Mortals Meet Percabeth and others

Marcus Jefferson

3rd P.O.V.

Marcus smiled at Annabeth, blushing when she smiled back at him. "Alright, Marcus, what do you think would be the best way to work out this one?" She pointed to the last question in the packet, which was much simpler than the others.

Marcus answered back, "It would be easier for me if I could add these together," he points to the smaller numbers, "and then multiply the small numbers, then work from there." It went just like he said, eventually they finished it and Annabeth checked over his answer. The smile she gave him when it was correct was blinding, her eyes sparkling with pride.

"Great job, Marcus, you have gotten much better from when I first started tutoring you!" She praised him, stormy eyes betraying her joy. "Thanks, Annabeth." He told her, shyly smiling at her, ocean blue eyes watching her every move. "So, are you going to go to prom?" Annabeth asked him, putting her books away into her bag. "Yes, it's prom. Even if I didn't go to homecoming, I have to go to this. Are you?"

Annabeth nodded, a few of her honey gold hair slipping over her shoulder and falling in front of her face. "Do you want to go with me?" He mumbled, but her sensitive ears caught the words anyway. "I'm sorry, but someone has already asked me, Marc." She apologized, the use of his nickname washing away most of his disappointment.

"That's great!" He faked the enthusiasm for her sake. His phone went off, the tune blasting annoyingly loud. "Sorry, that's my cue to leave." He stood, giving her a hand to pull herself up with. She took it, her calloused hand rubbing roughly against his soft one. "Bye, Annabeth!" He jogged down the street to his house, leaving Annabeth standing in the park. "Bye, Marc!" She shouted, waving at his retreating back.

Marcus ran home, dropping his stuff onto his bed and fell on it. His heart hurt, and his stomach was lurching enough to make him puke. "God! I'm such an idiot!" Marcus covered his eyes with his arm, hot tears leaking out of his closed eyes. "Of course she doesn't want to go with a loser like me!" He clamped a hand on his mouth before the sobs could leave past his lips, muffling them so his mother wouldn't hear him in the kitchen.

Marcus and Annabeth had been best friends since freshman year, he had helped her after the popular kids had bumped into her. After that, they found out they had the same interests and the same classes. Their bond was solidified, always by the other's side for anything. She always went away for summer, away to some camp that he couldn't go to. The requirements were you had to have ADHD, dyslexia, and had only one parent, or a step-parent. She always sent him letters, telling him that phones and anything tech wasn't allowed.

He met most of the requirements, he was ADHD and his mother had left him and his father when he was a few months old. Annabeth said that she'd talk to the director, but came back saying that he couldn't attend.

Now, his tears were all spent, eyes puffy and nose runny. He got up, walking to the bathroom connected to his room, and washed his face. He looked in the mirror, the usual dark bags under his eyes still there and dull eyes watching his every move, every breath. "Come on, Marcus, Annabeth wouldn't want you to be crying like this over her. No, she'd yell at me to quit being a baby." He chuckled, wiping his nose with a tissue. That was true, she wasn't the cuddly and affectionate type.

Marcus walked back into his room, directing his feet to the open closet. Hanging against the door was a black tux, it had cost one year of tips and checks that he had saved up from work as a waiter. It was completely black, black shirt, tie, pants, socks, and shiny black shoes. He looked at the clock, prom started in half an hour. He had spent almost a whole hour crying, wow.

This is it he thought either I spend prom sobbing in my room, or I go to the dance and try to enjoy myself. He made up his mind, grabbing his tux and changing. Once he had it on, he brushed his hair so that it was soft, fixed his tie to perfection, and sprayed some cologne on him. He grabbed his keys, running out and jumping into his dark blue car, wincing as it roared loudly to life.