Annabeth -

School. It was my first day. A day that used to be my favorite. Of course I always hated leaving camp, leaving my friends, leaving Percy. But now it was so much worse. My nightmares still hurt me and I didn't think they were leaving anytime soon, but talking about them with Percy helped so much. And for the nightmares that left me shaking in fear, his arms wrapped around me would be enough. Now his words would have to suffice. He could visit whenever, at the snap of his fingers, but I didn't want to have to rely on him too much. I was already drowning in him, but he would save me before everything else and that scared me.

"Ms Chase I believe you'll be late if you keep staring at your wall like that," Percy said. He stood on the fire escape outside her window. He dark swept hair and beautiful everything.

"Percy," I said in delight. I glanced towards me sleeping roommate and froze. I watched her stir and I shoved my Yankee's cap onto Percy's head through the window.

"Morning Annabeth," Lizzie said. I had met her last night when I was given the room assignments. We had chatted for a bit and I learned a bit about her. She was from New Jersey, but the city had her heart. She had four main friends and loved them dearly. Her favorite subject was English, but she loved to learn anything and everything.

Lizzie rolled out of bed and began to get ready for our first day. I looked to where Percy should've been and I mouthed 'Later'. I hoped he got the message. Lizzie was a nice girl, but I had only met her the night before. I had a feeling she wouldn't take too kindly to my boyfriend hanging outside our window.

"Good morning," I replied. I shut the blinds and changed into my uniform. It felt an awful lot like starting over. Returning to some semblance of normal. A fresh start with Percy in my corner and no wars on the horizon. With only my memories and nightmares staining it.

"I know it's your first year here and all, so if you want I can show you around and you could hang with my friends and I," Lizzie said as we walked downstairs.

"I'd like that a lot."

"Guys, this is Annabeth, my new roommate. Annabeth this is Mya, Johnny, Matt, and Emma," Lizzie introduced. We were walking to Pre-Calc now and I was settling in the best I could. The teachers seemed alright and the course work didn't seem too easy, so all was well.

"So Annabeth, what brings you to New York?" Johnny asked.

"Well I have an internship of sorts here, so I need to be close for it. And my boyfriend lives here, so it's a win-win," I explained.

"Does your boyfriend go to this school too?" Matt asked.

"Oh no, he doesn't." I chuckled. "He's not exactly much one for school. I don't even think he's attending this year."

"He's a dropout?" Matt said disgusted. The horror on their faces were plain as day.

"I suppose, but it doesn't come as much of a shock seeing as he hasn't lasted longer than a year at a school. Something always happens and they kick him out," I said. It amused me watching these kids getting so horrified at the thought of an expulsion. As much as I valued my education, I knew that Percy didn't need it. I always joked that he was dumb, but he isn't. He has a tendency for emotional obliviousness, but he isn't stupid. He's really smart. Like scarily smart. He can assess a situation in seconds and manipulate or weasel his way out. He's smarter than anyone knows, even himself.

"Oh my God. Why are you dating such a low-life?" Emma asked. "Sorry, I didn't mean to call him a low-life or- or to insult you or anything."

"Well I guess I'm a lowlife by association then, because he is my boyfriend and my best friend and we are hopelessly in love. And I'd really prefer not to talk about that anymore without him here, because he prefers when people insult him to his face. Anyways... what do people like you do for fun here?"

Lizzie's friends looked at me bewildered. They didn't know what to make of me and I wanted it to stay that way. I didn't need their friendship, but I knew I should try anyway. I wish Thalia was here. She would know exactly how to shut these people down. Percy could probably do it with a single glance.

The day passed and I was just floating through. I was in a daze during class. It was hard to concentrate and I was so tired. I wanted an undisturbed sleep for once.

"Hey Annabeth," Lizzie said. "We're going to get lunch across the street if you want to join us. They have the best greek food, I swear." I smiled at her and her unrelenting kindness.

