Absolute Mortality

Chapter 2

A/N: Just a little FYI, this is set in 2009, around the time after the Titan War ended in the canon universe. Just thought you should know so you have some perspective.

Also, I'm not too happy with the title of this story, so if you have suggestions, please give them to me.

I woke up was momentarily confused by my surroundings before remembering where I was. I'd arrived at CHB for my third year two days ago and hadn't gotten fully accustomed to sleeping in my dorm yet.

I threw the blanket off of myself and sat up on my bed for a second to soak in my dorm again. It was a decently sized room. It was perfectly symmetrical, except for the fact that my half was clean while the other was not.

Both beds were in the corners farthest from the door and closest to the window. The window was in the center of the room, as was the door. At the side of my bed was a larger than normal nightstand where I kept all my clothes. At the foot of my bed was a desk that was mostly empty except for a few daily things I needed like a hairbrush and perfume and the sorts. I wasn't too into my looks and all the "beauty" things some girls can be obsessed with, but I still preferred not to look like a slob.

Above my desk was a couple of hooks where I hung my jacket and backpack.

My roommate was not so organized. Her clothes were in a pile next to her bed. Her bag was tossed haphazardly on her desk, half hanging off. Her denim jacket was on top of it, one of the sleeves inside out.

Right next to the door was a small trash bin, the only thing we shared. Left unchecked, it'd get completely full and have trash spilling out, but I made sure to empty it out frequently.

On the back of the door hung a tall mirror.

I stood and slid open my nightstand drawers and threw together a quick outfit and began to change.

I was facing my bed with my back to my roommate's when I heard a whistle from behind me. I hastily finished pulling on a plain white t-shirt and turned around.

"You're up," I said.

"I noticed," Thalia said with a smirk. She was sitting up on her bed, wearing pajamas. She had choppy black hair and electric blue eyes. She was pretty, but intimidating when not smiling.

"Ready for the assembly?" I asked.

"Nope."

"You think it's goung to be as bad as last year?"

"I hope not."

"It's in thirty minutes, so you'd better get dressed." With that, I left the room.

I walked three doors down and knocked. It opened faster than I'd expected it to.

"Chase," Clarisse said before exiting into the hall, leaving the door open.

I entered to find my best friend already fully dressed.

Piper was wearing a tank top and a tight pair of eans. She had uneven brown hair with a braid on either side. The braid on the left had a feather in it.

She had deeply tanned skin and was rather beautiful.

Her eyes were an illusion. It was impossible to tell what color they were. Part of me suspected that she wore some sort of odd contacts, but I couldn't be sure.

"You're already ready?" I said.

"Why is that so surprising?" Piper said.

"Besides the fact that you're not a morning person?"

"I got good sleep last night."

"Alright. So you're ready for the assembly then?"

"Yeah," she said and stuffed her iPhone in her pocket.

Together, we began walking toward the staircase.

"So, you glad to be back?" Piper asked.

"A little," I admitted.

"Just a little? So are things getting better with you and your dad then?"

"Yeah, he's making the effort to get closer to me. I just. . ." I trailed off.

"Yeah," Piper said understandingly. "Things are still rocky between my mom and me."

I was about to scold her for being so distant with her mother, then I realized that'd be extremely hypocritical.

"So, did they put you in remedial geometry?" I asked.

"No, your tutoring helped me out. They pulled me into a week of summer school and I managed to make up the work."

"That's good. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you make up the grade sooner."

Piper rolled her eyes. "Please. I'm surprised you were still able to maintain your own grades while spending so much time helping me."

"I think you're underestimating how how much free time I had."

"Well thanks again anyways."

We reached the football field and climbed into the bleachers. We sat down next to Thalia and her best friend, Phoebe.

I was about to bring up a new topic of conversation when I noticed a new student climbing the bleachers next to Grover Underwood and Nico Di Angelo.

I wasn't friends with Grover nor Nico but it wasn't too large a school, so I had no problem remembering most of the names and faces of the students in my year. This kid was definitely new though.

The kid had a stereotypical skateboarder look about him. I'd have been surprised had he not caused quite a bit of trouble in his past.

He was wearing a black zip up hoodie, currently unzipped, with a The Beach Boys t-shirt underneath. He also had on a pair of dark jeans.

He had disheveled black hair and sea green eyes. His face had a mediterranean complexion and, I'll admit, was pretty handsome. His mouth was constantly in a sarcastic smile.

He said something to Grover that made him laugh and Nico gave a forced smile and continued looking as depressed as he usually did.

They continued climbing and the new kid noticed me staring, so I looked away, hoping to have passed it off as just a quick glance.

