denial

"Why are you here Annabeth." The grey haired man said.

Annabeth looked everywhere, desperately trying not to meet the man's intimidating brown eyes that seemed to be able to break into Annabeth's hard shell of an armor and crack into the gooey center of her abandonment, trust, commitment, and any other issue you could name.

Annabeth did not, and would never admit, that Mr.Jacobs was good at his job.

"A statement." Annabeth spoke up. She cleared her voice in its raspiness from not speaking for a while.

"Come again?"

"Your question was a statement."

Annabeth usually did not have such a sarcastic tone and demeanor but it was a cover she had put up so she could stay sane..or relatively, in this place.

Mr. Jacobs actually appreciated her sarcastic side most times as Annabeth could see from the corner of her eye that he gave a light smile.

"Well would you mind answering it anyways Annabeth." Mr. Jacobs said, picking up his pen and jotted something down in his notebook.

Shit.

Annabeth could not afford to be as sarcastic as she usually was and knew exactly why she was here.

Today she could get approved to finish her senior year of high school, and she could go home.

Annabeth gripped the ends of her sweater in her palms, sat up, and bit back her pride.

"I'm here to start over, I want to finish my senior year, maybe get into a good college, and see my friends."

If they'd have me.

Mr.Jacobs sat up and pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose.

His phone vibrated quietly but he turned it around.

Mr. Jacobs was always there for his patients a hundred percent.

"Go on." He said.

Annabeth looked outside the window again.

It was the first week of October so Fall began to fully arrive.

Fall was Annabeth's favorite season. Not too cold or too hot, and there was the early childhood memory of her stepping on the crispy leaves as her mother held her hand down the sidewalk.

Mom.

Annabeth swallowed a lump of emotions and turned her attention back to Mr.Jacobs and it seemed he was staring into her soul.

But she was prepared and she knew what she had to say, and hopefully he would believe it.

"I'm ready to let go. I won't forget what I did and who I hurt but.." Annabeth swallowed some more of her pride.

"I'm ready to change." Annabeth said and secretly let out a breath of air that she was holding in.

Mr. Jacobs had his pen in hand but just tapped the end of it on his notebook.

"And are you now aware, that you are a covert narcissist, among other things." Mr Jacobs said.

He was testing Annabeth, he knew that her pride would get the better of her and say it wasn't her fault she was liked this, it was her family's, her friends' faults.

But she knew better this time, she was determined to never see the horrible architecture of a mental institution again, never have to get check daily for objects that she could harm herself, and never have to see Mr. Jacobs discerning brown eyes again.

Annabeth bit the inside of her cheeks hard and her mouth began to taste like copper.

She traced her scars on her arms impulsively which she did when she was lying or rather lying when someone questioned her health or sanity.

"I am." I said trying my best to sound believable.

Mr. Jacobs stared at Annabeth for a while and Annabeth was sure that he could tell that she was lying, and this was another failed attempt of getting out this hell hole.

But then Mr. Jacobs did the unexpected. He pulled out the yellow price of paper that Annabeth had been waiting to see for months, and was ticket out of here.

He readied his pen on the line that was made for him to sign but then looked up at Annabeth.

"I want you to know Annabeth that I know you're lying." Mr. Jacobs said.

Annabeth drew in a breath and forgot to breathe for a second.

"But there's only so much this place can teach you and you need to go back out into the real world, and maybe then you can fully let go." He said

Annabeth didn't respond, afraid that she would mess something up if she said the wrong words.

"And your lying has improved, it makes me think that you have come a little less self involved, that you're starting to feel and care again." He said before shining the yellow price of paper.

Annabeth wanted to leap up and snatch the paper from the mans hand and run out of the place but she sat with composure as her 7 month dream was being made at this moment.

"But to make sure you stay on track.." Mr. Jacobs said setting the yellow paper aside and pulling out what looked like a flyer.

"You'll have to forego group therapy everyday after school for the rest of your school year." Mr. Jacobs said reaching over this desk to hand Annabeth the flyer.

Without thinking she grabbed it, and stared blankly at the paper.

Mr. Jacobs then slid the yellow paper across the desk.

"I'll call your parents to come get you and I'll have your medication packed up for you to go before you leave and I think that's about it." Mr. Jacobs said while he started organizing his desk and stacking papers back in order.

"Wh-What." Annabeth said, coming out of her daze.

Mr.Jacobs looked up and smiled brightly.

