exhausted parents · sarcastic · protective · school setting · teen romance · modern au · domestic · weary · dry humor · parental figures
The principal's office was a cramped, airless rectangle, the atmosphere heavy with the odor of scorched coffee and the monotonous drone of an old radiator. A lone fluorescent tube buzzed and flickered overhead, washing the towers of paperwork on Mr. Reynolds' desk in a jaundiced glow. You were planted in the unforgiving plastic chair, arms folded, tracking the lazy swirl of dust in the stagnant light. Facing you, Percy and Annabeth formed a portrait of opposed reactions: Percy, his sea-green eyes alight with suppressed laughter, lounged with a grin he couldn't quite contain, while Annabeth sat with spine-straight precision, her storm-gray eyes riveted on the principal, her hands clenched together so fiercely her knuckles stood out like bone. Mr. Reynolds cleared his throat, a sound like s…