Nico also noticed us and glared daggers at Thalia. A few years ago, Thalia and Phoebe were also close friends with a girl named Zo Nightshade and Bianca Di Angelo, Nico's older sister. Thalia was driving the four of them when a drunk driver collided with them and Zo and Bianca died. Nico still blamed Thalia for it.

Uncharacteristically though, Thalia felt too bad for Nico to return his resentment. I have a feeling that she may kind of blame herself too, but she never talks to me about things like that.

Grover was the last to notice and hastily urged Nico and the unnamed boy onto a bench five rows below us.

"That kid can really hold a grudge," I said.

Thalia just sighed.

Below us on the field, a few students and teachers were flooding onto the field. A two pairs of burlier students, one being Clarisse, carried large speakers to either sides of the field before joining their peers on the bleachers.

After just a couple of minutes, they were completely set up and the principal, Mr. Berns, held a mic.

"Girls and boys of CHB, who's ready to get this school year started?", he exclaimed. About a third of the audience cheered, most of them likely just do to politeness.

"Well I've got a few little start of the year announcements for you all, then our student council will have a few things to say as well.

"First things first, we need to welcome all our new students. Let's give the freshman and other incomers a big round of applause." There was a slightly more enthusiastic round of cheering this time.

"Now all of our school rules are listed in that student manual you each were given, but I know most of you won't read them. So I'm just going to list out the most important ones. No bullying, no harassment, no public displays of affection, no leaving the school premises on weekdays without a valid excuse and being signed out by the office. You may leave on weekends and other days there are no school, but only if your parents signed the form permitting this.

"So those are the basic rules that the faculty will be strictly holding you to abide by. Now, a few minor changes to the school. First, classes will be starting nine minutes sooner and ending nine minutes later. But you'll also be getting an extra ten minutes during your lunch period. You'll find a precise timetable on the inside cover of your student manual.

"Second, we've introduced a new zero-tolerance policy on late work. If you do not get permission from a teacher to turn in your work past its due date, you'll be deducted ten percent on that assignment for every day that it's late. So there should be no more of you hoarding unfinished assignments just to turn it all in at the end of the quarter.

"Lastly, we've had a minor change in staff. One of our science teachers, Mrs. Faris, has retired and we've hired Mr. Cabal in her stead." In the line of teachers, hispanic man of around fifty stepped forward and waved to the applause before taking a stepping back into line.

"Well, that's all I have for you today." Thalia sighed in relief. The principal normally does games or skits at the start of the year that are painful to sit through. "Give it up for your student body president, Justin Boyden." Applause roared as a scrawny boy with shoulder length brown hair took the microphone.

"What's up everyone?" he said. "Just a couple of things for you. This right here is last years student council," he pointed to the rest of the students that were on the field, "but some of them or all of them could be leaving as you vote on your class' three representatives. You can fill out forms in the front office to officially run and voting will begin in two weeks.

"As for homecoming, we'll be having a dance on the twenty-fifth followed by the first game of the basketball tournament. The dance fee will be ten dollars for one person and fifteen dollars for a couple. As for the basketball tournament, it'll be ten dollars per team member to form a team. The entrance fee to the game is to be decided.

"Anyways, I hope you all have a great year at CHB." He handed the microphone back to Mr. Berns.

"You are dismissed for the rest of the day," he said. "You are not allowed to leave campus today, be ready to start your classes tomorrow."

All of the students began standing up and filing down the bleachers.

Thalia and Phoebe lagged behind to distance themselves from Nico. Piper and I followed the rest of the students off of the field.

It wasn't lunch for another hour, but we sat down at our usual table in the lunch area anyways.

"So, what electives are you taking?" PIper asked.

"Engineering I and Spanish II," I said.

"Engineering?" Piper asked.

"It's the closest thing they have to architecture," I said. "What are you taking?"

"Culinary Arts and Spanish."

"Since when were you interested in cooking?"

"Since never, that's the point. All I ever eat at home are meals from our personal chef, so I never had the chance to learn. Here's my chance."

I nodded. Piper's father is Tristan McLean, a famous movie star so her life at home is pretty luxurious. But she likes to keep that part of her life as private as possible because she really doesn't enjoy attention too much.

"Let me see your schedule," Piper said. I pulled it out and handed it to her and she dug hers out of her pocket to compare. "Three classes together."

"Only three?" I said disappointingly while taking back my schedule.

Piper's eyes suddenly aimed over my shoulders and she stood. "I'll catch up with you at lunch, okay?"

"What—?" I started to say.

"Later," she said and hurried off.

I sat there stunned for a second before standing and deciding to head to the gym.