Chapter Text
Mark Atwater’s POV
Ok, Kayla and Emma are hiding something.
Mark first noticed from the weird glances they’d shoot each other when they didn’t think anyone was listening, and the way they hunched over a notebook secretly during class, but what really gave it away was Kayla’s frankly awful poker face that was noticeable to practically everyone minus Percy(who seemed to notice everything and nothing at the same time; seriously, the guy noticed when their Latin teacher upped the temperature in the room by a couple of degrees but was blissfully unaware to the shifty and very suspicious looks Kayla would give him all the time).
At first, Mark just wrote it off as a product of Kayla’s crushed feelings and Emma being weird, but as the days went on and they still didn’t stop, even Mark could admit that it was a bit much, even for the two of them.
It’s a day away from winter break when Mark finally decides to confront them about it, as they all plop down at their usual table during lunch. He was hoping to find a moment to casually pull Kayla aside(he’d decided to ask Kayla because asking Emma anything was like trying to talk to a rock; you just wouldn’t get anything out of it) so he could put a little pressure on her and hopefully get her to spill.
For now, though, he just busied himself with eating his crappy school lunch and listening to the others talk about what their plans were for winter break.
Kayla and Emma were going skiing together with their families, and Mark was going to visit his family in Oregon.
“What about you, Percy?” He hears Kayla ask.
“I’m going to visit this camp that I’m a counselor for in Long Island.” He says.
Emma, unsurprisingly, peaks up at this.
“That’s a pretty long drive.” She comments.
“Yeah, one of my friends and I are going to drive up this weekend.” Percy replies.
“One of your camp friends?” Mark asks.
Percy nods.
“Yup. Actually, she even goes to this school. But she was doing the transfer program so she’s been in France this whole time, but she’s coming back tomorrow so we can drive out together.” he says.
“Oh, who-” Mark’s question is broken up by Emma, who’s watching Percy attentively.
“You know, speaking of France, have you ever been to the St. Louis Arch?” Emma asks. Percy frowns, clearly wondering, like Mark, about the weird change in conversation.
“How does that have anything to do with France?” Percy asks.
Emma motions with her hand carelessly.
“You know, the St. Louis Arch is a building… and France has buildings.”
Mark struggles to connect the dots between the two, but he lets Emma’s weird explanation pass, instead letting Percy answer.
“Ummm… ok, I guess. Yeah, I’ve been there.” Percy double glances at her, as though trying to figure something out.
“So, guys-” Once again, Mark tries to change the topic of conversation to something more interesting than some random building, but Emma is having none of it.
“I went once, when I was younger. Had a great time. How was your experience visiting the Arch, Percy?” She asks.
Percy and Emma stare at each other, and Mark has never felt more lost. He picks at his food, confused, and glances over at Kayla(usually, she’s also pretty confused from conversations between Emma and Percy, but this time she’s just staring intently).
Finally, Percy sighs.
“Alright, Emma. Cut it out. What’s this really about?”
Emma leans forward, her eyes alight with something Mark can’t quite place.
“I know.”
“What the fuck, man? You were part of a manhunt?” Mark feels slightly hysterical as he faces his friend, who’s watching him with concern.
“Well, yes. But to be fair, it sounds worse than it is.”
“I’m seriously doubting that. Wait, why didn’t you tell us?” Mark asks.
Percy waves the question away.
“It happened when I was twelve. To be honest, I rarely think about it nowadays.”
Mark, Kayla and Emma stare at him incredulously.
Percy tries a different approach.
“ And , by the way, I was proven innocent. So honestly, it’s just water under the bridge.”
“Woah woah woah woah. It doesn’t exactly make sense. Why the hell were you even at the Arch to begin with? Why’d you jump off? And how the hell did you survive that?” Mark asks.
Percy raises an eyebrow at Mark’s outburst.
“Well, to answer the first question, I wanted to go sightseeing-”
“I’m sorry. Sightseeing ?”
Percy glares at Mark for interrupting.
“You should never miss out on an opportunity to see a national monument. I mean, when in Rome, right?” Percy chuckles, though at what Mark doesn’t understand.
“And,” Percy continues, “I jumped off because a mean woman and her chihuahua attacked me. Which is fucking terrifying, by the way.”
Emma’s staring at Percy like he’s grown another two heads. Now that Mark thinks about it, he’s probably staring at him in a similar manner.
