When It Fades To Black: Percabeth AU

Alright

(All story line rights go to ChasingFreedoms)

Percy POV

I walked into my new school, hating the fact I got kicked out of my last one. I punched a kid for knocking out a Freshman who'd had the audacity to brush shoulders with him in the hall. Apparently, defending people being kicked when they're down is discouraged.

I walked to my architecture class, not my first choice but my schedule was picked for me since I entered half way through the term. I sat next to a cute blonde with striking grey eyes. She completely ignored me and seemed to know every answer the teacher asked. Thirty kids in the class and I sat next to freaking Hermione Granger. She made me feel like a blundering idiot, but she was really cute. Like super pretty. Just wow. She kept grimacing though, and rubbing her left ankle. 

I raised my eyebrow when the bell rang and she got up and gritted her teeth. I watched for another moment as she limped slightly but was obviously trying to hide it. I wondered why and thought about asking, but instead said, "Hi. I'm Percy." She smiled a bit and my heart stopped. She was so gorgeous.

I almost missed when she said, "I'm Annabeth."

I was about to say something else when she stumbled a bit and emitted a small cry. "Are you alright?" I asked my concern growing.

Annabeth POV

"Are you alright?" Percy asks. When was the last time anyone cared enough to say that. The last time someone looked past the smiling mask and the makeup that hides my bruises. I can't remember. I don't know. I must have looked as taken aback as I felt because the dark haired boy raised an eyebrow, even though the concern in his eyes was very real.

I choked the tears back and ran, quite painfully, to gym. Great news, Percy was this class too! Argh. How awful did my life have to get? I screamed in my head, since we are apparently running laps and then playing dodgeball. Normally, I'd love this, but today I couldn't do this. I told the coach I didn't feel well, but she waved me off and said, "Unless you're throwing up, Annabeth, participate. You know my rules and I'm not making exceptions, even for my favorite student." 

I grunted, lagging behind Jason, a close friend of Piper and me. I hated this, because usually I'd be kicking Jason's ass, pardon my French. He was fit, but I was fast, and muscular. Not to mention I was used to running from my dad. Not that I tried anymore. 

Jason kept looking back at me in concern, as though he wanted me to beat him. But even this speed was painful. I'd had to take off my splint to put on my gym shoes and I'm pretty sure that as I ran my ankle was going the wrong way every time I landed. My brain started to form a wonderful idea. If I pretended to break my ankle now, I wouldn't have to fake heal for the next few months. No one would need to know about my dad, and no one would ask about my limp.

Unfortunately that meant I would have to land hard on my broken ankle and I knew it would hurt like hell but it was worth it. I psyched myself out for another half a lap and then BAM. My ankle hit the floor, bent inwards and I let out a small scream, before I cut it off. Come on Annabeth,I think, though it out. I breath out, in and out, in out. The pain fades some as I continue to breathe through my nose deeply. Then I begin to become aware of people grouped around me. Jason looks very concerned, but my eyes zero in on Percy. He asks the stupid question again. "Are you alright?" Then a pain bursts behind my eyes and the world goes dark.