I love seeing reviews saying someone has read my previous stuff and keeps reading it. It makes me feel good inside. So to celebrate the feeling, I'm going to post a new chapter! That's what happens when I feel good. I update. Or when I feel bad… Let's not do that one today. Also, Happy Father's Day everyone! Don't forget to wish your dad's and grandfather's a happy Father's Day!

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Octavian's POV

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What Connor said stung, even if I knew it was true. I knew that I was called Scarecrow Kid behind my back, and that I was deathly thin and pale. But hearing it said to my face hurt. And the worst part of it was I don't think he actually meant it that way. He was just putting a face to a name. I didn't fault him for it, but there's a reason I didn't hang out with Percy's friends. I wasn't like them. I sucked at sports and I hated clubs. The only thing I had going for me was the fact I got all A's in everything you could think of (gym included, which still surprised me).

Not for the first time, I wished I could call Toby. He'd somehow know what to say to sooth my fears. But Toby told me he didn't want to be bothered out in Cali. And while I wanted to respect his wishes, I wanted to call him even more. Or text him. I knew mom had his number in her phone. All I had to do was steal her phone for a minute when she was sleeping and program his number into my own phone. Then I'd have his number. But even at the thought, I shuddered at myself. You don't need Toby, I told myself. You can do this on your own. Your big brother won't always be around to help you when you need it.

I managed to avoid Percy and his crew the rest of the morning, but at lunch, I was at a loss. I could go down the library like I usually did. But no doubt Percy would be looking for me if I didn't show up. So, steeling my nerves, I went to the lunch room. And nearly lost stomach acid when the smell hit me. It smelled of sweat and undercooked food and perfume and testosterone. Not a pleasant smell. The noise was deafening. I'd be surprised if I could hear myself think. And it was crowded. So many people lined the tables, it looked like a soup kitchen at Christmas. And there, in the middle table, was Percy and about twenty other people. Some I recognized, others I didn't. I went through the lunch line and got my turkey and noodles and carrots, with a cookie and milk, then wandered over to Percy's table. I stood at the end uncertainly, until Percy spotted me. His whole face lit up and he scrambled up.

"Tavy!" he said gleefully. "You came! Come, come. I have the spot next to me saved." I glanced toward the spot beside his and, sure enough, there was his backpack on it. Everyone knew the sign of a saved seat, so no one dared move it. Percy moved it down between his feet and I slipped into the seat and stared at my lunch. Just the smell was making me want to vomit, but the way it looked didn't help. It was dark brown and shaped into a tiny dome. I gulped down the bile rising in my throat. "What's wrong?" Percy whispered to me.

"I can't eat," I whispered back, shoving the tray away. "This stuff's making me sick just looking at it." Percy frowned and broke a piece off of my cookie. He held it out to me. I reached to take it, and he pulled his hand away, a sly smile creeping onto his face. I sighed and opened my mouth for him, and he popped the piece of cookie in. I smiled a little as I chewed, and that's when I noticed everyone was staring at us. I felt my face reddening and I sank farther down in my seat. "What?" I asked them.

"Oh, nothing," Travis said, an odd look on his face. Connor looked almost exactly like him. "Just observing I guess," he said at last with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Why don't you eat?" Connor blurted out, and Percy gave him a look that would've turned Medusa to. stone. Connor shrank back in his seat and ducked his head, mumbling an apology. Percy continued to glare at him until I put a hand on his arm. Then he looked at me and his expression softened.

"I eat," I said to Connor. "Just not a lot at a time. I can't handle a lot of food at once." I ducked behind Percy. Why did I just say all of that? I've never told anyone but Percy that before! Now they'd have another reason to mock me! Percy twisted in his seat and smoothed down my hair. He was a reassuring presence, I'll give him that.

"Oh," Connor said, looking stumped. I don't think he expected that as an answer. Percy stabbed a noodle with my fork and held it out to me. I ate it, and found it was actually edible. I took my fork from him and began eating a noodle at a time. He looked satisfied, and he went back to chatting with his group. But one pair of eyes remained riveted on me. I turned to the left and found Jason Grace, of all people, quietly observing me through slitted eyes. I smiled at him and his hard expression dissolved. He smiled at me then gave me his cookie. Huh. Looks like I was making friends after all.

…

"You were great today," Percy said from behind the shower curtain. I was sitting on the bench by his stuff, waiting while he got ready for swim practice. If it wasn't one practice or game, it was another. Percy was making me sit in at his practice today. I had The Fault in Our Stars resting on my lap. That was what I was going to do while he swam. I was going to read. Percy came out of the shower stall in green swim trunks and he grinned at me, twirling around. "Like what you see?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied automatically, blushing faintly. "I do. Very much so, yes." Percy's sort of smirk turned into a pleasure-filled smile as he sat down beside me, bumping his shoulder against my shoulder. "You have so many practices," I said quietly. "There's always something going on in your world, isn't there? Is that why you have so many friends?"

"No?" he said, though he sounded more confused than anything. "I'm just likeable I guess. It's got nothing to do with the sports. I do them because I enjoy being active, that's all. Though being able to see all my friends is definitely a plus. Are you good at anything Tavy?" I snorted.

"I'm good at hiding from the ball," I joked, and he laughed. I felt a small stab of pleasure at being able to make him laugh. Then it died. I probably wasn't the first person to do so. "But no, seriously, I suck at sports. They aren't my thing." I patted the cover of the book. "This is my thing." Percy gazed down at the book.

"That'll make you cry," he said. "But Tavy, if you ever want to practice, tell me, kay? I'll help you. I'll be your own personal coach." Most girls (and guys if we're being completely honest here) would melt over the idea of having personal lessons by Percy. I certainly was, though I was trying not to show it.

