Thia's POV

I didn't really know where I was going. I just felt like running. The feeling of wind in my face always felt nice and the breeze running its cool fingers through my hair was an added bonus. It made me feel free. Like I could do anything I wanted to but when you have no destination in mind trouble often finds you. Well, technically I found it, but that's beside the point.

I ended up at the same place I'd been yesterday. The white A standing out on the man hole cover. I wasn't really sure what had drawn me here but I didn't hesitate to pull the cover away and drop down inside.

The music and lights were still strobing but this time a different song was playing; one I also knew. Part of me wondered if the music was enchanted to play songs you were familiar with or if I had common taste in music.

Unable to contain my excitement, a smile spread across my face at the sight of so many people being themselves. Sometimes, I felt that it was this very sense of individuality that New Rome had lost. It was good to see it hadn't completely died despite the school program and military theme.

And though I didn't expect to find anyone I knew, I enjoyed the noise and environment making sure to stick to the outskirts of it all.

"Are you fresh meat?" I glanced over at the person who'd spoken to see a girl not quite dressed like everyone else. She wore a summer dress with a pattern of flowers on the bottom and didn't have the colored hair or dark clothes and tattoos of the others milling about. She was vaguely familiar.

"Um...kind of," I shrugged.

"Cool. My name is Leah." She held out a hand. "I own the place."

"You own this place? But it's a sewer," I laughed, shaking her hand. Not to mention the fact that she didn't look like the type of person to own something like this.

"Owner. Founder. Not much of a difference the way I see it and yes, I know I don't look the part but who says you can't be cute while rebellious at heart?" She asked, smiling brightly.

"That's a good motto," I nodded, tapping my foot lightly to the music. "So what made you talk to someone as socially awkward as me?"

"Easy, I like knowing the new people. Besides, word has it you're friends with Andy. A friend of Andy's is a friend of mine," she explained, leaning on the wall and crossing her arms.

"Oh, we aren't friends. We just ran into each other a few times," I shrugged.

"Right. Well, if you need anything come find me. You seem like a cool kid. Also, I heard about what happened to your jacket. It's a shitty thing to do to someone. I'll get you a new one if you want," Leah offered.

"Nah that's okay but thank you," I smiled. She nodded and at the sound of her name left me to remain in the corner. She seemed nice.

A new song came on but it was the kind where your blood rushes and you can't help the adrenaline that courses through your veins because it's just that good. I wasn't ashamed to say that I was dancing my stupid little heart out.

It was part of the reason I ran into trouble. I was so oblivious in my own world that I didn't see the threat pushing through the crowd straight toward me.

"Well, well, well look who's here." I paused glancing up to see none other than Jenna herself. I guess I should have expected it.

"Oh. Hi," I smiled, waving slightly.

"Don't hi me. We aren't friends," Jenna frowned, crossing her arms. Part of me wondered why she was here but I remembered Andy saying she'd hung out here before.

"Right. Um okay." I was quick to drop my hand.

"Why weren't you at class yesterday?" Jenna asked.

"Because I didn't want to be," I shrugged. "It's not much of your business anyway."

"Let me guess, you get to skip just cause mommy is the praetor." Jenna scoffed.

"No, I'm just like everyone else," I frowned. "I don't get special treatment. If anything, people expect more from me."

"Awe, is the pressure too much? Is that why you bailed on sparring too? I thought that was your favorite class." I tried to see what angle Jenna was coming at. She never talked to me without it being a way to get under my skin.

"It is," I agreed.

"Oh, I know. You didn't come because you still can't compete with everyone else. Is it hard failing? I mean, considering your genetics you should have at least some powers but you can't even make a breeze. Not to mention you don't have any sort of physical advantage. How come?"

Bingo. That was it.

"Look, I don't know why I don't have powers." I glared at her. It was one of my biggest insecurities. I had no combat advantage over anyone. I could use a weapon decently but the others all had demigod abilities even if those abilities and powers were small. As for me, I had nothing. "I'm just a late bloomer."

"Did your parents tell you that?" Jenna laughed.

"Well yeah," I nodded.

"Honey, they're supposed to," she snickered.

"So? Look, I don't know why you hate me so much but just leave me alone okay? I don't care if I don't have powers," I shrugged. The music died down a bit and people began to pay attention to our conversation. A new song didn't start despite my silent prayer for things to continue. Unfortunately, people wanted to hear what was going on. Curse human curiosity.

"Seems to me like you do but I get it now. I know why you and Marianna got along so well. You were both freaks." Jenna smiled.

"I'm not a freak," I mumbled. "Besides, some people who have power misuse it."

