Hey. I'm having major writer's block for Breaking Free and In My Shoes but I will die if I don't write something. I promise that the next chapter for Breaking Free will be out sometime this weekend. And in case you couldn't notice, I'm having a crappy day, so just bear with me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Happy Reading!

"WHAT?! But dad! That's not fair!" Percy raged into the phone, his dad having to pull the phone away from his ear at the noise.

"Son, haven't you ever heard the saying 'Life isn't fair'?" he sighed.

"But you're freaking rich! Why can't you pay it for me?" Percy whined.

Percy had just found out that he was basically broke. He had almost no money, except for the meager amount he earned every week from working at the food court. He had so foolishly put off paying his student loans, and filling out his college papers, and as a result, he couldn't afford to stay in a dorm at the college.

So his choice was to either, drop out of college, go to Long Island New York and move back in with his parents, ("I would rather DIE than move back with you, Dad!") or find someone who would take pity on him, and allow him to bunk with them.

The first option was looking more likely by the minute.

"We have gone over this multiple times. I started from scratch, building my business almost completely by myself. I didn't just snap my fingers and - BAM! - I was rich. I had to work hard for what I earned, and I learned a great lesson from it. Now it is a lesson that I am passing down to you. You must work for what you have."

Percy groaned irritably. That was a speech that had been drilled into him as a kid, from the time he could understand words, to the very day he had graduated, and even now when he sometimes called to check on his dad. That speech had practically been a bedtime story, and it was certainly not what he wanted to hear right then.

"Dad! Come on, man! I'm not you. Can't you pay it off for me just this once?" he pleaded.

Poseidon chuckled. "Don't you mean 'Can't you pay it off for me just for the billionth time?' I'm sorry, son, but no can do. I think I've saved you a thousand too many times. It's time you grow up and be a man. You can't keep depending on me. I remember when I was your age..."

"DAD, no!" Percy moaned. He did not want to get into the whole 'when I was your age I had to work twice as hard' thing. "Seriously, just save it."

Poseidon laughed. "Are you sure? Because I don't think I ever told you the part about how my dad used to make me - "

"Yes you have. I swear you have, and I've got it firmly memorized in my brain. Spare me," Percy said quickly, stumbling over his words in his haste to shut his dad up.

"Well, if you say so..."

"I do!" Percy practically yelled.

"Okay, I get it, I get it! So when will your mom and I be seeing you back home? Sally is just dying to see you again."

Percy did a double take. "Whoa, hold on there, Dad. Who said anything about me coming back? I can't not go to college this year. And I really have no desire to move back up there and work at McDonald's for the whole year."

"Well, what are you going to do then? You can't sleep on a bench all year, either," Dad pointed out.

I'd rather that than move up there, Percy thought, shuddering at the thought of all the tea parties he'd have to endure with Sally's next door neighbor. That lady takes the term 'crazy, old cat lady' to the extreme.

"I'll figure something out. Maybe I'll be able to stay with Jason or Frank. Both of them have apartments near the campus. Trust me, Dad, I got this," Percy reassured.

"Of that I have no doubt, considering you got yourself kicked out of your dorm, you always turn in assignments late, and you go out to parties every other night," Poseidon said dryly.

"You have such little faith in me," Percy. "Wait - how do you know I go out to parties?" Percy could practically hear his dad rolling his eyes.

"I have my resources," he said mysteriously.

"I'm sure you do," Percy said flatly.

"Well, I have a meeting at two that I must get ready for. If you don't have someone to stay with by tomorrow, we should arrange for you to be flown home."

"'Kay. I guess I'll talk to you tomorrow. Have fun at your meeting."

"Sounds good. And you know I'll have fun at the meeting. As long as they don't run out of paper for hangman this time," Poseidon joked.

"Ha! Just don't get caught. Love you!"

"Love you, too, son. You take care," his dad said, returning the sentiment.

"I always do."

As soon as he hung up, Percy frantically dialed his best friend and roomate, Grover. He had to wait a full six rings until his friend finally picked up.

