A Friend is someone you can be alone with and have nothing to and not be able to think of anything to say and be comfortable in the silence.

-Sheryl Condie

Some nights were harder than others for a seven year old girl, Annabeth Chase. She and her family, Luke Castilian and Thaila Grace had been running for a very long time. Weather it was there past or monsters they were always running from something. Everything was always harder on her, she tried to act tuff when they were around but once when they fall asleep she let her tears cry out form all the nightmares of monsters she gets and quietly cries herself to sleep every night. It was also getting worse every night, the little girl dreamt of spiders crawling on her, biting her flesh off. Killing her. The little blonde girl was terrified to sleep; to even close her eyes scared her. Sometimes if she was lucky she would dream of the few days before she ran away and was found by Luke and Thaila. But that seemed to only happen when she missed the place the most, which was very rare at times.

With the few items they had, they set up camp in the woods close by a park. Thaila had scars going up and down her arms. She had put her shield by a tree and was still holding on to her sword. Thaila always had her sword with her everywhere they went, she even slept with it. Annabeth had asked her why she always had it. She had told her it was to keep her safe and protect her and Luke because she made a promise to herself a long time ago. When asked about that promise Thaila would start to cry saying it was personal. And Annabeth would hug the crying older girl saying it was alright to cry.

Luke had his bag next Thaila's shield, his blonde hair looked dirty and brownish and his pants wear ripped. He had sat down next to a tree closing his eyes thinking about what to do next. Out of the three of them he was considered the leader, even if he didn't want to be. Luke sighed opening his eyes to see Annabeth in front of him. His face must've looked funny since she was giggling. Luke smiled at her, he couldn't have asked for a better seven year old kid to be with them. He sometimes wished he could do more for Thaila and Annabeth. It wasn't exactly there fault to be here and to be chased with monsters having terrible nightmares every night. They were his family and he couldn't help them at all but take them on some wild goose chase to find some camp.

''Luke, could I go to the park. Its only exactly fifth teen minuets from here'' Annabeth asked smiling. Luke frowned, Annabeth was extremely smart since she was a daughter of Athena, but she should have also known that going to the park over there would attract monsters with all the people on their cellphones. Luke hated saying no to her, but sometime he just had to.

''Sorry Annie, but no we can't go over there. Understand?'' He said firmly looking at her making perfect eye contact. She nodded her head and walked over to his side and sat down beside him.

''Let's go to sleep, we have to leave first thing in the morning'' Luke said. Both girls agreed, Thaila went to the other side of him and fell asleep. Annabeth rested her head on Luke's shoulder and tried to close her eyes. The terrible dreams came back once more.

She was under a pine tree reading a book; she looked older maybe thirteen or so. She looked happy and content underneath the tree, there where footsteps she could hear from awhile away. That's when she could see thousands of monsters coming at her, charging at her. Out of nowhere she took out a knife trying to kill as many as possible before they killed her. It was great; she was so skilled with it every monster died as she sliced them. Perfect until the end, a giant spider came crawling up at her. It looked like it was smiling but she couldn't be sure.

''Ahh, child of Athena. You manage to survive.'' The thing came closer to her, dream Annabeth backed up to the pine tree.

''Not for long'' it said visiouscously . The giant spider attacked her. The girl tried using her knife to slay it, but it didn't work. It seemed like the knife was broken or something. The spider stared biting her, peeling her skin off and eating it in front of her tormenting her. That's what happened in all her dreams. Tormenting.

Annabeth gasped, breathing heavily while tears came rolling down her cheek. She turned to face Luke who was mysteriously gone and Thaila whose shield was only the thing still there. Wondering where they went Annabeth got up and started looking for them.

''Luke, Thalia where are you'' She yelled Schering the woods for them. Desperation cried out form her voice. What if they left her to die? Where could they possibly be? Annabeth thought walking around.

''Fine, leave me by self'' She yelled in the middle of nowhere ''I'm going to that park'' She said with a small grin of satisfaction. The little blonde girl headed to the park still crying from the disappearance of her friends.

There were only a few people there. Annabeth went over to one of the swings and started swinging on them quietly watching all the happy families. It got her thinking weather it was a good idea to leave hers. Her father was always good to her, always trying his hardest. It was her step mother Susan who was the problem. One of the many reason why she had ran away, but if she didn't she would have never met Luke or Thalia.

''Are you done yet'' Annabeth kept swinging but looked her side to see another boy by the swings looking at her. She carefully examined him; he had raven black hair, sea green eyes and a very high pitched voice. He had a trust worthy smile and looked pretty normal. Annabeth sighed and stopped the swing and got off.

