WARNING: This chapter contains mentions of abuse. If you are experiencing abuse, verbal or physical, please speak out and get help. Things will get better.

Percy's POV

I laid awake in bed for a while, just staring at the ceiling, a million thoughts running through my head.

First off, Annabeth and I kissed.

We kissed.

Open mouthed.

With my crush.

As you could imagine, I felt like I was floating, but I had to reign myself in so I wouldn't embarrass myself in front of everyone. It felt like someone had been setting fireworks off in my stomach, and my skin tingled where her fingers grazed my neck after grabbing my shirt. I could have kissed her forever if no one had interrupted.

But of course, it was just a meaningless kiss.

At least, that's what Annabeth says.

When we kissed, I could tell how she felt.

And that told me something else.

Annabeth was good at hiding her emotions but I knew her well enough, and I could feel some sort of connection when our lips met, where our skin touched. I felt something there. And I know she did too.

But, if she wanted to forget it, we would forget it, because that's what Annabeth wants.

But is it what I want?

No, not really.

But it didn't matter, because my crush on Annabeth also meant that I respected Annabeth and her wishes.

But I wouldn't forget the kiss; I couldn't. I would just have to pretend as if nothing happened that night. And I would have to try my best.

Secondly, I opened up to Annabeth about Silena. I'll admit, I hadn't thought about Silena much since I became friends with Annabeth. That's because I've been so happy with Annabeth. The happiest that I've been in a while. But hearing Piper tell that story, it triggered memories.

Memories of her and I, that court room, Luke. It reminded me of how much I missed her and how betrayed I had felt by Luke, and how much I was hurting because I loved Silena. I really did. She was my first real love. And then she was taken from me. I went from feeling such intense love to such intense hurt. And it was more than I could handle.

But I didn't tell Annabeth the whole story.

I couldn't yet.

This one would come with time.

It was something about myself that I was ashamed of. Something that I wished I hadn't even thought about. I had tried to keep it buried deep down and it worked so far. But I felt like someone just dug it up again.

Lastly, all of us would be returning to Goode soon. After the suspension, which I had told my mother about. She was a bit mad, but not as mad as she should have been because I was defending myself and Annabeth.

All of us would be eating lunch together, going to classes together. It would be my first big group of friends in a long time. And I didn't know how everyone would react. But, I tried not to think about it or care too much because all that mattered was that I was happy and that my friends were happy. It didn't matter what anyone else thought. I had to remind myself of that everyday so that I wouldn't lose it. High school can be cruel.

But what if they hear the rumors?

They'll probably hate me, and then I'll be alone again.

No.

I couldn't let that happen.

Things would be fine.

I hoped.

><•><

"Ugh, part of me misses suspension." Annabeth said as we walked to our lockers.

"Yeah, Gabe wasn't too bad during suspension so it was actually enjoyable sometimes." I added.

"Oh, how was it? Are you okay, did anything happen?" Annabeth asked.

"Well, there was the normal verbal abuse and there was less punching than usual, but other than a minor run-in, everything was fine." I explained quietly, not wanting anyone else to hear.

"Well that's good, I guess. You don't look too bad. But I assume it's not so pretty under that jacket." Annabeth said as she grabbed her books. We then headed to my locker.

"Yeah, I only have one gash, and it's on my left side, but it's fine." I pulled out my English books.

"I doubt that." Annabeth yanked me into a janitors' closet.

"Wha—" I was about to ask but I was distracted by Annabeth pulling off my book bag and unzipping my jacket, ripping that off as well.

My first thoughts were that my dreams were coming true in this janitors' closet. I then connected the dots to a more logical conclusion—Annabeth was checking my wound. We weren't about to have sex in the janitors' closet.

She pulled up my shirt, kneeling down. "What'd he cut you with, a sword?" She asked, pulling out bandages from her book bag.

"You just carry that stuff around?" I asked as she started to use a little alcohol wipe to clean the cut. It stung a bit, but I was used to it.

