Hey! So my excuse for not writing is that I was on vacation. I swear I planned on getting on the day we left but then things became hectic and I ran out of time...so here it is! Chapter 10!

- Emily

Stop crying. I scolded myself. Since when had I became such a wimp. I remember when dad died, and Jewell first started ruining my life, I had been strong. I wouldn't wince, or cry, or break...what happened? How could she have changed me so much? I walked into the bathroom and grabbed a wash cloth. Rinsing it under hot water I pressed it against my eyes, trying to do away with the redness and the swelling. In the process, my make up also came off, and I saw my true face. Evidence of the days events still visible. I sighed. I decided not to apply anymore make-up at the moment. After all, I wasn't planning on seeing anyone anytime soon, not even Percy.

Percy. What was up with him lately? He seems, what? Overprotective? yes, overprotective. Since when was he my parents? He is always on me about everything, and always trying to protect me from every little thing! Ok, maybe it's not so bad, but I can fight my own battles. Could I?

Yes, you can. And that's what your going to start doing. I thought. Next time Octavian hits, I'll hit him back ten times harder. Next time he jeers at me, I'll jeer back so hard he won't show his face again. Ha, easier said then done I guess. But, I had to try. I had to get back to my old self! I had to be strong again.

I put my ear buds in, as I do when I'm upset-as you may have guessed but this time I played On My Own. Might as well start learning the song on my free time as well. I still couldn't believe that I will be singing a solo come October! i mean, and it was only the second day of school! What are the odds? Still, I was excited. After listening through the first time, I played the karaoke version and sang. I still had trouble hitting some of the notes correctly, but I had time. I will learn.

Knock, knock. A knock came at the door.

"Annabeth? Annabeth, time for dinner." Dinner? How long have I been up here?

"Do I have to eat? I'm...I'm not that hungry." I lied. I didn't really want to see people at the moment.

"Yes, I want to actually see you. I haven't really talked to you in days. Come on, or I come in." Luke said. I groaned.

"Fine. Hold on, I'll be down in a few minutes." I said, going back into the bathroom. I took out my make-up stash and covered back up the bruises. I couldn't let them know. They would be really overprotective and Percy would just get thrown in jail for murdering Octavian. I would deal with it. After I covered the last of the evidence, I walked down to the table.

"Well there she is! What took you so long?" Luke asked. Not making eye contact with the two, I mumbled

"Nothing." I sat down opposite of Percy and Luke put the plates of chicken and corn on the table. I put a spoonful of chicken on my plate and took the smallest chicken.

"That's it?" Percy asked.

"Not hungry." I relied.

"Annabeth, you have to eat something! Its's not healthy-" Percy started. I flashed a glare.

"I said I wasn't hungry." I repeated. Luke sat down next to me.

"Well, I feel some tension here. What happened with you two?" He asked. I kept my glaring eyes on the piece of chicken I was stabbing.

"Annabeth started mouthing off to teachers today and picked a fight with Octavian." Percy tattle.

"Oh! Like your a perfect angel! Mr. I-get-straight-D's-and-don't-care!" I fired.

"Hey! That's enough! Annabeth! Why would you do that? I thought you liked school? I will tell you this, I don't like your attitude lately! Now your talking back to teachers and fighting?" Luke said, voice raising. I looked up at him.

"For one, Percy wasn't there! We got a stupid test about the teachers life and about stuff we won't learn until we are, like, seniors and so I wrote technically true answers-"

"Technically true?" Luke asked, yelling.

"One of the questions was 'When did I learn about this stuff?' so I put 'It was so long ago historians don't even know!' What is wrong with that? Technically, it is true! Then he took me out into the hall and asked me to explain it so I told him how stupid it was and that was that! He actually laughed about it! Why are you two being to protective?"

"we are not! And don't talk back to me!" Luke shouted.

"I'm not! I just told you what happened!" I screamed back.

"You just did!"

"That is so unfair!"

"Hey!" Percy jumped up in between us.

"Annabeth, listen to me. If you think we are overprotective, your wrong. We are worried about you. We care about you! We don't want to see you hurt. And you fighting is not you!"

"Then you don't know me." I said.

"What?" He looked hurt, but I didn't care.

"I'm not vulnerable. I stand for what I believe in. I won't sit back and let things happen, I will act."

"I know-"

"No! You don't! You would have rather had me beat by Octavian!"

"The fight! What happened there, huh?" Luke asked.

"Ugh! Nothing! I was waiting outside the choir room for practice with Mr. Williams and Octavian started teasing me. I shoved him but Mr. Williams arrived before he could do anything! It is not a big deal!" I yelled.

"It is! Yu can't just shove people Annabeth! You know what? You need to learn your place here! Your grounded! Two weeks, no friends, no nothing!" Luke yelled.

"Fine! It's not like I have any friends who actually care!" I screamed. I tried to run back to my room when Percy shoved me back.

