It was lunchtime.

People were in the lunch lines getting served, pretty good food. Others were eating at the tables and talking about the day at school so far. This to them was pretty lame. After all the announcements and information, they got their schedules for their classes. Annabeth was in all AP classes for her core classes. Percy was in all regular classes, so the only time they saw each other was during lunch time. Silena was on and off between their schedules; she had classes with Percy and Annabeth. Grover only had a few classes with Percy, since his electives got in the way. Charlie and Lee had all classes together except one.

"You're right Charlie," Percy said with a wicked grin, his arm slung warmly around Annabeth. "Being a junior in high school, sucks."

"Senior year sounds like the life," Silena said excitedly, looking in a small mirror and applying some more eyeliner below her eye. It seemed a little too smudged. "Screw eleventh grade."

Lee glanced up at the beauty and shook his head. "Apparently, eleventh grade is more credential then twelfth. Take it seriously."

"That makes sense," Thalia remarked, picking her teeth with toothpick. "Since the grades really count. As a senior, all you do is apply for scholarships and take the stupid tests like SAT's and ACT's and all that crap."

"Anyway," Clarisse interrupted, waving away the conversation. "How was everyone's summer? Not like I care or anything. Just wanna get past the depression of talking about school…at school. You guys are dorks."

"It was legit," Charlie answered with a big smile. "I was exploring the deeper meaning of engineering, and that really meant something you know? Especially with my dad and I…"

Clarisse yawned.

Silena sent her a look and squeezed Charlie's fidgeting fingers for mild comfort.

"That's really cool," she said sincerely, as her eyes met his with pure kind intent.

"Guess what?" Lee said. "There's a new kid coming here. Apparently she's got some sort of connection with Apollo and things worked out perfectly."

'Apollo,' Thalia thought.

"Also…Luke is coming back from rehab," he finished quietly.

Percy looked at Annabeth and saw her eyes widen with a fraction of an inch. He felt really awkward when Luke was mentioned. It was obvious that Annabeth still felt…something for him; whatever it is. He used to be friends with him too until that incident…

Thalia closed her eyes painfully.

"How…do you know?" she asked coolly, opening her eyes again. All eyes were on lee and he felt really weird.

"My mom, she told me," he said, looking down at the wood table with a new found interest. There was some really cemented gum, and the wood was really splintery and sharp looking. Taking a deep breath, he raised his gaze slowly to meet their eyes.

"Doesn't she work at the rehabilitation center?" Annabeth asked.

Lee nodded.

"When does Luke come back? A few days from now?" Percy asked, glancing at Thalia from the corner of his eyes. He could tell she was struggling to get a grip on herself, although it was hard.

"Tomorrow."

"Damon Lee! Why didn't you tell us earlier? Shit, I'm not sure I want to come to school tomorrow," Thalia growled, detaching herself from the bench. "Shit! Shit! Shit!" Then she walked out of the lunchroom towards her locker.

"Aren't you going to talk to her?" Grover asked Annabeth, silent throughout all the havoc they had just learned waiting, to pour over them.

"No," Annabeth answered. "Some people have to fight their own battles."

"I can't believe it," Thalia sniffed, while black tears rolled down her cheeks. She walked angrily in the halls, ignoring stares from other people. At this moment it was her, and only her. She sniffed some more, and found her locker while wiping away a tear with a black polished finger. She hated to cry.

"Twelve, Fourteen, Forty-Four…" she muttered, her hand turning the knob of her locker. As it opened it smelt of familiar welcoming smells, which helped cool her down. The smell of old gum and left open bottles of nail polish. She looked inside the locker and smiled sadly, her eyes softening as she thought nostalgic thoughts. There on the top of her locker, was a picture of her and Annabeth smiling at the camera happily. Annabeth had her hands in a peace sign, while her pearl-white teeth were glinting by the flash of the camera. Her wavy hair hung loosely around her porcelain face, and owl earrings dangled from her ears. Thalia was winking and holding the camera up just so they could fit in the picture. Her one blue eye showing was bright as well as her aura. Her black hair was spiked around her head and her eyes were dusted with a metallic eye shadow.

Thalia remembered that day, as if it were yesterday.

It was so clear and vivid.

That was the day when they called each other best friends.

