Hey guys. I'm sorry for not finishing my other story. I got really bad writer's block, but then I got this idea and I decided to try to write about it. Hopefully I will be able to finish the other one. But please read this and let me know how it went.

4 Years Ago

Pounding. That was all Percy could feel. Fists upon fists raining down on him. Over and over and over. Gabe showing no mercy. Well, was that what he expected? Mercy? After all these years? It wasn't happening. He just needed to get over the silly idea, and accept it.

"I hope you learned your lesson," he breathed drunkenly after the punches finally stopped.

Percy just lay there. All he could do was moan in response.

"I said," Gabe pulled Percy up, for he was small for his age, and he pushed him against the wall, "Did you learn your lesson?"

Percy nodded vigorously and gasped, "Yes Gabe."

"Good."

With that he dropped Percy back to the ground and turned back into the kitchen.

Percy went as fast as he could back upstairs, and laid under his covers waiting for his mom to get home.

He cried himself to sleep.

The next day he was woken up with banging on his door.

"Kid! Wake up! Now!" Gabe shouted.

Percy could barely move to see his alarm clock. It read 1:00 PM.

He got dressed in his room as quickly as possible and quietly went downstairs. He tried to sneak out the backdoor, but Gabe was expecting him.

"Not so fast," he grunted, pushing Percy against the wall.

Percy instantly froze. He hated being pushed against the wall. It was the sign that things were about to get bad.

"You know. I came to a realization last night," he began.

Like you could ever have a realization, Percy thought.

"If you keep needing lessons, you can't look like this," he said, plucking at Percy's blue hoodie and pointing towards his Converse shoes.

"If you look like a little brat all the time, then people will wonder why you have all these bruises, and wondering leads to unnecessary phone calls which leads to Gabe needing to teach lessons to everybody in the house. Not just little ol' Percy."

Percy's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak.

"Uh uh. Let me finish. I might have to teach you a lesson on that later. But the point! You'll need to change. You can't be sweet little Percy and have these marks. People will think something outrageous like you have a troubled home life! And we both know that's not true. Right?" Gabe asked staring at Percy.

"No Gabe. M-My home life is just fine," Percy said, staring at the ground.

"Good to know we're on the same page. So I'm laying around this morning thinking about our problem, and bing! I've got it! You'll just have to become the "bad boy". It'll work wonders, trust me. People see you with bruises and scars, they'll just think, 'Oh. It's just that kid. He gets in gang fights all the time.' And they'll think nothing of it. Brilliant. The bad boy is a kid that is just there. When he's gone, no one will care. Some people might even be relieved! The teachers hate him because he does terrible in their classes, he doesn't care, and he purposely causes trouble. Passing grades, but no A's or B's. If the teachers like you, they'll start paying attention, and that's bad. Same goes for friends. They pay attention. None of those. But, according to other people, you're a pretty likable kid. So that'll have to change. You'll have to irritate everyone you meet so they'll stay clear of you. We'll work on that later. I think I'll be able to train you pretty well. We'll go today to get you the proper clothes."

Gabe dropped Percy and he stood there stunned. He didn't want to do this. He started backing up towards the back door.

For being a big guy, Gabe had pretty fast reflexes.

"And where do you think you're going when I just told you about all the work we have to do? Now I won't rough you up this time because your image isn't complete and we're about to go in public, but remember next time that one day you might be gone and your mom will be here. I'll be bored and I might miss our times together, so I might just try to recreate them with your mother. Maybe she'll need a lesson too."

Gabe let go of Percy and told him to get in the car, for they were going shopping.

Once Gabe parked the car, Percy spoke up, "Gabe, I don't think we need to do this. I-I can just put on my mom's makeup. No one will know the difference."

"People aren't as stupid as you are Percy."

"Please Gabe. I won't tell anyone, I promise! I-I swear on the River Styx!" Percy yelled, remembering something read from his Greek textbook.

"I don't care about whatever that means. Get into that store before I drag you in by your ears."

He came out with the bad boy works. Leather jacket, black combat boots, as many black T-shirts as he could count, black skinny jeans, and a red beanie.

Percy changed that day. His appearance changed, his personality changed, but he knew that no matter how many masks he had to wear, he would try as hard as he could to keep at least a sliver of himself in his body.

I know it was short, but it was just an introduction. Let me know how you thought it went please. Reviews are extremely encouraged, good and bad. Thank you everyone, and once again, I am sorry that it has been so long.