Welcome to my new story! This is the sequel to my one-shot Home and is also posted on Archive of our Own under the same username. It isn't necessary to read Home before this, but I will be referencing it so I recommend that you do. This is also set before any of the events of Trials of Apollo and Magnus Chase, seeing as I haven't read them yet XD

I don't own the Percy Jackson characters or story, all rights belong to Rick Riordan.

Onward!

Walking down through Goode High School was a surreal experience. Never mind the fact that I had been missing from school since the last Christmas holidays, this was the first time I would be continuing at the same school for the third year in a row. Grasping Annabeth's hand tighter in mine, I dragged her faster down the hall to Paul's classroom. He had pulled some strings to get us in his homeroom and English class, claiming some undisclosed medical condition as a result of our time away, something not too far off the truth to be honest.

I was never particularly memorable before I disappeared (aside from the odd times I'd unintentionally cause something to blow up), but judging by all the stares and whispers following us through the school my not returning from Christmas break last year had given me infamy.

I turned my head to look at Annabeth, and was once again left in awe of her. Despite everything that had happened this past year she was still able to walk with all the confidence in the world, glaring at anyone who dared make a comment too loud. Sometimes I was struck dumb by how brave she truly was. Able to come out of what we had and push herself into a completely new, uncomfortable environment in less than two months… It was more than was expected from any of us that had survived.

"Perseus Jackson!" A voice pulled out of my reverie and I swung my body in front of Annabeth, going for Riptide out of habit from whenever someone called my full name.

Two of my old mortal friends, Zach and Jae were glaring at us from the doorway to Paul's classroom, the man in question peeking in from behind their shoulders to shrug apologetically at me. Annabeth reached back and pulled my hand out of my pocket and into hers. I hadn't even realised how tightly I had been gripping Riptide, but her touch calmed me as it always did.

With a heavy sigh, we made our way to my friends and I prepared myself for interrogation.

The cover story we'd had to invent didn't honestly make the best sense to anyone looking closely. My dad's family in Greece were dealing with a tragedy and so a bunch of my cousins and I had to rush to Europe to be there for them. They lived in a very remote area so it was hard to get any outside communication out unless it was an emergency so when our aunt had been kidnapped and we'd been drawn into a whole scheme, there wasn't any time to travel and let others know. Annabeth and I especially had been forced into some tough situations, explaining our newfound PTSD.

Annabeth and Chiron had argued time and again before settling on the story, Annabeth at the glaring holes in the story and Chiron in favour of letting the Mist and mortal obliviousness do its work. Finding it hard to argue with someone with thousands of years of experience, Annabeth eventually folded.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Annabeth thumped me in the back, hard. Paul shook his head at me and even I cringed at my attempt to be casual.

"'What's up?' What do you mean what's up? We don't see you in nine months, you disappear without a word and all you can say is 'what's up'?" Zach was gesticulating wildly as he talked while Jae was frowning next to him. I looked to Annabeth and she just gave my hand a squeeze and an expression saying 'well they're your friends'.

"Not cool, man."

"I'm sorry, guys. I'm sure Paul's already explained some of what happened but we're really not supposed to talk about it-"

"No, no. You don't get to say 'I'm sorry' and expect us to just let it go. We've been checking up with your mom and Mr Blofis for months trying to get any kind of news and suddenly we find out you've come back but you don't come to visit us? Let us know you're okay? Not to mention, you come back with a random girl by your side and obviously no intention to explain." Zach was ranting now, and I could see no end in sight. Jae was looking a little more understanding, he probably actually listened to Paul when he told them what he could, but he was still looking decently upset with me. I hated being the one to put that expression on their faces.

"-and Reagan has been absolutely freaking out ever since she heard you were back, she's gonna kill you when she sees you."

Paul then put his hands on Zach and Jae's shoulders, finally deciding to intervene.

"The bell is going to ring soon boys. Best get inside the room and to your desks, yes?"

They both stiffened up, having forgotten their favourite teacher was behind them and I couldn't help but chuckle, the sight so comfortingly familiar. Zach glared at me and turned on his foot to march into the classroom. Jae shrugged but followed him inside to where Zach had claimed his usual desk at the back of the room. I chanced a look at Annabeth and led her inside.

We put our things down at the nearest free desks to the boys, ignoring the whispers starting up from my fellow classmates when they noticed me. Paul moved to the front of the room, getting his papers out for homeroom roll call and motioning to us to quiet down. The bell rang overhead and there were last minute scramblers in the hall outside racing to get to their homerooms in time. Annabeth sat down with a huff and put to work at pulling her hair up into her usual ponytail. I turned around to look at the boys, ignoring Paul who had started greeting us back to school.

Zach immediately started to chat to Jae, who gave me yet another apologetic look and responded.

"He just needs a little time." Annabeth murmured. I sighed and turned back to the front of the room. I hated when she was right.

"Now we have a new student starting today." Paul was saying. "If everyone can welcome Annabeth Chase to Goode and make sure she can find her way around, that would be greatly appreciated."

Annabeth straightened her shoulders as gazes fell on her and shot her glare at anyone willing to make eye contact. I could see a mortal who used to hate me smirking from his desk at the front of the room and rolled my eyes. Paul looked down to start going through the roll when Bella put her hand up with her eyes on me.

"Yes, Bella?"

"Why haven't you welcomed Percy back? He left for long enough he might as well be a new student." She said.

Paul closed his eyes briefly and and shot Annabeth and I a glance.

"Percy is… I want everyone to know here and now, Percy and Ms Chase experienced a great deal over the past few months and no member of the staff or student council will tolerate anyone intruding into their privacy. There are to be no comments on Percy's missing school for something of no fault of his own. You have all been warned.

"And I'm aware that as teenagers you all have a penchant for gossiping. As teachers we have come to expect that. But we won't allow any malicious rumours. Anyone caught spreading these will be punished."

It was weird for me to see Paul so serious, but the look he placed on the teenagers grabbed their attention better than anything else I'd ever seen him do. Annabeth shifted uncomfortably at the seat next to mine as eyes swivelled back to us. I was a little annoyed at Paul for involving her when no one in the school knew she had anything to do with my disappearance. Hardly anyone even knew she existed yet!

Annabeth took my hand and laced her fingers through mine. This didn't go unnoticed by the masses and whispering started anew. I sighed and settled in for a day of being stared at by mortals. And not for the reason I'm used to.

"Now let's get on with roll call." Paul said.

Hope you all like the first chapter! A bit of a short one, but they will be getting longer as we go on. Any constructive criticism is appreciated :) I am Australian so any discrepancies you see with spelling or school systems are to be blamed on that. Please correct me if you notice anything.

See you next week with the next chapter!