The first week of school was exhausting, and the second was just as awful. He started going to the gym when he wasn't at AA to build back all the muscle he had lost. He didn't realize how much weight he lost over the year as his jeans were still loose and shirts were baggy.

Percy hated the tension with Poseidon; both walked on eggshells in fear of starting an argument. The anger was still there, and Charlie encouraged him to begin making amends. But gods, he was so damned angry that he didn't want to start the process. Maybe he'll start with his mom and Paul. He felt awful for hanging up on her when he was in the thick of withdrawal, and he hadn't spoken to her since. Poseidon did talk to her, though, keeping her updated on how he was handling things and if Percy passed the weekly drug test.

Percy sat at the table, watching Poseidon try to flip a pancake. It's the third time he has dropped one onto the floor. "At this rate, we will never eat."

Percy made his way to the kitchen, took the spatula from his dad, and went to work. "How did you learn to cook?" Poseidon asked as Percy flipped the pancake with ease.

The others were burnt but were still technically edible, but he decided Poseidon could eat the burned ones.

"I had to know how to cook when mom used to work three jobs to support us before she met Paul."

"Gabe didn't have a job when she was with him. Didn't he take care of you?" Percy laughed.

That man was the most useless person in the world. "He could barely keep a job, and he hated me. He only knew how to be a deadbeat dad, gamble, and drink until he was raging through the house yelling insults. When mom was gone, I cooked for us."

Percy didn't talk much about living with Gabe. He outright refused to go into the courtroom when he was sentenced to five years. Word on the street, he might get out early on good behavior, and Percy hoped that day never came.

"You shouldn't have had to go through that." Poseidon wiped his face. Worry lines creased on his forehead.

"No, but I did. I tried to protect her the best I could, and when Paul saw my all too often black eyes at school, he helped us get into a safe house with those family crisis things while she pressed charges."

"Percy, you were fourteen. You couldn't have done anything."

Percy only scowled as he finished the rest of the pancakes. The memories hit him like a brick to the face. "I don't want to talk about it anymore. He was nothing but a worthless piece of trash and that's all."

"I didn't realize it was that bad." Poseidon's voice was low.

"Yeah, well, that's what happens when you don't show up until your kid is pawned off to you for getting arrested." The words were out before he even considered the impact. Percy drowned a few pancakes in syrup before going to the table. He ate in silence as Poseidon just stared at his plate.

"I thought she had moved on. Our custody agreement was that she would have full custody and when you were 15 you could choose to stay with me if you wanted. I'm sorry for not protecting you."

"You aren't a deadbeat dad, by the way. You didn't know, and I'm sorry. I shouldn't hold it against you for thinking you are the reason I'm like this." Percy shoved Poseidon's plate closer to him. "Please just eat. I can't handle this tension."

"Thank gods, I can't either." Percy felt himself smile. He tried to fight it, but the relief on Poseidon's face made him reconsider a smart-ass comment.

—

Percy realized he sucked at skateboarding for the fact that he had fallen off the board multiple times while attempting some small tricks. He thought that being a hockey player before getting kicked off the team, he could skate. He was out of practice since the last time he skated was a little over a year ago when Octavian broke his board and beat the absolute shit out of him for not selling drugs for him.

Not to mention, he hasn't been on the ice in a while. After the fifth time, he fell, his back hitting the pavement and knocking the wind out of him. After several tries, he finally got back into it. He did several Ollies and kick turns to build more confidence. He did one kickflip and tried another, only to misplace his footing, and the board slipped from him. He landed on his back with a groan. He closed his eyes briefly, only to open them when a small hand poked his cheek.

"Is he alive Mathew?" Annabeth said.

Another poke to his cheek. "I don't know. How do I check for a pulse?" Smart kid.

"Hey Mathew. I'm alive."

Mathew smiled wide. "He's alive Anna!"

Percy groaned as he sat up, and his back protested as he stretched. "So, what are you three doing?"

"My parents are out so I'm on babysitting duty. I figured a walk to the park with these two savages will tire them out."

Poseidon walked out of the house. He smiled when he saw Annabeth. "Annabeth! How are you doing?"

"Mr. Jackson, I'm good you?"

"I'm good! It's good to see you two again as well. What are you up to?"

"The park!" Bobby and Mathew yelled simultaneously.

"Percy you should come too!" Bobby grabbed Percy's hand.

Annabeth went to protest. "I'm sure Percy has-"

Poseidon clapped Percy's shoulder.

"Nonsense! He would love to join you. I'm leaving for an emergency at the rescue anyway." Percy knew what this was. Poseidon thinks he can't trust Percy to be home alone. He went to protest but slammed his mouth shut and grabbed his skateboard.

"You four have fun!"

Percy walked next to Annabeth as the twins walked slightly ahead. His board was clutched in his hand. It was a comfortable silence, and Percy replayed the conversation with his dad. He was still angry, but maybe it was time to move on. He'd get his one-month sobriety chip after next week. He couldn't even believe he made it this far. A small part of him was starting to like California, and Octavian was no longer hounding him to start selling.

"What's your mom like?"

