The pencil shavings scattered around Annabeth in a circle. She scribbled on the paper in fierce determination. Her glasses almost fell off her face, but she didn't care. She pushed it back to her nose bridge.

The door was close, eliminating the noise created by humans. She left the windows open, however; since the sound of Manhattan gave her inspiration. She definitely preferred the honking of cars than human interaction.

She blew on her paper. It wasn't homework. It was much more important than school. It was her dream. She stared at her draft in admiration. Her sketch of an Empire State Building upgrade looked perfect in her eyes. Well, since she did draw it, she thought it was beautiful. Annabeth smirked at her pride.

But she just couldn't help feeling enlightened. She was addicted to architecture. She knew the history of the landmarks of Manhattan. She studied every historical buildings around the world. She loved the design and style. She researched all architectural history. She wanted to visit every one of them. She wanted to take a closer look at the Shard in London, an 87-storey skyscraper in the heart of the city with 11,000 glass panels, the Taj Mahal, and, her personal favorite, Hoover Dam.

Her heart fluttered as she thought of all the admirable architecture that she wished to contribute one day. She put down her pencil on the drafting table before clutching her stomach in pain.

She gasped as she felt her breathing get heavy. Annabeth coughed uncontrollably. Her back moving back in forth. Her chest tightened. She wheezed between breaths. Her lungs felt horrible, like a wave was swishing in and out of it. Her chest was in unfathomable kind of pain. Tears welled her eyes as she felt like she was running out of air. She coughed and coughed. She tried to stand and walk, but only to fall in an agonizing manner and pass out.

Annabeth's eyes flew open as she gasped quietly. A ceiling fan hovered above her like helicopter blades. Her eyebrows furrowed as she sat up from her comfy bed. A white blanket covered her lower half. A metal nursing cart was beside her bed, like a nightstand. It had all kinds of medical supplies. A clock ticked on the wall in front of her, reading "8:30" as its second hand ticked and ticked to count the seconds. It was before Annabeth realized something.

This wasn't her room.

Then she heard a murmur. Her head snapped to her right, her eyes squinted. It was her father, and he sounded serious. Annabeth's feet made contact with the wooden floor in silence. She hauled herself up before tiptoeing to the curtain that hid her.

Her gray eyes were stormy with curiosity. It was sometimes like that, when she felt angry or sad. Her head peered through the curtain, sure to be stealthy.

Her father, Frederick, was talking with someone out of her field of vision. She couldn't look any further because she'll be spotted. She did a mental sigh before listening to their conversation. "—the pollution is not safe." A voice said. It was her doctor, Will Solace. He was a good friend to her, sometimes. "What are you suggesting, Will?" Annabeth's father asked, trying to think straight.

Annabeth stared at her dad in confusion. His hair was ruffled. His eyes were bloodshot. He looked like he was losing his temper and was about to lose his sanity. Gods, how long did Annabeth sleep?

She glanced at the clock, 8:50. It was either pm or am. It annoyed her not knowing things, especially things as easy as time. She glanced back at her father.

"I recommend moving to Arizona. It has fresh air and a beautiful scenery. And, I know, personally, that your daughter will love to go there, for Hoover Dam?" Will said quite smugly. Annabeth couldn't help but smile. She told him once, and he still remembers. She bets doctors remember everything their patient says, if not, right it down a paper. Frederick sighed.

"Do you mean move?" He asked.

Annabeth stepped back, feeling Dr. Solace nod. She felt like she heard enough. She laid back down to the bed, making no sound at all. Move…

"She won't be happy about it." Her dad said.

Both of Annabeth's eyebrows went up. Did she feel happy? She thought for a while, not really knowing what to feel. New York is great and all, but what does she have here? Her dad, sure, but they don't talk that much now. It's not like they have anything to talk about. Annabeth didn't have a life. She was alone, an introvert, silent.

School was for learning. That was the sentence she told herself every day. It wasn't about friends, or parties, or having to communicate. It was about learning and studies. But she wasn't a nerd, at least avoid to be one because of bullies. She wasn't the one to interrupt a teacher or raise her hand to every question the teachers ask. So, she wasn't sure about moving. But she would love to see the Hoover Dam.

A finger tapped her shoulders. Her dad, she guessed. She faked a yawn and blinked at him. "What time is it?" She tried not to flinch at the sound of her voice. It was dry and hoarse, it's like it wasn't hers. Frederick frowned, apparently he was also disturbed by his daughter's voice.

"It's nighttime."

Annabeth cocked an eyebrow at him. "Wow, dad, you're so specific."

He smiled, but his eyes looked sorrowful. Annabeth didn't realize New York meant so much to him. She assumed he loved it but not that much that he was hiding sadness from her. "I have some news for you." He started. "The cause of your asthma earlier was because of smoke, air pollution. And, as much as I love you, you're going to have to move."

Annabeth tried for a fake sigh until catching on to the word you're. Her eyes snapped at him. You're going to have to move. "You're?" Annabeth asked.

"I'm staying. I have to pay for your school and I can't quit my job. We're not rich so I asked Aunt Hestia to let you stay at her house in Arizona. It's fine."

Annabeth softened but still had a question in her mind.

"Does Mom know about this?"

Her mom, Athena. Her father told her about her mother's stories and why she always travels. He always tried to assure her that Athena will come back. But Annabeth never believed him. She was sure that Athena would come, her daughter did have a life-threatening situation. Shouldn't she be here, eyes with worry and tears?

"I texted her."

"And?"

"She's off to Hong Kong right now so—"

Annabeth's shoulders slumped as she felt herself about to cry. "When will I leave?" She asked.

"Tomorrow morning. Now eat and get some rest, okay?" Frederick stood up and smiled. He turned and left.

This is the first chapter of my first fanfic! Thank you for clicking on it and reading!