Ok well the beginning of this chapter is a little slow but push through it because the end is better. At least, better than the beginning! I'm getting better at updating so yeahh, review if you want to! -Aims

Layla's POV:

You know those days when you feel like you're wearing your emotions? Like it's written all over your forehead? Today was that day, for me anyways. If I had any friends here maybe someone would have cared. Percy was too scared to say anything, he wasn't good at listening to girl problems, he freaks out and never knows what to say. Which is expected from a brother. The only time I can really talk to Percy deeply about something is when it's about dad. We both know what it's like to not to feel very acknowledged by him. He had it a bit worse off too, since he was the 'mistake' child. But I was the kid who never bothered to let him in. I can't have a single conversation with Poseidon without wanting to scream at him.

I guess I have daddy problems.

Yesterday's weather had canceled school but today it was back on. When Percy dropped me off at Forks High after a silent car ride I knew that he knew something was up with me, but he wasn't about to say anything. He just said, "Have a good day" and drove off.

The wind was still raging and the rain continued to pour as I walked into the school. Walking down the hallways is easy for a new girl that looks depressed, people part like the Red Sea as if you have some insane disease. Typical high school. Personally I think it was just jealousy because I've lived some where else than this rainy town. Maybe they've heard that I'm from New York, where it's sunny. An unheard concept here. Or maybe they really just didn't care and I was just imagining this whole parting of students thing. Could be either or.

I got to Homeroom, not greeted by Ms. Atkins. Whatever, the old cow doesn't deserve a smile that probably won't even appear on my face today. Just as I sat down on the right said of the room I realized that I didn't have the lab fee and syllabus sheet for Biology signed or paid for. Awesome. This is high school, I thought, probably no one else will have it either.

That turned out to be true, at least 15 other kids in my biology class didn't have their first assignment of the year. Ms. Atkins scolded us about how this would not be accepted and that if such a simple task couldn't be done then how did we expect to do the actual homework for this quarter. A couple kids mouthed off to her saying they had bigger problems with all the storm damage to their homes than to get a stupid signature.

I admired them for that.

Biology ended with a lecture about how we need to be more responsible being Juniors and all. Algebra didn't go smoothly either, my dyslexia gets worse when I'm stressed out, so it just looked like a jumble of numbers. By the time lunch rolled around I realized that I didn't have anywhere to sit. Again. It was like the first day of school all over again. So walking out of the lunch line I looked around and found a little area by the windows that were empty.

If I had a cell phone I would text Rex and tell him to save me from this place. Then I would call Percy to have him pick me up. But I'm phone less and you know... it sucks. And then I thought, Does Percy even know he has to pick me up after school? Knowing Percy that was probably a no.

I looked down at my lunch which was a tuna sandwich. My apatite went away with my good mood. But the sad thing was that I couldn't even remember when I was in a good mood since I got to Forks. This place was seriously depressing and I just wanted to go home. I wanted go back to camp and hang out with Rex and cry on his shoulder. I wanted to ride Seven to clear my head. I wanted to march up to Olympus and scream at the gods weather I got turned into ashes or not. There were obviously a lot of things that I wanted to do that just weren't going to happen.

I put my face into my hands.

"Hey..." A quiet, shy voice said from behind me.

I looked behind me to see a pale girl with dirty blonde hair. I turned back to my tuna.

"Can I sit with you?" Nessa asked.

I didn't reply.

"You know, I'm a new girl too. Your the only friend I've made so far." She said, "Layla?"

I stood up, grabbed my tray and snapped my fingers, "I'm sorry, but my name is not Layla, you must have me confused with somebody else."

Nessa's face went a little blank, "Oh, I'm sorry, do you know where I can find her?"

"Not sure," I said.

I walked out of the cafeteria after dumping my Styrofoam tray in the trash. Times like these when I'm glad I can manipulate the Mist, but I also know that it can't solve my problems, not forever.

Language class wasn't that hard but I do admit that it wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be because there is a difference between Greek and Ancient Greek. Surprising right? Sarcasm rules... P.E. wasn't that hard today, we just played dodge ball the entire time, which was incredibly stupid because only the guys actually played. Nessa was on the opposite team as me anyways.

The clock on the wall didn't tick fast enough, though. When final bell finally rang I grabbed my bag and raincoat to wait outside for Percy. It was pouring outside, no surprise. The wind had died down compared to yesterday and the storm seemed to be more calm. Well, at least to me, but as someone that actually knows what's going on behind the storms, I could tell the difference.

Fifteen minutes passed by with no sign of Percy, or Annabeth for that matter. I was standing underneath an awning so I didn't get wet but I knew if I had to walk home I was going to get soaked. Ten more minutes passed until I put my hood up and started to walk home in the rain. It didn't take long before the rain seeped through my backpack. I thought about how messed up my Greek and Algebra textbooks were going to be when I got home.

I was walking into the rain so the droplets hit my face and rolled all the way down my neck. Cars passed by me, splashing in the small rivers that flowed against the sidewalks, then disappeared into the rain. A newish truck pulled up next to me and slowed to my walking pace.

"Layla?" A voice yelled over the rain.

I looked to my left to see Seth. Was he stalking me or something? "Seth?"

"What are you doing?" He asked like I was crazy.

"Walking home, what does it look like?" I yelled back.

"Jump in, I'll give you a ride."

Should I do it? I was tempted to say 'What no candy?' but decided against it.

"Look, I know yesterday was weird and scary and everything but we need to start off fresh and clean baby." Wait a second, he just called me baby.

"What?" I asked.

"Pleeease?"

I noticed that his words were slurred a little, I couldn't tell before because the rain was so noisy but now...

"Seth are you drunk?" I said.

