4: Take Me to Church

Percy POV

The bus was too crowded and too loud. Mr. Dionysus only approved one bus for our field trip. This meant that over 60 students had to file into one 26-seater school bus.

I groaned at all of the conversations around me.

My head was starting to hurt from all the noise. Plus, I don't ride the bus, so this was a completely new environment.

"Bro," Jason nudged my arm.

"Yeah," I asked as I turned to my friend. Jason simply pointed to the seat next to us. Piper was sitting there with her cheerleader friend.

"What's up, Piper?"

"Percy, why were you even late today?" Piper asked.

Her voice commanded attention. It commanded an honest response whether you wanted to give one or not. She had that kind of voice.

"I got held back at swimming practice again," I replied. "You know stuff is ramping up, so Coach has been on me all the time."

"Well, he should understand that you have a life outside swimming," Piper offered kindly.

"He's doing it for my own good. I don't want to let anyone down," I said. I couldn't imagine how I'd feel if I screwed up now. I was so close to bringing fame to my school by performing my best at Regionals and States.

"You're already one of the best, bro. Give yourself some slack," Jason said firmly.

I smiled at my friends before my attention caught on my girlfriend. Rachel was sitting in the seat in front of Piper, so she was still in my view.

"Percy, I'm so sorry that you have to work with that nerd," Rachel said slyly.

I sighed before looking at her again. It was a little rude, but to be honest, I wasn't looking forward to working with Annabeth either.

"Yeah, me too."

"Working with you isn't a real treat either, Jackson," Annabeth snapped from behind me. She was a few seats back, but she still heard me.

When I turned around, Thalia and Annabeth were both glaring at me.

"I'd figure that it's the best treat to work with my fine self," I responded with a smirk. "Just admit it, Wise Girl."

Annabeth groaned before turning back to her friends. Thalia gave me a once-over glare (and then, the middle finger) before returning to their conversation.

I laughed before returning my gaze to Rachel. That was fun.

"Bro, why do you have to make my sister and her best friend hate you?" Jason expressed. "Yeah, that's not really helping anyone," Piper continued.

"Jace and Pipes, I wasn't the started it," I replied honestly.

Annabeth was the one who decided to butt into our conversation. Given that she only entered because she heard her name, but still.

"Anyway, babe, you're coming to my party on Saturday, right?" Rachel asked.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it," I said with a smile.

Rachel seemed unimpressed as she continued. "Percy, you missed three of my parties so far because of swimming. You cannot keep missing them."

I sighed. "Rachel, sometimes, I'm just busy."

"Yeah, well, if you continue missing them, everyone's gonna think that you've lost your touch at popularity," Rachel expressed seriously.

"You'll make sure of that won't you," Jason muttered quieted.

I shrugged as I nudged him with my elbow. Jason quickly straightened his face. To be truthful, popularity wasn't everything, but it sure did have its perks. Besides, popularity was a defense mechanism that I wanted to keep.

As the star swimmer, I felt like I belonged to it.

Gods, I couldn't miss Rachel's party this weekend. "I'll be there, Rachel."

***

"So, Wise Girl, what is our project gonna be on?" I asked.

Annabeth and I were walking through one of the hallways of the museum. The students paired off and spread out through the museum. Right now, we were in the ancient Egypt hallway. There were different monuments of the pyramids, coffins, and statues made of sand and clay.

"Wise Girl?" I asked again.

Annabeth groaned as she turned towards me. She had been inspecting a miniature replica of an ancient Egyptian temple.

"Ugh, you're so frustrating. Can't you just shut up?" she snapped.

I smirked at the notion of getting a rise out of her.

"Why? All your looking at is some model of an old temple. It's not like you're looking at golden treasure or anything," I said slyly.

"That 'old temple' was created during a time when man had no technology or vehicles. Isn't it amazing that ancient man was able to create it with their bare hands?" Annabeth expressed. Her eyes were sparkling with curiosity and joy.

I quickly realized that Annabeth liked architecture.

To be honest, the temple was pretty impressive. The whole museum had many artifacts that stood out.

Regardless, I enjoyed pushing Annabeth's buttons.

"Yeah, I can create a sandcastle with my hands too," I commented with a smirk.

"AAARGH. You're so stupid," Annabeth shouted before storming off. I continued to laugh as I followed behind her.

Annabeth turned the corner and effectively entered into the Greek and Roman artifacts hallway. "Annabeth, hold up." I caught her arm to slow her down. She immediately whipped her arm away and glared at me.

"Seriously, Wise Girl, I don't know what the project is on," I said.

"Of course you don't," Annabeth huffed before turning and visiting the first booth.

Gods, Annabeth really didn't like me. Well, I didn't like her either. As such, we were always fighting, and that sums up our relationship.

I walked towards the booth that she was at. We were alone in the Greek/Roman hallway. Annabeth was looking at a replica of the Athena Parthenos. I looked at Annabeth to see that her eyes were misty, and she had a deep-set expression.

I decided to not bother her with this.

Instead, I visited another statue that was a few feet away.

It was a statue of the Roman god, Janus. The statue was from the chest up, and the first thing I noticed was that he had two faces. The faces were like two beings who were connected. Their heads have collided with each other.

The plaque read that Janus is the god of physical and metaphorical doors and gates. Many compliment him to be the deity of transformation.

"For our assignment, we have to pick a particular artifact," Annabeth said as she approached. "Then, we have to make and do a presentation on the topic of choice."

She stood next to me and read Janus's plaque.

"When is the project due?" I asked.

"Seriously, Percy. Did you not listen to Mr. Brunner at all?" she asked in annoyance. "The project is due in one month."

I turned to face Annabeth who was already looking at me.

"Sorry, I came late remember."

"Yeah, you're always late. I'll let you know that I wasn't even surprised," she said angrily.

"Well, I'm sorry Ms. know-it-all, but not everyone is as perfect as you," I snapped back.

"Don't you dare turn this on me. I'm not perfect. However, it doesn't take a lot to be on time for class and do your work. However, all you care about is inconsequential things."

"Excuse me?!"

"Yeah, you only care about your own interests," she said firmly.

"Yeah, well, at least I don't expect everyone to be as perfect as you. People are different," I said sharply. I used air quotes around 'perfect'.

Both of our voices were raised several notches. Her eyes shone with anger and annoyance that probably matched my own.

"You're so irresponsible!" she snapped.

"And, you're a know-it-all!" I replied.

"Gods, I can't believe that I have to work with you. You are so infuriating!" Annabeth fought.

"At least, I'm not as annoying, Wise Girl," I snapped back.

Suddenly, both of us stopped arguing. Her face looked confused as a breeze blew against us. I felt a tingle crawling along my arms and back. A certain air spread around me, and a chill wind traveled around my body.

I looked up to see Annabeth lifting her arms.

Clearly, she was feeling the same aura around her that I was.

A light shone from the statue in front of us. I quickly used my hands to block the light, but it was too late. The light had surrounded me and Annabeth.

However, just as quickly, everything went away.

I stared at my surroundings in confusion. Annabeth also rubbed her head to wash away the disorientation.

Everything was so normal that I wasn't even sure if anything had happened.

Mine and Annabeth's gaze connected. Our expressions intensified as we both remembered our fight.

We both simultaneously turned away from each other.

However, as I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Something wasn't right, but I wasn't sure what.

Something was definitely not right with me or Annabeth.