Don't Fall (PJO FF)

6.) The Kids Aren't Alright

C H A P T E R  S I X

PERCY

I woke up with excruciating pain in my head. My throat felt dry and overall just hurt. I groan as I roll over in my bed and stand up. My vision gets blurry and I stumble a bit before leaning on the wall and taking deep breaths.

Once I can see clearly again I slowly walk into the bathroom and take a short shower and silently hope it will help my headache.

I step out of the shower and get dressed and walked out of my cabin. I look down as the bright light from the sun glares in my eyes and walk to the pavilion. Sometimes I really do feel like Apollo is trying to kill me with the blazing sun. I don't remember doing anything to offend the god so maybe it's just the summer heat?

"Percy you look like crap," Frank says as he stares at me. I look up to see the rest of the pack staring at me. Thanks, Frank. Cue an internal sigh, please. But that also leaves the question: when the Tartarus did they get here?

"He's right. You look sick, dude."

"Wow, I feel so good about myself," I grumble.

"Percy, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." I look each of them in the eye after seeing the disbelief shining in their eyes.

"Nico noticed that you've been avoiding him." I should have known. I know the kid isn't stupid but I at least hoped he wouldn't notice my obvious way of avoiding him.

I look at Hazel. "I haven't exactly been hiding it. He goes one way, I go the other." Hazel sighs.

"Can't you guys have a conversation before you start trying to avoid him like the plague?" I hesitate as I look at Hazel's puppy face. I sigh.

"Fine," I whisper. No one gets past Hazel's puppy eyes.

She smiles. "Thanks. Now, what's wrong? You look sickly."

"Oh you know, the usual," I say and look around the pavilion. The sun is being mean, my head hurts and I feel like absolute death. I, of course, wouldn't say this aloud.

"Umm, I found Nico," Leo says hesitantly and points towards the back, just outside of the pavilion. I frown and look behind me to see the son of Hades yelling at some guy. The camper swings an arm at him but Nico ducks and trips him in one fluid motion. Skills, dude, skills.

Another camper comes up behind him and grabs Nico's arms and pins them behind his back and the first camper puts his hand up again but I'm already running over there and catch his arm mere inches before he hits Nico's face.

I glare at him as I hold his fist and twist it, letting him let out a yell in pain. I turn around quickly and the person behind Nico raises his arms in surrender.

"Touch him again and I'll rip off your arm," I growl and he nods. He stumbles away and pain flares up through my arm. I turn around to see the other camper pressing his nails into my arm.

I punch him with my free hand and he raises his own fist. I block it with my arm and grab his arm. I push him away and see that Hazel brought Nico to the table. I glare at him one last time before I sit down at the table and they stare at me with wide eyes.