Disclaimer: I do NOT own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Percy POV

So here I was, back at school, after saving the world...again. Of course there was no "Great job, Percy!" or "You're our hero!" No mortal would ever realize how much their lives are at stake.

Back to school. There I was, in my desk, trying to concentrate on our English lesson. OK, I lied. Of course I wasn't paying attention, seeing as I'm ADHD and dyslexic. It was almost impossible to concentrate. Then something hit me.

Literally. Some jerk sitting behind me threw an eraser at me. I turned to see that it was Jerry Minno. Great.

A brief word about Jerry. He's this pathetic wannabe bully. He thinks he is so buff, but in reality he is a short, skinny wimp. The only reason he is still in the business is because he is cousins with one of the biggest bullies in our school.

I turned to face him. "What do you want?"

He looked at me with a smug expression. "What's with the hair, Jackson? Getting old?"

He was talking about the streak of grey that I had received from holding up the sky during Christmas break. That was when the goddess Artemis and Annabeth, my best friend, were kidnapped by the titan Atlas.

I turned around and ignored him.

He whispered behind me. "I want an explanation at lunch, or you're going to pay."

As if you could do anything to me, I thought.

A few minutes later the bell rang, and we all left to the cafeteria.

I was stopped halfway by, you guessed it, Jerry and his slightly beefier goons.

"I asked you a question, Percy." he said. "What's with the hair? Didn't see it before Christmas break." his friends chuckled.

"Well, Jerry, it's nice to know that you have eyes and that you pay attention to my hair," I retorted. "But I'd rather not."

Jerry was getting annoyed. "Just tell me, old man, or I'll have to pummel you."

My hand went for Riptide, my lethal ballpoint pen, but it wouldn't help. Clearly this jerk was mortal.

"Fine. This is what happened. I held up the sky and saved the world from being destroyed."

Thunder rumbled in the distance. Jerry was not impressed.

"Whatever, Percy," Jerry signaled to his friends. "Get him,"

They grabbed for me, but I dove out of the way. I instantly pulled Riptide out of my pocket and uncapped it. A celestrial bronze sword grew in my hand. I poised to attack.

They all came to a halt. Some were confused but most of them were just laughing.

One guy said, "What are ya going to do with a straw? Suck our guts out?" The rest of them joined in with his laughter.

I sighed. I put Riptide away and went to go get lunch. Jerry and his gang were laughing too hard to realize they still had to pummel me. At least for today.