'Never let any limit take the ambition for self-improvement from you'
Unknown author
Pov. Annabeth
'I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the borderline of the edge
And where I walk alone'
No, no, no. Why soon she? Certainly no one else would go in there, but I don't know. Why soon with me? Right at the door of the room an Aunt M was looking at me with a frown and something else, it seemed ... worry? No, that is certainly the effect of the drink.
- So young lady - she said again - will tell me where I was or I will have to tell your father
- N-no, no Margareth, please, e-he n-no
When I realized I was already crying. Not how afraid of my father would I be more afraid of him going further away from me.
Even though I didn't want to show myself weak in front of that woman, I couldn't. The tears insisted on falling without shame and the hole that was in my chest only helped to make the situation worse.
That's when Aunt M did something that surprised me. She came over to my side and hugged me. A hug that I haven't received in a long time. A hug of comfort, of concern.
At first I was scared, but then I clung to her as if my life depended on it. Something I never even imagined would be happening. I hugged her tightly and she returned
I cried. I cried without shame, without fear of being taken for weak and the most incredible. I cried in the arms of that woman that I hated or at least thought that. Gradually, I calmed down and no longer sobbed so much.
- Be calm dear, I will not say anything he is fine, but you will have to tell me what happened - she said
- T-ok Meg
I walked away from her and sat on the bed. I didn't know if I could trust her, but I didn't even have an option, if I didn't tell her, she would talk to my father. I didn't even think about lying. She was very smart and would know if I did. I did the last thing I had left. I told the truth.
I obviously didn't tell all of it. But I did tell about my courtship with Luke and how that bastard betrayed me. She just listened to me quietly, as if she were measuring the words, looking for a lie in them.
She might have been understanding, even human, but I wasn't so desperate as to trust her with mine. I knew it could be just to deceive me and then tell my dad everything.
After I told her what happened, the room went into an uncomfortable silence. She didn't say anything, she didn't even look at me. He just stared at the emptiness as if he remembered a painful memory.
After a while, it was getting tired. That was when I started to get up and she pulled me again making me sit next to her.
- Dear look, I care about you, I no longer have a family and you are all I have - that revelation scared me, but I didn't say anything - I know you didn't tell me everything, more importantly, but I won't force you to do anything okay?
Right. Who was this woman? What did you do to my angry aunt M? She noticed my confused face and said laughing
- You must be wondering why this is not it? - I just nodded - look dear, I've been through disappointments like that, although I think that was not the only thing that got you drunk at four in the morning.
So you mean I made it home? I don't even want to know how I did it.
"Look, baby," she continued, "we all have losses, but each one is different not because of the size of its losses, but because of the size of its courage and determination to face those losses. You can't give yourself the whole drink ...
- Losses? Deliver? Do you think it doesn't hurt? - I said, crying again - Do you think that if I wanted, I would be like this? You don't know me, until today I just wanted to destroy me. End my happiness. And now you think about teaching a moral lesson? You are nothing to me, you never were. It will always be a maid of nothing. I think you have other things to do.
With each word I spoke, I was more surprised by myself. I might have been crying, but those words came out cold as ice. But instead of that woman touching herself, I was practically asking her out, she just looked at me with pity.
You must hate me for what I did, aren't you, girl? But I did nothing to harm you. I saw you walk away from everything and everyone, I just want to help you. You remind me so much of my daughter ...
I don't want to know who I look like - I shouted - I just want you to leave my room now
She looked at me again, and her look clearly expressed sadness and concern. She said nothing, just left and closed the door behind her.
She was barely out and I already ran to the bathroom. My head was heavy and my stomach turned more than a blender. I barely opened the bathroom door when I felt my bile going to my mouth. I threw up which only made my discomfort worse, which didn't help since I hadn't eaten anything before I got drunk.
I sat on the floor and started to cry. I was crying loudly and did not doubt that my sobs were being heard throughout the house.
