A/N: If you recognize it, it's not mine. Simple as that.

Chapter4

Perci POV

Months went by since my move to Forks, and my days had fallen into a routine that was somewhat annoying. I would wake up, try to get Bella to acknowledge my existence, go to school, avoid the annoying 'popular kids', come home, struggle through homework, then train, or go swim at the beach. Occasionally I had swim practice, since I made the swim team with ease, but I much preferred going to the beach to swim. The lack of monsters actually had me paranoid since I'd only taken out a few since my arrival. I could tell Charlie was getting exasperated with Bella's lack of acknowledgement of my presence, and he had offered to let me go home to New York a few times, though I had declined.

I found that I greatly enjoyed living in Forks since it was always raining. The water always increased my strength, so I found it a nice challenge to control my strength when wet. It was now January though, and Bella had remained firmly in her zombie like funk. Finally, one morning after my daily failure of getting Bella to acknowledge me, Charlie had gotten fed up. He slammed his fist on the table, actually startling her somewhat from her playing with her cereal, something I was sure Lady Demeter shuddered at.

"That's it, Bella! I'm sending you home." He stated firmly.

"I am home." Her monotone voice responded.

I watched with mild interest as they engaged in a back and forth for once, slightly surprised to see an actual conversation being drawn out of her.

"You haven't even acknowledged Perci, and she's been here for months!" Charlie's voice yelled, and my attention snapped back to the conversation just in time to see Bella looking at me in shock. I gave her a sarcastic wave in reply.

"Yes, I exist. I have been here since October." I informed her before taking my now empty plate of eggs and bacon to the sink.

"I'm heading out. I've got to get to a meeting about the next swim meet." I told Charlie, before heading out to the blue Toyota Corolla that he had gotten me, before heading to school.

Luckily, the meeting went by quickly, and we were informed that we were going up against La Push High, and that we were to train hard. I was also told that I probably shouldn't go train in the ocean, but the coach didn't even bother trying to enforce it as he said it. I had been given the (hilariously ironic) nickname of 'Mermaid', since I was the best swimmer. Even Triton found the nickname funny when he had overheard me telling Poseidon about it through IM while he was in Atlantis.

By the time the meeting ended ten minutes before the first bell, I was slightly surprised to see Bella's truck already in the parking lot, but shrugged it off, and headed to class. The day seemed to pass by quickly, and soon enough it was time for lunch. I once again, ignored the so called 'populars', they reminded me too much of the more stuck up kids at camp, and sat with the swim team as usual. I was once again surprised though, when I saw Bella actually looking around, like it was the first time she was seeing the cafeteria.

"Holy shit, Bella's actually paying attention." One of my teammates muttered, drawing everyone's attention to her. I knew my face showed how impressed I was at the moment, before I shrugged and went back to my questionable lunch.

"Maybe Charlie actually got through to her this morning. She actually looked shocked to discover another person sitting at the table." I said, ignoring the snort of amusement that came from Kyle, one of the jokers of the team. I swore he could be a Hermes kid were it not for the fact that he couldn't even pick the lock on his locker when it didn't want to open.

"That's pretty sad, actually." He said, going back to his own lunch.

"Yeah, but it's her own fault. I've done everything short of slapping her at the table to get her to acknowledge me since October. If she was too stuck in her own head, then it's not my fault. At least Charlie knows I've tried to help her, but you just can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped." I said. I could feel eyes on my back, and knew that it was Bella, hearing with my slightly enhanced senses her ask Jessica why I was sitting with the swim team. I nearly snorted when she was informed of my place on the varsity team.

The rest of the day after lunch seemed to fly by just as quickly. When I got back home, I could spot Jessica's car just turning around the corner. Shrugging it off, I walked into the house, only to discover that Bella must have actually been with Jessica, as I was the only one there. Quickly coming to a decision on what to do with my free time, since I had no homework that was due the next day, I called Charlie to let him know I was heading to La Push to go for a swim. Changing into a swimsuit, I drove over to the reservation waving to a few of the Natives who I knew through Charlie, I quickly parked at the beach.

After about a half hour of swimming, I heard the playful calls of my nickname, and waved to Jacob, Quil, and Embry as they walked past, laughing as Quil shouted at me to ask if I was ever not in the water. Glancing around, I noticed that there was no one watching, and ducked under, laughing joyously at the fish swimming past me, muttering in awe about the 'Sea Princess'.

"You'd think they'd be used to my presence by now." I muttered to myself, before pulling up sharply at the cliff wall in front of me. I hadn't even realized how close to the cliffs I had swam. Surfacing for appearances, just in case, I swam backwards in a backstroke a few feet. Looking up, I faltered at the sight of a massive grey wolf at the top of the cliffs. I stayed as still as possible, trying not to draw its attention to me. Unfortunately, it still looked, though it froze when it locked eyes with me. I frowned at the sudden pull in my chest, waving it off and ducking back under the water. The sound of the ocean drowned out the voice of the Love Goddess in my head voicing her satisfaction.