Calypso slowly walked into her house and softly called, "Hello? Is anybody home?"

An indignant groan came from the living room. This is stupid, she thought. I don't even want to go to that stupid camp. At that moment her phone started buzzing in her hand. It was a text from Piper. There was a picture of all of her friends, sun-browned and smiling. Nico looked younger and more carefree with eyes that shone with admiration at Percy who had his arms flung around Annabeth and Grover. Frank was shyly watching Hazel as she talked animatedly to Piper and Jason while Leo winked suggestively at the camera he was holding. She could even see the Stoll brothers pushing a flailing Katie into a lake. Below the picture was a single sentence that, in Calypso's opinion, was Piper playing dirty. "You'll be missing out."

She knew she was being manipulated. Yet, somehow, she knew that she really would be missing out. This was it. This was her time to truly become a part of the group. All she had to do now was ask.

"Dad?" Calypso started as she walked into the dim living room. Her father sat on the recliner opposite the TV. He worked at a warehouse lifting and transporting the heavy platforms and as a result had back problems and random pains. Because of this, he expected Calypso to pick up the 'slack' at the house. He barely turned to look at her before letting out another groan.

"Um, I was wondering.." She began, trying her hardest to calm herself, but her nerves got the best of her and she began stumbling over her words, "Since it's summer now and we don't really have any plans and my friends are graduating and really they've been pressuring me, well not really pressuring me because if I said no I think they would respect it but that's besides the point because-"

"What the hell are you mumbling about, girl?"

Calypso felt the words die in her throat. "Um.."

"Well? Speak! It's not like you've ever shut up before!"

A shiver ran down her spine. He'd been drinking. She should've checked before she'd started talking but like an idiot she'd rushed the question. She tried to count the cans around his feet but stopped when she noticed him shift in his seat. Bloodshot eyes glared into hers.

"Just as pathetic as your whore mother," He sneered, "I should've let the state have you when they tried dumping you on my doorstep."

Calypso felt the tickle of tears welling up but refused to let them fall. She knew he didn't mean it. He'd been drinking. But as she looked at the malicious glint in his eyes she wondered if it made a difference.

Calypso's eyes fell to the floor. Her mom had gotten sick when she was young. She didn't remember much but she remembered her mom's smile. Bright, cheerful, and genuine with a crooked bottom tooth. Her smile became less frequent and more weary as the sickness grew until it was gone altogether. She was taken to live with her father who got paid a hefty sum for taking her in. She knew he didn't care for her the way he was supposed to, but she needed him, needed someone. The tears began spilling over her cheeks and she cursed herself silently for being so weak. He was right. She was pathetic.

"Sniveling like a child. How could I spawn something so weak?" He spat at her. He slowly rose from his chair and, against her will, Calypso shrank away from him. "You'll always be weak, always be nothing. Your mother ruined you." He shoved past her and she fell to the floor. She flinched away as he walked past her, expecting a strike. He chuckled gruffly and her heart sank. Still weak. Still pathetic.

Calypso curled in on herself. She should've known better. It was stupid to think she could just go to camp like a normal person. She shouldn't have even tried. Now her father was mad at her and it was all her fault. She'd always be a burden wherever she went.

Her phone vibrated underneath her. She ignored it. The phone had other plans. Sighing, she looked at who it was and was only mildly surprised to find that Piper and Hazel were blowing up her phone. Apparently they were heading to camp and it was her "last chance to join in on the fun". She was already typing in "No" when she got a call from the last person she wanted to talk to.

"Percy?" She said slowly, hating that her heart skipped a beat.

"Actually it's Annabeth." came the light reply, "I didn't have your number so I used Seaweed Brain's phone."

"Oh." Calypso said in both relief and disappointment, "What's up, Annabeth?"

"Um," Annabeth paused, and Calypso could imagine her pursing her lips on the other end, "Listen, I don't want you to feel pressured into doing anything you don't want to do so if you tell me no then I'll let it slide and make sure no one else bothers you about it."

