This is an idea I've had for a while. This may be a little hard to read, but tell me what you think.

As soon as the car stopped at the bar, Percy knew that it was going to be a long night.

Him, Annabeth, Leo, and Piper were going to celebrate Leo's 21st birthday, and Everyone but Percy was excited. He decided to be the designated driver, already sure that everyone else was going to be drunk out of their minds by the end of the night. He tried to be excited for everyone else, but he was not looking forward to the rest of the night.

Dread coiled in a stomach, making him queasy. Just thinking about the smell of the place made him long for home and for the night to be over.

When he walked in, the first thing that hit him was the smell. It's smelled like stale beer and vomit. Percy didn't understand why anyone would come to this place for fun.

The room was crowded, and the music pounded in his ears. His friends were yelling to hear each other, and it was giving Percy a headache.

Sitting with his friends, while everyone else ordered something with alcohol, whether it was a mixed drink, a cocktail, or some kind of shot, Percy opted for water, and tried not to look uncomfortable

Unfortunately, it didn't work because Annabeth noticed.

"Are you alright?" she asked quietly, worried an etched on her face.

"I'm okay," he lied, still trying not to puke.

Memories of the apartment Percy had to come home to every summer started coming back. He recalled the overwhelming smell of stale beer and cologne every time he walked through the door.

Percy shook his head, trying to shake the memories. The last thing he wanted to remember was Smelly Gabe.

Percy sipped on his water, and Leo noticed his lack of alcohol.

"Aren't you going to have a drink?" Leo asked, nearly shouting to be able to be heard from over the noise.

"No. Someone has to drive you guys home. I'm okay with my water," he responded, hoping Leo would drop the matter.

"Are you sure Percy? One drink won't kill you, you know," Piper added.

"I don't want to drink tonight," Percy said firmly. The noise was getting to be overwhelming, and the smell was overpowering. He wanted nothing more them to get out the crowd.

Despite Percy adamantly not wanting a drink, Leo flag down a bartender and ordered one for him.

"Here, just take it. It will go to waste if you don't."

The beer in front of him smelled exactly like the old apartment he and his mother shared with Smelly Gabe. The odor assaulted his nose, making him flinch. At this point, Percy could have sworn that he could hear the jeers and laughs Smelly Gabe and his goons.

Percy looked to Annabeth for help, only to get a shrug and a look of helplessness in response. He was on his own for this one.

He looked at his friends, urging him to take the beer. Their voice flooded his head, making him dizzy.

Percy couldn't take it anymore. The whole place was overwhelming. He knew as soon as he looked at the bar that he wasn't ready to face the memories would come with stepping inside.

He pushed out from the table giving them all a glare.

"I'll be waiting in the car," was all he said. And with that, he left, leaving the drink untouched.

Percy stormed out of the bar, leaving his friends speechless.

It's raining was a dull thought in the back of his head. He took in the smell of the rain and the sound of cars rushing past. He was happy to leave the loud music and the drunk giggles behind him.

Despite the new setting, the memories still followed.

Desperate to escape them, Percy went to find the car.

He pushed forward, outrunning his past and the memories that came with it.

He slammed the car door shut, once again grateful for something that didn't remind him of Gabe.

He slumped in the driver's seat and sighed, his friend's voices coming to his mind as soon as he relaxed.

Percy tried to block them out. He didn't want to remember the voices that came with the gruesome picture that he was trying to outrun.

Unable to hold them back, all of the memories he had suppressed came flooding back.

He remembered all of the harsh words and sneers on Gabe and his friend's faces. He remembered the messy apartment that was always ankle-deep in the garbage. The smell of alcohol and cigars brought tears to his eyes even all these years later.

It will be our little secret.

Your report card came, brain boy!

Percy Jackson is a delinquent punk!

The flashbacks went on and on.

Finally, the flashbacks came to a stop. Percy's knuckles had turned white and his teeth were gritted. All of these years later, and Gabe still made him angry.

Looking past the pouring rain, Percy stared at the neon lights of the bar as he watched as people stumbled out of its doors.

He knew it wasn't their fault, they didn't know what he went through, but Percy couldn't help but blame Leo, Piper, and Annabeth for bringing him here.

He couldn't stop thinking about Gabe. He was drunk just about every night, and it was never a pleasant sight. if anyone got in his way, he would yell and throw things, most likely empty beer bottles. Percy and his mom had always stayed out of Gabe's way whenever he was like that.

Percy used to wonder if he would ever end up like that, angry and drunk to the point where he wouldn't remember anything the next morning.

That's why Percy never wanted to drink. Not only did it remind him of Smelly Gabe and his goons, but did it almost always guarantee that he would hurt people around him.

So, with the rain pounding against the car and the lights of the city flashing, Percy made himself a promise, one he should have made years ago.

I will never end up like Gabe. I swear it on the River Styx.

What did you think? I understand what Percy went through in TLT, having personal experience with knowing someone who heavily drank and smoke. With even that, this was new territory. I hope I wrote this well, and if I didn't, please leave comments and suggestions.