There was another picture as well. With Thalia and Luke. His sandy blonde hair tussled perfectly, and his eyes calm and sincere. His arm was around her bare shoulders, but his gaze was focused on her. Not the camera. She was looking at him as well with that same adoration Annabeth still has for the boy. They were on the beach in that picture, and he wore black swim trunks; showing a well-muscled stomach, arms and legs. He glowed in the sun, and his smile was radiant. Thalia was wearing a camouflage bikini, and she wore no makeup; showing her natural beauty. Their toes were nestled deep in the sun, and the sun shone over them while the ocean was behind them; roaring with kids and adults swimming in it.

That was a good day.

But a memory she regretted.

Grabbing a text book, she resisted to grab that picture and rip it to shreds. As she closed the door for her locker she saw a handsome face; Apollo. He was leaning against a locker, wearing sunglasses as blonde hair was gelled up in the front. Perfectly messy of course. His smile blinded her, and she could feel herself starting to blush. That wasn't supposed to happen.

"Hey Thalia," he said, getting from the locker and secretly looking her over while his sunglasses covered his crystalline blue eyes. With her eyeliner, leather boots, white skinny jeans with miscellaneous rips, camouflage tight fitting jacket, and dark green tank top; she was really beautiful. As always.

"What do you want?" she growled, starting to walk away until she felt a warm, soft grasp on her arm. Her eyes widened, and she felt her arm starting to tingle where he touched her gently and fragily, as if he didn't want to break her anyway he could.

"Thalia," he said softly, looking at the back of her head. "I…I want to apologize. I want you to trust me again."

"How could I?" she asked, turning around with her eyes narrowed to slits. "You son of a-"

"Don't be like that," he said shortly.

"You talk to me again, and I contact my father," she warned, pushing his hand away.

Apollo sighed and clenched his teeth. "Jeez! Damn it Thalia! It wasn't just my fault, and you know it! To be honest…that night, our relationship…was the best days of my life."

As he walked away her shoulders trembled. As tears from her eyes dropped on the floor she started to walk the opposite direction.

She wouldn't admit it, but she felt that way also.

"You are lucky enough that you skipped the first day of school," Rachel's dad warned. Looking at her sternly. "You go tomorrow."

"But-"Rachel started.

"No," he said tiredly, then walked out of her room with an annoyed look on his face. As the door slammed loudly behind him, Rachel sighed and lay back on her bed. Her shoulder length deep red hair was smashed on the pillow starting to frizz already. Not good. As her blue eyes focused on the high ceiling she couldn't suppress a groan as well.

Around her room there were lots of exquisite things. Paintings hung on the walls instead of boys; like average teenage girls. There were paint brushes strewn on the floor and paint bottles on her dresser. Her dad would pester her about that later.

"Why is my life so boring?" she asked herself. Then she glanced out the window, and saw light pouring outside. She knew what she was going to do soon.

"I'm home!" Percy yelled, closing the door behind him and sauntering in confidently. As he walked deeper in the apartment he noticed a handwritten note on the refrigerator reading:

Percy,

On a date with Paul. Be home in a few hours. Have leftovers or pizza for dinner k?

Love,

Mom

As Percy opened the refrigerator he sighed when he only saw a few options. Yesterday's casserole, salad that was pretty wilted, and food he didn't even remember eating. Definitely pizza he decided, shutting the door with a smile.

As he grabbed the phone he dialed the number for the pizza delivery, and threw his blue back pack on the couch, got the remote, and turned the TV on; apparently his mom was watching it because the news was on. The headline read: THREE FOUND DEAD IN THE RIVER. A woman with a short blonde bon and deep green eyes was motioning with her hands and talking with that fake enthusiasm. Behind her police cars were flashing and bodies were wrapped in yellow fabric.

"Depressing," he mouthed, turning the channel to something more light.

Suddenly the phone picked up and he ordered five pizzas. Two large pepperoni's, one medium sausage, a medium cheese, and the last were a small supreme. As the guy hung up Percy groaned and got a lollipop from the stool next to him. It was blue raspberry of course.

After flipping through channels he saw nothing, and turned the TV off. As soon as the pizza dude came, he took the pizzas and paid for them. With the pizzas in hand he set four of them in the kitchen then walked back to the couch, opening the freshly made pizza. The smell of burnt cheese and greasy crsut drove him wild with anticipation. Walking back to the kitchen, chewing on some pizza, he noticed there was another note saying:

Percy,

I know I should have written in the other letter but I need you to go to the store and pick up a few groceries for me. Here they are: Eggs, One percent milk, and five bags of granulated sugar and flour.

