The tires screeched to a stop with Mr. Brunner giving instructions. I had a headache and just wanted to go back home or the dorms, but something felt weird. Everything felt weird. The way Mr. Brunner kept glancing at Percy and me, the way Miss. Dodds always seemed to not notice a thing when Nancy did something, the weather, everything just felt off for some reason.

The stomping and talking of immature kids bounced up the stairs heading into the museum. Nancy Bobofit reminded Percy that he was on probation and I was on thin ice for blowing up the toilets in the girl's restroom. I hate her so much you don't even know. But between you and me, she was the one who made me blow up the restrooms.

Percy told me to try not to do anything stupid (funny coming from him) only so that we don't get kicked out again but I personally don't like it here. He wants to stay here from Grover (who I don't particularly like) but I said the same thing at Hope, in second grade, because I wanted to stay with her but noo Percy had to pull the fire alarm. I'm not salty or anything, don't get me wrong but just if he wants to stay at Yancy and I try my best to, he should've done the same thing at Hope, ya know?

We entered the museum with Mr. Brunner leading in the front and Miss. Dodds in the back.

Mr. Brunner looked to be in his mid-50s with thinning hair and uses a wheelchair to get around. He always has a blanket covering his legs with a leather jacket. He is an amazing teacher. He teaches Greek and Roman mythology and almost every Friday he does hands-on activities that fit in the unit he is teaching.

Miss. Dodds came after the second semester after our old math teacher had quit. She has strict rules in her classroom but whenever Nancy breaks them she doesn't seem to notice. While whenever I and Percy do something she doesn't particularly like she pretends there has been a rule for it the whole time. She clearly has favorites.

The noises from my classmates talking made my headache worse. I went to the back of the group and admired one of the statues. I tried to read the golden plate to identify who the statue represents but they letters just floated around. I heard a hissing behind me. Startled, I turned around with Miss. Dodds staring at the statue. "Do you know who this is, Peearlll?" She hissed

The way she said my name startled me a bit. It was almost like a hiss from a snake. "Ah," I stuttered. "No ma'am, I don't."

"And why don't you chillld?" The way she's talking is concerning. She doesn't talk like this from my experience with her. But it's just getting creepy.

"Ah, uhm, I have dyslexia, ma'am." I'm trying to stay polite so I don't get us kicked out, for Percy's sake. She should know that I have dyslexia, after all, she's been my teacher for a semester.

She studied me wearily. Her eyes thinning then waved her hand in a dismissing manner. "Very well then. The god is Poseidon. A very powerful god indeed." She hesitated as if thinking of what to say next. "Go along with the others. What your learning today is a matter of life and death for you and your brother."

Why is she telling me that? The gods are just myths. Stories to explain nature and it's workings. She's being eerily nice to me for reasons I can't explain. "Yes ma'am," I muttered and walked over to Percy and Grover in the front of the group.

Every time I'm with them I feel like the third wheel. I explained what had just happened with Miss. Dodds. Percy gave me a look as he was deciphering if I was telling the truth. Meanwhile Grover just stared at me, in shock. "What?" I asked

Groves shook his head, getting out of his trance. "I-it's nothing." He tried to shake of a thought. "Just don't worry about it. Im sure it's nothing."

He seems to be protecting Miss. Dodds. It's weird. Everything is weird today. I'll add him to my list of weird things happening today. (Did I have one? I'm not sure anymore.)

We headed into another part of the Museum with Mr. Brunner going on about Mount Olympus or something. I have so many questions. Why would Miss. Dodds Tell me That "it is a matter of Life and death"? She's always hated me. Is it a warning of what's to come? I have so many questions. Too many to count.

Nancy was behind us and she would not stop talking. She giggled at one of the statues, most likely a nude one.

During lunch we sat outside enjoying the air, which was not very much "enjoyable." The clouds are dark. It's thundering despite there being no lightning nor rain. You would suspect a hurricane with this weather, but it's far to early to have one in New York but with everything with climate change you never know.

I grabbed the bagged lunch the school provided and sat down on a nearby bench from the museum. I don't know why I grabbed the lunch since I didn't have much of an appetite in the first place.

I miss the city. I miss the cars honking angrily and the other drivers. I miss the sirens that wake you up in the middle of the night. I miss the crowds that you fit into when walking down the streets. I miss passing by the shops decorated for whatever holiday is near. I miss the way people give their spare change to the homeless. I miss the sign spinners at every corner promoting a store. I miss everything the city has to offer to its people and it's tourist alike.

But most of all, I miss my mom. We haven't seen her since Christmas break (and it's now may). We write letters to stay in touch of course, but letters are kind hard it takes away from the trees, especially if you have to write the letter multiple times. "He," A scream pushed me out of my thoughts. "He pushed me!" Nancy Bobofit screamed.

She was, of course, sitting in the water fountain Percy and Grover were sitting on. I stifled a laugh, "I bet she deserved it," I muttered bitting into my half eaten PBJ.

Miss. Dodds was on the scene in a matter of seconds. Mr. Brunner, on the other hand was to absorbed in his novel to notice the commotion. Miss. Dodds started lecturing Percy and then Grover. From the distance I was at, I couldn't tell what was being said. But it sounded nasty. Miss. Dodds then walked away with Percy behind. He looked at me mouthing "don't worry about it. It's nothing."

I've gotten pretty good at lip reading over the years but I couldn't help but notice that something else felt off. Not all the other things from today, a different vibe. My brother may be annoying and stupid, but he's my brother. And if it means walking into fire to help him, I'll walk through fire.

I stayed behind and followed them.