"Swimming seems fun," I said at last. He grinned at me.

"It's the best," he agreed. "It's probably my favorite of the sports I do. You take your pick. I'm assuming you know all I do." I nodded, blushing once again. Way to seem like a creepy stalker Tavy. Bloody hell! I was now calling myself Tavy. Thanks Perce. "Come on silent but brooding type," Percy said, standing and offering his hand. "Practice starts in five minutes." I slipped my hand in his and he hauled me to my feet. He wove his way around his teammates, and he still kept my hand in his. We emerged into the pool area, and already Jason, the Stolls, and Malcolm Parker were standing around. Jason saw us and he broke away from the small group.

"Hey boys," he said. "Tavy, I'm surprised. I figured you'd be going home." Percy glared at Jason.

"Tavy has expressed interest in swimming and would like to observe our practice," he said heatedly. "Unless you have objects to such a thing." Jason shrugged and gave me an easy grin.

"Naw," he replied, and he slipped in a fake Southern drawl. "I was just assumin' our little Tavy wouldn't like it. My bad partner." He bowed, tipping an invisible hat in the process. I giggled. Jason was so silly. He wasn't nearly as good as Percy, but he was nice and friendly. I did enjoy being around him. If Percy was the stoic scholar, Jason was the goofy class clown. "So Perce, where should be put our little scout?"

"Bench behind lanes four and five," Percy said. "I swim in lane four." He turned to me and grinned. "You can watch me swim. I'll call your name when it's time." He led me over to a small, short blue plastic bench and let me sit down. I leaned against the tiled wall and opened my book. I was already a fourth of the way through, and it was sad. Percy was right about one thing. If I'd been reading it in my room, I would've been bawling. But I was in public, so I couldn't cry. "Tavy," Percy hissed, and I looked up from my book. He was posed at the end of the pool, waiting for Malcolm to return. The blonde boy reached the wall and slapped Percy's hand. Percy dove right passed him as Malcolm clambered up out of the pool. Percy was fascinating to watch. He was fucking fast! He finished in about thirty seconds, slapped Travis' hand, and climbed out. He came and sat beside me.

"That was amazing!" I gushed. "You're so fast!" Percy chuckled and leaned against the wall, catching his breath.

"Yeah," he said breezily. "I've been told that. But I've never finished that fast before." I looked at him curiously. "I kept thinking about you back here, watching and waiting for me. That must have spurred me into moving faster." I was a little stunned. I wasn't used to having things said like that to me, so I looked away. Percy continued to sit beside me, and he rested his hand on my arm. He didn't squeeze or say a thing. He just kept it there, and the feeling was so nice, I let him.

…

"Mom, no," I said, taking the Black Velvet bottle from her. She growled as I put it back in the cupboard. So much for being sober. We were back to square one. She'd already drunk half of it, and I was determined to keep her from drinking more. "Mom, where's the snow globe Toby got me from Disneyland?" I asked. Then I noticed glass and water and fake snow all over our living room carpet. Tears began to well in my eyes. It was the only thing Toby had sent back since moving out to Cali, and while it had no real worth, it was one of my favorite things. I didn't think she touch it if I put it above the TV. Guess I was wrong. I stooped and began picking up some of the larger pieces of glass. I hissed out a breath as one sliced my finger.

"Tavy?" I jumped up as someone began speaking outside the door. Mom growled like she was an attack dog and retreated into the kitchen. I went to the door, being careful of the glass, and threw it open. Percy stood on the front step, holding a few containers. "Thank god you're home," he said, squeezing passed me. "Mom sent me over with enough food to feed half of New York."

"Um, thanks," I said. "Mom, we have take-out." Percy stuck his tongue out at me and sat down at the table, peering into the containers. I had the distinct feeling even he didn't know what was inside. "What exactly is that?" I asked, motioning to a container full of yellow and orange goop with flecks of purple in it.

"Eggplant casserole," he replied. "It's one of my favorites. It's really healthy and delicious."

"I'll take your word for it," I responded, sniffing it. It smelled of veggies and cheese. So, good. I noticed another lasagna and something that looked like spaghetti. Another casserole. There was enough food here to feed me for weeks! "You didn't have to do this," I said to him, spooning some of the eggplant casserole out onto two plates and putting everything else in the fridge. "I can manage."

"No you can't," Percy argued, spearing a piece of eggplant with his fork and stuffing it in his mouth. I took a tentative bite. It was really good. It tasted of eggplant and mozzarella. "Mom felt sorry for you guys, so she made you enough food to feed you for awhile. She'll send me back over with more at the end of the month." I shook my head.

"That really isn't necessary," I told him. "Mom and I manage just fine without the extra help. Where were you when my dad left? Where were you when my brother told me not to call him?" I had tears rushing down my cheeks. "Where were you when he beat me?" Percy got up from his seat, circled around the table, and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

"I wasn't here," he admitted. "But I should've been. I'm very sorry Octavian. But the past is the past. Just think of the future. I'll be in that. That's all that matters. Now, sorry about this." He crashed his lips to mine, and I flailed momentarily. But then I relaxed against him and kissed him back with just as much eagerness. I'd been waiting for this for years. I'd be stupid not to take advantage of the fact. Percy pulled away and grinned at me. "That's what I'm talking about," he said. I threw my had back and laughed. Go figure.

"That was nice," I agreed. "Don't go making a habit of it Jackson," I threatened, waving my fork at him. He held up his hands and laughed.

"Oh, I plan to Holden," he replied. "I plan to indeed." Strangely enough, I was okay with that.

…

Well, wasn't that sweet.