MONDAY, 30th January

By Mackenzie's insistence, Piper promised to stop skipping her classes to keep an eye on the younger girl. The fact the she had eaten regularly and only threw up once over the weekend was the main factor for Piper's agreement; as long as Mackenzie promised to call her if anything happened. Assuring Piper she would be busy going through all the psychological exercises Mrs. Jones had proposed to her, the girl pretty much kicked Piper out of her own home, much to Trish's grumbling.

Shouldn't we call her?

And get accused of 'hovering'? Again?

The least she could do it check up once in a while. Ungrateful child...

You sound like a nagging mother.

I wouldn't know, I don't have experience with mothers. Not mine, not Claire's.

"Excuse me? You're Trish, right?"

Piper turned from her locker to see an unknown girl, almost half a head shorter than her, waiting with an uncertain smile.

Who is she?

No idea.

"Yes, I am. Can I help you?"

"Huh, actually, I'm just here for a message. Mrs. Jones asked me to tell you that she'd like if you could go visit her on your break. After you get lunch, of course."

"Oh. Do you need an answer or...?"

"Ah, no. I'm just here to deliver her message. Huh... see you around!"

What do you think?

After everything she did for Mackenzie, it's the least we can do.

***

Mrs. Jones smiled when Piper stuck her head inside after knocking.

"Trish, please, come in. Thank you for accepting my invitation. Take a seat."

She did, looking at the older woman in expectation.

"When you visited my office a few days ago, you gave me the short version of how you came in contact with Mackenzie. Would you please give me the longer version?"

"Huh, sure."

Piper explained about how John had seen Mackenzie throw up and cry when she mistakenly entered the wrong restroom weeks before and how it lead to the three of them meeting on a café.

"And what did you talk about that day?"

"Not much. We talked a lot, but most of the time she kept avoiding the bigger issues."

"Like?"

Piper forced herself to relax her shoulders after feeling herself tense up as a reflection from her and Trish's emotions from that day, mostly ranging between embarrassment, uncomfortableness, frustration and pitying.

"I asked if she wanted to keep the baby and she practically snarled at me, saying she's not a murderer. Then I asked if she wanted to keep the baby AFTER it was born. I tried to rephrase it about five times and she deflected the question each time."

One would think we were asking her if she wanted to kill and eat her own baby.

"I tried to get some details about the pregnancy, but she just said she was on the second month and that she was 'taking care' of it. I asked about what the doctors said and if she wanted us to go with her, but she said she already had someone in her family helping. She had agreed to that meeting, but it was clear she wasn't ready to share, so I let her be. Gave her my number and said she could call me if she needed help or if she wanted to talk."

Now the main emotion was shame, making her mouth taste like iron.

"She didn't and I kinda... let it go? I don't wanna say I forgot about her, I just... didn't go after her. Gods, I should've gone after her."

Piper rubbed her face with both hands, trying to stop without success the flood of the same guilt that had been plaguing them both for the last five days, when they realized how things had spiraled out of Mackenzie's hands and how they were not paying attention to it, only realizing when the other girl called her while crying her heart out and barely capable of speaking clearly.

"Trish, you're still a teenager who has other things in her plate. She made it clear that she wanted her space and you gave it to her. It wasn't your job to be her guardian."

"But she doesn't have a guardian! Her family kicked her out, for gods' sake!"

Mrs. Jones didn't seem disturbed or surprised by Piper's outburst, leveling her eyes with an expression that was kind but also demanded her full attention.

"Trish, I understand your desire to help, but you can't blame yourself. It was already a burden too heavy to thrust upon an adult, let alone a teenager. And you TRIED. When John asked for your help, you didn't even hesitate to offer your hand to a stranger. You showed her that she could call upon you, and she DID. When things got too much for her to bear, you were the one she called. She trusted YOU to make everything better."

And clearly, she called the wrong person.

"I didn't do anything."

"Trish, darling, you gave her a roof. You tried to keep her fed. You skipped your classes so she wouldn't be alone."

And what good did any of that did for her?

"She threw up every day. She'd have died of denutrition if she had stayed under my care."

Mrs. Jones sighed, her eyes warm and her voice wasn't patronizing, but still spoke of experience that should be respected.

"Trish, helping someone doesn't mean you need to do all by yourself. Coming to ask me for help WAS helping her. It's important to understand your limits and it's okay to call for help when you reach those. Besides, you must remember that, as a rule, you mustn't help someone to the cost of your own health. There are some exceptions to that, but you mustn't exhaust yourself. If you really want to help someone, you need to take care of yourself; otherwise you'll succumb too soon and won't be able to keep helping them. You can't serve from an empty plate."

