Man, Percy could draw. I watched as he outlined what seemed to be a tree underwater, and something about it made it seem like it was real. Then he looked up at me.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" I barely remembered to say something I was so terrified of human interaction.

"Sure, go ahead." He pulled his paints over to make room for me. I could feel his eyes watching me as I sat down and pulled out my sketchbook. I flipped to a new page, and began outlining a girl with a demon floating behind her.

As my project grew and developed, I lost track of time. All too soon the bell rang. I looked at the picture I had just created.

Percy looked over at my paper, and his eyes widened.

"You did that in an hour? That's really good!"

I think I may have blushed. I didn't really get any compliments on my art all that often.

"Thanks, I guess." I brushed a piece of hair behind my ear nervously. I grabbed my drawing pad and pencil, and hurried out the door. I wanted to get away from there before I could make a bigger fool of myself.

I walked out to the curb to wait for my dad. I pulled out my phone and earbuds, and put on my music while I watched the crowd of people milling about. I saw Percy's dark head walking over to a group of people standing under a tree. They looked like a happy group.

I turned around before I could get too emotional. Thankfully, my dad pulled up just then, saving me from watching the happy group, and thinking of Katie and Nyssa.

"Hi Annie-girl. How was school?" My dad looked over and ruffled my hair. I pushed his hand away with a smile on my face.

"Nothing really interesting." Seemed like that's all my life was. Nothing really interesting.

Dad shrugged. He turned up the radio as we pulled out of the school lot. One of those old songs that I didn't know was playing, but Dad sure knew it. He was singing along, not even caring if he was off key by a lot. I couldn't help but grin as I looked out the window.

Watching the building roll by, I noticed that I didn't recognize anything.

"Where are we going?" I looked at my dad as he broke into a massive grin.

"It's a surprise! You'll just have to wait and see!" I didn't normally like surprises, but with the way my dad was grinning from ear to ear, I couldn't help but feel a little bit excited.

A couple minutes later, my dad pulled up to a curb and pulled out a blindfold.

"Oh no! I hate blindfolds!" But I took the cloth with a grin on my face.

Then we kept driving. It seemed like an eternity later when my dad finally pulled over, and opened his door. Then he came over to my side, opened my door and helped me out. As I stepped out of the car, I listened for the bustle of the city. But it was quiet. A dog barked in the background, and a lawn mower rumbled along. But other than that, there was nothing, except for my excited breathing.

My dad was apparently as excited as me. He grabbed my hand, and almost yanked me off my feet as he pulled me up a small slope.

"Come on! We're almost there!" I giggled a little. He sounded like a little boy on Christmas Day.

Then I heard a door opening. There was a scuffle of movement, and a small whine, and then my dad told me to hold out my hands.

Something warm and soft, and surprisingly wriggly was placed in my arms. A small high pitched bark made my ears ring.

"No way! Really?!" I yanked off my blindfold, and I couldn't believe my eyes. I was holding a German Shepard puppy. I looked up at my dad, who seemed to be almost dancing in excitement.

"This little guy will be your friend even when there's no one else around to be there for you." My dad smiled, but I detected a sadness in his smile. It was almost as if he was sorry for the way that he and my mom had left me alone for so many years.

I looked at the puppy's clear hazel eyes, and I could feel my heart beginning to swell.

"He's already been weaned and potty trained," the woman was telling my dad. I didn't really pay attention. I was busy trying to think of a name for him.

"Atlas."

My dad and the lady stopped talking.

"What did you say?" my dad asked.

"Atlas. His name is going to be Atlas."