"Pack your bags Annabeth, you're going home."

"Sorry the boys and Helen couldn't come, they had football practice and Helen had to take them." Annabeth's father said breaking the silence as they stopped at a red light.

Annabeth nodded her head silently and looked out the window.

Her dad began to tap on the wheel nervously as he looked between Annabeth and the light back and forth.

"You'll like the new house, it's not too far from where we use to live and we're still in your old school district-"

Annabeth's dad rambled more for about a minute till the everlasting red light turned green and paused his speech.

"Helen thought it'd be a good idea to paint your room, maybe pink, or yellow, yellows your favorite color right?"

"My favorite color is grey, and I want my room to be it too." Annabeth said a little too tightly.

She had to be more persuasive to prove her progress and that included putting up with her dad and his wife.

"Well don't you think grey is a bit morbid." Her father said carefully.

He was always nervous around her, she suspected it was because she reminded him of her mother.

"It was mom's favorite color too." Annabeth said with a malicious intent. She couldn't help but try to make her dad feel guilty every chance she got. It almost seemed like it was her prerogative.

She would have to work on that too.

Her comment had the intended effect though as her father tensed and didn't speak anything else about the subject.

Annabeth felt a little guilt for shutting down her dad's attempt to make conversation but according to her several therapists and her roommate at Belgrave, her narcissism couldn't help it.

"Are you hungry?" Her father asked, back in light spirits again.

Denial will do that to you.

Annabeth learned that in therapy.

"They have a Whataburger near our new house." He said tempting Annabeth.

He knew that was her favorite place to eat.

"Sounds great Dad." I said, giving a light smile and he returned it.

Annabeth didn't mean her smile but she knew that if she was going to get back her old life, her best friend, Luke, and everything else, she would have to smile.

"You're home!" Helen cries as soon as Annabeth walked through the door.

She threw her arms around Annabeth and squeezed.

She smelled like lavender.

Annabeth hates lavender.

Annabeth awkwardly hugged her back and Helen finally let go.

Tears, fake or not, shined in her eyes.

"Now we can finally go back to normal." Helen said relieved.

Annabeth resisted the urge to frown or make a snarky comment.

Her stepmother treated Annabeth's "personal issues", as she liked to call them, as a temporary problem, a nuisance that would go away, and as much as Annabeth wanted for her bipolar narcissistic personality to go away, it wouldn't, the root of that damage already ran too deep to be uprooted like her stepmother wished it'd be.

Footsteps began rumbling down the stairs and Annabeth knew who they belonged to.

"Annabeth!" The twins said in unison.

Annabeth broke out a genuine smile as her two brothers fell into her arms and squeezed her tight.

"Matty! Bobby! I missed you too!" She said squeezing them tighter.

Her brothers were now eleven and they both seemed taller than they were when she left.

That made her feel a twinge of bitterness.

The two let go and began showing her new maneuvers they learned in football while Helen and Annabeth's dad set up the dining table for dinner.

"Boys! Go wash your hand and let Annabeth go set her stuff upstairs." Helen said and the boys grumbled and headed to go wash their hands.

Matthew stopped and turned back around to Annabeth.

His eyebrows furrowed and eyes worried.

Annabeth bent on her knee and looked up at him.

"Hey, what's wrong Matty? I'm home, everything's okay now." I said trying to convince myself too.

Matthew still looked worried.

"So you're not leaving me again?" He asked her.

Annabeth swallowed.

The truth is she didn't know.

Annabeth knew that if everything didn't fall into place like she wanted them too she might make an attempt at her life again, and this time wouldn't make the mistake of being pulled back.

"Never," Annabeth said with a bright smile.

"I'm here to stay." Annabeth said.

Matthew looked in her eyes as if he could see through her words.

I can tell you're lying. Is what his eyes seem to say.

"Matthew!" Helen said sternly.

"Going mom!" Matthew said turning, he turned back to Annabeth and nodded.

"Good." He said but he didn't seem too sure.

"Sweetheart your room is the first room to the left. Feel free to start unpacking." Helen said smiling.

Annabeth nodded and threw her duffle bag on her shoulder and picked up her suitcase.

On the walls of the staircase were pictures of Annabeth and her family, only one in which Annabeth was smiling.

She was four years old and she was about to jump off a rock into a huge pile of leaves, her dad in the background reached out for her in panic but toddler Annabeth smiled in delight. Annabeth didn't remember the day as crystal clear as she wanted to but she knew it was the best day of her life. It was when her mother was still around and everything was perfect.