"I guess I'll have to attest to that. I've had some pretty good greek food."

"Then c'mon. First day is over. Let's celebrate," Johnny said, looking at Mya. She was a very quiet girl with dark hair and darker eyes. She was beautiful in a subtle way. I could tell that Johnny wanted her to notice him desperately, but Mya had no clue. Johnny, on the other hand, wasn't so striking. He was of average height with light brown hair and dull blue eyes. Yet he had a quick mind and a genuine smile. Behind those blue eyes were a wall of sadness, but he didn't seem like he was going to break that wall down any time soon.

"Are we seriously celebrating with the low-life by association?" Matt said. I knew he was joking, but his smile didn't quite reach his pitbull-like eyes. He stood slightly too close to me and my hand was itching for my dagger.

"Woah," Emma said, "Who is that?" I looked to where she was pointing. Percy.

"That," I said, "is my boyfriend."

"Good one Chase. You don't need to lie to us, y'know, just cause you're with some sewer rat," Emma scoffed.

"Oh fuck off. And pointing is rude, by the way," I told her. I turned to Lizzie. "Maybe I'll get that greek food with you some other time, Lizzie, but some of your friends don't seem to want me here." I spun on my heels and walked towards Percy with as much grace and calm as I could manage.

"Hey, Wise Girl. Made some friends?"

"And some enemies," I said. He laughed.

"I'd expect nothing less. Now come on, I heard about this really good greek place across the street. It's practically our job to see if it lives up the good stuff," Percy said. Of course he wanted to go to the same restaurant as them, but did I care? No.

"Practically." Percy looked behind us.

"Why are the people you were walking with staring at us?"

"They were under the impression you were a 'low-life' since you don't go to school. Seeing you here, y'know looking like you do was a shock to them to say the least," I told him with a blush.

"Looking like I do?"

"You look like a god, Seaweed Brain. Even before you actually were one. You're intimidating and have this neutral brooding look," I told him. His eyebrows scrunched together.

"I do?"

"Yes and you're perfect. You just didn't fit the low-life profile they were giving you in their heads."

"You're perfect too, y'know. And you don't need those people, but you don't have to push them away for my sake either," Percy told her. He looked behind us again at that group. "I think I recognize one of them."

"Is it a monster?"

"No," he said, "Well I suppose you should define a monster. He's human though, and you've had the displeasure of meeting him too." My eyes flitted to the group. He said 'him' so it was either Johnny or Matt. But there was no possible way that it was Johnny. Something did seem familiar about Matt anyways.

"I can't place him. How do we know him?" I asked. He wasn't a monster and he wasn't a demigod. So where did Percy and myself both meet this person?

"You'll see," Percy said with a wink. He grabbed my hand and we went into the restaurant and a minute later the group entered. Lizzie's eyes found mine right away and they were oozing with apologies. I simply smiled at her.

"Hey Matt," Percy called out. "Long time, no see." Matt cowered under Percy's hardened gaze.

"You know each other?" Johnny asked.

"I don't know him. Never seen him before today," Matt insisted. Percy grinned again, but it wasn't his normal crooked grin that I loved. It had a threatening layer beneath.

"C'mon, Matt Sloan right? Meriweather College Prep, the place you tried to make Tyson's life a living hell. And believe me, I know hell like the back of my hand," Percy said. Matt's face paled and I remembered exactly where I knew him from.

"Percy Jackson?" Matt said. His jaw dropped. "No way."

"Wait I know that name," Emma said, "How do I know that name?"

"Percy Jackson. You were the kid that was kidnapped a few years ago, right?" Mya said. Annabeth smiled at her. "And you were with him too. And another kid. My dad was one of the officers on the case."

"And then he blew up Meriweather Prep the next year," Matt said.

"And Goode too!" Emma exclaimed, "My cousin was a cheerleader there and said he was the one that blew up the band room!"

"It wasn't really my fault, but yeah that's me," Percy said.

