It was a quiet Friday afternoon. I was walking out of the office building where I worked, excited that the weekend was here and that I could finally reveal to Percy that I was pregnant with twins. For the past week, I had been working a few hours late each day, to save up some money for clothes and things for the babies. I just have to hope Percy will be as happy as I am.

As I was driving down the road, I realized how nervous I really was. My stomach was churning and I was shivering, even though it was warm outside. I tried to play the radio, to calm myself. It worked a little bit. When I arrived and Percy's and my apartment, I was trembling with anticipation. I was so excited and bubbly and nervous all at the same time.
I opened the door to the apartment and walked in. I was greeted by something that was the opposite of what I was expecting. Percy was standing at the door, holding a stack of boxes in his hands. "Um... need any help?" I asked. He dropped the boxes with a swift motion, and they landed with a bang on the floor. I took a step back. "Those are yours," Percy said; his voice was flat. I glanced at the boxes and then at Percy. "What do you mean...?" I was very confused now. "Don't play dumb, Annabeth. I know what you've been doing this past week." These words hit me like an avalanche. I knew exactly what he meant now. "Percy, I haven't been cheating on you. I swear I haven't," I pleaded. Percy shook his head. "Yes, you have. And I want you out of my house." Percy kicked the boxes, toppling them over. "What? What do you mean? This is our home. It's not just yours!" I yelled. Percy pointed his finger at me. " Get out of here, you cheating skank." He gave me a shove, and that put me over the edge. "Stop it! I'm not cheating on you!" I cried, my eyes tearing up. "I love you, Percy! I love you so much, and I'm here to tell you that I'm-"

"GET. OUT. NOW!" Percy pushed me out the door and tossed the boxes with me. He slammed the door shut, and didn't say another word. I was on the floor, shocked by what had happened. I wrapped my arms around my legs, and looked around. The boxes were broken open, and I could see they were full of my items. One was full of my clothes, and another was full of my... antiques. I quickly got up and touched the box. I felt tears stream down my face as I looked through my most expensive sculptures and nick-knacks were shattered into little pieces. I was at a lost for words. I didn't know what I was going to do. My things were ruined, and I was pregnant with twins without a father to take care of them. I was about to get up and leave, when Percy door flung open.

"Oh, and that wedding that we were going to have in the fall? It's over." He tossed me his ring and it landed at my feet...

I got up off the floor and grabbed the boxes, sobbing down the stairs as I ran.

As I drove , my mind raced. What was I going to do? I had twins, and I was single. I would have to give them up for adoption. There was no other choice. When I got to a small intersection, I stopped at a red light. And then I was blind-sided by another fact: I had no other home to go to. Percy and I had bought that apartment for us to live in together. And we had lived there for the past two years. I fished my phone out of my pocket, and dialed my friend Piper's number.

"Hello?"

"Piper, I need help." I said, trying to sound like I wasn't crying. There was a small hesitance, and then Piper asked, "Why?"

"Well, I'm pregnant with twins... and Percy just kicked me out of our home. He broke up with me and accused me of cheating on him," I explained. Piper gasped. "Oh my gosh! How could he do that?!" She yelled. I scratched my neck. "Piper... could I come over your house and... stay there for a while? You know.. until I find a place to stay at?" I hoped with all of my heart she would let me come over her house. "Yeah, whatever. But only for a week. You have to find yourself another place after that," Piper said. I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you," I told her. I hung up, and hurried over to her house.

I stepped up to Piper's front door and knocked. It opened quickly, and Piper was standing there in her nightgown. "Oh my god!" She cried. "You look awful!"
I realized that I had all of my makeup running down my face since I was crying, and I probably looked like a psycho clown. I shrugged. "Come inside and wash up," Piper said.