Piper shook her head in negation. If that emotion was mostly hers or Trish's, at this point, she didn't know anymore.

"If I had just gone after her..."

"Trish, she didn't want you to and made that clear. She has her own pride and wanted to figure it out by herself. Do you know how many crossed the door to my office because someone told them to and not because they wanted to? And do you have any idea how hard it is to help those kids? It's VERY hard to help someone who DOESN'T WANT to be helped. Mackenzie might have wanted to vent, but she didn't want HELP. You can't blame yourself for not being able to help her by yourself. I have over a decade of experience, not counting the right qualification and even I had trouble getting people like her to open up. But I did, and now we're helping her. WE, Trish, because YOU came to me. YOU were mature enough to realize you were out of your depths and called for help. For her AND for you. I can see that this experience shook you and I think this is great. It means you could understand the gravity of the situation, could recognize your own limitations and was still determined to do well for Mackenzie, even if it meant getting someone else involved. You were as honest as you could be in front of the situation; you were humble and mature, and showed an enormous heart. You AND John."

Piper stayed quiet, her own thought churning and twisting, murky and suffocating. Trish wasn't much better, and Piper was finding how hard it was to split them up when their emotions were so similar, their thoughts almost a reflection of the other. For a moment, she felt like Trish was part of her, just as much as she was of Trish. The realization surprised her. After four months, it was the first time they were so in sync. It took her a moment to notice the silence, and raised her eyes to find Mrs. Jones looking at her, thoughtful.

"When you and John came to my office together, who was with Mackenzie?"

Should I tell her?

Well, she already knows everything else, so... just be careful with the pronouns! Will is physically a SHE.

"Hm... a friend. Her name is Will and she has been working in the infirmary for some months now. She wants to follow in her father's footsteps and become a doctor. I actually saw her help a woman at the mall who was giving birth. We figured she would be the most suited person. She had already stayed with Mackenzie the night before, when we went to ask for advice from a friend's mother."

Mrs. Jones gave them a warm smile, almost maternal – not that any of them had much experience in that department.

"Trish, how can you tell me how thoroughly you thought of this and still believe you weren't capable of helping her? Darling, she wasn't an abandoned puppy you picked up on the road. For a puppy, you could just search the internet on how to help. Mackenzie is a teenage girl; a pregnant, hormonal teenage girl. She has a family, plans, baby, dreams, fears, problems and doubts. You're upset you weren't suitable to save someone's life that got hit by a car. But, Trish, you're not a doctor. Maybe one day you'll be, but not today. So, you did the next best thing, you took her to a hospital; you got her the proper care."

"I still feel that if I'd tried more..."
"Trish, you know what the real problem is?"

"What?"

"When was the last time someone told you 'no'?"

Wait, what? What does that have to do with Mackenzie?

"... What?"

"Your father constantly travels, you said."

"Yes."

"And your mother is not around."

"Never was."

"So, who do you live with? And I don't mean personnel to clean and maybe cook. I'm talking about a constantly – and intimate – presence in your life. Siblings?"

"No."

I don't know if I like where this conversation is headed...

"How many friends do you have? Excluding John."

"Hm... I have Claire."

Wow, that sounds pathetically when said out loud.

"And while I think she's an excellent choice as a friend, she has a too much easygoing personality to challenge you. Trish, I get the feeling you can be VERY convincing when you're not beating yourself up for something that was out of your control even before you knew of it."

"Well..."

Mrs. Jones leaned back in her chair, and Piper could almost feel on her skin the shift of the conversation.

"You dedicate yourself to the school's newspaper. I'm sure you've already found out you have a way with the words, enough to get milk from a rock. I've heard a lot of stories about you, you know? Sure, Claire mentions you a lot, but she's your best friend. I've also heard a lot about you from other people; you've managed to upset quite a few with your editing. Can I ask you why you do it?"

"Why I piss people off?"

"Why you keep giving your own twist to other people's words? Is it for the scandal? For the views? A sadistic pleasure?"

Is that what she thinks of me? What about the 'enormous heart' part?

"Or is it for the challenge? You know you're good with the words, manipulating insecure teenagers should be a child's play for you. But you want more, don't you? It's not fun to make them give you the answers you want. It's much more challenging to twist their words and change their statements to fit a story you create. But you go beyond. You're careful to what you put together in that same page, or in the one before. Each paper is a work of art from start to finish, truths connected so precisely that they look something else. After all, a thin yellow line pressed tightly by two stripes of the right shade of red might seem orange."

