THE NEW KID

n i n e

It wasn't easy to recover from a fire, mentally and physically. And Annabeth knew.

Honestly, the physical part was easier. Once Annabeth had woken up, she had felt a lot better. They cleaned her up, but before they did, she had seen herself in the mirror. Parts of her eyebrows were gone. A patch of her hair had been cut off. She had red welts and cracks all over her skin. Afterwards, she had looked cleaner, but hair was still missing, she was still red and cracked, and her eyes were broken.

Annabeth's entire right side was shut down. She couldn't hear out of her right ear, and the doctors said it was lifelong. Hearing aids wouldn't help. But her right arm had been fixed through surgery, and her right leg was in a cast. She would need crutches.

She wished her mental health was easier.
The two weeks Annabeth stayed at the hospital, she had nightmares. Every single night. She would think of fire. Burning, raging all around her. She saw her parents, her brothers, her friends, Percy, dying all around her. Most nights she woke up screaming.

Percy was always there to hold her hand.
Percy, who would stay with her when she was getting blood tested or a shot. Percy, who stayed with her as the IV poked into her skin. Percy, who hugged her and kissed her forehead (she didn't mind) as she tossed and turned and writhed in the night.

Percy.

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Two weeks later, Annabeth was almost completely healed. The scars on her skin were barely visible. Her right arm was weak, but her right leg was in a cast. Only her right ear was unhealed. Hearing aids were useless. She was grateful that she only lost one ear, and her crutches would help her get to classes and get around.

When she left, the bright sunlight shone on her face. Annabeth remembered the fires burning around her, and she wobbled on her crutches. "Woah there." Percy right next to her. He pulled her arm around his shoulders to help support her. Annabeth sighed as they staggered up to the school. She wasn't this weak! She was strong, too strong to do this. But even the doctors had said. For anyone, the road to mental recovery would be a long, hard, journey.

"Okay, let's get to our lockers." Percy said, giving Annabeth a reassuring smile. She was nervous anyway as everyone stared at her in the halls, then quickly glanced away when they thought she was looking. She appreciated the effort to not be rude, but it still hurt. And it was weird, since she usually had nobody pay attention to her.

Percy was carrying Annabeth's backpack. He did Annabeth's combination, got her books, and held them. "Hold on while I get my books out," Percy said, frowning in concentration as he did his combination and got his things.

The rest of the day passed by like that. Annabeth had done homework while in the hospital, which thankfully Percy had been bringing to her. Thalia, Piper and Jason had also visited her in the hospital, and they talked during lunch, at first about the incident, then about what Annabeth missed, which she was grateful for. She didn't need any more reminding over what happened.

After the end of the day, Annabeth realized that she couldn't walk home with the crutches. "Um...Percy?" Annabeth said as they walked out to the parking lot. "Yeah? What happened?" He said, worriedly. "Uh...could you drop me home? I can't exactly walk with these," she said, shaking her crutches at him. Percy smiled. "Of course, Wise Girl. We've already got it planned out."

Annabeth was confused, but she understood soon enough. Once they had reached Percy's car, Thalia, Piper and Jason had come. "Surprise!" Piper said. "We're here to help you home," Thalia grinned. Annabeth's eyes got wide. "Wow, thanks. You guys are the best friends ever." She hugged them.

"Okay, Annabeth, I'm going to pick you up bridal style and put you in the passenger seat, okay?" Percy said. Annabeth smirked. "Was that your idea, Seaweed Brain?" Percy's face turned red. "Um-"
"It was his idea," Thalia finished. "Now, Annabeth, let him pick you up."
Annabeth felt her face heating up as her friends snickered. She looked at Percy, who was also blushing as he picked her up and brought her to the passenger seat. Jason opened the door and Percy put her on the chair. Piper and Thalia put the crutches into the backseat. He was about to put the seatbelt for her when Annabeth did it herself. "Come on, Percy. I'm not THAT helpless," Annabeth smirked.

Percy frowned. "Well- I mean..." Annabeth laughed. "This is never getting old. It's fine, Seaweed brain."

"I'm never getting out of this," Percy fake groaned. He climbed into the driver's seat and started the car. "Wait!" Thalia said, before the car left. "Percy, don't forget to tell her about the party!"

"Okay," Percy said as they sped off. On the way, Annabeth asked, "Perce, what party are they talking about?" Percy shrugged. "Well, we decided to have a party at my apartment since it's Friday and you finally came back to school, and that you're okay. It's not really a party, we're just hanging out." Annabeth nodded. "Count me in."

On the way home, singing in harmony, they had no idea that they might have something come in between them.