Dedication: PjoHoOFan – Thanks for your amazingly, fantastically enthusiastic review! Haha! It made me laugh when I read it! Thanks again!


Chapter 4

Percy's POV

There were two knocks at the door.

I opened it and saw Piper there. She still had her braids in, but added a feather into it. She had changed into a pair of ripped jeans and a red t-shirt with a black, almost Goth-like, diamante butterfly. Her black Converse were covered in duct-tape.

"Hey, I brought cookies for you." She held out a bag of chocolate-chip cookies. I snatched them and ran away with them - but soon had to go back since she still doesn't know her way around here. "Thanks. We can either sit in the living room, or the game room. Your choice!"

"Games room. The TV's bigger."

About five to ten minutes later we had a pizza on the table – swimming in grease, might I add – as well as a two-litre pepsi on the go.

Jason walked through the room, looking quite happy. When he saw Piper, his right hand went to his hair while his left was trying to fix his shirt.

I smirk.

He glares.

Piper raises an eyebrow.

Quiet.

"So, what's up Jason?"

His smile returns. "I finally broke up with Reyna."

"You sound very happy about that." I said.

Jason nods. "Yeah, at first I thought I was interested in her, but for the past few weeks I've realised I never have. I wanted to break up with her, but never had the courage."

"Why'd you break up with her?" I asked, knowing very well what the answer was.

"I'm interested in somebody else and have been for ages. I'm not sure if she is with me though." He turned to Piper. "Piper?"

She jumped, not expecting him to talk to him. She blushes. "Yeah?"

"The girl I like is quite similar to you. How should I ask this girl out without her thinking I'm a player? Because I'm pretty sure she does. I'm not though – trust me! What I'm trying to say is if you were her, how would you want to be asked out?"

She smiled. "In private. Out of the blue. Romantic. Spontaneous. You know, that kind of stuff."

He nodded and smiled. "Thanks, Pipes."

"You're welcome," She said. "Oh, and there's a meteor shower sometime in the next month. I think it's in about two weeks."

His smile widened – if possible – and he practically bounced out of the room.

"Ugh, are you two done telepathically making out? That was disgusting." I commented, pulling a face and fake gagging.

"Ooo, 'telepathically'? Big word for you!" Piper retorted.

"Oh shut up – I wasn't drooling a puddle in front of the person I love – oof!"

Piper had resorted to pushing me off my beanbag. Not. Cool.

I got up and just sat back down, eating my pizza that had fallen on the floor along with me. Five-second rule, right?

After about fifteen minutes later Jason came back in to grab his bag.

"Hey, Jason. Why don't you watch the film with us?"

He hesitated but then saw Piper's hopeful glance.

"Ok. I can do this essay during the week."

He sat down right next to Piper, which made her scoot over. They both blushed. This is gross.

"Ew…" I muttered.

"What?" Jason said.

"Found a hair on my food… Bleh!"

Piper laughed and snorted – at which she covered her mouth with her hands. Jason looked at her with a bemused smile on his face.

She blushed.

Again.

I will say this one last time. GROSS!


"See ya, Perce. Bye, Jason," Piper waved at us from the front door. "I'm bringing rocky road tomorrow."

I drooled at the thought of the sweet dessert. Piper makes the best rocky road in the history of rocky road. No fruit or anything like that – just pure chocolate, marshmallows and biscuits. Yum…

"So," Jason broke the silence. "Night, Jackson."

I waved over my shoulder as I headed up to my room. As I did, I heard whispers in Thalia's room.

"Oh my god! Really?" I heard Thalia laugh.

"Yep. He practically jumped in my arms! Seriously, who the heck is scared of lady bugs?" More laughter. I've heard the laugh before, but can't place it. I try to think of all of Thalia's female friends – Clarisse, Silena, Annabeth and Reyna.

"So what did you do?" Thalia asks.

"I pushed him away, of course! I should have expected it anyway. When he was asking me out I analysed him. My conclusion was he was scared of some sort of insect, his weak spot is just behind his knees, and he only has a shower once a week… Gross right?"

Annabeth. Definitely the little geek of the group.

"Ew… And he plays football everyday? That's nasty!"

"I know! And at the end of the date he tried to kiss me! His tongue was out of his mouth before he even leant forward!"

"Oh god! Why did you agree to go out with him again?"

"Well, Luke was standing there… Anyway, how are you and Nico?"

"Great, the other night when we were in bed-"

And that's my cue to leave.

I put Demons by Imagine Dragons on full blast when I got back in my room. Not even halfway through the song a knock was at my door. They didn't even wait for me to stand up from my bed and open the door or call them in. A blonde monster stomped over to my stereo and turned it off.

"Thank you," Annabeth said before walking out the room. I walked to my stereo and put some heavy metal on – even louder than previously.

As soon as I had sat back down on my bed, the door flung open, hitting the wall behind.

"Would you just turn it off?" She practically screamed. "Or if you do listen to music, put it on quietly. There are these things called 'ear-plugs', ever heard of them? It's a way of listening to music without annoying others."

"Well, I would se them, but sadly this crap family won't give me any money above five dollars a week. Tell them, not me." I reply, not looking up from my comic.

She scoffed. "Freak."

"Nerd."

"Goth."

"Bitch."

"Seaweed Brain."

"Wise Girl."

"Thanks – I'll take that as a compliment."

I glared at her. "Leave my room now. Unless you want to stay and watch me get changed?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Pig…" And with that she slammed the door shut.


I text Piper, telling her I'd be walking to school today. I needed a lot of air.

Before I left my room, I grabbed my rucksack and a picture from my bedside table. It wasn't in a frame – I feel like they wouldn't like that. A confined area.

It was old, tattered at the corners. There was a beautiful woman in it, standing next to a proud man. A little boy was standing at the bottom in between them, his front teeth missing.

The woman has long, wavy brown hair, and warm blue eyes. She has a summer's tan. Her smile is contagious, I found myself smiling when I looked at her.

The man has windswept, black hair, and cheeky sea-green eyes. He is also tanned, and has smile-lines around his eyes. He has his arm around the woman's waist and his other hand on the boy.

The boy is an exact replica of his father. Same hair – a bit messier though – and green eyes.

My family.

I've carried this photo around ever since they died. It's been exactly seven years since they left. Seven years since I've been passed around different families.

I blink the tears from my eyes and fold the picture up carefully, placing it in my jacket pocket.

As I walk downstairs, everyone avoids me. They know what day it is.

Jason offers a sad smile, and gives me a clap on the shoulder. I flinch. It reminds me to what my dad did to me when I did well at something.

I don't bother with food – just leave the house and walk to school.


And that's the chapter, guys!

Really sorry for not updating in FOREVER! It was September, I think…

Not the best updater, am I? Hehe…

Please review!