Lockets

IV Percy

CHAPTER FOUR
Percy POV (age 13 - grade 7)
Brriinnggg!!! Finally! Schools over! I can't wait to get away from here!
I stuff all my notebooks, pens, and pencils in my blue backpack. And sprinted to the door like the rest of the kids trying to escape Miss Dodds, our pre-Algebra teacher, from giving us a lecture on how we need to keep doing math over the summer to do well in Algebra. Thank the Greek gods I don't have her next year!
If I had another year with Miss Dodds, I don't know what I would do with my life!
"Yo! Perce! Wait up!" yelled my longtime friend, Grover Underwood.
I turn and see my crippled friend, okay I wouldn't say crippled but he has a muscle defect or something, Grover making his way over to me with his crutches. As usual, he's is wearing a green "Save The Earth" t-shirt, cargo pants, and baseball hat.

"What's up? Hey, are you still planning to come over before we leave for camp?"
"Yeah. I just have to finish packing."
"Cool. I'll see you later G-man."

I turn and walk down the street from my school, Yancy Academy, to the subway station to take me to the apartment. I see some of my classmates and some older kids also getting out of school for summer on the subway. I put my earbuds in, pull up my hoody, make sure my bag is zipped, before sliding my pass to get on.
You know, what's the difference between the subway, monorail, and trains? I mean, they all look the same, well almost the same, one might be more dirty then the rest.
I almost fall forward when the subway lurches to a stop. Don't worry, I didn't fall thank you for asking. I caught myself on one of the hand poles. I walk off onto the plate form and follow the crowd waking up the stairs.
I walked along the streets with my earbuds in, nodding my head to the beat of Coldplay, Viva la Vida. (A\N: Amazing song! I don't own.)

Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
Now the old King is dead, long live the King
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I walked up the stairs to my apartment pulling out my earbuds and turning off my music.
"Mom! I'm home!"

I received no answer. Mhm... Probably working at the candy store. Sweet! That means candy when she gets here. She does not need to work other than on her books, but she said all the people give her inspiration.
I dragged my stuff to my room and threw everything in a corner. I'll get to it later. Maybe. Probably. Most likely not. Not. I face planted in my blue bedspread. Turning over after realizing, I could not breath if my face was pressed up against the bed.
I feel the coolness of my locket and the pull from it being next to my head. I flip back over onto my stomach and started to play with it. Opening it to the beautiful inscription of the name "Annabeth".
*sigh* I wonder what she would be like. If she was older or younger? Does she have brown hair or blonde? Or would she have red? Does she have friends that love her? Siblings? Will she like me? Would she want to live here? Or would she want me to move to her?
Whenever I look at my locket. I keep thinking about these types of questions.
I hear the rattle of keys in the door. Sitting up. I get off my bed to go greet my mom at the door.

"Percy! I thought you would not be home till later tonight. I was going to make some blue pizza before you got home for a surprise."
"Thanks mom. Sorry to ruin your surprise."
"Well, it's alright I guess. But as punishment for ruining your surprise, you have to help put the groceries away."

Chuckling, I grabbed the bag of groceries from her and walked into the kitchen to put everything away.
As I'm putting everything away, mom walks in and sits at the table.

"So, how was school."
"It was alright."
"How is Grover? Will he come over here before camp?"
"He is good, and yeah, he will come over."

I close the refrigerator and lean against the countertop with my ankles and arms crossed. I take a good look at her. I see new smile lines. Must mean she is happy.

"How is Paul?"
"He is fine. He is coming over for dinner tonight. Is that alright?"
"Of course."
*Sally sighs* "Well, go and unpack because I know you didn't do that yet."
"You know me so well," I say with a cheeky grin.
I kiss my mom on the cheek and walk out into my bedroom to unpack.

Line Breaker - After Paul Leaves

I'm still sitting on the couch when my mom comes back down, sitting next to me. "How do you like Paul?"
"I think he is cool. He makes you happy."
"He does. He really does... So I was thinking of asking Paul to move in. But I want to know your opinion first?"
"Sure. I mean. He will keep you company when I'm at camp and stuff."
"Mhm...Any objections?"
"None."
"Okay, good night Percy. Love you," she gets up and kisses my forehead and then turns her cheek to allow me to kiss her goodnight. "And promising not to stay up too late", she tells me as she heads off to bed.

Turning my attention back to the T.V. I blank out and think.

Line Breaker - One Week Later

I'm packing for camp. It's a camp for kids with Dyslexia and ADHD. We do all the traditional camp things like, bonfires, kanewing, and craft time. But what makes this camp so different, other than the fact we're all hyperactive kids, we have horses and a combat area. People think that combat will help us learn disapen and help us focus to not be overly ADHD sometimes.
Our director, Chiron Brunner, is in a wheelchair due to a car crash. That was not his fault. He owns a combat company, where people can take lessons, learn self defense, and compete in competitions. He owns two buildings, one in Manhattan and another in San Francisco. He does not own the camp, Mr. D does. He is never around. He lets Mr. B handle everything. The camp is just another income to spend on drinks.
I finished packing my camp bag. I'll be gone for a week and then come back for a weekend, go for a week, etc. etc.

*doorbell* "Percy! Grover's here!"
"K. I'm in my room."
"You ready Perce?"
"Yeah, I can't wait to see everyone again."
"Me too. Let's go."
"I'll be in the car waiting!"
"We will be right there mom!"

Grabbing my bag. I walked out of our apartment, off to camp.