Chapter Text
I liked English class.
Strange for an ADHD and dyslexic half blood, I know, but Paul (sorry, Mr Blofis) was really helpful. Whenever I get distracted - which happens a lot. I’m trying, okay? - he doesn’t get mad or yell or call me a disgrace to humanity like some of my other teachers at Goode.
I was sitting next to the window trying very hard to pay attention. Usually, that was pretty easy since with Paul’s help I was able to understand the material a lot better. He was describing how Romeo’s actions in the play are influenced by his feelings or something when he sipped his coffee.
I couldn’t see inside the thermos but he’d taken a gulp about 4 times so I guessed there was about a third left. I wondered how many times a day he refilled.
Unfortunately, I was on a roll. The light above the emergency door was flickering once every 23 seconds. It had been for about 3 months. I glanced outside and saw Steve the janitor wheeling his trolley inside the staff-only kitchen entrance. He was only about thirty but his hair was completely grey. My fingers curled around the grey streak in my own hair. Guess I can’t talk.
“Percy?”
I snapped back to see Paul looking at me, his pointer gesturing to a big question on the smartboard. “What does Romeo feel?”
I looked down at my notes: A stick figure with a mop, a probably very wrong maths equation on coffee and the number 23. Great.
“Uhhh. He feels love for Juliet?”
Paul looked at me hopefully. He always knew when I zoned out and was quite generous with calling me out on it. “Good. Can you elaborate?”
I stole a glance at the book, “Uhh yeah. In the text, he describes Juliet’s beauty using metaphors like a torch or a jewel. Normally that’s enough but it’s also vastly different to how he describes Rosaline, where he focuses more on her body. So this change shows that what he feels for Juliet is more love than lust.”
Paul paused. Oh no.
Then he grinned. “Excellent. Though next time Percy, please do try to pay attention.”
“Sure. Sorry”
Paul turned to the whole class, “Now, we’re going to do a reading of the scene. I will be selecting the characters.”
I felt something small hit me in the side of the head. I turned to the right and behind to see Ethan mouthing to me. “I’m gonna be Romeo.”
I snorted quietly and mouthed back. “Yeah, right.”
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re a terrible actor.”
“I am. You just haven’t paid attention long enough to see it.”
“Shut up.”
“Never.”
Pauls voice broke through the awkward silence of the class. “Is there a problem, Ethan?”
“Nothing, Mr Blofis.”
Paul didn’t look convinced, but he carried on anyway, “Anyway, I’ve decided. Maya, you’ll be Juliet. Percy, Romeo.”
Me and Maya looked at each other across the room and nodded. Maya is another one of my friends. She’s quite pretty, all things considered. Her olive skin complements her turquoise eyes and long, chocolate hair in a way that could rival some of the girls in the Aphrodite cabin - her laugh was definitely less obnoxious.
Maya started reading Juliet’s lines pretty well, but my attention was on Ethan who was making exaggerated kissing faces and one I can only describe as a highly constipated Minotaur discovering his car is being towed.
When my turn came to read, I tried really hard not to embarrass myself or trip over my words but that’s basically impossible since Shakespeare apparently hates dyslexics. He was literally a half-blood son of Athena, talk about hating. I mean, Sphere? Yonder?
When I finished, I looked up to see the whole class and Paul staring at me with a weird look on their faces. I really hoped I hadn’t just insulted the entirety of literature as a whole, but Ethan was holding two thumbs up enthusiastically. Normally, that’s a bad sign but I did relax a little.
Paul finally spoke. “That was excellent you two.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and went back to trying to make my notes a little more becoming of a decent student.
A whisper came from my right, “Hey.”
I turned. The girl next to me was leaning over to me, “Uh, hey”
“That was a really good reading.”
“Thanks. Sorry, I’m terrible with names.”
“I’m Emily.”
“Hi. I’m Percy.”
“I know.” She smiled brightly.
I forced one back and focused on Paul again, “Okay class, now I’d like you all to complete the activities on pages 4 and 5.”
Opening the book, I saw I’d already done them. I remembered how Annabeth saw I was behind and had forced me at ruler-point to catch up and then some. Maya had helped her. Traitor.
I glanced at the clock. 10:57. I just sat and waited out the last three minutes, counting the seconds until the bell rang. Grabbing my things and saying bye to Paul, I caught up with Ethan outside the class.
He was the second shortest of my friends, but his ego was definitely the largest, a shit eating grin permanently plastered on his face and his wild blue eyes and sandy hair spelling trouble for any unfortunate teachers trying to do their jobs.
He nudged my arm, “So where the hell did that performance come from, Romeo?”
“I don’t know. I was just trying really hard not to mess up.”
“Well you definitely didn’t. You were almost as good as me.”
I laughed, “Sure.”
He looked around, “So where’s your girlfriend?”
“Who?”
“Annabeth.”
I jabbed him in the ribs, but we both laughed, “She’s not my girlfriend, dumbass.”
“Yeah, but she might as well be.”
“You’re a dick.”
“Glad you finally noticed.”
Suddenly, a voice came from behind us, “Wait, what?”
I turned. A group of three girls were staring at us with wide eyes and several more were noticing the commotion.
I looked behind me and then back, “Uhh, what?”
“Annabeth’s not your girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Then who is?”
“Nobody.”
“You’re single?”
“Yeah.”
I felt a sharp pain in my shoulders when Ethan slammed his palms on my bones and wheeled me away down the corridor.
“What are you doing?”
He looked at me with what would’ve been a serious expression if not for his lips disappearing in a straight line as he tried not to burst out laughing, “Saving your life.”
“From what?”
“You just announced you’re single to the entire universe, Percy. Believe me, I’m doing you a solid getting you outta there.”
“Why’s that a problem?”
“You really don’t know?”
“Know what?”
He exhaled painfully, “I’ll explain later. Right now, let’s get you to lunch.”