Percy's POV

I chucked another stone across the pond, enjoying the sheer silence and serenity of being alone at night. I didn't feel like I was in danger—at this point I didn't care. Considering what just happened, I should be in the hospital right now.

I had cuts all over my arms and my torso, my abdomen was bruised, almost entirely purple, I had a black eye along with other cuts on my face, and I'm fairly sure that my hand is broken.

I smiled at my potentially broken hand. You're definitely thinking, Smiling at a broken hand? Yep. He's definitely lost it.

But it's not that fact that it's broken, it's how I broke it. I was able to punch Gabe square in the face, and I'm pretty sure I broke his nose.

I heard something behind me, like rustling in the bushes. I didn't bother turning, because I was in such an 'I don't give a shit' mood that I couldn't care less if a coyote came and attacked me right now.

"You're kidding me." I decided to turn after hearing this voice. This specific voice. Of course she was here, and of course I was shirtless—displaying all of my wounds.

And there she stood—Black shorts, grey shirt, black hat, red flannel (when didn't she have that thing on), skateboard and all. And she looked good.

Wait what?

Aw shit. I really do have a crush on her.

"What happened to you? You look like you were hit by a bus." She nodded to, I'm assuming, my wounded abdomen and arms. She walked up to the dock, and my eyes followed her.

"I look that bad, huh?" I looked up at her before she sat down next to me, closer than the last time.

"Yup." She placed her board down on the dock to her right. "But what happened?" Her grey eyes bore straight through me.

"I..." I felt nervous under her gaze—it was so intense. "I was riding my bike and I fell off."

"You don't get bruises and cuts like those," she pointed to my injuries. "From falling off a bike that you probably don't own."

Shit. I could tell that this time, she wasn't going to let it go. I had thanked the gods that she didn't push me about my home life. She had always let it go. But this wasn't one of those times. I didn't blame her that she was curious—I would be, had I been in her position. I was just a little annoyed; I wished I could postpone this until much, much later.

Like, never.

But it seemed like everything I wished for never came true. I sighed.

"Percy, tell me what happened. This isn't the first time I've seen you like this, and I'm sick of this dodging game that we're playing. You're scaring me, Percy." Annabeth whispered that last part. She used my real name, and we locked eyes; grey on green. Her grey eyes were pleading for the truth, I could tell she was worried. She was dead serious. She grabbed my left hand, thank god—the one that wasn't fucked up. A thousand volts of electricity surged up my arm and exploded in my hand. All because of her touch. I really was falling hard.

Normally, I would tell her to fuck off. But for some odd reason, I felt like I could trust her. And that means a lot, coming from me. After Gabe, I developed major trust issues; never too quick to let someone in. Put your walls up immediately and never let your guard down. But with Annabeth, I didn't put up the barricades—I couldn't. So in that moment, staring into her eyes, holding her hand, I'd made up my mind. 

I could trust Annabeth Chase.

I sighed and looked out at the pond. Here goes nothing.

"So." I started reluctantly. "I have a step-father, Gabe. My mom got remarried to him when I was eight. That was two years after my dad died in battle—I was six then. Two years after they got married, when I was ten, the abuse started. It was more so verbal abuse, than physical when I was younger. It got worse, and more physical as I got older. My mom wasn't home during the day—she was always working to support me. That's the whole reason she married Gabe. He brought in money that we needed to pay for a lot of things. And he did, but, not without abusing me. I never told my mom because she'd be crushed. She'd think it was her fault when it's really mine—"

"Hey." Annabeth tilted my head so that I stared straight into her eyes (I couldn't get myself to meet her gaze while I was talking.). "Look at me. This is not your fault. I don't care what that asshole says to you. This is not your fault." She shook her head to emphasize her point. There was something in her eyes, like determination. But also anger. But why? Anger for me? No. No there's no way. I just continued on with my story.

"Once, when I was fifteen, it got really bad. I almost..." my voice broke. Annabeth gave me a look as if to say, it's okay. Take your time. "I almost died." The word gave me goosebumps—Annabeth got them too. I saw as they rose on her knee. She exhaled. I took a deep breath. "He came home, and he was really angry, and really drunk. I won't go into detail, but I bled... a lot. I had to go the hospital. When my mother asked me what happened, I said that I didn't remember much (Gabe hit me in the head, so it made a little sense) and that it was a biking accident. But I did remember. I remembered every single detail from when he was beating me, and so vividly." The pain must have been evident in my voice, for Annabeth's grip on my hand tightened the tiniest bit. "The pain that shot from nearly every part of my body. From where he punched me, where he kicked me, where he....." I paused to take a deep breath, my next words coming out as almost a whisper. "Stabbed me." A few silent minutes passed. "I'm abused by my stepfather."

