AN: Thank you for the reviews! They really do make my day! (:

Chapter Three

When I wake up the first thing I do after stumbling out of bed is race to the mirror. Like I expected my eyes are puffy red from the surprisingly small amount of crying I did last night. Today is a Sunday so instead of quickly getting changed and fixing my hair I deicide to keep my pyjamas on for a while.

I go into my bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth and then ride the elevator down to the first floor. I quickly run my fingers through my curly blonde hair so I don't look too much like a slob. The metal doors open and I walk out into the hall and then into the kitchen. I find fourteen noisy teenagers sitting at the large breakfast table chatting away.

"Hey, Annie!" Guess who said that? Correct. I shoot a glare in Thalia's direction but flash her a smile anyway. I grab a plate of pancakes and then take a seat next to her. I look at the many faces at the table and I only notice someone is missing when my eyes fall on a free seat. There's only one face I haven't seen this morning and that's Percy.

As if on cue Percy walks in and I'm surprised he hasn't covered his puffy red eyes like I always do. When everyone sees's him they instantly shut up at the sight of his red eyes. He's been crying. It's understandable his parents just died. Or one of them did and the other was already gone.

He stops abruptly after everyone grows silent and stares at each of our faces. When he looks at the others they look guilty and look away but when his eyes settle on me I let our eyes meet and I curl my lips a little. He smiles back and after grabbing a plate of pancakes he sits down opposite me.

Everyone starts talking again while Percy and I eat silently, sneaking quick glances at each other. For some un-known reason I feel… connected to him? Drawn to him. Maybe it's because we're both orphans. That has to be the reason, I tell myself.

I shove the last piece of pancake into my mouth and stand up. "It's your turn to do the dishes, Annie!" Drew squeaks and I glare at her. No one calls me Annie except Thalia- even if it does drive me insane. Thalia picks up on my deathly glare and frowns at Drew. "Don't call her that! You know she doesn't like it!" Thalia snaps.

"'The Mute' can tell me herself not to call her it and besides it doesn't stop you!" Drew yells.

"It's different with me- I'm her friend! I only call her it to joke around and she knows I do," She pauses and I relax a little… until she starts yelling again. "And if she wants to tell you, she will! And call her a mute one more time and it'll be the last thing you do!"

Drew tries not to look terrified but she fails. I thank Thalia with a smile and she nods and says, "Anytime." It's weird- she seems to know what I'm trying to say even though I don't say it.

I walk to the sink and start washing the plates. Soon the kitchen is empty… or so I thought because when someone places a plate in the sink I jump out of my skin. I spin around to find a laughing Percy.

"I didn't mean to scare you!" he says after he calms down. I smile and turn back to the dishes.

He grabs a towel and starts drying the wet plates. I look up at him in confusion. Why is he helping? "It doesn't seem fair to let you clean up and I have nothing better to do anyway," He says and I smile. I like this guy. Maybe we can be friends.

We both finish a while later and walk into the living room. "Do you go to Goode High, too?" Percy asks and I nod. I like how he doesn't look at me like he's expecting me to speak.

"Awesome. Could I hang around with you? I mean, if you don't want to it's fine but you seem nice so I thought…" I nod. "Thanks," he says and we sit in an awkward silence.

I bet it must be bad for him knowing he'll have to be the one to talk. I suddenly feel guilty, I've not uttered a word in years yet everyone still has hope that I will. Like last night everyone looked at me waiting for me to introduce myself- and I didn't. How long will they put up with me?

"Are you okay?" Percy asks and I jump, forgetting he was there. "You're a bit jumpy today!" Percy laughs and I roll my eyes.

Somehow Percy puts up with me all day. We stay in the living room watching DVD's. It's 10pm when we finally ride the elevator up to our floor. "School tomorrow," Percy groans and I smile. It will be fine, I want to say.

"Yeah, it will," he says and starts walking towards hid bedroom door while I look at him like he's crazy. He just answered my un-asked question. That was… creepy, I decide and close my bedroom door behind me.

I change into clean pyjamas and hop into bed. It wasn't long before my thoughts wonder off to my parents. I fall asleep with tears swimming down my cheeks.

AN: I don't like this chapter and it's really short for me. I'm sorry. I will try to make the next chapter longer and more interesting. REVIEW!