"Awe how cute! You're angry. That never happens. The best I've seen is when you get all anxious. Do you remember that time in our fifth year of study you cried in front of the class during a report?" I was positive that the world had stopped turning. I could almost feel it. Everyone was watching.

"That's personal information." I whispered.

"You know you're kind of a hot mess. I mean no powers, anxiety, and ADHD? Talk about a problem child," Jenna laughed, the sound echoing off the walls.

"Knock it off." Leah pushed her way through the crowd glaring Jenna down. "Get out. This is supposed to be a safe space. If you're going to ruin that for other people then you need to leave."

"Me? Oh, I was just having a conversation." Jenna turned on that smile of hers. The one that always made her seem innocent.

"No, you were harassing her." Andy shoved through everyone as well. "And frankly I'm tired of your shit. You fuck everyone over for no reason."

"Awe, did you tattle on me Andy?" Jenna asked, giving him a pitying expression.

"Who gives a crap? Screw off and leave. Everyone knows what kind of asshole you were to Marianna and quite honestly I'm getting sick and tired of the crap you pull. You can't trick anyone anymore. You're just a little girl with attitude problems now leave," Leah growled, pointing to the exit like a mother telling their child to go to their room.

"Yeah okay. I get it. Andy wants to defend the girl without powers cause he's an unclaimed little boy. Don't even get me started on you Leah. You're just some useless demigod legacy with zero abilities at all. You're the left overs of your family." Jenna turned curtly on her heel with her words echoing in the silent space. She disappeared in the crowd but it was clear the party vibe had been killed and soon everyone was leaving.

"You're unclaimed?" I asked in surprise. Andy glanced over his shoulder at me.

"Yeah," he muttered, his voice gruff. "Surprise, surprise."

"That's okay. Like you heard I'm just a hot mess,"I laughed, but the words stung a bit.

"And I'm the left overs," Leah shrugged.

"Together we make some pretty shitty excuses for demigods huh?" Andy asked, a slight smile twitching at the corners of his lips.

"I guess so," Leah laughed. "Well, since we have the place to ourselves let's use it."

I watched her walk over to where the music was and she selected a song that immediately blasted from the speakers.

"Let's dance," Leah smiled. Andy yelled loudly before jumping around to the music. While Andy was wild Leah was actually a pretty good dancer. Laughing, I joined in at last.

All of my worries of the day vanished. My fears about Mom's trip disappeared entirely and any thought of Jenna vanished. Instead, I just enjoyed the moment and let myself go wild until I was gasping for air and laying down on my back, chest heaving, and staring at the strobe light covered ceiling.

"Come on kid, you can't be winded that easily." Andy dragged me back to my feet. Leah smiled and winked. "Got any dance moves?"

"I got one," I said.

"Come on show us," Leah clapped.

"Okay." I laughed. If you can call the worm a super cool dance move then that's what my super cool dance move was.

"Yes!" Leah laughed so hard tears formed at the corners of her eyes.

Andy smiled lightly. "Not bad kid."

"What? You guys think you can do better?" I asked.

"Challenge accepted," Leah smiled.

"You're in a dress don't go crazy," I reminded her.

"Honey, a dress is not going to stop me from having fun. I would run into battle in a dress and give zero fucks," she insisted.

"Okay then," I laughed. It was the most fun I'd had in a long time and I actually felt like I fit in somewhere.

I'd never really had friends before and I wasn't even sure if I could consider these two people my friends but it was the best I had so far. Part of me wished Marianna was there with us because I knew she would have loved it. The feel of the music while not caring about anything would have been exactly what she needed.

"Wait, I have the perfect song," Leah laughed switching the music. It took me a moment to figure out what was playing.

"No! Not this!" Andy groaned. "I just got Rick rolled."

"What's that?" I asked.

"Doesn't matter." Leah roller her eyes at Andy while dramatically lip syncing to the music.

"Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you!" I laughed as Andy attempted to moon walk as he sang and ultimately tripped.

Leah ran over and grabbed my hands. "Come on let loose. Dance your little heart out."

"Okay okay," I laughed, shaking my head. I watched Andy run over to the small stage and stand in front of the microphone. He pulled a pair of sunglasses from his pocket and put them on.

"Never gonna make you cry. Never gonna say goodbye. Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you." It was probably the cheesiest thing I'd seen in my entire life with oversized gestures and dramatic dance movements.

"This has been the best day ever!" I smiled as the song slowly began to fade out.

"Listen, if you stick with us every day will be the best day ever," Leah promised, slinging an arm around my shoulders.

"I hope so," I sighed. "Things have been looking up a bit lately."

Sadly my luck was going to run out eventually. What I had yet to know was that everything was about to be turned upside down. Things were going to get worse before they ever got any better. But that's a little ways ahead. In the meantime I danced.