The Skater (a Percy Jackson AU)

II

Percy walked into his classroom and took a seat in the back. He got out a notebook and started writing down lyrics for a new song.
He didn't count on sharing them with anyone besides Nico and Thalia, so was surprised when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

It was Annabeth.
He quickly closed the notebook and glared at her. She looked unfazed.
"The teacher told us to pick partners for our first project." She said.
"And you're talking to me why?" Percy continued to scowl.
"Well you didn't look like you had a partner and I thought we could get to know each other."
"I work alone."
"Well not today because I need a partner."
Despite Percy's protests, Annabeth plopped down in the seat next to him.
"So what were you writing?"
"A song."
"Oh cool. Are you in a band?"
"Yes."
"What's your name?"
"We don't have one. Now if we have a project to do, can we please start?"
"Sure." Annabeth replied quietly.

They worked for about half an hour until the blonde girl piped up again.
"So, Fall Out Boy?"
"Huh?" Percy asked, surprised.
"You're wearing a Fall Out Boy shirt." She gestured to his outfit.
"Oh yeah. They're my favorite band."
"Mine too."
Percy almost choked.
"You?" He asked incredulously.
"Yeah. They are great."
"But you're so-"
"Nerdy?" Annabeth cut him off.
"Well I was going to say proper, but that works too."
Annabeth just laughed.
"What's your favorite song from them?" She asked, and for once Percy happily answered.
"Probably Sugar we're going down. You?"
"I have no idea. It's too hard to choose."
Percy laughed this time, not only at the situation, but at how quickly his opinion of Annabeth had changed. Maybe she wouldn't be too bad to get to know.
Then the bell rang.
"What class do you have next?" They asked simultaneously, resulting in a chuckle from both of them.
"Math. You?" Percy said.
"Science. What about after that?"
"Greek."
Annabeth's eyes lit up.
"Same. I'll see you then."
Percy nodded and they walked their separate ways.

He couldn't believe that he might have possibly just made a new friend. He never made friends. That was one of the reasons he was so close with Thalia and Nico. They were just like him.
But now that he thought of it, Annabeth didn't seem to have that many friends either. She was always somewhere in the school doing something, but you never really saw her just hanging out by the lockers or in the cafeteria with anyone else.
She knew everyone, but not because she was popular. That was Drew Tanaka, the school's very own life size walking Barbie.
She pushed the dress code to the limit  every day with short, tight dresses and crop tops. Not to mention the clown mask that was her face. That girl piled so much makeup on, it was surprising she could even move her face.
The only girl that could keep her in place was Piper McLean.
She was the head cheerleader and the quarterback, Jason Grace's girlfriend.
Percy had only met her once or twice because Jason was Thalia's brother and sometimes Piper would be at their house when Nico and Percy came over.
She was actually nice, unlike the rest of the people she hung out with, so Percy didn't really mind her.

She was walking with Jason through the hallway, hand in hand. They were your stereotypical high school couple, but in a good way.
Percy had never even had a girlfriend.
Sure he had kissed girls at parties, but nothing serious. He was still waiting for the right Person.

He was almost envious of Jason and Piper. Everyone wants someone in their life that understands them and that they can talk to.

Plus Percy was the fifth wheel in his little friend group. Thalia had her girlfriend Reyna and Nico had his boyfriend Will.
It was really awkward when he would invite them to do something and they were on dates.

Percy was jolted from his thoughts by the warning bell ringing, so he hurried to class, not wanting to be late on his first day.

Science passed quickly and he found himself excited for Greek. He was never excited for class.

Percy slipped into his seat and a few moments later, Annabeth sat down next to him.
"Hey." She said.
"Hey." He replied. He looked around the room at all the Greek letters and posters of buildings.

Annabeth pointed to a picture of the Parthenon.
"I've always wanted to visit. I want to be an architect, and that building has been my favorite for as long as I can remember."
Percy was impressed.
"That's awesome. I don't know what I want to do with my life." He admitted.
Annabeth just patted his arm. "That's okay. You'll figure it out."
"Thanks. You know you're actually okay."
"You're pretty okay too, Seaweed Brain."
"Seaweed Brain? Is that a joke or an insult?"
"A nickname, dummy."
"You know, just because you're smarter than me, you can't just go around calling me dumb."
"Oh I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry." She ducked her head.
"I'm kidding, Wise Girl."
"Wise Girl? Well that actually makes sense." She smiled, causing Percy to smile back.

He looked kind of intimidating with his black clothes and dark hair that hung in his eyes, but he was actually really sweet once you got to know him.
Annabeth was finding this out currently and silently cursing herself for not getting to know the guy she'd had a locker next to for three years, much earlier.

They continued to talk in hushed tones throughout the class.

Afterwards they went to lunch. Percy offered Annabeth to sit with him, Thalia, and Nico at lunch and she happily accepted.

Thalia and Nico gave Percy a curious look when Annabeth sat down, so he introduced them. A few moments later Will plopped down next to Nico and Reyna sat next to Thalia.
Percy introduced them to Annabeth too.
Soon they were all talking like old friends, which wasn't something Percy was used to.
Usually whenever Will and Reyna joined them for lunch, Percy was kind of secluded and didn't really talk, since he didn't enjoy being a fifth wheel.
But at lunch that day, he talked more than he had in a while. They reviewed classes and shared summer stories.
They talked about what they were going to do over the weekend and what teaches they liked and which ones they didn't.

Thalia said that on Friday night, her brother, Jason was hosting a back to school party at their house, so everyone was invited. Even Annabeth who had just met them approximately half an hour before.

She agreed to come and Percy did too. And he was actually excited.
Normally large social gatherings weren't his thing, but this time it sounded fun.

Lunch ended all too soon. Luckily school was close behind it. Once the final bell rang, Percy was on his skateboard almost instantly.
He flew down the sidewalk, anxious to get home.
What can he say? He was hungry.

After raiding the pantry, he took some popcorn into his room and started to blast his music from a speaker on his dresser.
Then he realized he was supposed to clean his room, so he attempted to tidy it up. He probably picked up six t shirts and four pairs of jeans off his floor.
When he was done, you could see the floor again, so he figured his mom would be pleased.
Then he decided to work on the song he was writing, so he grabbed his guitar, plugged it in, and started to create the music portion of the song.

When he was done, he was fairly pleased with it and decided he would have to show Thalia and Nico soon.

After eating dinner, Percy went to bed early. He had a relatively dreamless sleep, except for one dream about his new friend with the blonde hair and gray eyes.