Zero to Hero (Percy Jackson Fanfic)

Chapter Eleven-Crashing Down

Lucky you guys! You get your chapter four days early! Happy Thanksgiving! I'm terribly sorry that you don't get Annabeth's POV for this part yet, (coming soon) but Percy decided he wanted to narrate. 

Percy's POV

"I say you still owe me brownies," Jason mumbled as he helped tighten the strap of my sling.

I snorted, "That wasn't our deal. Besides, I think you got your revenge," I nodded to my arm the medic was now backing carefully--after a beautiful stitching and wrapping job--into the sling. Apparently the cut was deeper than I'd expected, and required immobilization for two days before I could ditch the sling. 

"Try not to move it," Austin said sternly, checking to make sure my hand was well supported, "We don't want to pull those stitches out."

Austin was really young for a doctor, but pretty old for a camper. He had been head counselor for the Apollo cabin for years, helping out with the previous camp medic whenever help was needed. When the old guy retired, Austin volunteered for the job, since it was about time he graduated anyway. Most people just left when they were eighteen or nineteen to start college life or start their careers. 

"I guess this means I win that swimming competition we were going to have tomorrow," Jason wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"If that'll make you feel better," I sighed. 

"And don't get it wet either," Austin added, standing, "Alright, you two had better get up to dinner."

Despite his teasing, I could tell Jason was feeling a bit guilty about my injury. As we walked up the hill to the dining pavilion, he stuck his hands in his pockets and hunched his shoulders. Those who didn't know him very well might think he was just being a sore loser, but even though he acted like he hated losing, I think Jason would rather lose than have someone else get hurt. 

I nudged him with my slung elbow, "Don't be so hard on yourself. It was partially my fault anyway."

He was quiet for a minute, then, "Percy, do you ever think that we shouldn't be doing this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well," he kicked a pebble, "you should know, you're time in public school showed that normal kids don't do what we do."

I understood what he was getting at. "You think we should all be going to public school, learning to be civilized people who have never held a sword or dropped smoke bombs from a tree in the middle of Capture the Flag?"

"I...I don't know." Jason looked down, "Never mind."

The dining pavilion was in view, but I didn't think anybody had noticed our approach yet. 

After a moment's pause, I said, "There's one thing different about public school. At least, Goode didn't have it. Camp Hero is full of awesome, good people who have learned to work as a team. At Goode, it was a bunch of losers who had to pick on other kids to build their self esteem. That doesn't happen at Camp."

"You're right," Jason nudged me, "I guess there is a reason for all the war games and team-building exercises. I always though Chiron was making us do busywork."

I stared at him. Even in the two short weeks I'd been at Goode, I had been introduced to the terrible time waster, busywork. "You have no idea."

We entered the pavilion to exuberant cheers. Several people raised their hands as if wanting one of us to join them at their table. But that was against the rules. Chiron and Mr. D. had it in place that everyone sat with their cabin-mates to avoid any craziness with, But I wanted to sit by her, Chiron! Katie sat next to her this morning! or...something like that.