OH MY GODS I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING. I KNOW, I'M A TERRIBLE PERSON. I HAD TWO PROJECTS DUE FOR SCHOOL AND IT WAS TORTURE. BUT NOW I'M ON WINTER BREAK SO I HAVE TIME TO WRIITTEEEEEE. YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! btw-not many people reviewed (yes, I'm looking at you person who read it and didn't review) so I'm hoping for more this time. As always, love you guys!

I swear I almost had a heart attack when I walked into P.E. with Percy. There stood Gleeson "Coach" Hedge, intimidating baseball and all. I know I thought he was irritating at first, but he risked his life for us while his wife, Mellie, was pregnant. So, of course, I love the old goat.

"Coach?!" I yelled across the gym in disebelief.

"Cupcake!" he shouted back happily.

Well, I could tell it was happily. It probably sounded harsh to anyone who didn't know him. Anyways, I ran over to him and gave him a giant hug.

"I missed you so much, Coach!" I exclaimed sweetly.

I know, out of character for me, but sue me. I missed an old friend who risked his almost-a-father life for me, and I should be allowed to be happy to see him.

"I missed you too, Chase. But listen-I don't want any funny business between you and fish-boy over there, you hear?" he said sternly.

"Yeah, yeah," I dismissed with a wave of my hand, "anyways, while you were gone, Clovie learned how to fly," I whispered the 'fly' part so that no mortals would hear. Do you know how infuriating it is to have to whisper all the time because there's nosy mortals everywhere?

"Actually, I think I have a picture of her somewhere," I mumbled as I rummaged through my bag. I pulled out a polaroid of Clovie, Hedge's adorable little girl.

In this picture, she was about two feet off the ground. She had on a soft violet dress that seemed to float, no, sit on the air. She had long brown hair in perfect ringlets and she had an adorable button nose. She had mocha skin, inherited from Hedge, that contrasted stunningly with her deep purple eyes. All in all, the girl was gorgeous. It was of the first time she had lifted off the ground, and she was grinning like a mad man. But her gappy teeth made it adorable.

Coach's hard glare softened slightly as he looked at her. I told him he could keep the snapshot because he obviously wanted it. I walked back to Percy and sat down next to him on the bleachers. We were waiting to be assigned lockers, and then we were going to be starting class.

I answered his question before he said it, because I knew what he was going to ask, "I gave him a picture of Clovie."

"I miss her. I miss Chiron. I miss everyone!" he finished in a stubborn, defiant voice.

I laughed lightly. I hadn't realized how much I had missed his childish actions.

"Would someone like to take a trip to Camp this weekend?" I asked innocently.

He nodded his head quickly and he seemed even more like a kid. I smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

TIME LAPSE-THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING GYM NOW

I'm pretty sure these mortals have never exercised a day in their lives. Percy and I raced the first ten laps, sprinted the next two, and then ran while laughing and joking with each other. It was the most fun I had all day. The other kids had stopped after seven laps. What a bunch of babies!

Then I started getting nervous because they were staring at us like we were freaks of nature. I mean, we are, but we don't want them to know that! I slapped Percy's arm and we started talking with our eyes.

Hey, they think we're weird. We better slow down.

Ugh, fine, but I miss getting to exercise with someone! They all quit so quick.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Now start breathing heavily.

We slowed to a stop. The kids stared at us. We ignored them and Coach told us to go get changed.

I jogged into the girls' locker room and unlocked my locker. The other girls filed in behind me, whispering about something. It was most probably me, but I didn't mind. I know I'm different and I've come to accept it...sort of.

"I'm right here, you know. If you have a question, just ask me," I snapped.

The girls fell silent. I took off my gym shirt, revealing a portion of my back. I heard a collective gasp.

Di immortales! I forgot my back was to the girls. It's covered with scars, even more-so than my arms and legs.

"What happened to your back?" a girl with blonde hair asked. She said it in a tone of voice that implied: it's freaking disgusting.

"It's none of your business, so back off," I told her, feeling stupid. I knew it was a terrible comeback, but I couldn't say anything because I didn't want to mess with any backstory Percy may have told about his scars.

"I thought you said we could ask questions," one of her minions accused.

"No one said I had to answer."

I pulled my book out of my locker and left. Percy was waiting for me in the gym. I walked over and he handed me a water bottle.

"Leave it to Seaweed Brain to have water," I teased while smiling. He laughed and nodded in agreement. Suddenly I smelled something so strong it made me want to barf. It smelled like the perfume from the Aphrodite cabin, but way worse. It must have been a cheap knock-off brand.

"Hey Percy!" the blonde from the locker room chirped.

"Uh, hi? Allison, right?"

I swear, Percy is so clueless sometimes. I never forget a name. Ever. But I guess it's an Athenian thing.

"Yup! Hey, I just wanted to tell you something about your gorgeous girlfriend, here. She has these awful scars on her back and they are like so ugly it hurts your eyes. I think you should choose someone much more beautiful," she 'informed' him while flipping her dyed hair.

"Excuse me?" he said, his eyes turning a deep, almost black green, "What did you say about my girlfriend? Do you even know how she got those scars?"

Allison shook her head, a terrified look on her face.

Percy took a step closer, his height seeming much less hot and much more intimidating to Allison.

"We got those scars together. We've been through a LOT since we were twelve. And you have no idea what you're talking about. I love Annabeth for so much more than just her beauty. You are as ugly as dirt compared to her, inside and out."

He pulled my hand and dragged me to the bleachers. He sat me down and started pacing back in forth in front of me. I stood up and stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Perce. Calm down! They don't get to me, okay? Don't let them get to you."

He sighed and took my face in his hands.

"You know I love you right? I love all your scars, and your blonde hair, and your gray eyes. I love you," he told me. I'm pretty sure I blushed bright red.

I nodded, "Percy, I love you more. I love how you can't remember mythology, I love how you twirl my hair around my finger, I love how you love me. You are the only family I've ever had. You were the only one that was there when everyone else wasn't. But now, we need to act normal because pretty much everyone in this entire gym is staring at us. Plus, Coach is coming and he'll kill you if you don't let my face go."

He sighed and dropped his hands. We turned to face Hedge.

"What are you doing?" Coach hissed at us. He knew we had a tough time blending in, but if we kept this up people would definitely realize something was off about us.

"That dumb mortal made fun of Annabeth because of her scars that she got saving Allison's stupid life. If not for Annabeth, she would be dead. As in not alive. I just wanna punch something!" Percy exclaimed.

"She doesn't know, Percy. She's an ignorant mortal, but you can't let everyone who insults me get to you like this. I've lived in the mortal world on my own before," I reminded him.

He sighed, "I know, I know. You can take care of yourself," he pouted and continued, "but that ungrateful mortal better watch her mouth."

Coach interrupted our conversation by saying, "Alright cupcakes, now that you solved your little 'issue',act normal, for Hades' sake, would ya?"

Percy waved his hand at him and said, "It's fine, I act crazy all the time. No one ever gets suspicious. I think..."

I sighed and shook my head disapprovingly, "You are such a Seaweed Brain!"

He smiled goofily and said, "I know!"

Coach patted Percy on the head and turned to me, "You ignore those girls, Cupcake. You are the strongest chick I've met."

This was a huge compliment coming from Hedge. I smiled and hugged him.

"Thanks, Coach. It means a lot."

He nodded and turned around, "What are you Cupcakes looking at? Mind your own business!" he yelled as loud as he could into his bullhorn.

The kids covered their ears and turned away from us. Percy and I were out the door as soon as the bell rang.

Again, sorry for such the late update. I'm currently working on a new chapter for my other story! :)