Whaaat...?

I get the feeling that she's been keeping tabs on you for a while.

"You do it for the challenge. For the spotlight. You want people to notice. You want them to read their own interview and recognize the changes. You want their friends discussing which part if it is true. You want them talking, wondering, cursing and most of all, being aware of you. All you've ever wanted is to be noticed."

She gave them an understanding smile, so warm that Piper felt cold. Trish was experiencing such a whirlwind of emotions – from loneliness, to anger, to shame, to shock, to denial, to hopelessness – that Piper felt almost sick to her stomach.

"And you became excellent in being noticed. But you also got addicted to getting what you want. So, when Mackenzie told you 'no' several times, you took a hit. You feel like you failed in HELPING her because you didn't make her say 'yes'."

... That's not true...

"Those things aren't even connected. The first one is Mackenzie and that baby. They both need medical care and Mackenzie needs professional help to guide her on how to heal the wounds left by her personal problems. The second one is your own ego feeling like you've lost your life purpose, because you've failed to get someone you took as your project - a traumatized pregnant girl - to say 'yes'."

Mackenzie was not a project!

Actually, I'm starting to think she kinda was...

"But Trish, the world outside is not like school. While here you deal with peers close to your age – and that is fundamental for your development – when you leave, you'll be the youngest one out there, playing against people who have more years of experience that you have of life. You're bound to lose several times; and that's how you learn. Mackenzie is not your failure, she's a lesson, one I would love to help YOU teach YOURSELF."

Her last declaration acted like a powerful gust of wind, clearing most of the fog that had been plaguing their thoughts.

Holy... ok, she's better than I would've thought.

Piper reached out to dry the one tear that had fallen without her noticing.

***

Piper lost track of time, lending Trish's mouth back to her. Mrs. Jones didn't admit to it, but it was clear she had studied Trish. She knew the right dose of understanding and challenge she needed to offer, could see the hidden messages in Trish's words. Only when the woman looked at the wall clock that they noticed how much time had passed.

"Trish, if I let you go now, will you come back?"

So?

"... Yes, I will."

"Then I'm afraid that, for now, our time is up, but I also need to ask you for a favor."

That's unexpected.

"A favor?"

"I spoke with Mackenzie's family and they are... still in shock."

Once again, the emotion taking over their body was mirrored with both girls, anger sparked with despisement.

"They're determined to shun her!?"

Mrs. Jones' expression was masked carefully neutral, but Piper had seen the flash of frustration and something else, maybe disgust, before it became a mask.

"I... recognize that their whole family dynamics, at least for now, it's not in the right state to... work with the implications of an unplanned pregnancy."

She means they refuse to take their own daughter back.

"I intend to keep working at it, but I do not want to submit Mackenzie to unnecessary stress – she's still my primary patient. From what I've talked to her, amongst all the chaos, she's started to consider the room you offered her a little safe haven. Until I find more permanent solutions and settlements, would it be a problem for you to keep hosting her?"

Piper looked at her in surprise; she had expected Mrs. Jones to find her almost empty and definitely adult-less house unsuitable.

"I do not want to move her for now and while I think you don't need the mental burden of Mackenzie's proximity, I do believe you'll find a way to be beneficial to you both."

Piper grinned, for her and Trish.

"She's welcome to stay as much as she needs."

***

On her last class of the day, she was a bit surprise to receive a text from Claire, who was sitting three feet from her.

C: Hey, can we talk later?

P: Yes, of course.

Should we take her to your house?

I don't want to introduce her to Mackenzie yet. We already thrusted Will on the poor girl without warning.

I just didn't want Mackenzie to be alone.

P: Claire wants to talk

P: Can you go stay with Mackenzie for a couple of hours?

P: She's been alone all day.

W: Which part of 'I don't have the free time' don't you get it?

W: Why don't you get Jason?

P: He has football practice

W: This is the last time

Do you think he will follow with that threat?

And live a traumatized pregnant teenager alone? He's not that cold.

***

If Claire was surprised that Piper had invited her to go to a café instead of Trish's house, she didn't demonstrate. After each girl had taken her slice of pie, they sat across each other, with Piper feeling Trish's anxiety spiking up and Claire not eating and still refusing to look them in the eye.

Oh, for the love of... she KNOWS I can't take these long waits.

She needs time.

I KNOW. But SHE knows that unless she's ready to talk in five seconds, she shouldn't ask if we can talk.

"I wanted to apologize."

"Why?"

"Because I spoke with Leo."