"Well, after I met you, I realized it's good to be prepared." She shrugged. "Take your shirt off, it's in the way." She pulled it off of me before I could say anything. She began to bandage me up.

"Thanks." I said. "I feel bad that you have to take care of me like this. And I don't give you anything back. It's not fair to you." I looked into her grey eyes as she stood up.

"Well, I like to think of it as me making up for all the bad shit that I've done in my life. So, don't worry about it." She gave me a tight smile. "Put this on." She handed me my shirt. Annabeth waited a bit awkwardly while I put on my shirt. I pulled my jacket on after and hoisted up my book bag.

"And, seriously. Don't worry about it. It's cool. You don't have to repay me, or anything." She gave me a small smile, but it was genuine.

And despite what she said, I would repay her. One day when I figured out how.

><•><

"Where were you guys this morning?" Piper looked at me and Annabeth as she took a bite of her salad. I had recently learned that she's a vegetarian.

I didn't know what to tell her. Thankfully, Annabeth did.

"We were making up homework. Percy was helping me out." She lied. It was a bit scary how easily she did.

"More like you copied my homework." I went along with the charade.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Okay, maybe it was. But you gotta problem with that, Jackson?" Annabeth teased.

"No, no problem at all, Wise Girl." I smirked at her.

"I guess we can add that to the list of nicknames. As well as Seaweed Brain." Annabeth smirked as she chewed her peanut butter and jelly.

"Seaweed Brain and Wise Girl?" Hazel asked with a raised eyebrow. "I assume more nicknames?"

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Okay, they were not making up homework this morning." Leo started.

"They were making out in a janitors' closet." Piper finished.

I flushed bright red. I heard a thud from under the table, followed by an 'Ow!' from Piper. It was no question that Annabeth had kicked the brunette.

"No we were not making out, McLean. We're friends." Annabeth explained. That stung a little bit, but it was true.

"With benefits." Leo added. Annabeth slapped his head. "Ow! I'm kidding, Chase. Percy, control your girl!"

"She's not my girl!" And, "I'm not his girl!" Were said simultaneously by Annabeth and me.

"You're all asses." Annabeth glared at Piper and Leo. "Except for you, Haze."

"Thanks, Anna." Hazel giggled.

"What about me!" Jason asked feigning an offended look.

"Nope, you're an ass too." Annabeth too another bite of her sandwich.

"Percy, are you just going to let her do this to us?" Jason asked.

"Well, I've seen that Annabeth is very good at, uh, beating the shit out of people. And thankfully I haven't been on the receiving end of her fist, and I'd like to keep it that way. So yes, I am going to let her do this to you." I explained bluntly. Everyone laughed and I smiled. "Sorry, Jason." I shrugged.

"Alright, moving on." Reyna started. "Hazel here," she put her hands on the younger girl's shoulders. "Met someone it geometry today."

Hazel blushed. "Reyna, I thought I told you not to say anything." Hazel whispered through gritted teeth. "Yes, his name is Frank, he's on the football team and we're barely even acquaintances."

"Please, he was so flirting with you!" Reyna said.

"No, he was simply being kind. All he did was help me pick up my books." Hazel insisted.

"And he said he'd like to sit with you next class!" Reyna gently shook her shoulder.

"I wouldn't do that to you—"

"Forget about me, go get your man!" Reyna said.

"Reyna's right, Hazel. If you like him, go for him!" Piper encouraged.

"But he's on the football team—he's a jock and he's older than me." Annabeth had told me that Hazel was a year younger than all of us, so she was a junior while we were all seniors.

"Only by a year," Piper insisted. "And you could get any boy that you wanted Hazel, you're an amazing person."

"They're not wrong, Haze." Annabeth added. "I mean, I'd need to meet him, give him the normal pat down and warning and if I like him I'll let you know."

"You'll like him. He's perfect for Hazel. He's very soft spoken and he's seems gentle which is surprising considering he's so buff. He's like 6'1, and has huge biceps. It was kind of adorable seeing how much tinier Hazel was—"

"I'm 5'1." Hazel cut in.