"And how are you with him?" Emma demanded.

"I've known him since we were 12. We went to camp together," I said.

"And you were there when the school burned down too! The notebook picture girl!"

"The who?" Johnny asked.

"He kept a picture of her in his notebook and defended the retard of giant, so he had it com-" Matt didn't even finish his sentence. I watched Percy's green eyes darken and his muscles tense. That's when I knew he was going to snap. I opened my mouth to say something, but Percy was already on top of Matt. He pinned him to the ground. Matt splayed out in fear. Everyone in the restaurant turned to watch the commotion as Percy landed a hard punch.

"Percy!" I cried out, but he didn't stop. I grabbed his hand as he went for another punch. I could've sworn I felt the ground shake beneath us. I never knew how strong Percy had become until then.

"Stop. Please." He slackened under my touch, from the sound of my voice. He looked up at me and his eyes were wild, uncontrolled. I reached for his hand, but he pulled away.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to." He was staring down at Matt. Matt Sloan, the school bully, laid there unconscious with his friends surrounding him. Blood poured from his nose and stained his expensive clothes. I held Percy and didn't let him go.

"Can you help him?" I asked Percy. His eyes flashed again, but he reeled himself under control. He nodded at me and snapped his fingers. The blood was cleaned and Matt woke up. With another snap of his fingers all the people in the restaurant forgot the fight transpired.

"We need to go," I told Percy.

"Okay." I dragged him out of that restaurant and back to the school. We passed one of the statues that were activated during the war and I had to close my eyes for a second. My heart sped up and I needed to forget for a second, because the memories were pouring back in. A draconae had sliced Malcolm in the arm and Percy slashed it in half without blinking, and then turning on all it's friends. Destroy. Destroy. Destroy. It was all too much.

When we got back up into the dormitory, I sat Percy down next to me on my bed. His knuckle was stained with Matt's blood.

"I didn't mean to lose control. He just-" Percy clenched his eyes shut. "He said that word and I just blanked. I forgot my strength. I forgot myself and I'm sorry. I don't give a shit about Matt, but I scared you and I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Seaweed Brain. It was a mistake and he's okay now." He shook his head.

"I need to talk to Chiron," Percy said.

"Why? Percy where are you going?"

"I'll call you later. I just-" Percy's head snapped towards the door to see Lizzie enter. I couldn't read her face. It was completely neutral, but she bit her lip as she saw Percy.

"Okay, talk to you later. Love you," I said.

"Love you too," he said before leaving Lizzie and I in silence. She sat on her bed and I sat on mine. I don't know why, but I felt some sort of compulsion to explain myself to her. She was practically a stranger and I owed her nothing, yet I wanted to say something.

"I'm sorry that Matt was such an asshole to you and your boyfriend," Lizzie said.

"It's alright. Him and I have been through a lot together so Percy is very protective of the ones he loves," I told her. None of them actually remembered Percy hitting Matt, instead they saw a verbal fight. It was better, but they would still be mad at Percy and I. I had told Emma to 'fuck off' so...

"I wish I could say I understand, but-"

"No you don't. You really, really don't," I said, closing my eyes.

"I don't think my friends will want to hang out with you anymore," Lizzie said. I felt her eyes staring at me, but I kept mine closed.

"Yeah, of course. I get it."

"I'm sorry."

"No hard feelings. Besides, I barely know you and I sure didn't come here for friendships," I said. I knew it was sort of harsh, but I didn't care. I was tired. I just wanted things to be easier. Just this year and next year of school. That's all. I can do this.

"Okay," Lizzie said, but her voice sounded hollow. I turned over and stared at the wall.

AN: Okay so Lizzie and her friends won't be important to the plot in the long run, but I thought it would be interesting to add a part about how demigods interact with mortals and the difficulty of such a friendship. I feel like Annabeth's life outside of camp was always sort of glossed over, so I hope this was realistic enough. Review!