Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 5

Percy sighed when the final bell rang. He was going from one hell hole to an even worse one. He made his way through the crowded hall, avoiding any confrontation. He was trying to figure out if staying away from home for a couple hours was worth the punishment. 

"Where do you think you're going, Jackass," Chris growled from behind him. Percy jumped a couple inches and quickly spun around. In front of him was Chris, Ethan and Luke. The three biggest bullies in school.

"I think we were interrupted earlier," Ethan said, taking a step closer to Percy. Instinctively, the latter took a step back. 

"Not to mention you need to pay for what you did earlier." Luke took a step forward as well. The three then all lunged at Percy in unison. The younger boy jumped out of the way and fled down the hall. Luke slammed his fist into a locker, angered, then followed Percy. 

Annabeth had stayed after class to get help with her homework. Now she made her way through the empty halls. She was mentally going through her notes for her upcoming tests. Yelling from around the corner pulled her from her thoughts. Confused, Annabeth moved to one side of the hall to give whoever was coming room. 

Luke, Ethan and Chris bolted around the corner. They spotted Annabeth, visibly upset.

"Where the hell did he go?" Ethan growled. Luke turned to Annabeth.

"Have you seen our friend? His name is Percy," he said. He tried to make it sound like Percy and them actually got along.

"No. Why do you need to find him?" Annabeth had learned to not trust these boys in the slightest.

"We were just going to study with him," Luke responded. "If you happen to see him, please let me know." 

"I was just heading out. I doubt I'll pass him." Annabeth watched Chris's eyes shift to somewhere behind her. Turning around she spotted a ratted teen. His hoodie was falling off of one arm and he held his backpack by the strap. He noticed the three boys behind Annabeth and took off the way he had came.

"Just studying?" Annabeth asked.

"He's helping us study sports plays," Chris said, taking off after the younger boy. Ethan and Luke followed suit. Annabeth quickly decided to try to help. As she ran off the hall to find the group, she called up Jason. Being a running back for Goode's football team, he generally stayed after school for practice.

"What's up?" Jason asked, once he answered the phone.

"Are you still at school?" Annabeth asked quickly.

"Yeah. Why?" 

"I need your help. Luke and them are going after someone and once I find them, I don't think I will be able to break up the fight."

"Yeah. I'll be right there." Annabeth said her thanks and got off the phone. 

Jason dropped all of his stuff off in his football locker and left the locker room. He ran into the main building and started looking for Annabeth. He quickly found her, and they both ran down the halls looking for the other group.

Jason couldn't help but feel sorry for whoever their victim was. Luke wasn't known for being merciful. Though he had never been on the receiving end of a beating, he knew people who were. 

The blondes rounded a corner. In front of them was just one person. His black hair fell around his face as he laid on his side.  Jason could see blood dripping onto the ground. Annabeth gasped and the two quickly approached the other teen.

Percy groaned, in immense pain. He heard people coming closer. Too scared to see who it was, he kept his eyes closed. His blood filled mouth made him sick to his stomach. 

"Hey," a female voice said softly. She placed her hand gently on Percy's should. He didn't move, unsure of how he was supposed to react. "Are you awake?"

"Annabeth, I'm going to call 911," a new voice spoke. 

"No," Percy managed to say. He slowly rolled onto his back, coughing as he did so.

Annabeth didn't know what to do. She knew if she had just been faster she could have stopped Luke. As she spoke, she made sure to keep her voice soft. "You're hurt. We need to call for help." 

"I'm fine," Percy responded, stubbornly. 

"No your not," Jason said, his phone still on the dial screen. Percy pushed himself up into a sitting position. He opened his eyes, wiping blood off of his eyebrow. Annabeth reached forward, intending to wipe away the blood at his mouth. Percy flinched away out of habit.

"What hurts?" she asked, pulling her hand back, taking the message. Percy laughed as if she had told a joke. Soon the laughter turned into coughing. Blood spilled from his mouth as he doubled over in pain. 

Jason grabbed Annabeth's backpack to look for something to clean up the blood. Annabeth rubbed the raven haired boy's back, trying to get him to let them help him. Jason found one of her hoodies, holding it up for permission, she nodded.

Jason passed Annabeth her hoodie, and she wiped Percy's face after his coughing fit. His eyes remained closed again, in an attempt to block out the pain. Jason ran to the bathroom, mentioning he was going to get some wet paper towels. 

Percy took off his ruined hoodie, trying not to aggravate any new or old injuries. His phone dinged from a couple feet down the hall. Without saying anything, Annabeth moved his hand to hold her hoodie on a cut to stop the bleeding. After he gripped her hoodie, she stood up and went for his phone.

Without looking at the screen, she passed the phone to the boy. He opened his sea green eyes, taking the glass box. He quickly turned off the screen, not wanting to read his step-father's text. Jason soon returned.

"Here," He said. He passed the paper towels to Percy. "Do you need a ride home?"

"No, I have transportation." Percy stood up, wiping the dried blood off his face. He felt a cut on his side, reopen in the process. He grimaced and gripped right below his rib cage.

"I'm going to drive you just in case," Jason said, moving to support the slightly smaller teen. Percy tried to protest, but soon found he was too much in pain to resist. Annabeth picked up the two bloody hoodies and followed the two boys.

I actually updated!! Whoo! Did you know I didn't abandon this story lol.