In this Percy is aware of his father but has never personally met him or spoken to him before.

Paul

Was I nervous?

You'd be insane to think otherwise.

Today I get to meet my girlfriend, Sally's son, Percy. From what I've seen he's a trouble maker. Sally claims he's a sweetheart. But 9 schools? Expelled from every single one. I've seen one photo of him from when he was 7. I didn't know what to expect. But I promised I'd give him a chance for her.

I was aware Percy didn't know I was coming, no big deal. Sally texted me that I could go inside. Percy should be there. She was just running late. It was unlocked. So I did go in. Looking around the apartment a little. There was a door half way open, the room I imagined belong to Percy. There was 3 photos on his door. On the top was 4 people. 3 guys and a girl. The oldest had to be at minimum 16 but I'm guessing more towards 18. Blonde hair, blue eyes, nasty scar running down his face. In the middle. To his right. On the end, was a girl who was 12 or 13, blonde hair, misty gray eyes. To the left of the dude was a kid was I'd say 13, troublemaker written all over him, with navy black hair and sea green eyes, and to the left of him was a guy ID say 13, maybe 14, curly brown hair and light brown eyes. They all wore an orange shift that said CHB in thin, white lettering, with bead necklaces, each having different amounts of beads. Standing in front of a pine tree. Smiling.

The next one down was five people. The same three younger ones and then a new guy. He was taller, bigger guy. About the same age as them, had sunglasses and then blondish brown, longer hair. Then also a girl who seemed punk to me. Spiky, black hair. Wearing torn jeans and a black shirt, electric blue eyes. Trouble written all over her.

The final one was the two guys and the punk girl with a new guy and girl. The girl was their age, olive toned skin, green eyes. The guy was younger, I'd say about 11 or 12, a huge smile, nice olive toned skin, very dark blue eyes. Standing on a cliff.

When I peeked in the boy who had trouble written all over him was in there. Starting to play some music to a start of something I didn't recognize. Which surprised me. I teach high schoolers. You kind of hear everything from them.

He started to sing.

Let me explain that he looked like he hadn't slept in a week, he was skinnier than he really should be. Paler than in the photos.

What he sang screamed loss. Maybe suicide. Maybe not. Of somebody else.

It was the middle of summer. Almost the end of June.

Sally got home and she was surprised her son was home. He only sang like 30 seconds. Whatever. I didn't think much of it.

"I thought you had to today." Sally said as she started to make lunch.

"Mr. D said considering it could be held off until after lunch." He said, not noticing me at all. "They could last 3 hours. We still have two months, so."

This is when Sally noticed me.

"Paul, hi." Sally said, and her son turns around and he didn't look that bad as what I thought he had looked like. Just bad lighting. Just maybe a bad nights sleep, although he wasn't pale, he lost his tan. Some of it. Maybe some weight. Maybe. It was weird lighting in his room.

"Oh, hi." The teen said. "You must be Paul, I'm Percy."

Percy was wearing a black shirt, and in white writing it said on the top in a half circle so long and while the bottom half said good night in the center said my chemical romance 2001 2013 and I feel like I vaguely know that term. Just barely. Skinny jeans and black socks. Two spikes coming out above his lip and below on the left side. I expected a lot of sarcasm and for him to be kind of rude. Have an attitude. It's just how he came off.

As Sally made lunch we talked in the living room and he asked what I did for a living.

"I teach English."

"Oh."

And the thing is, he didn't have an attitude with it. Especially not a rude one. But it sounded almost like he was disappointed about that. Like he was hoping for something else.

To distract him from that, I asked a question. Knowing he went to his dad's after lunch I believe it was.

"Is your dad nice?" I asked him. "A pretty cool guy?"

"I don't know."

"How don't you know?"

The worst thing I could've done was ask that question.

"Um..." Percy said and bit his lip for a second. "We've never met each other. I don't have any memories of him. He left before I was born."

Lunch at least went decently well and Percy left and Sally noticed I was off.

"You okay?" She asked me.

"I'm pretty sure I messed up." I tell my girlfriend.

"How so?" Sally asks me, walking over to where I was. "Percy seemed to like you. And he's fairly protective, so."

"Well eating, yeah." I agreed on that. "I don't think he likes the fact that I'm a teacher. To makes matter worse to try and get him off of that train I decided to ask about his dad."

"Oh God..." Sally remarked. "Yeah, that was a bad idea. And he'll get over the whole teacher thing. It's just rare a teacher gets along with him and there has been a few times where that's gotten to him because he doesn't do well in school. He doesn't get to cause trouble. It's happened, but not on purpose. But they don't like him because he doesn't have very good grades because of his Dyslexia and his ADHD and most schools aren't very willing to give him any help for it because they need his father's signature and he can't get it because he has yet to meet him. He really is a good kid. He really tries. It's just been a bad summer for him."

When Percy returned from wherever he had gone to, I was there. He didn't seem to be in a good mood. He had marks on his arms. Small black lines. Perhaps done with marker, I'd imagine. He didn't say a word. Just went to his room and closed the door.

"Is that normal?" I asked Sally.

"Not at all."

The phone rang and she answered. I decided to check on Percy. His door cracked open barely, he didn't notice I opened it.

Sally's son was sitting on his bed, sort of like he was tucked together, his knees up, bag against the wall, arms as if trying to hug himself and support himself. When I noticed why on Earth he'd be doing that.

He was crying. Silent tears fell, somebody obviously horrible happened.

I cautiously walked over to him. I had been debating and considering proposing lately but I want Percy's okay and to be on good terms for sure with him if I do. Its his mom, after all.

"Percy?" I asked, " What happened?"

The teen glanced over to me and wiped the tears away. Staying silent.

Yes, I'm Christian. I go to church every Sunday. I was confirmed when I was 13. Methodist.

If they go to church or not, I'm not sure. I don't even recall Sally saying what religion she was, I'm sure she said, I just can't remember.

He knew I was Christian.

And he laughed. Or the closest thing to a laugh you can get right after crying. He found humor in my question.

"Yeah. Because you'd believe me."

"Who's to say I wouldn't?"

This is when I realized he held a photo in his hand.

"Who died?"

"I barely even knew their names." Percy told me. "For three years I saw them and I didn't even care to get to know them. I didn't even know the one guys name. It..."

So he was mourning.

Sally has to work that night. Leaving just us.

"Sorry, by the way." He remarked later on, earning my attention. "Back in June, it was a really bad week. When you said you had been a teacher I sort of assumed you hated me. They usually do. And about my dad, don't feel bad. I could kind of tell you did. And don't. He was an asshole to leave, but it was him that did it. I'm used to it. You can't miss something you never had."

~Time Skip to after Giant War~

No, I never got with Annabeth. Why? Because I'm gay.

Everyone was at peace. I was in my cabin, just relaxing for once, and somebody knocked on the already opened door.

Nico.

I watched Nico go through depression from being the happiest kid ever and that sucked to watch. How I imagine my mom felt about me when I sank into my depression I still haven't fully managed to get rid of yet. Its not as bad. But it's still there.

"Hey." Nico said, knowing he had my attention. "Can we talk?"