¹𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 ━ 𝗽. 𝗷𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻

057

⋆ ˚｡⋆ʚ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐘-𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 ɞ⋆ ˚｡⋆
─── ❛ failed date ❜ ───

THE LAST THING PERCY wanted to do on his summer break was blow up another school. but there he was monday morning, the first week of june, sitting in his mom's car in front of goode high school on east 81st.

goode was this big brownstone building overlooking the east river. a bunch of bmws and lincoln town cars were parked out front. staring up at the fancy stone archway, percy wondered how long it would take him to get kicked out of this place.

"just relax." sally didn't sound relaxed. "it's only an orientation tour. and remember, dear, this is paul's school. so try not to... you know."

"destroy it?"

"yes."

paul blofis, his mom's boyfriend, was standing out front, greeting future ninth graders as they came up the steps. with his salt-and-pepper hair, denim clothes, and leather jacket, he reminded percy of a tv actor, but he was just an english teacher. he'd managed to convince goode high school to accept him for ninth grade, despite the fact that percy had gotten kicked out of every school he'd ever attended.

his heart skipped a beat. standing beside paul was isabella, his isabella. she was wearing straight low-rise jeans with a black tank top. her now short hair was up on a half-up, half-down hairstyle, a few strands of hair framing her face. she looked absolutely stunning, and it was really obvious because almost every teen stopped to look at her; some were brave enough to start a conversation with her, percy's face grew red.

"i'd tried to warn him it wasn't a good idea, but he wouldn't listen." sally brought him back.

percy looked at his mom. "you haven't told him the truth about me, have you?"

she tapped her fingers nervously on the wheel. she was dressed up for a job interview—her best blue dress and high-heeled shoes.

"i thought we should wait," she admitted.

"so we don't scare him away."

"i'm sure orientation will be fine, percy. it's only one morning, and isabella will be there; it won't be that bad."

"yeah," he mumbled. "i can get expelled before i even start the school year."

"think positive. tomorrow you're off to camp! after orientation, you've got your date—"

"it's not a date!" percy protested, his cheeks almost as red as a strawberry. "it's just isabella, mom. jeez!"

"it's never 'just isabella', percy. she came to this school to make sure you were okay."

"well, yeah."

"you're going to the movies."

"yeah."

"just the two of you."

"mom!"

she held up her hands in surrender, but percy could tell she was trying hard not to smile.

the boy glanced at his shoes, avoiding his mom's glance. "she's having a rough time back home; i wanted to make her feel okay, at least today."

sally smiled sweetly at her son.

"you'd better get inside, dear. i'll see you tonight."

percy was about to get out of the car when he looked over at the steps of the school. paul blofis was greeting a girl with frizzy red hair. she wore a maroon t-shirt and ratty jeans decorated with marker drawings. when she turned, he caught a glimpse of her face, and the hairs on his arms stood straight up. he noticed how isabella's face changed; her sweet smile was replaced by an awkward grin.