Chapter 7

"Why were you taking anti-depressants?"

"Cupcakes! You're here to improve your fitness levels, not have tea and chat." Coach Hedge orders Nico and I, unknowingly getting me out of a very awkward situation.

I run to the other side of the gym, where the girls are gathering, and start skipping.

101...

102...

103...

"And TIME!" Hedge says, after I reach 138 skips. "Gather up, Cakes!"

I huff, and roll up the skipping rope, refusing to meet Nico's obsidian eyes.

I refuse to look at Nico for the rest of the day, even in the car.

"So Paisley, got any siblings?" asks, trying to get rid of the obvious tension in the car.

My siblings were an extremely touchy subject. I hate to talk about them, simply because they're not here in more ways than one. I look nothing like them as well, with tanned skin, dark hair and green eyes. They're all tall, tanned, blonde haired and brown eyed. Like I said, nothing like me. None of them have eye problems, and none are dyslexic and ADHD. And they don't have wacky allergies.

"I have six brothers and an older sister. They're all older. The eldest, Cole, is 24, and he's married with a kid of his own, Harry. Harry is a cutie." I coo, remembering Liz and Harry. Harry has ginger hair and honey eyes to die for. He's not even a year old. He will be in December.

"That's a lot of siblings."He remarks, whistling appreciatively.

"Yeah. Mum had to work a lot so I was left with them alone a lot." I say, remembering what he would do when Mum wasn't there.

"Where are they now?" Nico asks from beside me.

"I don't know. They were all older." I lie. I know exactly where they are, I just don't wanna talk about it. Like I said, they're a touchy subject.

"Hmm." Nico says, obviously not believing me.

"I don't!" I say, trying to sell my lie.

"Oh, I believe you." Nico says sarcastically.

"Shush, you two." Mr Blowfis says with a small smile. "We're here."

"And you carry the one over to the next column, and add it to that." Annabeth shows me how to do an algorithm.

"So the answer would be 137." I say, pointing the end of my pencil at the question.

"Sure is." Annabeth says, "Write that in."

Annabeth has been helping me avoid Nico. She doesn't know it, but she has. I write in my answer, just as Nico comes in.

"Annabeth, Piper wants your help with something." He says, looking at me briefly before looking at Annabeth.

"Okay." She says, getting up, "You're alright with algorithms now, right?"

"Mhmm. Thank you!" I say cheerfully, trying to act like nothing happened this morning.

"Welcome." She says, leaving. Nico is still standing in the door.

"So, are you going to tell me anything?" He pries after Annabeth is out of earshot, walking into the room.

"No." I say stubbornly. I was not going to tell Nico anything about why I moved and why I have to take the medication I do. I don't open up as easily as my Mum does. But also, if my Mum didn't, Sally couldn't look after me.

"Why?" He says, not getting the hint that I don't want to talk to him.

"Because I don't want to." I say, trying to work out the next question in my math homework.

"That's a stupid reason. I'm guessing it has something to do with your siblings." He says, sitting next to me and looking at the simple questions.

He has no idea how close he is to the truth.

I don't reply.

"It does, doesn't it?" He says, looking at me. I don't look at him in fear that I might actually say something. "You know, I will find out sooner or later, so might as well tell me."

"Well, if you're going to find out anyways, whats the point in telling you?" I say, slamming the math book shut and putting my pencils back in my pencil case.

I get up and leave the room, leaving a confused Nico behind.

I have to take another before bed. Luckily, only Sally is in the room now and she understands that I don't want to tell anyone about it.

"You're a brave girl, Paisley." She tells me, smiling softly as I swallow the pill and a glass of water, "You have no idea."

I smile at her, not knowing how to respond.

"Nico asked me about you earlier, when you were taking a shower, you know." She says, taking the glass from me and putting it in the dish washer.

"I know. He kept bugging me about it all day." I say to her, waiting for the water to settle and the horrifying taste to leave my mouth.

"Sorry about that. But I would be curious too if I were him."She says apologetically, "I didn't tell him. Its up to you if you want to. But I think you should. Maybe they'll understand your way of doing things and reacting if you told them."

I don't reply. I just think over her words.

"Sleep on it." She says affectionately, hugging me.

"Thank you, Sally." I say, hugging her back before pulling away. "Night."

"Night sweetie."

Later on, when I was tucked into bed with the lights out, I think over what she said.

Maybe I should tell them.

I let that thought linger as I drift into the land of sleep.

A/N

Hi. I just had to say that.

I feel great. Another update!

Yay!

~KaleidoscopeColours