It seemed that all too soon Percy was off the pier and beginning the slow drive home, Thalia forgotten from his mind. He gazed blankly out the front window, his eyes hardly paying attention and registering his surroundings. Not that it mattered anyway. He'd be leaving it for a weekend.
He shook his head, unruly brown tufts of hair rearranging themselves into an even bigger disarray. He'd been wearing his hair down since Annabeth and him started dating, and though he'd never admit it, he liked it better this way. Though there were some things she just couldn't change.
He had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as he knew what he'd do at Paul's. He'd go back to smoking. Back to drugs, back to depression.
His stomach that had turned hard as a rock sunk even farther as he knew when he got back he'd put on a smile and act as if it never happened.
And then he was home. Pulling into the garage of the apartment Sally and Percy lived in. Paul stayed at the new house they'd bought while it was being built. The house Percy would be going to, that is.
His heart shriveled inside his chest as he noticed Paul's car planted firmly in the street outside.
Still making that cracklings noise recently parked cars made.
Percy took a breath and stepped out of his car, walking ever so slowly up the creaky stairs and to the second story, where he pulled out well worn keys and twisted open the lock. It was an older apartment, cheaper than the one they'd lived in with Gabe, but Percy liked it more.

It was cozier, and the manager was less OCD than their last one. They even had a chocolate lab here, whereas pets were strictly prohibited in the last one.
Charlie, their dog, (named after a deceased friend of Percy's, Charles) was there to greet Percy first, paws sliding on the wood floors excitedly as he skidded to a stop against Percy's shoe.
"Hey buddy," Percy patted the dogs head as he entered the kitchen, where the demon himself awaited.
Paul, 200 pounds of a monster. He placed on a smile that was all enhanced mouth and dead eyes. As usual. He couldn't even pretend to be happy to see Percy.
Not that Percy could pretend to be happy to see Paul, but at least he didn't try to fake it.
Percy chose to completely ignore Paul, and turned to Sally, who was dipping her finger into a guacamole jar, before shaking her head and tossing out the most likely expired container.
"Hey," he greeted her, placing his keys on the counter.
She smiled warmly at him, wiping her finger off on a dish towel. "Hey honey. Are you all packed?"
Percy shrugged. "No." He could've, but why? Might as well stall their departure for as long as possible.
Sally sighed, shaking her head, which was adorned with the barest traces of silver.
"Alright, I'll finish up dinner, but can you go get ready?"
He nodded, shooting a glance at Paul, who returned his eyes with a saccharine grin.
Percy swallowed down a wave of nausea and retreated to the little bedroom he'd grown up in. One of Gabe Ugliano's old shoes still decorated his windowsill, and a note from Olympus back in sixth grade was poking out from beneath his mattress.
He pressed a palm down on the mattress, feeling the lumps and bumps of different trophies and memories that were held within its seams.
He crouched down by the bed, that no longer fit him, reaching under for the many hidden photos.
Withdrawing them, he looked down at the Polaroid images of him, accompanied by two friends.
Grover Underwood, his best friend all the way through high school until he'd left for college... Or so that's what he'd told people. That they just grew apart. But that wasn't true. The smiling youths in the image betrayed their reality.
Percy was in the center, his hair flopping down and messy across his forehead, green eyes sparkling, with both his arms slung over the shoulders of his friends, a grin illuminating the raw joy.
Grover was also grinning, missing an upper tooth. His last one to lose. His curly hair wasn't enough to hide the two stubby horns growing out of his head. A satyr. A protector.
And then there was Zoë Nightshade.
Her auburn hair glinted, curling around her stunning silver eyes and open mouth, her tongue out. Her outside hand held up a peace sign.
The next photo showed the same trio, this time on a canoe, Zoë and Grover portrayed as they shoved Percy off and into the glistening lake.
A heartbreaking smile inched across Percy's face as he ran a finger over the photo.
The next one, all of them holding a weapon, in a battle stance. Once more, Percy was in the center, holding his pen and sword, Riptide, crouched down. To his left was Grover, brandishing a club accented by creeping vines. And on his right Zoë held a bow, tall and regal, only thirteen in the photo.
A hot tear slid down his cheek. He knew what photo was next.
It was showing the night sky, with a silver arrow flying across the scene like a shooting star. It was an arrow shot from the bow of the goddess Artemis. To honor the dead.
Zoë had died to protect Percy and Grover, given her life that she'd only just begin so that they would succeed in defeating her father.
It was his fault that she was dead, really.
Next: Just him and Grover, sitting atop Zeus' Fist. Their backs to the camera.
He was sliding the photo away and to then back of the small mound when all of them were suddenly plucked from his hands.
His head whipped around as he stood up, the infamous Paul staring down at the images.
"Are you all packed up?" Paul asked lazily, as he sifted through Percy's memories.
"Get out, and give those back." Percy replied, his hands curling into fists.
Paul arched his eyebrows. "Or what?" The large mortal turned and walked right out, Percy hot on his trail.
"I said give those back." His tone was icy, rage trembling beneath the words.
Paul surveyed him. "I think I'll keep them, make sure you stay in line."
"Screw you." Percy replied.
Crack!
Paul's hand connected with Percy's jaw, making him stumble. "That's no way to speak to your father."
Percy was mid-way to growling out a reply when Paul, having reached the apartments little living room, tossed the entire pile into the fire. Tendrils of fire curling up and around the images, setting them alight.
Percy could only watch, his jaw stinging, as Paul stood there, stopping Percy from rescuing the pictures.
Sally poked her head in from the kitchen, though Percy didn't even acknowledge her, his eyes reflecting the burning plastic, and his pain watching them turn to ash.
"Dinner's ready." Paul smirked, his nasally voice slicing through Percy's reverie.
And something in Percy snapped. "I'm going to kill you!" He screamed, just as the wall separating Sally from Paul and Percy blew out, water, both icy cold and scalding hot, spraying out at Paul.
Paul roared, putting up his hands to defend himself. He turned his back to Percy. Quick as lightning, Percy had his arm locked around Paul's neck. A chokehold.
Sally Jackson gasped. "Perseus Jackson!" She stared in horror from the wall to Percy.
Percy was blinded by white hot rage, a rage that also drowned out Sally's voice to the pounding in his ears.
"PERSEUS!" She yelled.
Nothing.

Author's Note: I'm really sorry this took so long, I had lost my spark for it, but I'm back now! I'm really excited too... I hope you guys are!
Ooooh what do you guys think will happen? ~Cara Romano