I had to be strong. I wasn't going to let that wretch play with me like that. They would see. Everyone would see what Annabeth Chase was capable of. They would never play with me again. Do they want to humiliate me? Well, I'm going to humiliate you.
I got up still dizzy and took a long shower thinking about my problems. I didn't have a mother, in fact, I did, but she never wanted me. I had a father who needed to hold the president in his arms, but who forgot to say at least a good day to his daughter. And on top of that, she now had a former boyfriend and a former false friend who were traitors.
Will I ever be happy at least once? Could it be ...
I was still lost in my thoughts when I heard Aunt M call me.
Let's go Girl. It's almost time for you to go to school, hurry up or if you're not going to be late.
I honestly didn't want to go, but I couldn't be weak. I was always the one on top and it wouldn't be now that I was going to hit me. I finished my shower and started getting ready.
Today I would go differently. That bastard was going to learn that with Annabeth Chase you don't even joke about it. I finished getting ready, grabbed my backpack and went downstairs. I barely set foot in the room when I was approached by an unhappy Aunt M.
- Where do you think you're going dressed like that, young lady?
- To school where else - I said, already sitting down and starting to eat
- You can't go dressed like that, girl - continued - who will think of you?
I couldn't deny that my outfit was a little, say, provocative. It wasn't really vulgar, but it would still make the boys drool more than usual.
- Who said you rule what I use? - I started - by the way, it was you who said that I have to face the losses, right? Well, this is what I'm doing.
I clearly knew that was not what she meant, but I didn't care. When she opened her mouth to start talking, I got up, grabbed my car keys and left.
When I left I could still hear a housekeeper Margarete talk about life screaming things that I didn't even care to hear. It was only when I started the car that I went to look at the time, 7: 14min.
Great, I thought. First day and I'm late. I started the car and drove off like crazy.
What would I do to make them respect me more? I couldn't put anyone's face in the vase. No, that was Clarisse's job. Speaking of that tough guy who had to order a glass of Absinthe, since I am going to change it will not cost me anything to take something stronger.
I can't even believe that yesterday's nerd became the most desired girl at that school just because of a misunderstanding.
I was twelve at the time and that day I had an argument with my father and certainly my mood was not the best. I had barely entered school when a Raquel Elizabeth Dare came pushing me ...
I abruptly freed the car. A boy dressed in a dark outfit and backpack on his back was standing next to me and looked at me in alarm. It was no wonder I almost ran over the poor guy. It is better to stop thinking about the past, it just takes my attention away. I put the car back on. Through the mirror I could see the boy better. He seemed to have clear eyes, green or blue, I couldn't be sure because of the distance, but he was beautiful.
After that scare and almost running over, I turned on the radio and was playing one of the last songs I wanted to hear, Carry on my wayward son from Kansas.
Why did everything have to remember my life? I was listening to this song, but I doubted that my father was caring about me. If it were another time, I could even smile with the lyrics, but now the only thing I have left is to cry, cry because all this is just an illusion.
No, no. Enough of those thoughts. Today you have to forget about that Annabeth.
I arrived at the school and parked in the only remaining space. Next to Luke's car. My luck was that that bastard was not there.
I rushed into the school hoping to make it into the classroom even though I was late, but soon gave up. She would never let me in. Mrs. Norma was certainly the incarnation of the devil in human form.
She had come in late last year to replace the former history professor. It looked like he had a nervous breakdown or something.
I was waiting to hit the bell to end the class when I felt someone hugging me from behind. Anywhere I would recognize that mossy scent that now disgusted me. I turned away from Luke and slapped him in the face.
Don't put your filthy hands on me Luke - I spoke with hate
I had left his face well marked and it looked like it hurt. He, on the other hand, only caressed his face and smiled shamelessly.
That Annie - spoke closer getting closer - I can also be yours
In this he took my hand and took it to the waistband of his pants. That was the limit. I was not that whore he had the hard face to cheat on me. I raised my knee hitting his little friend.
Never touch me again Luke or I will make a point of spaying your little friend there.
