WARRIOR

I Get Gaslighted Until the End of School

As the days passed, it seemed less likely that the school was playing a prank on Percy and I. Every time Percy and I sprung a Mrs. Dodds reference on someone, they would stare at us like we were crazy. At least going crazy with Percy was better than going crazy by myself. 

I knew Grover was lying about Mrs. Dodds because every time Percy or I mention the name Dodds, he would flinch, hesitate, then claim that she didn't exist. Grover was a really bad liar. 

Percy started having to have nightmares about the events that happened at the field trip and started to become crankier and more irritable than usual. I tried to be positive, saying that summer was coming soon and that he would see his mom again, but I think he saw through my facade. To be fair, I was having nightmares of Mrs. Dodds too and was putting foundation under my eyes to cover the light bags. Percy's grades started falling and I had to help him study and with homework. When our English teacher, Mr. Nicoll asked Percy why he was too lazy to study for spelling tests for what seemed like the millionth time, Percy snapped and called him an old sot. 

That following week, Percy told me that he was not returning the following year. I felt kinda hurt when he said he didn't care that he would not be returning to Yancy, since there was a chance that I would be still be here the next year. I was sad, Percy was one of my only friends I ever made. 

"You have to take care of Grover for me when I'm gone this year." Percy said to me while we were studying in his dorm room for the Latin final. Was I supposed to be in his room late at night? Not for a normal student, but being the headmaster's niece had its perks. 

"I will, but it's kinda unlikely I'll be here next year. My grandma might convince my mom to send me to a boarding school in Korea." I said. 

Percy laughed. It felt nice, he hadn't laughed in a long time. "Korea?" 

"Hey, Korea is strict and my grandma thinks that Korea has a good education system." I said, looking up from my Cambridge Guide to Greek Mythology. 

"Where do you live?" Percy blurted out. 

I stared at me, blankly. "Percy, you do realize that your mom and my mom have been best friends since high school. How did you forget where we live?" 

"Well, didn't you guys moved like...four years ago?" Percy said. 

I laughed. "We live in that fancy apartment area that's near the candy shop were your mom works." 

"Oh right. So, is your mom writing any new books?" Percy asked, his eyes hopeful. 

You see, my mom is an author and even though Percy is dyslexic, he loves my mom's books. She sometimes writes retellings of fairy tales and Greek mythology. 

"Yeah. She's working on a book, but I can't give you any further details. I don't want to spoil it." I said. 

"That's cool. Hey! We can hang out this summer! We can go to the comic book store, the ice cream shop, the-" 

"Oh! We can go to the Lana del Ray and Arctic Monkeys concert with Drew!" I said excitedly. 

"Uhhh...we'll see." Percy said as I started playing with my necklaces. 

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

We went back to studying. I was drawing circles around the moon birthmark on my wrist while I was trying to memorize the main events of the Trojan War. I was interrupted when Percy threw his book across the room. 

"No more studying!" Percy said, throwing his head onto his pillow. 

"You have to. Or you're going to fail your exam." I said, looking up from book. I looked under his bed and found two Twix bars. I tossed him one. "Here. This will make you feel better." He raised his head from his pillow, unwrapped the bar, and took a bite. "Feel better?" I said, taking a bite out of my own Twix. He nodded. 

"We should go see Mr. Brunner. Maybe he can give me a few pointers or something." Percy said about five minutes later. 

I hesitated. "Uhhh....you can go. I'll stay here." 

"Nope." And Percy grabbed his book and grabbed my arm, leading my towards the door. 

I sighed. "Fine, I'll go. But if things get weird again, I'm out." 

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

We reached Mr. Brunner's office and found the door slightly ajar and voices coming from inside, stopping us from entering. A voice that was definitely Grover said "...worried about Percy and Ophelia, sir."

I froze and gave Percy a signal to be quiet. I leaned closer to the door.

"...alone this summer," Grover was saying. "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 them," Mr. Brunner said. "We need the boy and girl to mature more."

"But they may not have time. The summer solstice deadline. Ophelia, sir-" 

"Will have to be resolved without them, Grover. Let them enjoy their ignorance while they still can." 

"Sir, they saw her...." 

"Their imagination," Mr. Brunner insisted. "The Mist over the students and the staff will be enough to convince them of that." 

""Sir, I...I can't fail in my duties again." Grover's voice was choked with emotion. "You know what that would mean."

"You haven't failed, Grover," Mr. Brunner assured kindly. "I should have seen her for what she was. Now let's just worry about keeping Percy and Irene alive next fall-"

Thud!

I turned around. Percy's greek mythology book was on the floor. I mouthed what the "quack?!" and Percy mouthed back "sorry!".

Mr. Brunner went silent. I picked up the book and signaled to Percy to go back. I saw a shadow slid across the lighted glass of Mr. Brunner's office door. It was much taller than the wheelchair-bound teacher, who was holding something that looked like a bow and arrow. Percy opened the nearest door and dragged me inside. 

Percy clasped a hand to my mouth before I could say anything. My heart was racing when I heard slow clop-clop-clop and a sound like an animal snuffling outside the door. A large, dark shape paused in front of the glass, then moved on. 

"Nothing," Mr. Brunner murmured. "My nerves haven't been right since the winter solstice." 

"Mine neither," Grover said. "But I could have sworn..." 

"Go back to the dorm," Mr. Brunner told Grover. "You've got a long day of exams tomorrow." 

"Don't remind me." And the lights went out in Mr. Brunner's office. 

We waited in the dark for what seemed like forever. I gave a large sigh of relief. 

"That was close." I said, my voice muffled against Percy's hand. Percy let his hand fall from his side. 

"Sorry." he said. 

"It's okay." 

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

Percy walked me to my dorm room. It was silent, both of us were trying to process what just happened. "What did they mean by us maturing more?" I finally asked when we arrived at my dorm room. 

Percy shrugged. "I don't know. But all I know is that I don't want to die." 

"Me neither. I still want to be able to embarrass you on your wedding day." 

Percy looked at me blankly for one minute and then began to laugh. I began to laugh too. I was happy I made Percy laugh. 

"Well, good night, Perce." 

"Good night, Phelia."