I don't own Percy Jackson or Utopia by Within Temptation

Chapter 1 – Utopia

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She hugged her knees closer to her chest. It was cold here, but it was better than going back to her home. No, she thought, it's not my home. It's the place where I live. And she knew it wouldn't be for long. They never lasted long.

The city was growing dark, and the alley was already dark to begin with. She ignored the people walking by the entrance to the alley, just hoping they'd leave her alone.

"Thalia?" someone said. She looked up. A dark haired boy looked back at her. He was wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt with a skull-and-cross-bones on it. She pulled the sleeves of her hoodie down out of instinct.

"Do you stalk me?" she asked, putting poison into her words.

He shook his head stepping towards her. "What are you doing here?"

She lifted herself off the ground and looked at him. He was at least three inches taller than her. "Why do you care?"

"I do."

It was a simple answer, and she didn't like it. "I like it here."

He looked around at the dumpsters and spilled beer bottles, then looked back at her and raised his eyebrows. "What?" she demanded.

"You like it here?"

"Yes. Why is it your business, di Angelo?"

He shrugged. "Where do you live? I can drive you home."

She tried to take a step back and ran into the back wall of a building. "I'm fine. I don't need your help." she spat.

"What's your problem?" he asked, throwing his hands into the air.

"You."

"But it's not me. You can't seem to have a civilized conversation with anyone."

"People. I hate people."

He was silent for a minute. Then, "Why?"

She glared at him. "Because they ask nosy questions that I don't want to answer. I don't have to tell you any of my business."

"Why can't you just trust me? I just want to take you home. It's cold out here."

It was cold, but she refused to pull her hoodie tighter and give him the satisfaction of knowing he was right. "I'm fine. I can walk."

She began to walk out of the alley when he grabbed her arm.

He knew there was something wrong, and he wanted to help. "Thalia, I know it's not just that you don't like people. There's something else."

She stared at him for a few seconds, and when she spoke again she seemed calmer. "Everyone has secrets, di Angelo."

"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours." He said, never looking away from her eyes.

She stared at him for a moment, then tore her arm out of his grasp. He looked at her. Then he began walking out of the alley.

She stood still for a few seconds, then turned. "Di Angelo." He stopped and looked at her. "You go first."

His lips slowly curved into a smile, and he stepped forward. She leaned against the wall of the alley, and he stood in front of her. "My mother's dead." he stated.

She just looked up at the sky without saying anything. Then: "I'm a foster kid."

"Is that why you don't trust people?"

She nodded and stopped leaning on the wall. "Happy? Now you can go tell all your little friends that I don't have parents, that you've figured me out. Great job, di Angelo."

He shook his head. "I won't do that." He walked closer and took her hand. "I know it's hard, not to have a family."

She laughed, and all her fury seemed to come out in one sound. "You know? You know? You don't know anything. All I've ever wanted is to have a family that actually wants me to be there, but you know what? That's just never going to happen. And you can find out all my secrets and hold my hand, but you'll never understand. You'll never know what it's like not to have a family. And when I leave, when I go somewhere else because my foster family can't handle me, you won't be there. You'll forget all about me. And I won't care."

"I know what it's like. My mother's dead, remember?"

"Right, your mom dies and suddenly you know what it's like not to have any family. You've still got a dad." She sounded like she was close to tears.

"Who works all the time and never has time for me."

"Boo hoo. You've got one. Get away from me, di Angelo." She tore away from him and began running.

"Please, Thalia, listen to me." She didn't stop. " Thalia, I'm sorry!"

She froze. The she turned. "When was the last time 'Sorry' helped you, di Angelo? When your mother died, did 'Sorry' bring her back? Don't say that. I hate that word."

"I won't say it again." He raised his hands in defense.

He was almost cute when he was afraid, she noticed. Then she mentally slapped herself. She didn't like him. She couldn't. Because no one would ever like her back. She was too broken.

She turned and began to walk out of the alley. "Bye, Nico."

It wasn't until she was gone that he realized she'd called him by his first name.

I hope this is better than the prologue, which I realize is a bit boring. If this gets good reception, I'll continue it.