Okay here is the next chapter I know its shortish I wanted it longer but I figured I should update. So happy birthday. Giving you a birthday update is nice. May 22nd thats the date right. Anyway have a wonderfull day hope you love it.

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Chapter 4

Confession time i ditched Grover once we got off the bus. He was creeping me out with his weirdness one second he was nervous the next rigid like a rock. He said he had to go to the bathroom once we got off he made me promise i would wait for him but once he disappeared I grabbed my bag and hailed the nearest cab.
"East One-hundred-and-first and Forth please" I told the driver

Something you should know about my mother before you meet her. She is the nicest person in the world which proves my next point the nicest people have the worst luck. Her own parents died in a plane crash when she was only five. She was shipped to her only living relative her uncle. He never cared for her. Working hard during highschool and saving up for collage. In the middle of her senior year her uncle got cancer and she dropped out of school. He died and left her with no money and no diploma. The only break she ever got was meeting my dad but he eventually left in the end.

I payed the cab driver and looked up at the crumbling apartment building I called home. I pocketed the rest of my money and hefted my bag up the stairs.

Before I opened the door I could hear ESPN blaring. I pictured Gabe with his poker buddies drinking beer and smoking cigars around the stained coffee table where they played poker. I silently opened the door hoping they wouldn't notice but Gabe did he always did.

"So you're home" He said around his cigar giving me a once over

"You're still a creep!" I responded

Gabe stood up and glowered down at me. "You have money on you give it over"

"Give her a break Gabe she just got home" The superintendent Eddie told him still looking at his cards

"SHe has to pull her own weight around here."

"No." I said lifting my chin

Gabe grabbed my shoulders and pushed my to the wall. I got up and threw the rest of my money on the table

"I hope you loose." I growled and stalked to my room

"I wouldn't talk like that your report card came in brainiac" He yelled after me

I threw my bag onto my bed. Although my room wasn't really my room during the school year. It was Gabes study although he didn't study anything except for playboy magazines and old car catalogs. He made it his project to make it the worst possible living quarters ever. He stunk it up with his clone and the cigars that made me sick. He left his muddy boots on the window sill and put his dirty laundry on the floor. I flopped on my bed. Home sweet home. Thats when my brain decided to picture Mrs. Dodds. I could sense something growing talons and growling up the staircase

"Percy!" My mom called and all my fears drifted away.

She had that power to make anyone feel good. She walked in and was wearing her Sweet on America uniform. Her hair was a light brown with some streaks of grey but i never saw her as old. She was holding a brown plastic bag. The goodies she 'took' home for me. I couldn't wait to dive into the blue jelly babies or blue m&m's. I guess I should explain the blue food. See one time mom and Gabe got in some big fight since Gabe said there was no such thing. It didnt seem like a big deal then but now my mom goes out of her way to make blue food.

She gave me a big hug and fussed over my untamed hair and how I have grown since Christmas. I shoved her off but secretly i was really glad to see her. I told her all about my school year. While i was telling her I really missed the place even Nancy didn't seem so bad. I was sounding upbeat until the trip of the museum came up.

"What happened at the museum honey?" My mom asked shoveling some blue jelly beans into her mouth

"Nothing" I said pulling out a blue silly string

"Okay honey" She sighed. I don't think she believed me but I can try right.

"Sally can you make bean dip!" Gabe shouted from the living room.

"Yes. Give me a minute." My mom called back sweetly.

My mom never gets mad never gets annoyed and raising me must be really hard for her. Im not an easy child and my relationship with Gabe doesn't make it any better. She hasn't ever shouted at anyone she deserves some millionaire not Gabe.

"Honey I wanted to tell you something." She paused for dramatic effect "Were going to Montauk."

Montauk was my favorite place in the world. The water is always cold though I never let that bother me. There are spiders in the cabinets and the sheets always have sand in them and the house is sinking in the sand I absolutely love it.

"Really! Oh my God thats amazing!"

Gabe appeared in the doorway.

"Bean Dip Sally!" He said through gritted teeth.

I glared at him.

"I was coming sweetie Percy and I were just talking about the trip" She told him

Surprise crossed his face "you mean you were serious about that"

"He isn't going to let us go" I said glumly

"No he will he is just concerned about the budget. Moneys tight" SHe smiled at me saying be nice and we can go "Ill get onto that bean dip. It will be seven layers. Sour cream guac all the works"

He nodded like he was considering "It comes out of your clothes budget right"

"Yes dear"

"Ok well only if she apologizes for interrupting my poker game"

My mother looked at me begging me with her eyes to apologize.

"I am so sorry I interrupted your incredibly important poker game."

He mulled it over like he was trying to detect the sarcasm in my voice. Eventually he excepted it with a grunt and walked out of my room.

"Ill get changed and we can go. One hour ok?" She told me

"Got it"

Gabe groaned and moaned as we were leaving. Talking about how he is going to miss us and my moms cooking and more importantly his 1987 camaro.

"Not one scratch on it smarty pants."

Like I would be the one driving but if so much as a seagull ruined his paint job he would find a way to blame me. He was waddling back into the house and on impulse i did what I saw Grover doing on the bus and directed it towards Gabe. The swinging door wapped him sending him flying up the stairs. I don't know if I caused that or if it was the wind but I didn't stick around to find out.

When we arrived at Montauk we went through our usual cleaning routine. After we were done we sat on the beach and started a campfire. We were roasting hotdogs and eating blue candie feeding blue corn chips to seagulls.

we have been going to montauk ever since i was little. My mom even longer. I know this place is special to her. Its the place she met my dad. Where she fell in love and I happened. Its also the place where she got her first heartbreak.

I brought up the one thing that always came into my mind when we came here My dad.

"what was he like?" I asked. Ive heard the story a thousand times but i never got tired of hearing it.

"He was kind" My mother always started out like that "Powerful but oh so nice he was also handsome. You have his hair and his eyes. Our relationship was a secret and when I was pregnant with you he had to go away on a job. Got lost at sea."

She never said he was dead lost at sea not dead.

"Did he ever get to see me?" I could remember a faint memory like a smile

"No honey." She told me "He never saw you born. I was only with him for a summer."

That made me angry. My father who didn't even want to stick around until I was born. He just upped and left us. I stood up dusting off my legs and stormed back in the house

"Percy!" My mother called after me but I wasn't listening.