"But it was super cute. You should sit with him."

"I will, but we just met. So don't get your hopes up, he probably doesn't even like me." Hazel warned.

"Ugh, all this girly shit is boring. Percy, Jason, anything new and exciting happening?" Leo asked.

"Nope." Jason said.

"Not for us, but for you. Your flirting with Calypso this morning was priceless." I said smiling.

"What happened?" Jason smirked at Leo.

"Well—"

"Stop!" Leo shouted.

"This morni—"

"STOP!"

"Leo was talking to Calypso near his locker. They were full-on flirting with each other, which Leo was surprisingly good at—"

"Hey!" Leo elbowed me. Jason and I laughed, along with Annabeth.

"And when they were done talking, Leo went to turn and walk away." I started.

"Oh no." Leo groaned.

"Oh yes." Piper said. "What happened?"

"Leo turned to walk away, but he goes straight into this kid's open locker!" I finished. Everyone started laughing as Leo put his head on the table, hiding his face.

"Ha! Nice one, Bad Boy Valdez." Annabeth clapped him on the back.

"Right?" Reyna added.

"And then, Calypso had to drag him to the nurses' office. And that's why there's that bruise on his forehead." I finished the story.

"Oh my god, that's hilarious!" Jason said.

"I was dying, right there in the hall. Some people looked at me weirdly, but I was to busy struggling to breath." I said.

Just then, the bell rang.

"Alright. Annabeth, Leo and I gotta get to history. We'll see you guys later." I stood up and grabbed my book bag from the floor.

"Bye." Was the general response.

"I just wanna go home." Annabeth leaned into me as we walked to class. I felt butterflies erupt in my stomach.

I sighed. "Me too."

><•><

"You still suck, Jackson." Annabeth winked at me before riding off on her skateboard.

I found myself wearing a stupid smile. It felt good to hear that, for I hadn't in a while. At this point it wasn't an insult anymore. It was endearing.

I smiled in the car, all the way home.

However, Gabe wasn't as smiley as I had been.

><•><

"Get up, you little shit!" Gabe kicked me in the stomach again.

The pain was getting worse and it was getting harder to keep my eyes open. I focused on my breathing.

In and out.

"Come on! Don't be a little bitch!" Gabe taunted me, kicking me again.

I struggled to stand, grabbing the wall for support. Black spots danced across my vision.

Come on, Percy. You can do this. Just stay awake.

Gabe punched me in the face, and I fell into the wall. Then he grabbed me and pinned me up against the wall by my neck, choking me. Breathes were becoming harder to get in as Gabe squeezed my throat shut. I grabbed his wrist to get him to stop, clawing at his arm desperately. He just held on tighter.

Stay awake! Come on! Show him that you're strong!

Gabe then pulled a pocket knife from his pocket. A cruel smile played on his face and a cold, crazy look occupied his dark, rat-like eyes.

Oh shit.

Gabe brought the knife up, and I felt his grip on my neck loosen. I took this an an opportunity to get him off of me. It worked. I sucked in a breath, feeling so happy to be able to breath again. That happy feeling didn't last long—it was quickly replaced with pain as Gabe threw me to the floor.

He quickly got on top of me, pinning me down. He grabbed my arm, pinning it down. He yanked up my sleeve, revealing my bare forearm. He brought his knife up to my skin. He began to cut lines in my skin.

I couldn't help the cries of pain that escaped my lips. I was too overwhelmed. I felt every movement he made with the blade in my skin. Feeling it penetrate and rip my flesh.

When he was finished, he let me go and stood up. I curled up in a ball on the floor. I tried to hide my tear-streaked face. I must have looked pathetic.

"I'll be back." Gabe then walked out of the apartment, slamming the door.

I must have stayed on the floor, crying and bleeding for an hour.

This was becoming too much. It wasn't fair to Annabeth. My mother didn't even know, when she deserved to. Though I couldn't bring myself to tell her.