Annabeth guessed that Helen didn't know her mother was the one that took the photo.

Annabeth opened the door to the first room on the left and it was a plain white painted four walled rectangular room.

It reminded Annabeth briefly of her room at Belgrave.

The room had new furniture, furniture Annabeth had never seen before.

She knew it was probably Helen's idea to get rid of all her old stuff, to leave this experience and all her stuff in the past.

Annabeth opened her plain white dresser and to her surprise, it still held all her old clothes in it.

"Of course." Annabeth mumbled to herself.

Why would she go through the trouble of buying her new clothes. Annabeth thought internally.

Annabeth dropped all of her stuff on the floor and face planted on her bed. It had a grey comforter.

Helen must've remembered her favorite color.

Today was Friday, there was three more days until school started and Annabeth's plan to get everything she had back would begin.

She would start with Thalia, her best friend.

She wasn't sure exactly what had happened the day of her "episode" because she sure enough blocked it from her memory but she knew that Thalia had something to do with it, along with Luke.

Luke.

Something clenched around Annabeth's heart.

Luke had tried visiting Annabeth at Belgrave numerous times but she denied to see him every time, and then she put him on the restricted list.

She couldn't remember if it was because she blamed him somehow or if it was because she didn't want him to see her at her worse.

Whatever it was she owed her boyfriend an apology and she wanted to make things right.

Annabeth couldn't tell if her motives were selfless or if she just wanted everything back but it didn't matter because she would get everything back, and that's all that mattered.

"So are you excited for school on a Monday Annabeth?" Annabeth's dad asked before taking a bite out of his burger.

Annabeth had no idea why they ate fast food on a dining table but this was just one of the weird things Helen brought to the table.

Bobby choked as he stuffed one too many fries in his mouth. Matthew patted his twins back.

"Very. When can I get my phone back." Annabeth said, taking a sip of her lemonade.

She forgot all tack and was anxious to get in contact with her friends to make up.

Her father and stepmother looked at each other both.

"We were going to hold off on that for a second sweetie, just let things run smoothly for a while." Her dad said nervously.

Annabeth hated when her dad didn't just accept her request especially when it was as trivial as this but Annabeth could not react like eight months ago, her narcissism would have to be put on the back burner.

"I understand." Annabeth said calmly, she could sense the looks between her father and stepmother as Annabeth turned her attention back to her food.

She would not so easily throw her hard work away.

The next morning Annabeth got up and got dressed.

She had not planned to go anywhere, not that they would let her, but it became a routine for her from Belgrave to get up, her dress, and go eat breakfast.

So that's what she did.

When she went down to go get breakfast, Helen was there,they exchanged pleasantries and then Annabeth ate the breakfast Helen had prepared in silence.

The doorbell rang and Helen stopped what she was doing and said she would go get it.

She probably didn't want no one opening the door to see Annabeth, the girl that had a psychotic break.

Annabeth didn't turn around to see who it was as Helen opened the door.

"Oh good! You're here!" Helen said.

"Hi Mrs. Chase, is she ready to go?" The other female voice said.

That voice was familiar to Annabeth. Her heart kept with joy or nervousness.

Annabeth turned to see her good friend-

"Piper?!" Annabeth said surprised as Piper rushed forward and threw her arms around Annabeth.

"Hey you!" Piper said, pulling away.

"Wait what are you doing here?!" I said still in shock.

"Mrs.Chase thought it would be a good idea if you and I hung out today. Unless," Piper said stepping away.

"You don't wanna see me." Piper said mock hurt but her eyes didn't seem to be mocking.

"Of course I do! But I don't know if I'm up to going anywhere yet, I'm kinda trying to lay low." Annabeth said looking to the ground.

"Hey we don't have to stay anywhere for too long, I just wanted to take you shopping and get you some new clothes so you can start fresh, if you feel uncomfortable at any moment we can leave." Piper said seriously.

Annabeth knew Piper would get her way,she always did. She could charm, bat her eyelashes or smile her way through life. Annabeth was always jealous of that about her friend, but instead of trying to resist, Annabeth could see the sincerity in her friends eyes so she gave up.

"Alright I guess, but not too long-"

"Great! Mrs. Chase I'll have her home at a reasonable time!" Piper said before dragging Annabeth out the door by her wrist.

