Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Chapter 29

"And just turn left there," Annabeth pointed out as the car swerved to the left, making a slight drift as she held on tightly to her bag and seatbelt.

Truthfully, she didn't expect to be sitting in a normal car, driving with a cop to her house. She didn't even expect to go to her own house, instead of going with Thalia, Nico, and... Percy.

The name brought up few memories: the time when she called the cops when the gang proceeded to break in his house. The time when Gabe shot Percy in the shoulder. The motorcycle crash. He was one of the people with the worst luck on history.

And then there's the court case,Annabeth thought, sighing as she stared out the window, a layer of mist on the glass, as she stared at the foggy outside world in a blur.

Should she go or not? Annabeth knew she had all the information. The date, the time, and even the name of the court. She could barge in there, and-

"We're here," the cop announced, pulling up to a stop on the driveway, as Annabeth's head snapped up on alert. "Do you need any help or...?"

"I'm fine," Annabeth responded curtly. She gave a small smile, and waved as she shut the door and stepped on the pavement. "Thanks for the ride."

"You're welcome," the cop replied, reversing the car and driving away.

The dark skies seemed to be the ruination of her already gloomy mood. Annabeth couldn't help but kick some rocks as she took out her keys for the house. She closed her eyes and let out a breath through her mouth, making a wisp of fog escape.

As she fumbled and searched for her keys, she couldn't hear the sounds of heavy footsteps pound down like a robot that decided to ruin everyone's eardrums. She finally got ahold of the cold metal keys, and she was about to turn the doorknob, when the door opened unexpectedly. She stumbled and nearly fell flat on her back as she came face-to-face with the angry eyes of her father.

"I thought I told you not to come back," Mr. Chase said disapprovingly, the door still open so that his daughter could still go outside. The wind was harsh outside and the light clothed pajamas he was wearing didn't help it in any way. "You shouldn't be here."

"I know," Annabeth responded evenly, staring her father straight in the eyes.

"Then I hope you'll know what the words, get out mean."

Annabeth didn't back down. "I understand what those words mean."

"Good for you, now-"

"But I'm not going," she finished.

A deep aggravated sound came from the bottom of Mr. Chase's throat. Annabeth didn't even know sounds like that existed. Her mouth quirked up and down and when she saw her father looking, she set her lips up in a straight and even line. Neutrality was the best.

"And why not?" Mr. Chase demanded.

"I need a place to stay," Annabeth said, becoming more persistent.

"You should have said that before you spoke to me like that in the police station."

And with those words spoken, the door banged shut, with Annabeth in the wrong side of where she expected to be. She banged on the door, feeling a twinge of desperation run through her as no one answered. She closed her eyes. Breathed deeply. Counted to ten.

Those yoga practices really needed to come up with better calming down tricks.Annabeth thought as she sat down on the wall, her bag lying down next to her, as she rummaged in it, trying to find something to eat.

A small water bottle and a half eaten packet of chips was all that was found. She mentally shrugged in her head. Be grateful for what you have,was the thought that rang out in her head. She felt the wind rustle her hair and she tucked in a blonde lock behind her ear before crunching away on the chips hungrily.

"Annabeth?" A small voice called out.

Said girl turned around to see two people standing at the doorway hesitantly. She sighed, forcing a smile on her face.

Standing right at the edge of the door were her two half-brothers from her father's side. Bobby and Matthew Chase cranes their heads at her, wondering why she was sitting outside, and not in the luxury comforts of the sofa inside.

"Yeah," Annabeth replied, the weight on her shoulders feeling slightly lifted. "That's me."

"What are you doing here?" Matthew asked curiously, coming forwards.

"Sitting around," Annabeth answered, as if it were obvious. Then, after some thinking, she continued. "Your dad kicked me out. I'm going to be staying here for a few minutes to eat my chips, and then I'm leaving."

Tiny footsteps lightly padded on the asphalt, as the twins ran towards their big sister.

"You're not going to run away like last time are you?" Bobby asked her.

"I'm not running away," Annabeth pointed out.

"Yet," Matthew finished.

"Maybe if both of you convinced your dad that I can stay?" Annabeth asked, feeling slightly guilty as they both nodded their heads, and turning to run into the direction of the house. "Wait!"

They both turned around, innocent expressions on their faces. She was trying to prevent the worst. She knew they would follow her if she ran.

"I love you guys," she whispered, knowing they could hear her.

"Cheesy corn alert," they said at the same time childishly, sticking their tongues out, and running into the house.

A small smile graced her features, and just when she knew they couldn't see her, she ran, taking the bag.

"Annabeth!" Mr. Chase yelled.

She could feel the footsteps growing louder, but she turned a corner, her adrenaline running high as she breathed through her mouth, tiredness soon growing.

"Come back!" Matthew shouted as loudly as he could, accidentally stumbling and tripping over a root.

Guilt banged in her chest like a hammer, and she wanted to turn back. She really did. She wanted to comfort her little half-brother and tell him that everything would be alright. That she wouldn't run away and stay.

But not everything had a happy ending.

Annabeth continued running, her bag weighing her down. Her family was fast- but she was faster. She ignored the pleading and the cries to come back, and a tear trickled down her eyelid like a raindrop. Many more couldn't help but follow.

"Annie, please!" The faint cry of Bobby calling her made said person shut her eyes tightly closed. "Come back!"

Tears flowed out like a dam. Annabeth stopped in a narrow alley, catching her breath as she leaned her weight on the wall. She was starting to tire, and only now did she realize that it was night. The stars shone dimly, as a puddle started growing from all her tears.

"You promised!" Matthew, who had finally caught up with his twin shouted accusingly. "You said you wouldn't leave us!"

"Alright that's enough," Mr. Chase said, grabbing the twins' shoulders and forcing them to turn around. "If she doesn't want to be found, she doesn't want to be found."

The glint of the eye was what caught Annabeth's attention. She saw her two half-brothers' direction turn towards the alley she was in. Her breath nearly stopped as she met their eyes.

So heartbroken. Filled with pain. They knew she was there. But with one command of their father, the two twins turned directions and continued walking, their shoulders slumped.

The result of a broken promise.

A/N: It seems like a pointless chapter to me, but it was all I could come up with, so I hope all of you enjoyed it. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome. Thanks for reaching up to 200 reviews, and all the other support, I really appreciate it!

ArcheressxX: That's what I was thinking when I first started this story, and I read all those other Percabeth stories, and realized that if this was going to be that story, it's going extremely slow paced. Thanks for the advice; maybe I'll put no Percabeth in the sad ending.

Shur'tugal Daughter of Artemis: I think I'll do the sad ending last, I already have something big planned out, sorry!

Cookies101: Thanks for reading all the way up to now. Yeah, I agree with you, some stories have Annabeth OOC, but I'm pretty sure my story has the same thing as well. Thanks!

Wisdom-comes-naturally: I was planning on doing that at the end of the story, and you never know.