Forever young

ANNABETHS POV

monday
(august 24)

Annabeth Meets Piper and Thalia at Goode High School

It was the first day of high school, and Annabeth Chase was trying to act normal. She pulled on her blue plaid skirt and tucked in her white button-down shirt, adjusting her backpack for the hundredth time. Her mother, Athena, had insisted she go to Goode High School for a while—a "normal" school, to experience what it was like to be like everyone else. Annabeth wasn't sure she could ever be normal. After all, her life had been filled with monsters, prophecies, and magical labyrinths. But she tried to push those thoughts aside and focus on what was in front of her.

A regular high school day. No monsters. No gods. Just... regular students.

As Annabeth walked through the halls of Goode High, she could feel a buzz of nervous energy in the air. The school felt large, almost too large for her liking, and the halls were filled with students rushing to find their friends, chatting in small groups. She was just trying to blend in when she overheard a conversation that caught her attention.

"I'm telling you, I don't trust the math teacher. There's something off about her," a voice said.

Annabeth looked up to see two girls standing near a locker, clearly talking animatedly. The one with dark, spiky hair was leaning against the locker, arms crossed. She had a no-nonsense look about her. The other girl, with long brown hair, was rolling her eyes but grinning, clearly enjoying the conversation.

Annabeth hesitated but then, deciding it wouldn't hurt to introduce herself, walked up to them. "Hi," she said, a little awkwardly, though her voice came out with more confidence than she expected. "I'm Annabeth. I'm new here."

The girl with the spiky hair raised an eyebrow. "You're new? So you're not just another one of those weirdos who already knows everyone?"

The other girl laughed, nudging her. "Thalia, don't be rude." She turned to Annabeth, offering a warm smile. "I'm Piper. This is Thalia."

Annabeth smiled, trying to ease the tension. "Nice to meet you both."

Thalia, the girl with spiky hair, shrugged, clearly sizing Annabeth up. "So, you're the new kid, huh? How's that going for you? Did you already figure out the maze of lockers and hallways?" Her tone was a little sharp, but it wasn't unfriendly.

Annabeth laughed lightly, trying to keep the mood light. "Not exactly. This place is like a maze, for sure. I'm still trying to figure out where everything is."

Piper grinned. "Don't worry. It took me a week to find my first class without getting lost. If you need directions, I'm your girl."

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Piper's the expert on everything, apparently."

"Hey! I've got a sense of direction, okay?" Piper shot back with a grin, nudging Thalia playfully.

Annabeth couldn't help but smile at the way they interacted. There was something about them—something different. They didn't seem to fit into the typical high school mold. Thalia had that tough, rebellious energy about her, and Piper... well, Piper was the kind of person who seemed to light up a room without even trying.

"I'm still trying to figure out how to survive math class," Annabeth admitted, more to herself than to anyone else. "I'm not exactly the best at that kind of thing."

"Oh, math," Thalia groaned. "Don't even get me started. If you need help, I can tutor you, but you'll probably want to avoid me for a while."

Annabeth laughed. "You don't like math?"

"I don't hate it," Thalia replied, her arms still crossed. "But I'd rather be doing literally anything else. If you're looking for someone who's actually good at math, Piper's your girl."

Piper raised her hand. "Guilty. I actually like math. Well, I don't love it, but it's not terrible. I can help you out, Annabeth, if you ever need it."

Annabeth felt a sense of relief. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad here. She could make new friends, and maybe, just maybe, high school wouldn't be as terrible as she'd imagined.

The bell rang, signaling the start of the first class, and the students began to scatter in all directions. Piper grabbed her backpack, slinging it over her shoulder. "Come on, Annabeth," she said. "I'll show you to your first class. Thalia will probably be fine without us for now. She'll manage to survive until lunch."

Thalia rolled her eyes but didn't protest. "Whatever. I'll catch up with you later."

As Annabeth walked beside Piper through the crowded hallways, she couldn't help but notice how easily Piper fit in. She seemed to glide through the crowd, chatting with people as if she'd known them her entire life. Thalia wasn't quite as smooth, but she had a certain raw energy about her that made people step aside. The contrast between the two of them was striking, yet they clearly worked together, balancing each other out.

"So, what's your deal, Annabeth?" Piper asked, looking over at her as they walked. "Where'd you come from?"

"Just moved here," Annabeth answered, trying to keep it vague. She wasn't sure how much she should share with people she barely knew. "My family decided it was time for a change. You know how it is."

Piper nodded knowingly. "I get it. My family moves around a lot, too. But I guess that's the fun of it. You get to meet new people every time."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "I don't know if I'd call it fun."

"Well, maybe not fun, but it's definitely an adventure," Piper said with a wink.

They arrived at Annabeth's first class, and Piper stopped at the door. "Here you go. I'll catch you at lunch, okay?"

Annabeth nodded. "Thanks, Piper. I'll see you then."

As Annabeth stepped into the classroom, she glanced back and saw Thalia and Piper standing just outside, talking, laughing, and already making plans to meet up later. It struck Annabeth that maybe this high school thing wouldn't be as bad as she thought. With people like Piper and Thalia—confident, loyal, and a little bit wild—she might just make it through the day.

And maybe even enjoy it.

this is bad but also percy will be coming in the next chapter so i hope you enjoy make sure to follow + vote

love you all💙