You & I - A Nico diAngelo Love Story (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Chapter 1: Just A Regular Day... Kind Of

Vanessa

All I wanted this morning was to be in the music room, practicing my flute for music class, but no. I'm stuck sitting here in this stupid math class with the worst teacher ever; Ms. Callaghan. She's a bitter old lady that hates literally everyone. See, math is not my favourite subject at all. In fact, I don't even like it; I despise it. You know on Christmas morning when you get a gift you really really hate, but you need to pretend to love it for the sake of your parents? That's me in class every single day, and I only do it so that my participation mark doesn't completely flop, because if that goes, so does my honour roll. You know, it doesn't help that I have ADHD so that I can't stay focused or, like, read properly. Which is mainly why I chose music as my course, because I can read the sheets and really connect –

See, that's ADHD.

Ms. Callaghan's grey eyes bore into my skin. She probably noticed how quiet I was being, whereas other days I don't shut up. "Ms. Mayflower, you've been awfully quiet today."

Told you.

"Is everything alright? Or are you not answering because you're too busy texting on your phone?" She glared towards my lap, where my phone was resting in my hands. On the screen was my best friend Evie's contact name. "Hand the phone over. Now, Vanessa." Ms. Callaghan's glare was absolutely terrifying. It was like there was a demonic presence standing in that very room next to you.

And that's really saying something for a little, red headed eighty-something year old who didn't even own a T.V.

I stubbornly handed my phone over, but not before pressing the "Do Not Disturb" button, because frankly, I don't think she wants to see what Evie and I are saying. "Maybe next time," Ms. Callaghan began, "you'll pay attention... in fact, what's the answer to number five Vanessa? You seem have free time to be texting your friend, so why don't you take some of that time to answer the question?"

I chewed on the side of my mouth as the entire class stared at me. "I don't know the answer, Ms." I wasn't nervous or scared about sharing my opinion, that's not me. I'm loud and outgoing and hyperactive. I speak my mind and I'm not ashamed.

Ms. Callaghan rolled her eyes obnoxiously. This lady was rude as hell. I mean, what teacher rolls their eyes at their student? Last week, she threw a box at us because we were talking. Like, relax please. But seriously, this chick needs an attitude adjustment. "Just what I thought!" She carried on, "You see class, and this is what happens when you don't do your homework. You fail in class!" I groaned and looked at the rest of the room; clearly, none of them seemed amused. I raised my hand to at least be polite about something.

"What Vanessa?" Ms. Callaghan moaned.

I sat up in my seat and adjusted my ponytail "Well, technically, I did do my homework. And, I didn't fail, I just didn't answer the question. But, see, if you were to ask me what the answer to twelve is, I would be able to tell you 48." Ms. Callaghan stared at me yet again, and I shifted in my seat. Man, that woman made me uncomfortable.

"Listen up Vanessa," She pushed the anger out of the way for a second and replaced it with sass. "Sure, the answer to twelve is 48, but that back talking will not be tolerated here. Get out of my class!" Her voice grew louder with every word she spoke. No arguments necessary, I got up, swatted my phone out of her hands, left, and made my way towards my next period class; P.E.

While I sat on the bench outside the gym, I heard interchanging voices speaking around the corner. Both boys and girls, but the voices were unrecognisable to me. They didn't sound like anyone I had spoken to before. I left my bag and flute case on the bench and walking around the corner, my combat boots making a squishy sound on the floor because the janitors had just mopped.