"Finally!" Percy exclaimed.

"Jeez, Perce! What do you want?" Grover asked irritably.

"Well hello to you, too," Percy muttered sarcastically. "I have some horrible news."

"I'm in a meeting for the community service project that's coming up. Can't this wait?"

"I got kicked out of our dorm," Percy stated bluntly. There was a silence on the other end of the phone before Grover finally spoke.

"I'm sorry, man. That sucks, but I'm not going to say I'm surprised. Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked kindly.

"I was thinking maybe summon your fairy godmother and strangle her until she gives me a couple thousand dollars. Or might as well make it a couple million," Percy said desperately. Grover laughed.

"I think you've been watching Cinderella too much!"

"I do not watch Cinderella!" Percy protested.

"Of course you don't. But look, man, I know I'm not being much of a help, but I really have no idea what I'm supoosed to do, and I have to get back to this meeting. I'll try brainstorming ideas for you, but for now, I think you're on your own," Grover said, sounding guilty that he couldn't help more. That was sweet.

"Well, aren't you encouraging?" Percy said sarcastically. "But, seriously, sorry to bother you. Thanks, bro. Now go back to talking about planting trees, or saving turtles or whatever it is you do."

"Actually, that's not all we do. We also - "

"That's cool. So listen, I've got to go," Percy intervened quickly, not wanting to hear yet another speech about that dorky 'Save the World!' crap. Not that he had anything against the world.

Well, not quite yet.

He called Frank, but it all he got was, "Sorry, man, but my grandmother is staying with me while they make repairs to the nursing home building. I really don't have extra space. She'll only be here for a couple of weeks. I suppose you could come after that. I really wish I could help but..."

"No, it's okay. I understand. That's nice of you to take your grandmother in. Have fun with that. I really need a place to stay now, though. I haven't called Jason, but I'm going to ask him if I can stay with him until I get the money."

"Okay, that sounds good. I'd honestly be surprised if he said no. Good luck, though!" Frank said.

"Thanks, Frank!"

As it turned out, the Fates seemed to hate Percy. Jason, apparently, was letting Piper take the spare room of his apartment (even though they all knew the spare room would never end up being used with the way those two were in love), so he was literally stuck with nothing.

Grumbling savagely to himself, he walked out of the dorm that wouldn't be his for much longer. He was met with the loud yips coming from an ugly shitzu who was very not-fondly known as Hermy. As for who came up with that name, no one really knew, but it sort of grew on everyone.

Hermy growled rudely at Percy, standing in front of him, trying to look al big and bad. Of course, I just had to go to the one college that allows pets, Percy thought to yourself.

"Hermy, I swear, if you don't get out of my way right now, I will roll you into a ball and shoot you into the basketball goal with no shame whatsoever. Or worse - I'll take you to a One Direction concert!"

That stopped the dog growling. His owner, Sarah, a dog loving weirdo, loved One Direction and always played their songs loud on the stereo. Apparently, the dogs didn't like it. Percy couldn't say he blamed them.

Percy laughed.

"Percy! Don't torment the animal!" a voice chided him. He started, and turned around quickly to see his best friend, Annabeth, looking at him with an amused twinkle in her eyes.

"Oh, hi, Annie!" Annabeth wrinkled her nose distastefully at the nickname.

"You know better than to call me that. Anywho, have you made a habit of talking to dogs, now? Not exactly what I'd expect to be coming from the Big Man On Campus," she joked.

"You heard that?" Percy asked, his face reddening. Annabeth rolled her eyes.

"Obviously."

"So whatcha up to?" Percy asked.

"Actually, I was just heading to the - "

"Library?" Percy finished for her.

"No!" she said defensively. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Well, yeah."

"Ah ha! I knew it! Why did I even ask in the first place?"

"Goodness Percy, has anyone ever told you how unbearably annoying you are?" Annabeth said as they started walking towards the library.

"I've heard it from you about everyday since I was twelve," he teased back.