"Wait!" He said. He shoved me back so hard I stumbled and fell. On the way down, my hand hit a glass of water, it spilled onto my face. I could feel my make-up start to drip. Panicked, I covered my face and pushed past them to my room. I locked the door as they started pounding.

"Let us in!" They screamed in unison.

"Please! Please, just leave me alone!" I said. What was I going to do about my face? They couldn't see the bruises! I didn't have enough time to re-do it! Besides, if I left the door they would find a way to get in. To late. Luke used his finger nail and unlocked the door. I pushed with all of my might, trying to keep it closed, but it was no use. The men on the other side pushed the door open with force and the door smacked me against the wall. My head throbbed and my vision swam for a minute. When I could see clearly, they were overtop of me. I quickly stood up and turned around, hands covering my face.

"Please, get out!" I said, no longer yelling. I heard them whisper behind me. Percy grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.

"Stop!" I said, trying to turn again, however he already had two hands grasping my shoulders tightly. I couldn't move. Panic rushed through me and I just wanted to disappear. Unfortunately, I couldn't.

"Look at me, now." Percy demanded.

"No." I whispered.

"Annabeth, move your hands. This is your only warning. Look at me." Percy said, putting emphasis on the last three words.

"Please! Please just go. Leave me alone!" I whimpered. I heard Luke go into the bathroom and turn the water on. Oh, they wouldn't! Would they? I prayed they wouldn't. When Luke came back Percy turned me around and wrapped his arms around my stomach, arms bound down. I kept my eyes closed and twisted and turned, trying to get away.I could tell Luke was having a hard time trying to wipe my face off. Good.

"Please...don't...please." I whispered. Luke grasped my chin to hold my head steady. He placed the hot wash cloth on my forehead and moved it to my cheeks, then my chin, until finally every bit of make up was gone. They were silent.

"Annabeth-" Luke started.

"What? Is it bad?" Percy dropped me and I landed on my knees. I tried to cover my face again, but he was to quick. He dropped down in front of me and clutched my wrists in his hands. My eyes were still closed, but I could feel him looking me over. I pictured his expressions to the cuts and bruises. Luckily the swelling had gone down so they didn't notice that.

"Annabeth! Your eye, it's black! And your face!' He threw my hands down and stood up. I opened my eyes. I expected to see sympathy or something, the usual, but Percy only looked furious.

"Luke, would you excuse us for a moment. I want to talk to her alone." Percy said. Luke nodded and left. After the door closed he shot me a look.

"You lied to me." He said quietly. And then louder, "You lied to me!"

"well what was I supposed to do? You would have gone ballistic! I could handle it, Percy!"

"Oh yeah, you handled it just fine! Look at you! Your bruised, cut, and have a black eye! That is not fine!" Yay, he is yelling at me again.

"Percy, do I have to tell you everything? I could handle it, Octavian was suspended, it is no big deal! Just drop it!"

"No! I won't drop it! And this is not about you and Octavian."

"Then what is it about?" I asked, standing up.

"Us! Look, I don't want our relationship to be full of lies!" He yelled.

"Percy! This was the first lie! Are you going to freak out over every little fib after this?"

"This is not a little fib!"

"Ok then, how about you then? Maybe I don't want our relationship to be full of you screaming and panicking over every little cut I get!" Percy opened his mouth over and over again, trying to find words but failing. Then, he spotted my bag.

"What is that?" He asked, pointing to the piece of paper sticking out. I quickly moved it front of it.

"Nothing. That is nothing." I said, trying to keep my voice calm. He didn't believe it. He pushed me out of the way-which sent me to the floor again with an oof- and grabbed the papers. He read them, then looked at me.

"Annabeth, how long were you planning on keeping this from me?"

"Um...maybe until I found out who they were from?" I responded, giving up hope. Percy took a deep breath.

"Annabeth, if you want to keep this a secret, fine. I won't say anything, nor will I do anything about this. But like I said, your on your own. Do it without me. Do everything without me." My eyes widened.

"Wait, are you-"

"Yes. Annabeth, I want to love you, but I can't be in a relationship without trust. We are done." He said. I was shocked, but the surprise quickly became anger.

"Fine. I never needed you anyway, its like nothing is changing! Now get out! I don't want to speak to you again. And since I'm such a little liar, I guess that works for you as well." I said.

"I-"

"Go!" I screamed. He stormed out of the room.

Yeah... you hate me, I know. I AM SORRY! I AM CRYING WHILE I WRITE SO I FEEL THE PAIN AS WELL! ASDFGHJKL WHY ME! WHY DID YOU DO IT ME! I FEEL LIKE MINI CASSIE(for all you Mortal Instrument fans...should I even mention...NO!) I AM SO SO SO SORRY! IT IS PART OF THE STORY JUST WAIT IT WILL ALL MAKE SENSE IN THE END!

Anyway, the next chapter will have a time lapse to October. Thanks for reading guys, review please! ONCE AGAIN I AM SO SO SOOOO SORRY!

Emily (who is currently hiding under her bed with a baseball bat waiting for the angry mob to arrive with flaming torches and pitch forks...or other things...)