"Shit, Jackson." Annabeth looked up at me, her grey eyes filled with sympathy, and her eyebrows furrowed—a look of pure worry and concern. And... it was for me. Part of me was grateful, but part of me regretted telling her. I didn't want her to worry, especially about me. "Percy, you need to tell someone—"

"I can't." I interrupted her. "I shouldn't even be telling you. Gabe would kill me if I went to anyone."

Her shoulders sagged. She seemed to realize that there was nothing she could do to stop this. Are hands weren't clasped together anymore. I missed the feeling, but I wasn't going to try and hold her hand again. She'd shove me into the pond. "Then what can I do."

"What you have been."

Then she looked up at me, and her face fell. "Oh my god. I've been teasing you all this time and you're being abu—"

"Hey, no! No! Just talking to you, even if it meant we were teasing each other, made it easier." I smiled at her.

"Really?" She still looked a little guilty.

"A hundred percent."

"I guess I am pretty great." She shrugged.

I laughed. "Way to ruin a moment, Wiseass." She laughed. Her laugh sounded amazing, especially right now. "See? You make me laugh even at times like this."

She smiled. "Yeah." She sighed as our eyes met. We held each other's gaze for a few moments.

"I get it if you never want to see me again." I looked down at my hands, playing with them a little awkwardly.

"What?" She looked at me, forcing me to meet her gaze.

"I don't know. People stay away from people who have baggage."

"Are you kidding? There's no way that I'm going anywhere. Not right now, at least. You need someone and I'd be a real asshole to abandon you."

"Thanks." I smiled down at her, for I was a few inches taller than Chase. We stared at each other for a good while in comfortable silence.

"Oh, Asshole." She whispered, and gently ran her thumb over my swollen lip. "We gotta get you cleaned up." She started to stand up, offering me a hand.

I took it. "What do you mean?"

"Come back to my place, you can stay the weekend." She grabbed her board.

"Seriously?" I asked as I pulled on my shirt.

"What, you think I'm letting you go back home to him? No way. I'm not stupid, Asshole." She smirked.

"Trust me, I know." I muttered. "But you're sure? What about your family? Helen?"

"They're away, on vacation and business trips. We'll be fine." She nodded towards the direction of the road.

"Alright." I said reluctantly. I followed her through the forest, as she led us back to my car. I went to the driver's side.

"There is no way in hell." She shook her head at me. "Gimme the keys." She held out her hand.

"I'll be—"

"No." She gave me that cold stare.

I sighed and rolled my eyes, handing her the keys. "Fine." But she was right. I really shouldn't be driving, especially with someone else in the car.

"Thank you." She said in a song song voice.

"Do you even know how to drive?" I asked, once we were sitting in the car.

"Nope."

"What?!"

"I'm kidding!" She laughed. "I got you with that one. Of course I know how to drive, dumbass." She turned on the engine.

"Well, how would I know? You ride a skateboard everywhere."

"Yeah, but that's because I'm cool. I still know how to drive. Though it took me three tries to pass my road test, but that's unimportant." She mumbled the last part.

I smirked over at her. "Three tries?"

"Like I said: unimportant. And I passed, didn't I?" She pulled onto the road. I just shook my head.

We spent the car ride in silence. In the few quiet minutes that it took to get to Annabeth's house, I thought about a few things.

Firstly, she knows. Annabeth knows that I get abused now. I feel relieved that I'm not carrying around this huge secret alone anymore, but I also feel like I might regret it. However, part of me knew that Annabeth wouldn't tell a soul if that wasn't what I wanted. But that made me wonder; does she like me? No. There is no way in hell that Annabeth Chase, Wiseass for god sake, likes me. She probably never will. I held back a frown.

Secondly, wow I am in a lot of pain. My entire abdomen ached from the bruises, my black eye was throbbing, and I was close to blacking out. But I stayed awake, because if I closed my eyes, they might not open. And I didn't want to make Annabeth have to lug me into her house.

Lastly, I was going to be spending the weekend with Annabeth Chase, the girl I had a crush on. In her house.

This was going to be fun.

•••

Authors note

Guys wow two updates so close to each other, whaaaa? Who is she?? I just wanted to give a shout out to my girl Gigi (@VoldemortOnTheArgoII) for being awesome. Anyways, thanks for all the reads. Don't forget to comment, vote, etc. thanks and love you guys!
-bella💕