"I don't think a million times more would suffice. It's hard to get anything through that think skull of yours."

"You wound me," Percy said, feigning a hurt look. She just laughed and smacked him on the back of the head. They walked in silence for a moment, Percy's mind drifting back to his latest dilemma. If he couldn't stay with Jason or Frank, would he really have to go back to New York after all? How humiliating would that be?

He hadn't noticed Annabeth studying him intently.

"Are you okay, Percy?" she asked, looking concerned. "You look stressed." He should have known that Annabeth would be able to see that something wasn't right. She always knew when something was wrong. They had known each other since they were twelve, and their friendship, while nothing more than that, was one of his most cherished.

Percy raked a hand through his already messy black hair.

"I am stressed. I'm worried that I'll have to drop out of college this year." Annabeth gasped.

"What?! Why?"

"I kept putting off the paper work, and I haven't payed back my student loans and all that crap."

"Percy! How could you?" she scolded. "I told you to get all that done right away!"

"I know, I know! I've already heard it from my dad, and I'll probably be hearing it from Mom any time now. But the thing is, the only people I know that have an apartment near campus are Frank and Jason, and neither of them can let me stay at their place. So basically, I'm screwed."

Annabeth was quiet for a minute, seeming to be thinking hard. Percy could practically hear the wheels turning in her head, and was just dying to get inside it. He was willing to take any idea or suggestion.

"Well..." But she stopped an frowned, looking undecided about what she should say next.

"Well?" he promted.

"Well, I was just thinking..." She stopped yet again. Percy tried not to yell out in frustration.

"Care to elaborate?"

"I was just thinking that Jason and Frank aren't the only friends you have that have an apartment near campus," she said in a rush, as though she had been trying very hard to keep them back, but couldn't contain them any longer.

"What do you mean?" Percy said blankly. Annabeth sighed.

"Oh, isn't is obvious? Me, Percy, me!" she said in exasperation.

"Okay... and what does this have to do with anything?" he asked stupidly. Annabeth stared at him, a strange look on her face, almost as though she was awed at the amount of his stupidity.

"Jeez, Percy, could you be any more thick?" she cried.

"Um..." was all the response she got. She smacked him on the head again. Hard.

"Think, Percy, think!"

He stared at her, puzzled for a second, as he tried to figure out what she was trying to tell him. Whatever it was, she clearly didn't want to say it. Annabeth watched as finally, finally, the pieces seemed to click into place, and his eyes stared down at her incredulously, a slight look of wonder in his eyes.

"You'd let me stay with you at your apartment?" he asked with a disbelieving tone. Her face reddened ever so slightly, which Percy would have found highly amusing, had it not been for the shock.

"Well, I mean... You're my best friend and stuff. I'm practically obligated to help," she said, looking at the sky, the ground, the pond - anywhere but him.

"Right you are, Miss Chase!" Percy said, nodding vigorously. "But, no, seriously. You'd be okay with that?"

"Well, my parents can't even get a whisper about it. It will be weird at first, but I'm sure we'll get used to it and settle in. It will be hard, but I'm sure we can find a way to make this work. Besides, it won't have to be for very long."

Percy thought about this for a second. My dad would never go for it, so of course, he would have to keep my mouth shut about it to him. Another thing is that it would be weird living with her, especially since they were nothing more than friends.

Furthermore, while they were best friends, they were also complete opposites. Percy was the stereotypical popular jock. He was on the swim team, disorganized and messy, and had looks to die for, with just about every girl practically pining for him. In truth, he didn't really like the attention all that much.

Annabeth was the nerdy girl, with some of the highest grades in, not only the college, but the whole country. She preferred her jeans and a hoodie style, rather than the skirts and low-cut shirts. She was pretty, there was no doubt about that, but people usually overlooked that for her studious manner. Highly organized (to a point where Percy thought was almost unhealthy), and an extreme perfectionist, it was a wonder that she didn't attend a higher college, such as Harvard or Yale.

