Mask Of Pain

Chapter 1

Annabeth's POV

December 22nd 2002

She stood in the snowy park facing three mean boys. They encircled her like she was some freak. She hated those bullies. Especially if they bullied her.

The three of them were one year older as well as taller than her. She really had no chance. She couldn't do anything but glare at them.

"Look the little baby doesn't look happy" the fat one in front of her said while the other two just grinned.

"Let's teach the baby a little lesson?" the slim one on her left proposed. The other two just laughed like idiots.

"That's a nice scarf baby has" the fat one noted "I want to have fun with it" he said.

The two other boys held her in place while the fat one ripped the scarf off her. As he did so, Annabeth gave a hard kick where the sun doesn't shine. The boy fell to his knees whizzing like a pig.

Before she could do anything else the two other boys punched her stomach knocking the air out of her as she coughed.

The fat boy she kicked earlier got to his feet and glared at her. "Baby hurt me, me hurt her bad" he said readying his fist for a punch. Annabeth closed her eyes waiting for the pain.

Suddenly she heard someone yell "HEY!" she opened her eyes and looked at who yelled. The boy looked five like her and had messy jet-black hair and sea green eyes with one size to big black glasses. He stood a few feet away from them. Annabeth admired his bravery.

"Or what little guy?" the fat boy said

"Or I'll.. eu I'll teach you a-a lesson" he said nervously. The three boys laughed at him and let Annabeth go. They marched towards him but the raven haired boy did not budge.

"Alright buddy, show us or are you too afraid" the fat boy taunted.

"Just leave her alone!" he yelled and tackled the fat boy to the snowy ground and bombarded the boy with punches. Sadly he was only able to land just a few before the other boys got over their surprise and yanked him off the fat boy. They threw him to the floor sending his black glasses in the air.

Annabeth could only watch in horror as she saw her hero be beaten up by those bullies. After a few minutes they stopped hitting him and walked away laughing. She walked over to the boy lying on the snow with a black eye and a bloody nose.

She picked up his glasses lying on the snow as the boy sat up rubbing his cheek. She sat down next to him and handed him his glasses. "Thank you" she said sincerely and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

The boy became as red as a tomato as he shuttered an answer "You-you're wel-welco-come" he said looking anywhere but her.

"I'm Annabeth Chase" she said giving her hand for him to shake. He looked at it then at her and gave her a wide grin and shook her hand.

"Percy Jackson"

"I don't know where he is!" she yelled in frustration at her cellphone, turning a few people's heads in the process; she glared at the starring people causing them to look away.

"Yeah I'm listening" Annabeth sighed exasperated, as she listened to the feminine voice on the other side of the line speaking. "I know that, but he's never been this late"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Don't worry Thalia, he'll be here. Trust me, when I see him I will make sure to keep him breathing for you to-" Annabeth's grey eyes widened "PERCY! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?"

A boy with messy jet black hair and sea green eyes wearing his big black reading glasses; was pushing through the crowd towards her, limping slightly as usual.

Annabeth quickly hung up on Thalia as she yelled something in the phone.

"Pardon me! Sorry coming through!" He said has he pushed through the people lining for the popcorn. Just as he was out of the crowed he tripped on someone foot and fell face first on the ground right at Annabeth's feet.

Annabeth had her hands on her hips tapping her feet impatiently with a small smile at her best friend's usual clumsiness. Percy looked her up from where he laid flat on his belly. He quickly got to his feet and brushed off his cream colored pants. He flinched slightly has he rubbed his right knee, but Annabeth didn't comment on it as Percy rambled an excuse while holding his hands together as he pleaded.

"I am so so so so so so so so so so sorry Annabeth!" he said shaking his two hands like he was praying "There was this hold lady that had this cat that was stuck in the tree so naturally I helped her by climbing in the tree and you know me and my clumsiness so it took me forever to get to the top and then the cat started to hiss at me and growl like some lion and nearly fell out of the tree but then I managed to grab it and it started scratching my face…" He kept rambling but his voice faded in the background as she gazed in his beautiful sea green eyes.

Annabeth could still remember the day they met in the snow park when he defended her by taking the beating from those bullies. Now eight years later, they're inseparable and they hold no secrets from each other. They're like the best of friends, maybe even more so than Thalia and that's saying something since she considers her a sister.

