Originally published September 5th, 2015

Title: The Awkward Life of Frank Zhang

Genre: Fanfiction--Camp Half-Blood Chronicles (AU)

The last thing Frank wanted to do today was go to school.

Of course that was the last thing anyone wanted to do unless they're one of those people that are obsessed with school, but Frank really wasn't in the mood for school.

There was no way Frank could pretend to be sick, his grandmother would force him to go to school if he had appendicitis, so having a "headache" was out of the question. Sighing, Frank grabbed his bag and headed out the door quietly so he wouldn't wake his grandmother.

The walk to school was a long one, with the mid-September air pricking at his cheeks. He hoped that he would run into his friend Jason on the way, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. He was stuck walking alone in the chilly autumn air.

Frank arrived at his school fifteen minutes before the bell. He headed towards the cafeteria, thinking that Jason would be there. Opening the doors to the cafeteria Frank was greeted to the sounds of laughing kids. He quickly scanned the area for Jason. Jason was sitting at a table in the center, talking with Reyna and a kid he'd seen around school but didn't know.

Frank headed towards the table Jason was sitting at. When he sat down, Jason greeted him to the guy.

"Hey Frank, this is Percy." Jason gestured to the black haired green eyed boy sitting next to him. Percy gave a small wave before focusing on the poster board that lay in front of him.

"We need a better theme," Percy pointed out as he frowned at the poster. "White isn't creative enough."

Reyna pursed her lips, "Purple maybe?" She leaned back in the cafeteria chair. "I don't know, ask Annabeth." Frank didn't know Annabeth very well, all he knew was that she tried to start an architect club at school but not enough people wanted to join. He wondered why they were talking about her, probably about that poster they were working on.

The bell rang and Frank waved goodbye as everyone dispersed into the hallway. He strolled down to his first class, which was English. Lost in his thoughts, Freak bumped into somebody and dropped all of his stuff. What a great way to start the day off. Frank bent down and began to pick up his stuff when the boy he bumped into interrupted him.

"Dude, next time watch where you're going, we can't have people as big as bulldozers aimlessly wandering around the school." Frank stood up and looked down at the boy. He was maybe a foot shorter than Frank, with tangled curly hair, elvish ears, and a mischievous smile that said I may look small, but I can be your worse nightmare. The boy walked off as Frank finished picking up his stuff. Great, he had just made a new possible enemy. How lovely. Just as Frank stood up again, the late bell rang. Just wonderful. Frank groaned  as he dashed to English, praying that his teacher wouldn't notice his absence.

"FRANK ZHANG!" Frank's teacher ripped Frank from his thoughts.

Frank rolled his eyes, "Yes Ms. Peterson?"

"I ASKED YOU A QUESTION," Mrs. Peterson screeched. "ANSWER IT!"

Frank thought for a second, what class was he in again? "Um, four?"

"Frank, the tone of this passage is not four." Mrs. Peterson walked up closer to Frank. "PAY ATTENTION! Does anyone have a real answer?" A kid with brunette hair and grey eyes raised his hands, "Yes Malcolm?"

"The tone of the passage starts out as nervous and anxious then shifts to relieved." Malcolm grinned in satisfaction once he was done, because he was right once again. Mrs. Peterson nodded then asked another question.

"What do you think the oranges mean in this poem?" Malcolm raised his hand once again.

"It symbolizes warmth between the narrator and the girl, and it also symbolizes sacrifice," Malcolm intelligently stated. Frank rolled his eyes, Malcolm was a know-it-all, and he didn't mind showing it.

The girl sitting next to Frank tapped his shoulder. "This is my favorite poem," the girl whispered. "I'm Hazel, by the way."

Hazel held out her hand him to take. He lightly shook her hand, "Frank."

She smiled, making her amber eyes illuminate. "I'm new around here, what's it like?"

Frank thought about it for a second, what was it like? It was just Manhattan, basically always busy and full of people. "You know, just like your average big city."

Hazel giggled, "I wouldn't say this is exactly like New Orleans." She focused back on her work book when Mrs. Peterson strolled by their desks. "You know, sometimes I think Mrs. Peterson's a monster," Hazel muttered once Mrs. Peterson was gone.

"Don't we all," Frank mumbled under his breath before finally going back to his work book.

Okay, I know this one's short... Like really short... But it still has a lot going for it. Since it's an AU (Alternate Universe, for those who don't know), it won't run along the beloved storyline we all know. But don't worry, there's still a lot in store and stuff. So please tell me what you think of this one! And as always, BYERSIEBYES!!!

 Stay Perky,

With Love, Pacific Green Sea Turtles, and Fluffy Pies,

~Chilea, daughter of Demeter and legacy of Apollo.❀ ☼