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I scowled, confused, at first.

Where could he have gone? He just disappeared out of nowhere.

I picked up the note and shoved it into my backpack. I don't have time for drama right now. I still have to get to school.

I put my tangled hair into a pony tail and put on a purple mini dress as I stared at my pale face in the mirror. I looked like a ghost.

Sometimes I wish I could be one. That I could be with my mom.

"Wish me good luck." I said aloud, although I knew as well as anyone that nobody would reply.

Quickly, I ran down the stairs and grabbed a granola bar, scarfing it down without really tasting it.

Walking to school, I started thinking of Percy. But I promised myself that I wasn't going to read that note yet. Not until I see him to talk about it.

I made it to school, right on time, when the deafening bell rang. I flinched as I walked into class when I saw Percy.

He still had me mesmerized. No matter how many times I see him. His dark hair, perfectly straight, always fell in the right direction. He was always biting his lip, every time he got nervous.

Part of me wanted to be with him again, just to run into his arms and make everything alright again.

But I couldn't let myself. I will never let myself seem weak.

I sat down quickly and pulled out the note, anxiously, and read his surprisingly neat handwriting.

Annabeth, I understand that you've been hurt in the past, and that it's hard to trust anyone. But you can't avoid it. You saw what happened yesterday. That will only get worse. You can't keep a lock on your heart, at least, not forever.

Who says I can't? I thought harshly.

I know how hard it must be for you. I want to help. But that's impossible if you are going to prevent me from doing so.
~Percy.

I looked up and saw him staring at me, sympathetically.

If there is one thing I hate more than being protected, is making me feel weak, like I'm pathetic. I watched my mother be engulfed by my old house, staring at the flames taunt me. I couldn't do anything. Pathetic. It was absolutely pathetic. I never wanted to ever feel that way again. And I wasn't going to start now.

I don't need your help. And I don't need your sympathy. I don't need anyone. I wrote on the sheet of paper and handed it back to him. We passed notes back and forth for the whole class period, our argument going something like this...

P- You didn't seem to say that when you needed my help yesterday. If it wasn't for me, your house and you would be ash now.

Gosh I hated it when he was right.

A- So? I don't need someone feeling sorry for me. I don't need to make anyone make me feel more pathetic than I already am.

P- Don't EVER say that. You are NOT pathetic. Who told you that?!

A-No one. I just believe that I am.

P-That can't be true. What made you think that way?

It was creepy how he knew, like those sea green orbs could read anything, when the rest of the world saw nothing.

A- When my mom died...and I saw her be crushed by the building... I didn't do anything. I couldn't do anything. I felt weak, and stupid, and pathetic. I never want to feel that way again.

Percy hesitated before he started writing again.

P-It doesn't mean you are pathetic. God has a plan for everyone, and God had a plan for your mom.

I scowled at the paper, knowing that he was right.

A-Shut up.

He smiled at me, knowing he won.

P- I win.

A- Shut up.

P-Meet me tonight at the cemetery tonight next to your mom's grave. I need to talk to you.

A- Not. Funny. Percy. Whatever you need to talk about could be done now.

He raised an eyebrow as he read my sentence.

P- It's not a joke. Plus, we are surrounded by students, and a bird-like creature that calls herself a teacher. And you wanna talk now?

I rolled my eyes.

A-Alright. When?

P- Tonight. At 6.

A- K. I'll be there. But no tricks.

I heard him chuckle, then write something down.

P-Tricks?

I sighed, heavily, louder than I needed to.

A-Don't even ask.

I walked cautiously into the cemetery. It was always creepy at night, if I wanted to admit it or not.

Percy was there, holding two huge blank balloons, and two flashlights.

"I didn't think you were going to come." He joked.

I sighed and smiled. "Yeah, well, I didn't think I was going to either."

Percy rolled his eyes. "Very funny," he said sarcastically and handed me a balloon.

I looked at him weird. "What's this for?"

"Write a personal message for your mom on this. Then we will let it go and it will float to heaven!" He explained casually.

"That's sweet," I began, "But you know the balloons will pop right," I laughed.

"Shhhh! Don't ruin my fun!" He whined.

I snickered, as I watched him struggle to get the balloon to stay still.

"You need some help with that?"

"No." He said back, stupidly. He tried to counter me. "Are you scared? We are at a cemetery. At night."

"No." I said weakly. All of a sudden, I heard an owl hoot and I jumped out of my skin. "Oh my Gosh!" I yelled into the night, and ran right into Percy's chest.

He laughed and put an arm around me. "Don't worry. I won't let anything hurt you." He said softly into my ear.

It was dark, but I knew he could see me blush crimson.

I grabbed the blue marker, only to hear him whine. "How come you get the blue marker," Percy pouted.

I rolled my eyes, throwing the marker at him and picking up the purple one.

He smirked at me, which made my heart almost stop.

I tried to ignore his stare, writing my note my balloon.

Dear Mother, I don't know what to say. All I know is that I miss you. I miss your laugh, your guidance... everything. I wish you could be here with me right now. I may have said some things I haven't meant in the past. Done some things that I didn't mean to do. But that doesn't mean anything. And sure, life is hard. But I know you are there to watch over me. I love you.
~Your Wise Girl,
Annabells.

I smiled at the thought of this and watched Percy finish writing his note. It was funny how sometimes he looked like he could be in college, and other times, like a little kid.

He saw me staring and smile goofily at me. These were one of the times.

"So what now?" I asked.

"We just let go." He replied simply.

I closed my eyes, prayed to God that she would get my message, and let go of the balloon.

I watched it float upward, with Percy's side by side. I didn't look away until I couldn't see it anymore, when it went up with the stars, with my mom, where it belonged. "I love you." I whispered to the sky. And it seemed like the sky could hear me too.

I turned to Percy, who had his hands in his pockets, staring at the place where they had disappeared.

"You did this for me. Didn't you?" I asked.

He scanned my face and nodded, flinging his hand to his neck and biting his lip.

I stood up on my tippy-toes and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Thanks." I whispered.

Percy gave me a ride home, both of us in complete silence.

Inside, I was beyond grateful that he did this for me. I still couldn't believe it.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He said, parked on the driveway.

I sighed, hesitating. He chuckled at my expression. "I'll be there. Don't worry." He stated.

I smiled and got out of the car, wanting for it to be quick, but of course I stumbled and caught myself, holding onto his car.

Percy snickered. "You okay?" He asked, clearly amused.

I stuck out my tongue at him, and he mouthed the word 'immature'. I didn't care, because for the first time in A LONG time, I felt happy. I felt like everything was back to normal.

I walked into my house, turning on the lights, and I saw Matt Chase, sitting on 'his' chair, glaring at me.

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