Chapter 2: Percy

After I had turned off my alarm 3 times and rolled back to sleep, my mom finally came in my room yelling at me, "Percy! Get up! You'll be late!" I glanced at the clock and rushed out of bed, realizing I had to leave in 10 minutes. After throwing on some clothes, brushing my teeth, looking at a hairbrush and deciding against it, I rushed out of my room.

Almost immediately I noticed the stench of alcohol was stronger than usual. Right, how could I forget his sudden burst of rage he had last night. Much like a lot of other nights. Gabe, my stepdad, (emphasis on the step) drank beer probably more than water. When I told that to my mom she told me to stop being so crude with my remarks and not to ever say that to him. I bet that meant she had thought it too. While the smell of our small apartment usually had a faint smell of beer, today's odor was especially pungent and impossible to miss.

Last night Gabe had come home after working at his electronic store angry and in a desperate need for a beer or two or three or four. My mom was still working at her candy store and normally doesn't get home until very late. THat left me alone with Gabe every afternoon, I spent at home. Which wasn't often considering he is the worst. I tried to stay out of his way, and spent most of the afternoon in my room facetiming Rachel. My plan worked out until he yelled, "Punk! Come out here and clean up the living room you pig!" By this time he was wasted and when I didn't clean up the mess in time, he struck me across the face, hard. Although this want' the first time he'd done this (it started this summer) he still recoiled and muttered an apology and something about a shower. His desperate attempt to sober up before my mom got home. I cleaned up the mess, put ice on my face, and continued with my day.

As I was leaving my mom said, "Was he terrible last night? He told me he had a bad day at work and that was why he was drunk. I'm so sorry"

"Don't worry, it wasn't too bad," I lied. If my mom found would, she would divorce him, but she needs him to pay the bills. Her job barley pays the rent. And I guess they kind of like each other. He's good to her, just not me. But it's her that matters.

"Oh good," She sighed in relief. She then noticed my bruise. "What's this?"

I lied again. "Oh I got hit in the face with a soccer ball." Hastily I grabbed my backpack and kissed her goodbye before she could ask more questions.

While driving to school I wanted to scream as I passed his store. He wasn't even supposed to be home over winter break, but on a business tiro. It was just going to be me and my mom all break. And Rachel most the the time too. However, they sold their products quicker than imagined so he's been with me and my mo the last two days. I tol rachel not to come over. At least I'm going to my dad's house this week. We get along great.

The drive to school takes a long time because I love in Manhattan with my mom, so it's typically a 45 minute drive opposed to the 5 minute drive from my dad's house. To distract myself from my curently shtity home life situation, I blared ACDC.

Half way to school, my phone went off with my girlfriend calling me. I put her on speakerphone and asked, "Hey Rachel. Whats up?"

"Percy, where are you? I have to go to tutoring in 3 minutes."

Oops. Normally we meet way before school starts so we have time to hang out and kiss and all that fun stuff. "Oh my God, Rachel! I'm so sorry! I slept in and life was kind of crazy this weekend! I turned off my alarm three times. A new record or something"

"You're such a goof! Don't worry it's fine," She laughed. "I'll see you at lunch, then?" "Okay. I love you so much!" Rachel was such a chill girlfriend. "Bye!"

"Bye goof"

As I walked up my friends at school, Leo was arm wrestling Jason. And losing. After getting pinned with his right arm Leo exclaimed, "No! Left arm now!" Jason rolled his eyes and proceeded to win with his left hand until I started poking him. And he lost entirely when poper ran up and kissed him causing leo to pin him with a victorious happy dance.

I looked up for Piper's ride, Annabeth. She was walking toward her usually meet up spot with her friends. When she looked my way I quickly looked away, pretend to be preoccupied with Leo's weird contest as he challenged PIper to arm wrestling. He would probably lose that too.

Annabeth and I used to be so close. And we probably would have dated if not for the sudden drifting apart freshman year. And dating was totally out of the picture when I started dating Rachel. But Annabeth had gotten seriously pretty. Like, out of this world pretty. And she was super popular. And smart. And athletic. And nice. And funny.

My goal this year was to be friends with her again. So far, it wasn't going great. I couldn't keep looking away everytime we made eye contact. Being friends with annabeth was so easy. IF we could be friends again, maybe even get Grove to come visit. HIm and his suptid nature, school.

But last time I check annabeth was still dating that piece of shit luke, And ahing out with her if she was still dating him was out of the question. To put it simply; Ihate him. But, I'd be surprised if they were still together because he cheated on her, like, four times.

Just then the bell rang and 15 hundred kids rushed dot class. I had college prep bio first block, which was the only class I was excited for. I want to be a marine biologist because my dad owns probably 100 aquariums. Unlike my mother, my father is very very rich. Because of him I know everything about sharks, whales and all types of water creatures. I get A's in all my bio classes.

When Annabeth walked in and sat down with Charlie and I, my first thought was, "Here's your chance. Be friends with her again, that when you life was the best." So I asked her to tutor me in enlish, which I actually do need held in desperately. I haven't even started it yet.

Halfway through class I had an urge to ask her if she was dating Luke. I blame my ADHD. Instead I asked, "So are Will and Nico dating?"

In her best impression of Selina she said, "That's old news." Then, normally. "They make out everywhere. It's cute and sickening."

I grinned. "How long have they been dating?"

She thought for a second. "Um...not sure. Maybe, 2 months?"

"Wow." I teased. "The great, brilliant Annabeth Chase doesn't know something!" "Shut up!" She said, punching my shoulder playfully.

After school Rachel and I went to the school girl soccer game and then to the park. I went to swim late and then went to my dad's house where he and his wife treated me to burgers. But the whole time I Was thinking about my new kindling friendship with Annabeth Chase. So all in all, not a bad day.