up"

"Don't be a hater, Pipes!"

I laughed a bit. Piper and Leo were practically always arguing. They were step-siblings since their parents got married and they surely acted like it. Piper joined us at the table while Leo danced with his tray behind her.

"Leo sit down!"

"I can't show off these moves while sitting!"

Now I was really laughing, just like the rest of the kids at my table. The only one who wasn't amused was Piper. She looked generally concerned that Leo might hurt himself which was kinda sweet. 

"You're gonna drop your 'just as hot as you' lunch"

"Please," Leo insisted. "I'm much more careful than that-"

It was at that moment Leo's chili decided to go airborne. It flew off his tray and we all watched as it soared an eventually-

SPLAT

It landed right on a boys' shirt.

I didn't recognize him, which was odd because I at least knew the names of the kids here. He had long shaggy black hair that covered most of his face. He was so pale and thin that he looked almost dead. He wore all black from his Docs to his jacket. The only pop of color that was on him was the white skull on his black shirt, which thanks to Leo, was looking a lot redder.

Piper slapped her hand onto her forehead and gave Leo and accusing I told you so look.

Leo turned his attention to the boy he just chili'ed.

"Hey, man. Listen, I am so sorry. I was just messing around which I realize was a mistake now. But hey! On the bright side, red really works for you!" Leo looked at us for help. I spoke up.

"Yeah, Leo didn't mean it. Scouts honor."

The boy didn't even look at me when I spoke up. He just kept looking at his shirt, than at Leo, than back at his shirt. It was like he didn't even hear a word of what either of us said. Leo hesitantly picked up a napkin and dabbed the boy's shirt, which just made him look at Leo even weirder. 

"HEY!"

The voice cut through the silence like a knife. Every conversation stopped. All eyes were on us and our table now. 

A girl walked up and shoved Leo away from the boy. I recognized her from a few of my classes. She had a long, thick, braid that ran down her back and walked into the room like she owned the place. If I remembered correctly, her name was Reyna.

"What's your problem huh? You think it's okay to pick on kids that can't defend themselves?"

Leo stumped back a bit, as if Reyna's words were literally hitting him. "W-What?! No way! I just spilled my lunch a-and I tried to apologize and he just- won't listen to me!"

"Yeah, I wonder why." Reyna's glare was so murderous for a selfish second I was glad it was Leo she was directing it at and not me.

The boy tapped Reyna's shoulder. I had completely forgotten he was there. When Reyna looked at him, he simply shook his head. It's not worth it.

She gave us all one last look before leaving the lunch room, the boy following close behind.

Leo slowly turned to us, wide-eyed and stunned. I think we all only had one thought

What the hell just happened?!?

...

I told you it sucked.

This chapter was kinda slow, it gets much more interesting from here (at least I hope)

Thanks for reading!

-Todoroni 🍝🧀