The Swap

Chapter 8: Blood in the Water

Percy POV (in Annabeth's body)

Living as Annabeth was not fun. I had absolutely no clue what was going on in all of her advanced classes. Furthermore, many teachers seemed disappointed in my lack of participation. 

I guess Annabeth usually speaks up in class. 

I felt just a little bit dumb. 

Eating lunch with Annabeth's friends was actually the highlight of my day. To be honest, they were very cool.

Even though I didn't talk much (in fear that I'd say something wrong), I liked listening to their friendly conversations. Leo, especially, was my kind of guy. 

Anyway, I was grateful by the end of the day. 

However, I still had to pick up Annabeth's half-brothers. Annabeth was very quick about answering that Helen wasn't her real mom. That immediately told me that they probably didn't get along. 

Her stupid blackberry didn't have GPS on it. 

So, I was simply walking along the road while following Annabeth's text directions towards the boys' elementary school. 

I probably looked like a lost puppy in Annabeth's body. Gods, I really hoped that she was doing fine at swimming. 

A gust of wind blew my blonde hair onto my face. 

I groaned out loud as I pulled my hair back again. I didn't have a hairband or rubber band to tie Annabeth's beautiful blonde hair back. 

Suddenly, I heard whistles and whoops.  

I turned to watch a few guys in a convertible driving by. The red car slowed as they passed me as a few more cat-calls followed. 

I couldn't help but glare at them. 

While Annabeth was a pretty girl, it wasn't nice getting cat-called. The convertible stopped next to me, but I kept walking. 

"Wow, look at you," a blonde teen guy commented slyly. 

I sort of recognized him from school. I think that he was on the football team. Octavian?? 

Whatever his name was, he immediately gave me bad vibes. I kept walking, but he quickly followed in step with me. His hand reached forward and wrapped around my (ie Annabeth's) waist.

Gods, eww. 

Not only was this wrong because a random guy was touching Annabeth (me) but it was also wrong because I was a straight male. 

I immediately pushed him away and threw a punch. 

However, the guy caught my arm. He was tall, so my punch went straight towards one of his arms. I had underestimated his height. 

Or, I forgot that I was shorter at the moment. 

"Woah, you're a feisty one," he commented. "No worries, I like 'em feisty."

"Get away from me, you bastard," I snapped. My right leg kicked his own legs, which effectively weakened his grip. 

I immediately slapped him across the face before running. 

It sucked that this was the society that we lived in. Women were supposed to be respected, and any guy that would treat them like possessions or sexual conquests was not worth it. Annabeth was beautiful, but that should never act as motivation for a guy's bad intentions. 

My step-dad was a bad man like that. 

"Oh, you bitch," the guy growled behind me. 

However, I had already turned the corner, and I was so glad to see Franklin Elementary School across the street. I quickly crossed the road in spite of the parents driving their cars out of the school parking lot.