Not so shore- a mortals meet percabeth story

Chapter 5

When Kelly and Olivia arrived to English class on Monday, Annabeth and Percy were already there. They were sitting by the window, and kept glancing furtively outside. Percy was sitting backwards in his seat while Annabeth was leaning forward over her desk, and whatever they were talking about looked to be intense.

"Hey," Kelly whispered, gently grabbing Olivia's elbow to stop her in the doorway.

Olivia followed her gaze to the couple. "Do you think they're fighting?"

Kelly didn't reply, because she wasn't sure.

They were both frowning, but then Annabeth said something and Percy reached out, cupping her face in his palm and tenderly stroking his thumb across her cheek. The way he was looking at her - like she was the only thing in the room, like he'd do anything to make her smile - certainly made Kelly doubt they were fighting.

Annabeth brought her hand up over Percy's, leaning into his touch and sighing. When she smiled, he dropped his arm but didn't let go of her, so they ended up sitting with their hands clasped on top of her desk.

Deciding that if they stood there any longer it'd get really awkward, Kelly and Olivia finally walked over and took their now usual seats beside them.

"Hey," Olivia said, much softer than usual.

Both Percy and Annabeth looked up, slowly unclasping their hands and offering small smiles. "Hi."

Kelly was just about to ask if everything was okay when the teacher, Miss Beaumont, cleared her throat to get the classes' attention and begin the lesson. "We're starting a new topic today, and as you've all read your syllabus I'm sure you know exactly what it is."

There were some nervous mutterings and mumbled replies, and Miss Beaumont laughed. "Or not. That's okay, let me just refresh your memories. The new unit is on mythology."

Annabeth and Percy both straightened in their seats.

"How the ancient myths have informed modern story telling conventions, why they were originally told, how they translated across cultures - this is what we're going to be learning about. To start, we're going to discuss what should be relatively common knowledge to most of you - Greek mythology."

Percy turned in his seat to look at Annabeth, who opened her mouth but was interrupted by Miss Beaumont before she could say anything.

"Mr Jackson, I'm sure whatever you were about to say to Miss Chase can be shared with the whole class?"

Percy again looked uncomfortable to have the attention of the whole class on him. He tapped his pen against the table top and said, "I, uh, know a little bit about the Greek myths, that's all," he said, not quite meeting the teacher's eye.

She smiled knowingly. "Well, why don't you get us started then? Let's begin with what is probably the most well known myth - that of the Olympians."

A few rows over, Rose's hand shot into the air. Whenever he'd been called on in the past, Percy had stuttered or mumbled and rarely gave the answer the teachers were looking for. Rose was obviously anticipating the same to happen this time, so she kept her hand in the air despite Annabeth glaring at her as if she could will her hand to melt away with power of will alone.

Percy surprised everyone by asking, "What do you want to know?"

"How about their names, to start with?"

And then Percy surprised everyone even more by easily rattling off twelve names of gods and goddesses. "Oh, and then there's also Hades, and Hestia, who aren't technically Olympians but, you know, are still... worth noting. In this context." He seemed a little hesitant about his wording of the last part, but other than that had spoken with the most confidence he'd displayed in any of the classes Kelly had with him.

Miss Beaumont smiled. "Hades is my personal favourite, so I'm glad you mentioned him. Do you have a favourite, Percy?"

Annabeth snickered quietly, quickly disguising it as a cough.

Percy ignored her and said, "Poseidon."

"Nice choice." Miss Beaumont turned back to the class at large, and Percy turned to grin at a still smirking Annabeth. "Now, Percy's given us their names, but let's delve a little deeper into who the Olympians were, shall we?"

Rose was glaring at them from across the room, but Percy and Annabeth were too busy looking at each other to notice.