When I was finally finished sobbing, I got up and went to the bathroom. I cleaned my the blood from my arm, and pulled off my clothes, stained red from my arm. When I looked at my arm, I saw that he had written something. The thought that someone would do something like that made me feel sick.

But it was what he had written that also got to me;

WEAK.

In big, rigid letters.

He wasn't wrong. I was weak. I was taking all of Gabe's shit and I couldn't even fight back. I was pathetic. I was a loser. I was weak.

I blinked back more tears. I am weak. I was crying right now. That proves it.

I finished cleaning myself up, changing my clothes. I then texted Annabeth. I really needed a friend right now, and I there was no one else to call.

Percy: hey.

Annabeth: hey are you okay?

Percy: can you meet me at the pond?

Annabeth: of course, be there in five

I took a deep breath and grabbed my keys, heading out the door.

><•><

"Hey, is everything okay?" Annabeth sat down next to me on the dock.

"I—" I choked on my words.

"Percy, what happened? Was it Gabe?" She forced me to look her in the eyes. I wanted to keep my head down, to hide the tears forming.

"Percy I need you to tell me what happened." Annabeth said firmly but gently at the same time. She placed her hand on my arm and I winced. She gave me a look before pulling ip my sleeve.

"Oh my god..." Annabeth breathed. "Percy... did he, did he do this to you?" I could tell that Annabeth was angry and upset.

I couldn't help as tears escaped my eyes and trailed down my cheeks. Annabeth grabbed me and pulled into a hug, my head in her chest. She held me so close, that for a minute, I felt safe. Like no one could hurt me. She let me cry for a really long time, neither of us saying anything. Just Annabeth rubbing circles into my back, and I staining her shirt with tears.

"I'm so sorry." I sobbed. I felt pathetic and helpless. I was supposed to be strong. My father told me to be strong, for my mother. But I wasn't strong. Gabe was exactly right; I was weak.

"Percy, look at me." Annabeth gently leaned my chin up to make me meet her eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry about. Don't apologize to me. I'm gonna be honest with you. It kills me to see you this way. It does. But hearing that I'm helping you by being a good friend makes everything worth it. It makes me want to be the best friend that I can be."

"And you have been. But I've been nothing but a problem to you. An inconvenience."

"No you haven't." Annabeth said. "But this," she gestured to my arm. "This is too far. I don't know how much more you can take. You can only put up with this for so long before..." she decided not to finish that sentence. "The point is, I know that you're going though a lot right now, but you need to tell someone. Please. I can't keep sitting here and just let you get hurt. I know that I help you after you get hurt but you're still being hurt in the first place. And I-I can't just let that happen anymore." Annabeth and tears in her eyes. She blinked them away. "If you don't tell someone, I will."

"Annabeth..." my voice faltered.

"You don't have to tell anyone, now. But soon. Please." Her voice sounded the slightest bit desperate, and the saddest I had ever heard her. I hated that I was making her feel these horrible emotions.

"I shouldn't have dragged you into my mess. It's not fair. You don't deserve any of this." I looked the sad look on her face. She still looked beautiful.

"Percy stop. I chose to deal with this. I chose to be your friend. I'm not about to pull away because things are getting intense. You need a friend and I'm happy to be that friend. But because we're friends, it hurts to see you hurt like this and I hate it. So we need to tell someone." Annabeth looked me straight in the eyes. "Please."

"Okay."

"And you," Annabeth glanced at my arm. "Are not weak. I don't care what that dick says to you. You're the strongest person I know." She whispered.

"Thank you." I whispered back. Just then, I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I didn't want to ruin the moment, but something told me this was important. I pulled out my phone, Annabeth watching the screen light up with me. I saw that there was a text message from my mom;

Come home. Now.

•••

Authors note

Ooohhhh cliffieeeeee what do you guys think is gonna happen?? Also I know another LONG ASS CHAPTER. I apologize but I just can't control it. At least this one wasn't as long as that last one. This one is only 3,215 words. Lol.  Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed and thanks for all the reads. Don't forget to vote, comment etc. thanks and love you guys!!
-bella💕