"Layla, I can explain."

"Just shut up and get out of the car, you should not be driving."

Seth reluctantly got out of the truck and walked over to me. He was in a red t-shirt that showed off his muscles. He pulled me into a hug like we were old friends. He smelled like booze and I pushed him away.

"Get in," I said pointing to the passengers seat.

Once Seth was in the truck I walked over to the drivers side and threw my backpack into the back seat before sitting down. The car was warm so I took off my soaking jacket revealing my green shirt underneath. I put my half soaked hair into a bun and started the truck.

Once we were driving I realized just hard it was raining, the wind shield whippers were moving as fast as they could go and I could still barely see the road. I probably looked really stupid when I was driving because I was squinting and had my head up right next to the steering wheel so I could see.

"You're a slow driver." Seth said.

"You're lucky I can drive."

"Where are we going?"

"I'm going home and your going to Nessa's." I told him.

"Why can't I go to your house? Nessa is so annoying."

"Just shut up Seth!" My patience was getting shorter and shorter the longer I was with him.

"Snappy." Seth said and smirked.

I rolled my eyes and tried to concentrate on the road. I'll admit it, I'm not the best driver. Maybe because the I only had two driving lessons...from Mr. D... in the strawberry vans. Not exactly you're ideal driving experience. I didn't have my license, thank the gods I haven't gotten pulled over yet.

I turned on my street and pulled into Nessa's driveway. She was home, her black car was in front.

I looked at Seth, but he was already staring at me.

"You're beautiful, you know that right?" He said all starry eyed.

"And you're drunk, so obviously you're not thinking straight."

But I looked at his face and he looked completely sober, well, minus the smell. You're drunk, you're drunk, you don't mean it. I said over and over again in my head.

"I'm serious Layla." Seth still had that sober look on his face as he said it.

Then he lurched forward at me. He grabbed the back of my head and smashed his lips against mine. His body was extremely warm and his breath stank like no other. I pushed him off but Seth didn't look satisfied. He had a look on his face that said he wasn't sure if he did something wrong or not. If he wasn't so heavily intoxicated I would have been pissed. But he wasn't Seth right now, who ever that was.

"Come on," I said more patiently than before, "Let's get inside."

"But I don't want to leave you." He said.

"Well you're going to have to at some point."

I yanked the keys out of the ignition and played with them between my finger. I reached in back for my coat and backpack and jumped out of the truck. I had to help Seth out of his seat because he looked like he was going to fall out. He put his arm around me, I wanted to say it was because he needed the support but I knew it was because he liked me or whatever.

We climbed up the porch steps and I knocked on the door. I heard footsteps coming. Jacob answered the door. I looked at the ground. "Seth is..."

Jacob sighed and helped me bring Seth inside. We set him down on the couch next to where Nessa was sitting.

"Thank you for bringing him Layla." Jake said.

"Jake what are you talking about?" Nessa said, "This isn't Layla, this is another girl."

Jake gave me a weird look, "Sorry, I sorta messed with her head today..." I said, "Don't worry I can fix it."

I closed my eyes and snapped my fingers. Reversing the Mist was harder than just doing it, if that makes any sense. When I opened my eyes I saw that Nessa's expression had hardened and looked more confused.

"All better." I said.

I turned to leave but Jake grabbed my arm. I whipped my head around and gave him a look that could kill but his grip didn't loosen.

"Can we talk?" He said. "Alone."

"No." I told him.

"Well that's not exactly going to work now is it?"

"Jake, I returned Seth for you in good shape. I've been through enough these past few days so can you just give me some space? I'm still not even sure what happened yesterday and you know... Seth isn't exactly helping with this situation."

Jake's hand was practically on fire, my arm was sweating where his hand was placed. I looked at his eyes that were so brown you couldn't see the pupil. They were telling me not to go but I knew I had to.

"Look," He said. "I'm trying to play diplomat here but you're not letting me."

"I'm sorry Jake, but I have to go."

He let go and I walked out the door. Outside it was still raining but I didn't care because it was only a few steps to our house. I walked through the door and into the kitchen where Annabeth and Percy were sitting around the table. Rachel was standing next to the refrigerator with her arms crossed.

When Percy saw me, soaking wet in all my glory, his eyes went wide, "I was suppose to pick you up wasn't I?"

"Uh, ya think?" I said.

I opened the fridge and grabbed the orange juice. I poured myself a glass and walked upstairs. I immediately stripped of my wet clothes and into fresh new ones. My head started to hurt again so I laid on my bed. I heard footsteps coming up the stairs and then a knock on my door.

"What?" I said annoyed.

"Can I come in?" Annabeth said.

I didn't reply but she came in anyways and leaned against the door frame.

"I know it's been tough," She said, I covered my face with my hands, "But we're all struggling here."

"Yeah but I thought they were my friends."

"And they still can, Seth seems to like you."

"Gods I don't even know they guy!"

"Layla you really need to give the people here a chance," Annabeth's voice rising, "Because we're not going anywhere, so you're not going to mope around complaining about how you have no friends."

Annabeth left the room and stomped down the stairs. My eyes teared up but I didn't cry, my eyelids felt heavy from the day of stressing even though it was only 4 o'clock. They closed without any strain.

In my dream I was laying in my bed sleeping, which was kind of weird, then Rex appeared in the doorway and walked over to my side. He moved a piece of hair away from my face and leaned down to kiss me. But before he could reach my lip his figure changed and he was Seth, then Seth's figure changed just as he was about to kiss me. The guy kissing me had blonde hair and was a little older than me. But I knew his face, I would never forget it.

I woke with a light start, my eyes drifted to the clock, it was only an hour later. This dream was a warning that I didn't take lightly. He was coming.