... that's it? All this drama for this!?

"Claire, I introduced you two. You don't have to apologize for speaking with him."

"No, it's the reason I went to him that I need to apologize for."

Oh my. She's taking the tortuous road. I HATE when she does that.

"And what is that reason?"

"I allowed my fear to be stronger than my trust. I doubted you, and I'm really sorry about it!"

"Claire..."

JUST RIP THE FREAKING BAND-AID, I BEG OF YOU!

"Please forgive me!"

"Claire! Stop it! There's nothing to be forgiven."

"But I didn't trust you..."

"And I'm sure you had a reason to. Explain it to me, from the beginning; but, Claire, keep in mind that having doubts, about anything, is pretty much the norm for everyone. If you want to never have any doubts, you'd need to stop thinking; and in your case, not only it would be impossible, but also a shame."

At least one of us is still capable of thinking...

"Thanks..."

"Now, from the beginning."

***

"So, you thought I was being secretive because I had lost Trish?"

"Yes... I'm sorry..."

Claire's head was hanging low, but they could hear the tears in her voice and Piper reached for her hand.

"Claire, I should be sorry for giving you reasons to worry. Leo was right, I was- I am protecting someone else's secret, but I should have pulled you aside to let you know it was nothing about us. Claire, if you doubted me, it was because I GAVE you these doubts."

After some seconds in silence, Claire raised her eyes to Piper, shiny with tears and clear with honesty.

"Would you have told me?"

"If Trish had gone missing? Claire, I've been living with Trish for four months now, but I've known from the first week that if anything ever happened to Trish, you should be the first to know. Sorry, Trish corrected me, you're the one with the biggest right to know if something happens to her."

"Leo said the same thing..."

"He did?"

How could he have known? He doesn't know me.

But he knows me.

"I should've trusted you more..."

"Claire, you couldn't have known. And I cannot thank you enough for coming to me and asking me to talk, instead of pretending all was well. Claire, like always, you were honest, and I love y- sorry, we both love you even more for that."

Piper could see the fresh tears accumulating and the trembling lower lip, so she stood up and pulled Claire to a hug.

TUESDAY, 31th January

Sprawled on their bed with her belly up, Piper was reading the text assigned on their Lit class for the third time, giving Trish time to check for any metaphor they might have ignored the other times. When her phone rang, she distractedly answered, not checking the ID.

"Hello?"

"Trish, love, how are you?"

The deep voice made her sit up in surprise, Trish's monologue cut off.

"... Dad. I'm... good. Yeah, good."

Wow, it has been... what, a week?

Since we last spoke with him? More like 10 days.

"No problems with school?"

"Huh... no. I had a tiny argument with Claire, but it's all settled now."

"I'm glad to hear your friendship is still strong as ever."

"Thanks. How about you?"

"I called mostly for that. You'll be happy to hear that I'm coming home. I should be back in two days, likely in the evening."

Oh no.

And Mackenzie!?

What do I do?

How should I know?

He's your father!

For the last four months or so, he's been yours!

It's not like we spent every day together!

"Trish?"

"Yes!?"

"Is there a problem?"

"Hm... no?"

We need to tell him; we're NOT kicking her out!

He'll have a lot of questions.

Just give a general answer for now and we can think of details later.

"It's just... since you're coming home, I... ah... a friend of a friend got into a huge fight with her parents, like really huge, and she's... she kinda crashed here. And they are not making peace for now – like I said, it was a huge fight – and I more or less said she could stay here for now? Would that be a problem?"

"Trish, why didn't you tell me this before?"

Because you're never present in my life?

"I thought it would be just a couple of days but... I think... I don't know the details, but I know she really doesn't want to go back for now and I don't want to force her for now."

"You've always had such a big heart."

In her mind, Trish snorted.

"For me it's not a problem, I always said you could invite your friends. I'd be happy to meet her."

Well, that's gonna be a problem.

Problem will be telling this to Mackenzie.

Oh gods, don't even tell me.

***

After she ended the call, Piper let her body fall back on the bed, sighing.

We need to talk to her now.

I know.

She either needs time to adjust or we need the time to move her somewhere else.

To where, Jason?

Might be awkward being in a boy's house. Claire?

We just made peace from keeping secrets. Sounds a bit cruel to just jump the poor girl into her lap from nowhere.

That's what best friends are for. But her father is nosier than mine, so that might be a problem.

Annabeth?

Same thing, she doesn't even know what's been going on.

But she's more than used in adjusting to the circumstances.

