Arrows

How to get Rejected

I rolled out of bed. No seriously, I full on rolled and thumped on the floor.

It hurt my head.

I groaned and crawled to the sink. Why the hell did I have to wake up so early? I thought to myself. Of course, I knew the answer. Today was the day I had to be at Thalia's Pine at 6:00, in order to start Athena's quest. For her permission to marry a certain daughter of hers. I mean, I know she's harsh, but what kind of monster makes people wake up at 5:30?

Finally, after an eternity of dragging myself along the floor, I reached the sink. And realised my mistake. I still had to actually move my legs to get to the tap. I groaned and stood up.

And immediately face-planted into the sink.

Not so gracefully, I fumbled for the tap, and twisted it. It released a slow stream of water, and I stayed like that for a while, before forcing myself to move. Eugh.

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I finally reached the border of Camp Half-Blood, just as it turned six. Athena was there waiting for me, obviously, and she raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"I was beginning to think you wimped out."

I rolled my eyes. "No you didn't."

Her smirk grew wider. "You're lucky I've grown on you. Otherwise I would've blasted you."

It was my turn to smile. "Of course you've grown on me. Who wouldn't? But saying that, if you've grown to, err, like me, why do I have to do this quest?" I  asked, my voice turning a bit hopeful at the end. Of course though, I was wrong.

She grinned mischievously. Yes I know, the cold hard goddess of wisdom actually has a sense of humour. A twisted one, one that liked to make people get up at half five in the morning, but a sense of humour nonetheless.

"Where would be the fun in that though?" She started, grinning even wider than before. "I know you can complete this one. It's not even life-threatening."

I stared at her surprised.

"I know right! All you have to do is get into Harvard!"

My face dropped. Dramatically. Like... happy then poof! Sad face time!

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I slammed the last book shut. Phew. I had gotten through all the books Athena so generously sent me. I had been practically non-stop studying for three-quarters of a year, I hadn't been able to see Annabeth much lately, but it would be worth it when I got to propose. My mom had already agreed, and, hopefully, I had enough for Harvard. Marine Biology had been a good starter, but you still had to be super-smart to get in. 

"Athena? Am I done now?" I asked at the roof.

She flashed in and did one of her 'knowledge scan' things, before a grin spread across her face.

"I'm impressed." She started, "I'm sure you'll get into Harvard now. You have my permission to propose to my daughter."

I jumped up giddy with excitement. "Mum! I got permission!" I shouted.

My mom ran up to me and hugged me. "That's great!" She then turned to Athena. "Thank you."

Athena smiled at us. "No problem. I'm sure he won't let me down."

"I won't!" I assured them, and gave my mom a last hug. "Bye!"

With that, I rushed out the door, brushing past some of Paul's papers in the process, fully prepared to run the 50 miles to Camp Half-Blood. I heard a loud sigh upstairs, and I was flashed to the border, still running, and crashed into a camper.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" He shouted at me, sneering like he owned the place, but I didn't really care.

"Sorry!" I shouted and got up to run to my cabin again. I burst through the door and hurried to my wardrobe, getting out my best (and only) suit. I put it on and freshened up, before going to the Athena cabin. I knocked on the door, to see only 3 Athena campers there.

"Hey, does anyone know where Annabeth is?" I asked, smoothing out some creases in my suit. Gotta look good if I was going to propose.

Malcolm answered with a roll of her eyes. "I think she's at the 'speech'."

"What speech?" I asked, incredulously.

Another camper answered, Gabrielle I think. "In the amphitheatre."

I shrugged and strolled towards said place. On the stage, I saw the arrogant kid from earlier, speaking like he owned everything. I looked for Annabeth, pushing through the crowd and getting dirty looks for some reason. 

As I was looking, the 'speech' ended, and I finally saw Annabeth.

"Hey!" I said catching up to her and tapping her on the shoulder.

She looked at me then slapped me in the face. "How could you!?" She screamed.

"What was that for?" I asked, completely oblivious to the reason she was angry at me.

"You know what!" She shoved me over, and I landed at the feet of the one and only... Leo Valdez.

He helped me up, and dragged me to the forest, into Bunker 9. It had been done up, and at the moment seemed to be housing: most of the Hermes, Apollo, and Hephaestus cabins, Nico, Clarisse and a few of her siblings, Katie and a few other Demeter campers, the three Athena campers I saw earlier, Jason and Piper.

"Why's everyone here?" I asked. I was confused as hell.

Conner Stoll sighed. "Well after you, err, took leave, a son of Nike came. His name was Jacob Garland."

Will continued after this. "Well, you know how the Nike campers are. They normally want to be the best at everything."

I nodded. Before this Jacob kid came, we only had two other Nike kids here. They were practically always training to try and be the best.

Nico grabbed Will's hand. "Well, he tried to cheat his way to the top." Will started.

Nico cut in. "And he did. He spread lies about you, and people believed him."

"We didn't though!" Travis piped in. I smiled a bit, but I could guess where this was going, my mood was rapidly dropping.

"So the brat made himself all superior. Everyone other than us was smitten over him." Clarisse said, sneering. "Even Annabeth."

"So he told everyone you cheated on her." Said an older voice sadly. I turned around to see Chiron standing there, with a grave face.

"And those traitorous bastards believed him." Katie spat out.

I looked around. No-one was shouting, 'Ha! Get PRANKED!'. I could feel tears stream across my face, as I stood there, rigid and unmoving. I remembered every moment with Annabeth, from the underwater kiss, getting caught sleeping in the stables, to falling into Tartarus for her, finding out we won the war together. I broke down and full out sobbed, all the pain I've ever been through into those tears that were rushing out of my face.

Leo POV

I watched as Percy fell on the ground and sobbed. The sound was pure, emotional pain, the kind that reminded me of my mother dying, the orphanage, everything bad about life. I saw Piper shakily walk over to him and whisper something in his ear. The sobs stopped, and Percy fell off to sleep. I looked at the quivering body, and I couldn't even crack a joke. I couldn't begin to imagine how I would feel if Calypso ditched me.

I walked over and tried to pick him up, but he weighed like a tonne.

"Hey Jason, a little help here?" He nodded and freaking levitated Percy onto one of the spare beds.

I whistled. I'd love to be able to do that. It'd be handy when I couldn't reach the remote.

I did it! 1250 words! What do ya think? If you don't already, this is a story on Percy Jackson being Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye. I've seen a few Iron Man stories like this, but other than that I think that this is quite original so... R&R