CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE – The Good, The Bad, And the Past.

Even though the world she loves;

It won't ever be the way it was;

And his heart of stone left hers breaking;

Every night she cries and dies a little more each time…

(The Silence by Mayday Parade)

"Percy, do you have to play this song?" I glare up at him from my spot on the couch.

The boy in general was bobbing his head in time to the song while setting the table. It was only him and I since Sally and Paul had already left for work. We'd decided (okay, not me, I wasn't involved since they all knew that, given the chose I wouldn't go back) that it was time to return to school. Percy and I had had like a whole week off and Sally was starting to worry about our education; even mine, which I told her, was virtually non-existent.

"I love this song. Who doesn't love Mayday Parade?" Percy looked over his shoulder and pouted at me.

"I didn't say that I didn't like the band," I snapped, pausing when he went out to grab the plate of blue pancakes from the kitchen. When he returned I got off my ass and went to sit at the table with him. "You've been blasting their music through the house every time your mum and Paul leave. But of all their songs, you had to choose this song to play on this particular day."

Percy was halfway through bringing a piece of his blue pancake to his mouth when he stopped. His eyebrow rose, but I watched as it slowly went down, which told me that he just clicked with what the words were…

"I'll fix that..." he said, putting down his fork (after stuffing his mouth quickly) and going to his iPhone that was plugged into the speakers back in his room. This was yet another present from Paul. Sally said that she and Percy had protested against it for a whole week, but Paul wouldn't back down. Apparently (according to a smirking Paul) Percy had been "drooling like the Niagara Falls" when he had seen those speakers in the store.

She fell to the bottom of her life;

This wasn't meant for two…

(Save Your Heart by Mayday Parade)

"Percy, you dick!" I hollered. Even from here I could hear his chuckle and I knew that he'd done that on purpose. The boy always tries to find things to piss me off… I think he just likes my reaction…

"Okay, Okay! You stupid Wise Girl…" I rolled my eyes. Because he had stopped the song it was quiet enough for me to make out his muttered last words. And the fact that he muttered them told me that he didn't mean for me to hear.

"Da fuck did you just say?"

"That you were a stupid Wise Girl." He strolled back as he spoke, with a huge teasing grin on his face.

I woke up it was seven;

I waited to eleven;

To figure out that no one would call;

Think I got a lot of friends;

But I don't hear from them…

(I'm Just a Kid by Simple Plan)

"That's not contradicting or anything," I replied sarcastically with a roll of my eyes. "How have you managed to convince people for so long to believe that you actually have some brains in that seaweed clogged skull of yours?"

He glared at me playfully. "Excuse you, but you are the first and only person to see through my amazing façade."

"No, I'm pretty sure Sally did a loooong time ago. And Paul is pretty cluey; I'm sure it didn't take him too long to figure it out."

"They're my parents! They don't count," he protested, his mouth stuffed with pancakes. He accidently spat a bit out; I looked at it disgustedly, then back at him.

And here it goes;

I'm just a kid;

And life is a nightmare;

I'm just a kid;

And I know that it's not fair…

"You're a pig."

"A handsome pig."

"A feral pig with no manners at all."

"But a brilliant taste in music." He winked at me.

I rolled my eyes.

"You sure you're ready for this?"

"Percy, for the fortieth time, I'm as reading for this as I'll ever freaking be," I groaned, throwing my hands up in exasperation.

We were now almost at school. I don't remember much of the way here, expect for Percy being his usual annoying self and asking the same question over and over and over and over again until my brain hurt and I was so close to punching him that my fists were starting to shake.

"Is there a right way to answer this?" I snapped at him.

"Nope. The only one I'll accept is that you aren't ready and want to go back."

"Then prepare to be thoroughly disappointed," I told him.

He sighed and slung his arm around my shoulders. I would have pushed it off and hit him; but he'd done the whole touchy-huggy stuff so often over these past few days that I've just gotten used to it.

"Fine. But I'm not letting you out of my sight, kapishe? And yes, that does mean even when you need to pee I will be right there."

"You'll be marked as a paedophile in no time."

"You can't be that much younger than me," Percy scoffed. "I'll probably just get labelled as a stalker."

"Creepy stalker."

"Oh shut up, Wise Girl."

When we walked in together (minus Percy's arm around me) into homeroom, the first thing I caught was Mr Burner's – I mean, Brunner's – bemused look. Then I noticed the other eyes staring from the rest of the class. I met everyone's eyes with a cold glare before I took my seat at the back of the room. Percy sat in the table beside mine.

I watched as some kids turned and looked at him for an explanation (yeah, well I'm pretty sure they knew what they'd get if they asked me. No one seems to want to take the risk anymore) but he just raised an eyebrow at them. There was this expression on his face that very clearly said "I dare you to ask".

"I can see you watching me," Percy whispered to me from the side of his mouth. He was still looking towards the front of the classroom but I could see the massive smirk on his face.

Why a smirk? Why's it always got to be the freaking smirk? Has he signed his soul away to promote the use of it around everywhere or something?

