Beep! Beep! Beep!

My alarm blares in my ear, telling me that it's 5:15 a.m. and time to wake up, get ready for the day, and get to work.

I turn in bed and slam my fist on my clock, instantly turning the annoying contraption off. After it shuts up, I turn in bed again until I'm on my back, staring up at the ceiling.

Brushing my bangs (which reach my jawbone) back, I think about the things that I have to do today.

I have my shift in the library from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., then I have an shift at my newly acquired job at the Café as a waitress from 12:35 to 8:00.

So, yeah, I have a busy day ahead. I got the library job because I love books. But now, I have the Café job to help pay the rent since the library job doesn't pay well.

I groan as I sit up and throw the blanket off me. I have about ten to fifteen minutes to get dressed since my apartment is about twenty minutes away from work.

After the blanket gets off me and takes the comfortable warmth away from me, I make my body get out of the bed, grab the clothes that I set out the previous night, and go to the small bathroom of my small apartment.

For a moment, I look at my reflection in the mirror before I turn on the cold water, scoop some up with my hands, and splash my face with it, really waking me up. Then, I scoop some water into my mouth to get rid of the taste of sleep.

After drying my face, I take my pajamas off and put them on the hook behind the bathroom door. Then, I put on a pale tan colored bra and put my deodorant on before putting on a light tan blouse, slip on my black skinny jeans, and put on my black flat shoes.

After putting my shoes on, I brush my hair and part it on the left side of my head before my hair automatically goes into huge curls. I clip my hair back before I put on my black eyeliner, mascara, and clear lip gloss. I take the clip off and let my hair loose before I spray my vanilla perfume on me.

I actually look good today, I guess. I really don't know if I ever really look good. I'm not beautiful or even pretty; or so my former "foster parents" told me every day of my life. Yeah, that's kinda why I kept my birth parents name, which they left on a note that was attacked to the red blanket that held me. All it said was:

Her name is Anna Philips. Please give her the love and care that we are unable to give.

Nice of them to do that, I guess. I wish I could say that the Carters gave me incredible love and heartwarming care, but unfortunately, I would be lying.

Anyway, I walk out of my bathroom and head to my small "kitchen". I go for the fridge, open it, get out an 'Every Berry' smoothie that I bought at the store yesterday, close the fridge, and start drinking the smoothie.

I taste the sweet cold flavors of strawberries, blueberries, black berries, and other berries as I grab my keys to my car (a black and white convertible Charger), my small purse that holds my wallet and phone. Without another thought, I walk out of my apartment and lock the door behind me.

Seeing the pale yellow and orange tint against the crystal blue sky above the tall trees before they are overcome with gray clouds, I walk to my car, unlocking it as I approach it. I get in and start the car before starting to drive away, a little excited to get to the library to help Mrs. Chambers (the librarian) open up.

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I get to the library, park the car, get out and lock it, then I walk to the back door, unlock it, and walk in. Looking around, I can already tell that I'm a bit early and Mrs. Chambers isn't here yet. Oh well, I can open up on my own.

In a moment, I finish my smoothie, throw it away in the trash can, and go to turn on the lights of the whole library. As I flip the light switches, light fills the whole building which makes it very easy to see everything.

Next, I go over to the computer area and start turning on each computer until I have turned on all of them. The computers hold all information of each section and book in the library, making my job a little easier than it already is.

After all the computers are up and running, I go to the front door, unlock it, and flip the Open/Closed sign to "Open". Then, I hear the back door open and close, making it known that Mrs. Chambers is here.

After putting the blinds in the windows up, I go back to the front desk to see Mrs. Chambers starting to set our computer to the settings to let people check in and out books. She is in her mid 40's, has pale peach colored skin tone, light brown hair with a few streaks of gray, and hazel eyes. She's wearing a pale pink cardigan over a emerald green blouse, blue jeans, and black ballet flats.

"Good morning, Mrs. Chambers." I say, kindly, as I approach the front desk.

She looks at me and smiles, sweetly. "Good morning, Anna, dear." she greets. "How are you this morning?"

"I'm very well this morning, thanks for asking." I reply to her question.

Mrs. Chambers has always been very kind to me. All my life, I've never had someone who has actually been kind to me and cares for me. Then, when I moved here and was interviewed for the library job, Mrs. Chambers sort of took me under her wing.

"Are you excited for your new job at the Café?" she asks as she brings out a whole array of bookmarks for readers and people who check out books; Lord of the Rings bookmarks, sweet!

"Yes, but a little nervous." I admit. "I mean, I hope that I'm right for the job."