As she gazed in his eyes, she noted his appearance. He wore cream colored pants and ruined sneakers, a white shirt under a light grey and blue jumper. She always thought he dressed like a nerd but she didn't mind. (here's a link: old_fashioned/set?id=191637544)

"… and then I fell off the tree! I'm so sorry! Annabeth I swear I didn't mean to be late!"

Annabeth shook herself from her daze and folded her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow "You finished?"

"Um yeah" Percy said catching his breath.

"Good." Annabeth replied and stomped his foot, hard.

"Oww!" Percy cried in pain hopping on one foot "What was that for?! I already told you why I was late!"

"That was for making me wait for hours. Now come on!" she grabbed his right ear and dragged him through the crowd to where Thalia and Nico waited for them in front of the door leading to the cinema room. Thalia looked mad while Nico was grinning like a maniac.

The two cousins only had one thing in common, they both had black hair. That's it. Thalia's hair is short and spiky whereas Nico's is messy and shaggy like he just got out of bed. Thalia has electric blue eyes and freckles across her nose. Nico's eyes are a very dark brown, nearly black and he has olive skin. Thalia was also a few inches taller than him.

"PERSEUS JACKSON!" she yelled marching towards Percy and Annabeth "YOU. ARE. DEAD!"

"Hey there Thalia" he said hiding behind Annabeth so that Thalia couldn't touch him. "How you're doing?" he asked innocently.

"Oh no you don't- how you're doing- me!" she yelled trying to catch behind Annabeth.

"I already told Annabeth the full explanation!" he said "Plus she already stomped my foot hard so punishment has already been given" he stated.

"Just stomping your foot? I'm going to rip you to shreds!" she cried.

Annabeth finally couldn't take it anymore. "Enough! Thalia I heard his explanation and I believe him so give him a break, plus the film is about to start, let's not be later than we already are" she said walking in the cinema followed closely by Percy and Nico. Thalia reluctantly followed after them.

They made their way to the seats as the film started and they sat together sharing the box of popcorn Annabeth bought earlier as she waited Percy.

As they watched the film, while Nico's eyes were bigger than tennis balls with wonder and Thalia kept licking her lips, Annabeth failed to notice Percy's fake smile that he put on to hide the pain. She failed to see his mask of pain.

After the film, they exited the building and waited for their ride home. All the while Nico couldn't stop talking about the film. Which was fine until he mentioned Percy.

"It was so awesome! I can't believe it! The film was better made than I thought! I can't believe we nearly missed the film because of Percy!" he said starring pointedly at Percy who gulped.

"Now it wasn't my fault" he said lifting his hands in surrender.

"Sure it wasn't" Thalia said sarcastically sending him one of those smiles that said- I'm going to eat you alive. Percy gulped once more.

"Hey Thalia how'd you think about the main actor, looked like me hey?" Nico said lifting his chin. Thalia looked at him in horror.

"No way! He's much hotter than you'll ever be!" she said not realizing her mistake, but Nico did and his grin widened.

"So you admit I'm hot?" he asked innocently. Thalia became red with rage or embarrassment, Annabeth didn't know.

"Why you little-" Thalia said advancing on Nico who lost his grin, replaced by fear.

Annabeth rolled her eyes at their behavior and noticed Percy was very quiet. She also noticed he was slightly pale.

"Percy? You okay?" she said concerned touching his shoulder. Percy jumped at her touch.

"Hey? Eu.. yeah I'm alright" he said straightening his big black glasses on his nose.

"You sure? You know you can tell me anything, right?" she persisted.

"Yeah, yeah of course, don't worry I'm okay" he said giving her a nervous smile while fidgeting with his hands.

Annabeth could clearly see he was not okay, but she didn't want to push it. As it happens she didn't really need to as their ride arrived. The blue car came to a stop right in front of them and a familiar person stepped out.

"Come on guys! I'll be late for my date!" Bianca said hurriedly stepping back in the car. Without further or due, they quickly entered the car. Annabeth sat next to Bianca in the front seat while Nico, Percy and Thalia sat in the back. Specifically in that order. Poor Percy, she thought.