We split apart – going our different ways – when homeroom ended. Architecture went by in a bit of a blur. Ms Joyce did mention something about assessments (maybe it was an assignment or something coming up soon) but the whole time I sat and sketched. The bell shrilled and I jumped a little, looking up as the students around me started packing their stuff into their bags.

I was amused and surprised when I realized that I'd been working on a sketch of Percy's room. But a better version than the way it was now. This room I'd created was very sea-orientated, more than the room now.

Maybe it was an idea I could give to Sally. She was always looking for DIY projects and ways to improve things. I know the apartment is Paul's but he doesn't seem like the guy to actually get all worked up about it. Actually, with the way things are going between them, I'm sure it won't be long before Paul will be asking Percy if it would be cool for him to marry his mum.

Ugh, Mr Marks now. Gods, this teacher hates me.

"Miss Chase," the English teacher's cold stare hit me as soon as I walked into the room… three minutes late. On purpose.

I smiled at him sweetly. "Nice to see you as well, sir. I hope you haven't missed me too much; but don't worry, I'm here now." I only paused to say that before walking straight passed him and to an empty seat in front of Percy (who, might I add was trying to hide his grin).

"Detention, Chase. It is not acceptable for you to walk in here three minutes late and interrupt my class," Marks glared at me.

I shrugged. "Well it's probably the only thing about this whole lesson that us poor kids are going to remember."

His face enflamed slightly. "I hope for all your sakes that you are wrong, Chase." He turned to address the whole class and spoke a bit louder. "The exam tomorrow better be a good one from all of you otherwise you can kiss passing English goodbye."

"Now I'm scared," I muttered sarcastically with a roll of my eyes. A few kids close to me chuckled. Immediately the teacher locked his eyes back onto me with a glare. A bit like how a missile locks onto its target before its launched.

"Annabeth Chase, I warned you on your first day that I-" as he said this I mimed his words with another roll of my eyes (somehow my subconscious just knew what he was gonna say) "-do not tolerate this type of attitude. A weeks- worth of afternoon detentions for you, for the next seven days that you decide to show up for school."

I grinned at him mischievously (well, I hope that it looked like that). "Looking forward to it, sir."

With another heated glare shot at me, Mr Marks finally got on with teaching us. Well, more like everyone else, anyway.

"Mr Jackson, for the hundredth time, although I cannot see your phone, I know when someone is using theirs. I have been teaching long enough to learn some of the tricks you students try to use in an attempt to not be so obvious."

"You must be pretty ancient then," I pointed out. Half the class laughed while Marks shot me, like, my eightieth glare for the lesson and went back to speaking to Percy.

"Mr Jackson, please put that phone back in your pocket and do not pull it out again in my lesson. Am I clear?"

"Crystal, sir," Percy said. I could just imagine his innocent smile up at Marks.

I don't understand Marks and what his brain thinks. Well, I do but I don't. Here Percy is, getting away with texting in class, and here I am, a week of detentions for my "attitude" and rocking up late. I bet if it was me on a phone – not that I have one now, or have had one ever – I would get it taken from me, more detentions, and a phone call back to Susan.

Maths was much the same as the other few times I'd turned up to it; a lesson where Percy got singled out by Ms Dodds. And as always, Percy earned himself another detention after class.

But it's lunch next. Without Percy, what am I going to do? Why do I have to be this needy and freaking reliant on Percy all of a sudden?

Skipping the whole lunch thing, I went to the library, pulled out a few books. Then found myself a spot where I could see everyone coming and where it was public enough that I could escape without causing a scene if something happened. Hopefully before something happened.

They do say that you learn from your mistakes. And I will not make the mistake of letting Luke sneak up on me again. Ever. It has happened too many times as it is.

I relaxed as I saw through my peripheral vision Percy stroll in. I didn't even look up from my book, though. He stopped in the doorway, scanning the room, until he found me, then came over.

"Oh hell no, Wise Girl, we are going to eat. I'm hungry and I don't care if you're not, but I am," he hauled me to my feet, taking me off guard.

"You're a wanker, you know that?" I snapped at him as he led me out of the safe haven of the library.

"If only I had a dollar for every time you've called me that, I'd be rich."

I felt Percy tense up the closer we got to the cafeteria. I know that he was ready for a fight with Luke.

My eyes quickly scanned the room as we reached to doors.

Tables. Cliques. The popular group with Silena and Beckendorf. Travis and Connor running from some big jock guy. Juniper, Leo and Jason over with their friends, smiling and looking like they were having fun or whatever.

Percy relaxed.

No Luke.

"Come on," Percy nudged me.

I did keep an eye out for the rest of the day. For a brief second I did think that I saw someone outside that looked like Luke, but it turned out to be some tall lanky guy with blonde hair smoking a joint while skipping class.

Weird. I can say his name now; Luke. I still hate him. I still think that he is a monster. I still wish that he was anywhere but living here. But now I can think and say his name; Luke. It does make my skin crawl though.

At the end of the day, Percy walked back with me to Susan's. I wasn't staying, but I was just picking up a few things. And Percy wouldn't let me go alone, even though I have a pretty good idea of how to get back to his place without him.

Juniper, Leo and Jason had gotten back to Susan's before us. This time, though, there was no Grover or Nico or Piper or anyone else around at the house today. The Crow Lady, though, was home.

