Silence is Golden (Percy Jackson AU)

Chapter 4- Leo

(Next day)

There were some days in which Leo was ready to start running and never look back. Some days when he was just ready to give up and hit the road. All alone again. Just him and Festus.

And then there were days when he was already out the door.

This was one of those days. He walked into his first period, and almost walked right back out.

"Not this time, Mr.Valdez." A strong hand landed on his shoulder, spinning him around, and lightly shoving him toward the desks.

The science classroom was always one of Leo's least favorite classes. He didn't quite know why. Though the words on the board wouldn't freak out a normal kid, SCINCE LAB TODAY made Leo's skin crawl.

He sat in the back corner the desk closest to the window, so he could look out while he avoided doing the assignment.

"Mr. Valdez, if you could please move to one of the desks set up with a buson burner, I would be delighted."

Leo could feel the rest of the classes eyes on him. He glanced at the door, it was only twenty steps...

Leo sighed picked up his bag and moved to the only open space, next to a thickly built Chinese guy. The guy next to frowned.

"Ok class, we're are going to attempt to create artificial snow, in relation to this wonderful holiday season. You're partners are the people seat directly next to you."

There were a series of groans and celebratory high-fives. Leo looked at the guy next to him warily.

"The directions are on the packet that was at your seats. Before you start mixing chemicals, let's review a quick demonstration on how to use the buson burner..."

"Frank."

Leo glanced at the guy next to him. "Huh?"

"Frank, Zhang, that's my name." He said. "I figured since we're partners we should probably know each other's names." He tried to put off a smile but it looked forced.

Leo looked at him and the paper in between them. "Heh, yeah."

The teacher went on talking about proper safety. Frank was looking at him expectantly.

"Sooo...?"

Leo glanced at him, "Soooo...What?"

"Your name?" Frank asked, "You do have one, right?"

"Leo." Leo said shortly. "Don't-"

"And now we're going to light it..." The teachers voice carried over what he was going to say. With a flick of his wrist a match was lit.

Leo choked over his words. Everything melted away. The flame grew.

"I'll be right back, Leo. Don't touch the matches."

"Leo, you okay?" Frank asked.

Leo nearly feel out of his chair. His breathing came out in short gasps. His heart rate seemed to jump dramatically.

"Mr. Valdez?"

Leo ran out the door. Out of the class. Away from the flame. He ran a hand through his curly hair. The memories tried to take over, but Leo forced them back.

I didn't mean to. It's not my fault.

Leo curled his hands into fists. He tried to believe it. That it hadn't been his fault. But the more he denied, the more he knew they were lies.

"Hey! Watch it!"

Leo didn't stop, until the hand grabbed his shoulder.

"Hey man, chill out." The boy had white blond hair, with eyes that would make girls swoon had they not incorporated a tiredness and recent puffiness from tears. "You're not the only one with tough life."

Leo looked at him and shook his head. He snorted, "Whatever Hell you think you're living in, mine is ten times worse, buddy."

The boy threw him a sick smile, "Yeah sure." Leo looked at him again. He'd probably had been crying over a girlfriend again, maybe his dad yelled at him, he got his phone taken away at the worse. Leo couldn't do this. Not school. No one would understand.

One week. One week and he was gone. He'd arrive in Canada in time for Christmas. He'd call the Stolls again. Then he and Festus would head out again.

His hands found its way to his pocket. He pulled out the small hand-carved Dragon. It was half burned, a dark charcoal rubbing on the one side. The bottom was inscribed, Hephaestus, half the word burned off to make Festus.

His last good memory before the Fire. When his mom would spend hours with him in her workshop creating beautiful works, fiddling with circuits, sometimes mechanical works with cars, teaching him everything she knew.

The blond guy checked his watch, muttering "I'm late" and something about a car.

"What's wrong with your car?" The words tumbled from Leo's mouth before he could stop them. An ache echoed in his chest.

"It won't start." The boy said, "Know any cheap mechanics nearby?"

Leo put Festus back in his pocket, he turned away, his chest hurt. He could clearly see his mother's face in his mind her brilliantly lit up eyes, her wide genuine smile when he fixed his first engine.

"No." Leo lied, "I don't know any mechanics." He walked down the hall and didn't look back.