"Oh nonsense, of course you're right for the job!" she exclaims. "Need I remind you that it was YOU that brought more business to this place?!"

I laugh at this, since it is kind of true, I guess. I mean, all I did was work here and more people just started coming. Men, women, and kids; friends and family. Mrs. Chambers dedicated the increase of customers to me, no matter how many times I argued this.

"I guess you're right." I give in, I can never keep an argument against her, much less win one.

"Of course I'm right." she says, triumphantly. "Alright, let's get to work."

I nod as we get our first customer; little eleven year old James Marshal, or as I call him, Jimmy. He's a sweet little kid, who always come to the library not soon after it's opened. He comes in every morning, asking questions about the books he read. I'm usually the one to answer his questions.

Growing up with the "parentage" I had, the only comfort that I found in life were books. Books have a special kind of magic. They have the ability to transport someone to another world, another place, and it allows them to become someone else, to become something else. And living in other worlds were the only joy I ever felt in mine.

The series that Jimmy is currently on is the Percy Jackson (the first one, he hasn't gotten to Heroes of Olympus, the Egyptian series, or the Norse series), and let me tell you, this kid asks questions about EVERYTHING. From Percy having Smelly Gabe as his stepfather to Poseidon being his true father (yes, he is on The Lightning Thief). But, it's not annoying, it's actually kind of adorable, how curious he is.

Jimmy is wearing a red jacket over a grey tee shirt, blue jeans, and black Converse shoes, his light brown hair in Justin Bieber haircut (the haircut he had when he was first famous). From the look on his face and his bright hazel eyes, I can tell that he has just a few questions, unlike yesterday when he asked a lot (mostly about Grover and Chiron, though).

"Hi, Jimmy." I say as I smile at him and he walks towards me.

He smiles back as he holds the book in front of him. "Hi, Anna." he says, shaking the book from side to side a little, showing his excited impatience.

Mrs. Chambers and I chuckle as Jimmy and I go over to the sitting area at the front of the library so we can sit and talk, since it's a lot more comfortable than standing.

"Alright, fire away, Morning Report." I say as I sit next to Jimmy, who puts his backpack on the floor.

"Okay," Jimmy says before he starts. "Why would Zeus turn his daughter into a pine tree? I mean, couldn't he just let her die?"

"Well, Zeus didn't want Thalia die, since he loved his daughter." I start to explain. "And he turned her into the pine tree to protect the Camp to symbolize the protection she gave to her friends and to preserve her in way where she wouldn't die."

"Okay, . . . that makes sense." Jimmy shrugs. "But why would Grover feel that he's responsible for Thalia's death?"

"Grover feels responsible for her death because it's his job as a protector to make sure the demigod he's protecting is safe and makes it to Camp alive." I give a brief explanation. "And even though Luke and Annabeth made it just fine, Thalia died protecting them, which was Grover's job."

"So... the demigods were Annabeth, Luke, and Thalia, right?"

"That's right."

"Okay... But why is Aries being a jerk to Percy, since they're cousins?"

"Well, 'Nice' isn't exactly Aries' middle name. Also, he likes messing with people, and it helps that Percy's his cousin. It's just how he is."

Jimmy looks like everything in the universe makes sense now. He loves to know things, and I love helping before he goes to school. Jimmy looks like he doesn't have anymore questions, until his expression softens as he looks at me.

"Is... Is there any way to bring Thalia back so she can live the life she deserves?" he asks, sweetly and also mournfully.

I smile at him. "Sorry, kiddo, that's a question for the next book." I say as I wink at him, to which he perks up.

"Okay." he says as he stands and puts his backpack. "Well, I gotta go, bus will be at my house soon."

"Yeah, go on. Don't to be late to school." I say, happy that he has his priorities right.

But, instead of leaving like a bat out of hell, Jimmy throws his arms around me and gives me a big hug. Normally, I don't like hugs, but since it's Jimmy, I hug him back. He's kinda like the little brother I never had but wish I did.

"Thanks for everything, Anna." Jimmy says, gratefully. "You're the best."

"No problem, buddy." I say, smiling. "Now get going. You gotta get home before the bus gets there."

"Yeah, you're right." Jimmy says as he pulls away and starts to walk away and waves at me. "Bye, Anna!"

I wave back as he gets to the door. "See ya, Jimmy." I say before he opens the door and runs quickly away.

Watching his fleeting figure through the widows, I shake my head as I smile. That boy. . .

He always starts my mornings at the library, and they turn out to be perfect.

