In Between Two Worlds (HP/PJO Crossover)

Chapter 3: Three Old Ladies.

For the rest of the year, Percy and I were trying to convince everyone else that Mrs. Dodds had been our pre-algebra teacher before Christmas.

The only thing that kept me from believing that I was going insane was Grover. He was a horrible liar. Every time Percy or I would mention Mrs. Dodds, he would hesitate then act like he had never of her.

Honestly, I didn't even care anymore. Neither me or Percy were coming back to Yancy next year.

I was asked not to come back a week ago when I punched Nancy in the face for kicking out Grover's crutches from underneath him. And Percy got kicked out for calling our English teacher an old sot. I had no idea what it meant, but it sounded good.

Sure there were things I would miss about Yancy like Grover and Mr. Brunner's Latin class, but I was glad that I would finally get away from Nancy Bobofit and her constant bullying.

When I woke up the next morning, Percy was standing over me. I screamed in shock and fell off my bed. I got up and threw my pillow at his head while he was rolling on the floor laughing. After a few more minutes he finally calmed down and told me about the conversation that he had overheard between Grover and Mr. Brunner.

It was all about how Grover was worried about us and that he had mentioned something called the Kindly Ones, whatever that was. But the part that that worried me the most was the part where Mr. Brunner had said about keeping us alive until next fall.

<<>>|<<>>|<<>>

Right as I and Percy left our three hour Latin exam, Mr. Brunner called us over.

"Percy, Karlee, don't be upset about leaving Yancy. It's-it's for the best."

"Yes, sir." We mumbled.

"What I mean is...this isn't the right place for you two. It was...it was only a matter of time."

"Right." We said again.

"No, no, no, no. What I'm trying to say is...you're not normal, you two. That's-"

"Thanks" Percy blurted out. "Thanks a lot, sir, for reminding us!"

Percy took off down the hall, but I stayed back to talk to Mr. Brunner.

"You don't think we know that?" I started, drawing his attention away from the open door. "You don't think we know that we're not normal?! We are two kids with ADHD and Dyslexia! We have been kicked out of every single school in New York City! You don't think we thought that we're not normal when people call us crazy freaks behind our backs or when we mention Mrs. Dodds? A teacher we allegedly never had! If you think we don't know that, I'm sorry sir, but you. Are. A. Fool." I spat out. "Have a nice life Mr. Brunner! Congrats on the fact that you don't have to teach freaks anymore!" I turned on my heel and ran to the dorm that I shared with Percy and Grover, tears stinging my eyes.

<<>>|<<>>|<<>>

The next day I shoved all my clothes in my suitcase, ignoring the conversation the boys were having. I was dreading having to say goodbye to Percy and Grover. But as it turned out, the three of us were all on the same bus, heading to Manhattan.

Once the bus started moving, Grover got all weird and fidgety. After a while, me and Percy started to get aggravated with him. At one point I got so fed up that I snapped, "Looking for Kindly Ones?"

Grover jumped so high, his head almost touched the roof of the bus, and nervously denied, "Wha--what do you mean?"

After I finished laughing at how high pitched his voice was, Percy confessed to eavesdropping on his and Mr. Brunner's conversation.

Grover sighed and then asked, "How much did you hear?"

"Oh...not much." Replied Percy

"What's the summer solstice deadline though?" I asked

"I was just worried about you two..." Grover started ignoring my question "I mean, hallucinating about demon math teachers..."

"Grover--"

"And I was telling Mr. Brunner that maybe you were overstressed or something, because there was no such person as Mrs. Dodds, and..." "Grover, you're a really, really bad liar."

He sighed and pulled out two business cards. "Just take these, okay? In case you need me this summer."

I could hardly read it, but I think it said something like:

Grover Underwood

Keeper

Half-Blood Hill

Long Island, New York

(800)-009-0009

"What's Half-"

"Don't say it out loud!" Grover whisper shouted, "That's my, um...summer address."

"Okay," said Percy kinda sadly "So, like, if we want to come visit your mansion."

Grover nodded. "Or...or if you need me."

"Why would we need you?" Said Percy rather harshly.

I could see Grover blushing

"Look, Percy, Karlee, the truth is, I--I kind of have to protect you two."

We stared at him for a few seconds.

"Grover, what exactly are you protecting us from?"

There was a huge grinding sound coming from the bus engine. Black smoke poured from the dashboard and the whole bus filled with a smell like rotten eggs. The driver cursed and pulled over to the side of the highway.

After a few minutes of clanking around in the engine compartment, the bus driver announced that we all had to evacuate.

We got off and started to look around. Across the four lanes of traffic was an old-fashioned fruit stand with three old ladies who were knitting the biggest socks I had ever seen. They were the size of sweaters but they were shaped like socks. The lady on the right knitted one. The one on the left was knitting the other. The one in the middle was holding the enormous basket with electric blue yarn in it.

The weird thing was though that they seemed to be looking directly at Percy and I. The three old ladies distracted me so much I didn't even notice Grover and Percy talking until Grover started yelling my name, telling me to get on the bus and herded me and Percy on.

Then the old lady in the middle got out a pair of scissors and cut two pieces of yarn at once. I swear that I could hear the snip from across the four lanes of traffic. Then they started to ball up the yarn and socks, leaving me to wonder who the socks were meant for.

A few seconds later the bus roared back to life. Once we sat back down, the boys started to talk, while I fell asleep, wondering about my strange encounter.