''Yeah, take it'' She said walking away to a pile of sand. Buckets and shovels were scattered all over the place. Picking up a bucket she started making a castle with them, using precise measurements, creating a perfect sand structure.

''Could I help'' A voice said behind her. It was the boy with the trustworthy smile. Annabeth nodded and handed him a bucket. They started building a sand castle in silence. Other seven year olds would be talking with each other or throwing sand. But they just sat quietly without talking. Some people in this situation would feel awkward and uncomfortable, but with them they felt comfortable and content in the silence.

Meanwhile Thalia and Luke were watching the two from a far; Luke was sitting on a park bench while Thaila stood next to him. Luke was smiling watching Annabeth and the boy playing in the sand while Thaila had her arms crossed. They leave for a minute and poof the girl is gone. They were so worried for her; it was like losing Jason all over again for a moment. Thalia started walking over to her but was pulled back by someone grabbing her arm. She turned to face Luke who still had the smile on his face.

''Don't, let her feel normal for once'' He said, letting go of her wrist. Thalia took time looking at his face for an expression or a reason. All she saw was sadness in his eyes. She sighed and looked away.

''Fine'' Thaila stubbornly said as she watched them play in the sand

''Were almost done'' The little girl said patting the top of the castle gently. The boy watched as his new friend finished up the last bit of the giant sand castle they made together. It was very impressive that two seven year olds created something so huge and perfect. People came by taking pictures of them and the sandcastle. The two would stand behind the castle trying to stay still as the mortals toke pictures of them, occasionally the green eyed boy would start taping his foot or moving his hand in a very annoying way.

''Could you stop'' Annabeth said to him. The boy looked startled as if he forgot she was there, he slightly blushed of embarrassment.

''Sorry'' He replied back to her. Moments later a tall women with obsidian hair and gentle blue eyes came up to the young children. The woman smiled taking out a small camera from her purse. The boy started to smile a bit bigger now.

''Hold still Percy, I'm taking a picture of you and your new friend'' She said. The boy, Percy eyes lit up and smiled even bigger even Annabeth smiled bigger. There was slight flash as the women clicked the camera.

''Come here'' The women said gesturing for them to come near them. She showed the kids the photo of them behind the castle. They had their arms linked together smiling brightly through the screen. The Women looked down at her golden watch and frowned at it. She took hold of Percy's hand.

'' We have to go now'' She said very calmly but had a look of sadness in her eyes. Kind of like Luke's eyes sometimes. Percy's face fell at the sound of his mother's words, if it was even possible his eyes turned into a darker shade of green.

''No, I don't want to go back to smelly Gabe'' He shouted to his mother. His mother eyes just got sadder at the yelling.

'' Me neither, but he does so much for us.'' Percy just turned away. His mother started to slightly grin. ''Percy, if we go home now I promise to make blue cookies once we get home'' Percy turned around, his face was a mess. Tears wear down his cheek

''Can my friend come'' He asked, Annabeth looked surprise that he was asking for her come with. She didn't even consider him as a friend, more of a temporary companion. Annabeth smiled, she wanted to come. She really did.

'' Well only if her parents allowed it'' The women looked up towards her while talking. Annabeth opened her mouth to reply and say yes but another voice said otherwise.

''Well her parents said no'' Annabeth turned around to see Thalia and Luke standing there beside her. Both Percy and his mother looked very confused at this. Everyone was silent for a moment until Percy broke this silence

''you're her Mom, but you look twelve''

''I'm thirteen kid'' Thaila snarled grabbing her hand, Luke put a hand on her shoulder and smiled proudly at the two in fornt of them.

'' Thank you for your invite but we must go now, Annabeth say bye to your friend'' Annabeth waved bye to him and walked off with Luke and Thaila. She could hear him yelling something from behind her.

''Hope I see you soon Annabeth'' the boy yelled from behind her waving them away.

Annabeth smiled to herself, even though they rarely even talked to each other and only made a sandcastle he thought of her as a friend. She never had a friend before, not counting Luke or Thaila they were more family then friends to her. Annabeth would truly miss the boy; he was her first friend and maybe the last. Annabeth smiled at this idea, if that was what friendship was she wanted to experience more of it. Thaila saw her smiling and joined in, and oddly enough Luke did as well. Annabeth would always remember that day, no matter what. And she hoped the boy would remember that day to.

Maybe that was what true friendship was being able to be together, enjoy each other's company without saying a word to each other.