Chapter 1

Percy's POV

It was the first day of school and all that was going through my head was "Don't screw up Percy, this year you need to focus." It was true, this year I did need to focus, it was the start of a new me. I was at the halfway through high school now, Junior year, and I needed to think about my life after school. I know, I know, why are you so boring Percy? Who does this? But in reality I really needed to get a good job. Then i could begin to pay my amazing mother back for all the years of pain and sadness she had to go through. You see, my mother is the best thing to happen since, well, food, and that's saying something. Yes, before you say anything, I am a huge momma's boy, but that is honestly my opinion. My mom had to put up with my abusive step-father, Gabe, or Smelly Gabe as I called him, for nigh on eight years. He was the biggest asshole you could ever meet. He treated my mother and me terribly, beating us and treating us like crap. But mom had it worse. She had to put up with him night and day while juggling two jobs and university courses. I still don't know how she did it. At least I could get away from it all, sleeping over at a friends house, sometimes for the entire weekend, but mom stayed there and put up with him. I remember the day that she snapped...

Flashback

I opened the front door only to be hit by the stench. Gabe's stench. It wasn't us that made this mess, not me and mom, it was always Gabe. It stank of rotten food, beer and smoke. As usual, Gabe was sat on the couch smoking, eating and gambling. Or losing our money, as it were. "Hi sweetie," came mom's voice from the kitchen. I hurried towards it, glad that she was home and I didn't have to face that lunatic alone. "How was school Percy?" she asked. She always asked, and she nearly always got the same answer in return, it was sort of a ritual or something, I don't know the right word. "Fine mom," I lied. It wasn't fine. It was the first year of middle school, 6th grade, of course it wasn't fine. I think she knew that, deep down, but my answer satisfied her. "Sally! Where's my bean dip?!" There he was, shouting at her and ordering her around again. This wasn't a marriage at all, it was slavery. "Mom, why do you do this to yourself?" I thought. She was a beautiful, smart woman, but she didn't finish college so she didn't get proper qualifications. As a result of that, she didn't have a good job, and no one that she deserved noticed her. Apart from my dad that is. A surfer named Poseidon. He wasn't wealthy, but he seemed like a good guy. At least, from what my mom tells me. I never actually met the dude because he died shortly after I was born, but mom loved him so that's good enough for me. "Sally! Bean dip!" ugh, that pig! Does he even care about my mother? No, of course he doesn't, he doesn't care abut either of us. At least he doesn't beat her though. I still have a scar on my back from the last time he was drunk. Come to think of it, that was three night ago. I'm glad he takes it all out on me though, I couldn't bare it if he hurt mom. "Coming dear, I'll just be a minute." Mom shouted. She walked out of the kitchen to deliver the filthy bastard his bean dip. Smash! I rushed in to see what had happened. The bean dip was dripping all over Gabe. Mom looked horrified, but i caught a twinkle of victory in her eyes. It's official, my mom is my idol. "What did you just do you insolent bitch!?" Gabe screamed at her. Then he looked around and saw me doubled over, clutching my sides. I hastily rearranged my face into a look of sympathy and concern. He didn't buy it. "I'm screwed." I thought as he charged towards me. As he reached me I felt a pair of hands on my shoulders. Soft hands. Slap! A shocked silence followed. I opened my eyes to see my mother sanding in front of me, with an angry Gabe breathing heavily in front of her. She had slapped him. Both of our faces paled as we realizedwhat was about to happen. I'll spare you the details. It involved beatings from Gabe. I collected some new scars. We left. But just as mom and I reached the door he told me to wait there. I heard shouting and another slap, no, multiple slaps, and then mom came running round the corner, flushed, eyes gleaming, and we ran. We rented an apartment and lived on our own for a while, using money she had taken from Gabe's "Gambling Jar", which was well over five grand. Yet another reason she is my idol.

End of flashback

That event had happened a while ago now. From middle school all the way to junior year I had been happy. Well, as happy as I could be given the circumstances. Middle school pretty much sucked for me, I was bullied at home and at school. I was the least popular kid in school. I got beat up every day and my grades were horrendous. High school changed my life for the better. It's strange to think about that really, it's normally not the best experience. But over the summer between middle school and high school, I went to the gym, I became an athlete. Not gonna lie, I got pretty stacked. Then I hit high school. I made new friends, Grover Underwood, Leo Valdez, Charles Beckendorf, Connor and Travis Stoll, Frank Zhang, and eventually the girls that they went out with. We're a tight group now. I was amazed at the jump I had made, even my grades got better.

It was weird really, looking at our group you would have thought that we got low grades I mean, we were the typical jock stereotype; football players, the guys that messed around and made jokes in every class, and then the girls looked like they could be the typical bimbo that fell for the jocks, but surprisingly, we all had B grades and above. We were literally the coolest kids in the year, if not the school. Even the older kids respected us.

"Percy come on! You'll be late!" I jolted, realizing I had only thirty minutes to get to school, and I wasn't even dressed yet! I threw on some jeans, not caring about the small tear in the side, and an old AC-DC shirt. Yes, I was into music, I liked just abut anything except boy bands, Justin Bieber and classical. I don't mean to hate on any of those, but they just weren't my thing. I jammed my earphones and phone into my bag and rushed down the stairs. "There you are slowcoach!" mom yelled, "I've been waiting ages to see my baby before he goes to school!" I shrugged as if to say "Whatever" but i was too busy inhaling blue pancakes to speak. "Slow down, you'll choke if you keep eating like an animal!" I slowed down to snail pace, barely moving at all. She laughed and kissed my forehead, "Paul already left dear, he needed to get there early on the first day." I nodded, that sounds about right.

Paul Blofis, mom's new husband, was an English teacher at my school. I liked Paul, he was fun and good to my mom, which always earned bonus points with me, my mom deserves the best. Having Paul to help with the bills allowed her to finish her college course and she had gone on to write some impressive books, some of which I had input in. Between the two of them, they had been able to move into a swanky new house and we now had a lot more money than we needed. This had lead to the creation of a charity that specialised in helping single parents in a position lie the one we were in earlier on in our lives. Mom managed that from home, leaving plenty of time to write books, or even better, bake. I swear to the gods that my mom can make the best food known to man. Her cookies were my favourite. Of course, everything was blue, which we loved doing and sometimes I helped, or tried to, and we bonded over that. I finished eating and gave mom a kiss and hug goodbye before racing down to the garage to grab my motorcycle. I know, I know, motorcycle's are dangerous, but they are pretty cool and handy for getting around on. I customised the beauty myself, with help from Leo Valdez and Beckendorf, who are cousins and their parents own a huge garage a few blocks down. I swiftly drove towards school, narrowly dodging a girl with blonde hair and glasses. I chuckled and headed on down the road towards school.

Authors Notes

Did you like it? I hope so, there is more on the way! Please review, it would help me out a lot, even if it's criticism (but keep it constructive!) I know that there isn't much in this chapter but it was just an introduction chapter, I'll try and update this regularly and keep the story going. It will hopefully be over 20 chapters by the end of it.

See you next time!

Scott