Percy snapped his eyes to Annabeth. "What?" He was shocked by the question. His mom was his world; she was everything good in this world, and he didn't deserve her.

"What's your mom like? Thalia and Nico always talk about her cookies and how she protected those she loved." Hi smiled. It was a warm smile; he wanted those blue chocolate chip cookies more than anything.

"She's the most amazing mom anyone could ask for. She's rebellious and my previous stepdad got into an argument once over how I was stupid for saying I wanted blue food. So, she made it her personal mission to make anything blue. She's the strongest person I know, especially since she left him and testified against him."

"She sounds wonderful. Thalia also said she is the best cook."

He nodded. "Yeah, she is. Her blue cookies are to die for. Tell me something about you wise girl."

"My mom died in a car accident and all I can remember about her is how she used to read us stories before bed. My stepmom Sue is the sweetest although she didn't like me at first. When they brought the twins home, I tried to hide them and convince my dad it was all a dream. Malcolm was fourteen and told on me."

Once they got to the park, Percy and she sat on the bench watching the twins play.

"Favorite color?"

"Blue, obviously." Percy stuffed his hands in his jacket, palming his sobriety chip. He always did it when he was nervous or anxious. It reminded him of why he was sober. He could hardly remember what it felt like to be sober, and his mind was so full of noise that he was afraid he'd drown in it.

"What's with all the questions?"

"I want to get to know you. Thalia and Nico are my best friends, and you are their family. Next question, can you show me how to skate?"

Percy raised a brow as he looked at her. "You want to learn how to skate?"

Annabeth nodded. "I want to try it."

Percy stood and placed his board on the ground. "Okay hop on."

"I don't have a helmet."

"Neither do I. I won't let you fall, I pinky swear." He held up his pinky, and she pinky swore.

He gave her a crooked smile. "Alright, place your foot here and the other one here. Keep your feet apart and just get a feel for your balance."

Annabeth gripped his arms as she wobbled. His hands on her sides made her stomach flutter. "Oh my gods." Annabeth huffed a laugh as she struggled to balance as Percy guided her to the side wall.

"I'm gonna let go now and you are going to skate towards me. Just push off with one foot and bend your knees just a bit."

She felt his hands leave her waist and the twins cheering her on from the playscape. Percy backed up and waved at her to move forward. She gave one gentle push and grinned wide as she kept her balance. "It's easier than I thought!"

"Just don't get any crazy ideas wise girl." He quickened his pace as she began moving a little faster.

"How do I stop?"

"You can just let your foot drag; you aren't going too fast." She slowed as she got close to him and stepped off the board.

"I want to try!"

"Me too!" Bobby yelled as he climbed down the monkey bars. Percy laughed as Mathew and Bobby grabbed a hold of his legs.

Annabeth shook her head, "you two need helmets. Let's go home."

Annabeth couldn't stop smiling as they walked home. Percy's shoulder brushed against hers, and he couldn't stop smiling.

"I have a feeling the boys are going to be talking about skateboarding non-stop."

"Yeah, I'm awesome, you can say it. You know Thalia and Nico skate. Though not as much as I do but we usually went to the skate parks when they visited. Especially when we lived with Gabe. He hated them, so we were free to leave whenever."

Annabeth gaped at him. "She didn't tell me that. I knew she used to but was embarrassed because she apparently sucked. She said she stopped skating."

"She did."

"When?"

Percy gripped his skateboard tighter. "When I first got caught using. She was so mad at me she broke her board and stopped skating with me when they visited."

Percy dropped his board and slowly skated next to her. He was doing anything to distract himself as he replayed that moment repeatedly. Nico shouting at her to come back only for her to storm off leaving the two to sit in awkward silence at the park. He needed to apologize to her for all this time when she helped him, and he didn't thank her.

"Can you do a trick, Percy?" Mathew asked. His eyes were wide, and his lip pouted as he ran up to Percy.

"Please!" "Yeah! What Mathew said!"

"Uh..." he looked around to see a few steps he could jump off of. "Sure, stay by your sister. Don't laugh at me if I fall."

After several minutes of doing tricks and landing a few while the rest, he either outright fell or stumbled.

"Can you do it again?"

Annabeth ruffled Mathew's hair. "Let Percy be. You've been entertained enough." She looked at Percy and smiled, making his face flush. "You are now going to be their favorite person you know."

"Yeah..." he looked down at his legs, which were scraped up from skidding on the concrete.

"Oh man, I really need to practice."

Annabeth shrugged and nudged him. "You only fell like ten times. But you are a seaweed brain so I wouldn't put it past you." Percy laughed and kicked his skateboard up and caught it.

"I'd like to see you try to land a few jumps wise girl." They approached her front door, Percy leaning against the pillar near the steps. The twins were already screaming inside the house as they chased each other.

"Thank you for your help, Percy. Would you like to come in? We can eat lunch or something." Percy stayed on the porch.

"You're welcome wise girl. I have a meeting tonight so I should head back home and do homework. But thank you for the offer."

He looked her over once and flashed her a crooked smile. "See you around wise girl."