I walked straight in, without bothering to knock or be polite or even wipe my shoes. Percy trailed behind but looked apologetic about the intrusion. I did notice went I began to walk to the stairs that he did stop, close the door softly, and wipe his shoes. I rolled my eyes at his antics.

The Crow Lady was standing beside the bottom of the stairs. For once, though, I couldn't really tell what she was thinking. Her face – it wasn't blank – it had emotions in it that I never imagined I'd see on her. I can't even name the emotion, but it was unusual as hell.

She began to say something but I quickly turned away and went up the stairs… only to be bombarded by Juniper and Leo who were waiting at the top. They threw their arms around me and a group hug.

I stiffened up, not used to this at all.

"Give her some space guys," Jason stood back from us. He gave me a brief nod and a genuine smile before he turned his attention to behind me. Percy.

Juniper and Leo finally pulled back.

"So are you staying now?"

"Are you okay?"

"What happened?"

"We're here for you, you know that right?"

"Why were you away so long?"

"Did we do something wrong?"

I literally could only look back and forward between the two of them.

"I'm not staying," I clarified, making their excited faces become, well, less excited.

"We're here to pick up some stuff," Percy spoke up from behind me. "But mum said to be quick so Annabeth needs to move a bit faster." I could even imagine his bloody smirk.

But I took that as my cue to slip passed everyone and get into my room. There I opened my back pack and began shoving clothes inside. I could hear Percy talking with his friends still outside. I was already done though, but I didn't feel like interrupting them.

So I stood there, looking around the room. Something on the desk caught my eye. A small package. It hadn't been there before I began staying at Percy's.

I went over, picked it up, and cautiously examined it.

On the front there was my name and the address of Susan's house. Flipping it over I saw that there was nothing on the back. It was blank; no return address.

Frowning I opened up the package and tipped the contents onto my desk. A small A5 sized notebook fell out. And a white envelope; a card.

Snatching up the card, I tore into it.

Who would sent this? No one had ever sent me something before. And why would someone send me this? Why is it that I move to here, to New York, and everything seems to be put into perspective? I've had to open up. I've had to acknowledge the past. I've had to change. I've had to remember to the darkest times I would rather forget. I've had to learn to trust.

It was a card. The front had a beach sun-set scene on. I'd been to a Florida beach before, but I don't think that this was Florida. Maybe California? Or maybe another country? I heard Australia has good beaches.

Frowning slightly I opened it; more curious than awestruck by the beach scene now.

Annabeth,

It's alright to admit you need help. It's not a sign of weakness; it's a sign of being human.

Don't forget to smile, you're 17 now!

Rachel.

I stared at the words. Rachel. It was Rachel. Someone had remembered my birthday which was…

Looking up I frowned, trying hard to think. What is today? July 14th. My birthday was two days ago. Which means that one day one month ago, Thalia turned 18 on June 13th. And Matthew turns 12 in three months and 6 days; October 20.

"Annabeth, you d-"

I couldn't stop myself jumping at his voice. I was so deep in thought about Thalia and Matthew… God I missed them.

Quickly I closed the card, then tried to stuff it and the notebook back into the package bag. I hadn't even gotten a chance to really look at the notebook yet.

"Yeah, we can – Hey!"

Percy had come over and snatched the package from my hands. I grabbed about wildly but missed every time. Percy turned his back to me, going through the package.

"Percy, come on! Give me it!" I glared and pounded my fists against his back. "That's not yours, you nosy shit! Stop it! Give it back!"

But he was quiet.

"Percy, you dick, give it the fuck ba-"

Suddenly he whirled and caught my flying fist with his free hand. He looked half shocked and a bit hurt.

"Annabeth, why didn't you tell me about your birthday?" he didn't sound angry though. He was quiet, like he was trying not to show how much that stung him.

"It wasn't important," yeah, and I even forgot myself. But if I told Percy that, would he believe me? Nope, of course he wouldn't.

But what I said seemed to make him fire up. His eyebrows furrowed into his forehead. He was about to start something. I shook my head and pushed past him, grabbing my backpack, then walking out of the room. I gave the three teenagers on the landing a smile-less wave, went down the stairs and then out of the front door, not even sparing a glance to Susan.

So it's longer than usual and not my usual cliffhanger, but I think because I left you guys in the lurch for so long I owe you this much.

Sorry for not writing and I won't make this too long like I do usually coz I know you guys really don't want hear about all the excuses and shit that explains it. Put simply though, I've had some good times, and then some real low times. I'm getting better, getting brighter again.

And the first line in Annabeth's letter, I think that refers to you all. Needing help is just part of being human. This is something that I need to work on as well. It's easier for us all to keep things in or bottle things up. I usually keep in the important things or the things that hurt me. But I end up in worse shape, so maybe I should take my owe advice and find someone who will help.

Sorry again for the almost-two-months that I didn't update. I totally don't blame people for giving up in this story but I WILL finish this. I know where it's going, and we aren't there yet.

Thank you everyone who is reading this for not giving up on me! I'll tey to be better at updating, but again, cant guarantee anything, sorry.

- Cassie.