"So how have you been Annabeth.. truly." Piper asked as we walked through the mall, she remembered to add that last word as she knew Annabeth had pre-constructed responses to the "How have you been?" question.

'I've been getting better everyday now'

'Better that you're here'

'It's honestly a struggle but I know I'll get through it.'

'Recently not having any suicidal thoughts'

"I don't know yet honestly Piper.. I think once I sort things out with Thalia and Luke I'll have an idea." Annabeth said, satisfied at her honest answer.

Piper winced at this though.

"Annabeth.. you do remember what happened the day of your.. er.."

"Episode?" Annabeth said.

Piper motioned for them to both sit down at a food court table

"Uh yeah, do you, remember that day though?" Piper said carefully.

Annabeth shook my head.

"All I remember is going to my party that night and then.. having razors against my arm." Annabeth said quieter.

"Oh." Was all Piper could say.

"Yeah." Annabeth said.

"But that's enough of that, how are you?" Annabeth asked, genuinely curious.

Despite her being diagnosed as a covert narcissist didn't mean that she had or would ever care any less about her friends or family.

"Well.. I have a boyfriend?" Piper said blushing.

"Who!" Annabeth said and tried her best to seem happy for her friend, she wanted her boyfriend too.

"Um Jason." she said waiting for Annabeth's reaction.

"Jason Grace?! Thalia's brother?! The one a grade below us?" Annabeth said surprised.

"The one and only." Piper said with a nervous smile.

Annabeth laughed lightly, even though she really didn't feel like it, but she wanted to seem like she was in good shape in front of her friend.

"Thalia must be furious!" Annabeth said.

"Actually.. she doesn't know, and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't tell her. Jason and I are still pretty new and I don't wanna shatter any preschool friendships if we don't work out." Piper said.

"No worries, not a word from me." Annabeth said as she zipped her lips and threw away the key.

"Good." Piper said, smiling.

Piper gave her a weird look.

"What?" Annabeth asked.

"Nothing it-it's just I'm glad to have you back."

"Glad to be back."

It was Monday morning and Annabeth laid out her choice of clothing in front of her.

She was glad Piper took her shopping on Saturday because she was severely lacking in choices but Annabeth knew she would not be wearing her usual preppy outfits that made her stand out and some would say above others.

Today she would go with a simple grey sweater, leggings and converses.

She looked in the mirror and tugged her sweater sleeves down self consciously. She didn't need anyone, especially Luke, seeing her scars.

She then put on the necklace that Luke had given her, it had a golden heart pendant on it that read:

Anna and Luke

Always and Forever

"Come on Beth!" Her dad yelled from the staircase.

He insisted on driving her to school today to make sure everything ran smoothly but Annabeth knew it was to keep an eye out on her. She didn't completely mind the attention this time though, not that she would admit it.

Annabeth grabbed her book bag and fresh school supplies that they had picked out yesterday and stuffed them into her backpack and ran out to her dad's car.

"Ready?" He asked when I shut the car door.

"Ready."

The school was closer to Annabeth's new house than her old one was so it was a quick seven minute drive.

Annabeth's hand was on the door handle but she couldn't bring herself to.

"Hey," her dad said, Annabeth turned to him.

"I'm here for you, we're all here for you." Her dad said with a smile.

Annabeth wished she could believe that but her insecurities prevented it.

"I know." she said as she opened the door.

"Love you! Bye!" Annabeth's dad yelled through the window.

Annabeth just waved and jogged away to save herself from further embarrassment.

As she got closer the whispers got louder.

She knew some people would know of her.. vacation but it seemed just about everyone did.

As she entered the school she was about ready to exit. There was once upon a time where she had no fear to show walking down these halls, except the ones she hid to herself, but now she felt like one of the people that her and her friends laughed and whispered about.

Annabeth held her head high.

She was not afraid of the peers that once looked up to her in every way.

She began tracing her scars over her sweater.

She knew she was lying, and so did everyone else.

"Annabeth!" Someone called down the hall.

She looked and saw Piper and Leo waving to her.

Her friends.

Annabeth took a sigh of relief and walked to them.

"Hola beautiful, long time no see." Leo said giving his signature mischievous smile, even he had grown a bit, but he was still shorter than Annabeth.

"Hey Leo." Annabeth said, giving him a hug as he blushed.

"Thank god you two are acting normal." Annabeth said relieved.

They both smiled nervously.

"Don't worry about them Beth, you're just this week's hot topic." Piper said. She elbowed Leo to get him to join him.

