8:00 am, Monday, September 11th, 2011

Annabeth Chase stalks into Goode High the next Monday.

People glance at her stormy eyes and balled fists and wisely clear out of her way.

Jason Grace and Piper McLean walk behind her, the dark circles under their eyes signalling little sleep.

They distance themself all day, that is until Lunch.

Annabeth slams her lunch tray on the table, startling the mortal friends sitting there. Silently, she sits down before beginning to eat. Her eyes are dark, and she seems to have paled since the last time they saw her.

"Wheres Percy?" Sydney asks hesitantly.

Annabeth's face curls and Sydney leans away, nervous to her friend's reaction. Annabeth sighs and looks out the large windows, face softening for a split second, before hardening, "He got injured." She spits.

"Oh."

Annabeth turns away, cold eyes swimming as they look away. Her hand is holding her fork in a white knuckle grip. She's a mix of conflicting emotions; pain and anger, and a tight sadness burning blue flames is her heart.

"Is he okay?" Sydney asks softly.

"I-I- sure," Annabeth says, "He'll survive if that what you want to know."

Sydney's, along with the other mortals at the table's eyes widen. Sydney hadn't asked if Percy was going to survive. The grim thought hadn't crossed her mind. But it had crossed Annabeth's, many, many times.

"What happened?" Damien manages to choke out.

Annabeth does not meet his eyes and doesn't respond for a few minutes. They sit in silence, the only sound being awkward chewing and the sound of metal utensils meeting plastic trays.

"He broke an arm. Three or four ribs, I don't know. Got a nasty cut on his face..." she trails off before mumbling a sombre question, "Wonder if it will scar?"

Glances are traded.

What the hell happened?

Lunch moves on in silence, the only cut in being the arrival of Jason and Piper. They looked exhausted and seemed to have aged five years over the weekend.

Jason had tight lines around his face and his normally bright eyes were sullen and dark. Piper seemed on edge, hair tightly pulled back into a bun, and her eyes wary as she scanned the room over and over.

Whatever had happened, It did not seem like it had put anyone in a good mood.

Some five minutes later, a tall and gangly boy walked up to the table. His name was Ethan Walsh, and he was one of the people on Percy's swim team.

He was acquaintances with both Percy and Annabeth, not uncommon on the team. Percy was their captain and worked well with his team, but there was always an uncrossable distance between him and everyone else. Annabeth was always nearby, helping and watching, never once not watching their movements.

Call it arrogance call it safety, call it what you want.

It didn't help that Percy always seemed so at home the second he hit the water. He moved through the water as if it was merely an extension of him, and like he had been born in the water, he was her child.

He cleared his throat, and Annabeth looked at him, "Er- Hi," He stammered. "I noticed that uh," he rubbed the back of his neck, "Percy wasn't here."

Annabeth's face tighten, "Yes?"

"When will he be back? We have a competition in-"

"I know you have competition. He'll be back in four or five weeks, okay? Just in time for finals, if you go."

Ethan looked surprised, "Why?" He cried, bringing unwanted attention to the table. The cafeteria fell silent.

Annabeth abruptly stood up. "None of your business," she hissed as she pushed past the stunned swimmer.

Eric watched her retreat, mind reeling.

They were lucky enough that while Percy definitely helped them win, they were a strong team without him. Eric set his jaw.

Something had happened to his captain, something he didn't really care to learn. But his team, they couldn't let their captain down. He'd be back in a month. They'd have at least a week to get back to having him.

They would make finals without him. When he came back, they'd have done that for him.

Determination filled Ethan. He wasn't close to Percy Jackson. But something told him that this was the least the team could do for their captain. For now, he had to tell the Coach what he knew, what his plan was.

They would make it to finals.

Percy Jackson would return.

They would win.

-

I didn't realise that this chapter technically happens on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 until I did the date and time thing. Huh.

Also, due to getting very excited about the shadow and bone TV show, I only have one book left in the Grisha trilogy. Then on to King of Scars! (Finally Lol)