The bell’s shrill ring sliced through the air as I pushed open the heavy school doors. A familiar, irritating voice cut through the noise.
“Annabeth, you’re here! Look everyone, *the* Annabeth Chase has arrived!” Daniel’s voice boomed as students hurried past.
“Shut up, Daniel. Nobody cares,” I snapped, turning away from his irritating attention.
He pouted, pushing his lips forward. “I care.”
I shoved him away with a smirk. “Can’t do that anymore, stupid.”
“This girl is taken,” I stated, keeping my tone firm.
For a moment, hurt flickered across his face, then a ridiculous grin spread. He shouted louder, “SO WHO IS THE LUCKY GUY, ANNABETH?”
I lowered my head, walking away. Daniel was, predictably, a clown.
I settled into an empty desk at the front of the classroom, pulling out my English notebooks as students flooded in from the hallway. Pointless chatter filled the room: “Oh, and he did what?” “Dude, just ask her out.” I tuned them out, focusing on my work. Just one semester, I thought, and then I’d be done.
…
Finally, the teacher strode into the room.
“I am Miss Finkle—”
Before she could finish, the class erupted in laughter. I bit back my own grin, knowing she was the kind of teacher you didn’t mess with. Instead, I occupied myself braiding my curly blonde hair, watching the gray streaks appear as I remembered the weight of saving Luke.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she declared, her voice cutting through the noise.
“Yes, it’s a weird name—”
Daniel blurted out, “Yes it is, Ma’am!” He laughed, oblivious to the danger.
At that moment, she calmly produced a stack of pink detention slips and handed them out—to everyone but me. A warmth spread through my cheeks.
“And who are you, lovely young lady who is the only one with respect in this classroom?” My blood ran cold as she addressed me directly.
“Um, I’m Annabeth Chase,” I managed, trying to keep my voice steady.
“What a nice name,” she said, her gaze softening. “I think everyone should be more like Annabeth for the rest of the year.”
The whole class fell into an odd, unnerving silence. I officially declared myself a dork with good behavior. As the bell buzzed, I grabbed my books and Daedalus’s laptop, practically fleeing the room before Miss Finkle—whatever her name was—could stop me.