"Oh yeah, don't worry about it, you'll be old news, no one will even know who you are in a week." Leo said.

Piper smacked on the back of the head.

"Hey! What was that for!"

"Why would you say that to a person dealing with depression!"

"You want me to say something so I did!"

"You little-

Annabeth had stopped listening because she had seen him.

There he stood amongst others, in the center of the conversation of course, in his blue and gold letterman's jacket that went perfectly with his blonde hair and blue eyes.

Annabeth had begun walking closer to him, holding her head necklace as she did.

He looked so happy and laughed lightly as someone made a joke.

Annabeth missed his smile and his laugh.

And then we made eye contact.

His eyes widened and his mouth open.

Annabeth smiled and began walking faster but was stopped in her tracks as a girl came up to Luke and kissed him on his cheek.

It wasn't the girl kissing him that shook Annabeth but who the girl was.

The girl followed Luke's gaze to Annabeth as did the rest of the group around him and Annabeth saw the face of the girl.

"Thalia." Annabeth breathed aloud.

Everything suddenly hit Annabeth like someone aimed and hit a sledgehammer right in Annabeth's gut.

She remembered.

"Annabeth it's not what it looks like!"

"Wait Annabeth let us explain!"

She remembered that drunken night that she found her friends entangled in her own bed.

Annabeth backed away.

She didn't owe them an apology, they owed her one.

They made her hurt, and they sent her over the edge that she was already dangling over.

"Annabeth, come back. Where are you!"

Piper was now in her face, she could hear what she was saying but didn't process it.

"You're just like your mother! All you care about is yourself Annabeth! You aren't the victim, you're just evil!"

Annabeth didn't remember that being said to her but it sounded like her father's words.

"No.. No I have to get out of here, this can't be happening.. it can't." Annabeth said, starting to hyperventilate as tears began to flow.

Annabeth began to turn to try to run to the nearest exit but someone grabbed her arm.

She turned to see it was Piper, who was now dragging her to the restroom.

Piper pushed Annabeth inside the restroom and checked all the stalls before locking the door.

She then put her attention to Annabeth.

"You knew didn't you." Annabeth said quietly.

Piper sighed and nodded.

"Please leave."

"Anna-"

"Leave." Annabeth said trying to not start breaking down while her friend was still in here.

Piper stood there for a moment and then left.

Annabeth waited a few moments and then balled her eyes out.

She didn't know whether she was sad or angry or both.

But the same emptiness appeared in the pit of her stomach as it had that night.

But she didn't know what to do with it this time.

"What do I do mom." She whispered to herself.

Annabeth went to class.

She didn't know how she was able to go especially with all the whispering but she threw herself into the work. She had a lot of catching up to do.

Annabeth knew this probably denial that was fueling her but she didn't care. She hoped this fuel would last for the rest of senior year so she could get the hell out of this place.

Annabeth walked the halls to her last period of the day that was halfway across campus.

Great.

She walked by herself in silence as the halls emptied out.

Suddenly someone grabbed her arm.

She should've screamed but she didn't feel like it.

Annabeth turned to be met face to face with Luke.

"Annabeth." his beautiful blue eyes said pleadingly as he held on to both of my arms.

Annabeth couldn't help but look at his pink lips and feel all the emotions she felt before but then she snapped out of it and pushed away.

"Whatever you have to say, you can save it. You're not going to get the chance to hurt me again." Annabeth said standing her ground.

She began walking away but Luke grabbed her arm.

"Luke let go!"

"Just let me explain-"

"She said let go." A male voice said.

Annabeth turned to see a tall male with disheveled raven black hair and startling green eyes.

Annabeth jerked her arm out of Luke's grasp.

"You've only been here a week Jackson and you're already butting into people's business?" Luke scoffed.

"Take a hike buddy." Luke said amused

Whoever this Jackson guy was, he stood his ground and stared at Luke, he looked scary.

"I suggest you do that Luke, because if you get in a fight with me, you're kicked off the team and there goes your scholarship and you get your ass kicked. While I have nothing to lose."

They both began to have a stare down until it was clear that green eyes was the winner.

Luke looked at me and his eyes softened.

"I need to talk to you Anna." He said softly before glaring at green eyes and walking away.

Annabeth turned to green eyes.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Annabeth scoffed.

"Yeah I'm okay, and I didn't need your help with Luke." Annabeth said, crossing her eyes.

"Well it seemed like you did."