Piper's house is beautiful. She and her dad used to live in it together, thanks to his movie star career, but he died a few years back, so Piper got to keep the home. She tries to keep it as clean as she can, because that's what her father always did.
Piper motioned for me to go to the bathroom, so I did. I looked in the mirror, and I looked worse than I thought. I turned on the water and rubbed my face.

After I looked like a normal person again, I turned the water off, and walked back into Piper's living room. "Okay, now tell me everything." Piper said, sitting on the couch. I sat next to her, and started to explain...

"Well, I had been working late for the past week to save up money for the twins' clothes and things. So... I guess when I got home... Percy had thought I was cheating on him. He just kicked me out, threw my boxes at me, and canceled our wedding." I stopped to wipe my eyes with my sleeve. "So now... I don't know what to do. I'm pregnant with twins... and I don't have a boyfriend to take care of them with me. And on top of that, I don't even have a home any more," I finished. Piper nodded, and handed my a tissue. I wiped my eyes. "Well, we I can help you find an apartment or something. But I'm not giving you a birthday present if I'm the one paying," Piper chuckled. I nodded. "Deal."

The next morning, I awoke on Piper's couch. I yawned and stretched, glad that I didn't have to go to work. I didn't realize I was at Piper's house until I saw her walk in the room. "It wasn't a bad dream," I groaned. Piper smiled weakly. "I found a few reasonable priced houses on Google this morning. You should check 'em out," She said. I sighed. "Alright." I got up off the couch just as my phone started to vibrate in my pocket. I took it out and said, "Hello?", into the phone. "Annabeth?" The familiar voice of my boss, Will Tylers, hung on the line. "Oh... um... hi, Mr. Tylers," I said nervously. He never calls me on my phone unless something is wrong. "Annabeth, I know it's Saturday, but Kelly just broke her leg this morning because she tripped on the stairs. Can you fill in for her this morning?" Will asked me. I had zero hesitation when I said, "No."

"But, Annabeth, we really need you. You're one of my best workers here. I'll give you a raise if you come in," He said. I sighed. "Mr. Tylers, you don't understand. I really can't. I had some... drama... going on yesterday. I'm still a bit rattled by it." I spoke firmly. I was about to think that Will had given up, but I should've known better. "Please? I'll give you another day off this week. Annabeth, the company really needs you today," He said. I sighed, finally caving in. "Fine," I grumbled. "Oh, thank you. You can come in any time before ten."

I hung up the phone and looked at my watch. It was already freaking nine- fifteen?! I quickly looked back up at Piper. "I'm sorry, but I guess I need to head to the office. Stupid boss 'needs' me." I used finger quotes when I said 'needs'. Piper shrugged. "Whatever. But me and Jason are going to a club tonight, so here's a key for the house-" She handed me a small sliver key. "- because I probably won't be back until midnight... or tomorrow morning." Piper smirked a little bit. She and Jason were a very... wild... couple.

"Um... this may sound strange... but can I kinda borrow some of your clothes?" I suddenly blurted out. Piper lifted her eyebrows. "What?" She asked. "Well... I'm still wearing the same clothes as I was yesterday. Sooo..." I shrugged. Piper groaned. "I went shopping yesterday and bought a bunch of clothes. They're still in a bag in my room. Find something that'll work for you." She left the room after she said this. I hurried off to her room and found the huge shopping bag that she had talked about. I picked out a white blouse and black jeans. I put on the same black cropped cardigan from yesterday, and tied my hair up in a bun.