I'll pick up the rest ok? Maybe you could invite Annabeth along as well ;D

Percy grinned.

After he finished a good eight slices of pizza he grabbed his leather wallet and put it in his back pocket. Walking out, he breathed in the fresh air with relief. It was a better smell than the apartment. As he walked on, the sky a rich blue with no clouds, was starting to enjoy the day even more.

In a few seconds he could see the store. It was titled DELI and the lights were flickering on and off. The windows were greasy but it was bright and alive in the store.

As Percy opened the door, the bells rang loud and clear. There at the register, was the man Percy had known almost his whole life.

He was Mexican with dark, golden skin, dark brown eyes, a stubby figure and rectangular glasses. He had shoulder length black hair tied back in a ponytail as he wore a New York Yankees cap. He smiled at Percy and said,

"It's so good to see you. Haven't been coming lately."

Percy nodded. "It's been busy."

The man nodded then winked at the teenager; patting the breast pocket of his overalls.

"Bring your mom some of my special sausage k? You take one of em' root beers. No charge for friends," he said kindly with a belly chuckle.

"Really?" Percy asked, walking to the cooler at the end of the store. He knew the root beer was a give but his sausage? That was his most expensive and prized item he held at the store. As he opened the root beer-loving the feel of cold glass on his hands-, and took a large gulp; the soda sting his throat pleasurably.

"That must be really good," a female voice said.

Percy pulled his lips away from the bottle and glanced to his left where the noise had come from.

There was a girl, probably about his age. She had deep red hair that was a messy bun on her head atop her head. With deep blue eyes' they were kind and welcoming. She also had heart-shaped lips with a rosy color and freckles spotted on her face, but mainly around her nose. Wearing a white tank top splotched with paint all over and a black skirt, it showed long legs.

"It is," he agreed, closing the cap. Then he glanced at the man and said, "Best stuff in town."

The girl raised a scarlet brow testily, grabbed a root beer behind him out of the cooler, popped the lid open and took a drink. Her eyes widened and she said, 'You're right. This stuff is heaven."

Percy winked at her and her cheeks turned a slight pink; but being a boy, he didn't see that happening.

"What's your name?" he asked, taking another swig of the sweet, carbonated soda.

"Rachel Elizabeth Dare," she said, opening her purse and taking a few dollar bills out. The she looked up and asked, "You?"

"Percy," he said with a kind smile. "Not a long name like yours."

Rachel laughed and went to the counter, handing out her money and setting the root beer next to her.

"Keep the money," the owner insisted, putting a sun burnt hand over her tanned one. "I don't really need it chica."

Rachel's eyes softened and she pulled her hand away, grabbing several twenties from her purse and putting it on the counter. While grabbing the root beer, she smiled at the man. Percy's eyes widened as did the man's. Before they could protest she ran out the store as if a heavy burden had been layed off her shoulders.

"That lady was an angel," the owner muttered, staring at the money amazingly; as if he couldn't believe he got it. "I make this much in a week Percy. At the best of weeks."

"Nice girl," Percy agreed.

"Anyway Percy," the man said, opening the register and disposing the money into it. "You be careful. Your dad would have wanted that."

Percy gulped and nodded; the subject of his father still fresh and bare to the touch. After that incident concerning his father's death, nothing seemed the same. Grover couldn't even open the hole Percy was closing off with full force. Same with Annabeth and Thalia. He had never really mentioned the death. Although they had always known about it. It would take time for Percy to say that occasion so freely in his life. His friends understood that. Everyone carries a certain pain with them after all. Even the most friendliest and caring of persons.

"Of course," Percy agreed, walking around the store and gathering necessities his mother told him to get. "Um, how much do you know about my father?"

The man got some cleaner and began to spray down the grimy and sweaty cleaners. "I and your old man were good friends in the navy. It was bout thirteen years to fourteen years ago; a while is the main point though. He was a handsome man too; always with the ladies until he met your mother of course. She kept him in line. He was really nice, and welcoming. A natural leader no one could help to like. The main point here is, don't let his wishes die on you Percy. He was…special to me. To everyone who knew him."

As Percy nodded, paid and walked out the store he said,
"See ya' soon Mr. Kronos."