AN:/ Really dramatic chapter up ahead, in the first book when Percy realized his mother had been suffering from abuse at the hands of Gabe I was really saddened and when I started writing this story I knew I wanted to explore that a bit. So this chapter is going to be a strong K+.

Chapter 4: Life goes on?

Months passed and it was now winter in New York City. The few months since Percy had joined the choir were surprisingly great. He had made new friends. Pollux and Castor were always nice to talk to whenever things got crazy, they knew how to keep cool in all the madness. Aaron was one of the insane people that sometimes got Percy riled up and into a fight, but they always managed to cool down and laugh about their disputes. Percy was finally able to tell Conner and Travis apart, due to a stunt gone wrong resulting in Connor having a small scare on his temple.

Percy also became close friends with the leader of the choir, Will Solace. He was the oldest and more experience singer, not to mention close friends with Sir O.

Percy's private lessons with Sir O were interesting to say the least. At the beginning of each lesson Sir O made Percy meditate, which wouldn't really be bad if Sir O didn't start talking about his past every time. It was hard getting him to stop; his mother told him that Sir O was a narcissist.

Anyways with Sir O's help, by December surprisingly Percy was one of the best singers in the choir. He was given two solos and three duets to perform during the world choral event in June.

As much as Percy was still embarrassed to tell anyone that he sang in a choir he was actually having a good time. The other guys didn't make fun of him because they were all stuck singing too. Besides singing became an outlet for his frustrations at home and school. His grades were still terrible and he still got into fights every once in a while.

"Everyone I have great news! We're going to perform a few of the songs we've been practicing in a recital! Now everyone can see how talented I am at turning troubled boys into civilized youth," Sir O announced at the beginning of choir practice.

"Where are we going to perform?" asked Will.

"Carnegie Hall, beautiful place. I've performed there on about 100 different occasions. The first time occurred in 18-"
"When exactly are we going to perform?" Will asked breaking Sir O from his rambling.

Sir O hated to be interrupted, something that happened far too often as his favorite past time seemed to be discussing his past life events. Which to Percy seemed strange because he would often discuss things that Percy was sure occurred life times ago.

Sir O glared at Will but answered his question, "On the 23rd of December. Right before Christmas, or whatever you people celebrate."

Everyone in the room got excited. Most of them, except Percy and another newbie, had already performed in front of a big audience so they knew the adrenaline rush that occurred when on stage in front of a large audience.

Percy was nervous especially at what Sir O said next, "The songs we will be singing will be "Deep Peace," and "The Fountain."

"What?" Percy shouted out in horror, "But those are the two songs where I have to sing solo."

Sir O only laughed at his remark. Chris gave him a pat on the back and wished him good luck.

That wasn't the worse news to come for Percy though.

oコ:彡oコ:彡oコ:彡oコ:彡oコ:彡

"Percy, Gabe is going to move in with us in a few weeks," his mother told him during a short visit to their rented cabin in Mantuak.

On the 13th of December, Smelly Gabe became his step-father and transformed their peaceful warm home with beer cans and his repugnant smell.

"Get me a beer out of the fridge!" Gabe shouted at Sally who was in the kitchen preparing normal colored Alfredo and cheese for Gabe who had refused to eat anything blue.

Percy glared at him from his chair that was opposite of Gabe who was sprawled out on the couch. Percy got up and opened the fridge getting a beer for the lazy smelly loser who dared to ask him when they first met to call him daddy, which had resulted in blue milk to be splashed on Gabe's face by an angry 7-year old.

"My mom isn't a maid," Percy said tossing Gabe the beer.

"I'm the head of this house now boy, if I want my woman to get me a beer I will," Gabe said opening his beer and returning to the show he was watching.

"She's my mother, not your woman!" Percy yelled at him.

Percy's temper was always short. Although he had promised his mother earlier to try and act civilized around Gabe, he just couldn't let his mother be talked about as some sort of possession. Percy clenched his fist and quickly swung a shot at Gabe's face, hitting him directly on his nose.

Blood squirted from Gabe's nose as he gaped at Percy. His initial shock turned into anger as he staggered to his feet with a murderous look on his face. His mother over her own shock, rushed over to them and tried to get Gabe to calm down.

Percy was horrified at what he had done, but at the same time hitting Smelly Gabe had felt kind of good. But he knew from the look he was receiving from the man that he had better get out of their quick before something bad happened to him.

Percy ran out of the room and out of the front door. He knew his mother would be more upset at him if he left their apartment building, so he instead knocked on a neighbor's door.

His neighbor, an elderly man, who thought Percy was just the cutest child around gladly let him in as tears that Percy didn't realize he had were streaming down his face.

After an hour of hiding out in his neighbor's place his mother came to get him. Through the tears that were blurring his vision, he didn't notice the black eye his mother was now sporting or the sympathetic look his old neighbor was giving his mom.