Though they were best friends, living with each other would be a challenge, because of their major differences. He glanced over at Annabeth, and he noticed she seemed to be having the same thoughts.

Nevertheless, she offered him a smile and said, "Well, it's certainly worth a try, isn't it?"

His heart swelled with gratitude. Impulsively, he picked her up, arms wrapping around her waist, and spun her around. Percy laughed as Annabeth squealed in a very un-Annabeth way. The rare sound was music to his ears.

Yes, he thought. I could live with this.

One week and four phone calls (to and from his dad) later, he was standing in front of Annabeth's average-sized but very nice apartment, carrying a heavy box in his arms.

Percy had made sure to be extremely evasive when explaining to his dad that he had found a friend to stay with for the time being. Never straight out lying, but never completely telling the truth, Percy had made it sound like he was staying with Jason or Frank. Really, he couldn't believe how easily it all working out.

Annabeth had been more than helpful, clearing out her spare room, and giving him a hand with the packing whenever she wasn't in classes or at the library. Percy sometimes wondered whether she was lonely living in the apartment alone. Perhaps she was excited for some company for once.

He knocked on the door. Annabeth opened it quickly, smiling brightly when she realized who it was.

"Oh, good, you made it without getting lost," she said, looking relieved.

"Annabeth, I hope you realize that the college is not even ten minutes away," I pointed out.

"Yes, well, knowing you..." She shook her head. "Well, come on in." He gratefully followed.

Her apartment was almost just as he had imagined: a small TV and couch in the family room, along with a small desk with papers and books stacked into neat piles on it. A cute little kitchen was to the right with a small island in the middle of it.

She led him down a narrow hallway with three doors, one of which was her room, and the other of which was a closet. When he opened it, he laughed hysterically as found that the closest wasn't stuffed with extra blankets and sheets, but with books. She was using it as a bookshelf.

The door at the very end was the entrance to the room he'd be staying in. It was simple with cream-white walls, and a regular sized bed. A bedside table stood beside the bed, and a dresser was neatly pushed against the wall across from the bed.

Percy set the box down.

"Wow. I'd take this over those cramped up college dorms any day. Some place you've got here, Annabeth." She looked down, but not before Percy could catch the pleased look on her face. "I really cannot thank you enough for doing this for me."

She smirked. "Well, I'm sure you'll find a way. I'll go unload some more stuff out of your car." I nodded as she started to walk out. But before she closed the door, she turned around.

"Percy?" I looked up.

"You're welcome."

"This is heavenly," Percy mumbled through a mouthful of pizza. After four hours of unpacking, he was finally sitting in front of the TV with a box of pizza sitting in his lap. The perfect American life.

"That's gross!" Annabeth said, barely glancing up from her book.

"Have some," Percy said, shoving the box towards her. She wrinkled her nose.

"No thanks. All that grease," she shuddered. Percy stared at her.

"Why, Annabeth, the grease is the best part! It's what makes pizza pizza. It just wouldn't be right without the grease."

"Speak for yourself."

"Don't mind if I do. More for me," he said, happily taking another slice from the box. He reached for the remote. They were currently watching some show about architecture, and Percy was ready for the action. He flipped the channel.

"Hey!" Annabeth exclaimed. "I was watching that!"

"No you weren't! You were reading your stupid book," Percy responded.

"I was watching it, and my book is not stupid!"

"I'd say that's a matter of opinion," Percy muttered.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" On and on it went for the rest of the night.

And that, I guess, is how it all began.

Wow, that was a really long chapter! I hope I didn't bore you to death. I'll try to get my next chapter of Breaking Free out sometime tomorrow, but no promises. I'm halfway through with it, though. This probably won't be a super long story. I think I'll try to have it done by the end of Summer Break. It doesn't have much of a plot, and will mostly be for humor. And in case you guys didn't realize, this is the story I called 'Friends With Deficits' on my poll. Hope I didn't disappoint! Could we make it to ten reviews? Even if you're a guest, I'd love to hear your opinion! Thanks!