“You were attacked by a chihuahua ?” Emma asks. For once in her life, she looks off-kilter. Her mouth hangs slightly open, in a manner that is eerily similar to Kayla.
“Basically. And for question numero tres , I survived because swimming is in my genes.” Percy grins at the last part, and Mark fights the urge to facepalm.
“You survived a 600 foot drop because of your genetics ?” Mark feels slightly dizzy now.
Percy looks thoughtful for a moment as he thinks.
“Yup, pretty much.”
Mark had wanted to continue asking Percy about… whatever that was, but the bell unfortunately rang and no matter how interesting Percy’s past was, they all had to go. Even after, during passing periods and during their class in English together, they’d managed to ask a grand total of zero questions, on account for outside distractions and the fact that Percy had seemed to have zero interest in continuing that particular conversation.
So, by the time school was over, and Mark and the others had met up at their usual spot next to their lockers, they had given up(for now) on continuing to ask questions.
Perhaps, Mark thought, he might be more open to talking about it after winter break.
So for now, they settled for having one final face-to-face conversation before all heading their separate ways.
They’re walking over to the parking lot when they hear a shout.
Mark turns around only to find a blur of red whizz past him and pull Percy into a smothering hug.
It’s only after she finally pulls away that Mark can finally get a good look at her, but when he finally sees her, he hears Kayla gasp from behind him.
Mark recognizes her. I mean, of course he does, she’s practically famous around here.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare. Now, Mark only knew her from social media, but Kayla had talked about her enough that he at least had a good idea of who she was.
Rich, famous, with a penchant for unexplainable craziness (actually, she and Percy would get on like a house on fire, now that he thinks about it). A young activist and supposedly a great artist(Kayla had talked about her pieces’ composition and so forth which made absolutely no sense to him), Rachel was definitely well-known at their school. She'd supposedly raised a lot of money for the environment and various other causes through her art.
And apparently, she and Percy knew each other.
“Rachel! I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow!” Percy says, an ear-splitting grin on his face.
“The plane flight moved up and I wanted to surprise you. Thought we could leave early.” Rachel says, flicking him in the shoulder in a friendly sort of way.
“Hi. I’m Kayla.” Kayla says, waving awkwardly yet with vigor.
Mark and Emma, seeing this as the opportunity to introduce themselves, state their names as well.
Rachel smiles excitedly, and Mark can see why she’s so well-liked. Even now, dressed in an oversized orange t-shirt and paint-splattered jeans, she carries a similar energy to Percy and is almost captivating.
“Nice to meet you! I’m Rachel, Percy’s friend.” She says, before grinning at Percy.
“And, on behalf of all of our Camp, I apologize for leaving you to deal with this guy during school.” She jabs.
“Hey!”Percy whines, and Rachel laughs.
“Kay, I’m gonna head to the car. Meet you there, Percy?” Rachel asks, clearly wanting to give him some time to say bye to his friends.
He nods once, and Rachel grabs her bag and with one last friendly wave to them left.
The silence that ensued was broken up by the furious sound of Kayla smacking Percy in the arm.
“What the hell, Percy! You didn’t tell us your friend was Rachel Elizabeth Dare!” She said angrily.
Mark found it kind of funny that Kayla was far angrier about Percy not telling them about his friend versus not telling them about the whole manhunt thing.
Percy holds up his hands in the wordless sign of surrender.
“Jeez, fine, I didn’t know it was such a big deal!” He says back.
This, if anything, just incites Kayla more, and Emma has to hold her back as she attempts to get a few garbled words out to give Percy a piece of her mind. Percy just stares at her, amazed, as though seeing a new side of her. Mark smirks at him.
“I know, right? It’s always the quiet ones.”
Kayla finally shrugs Emma off.
“Do you even know what a big deal that girl is?” Kayla says, and Emma shushes her hurriedly, clearly anticipating another long rant.
“She is-” Kayla stops at another one of Emma’s overly loud shushes, glaring at her vehemently.
Kayla stomps over to Percy purposefully.
“You, young man, better talk to us during your trip. I want details .”
“I don’t even have a phone!” Percy says.
“Well, now’s the time to invest, huh? Seriously, dude, it’s not the 1900s.” Kayla shoots back.
Kayla turns, clearly intent on stomping away, but stops, as though forgetting something. Percy raises an eyebrow, waiting.
“And… bye, I guess. I’ll miss you.”