AN: Thanks for the reviews! Can I have some more?

Annabeth (Four Years Later)

Someone is moving in today. It's been four years and I'm still the new kid. Four years and I haven't uttered a word- not in school, not at home. I know I can speak if I tried, I just choose not to. When I woke up in the hospital four years ago I promised myself I wouldn't say a word, or even laugh, until my parents came back. Yes, I know it's stupid and it probably won't happen. But my mom told me anything is possible and I believe it is.

When I went to have the cast taken off my arms the doctors ran some tests. They told me and Chiron I was perfectly healthy and fine and that I'd start talking when I wanted to. Deep down I know I'm not fine. I cry myself to sleep every night, wishing I could see my mom and dad again. Wishing we could swap places. Of course, that won't happen. On the outside I'm pretty much alive. But on the inside: I'm as dead as my parents.

I feel the sofa sink a little and look up to find Thalia sitting next to me. She's nice. Well, I think she is, nearly everyone else in the Care Home is terrified of her- I'm not. I'm not scared of anything anymore- well maybe except spiders.

I think she knows I'm not scared of her because she's always nice to me. Everyone is, except those the two bitches that live here: Calypso and Drew. They always call me 'The Mute'. Thalia sticks up for me- I don't know why. One day she just started yelling at people who bullied me and sat by me in class. She hangs around with four other girls: Juniper, Silena, Rachel and Katie. I like them too.

"Hey, Annie!" Thalia greets and I glare at her. She knows I hate being called that- I didn't tell her of course, she just figured it out three years ago when I always glared at her when she called me it. She has called me 'Annie' ever since, just to annoy me.

"You're not going to be the new kid anymore," she teases and I shrug. "He's an orphan," she says.

Me and the kid have something in common. No one else here is an orphan. When Thalia was ten she woke up and found her house empty- her brother and mom just disappeared. No one has ever found them.

The Stoll brothers were left on the porch when they were babies and Chiron took them in. That was when everyone lived in the old Care Home. They built this one because the other one was too small.

Luke's mom is mentally ill while his father doesn't want anything to do with him so he was sent here, Rachel's mom and dad were really young when they had her and sent her here so they could concentrate on their jobs. Most of the kids here visit their parents often but others don't, like me. Because my parents are dead! While theirs are still alive- if one of my parents were still alive I'd visit them everyday, even if they sent me here.

I'm so lost in my thoughts that I don't notice Thalia is talking to me until she waves a hand in front of my face. I blink several times and look around in confusion.

"You zoned out," Thalia explains and I nod slightly.

She opens her mouth to speak but a loud knock on the front door beats her to it.

Her eyes widen and she runs out the living room to greet the new kid while I stay sitting on the sofa. I hated it when some of the kids came to the door when I first arrived. I felt suffocated. I wonder if the boy will feel the same.

I hear squeals of excitement as everyone rushes to open the door. I hear it open and then Silena's high-pitched voice squeaking, "Jenny! It's been so long!"

"Hi, Silena," Jenny greets and I get a sense of déjà vu- this happened to me. "Everyone this is Perseus Jackson!" "It's Percy," a hollow voice snaps. Jenny sighs, "Percy this is Thalia, Nico, Silena, Beckendorf, Grover, Juniper, Katie, Travis, Connor, Luke, Drew, Rachel, Calypso, Ethan and A-" she pauses, "Where's Annabeth?" "The mutes inside," I hear Calypso say and I roll my eyes. "She's not a mute!" Thalia snaps and I allow a small smile. "She's had it the hardest out of all of us. At least she hasn't done anything stupid like kill herself. I bet if you were her you'd be dead right now!" Thalia finishes and I bet Calypso wishes she never opened her mouth. I don't know if I should go to the door with the others or to stay here. I choose the latter and bury my head in my book, even-though I don't read it but instead listen to the others talking. "Let them come in. It's freezing outside!" Chiron says and I hear everyone move to give him room. I hear the door close and then Chiron's voice, "You must be Percy Jackson- I'm Chiron, head care-worker." I've always wondered why he says 'head care-worker' when he's the only one here. "Let's go into my office," Chiron says and I see him roll past the door with Jenny and a lean, raven-haired boy on his tail. I don't see the boys face but I know he's tall and has tanned arms.

The office door shuts and I hear Drew squeal, "He's so cute!" Rachel, Thalia, Katie, Silena and Juniper walk in and they all take a seat. "You should've seen him, Annabeth!" Rachel sighs with a dreamy look on her face that makes me want to laugh.

"He's… perfect!" Silena says as all of the boys come in.

"What's up, guys?" Luke asks and I shrug.

"Nothin,'" Thalia says and everyone starts talking until Drew and Calypso walk in.

"Percy is mine!" Drew yells.

"No way! I saw him first!" Calypso argues and I roll my eyes. How I wish I could yell at them now. I know I can do it, I want to do it, I want to talk, and I miss talking. It's just I've forgot how my voice sounds and I'm scared it'll be weird, and because I'll be breaking my promise and it'll mean my parents aren't coming back.

The boys start laughing at the girls' stupid argument and I just watch TV.

About an hour later the office door opens. Chiron gives Percy a tour and after about fifteen minutes I hear them come out of the elevator. "I'll introduce to everyone," Chiron says and he rolls in. I look away from the TV in time to see Percy walk in and I swear my heart stopped. Even I'll admit he's handsome.

Everyone starts introducing his or her selves and soon it's Thalia's turn. "I'm Thalia," she says. Percy nods and then looks at me. Oh, it's my turn. Go on, I press, don't be scared. Everyone is looking at me- waiting for to talk. I look away, I can't.

Thalia pats my shoulder and says, "This is Annabeth Chase."

"I'm Percy Jackson," Percy replies and I look up to see him standing right in front of me holding his hand out.

Our eyes meet and I feel lost in his beautiful sea-green orbs. I look at his hand and then I shake it. The shock that goes through my arm makes us both pull away and I wonder if he felt it too. What was it?

I feel everyone's eyes on me and I hate all the attention. So I do the only thing that comes to mind. I stand up abruptly and run up the stairs. Percy probably thinks I'm crazy. Maybe I am crazy. Wait! Why would I care what Percy thinks? I don't know him and he doesn't know me. "Well duh! You just met!" a voice in my head says and mentally shake it.

I get to my bedroom and the slam the door shut behind me. I change into my pyjamas, knowing I'm too stubborn to make an appearance downstairs. I jump into bed and close my eyes. I try to fall asleep but questions keep popping into my mind. Why do I feel a connection with the new kid? What was that spark? That feeling?

After about an hour I feel my eyes close and I fall asleep.

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