"So what's your story?" Annabeth asked one day in the cafeteria, chewing on a French fry. It was a little over a week since they'd first met, and for some reason she had taken to sitting with Zack at lunch at his table near the back of the room.

Now Zack didn't really mind, since she was the only one who did and it was kind of nice having company. But he didn't really understand why she would. She was pretty enough to draw attention from far more popular guys who would be more than happy to have her at their tables. She was also intelligent, and she could easily get whatever she wanted at this school. Yet none of that appeared to interest her.

"What are you referring to?" Zack wondered, eating his usual Macaroni.

She shrugged. "Why are you here?" she clarified.

Zack furrowed his brows. "My home is here in Michigan, this school is within reasonable driving distance, and now I live here during the school year. I have since Kindergarten."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "We all do. It's a boarding school. You just said you've been here since you were what, 5? What's that about?" she questioned.

Zack frowned, confused. "I don't understand this line of questioning."

She sighed. "Some kids are here on athletic scholarships and have to train full time. Others because their parents are rich and dumped them here before flying off somewhere on their private jet. What about you?" she asked again, Zack wondering if she was including herself in her statement.

He looked down at his plate. "I love my family, and they love me, but they don't understand me. My parents felt I wouldn't do well in public school, so they sent me here. My mom believed a boarding school would help me learn to socialize better than I would if I only spent a few hours a day among my peers. I visit on weekends and go home for the summer. There was never any reason to switch schools."

"How's that working out?" Annabeth asked, only teasing and not meaning it maliciously.

"Not as well as my mom hoped. I have become no more popular in my years here. She's also tried singing lessons."

Annabeth nearly choked on her French fry, a grin spreading across her features.

"Singing, really? You'll have to give me a performance some time."

At Zack's nervous and slightly fearful look, she smirked. "Only when you're comfortable." she amended.

Zack nodded slowly, letting out a shaky breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. "Why do you sit with me?" he blurted.

Annabeth for once looked serious as she studied him thoughtfully. "You looked like you could use someone to talk with. But the biggest reason is that you're the only truly honest person I've ever met. Don't ever change that okay? Promise?"

Zack found himself blushing again. "Promise." he agreed meekly.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year to all of my lovely readers since it probably won't be until 2018 that I update again. I may sooner, but no promises, so I wanted to send out my best wishes now. This was just a fluff chapter as Zack and Annabeth were getting to know each other. I'm sorry that it was so short. I figured it was better than nothing. I do have a direction for all of this too, but I don't want to rush anything.