I'm back once more! I told you guys I would upload again before the end of the month, and here it is.

This is the third chapter of Scars and Recognition. We have a slight unexpected twist in the plot in this chapter.

Oh, and two more things before we get started. I am officially eighteen now! My birthday was yesterday, and before you ask, I had a good day.

Secondly, this chapter will be dedicated to three people for correctly guessing within a day of my graduation. AtlantaJackson95, Pokemonchen and MegJackson all correctly guessed within one day of the date of June 8th! Congratulations you three, this chapter is dedicated to you.

So, without further adieu, enjoy Chapter Three of Scars and Recognition.

Disclaimer: I am not Rick Riordan.

Chapter Three: Percy POV

As expected, everyone started to leave around seven in the morning. My mom was set to show up at Thalia's house around nine, so I hit the sheets to get a quick hour of sleep in.

Thalia woke me up abruptly at 8:30 and by the time I had gotten a shower, my mom had already arrived.

"Hey sweetie," my mom said as I walked into the kitchen. "Did you have a nice sleepover?"

I rolled my eyes as I answered, "Yes mom. It was fun." I could hear Thalia snicker in the background. I sent her a quick glare.

Almost immediately after I sat down, my phone buzzed again. I smiled inwardly as I saw who it was. I sent off a quick text message back to her before tuning into the conversation.

"Well," Thalia's mom was saying, "I'm not sure how to say this." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Thalia's head snap up. Apparently she was texting someone too.

"Say what?" She asked suspiciously.

"You know I was one of the candidates to get that promotion at work, right?"

"Well yeah, but what does that have to do with this?" Thalia asked.

"Well, I got the job," her mom said, but her voice seemed sort of reluctant.

"That's great mom! Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I had just learned that I had gotten the job yesterday and I didn't want to ruin your sleepover."

"Why would that ruin it?" I asked, jumping into the conversation.

"Yeah, why would that be a bad thing mom?"

"Here's the thing, Thals. The only condition was that I would have to relocate. In Seattle."

There was complete silence at the table. Even my mom, who normally talks too much, wasn't even saying a word.

"So that means…" Thalia said slowly.

"We're moving in two weeks," her mom finished.

Thalia was quiet for a few seconds. Then she did something I never thought I would see Thalia do; she started crying.

"No. No mom, please. We can't move. School starts in two weeks. We can't be moving across the country. I only have two years of school left. My friends are the only people I've known for my whole life. I can't change that now."

"I'm sorry Thalia, but I can't do anything about it. I've already accepted the job. You know how much this extra money will help us."

"No. Just-just call off your acceptance. Tell them you've changed your mind. We can live alright without the extra money. We can-" She broke down crying. Since I was closest to her, I stood up and wrapped my arms around Thalia's shoulders. Thalia and I were probably two of the closest cousins that you would ever meet. Yeah, we made fun of each other a lot, but not because we hated each other. I couldn't imagine not seeing her every weekend.

I was just starting to imagine my life without Thalia when my mom saved the day.

"She can move in with us."

My head snapped over to my mom, taking in what she just said. Before Thalia's mom could rebut it, I joined in, "Yeah, that's a great idea! Thalia can finish out her two years of high school with us. She's already slept over at our apartment so many times, it wouldn't be any different."

"I don't know," Thalia's mom said tentatively.

"She'll be safe with us," my mom said. "Don't worry."

"Yeah mom," Thalia said. Luckily she had stopped crying by now. "Just think of it as an extended sleepover."

"Ok, I guess it's alright," her mom conceded. "But you will come and visit every so often right?"

"Yeah, of course!" Thalia answered quickly. "Every chance I get."

"Ok, good." Thalia's mom sighed. "It'll be sad to leave you, but I'm sure you'll be happy here with the Jacksons and all of your friends and that's all that matters, right?"

"Don't worry mom. I'll call you every night."

"I'll hold you to that young lady."

"Thanks mom." Thalia made her way over to her mom and they shared a hug.

"You're welcome. And thanks Sally."

"Yeah, thanks so much Mrs. Jackson."

"You're welcome Thalia. It'll be nice to have another girl around the house."

"Hey," I said. The other three laughed.

"Oh come on Percy, don't be such a buzz kill. Lighten up a bit."

I rolled my eyes at her and looked down to check my phone which had buzzed again.

10:30 sound good? the message read. I looked up at the clock, which read 9:30.

Yeah, I'll meet you then.

I got up from the table and made my way back to the room where I had put my stuff for the sleepover. I got changed and headed back to the kitchen, where breakfast was being served.

Thalia was the first person to notice me. She had a smirk on her face. "Going somewhere Perce?"

"Yeah, want to come along?" I joked back.

"Between you and her?" She said. "No thanks." I rolled my eyes at Thalia as I sat down. I looked up at my mom, who had a look of recognition on her face.

"Is she in from Hawai'i?"

"Yeah, she just got here yesterday. She's staying a week."

"Ok, tell her she's welcome to come over."

"Ok mom. Thanks."

When I was done with breakfast, I gathered up all of my belongings from the sleepover and got out my car keys. I told my mom I would probably be back in time for dinner, but I would call her if plans changed. After that, I headed out the door for Starbucks.

A/N:

So, sort of another cliffy? Maybe? Let's call it a half-cliffy then. I've already had one person correctly guess who Percy was texting and now going to meet up with, and I have a feeling more of you now can guess who it is.

Thalia is now going to stay with the Jacksons. Hmm, interesting. That will be a key event in a future chapter.

Ok, so it seemed like you guys really like the idea of the trivia question, so I'm going to do it again: On what page and line of which book was Reyna's older sister Hylla first mentioned? Like this chapter, correct answers get the following chapter dedicated to them.

In other words, I am going to be uploading the next chapter of The Prince, The Girl and The World later this afternoon and possibly the next chapter of The Big Three as well, but that is highly unlikely. If not today, then most likely it will be up tomorrow. So make sure to look for those as well.

As always, make sure to review!

Thanks!

-PSON