"Thanks Piper!" I called to her as I left her house, my purse slung over my shoulder. When I arrived at work, one of my co-workers were leaning against the building, smoking a cigarette. "Hey, Annabeth." He gave me a little wave. I looked down at the floor. "Hi, Mason," I murmured. Mason and I had dated a long time ago; before I had met Percy. And for some reason, seeing Mason brought back a flash-back when I had first met Percy: At a beach, on a date with Mason. This memory shook me up so much, that I almost started to cry. "Woah, woah... are you okay?" Mason asked me. Snapping back to reality, I realized I was just standing beside him, staring into space. "What? Oh, yeah. I'm just... tired." I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. Mason hesitated. "Um... okay, I guess." He shrugged. I rushed into the building before he could say anything else.
Remembering Percy made me feel sick to my stomach. I was shivering and felt tears well up in my eyes. I didn't want to talk to anyone; I just wanted
to do what I supposed to do, and head back to Piper's house. I was close to my office cubicle, when my high-heel twisted. I flailed my arms out to break my fall, but before I could reach the ground, a strong arm caught me. I looked up to see my boss. "M-Mr. Tylers?!" I stuttered. His dark brown eyes were concerned. "Are you alright?" He asked me, helping me up. I pulled away from his gentle grip and clenched my fists. Anger suddenly surged through me. "Am I alright? Am I alright?! I just got fucking thrown out of my own fucking house, and I'm pregnant with twins and I have no husband anymore to take care of them! And you have the nerve to tell me to come to work, on my day off, and then you follow up by asking me if I'm alright?! Well, no! I'm not alright!" I screamed in rage. The office building went dead silent as if a gun had been been fired. Will was standing in complete shock. I felt a sudden overwhelming wave of humiliation. How could you scream like that, Annabeth? How could you do that from your own boss that just saved you from falling? He's going to fire you! I thought to myself. I looked up at Will, and then back at the floor. Tears flooding down my face, I raced down the hall.

I ran into an empty break-room and locked the door behind me. I crumpled against the wall and sobbed. The one shimmer of hope, the one sliver of happiness, was gone. All I felt was confusion, sadness, and heart-break. I didn't want to live anymore. Life didn't matter anymore. Without Percy... my life meant nothing. My babies would grow up in an orphanage, never knowing their mother or father. An overwhelming pain swelled in my heart. I missed Percy. I couldn't deny it. I missed him more than anything.

My tears wouldn't stop coming. I told myself, "Stop crying!", but it wouldn't work. The tears just fell and fell. I couldn't tell how much time had passed. Maybe minutes, maybe hours. But I didn't care. I would stay in this room for the rest of my life. I wouldn't eat or drink. I would just sit here, and wait, until starvation took over and I would no longer be nothing but a hollow corpse.

I was jolted from my sorrow-filled daze by a pound on the door. "Annabeth?"

Will's voice. I squeezed my eyes shut. This time, I forced myself to stop crying. I slapped my face as hard as I could and cursed silently. Hoping my voice would sound normal, I stuttered, "Go away." My voice came out ragged and emotionless. "Annabeth, please come out. The whole team is worried about you," Will said. I stood up. "No! You're just going to make me come out so you can fire me!" I yelled. Will hesitated. "Annabeth... I promise I won't fire you. Please, just come out," he said. I shut my eyes. I didn't want to come out, I really didn't. But I had to. I knew I had to. Slowly, I opened the door. Will's soft face looked concerned. "Annabeth, I don't want to see you like this," he said.

I couldn't control myself after he said this. I needed someone. I needed someone to hold me, stroke my hair, tell me everything was going to be alright while I cried my eyes out on their shoulder. I flung myself into Will's arms and wrapped my arms around his neck. I cried more than I had in the break-room. I couldn't stop my tears. I honestly thought I would never stop. I expected Will to back away- to step back and scream, "What are you doing?!" But he didn't. He held me tightly, rocking my slowly. He rubbed my back and I didn't want him to let me go. When he did, he wiped my eyes with his hands. "Annabeth, I didn't think I would ever tell you this... and I'm sure you don't even want to hear it... but...

"I really like you." Will's beautiful brown eyes gazed into mine. "Like... like-like?" I stuttered. Will nodded. Hearing this news, I smashed my lips into Will's. I didn't care what others thought, or even what I thought. I just did it, because if there was even the slightest chance of Will and I have a relationship together... that he could help me with my twins...

I needed him to know that I was okay with him liking me.