"I know him, so you didn't have to come and try to play Prince."

"If you say so."

"I do say so!"

"Great."

"Awesome."

"Cool."

"Would you stop!" Annabeth said with frustration

The bell rang and Annabeth was now late.

"Whatever you say Wise Girl." Green eyes said laughing as he walked away.

"That's not my name!" Annabeth yelled after him but he didn't turn around.

"Insufferable." Annabeth mumbled to herself.

Thankfully the group therapy took place at the school so Annabeth wouldn't have to set aside her pride and ask Piper for a ride.

Annabeth walked to room 203 where the flier said it was and stood in front of the door.

You can do this, she said to herself before walking into the room.

In the room was a circle of chairs and in the seats she saw familiar faces.

"Welcome." An asian man said to me with a kind smile, he said at the top of the circle.

Annabeth just nodded politely and silently took her seat.

"Okay is everyone seated and settled?" asked the asian man.

Just then the door busted open.

"Sorry I'm late." said a familiar voice.

Annabeth tensed and looked up and saw the green eyed boy.

Annabeth immediately looked back down and wished herself to be invisible.

But part of her was curious to why he was here too.

"Welcome," the asian man said nodded as green eyes took his seat.

"So; everyone is here today because they either have to be or you were strongly encouraged to be here but you all are here because you have to deal with something, that something is your something but to deal with it, you all are gathered among your peers to help work things out. Now I'm Peter, not Mr. not Dr., just Peter. And I'm just here to make sure you guys don't kill each other and to occasionally give life changing advice."

The room lightly laughed.

"Okay for today , we're going to do introductions, well go around the circle, say our names, and say why we're here. Who wants to go first?"

No one raised their hand so Peter gladly picked for them.

"Um hi, I'm Izzie and I'm here because I'm bulimic." The frail girl said.

A boy was up next.

"I'm Marco and I have OCD."

"I'm Tice and I'm anorexic."

This went on until it was the green eyed boys turn.

Annabeth's attention peaked.

"Uh hi, I'm Percy, and I'm here because I like to drown."

The room went into an awkward silence, not quite sure if he was serious or not.

"Could you be more specific Percy?"

"Uh well I don't know my disorder or anything but my mom sent me to therapy and they sent me here, so yeah."Percy said shifting.

"Alright then, who's next?"

After a couple more people it was Annabeth's turn

"I'm Annabeth and I'm a bipolar covert narcissist." I said hoping green eyes, now known as Percy, wouldn't be paying attention.

"So what, you only care about yourself?" Asked Percy.

I scoffed and glared at him.

"Excuse me."

"Just a question, I don't have that much experience with self-obsessed people, or at least someone so self-centered that had to get diagnosed for it."

The room began to laugh, but muffled themselves.

"And being undiagnosed but trying to drown themselves for shits and giggles is any better?" Annabeth said, crossing her eyes.

The room no longer contained their laughter.

Percy remained unamused but held an unreadable face as he stared at Annabeth, she stared back, not willing to back down.

"Alright, alright, that's enough, who's next." Peter interrupted and the two broke off their glaring contest.

The rest of the circle continued with their introductions and before Annabeth knew it, the meeting was over.

As everyone piled out of the room, Annabeth tied her shoes and was the last one to leave the room.

Waiting for her outside was the green eyed deviant leaning on a locker .

"Hey Wise Girl, or should I call you Annabeth now?" Percy asked with a smile that meant no good.

"What makes you think you can talk to me." Annabeth said, crossing her arms.

"Because we're going to be friends."

"Oh really."

"Yes really."

"Then you must've gotten too much seaweed stuck in that head of yours trying to drown yourself because it's not happening." Annabeth said and then proceeded to walk away.

The drowning part might have been a low blow but she needed this guy to leave her alone before she got wrapped into another mess.

"You need a ride home?" He called after her.

Annabeth stopped in her tracks.

She realized she forgot to tell her dad to pick her up, she didn't ask Piper, and she had no way of contacting either one of them without her phone.

Annabeth cursed herself out silently and turned around to a smug Percy.

"Just shut up and take me home Seaweed Brain." Annabeth said following Percy's lead to his vehicle.

"Have it your way Wise Girl." He said looking down to her with a bright smile that she knew would cause her all the trouble in the world. But maybe that's what she needed right now, or wanted, she didn't know.

But maybe, just maybe, Annabeth thought that Percy was going to make this year worth it.