Annabeth

Annabeth Chase didn't want to go back California to spend the summer with her dad. Sure, she and her father were a better terms than they once were, but she didn't want to be around her stepmother. Susan Chase, Annabeth had decided a long time ago, liked seeing her miserable. She didn't care that Annabeth was deathly afraid of spiders, so insisted that Bobby and Matthew should be aloud to keep their 'pet' tarantula.

Okay, Annabeth loved Bobby and Matthew, but was secretly plotting to kill their spider. She didn't even think that they liked it and only kept it to please their mother. They never fed it, didn't care about who wanted to hold it, and even named it Devil Bug. Call it bug abuse, but it was the truth.

That wasn't the only reason she didn't want to go home. Some of the friends she had made at Half-Blood Academy, a boarding school in New York, where going to stay at the school over the summer. She loved it there. Even the principle, Chiron, stayed there over the summer. It was like a second home to everyone who went there. Also, there wouldn't be any large, hairy spiders to keep Annabeth up at nice.

The biggest reason as to why she didn't want to go to California was because it was bad luck. At least, it was for Annabeth. See, Annabeth's birth mother, Athena, died there. It wasn't from a car accident or drowning. No, she was bitten by a spider. A black widow to be exact.

Normally, people don't die from spider bites. They get sick? Yes. But die? Not that often. Athena, however, didn't tell anyone about the bite. She got sick, but told everyone it was just a cold and not to worry. When Annabeth was five, Athena died in her doctors later told the Chases that a spider bite had killed her. The doctors believed that Athena didn't even know about the bite. It was at the back of her neck, right where her hair stopped growing. Seeing as how Athena always had her hair down, it was reasonable.

Not even one year later, Frederick Chase got remarried. He was still in love with Athena, but he was also in love with Susan. Soon after the marriage, the Chases moved Bodega Bay. Annabeth thought it was a fine place, though it was way too small. She and her father got into a fight, and then Frederick Chase said that Annabeth could go to Half-Blood Academy. Although Annabeth was bursting with excitement, she was also sad. Her dad had given in so easily, Annabeth wondered if he even wanted her to live with him.

Probably not.

Frederick Chase probably wanted to forget the past. Anything that had to do with Athena, really. And Annabeth was a big reminder. Although she had her father's blonde hair, instead of her mother's brown, she looked almost exactly like Athena. The most painfully thing for Frederick was that Annabeth had the same gray eyes as her mother, not to mention her thirst for knowledge.

Their agreement was that Annabeth would come down every other summer and on holidays. Only this summer, one that Annabeth was supposed to be able to speed at Half-Blood Academy, was to be spent with her father. Annabeth thought that it was totally unfair, but didn't complain too much.

She didn't want Susan to actually have a reason to call her a spoiled brat, something Annabeth was sure her stepmother called her when she wasn't just knew that Susan was part of the reason she didn't spend all her summers in Bodega Bay. Although she really hated spending any time there, even though Bobby and Matthew were there, she wished that her father had put up more of a fight. Annabeth sometimes asked herself if he even loved her.

Probably not.

Though Thalia, Annabeth's best friend, was going to be at a family reunion. (Where? Annabeth had no idea.) And Luke, Annabeth's long time crush, was off doing who knew what. (He had just graduated from Half-Blood Academy and was going to New Rome, a college in California.) Annabeth still didn't want to spend the summer away from her new home.

Even though Annabeth won nearly every argument she was in, due to her wisdom and wit, there were always some that she was destined to loss. Some that couldn't be won with all the knowledge in the world. Those arguments almost always included someone with more power than the other. For instance, the fight between a parent and their child.

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"Dad! This was supposed to be my summer in New York. I don't want it to be my summer in California." I argue with Dad on the phone. I don't yell, but I am pretty close to it. Yelling, I mean.

"Look, sweetie, I know this was supposed to be your summer in New York, I do. But I want you to come home. I wanted you to come home every summer, but I let you have summers at Half-Blood Academy. However, this is the year I put my foot down. You are coming home."

Dad's voice sounds tired, but stern. I can't help but think if it was a rough day for him. It sure was for me, with Luke and Thalia both telling me they weren't going to be here this summer. Luke, I get. He is going to college. But Thalia? Okay, yes, she did have a family reunion, but couldn't she had told me earlier?

"Really Dad? You are putting your foot down this year?" I ask, frustrated tears building in my eyes. Before he can answer, I continue, "Are you sure it isn't because Susan didn't stop you? That she didn't put up a fight when you asked her if it would be alright if I could stay this summer?"

If his silence is anything to go by, I know that I am right. He is only insisting I come because Susan didn't say I couldn't. Step-Monster. Evil, evil, step-monster.

"Now, you know that isn't true. I only-"

I interrupt him. "Dad, please don't lie to me. I just don't see why I have to come."

Dad's voice is suddenly a lot more tired than it was before. I feel guilty, but let him talk. "Sweetie, I miss you. Is that so hard to believe? I really do want you to come home. I want to see you again."

I don't feel really guilty at this point, and can't say no to his pleading voice. As soon as I agree, Dad's voice is a lot more happy.

"This is great! Bobby and Matthew will be delighted. Oh, I can't wait to tell-"

Again, Dad is cut off, but not by hangs up, he tells me my flight information, which I write down, even though I am mad at him. Sure

"Honey, can you please come help with the kids?"

Susan. I close my eyes. I am about to say bye to Dad, tell him to go help Susan with whatever she is doing, and hang up, but he beats me too it.

"Got to go, sweetie, see you soon." Before , he has to go help with the kids, who are ten, but seriously. He hasn't seen me in months, yet Susan in need of help is more important than me in need of a loving, caring father?

Okay, sounds a bit dramatic, but it is true. Sometimes I wish Dad would just make an effort to get to know me. But even I know some wishes can never come true.