I got out of there and left that wretch writhing in pain on the floor. I barely got to the door of my office when the bell rang to start the next class.
The next few hours passed slowly, no one paid any attention to what the professor was saying. The boys argued about the football season, the girls, obviously I was included, we talked about boys until a Bia who until that moment was silent started to speak, or better, shout
People, guess what? - spoke almost jumping - my brother back from Russia today
Hmm - we all talk
Bia's brother is certainly a cat. Nico d'Ângelo. The last time I saw him was at Christmas, four years ago. At that time Bia was not my friend, but at a great cost I managed to stay with her brother. Despite being siblings they live apart since their parents are divorced. Nico lives traveling with his father Raphael d'Ângelo since he is an archaeologist. Bia on the other hand lives with her mother Mariah who owns an architecture firm.
But why Bia? As far as I know you only see each other twice a year? - I asked
Yes, I know, but my mother didn't want to say why, she just said that she will move in with us for a while - she spoke thoughtfully
Has something to share with the class ladies - the teacher spoke looking at us crooked
Err , no teacher imagines it can continue there - a Raquel redder than a tomato said
The teacher just snorted and continued with the class. As soon as the signal for the break hit everyone practically ran out. I was inattentive fiddling with my cell phone when I bumped into someone all in black.
Thalia Grace. She was a mystery at that school. No one knew who her country was, but it was rumored that she had none. She was a punk. He was dressed all in black that looked more like a shadow, except for the rare times he wore a rock band shirt. No one ever saw her with anyone, she just walked alone, she went and came to school without anyone.
Look where your punk is without family - I said smiling just to see your reaction
She said nothing, just blinked her eyes as if trying hard not to cry. That moved me. She reminded me of myself. It seemed that she suffered a lot, but I was not different from her, I was strong and she? Well, she sure was a weakling.
She had already picked up her books that had fallen on the floor when I noticed that a good part of the school was looking at us. I would not miss the opportunity to humiliate you here. When she got up and was about to leave, I pushed her, making her fall flat on her face.
I never want to have punk here again, because if ...
I didn't finish talking, because a boy that I soon recognized as the one I had almost killed this morning came running crouching beside the punk.
Thalia, my God was hurt - the boy asked worried
Now it seemed that the whole school was around us watching the scene. The boy who was by far the most beautiful I've ever seen helped punk to get up.
I-I and-I'm b-well P-percy, o-brigade - she said holding on to not cry
He gave me a cold look and said
Never again, listen well, never touch a finger again - by the tone of his voice I could tell he was dying of hate
. My friends were already by my side and they were watching the scene silly, or rather, they were blatantly drying the boy.
And who do you think is a boy? You don't even know who I am. You are going to tell me that you are this boyfriend, because if I am, I feel sorry for you - I said trying to think straight with those beautiful green eyes staring at me.
What I am of her or what I am no longer is none of your business - I just heard a lot of woes, woes, take - what about you? Well, I don't really know who you are, but I'm sure you are just a hypocrite, a spoiled girl who thinks that everyone has to obey, when in fact you have nothing, there is no one who likes you. He is more jealous than the others have real friends. Today you can be humiliating, stepping on others, but you will end up without anyone if you are not already.
The silence was general. Everyone looked at me as if they approved every word that the smart one spoke. As if he knew anything. As if I know what I'm going through.
It's all right, friend - I heard a voice beside
Raquel looked at me with apprehension. It was only then that I realized I was crying. Those words were so true, so true to me. He was still staring at me, hugging Thalia, who was crying too. He took her backpack and left comforting her.
Because she? Why not me? Why doesn't anyone comfort me, console me? I could see that no one wanted me there. The other students looked at me with hatred, as if with those words they had gained courage and wanted to express all the feelings they held about me. Anger, hate, spite, disgust.
Come friend, don't be like this - Raquel said hugging me - let's get out of here
I might not know that boy and hate him even more for humiliating me in front of the whole school, but it certainly gave me something to think about. I could have died alone and hated it if I didn't decide to change.