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Hours after Jimmy, I've helped many people get books and help them with questions. And when I wasn't helping people, I was reading the Mockingjay for like the 50,000th (or somewhere in that range) time. I love the book and the movie series was AWESOME, I love every one of them!

And it's during one of these times, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I put my bookmark in my page. My beloved Finnick died. . . NOOOOOO! No matter how many times I read this part, it always breaks my heart.

Anyway, my alarm tells me that my shift at the Café is in half an hour, giving me enough time to go get lunch and go get instructed by the manager, Mr. Jones.

I stand up out of the chair in the back of the library and walk over to the front desk, where Mrs. Chambers is.

"Mrs. C, I have to leave," I tell her as I grab my purse.

She turns to look at me and smile. "Alright, good luck at your new job, sweetheart!"

"Thanks! Bye!" I say as I walk through the door and out to my car.

I drive to the grocery store and buy a small bottle of Sprite and a turkey sandwich. I walk back out to my car and sit on the trunk and eat my small lunch.

I lean back on my window after finishing my sandwich and a swing of my drink and stare at the sky. The sky is marble gray, but it's not raining yet, it's just a little chilly and it feels nice.

After I sit for a few minutes, I get in my car, I drive to the Café. The drive doesn't take long and soon, I park in front of the small building. I walk into the Café and immediately see Mr. Jones, a dark haired middle aged man with a California tan, wearing a black Polo shirt, khakis, and black shoes.

I walk to him as he turns and looks at me. As he does so, he smiles kindly. "Anna, you're here, good." Mr. Jones says, nodding. "Let's get you started."

We walk behind door that opens from the kitchen to dining area and go to his office.

He walks behind his desk and pulls two things from it. Then, he puts them both on top of the desk.

One of the items is a dark green apron with two big pockets in front and the other is a small metal name-tag with 'Anna' printed on the front of it.

I smile a little as Mr. Jones pushes them slowly at me. "Here you go." he says. "Welcome to your first day of work."

"Thank you, sir," I say, happily. "I promise to do my very best."

"That's all I ask."

I quickly put on my apron and pin on the name tag on the apron. Then, we both walk out of the room to the staff room. There, we come to Eliza, a tall blonde girl who's around my age and is one of the waitresses here.

"Hey, Anna." she says, smiling sweetly. "Happy that you got the job."

I smile back. "Thanks, Eliza." I reply.

"Eliza here is going to help you today and instruct you. If you have questions, just go to her and she'll help you." Mr. Jones tells me before he smiles and lightly pats my shoulder. "You'll be just fine."

"Thank you, Mr. Jones." I reply.

He turns and leaves. I am really grateful that he gave me this job. He knew that I needed it and was more than understanding when I asked to adjust my schedule to the afternoon shift so I could still work at the library.

Eliza starts teaching me what to do, how to act, take orders, remember what orders go with which customer, and many other things. Finally, we go out and get to work.

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It's 8:30 when our last customers leave. I clean up their table and under the check, I find a five dollar tip, along with a small note that reads:

Congrats on the job, Anna! Definitely coming here more often!

I smile as I slide the note into my pocket then finish cleaning it. I take the rubbish out to the bins and then come back inside, Eliza's still here, too.

"Well, that was a great first day, if I do say so myself." Eliza says as she finishes closing the Cafe.

"Yeah," I agree as we start walking out the door. "Everyone was so nice and I think that I'll get the hang of this more and stay with it."

"Good." Eliza says as she locks the door. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow, alright, Anna?"

"Yeah, see ya." I say as we both go to our cars.

I open the door and take my apron off, then throwing it on the passenger seat. After I start the car, I drive to the store. I quickly go inside and buy a banana and strawberry smoothie for breakfast tomorrow. I get back in the car and finally start the drive home.

Staring at the road, I see that it lightly misting outside and decide to pull over to let the top to go down. The highway is bare with only my headlights as a light source. The top finally goes down and I get back in the car.

The wind blows my hair back and cools me off. Suddenly, I hear a wolf's howl.

Wait. . . We don't have wolves here. What the. . .

I turn my head back to see if anything was behind me. After a quick glance, I look back to look in front of me.

And the wolf- I mean HUGE wolf, like size of a horse huge- is right in front of the car!

Quickly, I jerk the wheel to try not to hit it, but resulted in. . .

CRASH!!!!

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Well, everyone, there is the second chapter after forever.

There's going to be more chapters but the updates are gonna be pretty slow, so bear with me.

I hope you like it so far, cause there's more coming!

Happy Reading; Aleina Lister Out!