W I L T E D F L O W E R S - pjo -

002 - Rest in Piece Camaro

002

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JADE KNEW that there was no going back after Percy realized who he was. It was a slippery slope, yet here they are, trying to make him un-realize.

Every so often, Percy would bring up a Mrs. Dodds reference to try to make someone trip up, but everyone just looked at him like he was psycho.

Jade had to cover Grover's mouth.

They had almost convinced Percy that Mrs. Dodds never existed, and then came in Grover's atrocious lying skills. Every time Percy brought up Mrs. Dodds, Grover would hesitate, then claim she never existed.

Jade knew they were busted.

The storms hadn't gotten any better. There were hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornadoes, you name it. Jade knew she had to know what was going on. She needed to know.

The plants also started dying, every one of them. The grass was brown and murky, the trees were short and stubby, and the flowers were all withered. The only ones left alive were the ones that Jade grew to hide the atrocity.

Jade knew something was very off in Olympus, she wondered if the plants had to do with her mom at all.

Finally, when their English teacher, Mr. Nicoll, asked Percy for the millionth time why he was too lazy to study for spelling tests, he snapped. He called him an old sot. Jade didn't know what that meant but, well, it sounded insulting.

The headmaster sent Percy's mom (the best woman in the world, by the way) a letter the following week, making it official: Percy would not be invited back next year to Yancy Academy.

Jade wasn't that worried, she knew he would probably be going to camp soon anyways. But, she still felt bad. Getting expelled was not a good feeling. When Percy told her, her heart shattered for him.

But, Jade knew what had to happen, and Grover knew it too.

"I'm worried about Percy, sir." Jade, Grover, and Chiron were sitting in 'Mr. Brunner's office, discussing what was to happen with Percy.

"I mean, a Kindly One in the school! Now that we know for sure, and they know too—"

"We would only make matters worse by rushing him," Chiron said. "We need the boy to mature more."

"What, like he's a fruit? I was there at seven, how is that mature? I turned out fine."

"And he may not have time! The summer solstice deadline—"

"Will have to be resolved without him, Grover. Let him enjoy his ignorance while he can."

"What? What about the summer solstice deadline?"

"Nothing, my dear."

"But-"

"Sir, he saw her..."

"His imagination. The Mist over the students and staff will be enough to convince him of that."

"Sir, I...I can't fail my duties again. You know what that would mean."

"You haven't failed, Grover. I should have seen her for what she was. Now let's just worry about keeping Percy alive until next fall—"