Percy POV

---A few months into the school year---

The bell rings as I sling my bag over my shoulder and walk out into the hallway chatting with Jason as the two of us meet up with the rest of the Seven.

Jason laughs, "Man, I still can't believe that you forced us to come from Camp Jupiter, in California mind you, and forced us to attend a school here in New York City, where we have perfectly good schools in New Rome." He teases me.

Piper grins semi-sheepishly and laughs, "I may have used a tad of charmspeak," she admits and Leo and Annabeth laugh while Hazel fakely frowns,

"Then how did Jason convince Frank and I to come?"

Jason grins, "Like they say, like girlfriend like boyfriend."

Frank laughs, "Nobody says that Jason," and we all laugh.

"Hey you guys ready for the hall race?" I prompt them.

"Heck yeah!" Leo cheers.

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday we have hall races, Monday because we cannot wait to leave on Mondays, Wednesdays to, 'celebrate hump day' as Leo puts it, and Fridays to get out of school fast.

Today was Hump day and I'm determined to win.

As the last of the students cleared out and Annabeth, Piper, and Hazel got out of the way, they have their races on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as they announced,

"Three! Two! One! Race!" They announced in unison as the three boys and I raced off.

At the moment, Jason was in the lead but I was close behind as I saw a German shepherd a little behind me to my right and Leo right on the dog's tail (no pun intended)

Leo laughs, "Frank you cheater!"

Jason looks over for a split second and grins and I push on a faster sprint and I jumped the stairs as they came up.

As I land my knees buckle strangely and I see Hazel with her phone out, recording a slow-mo video so we can see who won as I reach a hand over the invisible line as Jason steps over the line too. Leo ends up coming in third and Frank in fourth.

Frank grins after he had morphed back and helped me up and same with Jason as I got a red tint to my face for needing to be helped up, "Thanks guys," I say and brush off my knees.

Jason grins, "No problem, but GG though."

I smirk, "No, GG you, I passed before you did."

Leo groans sarcastically, "Hazie who won?"

Everyone crowds around her as she pulls up the video, "And the winner was..."

"Jason by a shoelace!" She announces and I groan and Jason cheers.

"How do shoelaces count?" I argue.

"It just does! I don't know how, but it does!" He retorts half-heartedly grinning.

I smile too, "Whatever, but imma win next time."

"Nuh uh, that's gonna be me!" Leo said grinning and pointing his thumbs at himself.

"It's gonna be me!" Frank protested.

Laughing Piper said, "Its the girls race next time remember?"

"Right." I say as we all laugh and make small chat, before parting ways.

"Cya tomorrow guys!" I say and wave to them (no pun intended)

I'm grinning as I'm walking back, but that grin gets wiped off my face when I feel a strong, cold, metal arm grab me and hoist me up into the air.