There was a beat of silence before Calypso responded, "...Okay?"

"That being said, I want you to know how much it would mean to everyone if you were with us. I know what it's like being the new kid. You always feel judged and alone because you weren't there for all of the stories and memories. But now you can make new memories with us. This could be the summer we talk about for years to come and I don't want you to miss out just because you think you aren't good enough because you really really are."

Calypso opened her mouth to speak but all that came out was a squeak as tears streamed down her face. She didn't know what to feel anymore. Her dad hated her but her friends maybe liked her and Annabeth was being so nice but she didn't know Calypso's true feelings for her boyfriend. Her head was spinning and she felt sick.

"So, what do you say? Do you want to give it a shot?" Annabeth asked softly.

Calypso looked up the stairs where her father had disappeared. He'd completely demoralized her. He always did. She was convinced she was worthless, only around so he could get his freaking checks. Why should she stay here and clean up after him like some kind of Cinderella waiting for someone to come and save her? She didn't need to be saved. I'm not weak.

Suddenly furious, she gave a firm, "Yes. I'll send Piper my address."

Calypso could hear the grin in Annabeth's voice, "Cool. See you there."

She sent a quick text to Piper who, she was sure, was going to gloat later and marched up the stairs to her room. In a swirl, she grabbed handfuls of clothes and shoved them in a suitcase. She piled in as many essentials as she could think of and made a final sweep over her room. Crossing to her dresser, she picked up a small and withered photo of her mom gardening. She had curly brown hair with streaks of gray pulled up into a messy bun on top of her head. Dirt was smeared across her face but she smiled brilliantly with both hands buried in the dirt pulling up weeds. Calypso felt a familiar pain in her chest that came every time she thought of her mother. Tucking the photo safely away, she made her way to her father's door.

She'd thought about just leaving without telling him, but the last thing she needed was to be classified as a runaway and taken away by the police. Which was definitely her luck. So she took a deep breath and swung the door open. The room was dark and it took some time for her eyes to adjust but the could tell the lump on the bed was her father's sleeping figure. Slowly entering the room, she cleared her throat. When he didn't budge, she did it again, louder. This time she could hear the slight hitch in breathing as he turned to blearily look at his daughter.

"What the-"

"I'm going to camp." She interrupted, "And I'm going to be there for the rest of summer."

"Like hell you are!" He roared and began to get out of bed.

Calypso's heart rate quickened and her palms were sweating, but she stayed her ground, "Yes, I am. And if you try to stop me, I'll tell the cops about your abusive behavior." Her body began to shake but she tried to maintain the upperhand.

He scoffed, "They'd never believe you."

"Maybe not," she squeaked, fear constricting her voice. She swallowed and her voice came out stronger, "But the accusation will be enough for me to get emancipated. In which case, it won't matter anymore because I'll be able to leave. That means no more checks from the government, Dad. What will you do without your precious drinking money?"

The fire in his eyes made Calypso feel like she was burning. The silence between them thickened and the room began to spin under Calypso's feet. She couldn't keep up the act much longer. Before long though, he sneered, "Whatever. It's not like you do anything anyways. Leave. What do I care?" With that, he turned around and crawled back in bed as if the entire altercation had never happened.

Calypso backed out of the room and, when the door closed behind her, she let her shoulders slump. She slid to the floor and put her head between her knees to stop the world from spinning. She knew it was only a temporary fix, but right now it was all she needed. She'd deal with the aftermath when summer was over. For now, she just wanted away.

She didn't know how long she sat like that but before long the honk of a car sounded outside. She pulled herself off of the floor and took a deep breath. In the hallway mirror she made herself presentable and fixed an uneasy smile on her lips that didn't reach her bloodshot eyes. With a last glance around her house, she made her way into Piper's car where she was greeted by the cheers of her friends. Piper looked at her with concern and rested her hand on Calypso's. Calypso closed her eyes and let her mind wander all the way to camp.