AN: I've decided not to delete chapter eleven since… 1. I can't be bothered. And 2. A lot of people thought it was good. I'm sorry if anyone is mad about me not changing it but things will be slower in this chapter. I think you'll know what I mean if you just read it… Chapter Twelve

(The Next Day)

Annabeth

It's when I wake up, no tears swimming down my cheeks when I think that maybe things will get better. A year ago I never thought I'd speak again and now… now I talk and have a boyfriend. I guess so far I've only spoke to Percy. I haven't had a proper conversation with anyone else but I think that's because I trust and know him.

I know that his mom died in a car accident just like my parents. I know his dad had drowned in a storm. And now… now I know that he likes me. I can't say that I haven't thought about us moving too fast. He barely knows me whereas I know nearly everything about him. She would be together? Are we moving too fast?

I can't help but think bad thoughts. It's like I expect something bad to happen. That's what normally happens after something good occurs. Like when my parents took me to the beach; my happiness didn't last long.

A light knock on my bedroom door brings me out of my thoughts. "Come in," I call out; smiling slightly at how good and normal it feels to call out to someone. Percy pops his head around the door and grins shyly when he sees me lying in bed.

"Hi," he says quietly, not moving from the doorway. "Can I come in?"

"Of course you can. You don't have to ask, Seaweed Brain," I reply.

He steps inside, closing the door behind him. I shuffle over a little and pat a spot on the soft mattress next to me. He walks over and sits down, putting an arm around my shoulder.

"Did you have a good sleep?" he asks.

"It was great," I reply. "What about you?"

"Same," he says, his sea green eyes shining happily. My stomach growls and Percy chuckles while my faces heats up. "You want to go eat breakfast?" he asks.

"Yeah," I reply, standing up and remembering that I'm still in my pyjamas. "I'll meet you downstairs, I'm going to get changed," I say and he nods, heading to the door.

Once he's closed the door behind him I strip out of my nightclothes and slip into gray tracksuit bottoms and a matching t-shirt. I throw my curly blonde hair into a messy bun and leave my room to go to the bathroom. I brush my teeth and wash my face before heading downstairs for breakfast.

As usual the kitchen is filled with chaos; Travis and Connor throwing bits of their cereal at each other like five year olds, Juniper spilling milk down her shirt, Thalia nearly sticking a knife in the toaster but Nico stopping her quickly… I don't think I've ever felt more peaceful and at home.

It wasn't like this when my parents were still alive. The house was always quiet since my mom and dad would've been in work before I had woken up. I would eat breakfast on my own, wishing they were there to eat with my like a family.

Now I'd do anything for one of those mornings, my parents still alive even if I wouldn't be able to eat breakfast with them. I wouldn't care as long as they were here. Still, I like the chaos.

I walk towards Thalia who is now yelling at Nico. "You think you know everything, Death Breath!"

"I know not to put a knife in the toaster," he snaps back. He's right about that one. Even I thought Thalia wasn't that stupid. I wonder when the two will finally admit they like each other. It has been four years since I came here and they still haven't made progress.

"Was you trying to kill yourself?" I speak up, not wanting them to kill each other.

"Annie!" Thalia grins, flinging an arm around my shoulder. I glare at her but she carries on grinning.

"Hi… Mrs. D'Angelo," I smirk and the two teenagers blush.

"Meet me in my bedroom after breakfast- we have some talking to do," she replies when she finally stops blushing.

I open my mouth to make up and excuse but she holds her hand up to stop me. I roll my eyes before taking a piece of toast out of the toaster. "Hey, that's mine!" Nico yells and I grin at him.

"Tell Thalia you love her and I'll give it back," I blackmail and he blushes again, shaking his head.

"No!" he yells and I shrug.

"Fine."

I spread butter and jam onto the toast and carry my plate to the table. I sit down on a seat at the far end of the big table. I look around at the other faces and find the one I'm looking for. I find Percy looking at me from his seat, at the other end of the table. I smile and he smiles back before turning his attention to Grover, who's been calling his name for about two minutes.

I take a bite out of my toast and Silena calls my name. I look at her and raise my eyebrows, not wanting to talk with my mouth full. "Hey," she smiles. I swallow.

"Hi," I reply. "Are you okay?" I don't really know what I'm meant to say.

"I'm great!" she squeaks and then starts to ramble on about something that I tune out of as soon as I hear the word 'make-up'.

Once I finish eating I take my plate to the sink and wash it before putting it away. Then I walk towards the elevator to go to Thalia's room. I might as well do as she wants or she'll just come looking for me.

I reach her floor and walk into her bedroom, not waiting for a reply after I knock. I sit down on my bed and she smirks, leaning against the headboard. "Details," is all she says and that's all she needs to say for me to blush.

"What?" I ask, innocently.

"You know what I'm talking about. Most of the girls here have had the hot's for Percy as soon as he walked through the door, except me o-"

"That's because you've always liked Nico. When are you going to tell him how you feel?" I butt in but she ignores me and carries on.

"So, what was it like? Kissing him, I mean?" she asks.

"Like a kiss?" I offer weakly and she rolls my eyes.

"Oh, come on!" she huffs in frustration. My first real conversation with her and she's already mad. I think I'm going to like annoying her…

"Fine! It was nice," I admit.

"Nice?"

"Okay, it was amazing," I sigh.

"That's better. I don't think your boyfriend would've liked it if I told him you thought kissing him was 'fine'."

"He would never have known and he still won't because you are not telling anyone about this talk," I warn.

"I'm not?" she asks, innocently.

"No, you will not," I reply and she rolls her eyes but I know she won't tell.

We talk for a while longer until someone knocks on the door. "Yeah? Who is it?" Thalia yells.

"It's Percy."

"What do you want?" Thalia asks.

"Is Annabeth here?" he asks, not opening the door.

"Maybe."
"Thals, Chiron wants to talk to us both," he replies and she looks at me with raised eyebrows while I frown. Why does Chiron want to talk to both of us?

"What does he want?" Thalia asks and I shrug before walking to the door.

"I don't know but I'll see you later," I reply and she nods.

I open the door and smile at Percy and we ride the elevator. "Do you have any idea what this is about?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"No idea," he replies and I sigh.

Once the elevator doors slide open we head towards Chiron's office and knock the door. "Come in." Percy opens the door for me and I walk inside.

"Thanks for coming," Chiron says as Percy and I sit down. Suddenly, I feel like I'm at the principles office for a telling off.

"You wanted to talk to us?" Percy says and the man nods.

"Yes. I understand that things between you two have changed a lot in the past twenty-four hours. That's why I want to talk to you now," Chiron replies and I frown. Is he going to give us 'The Talk' or something?

"Go on," Percy says.

"I don't know if you two remember but this care home has a list of rules; rules that I'm not willing to change." I have a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach…

"What rules?" Percy asks. I feel like that girl again; the one who sits silently and listens.

"Why don't you see for yourself," Chiron mumbles. He seems nervous, I decide as I realise he's not making eye contact with any of us.

He slides a piece of paper towards us and I take it in my hand and read each of the ten rules. I don't get what he's trying to say… that's when my eyes fall on the tenth and final rule:

No dating between two care home kids…

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