But Mackenzie doesn't know her, and I think her personality might be a little too... harsh? For Mackenzie's state of mind in the moment.

And she has a whole family that might be nosy. Percy? At least his mother knows.

I don't think they have an extra room. And we don't know how long this will take. Will?

You're suggesting Will?

Her mother is fine. And he-Will is cool, has met Mackenzie, knows about her situation and has some medical experience.

And he also said they don't have the free time.

And you also said he would never turn his back to a girl in her situation.

What if we ask Mackenzie?

... That might be the best choice.

Knowing they could not prepare for a conversation when they knew so little about Mackenzie, Piper found herself knocking on the other girl's door without a plan on how to present the news.

"Mackenzie?"

"Trish."

"Can I come in? There's something I need to tell you."

"Yeah, come in."

The pregnant girl was sitting on her bed, a notebook Piper had given her to act as a diary, from Mrs. Jones' suggestion in her hands. Smiling nervously, Piper walked further and sat on the bed, keeping some distance. After Mrs. Jones' visits, Mackenzie had calmed down and was seen more with a small smile than a frown, and they could only hope that Trish's father coming back wouldn't destroy this progress.

"Have I ever spoke of my father? Don't look at me like that, I'm not here to give you a moral lesson. I came to talk about him because I'm sure you've noticed I live alone. I mean, usually Claire spend half of her nights here, but I'm the only one living here. The reason for that is because my father is an actor and he has been in Rio for the last... four months and half. It should've been shorter than this, but he said something about summer rains delaying it."

Mackenzie had a guarded expression, but wasn't showing any other signs. Taking a deep breath, Piper allowed Trish to take over.

"The thing is... he's coming back in two days. I didn't say anything before because he only told me about an hour ago. I already told him I had a friend staying over because of a fight with her family and that I'd said you could stay as much as you wanted. He said he's okay with it, but I need to know if you're okay with it."

Mackenzie broke the eye contact and kept staring at her hands in silence for almost a full minute.

"... How is your father?"

... Not the question I was expecting.

What do you want to answer?

"... He means well? He's usually chill, but I think there's a possibility that he could be very nosy. Not for the sake of being nosy, he'll just decide he should help you and maybe give some fatherly advices – not that he knows anything about having a teenage daughter."

"But you..."

"He has been away for four months this time, but this have been my life pretty much always. At least after I started high school, I was able to convince him I didn't need his secretary hovering over me like a sour babysitter."

Mackenzie let out a tiny giggle at that and Piper smiled, Trish almost giddy with their progress.

"I know he can be a bit overbearing when he tries to act like a father, so I will try to keep him away from you and discourage him from... disturbing you. I also know I might not be totally successful in this so I need to know if you want us to... find another solution?"

"You say he'll be curious?"

"Yes, but I'm not comfortable with answering his questions for you. It's your life."

Mackenzie's expression was thoughtful, before tilting her head, pondering.

"... What if we got Mrs. Jones to talk to him? She knows what's happening, so maybe she can convince him without revealing too much?"

"That's... a very good idea, actually. Yes, I'll ask her tomorrow. Good thinking!"

Honestly, we worried for nothing. She not only accepted it, she also found a solution.

"Trish?"

Mackenzie's voice interrupted Piper from leaving to her room.

"Hm?"

"I can't ever thank you and John enough for everything you've been doing for me."

Piper shrugged, embarrassed. Trish wasn't comfortable with the praise either.

"I only lent you a room."

"You and John did so much more than that. You even convinced Mrs. Jones to come here."

"Actually, she offered."

"And she'd never have known about me if you didn't go to her first. Thank you."

"I'm just glad to see you're getting better."

"I still have a long way to go..."

Piper held the other girl's eyes with determination, infusing her voice with as much confidence as she could.

"You'll get there, Mackenzie."

She gave them a grateful smile, nodding in agreement.

"You can call me Kenzie."

Honestly, this girl deserves the world, just like Claire.

Do you remember what we've been thinking before she called on Sunday? What if we had help?

What are you... oh! Yeah, that could be fun.

"Kenzie? Would you like to help me cut my hair?"

Her startled eyes moved to their hair, her expression bemused.

"I don't have any experience..."

"Neither do I, and that never stopped me. Come along!"

WEDNESDAY, 1st February

The sound of the door being forcefully closed raise Piper's eyes from the Claire's article that Trish was revising. Bea's thunderous expression took them by surprise, the new girl was usually very up-beat, and her and Claire together were sweet enough to cause diabetes. Claire had also noticed the unusual humor, carefully stepping around her table and walking towards her new friend and colleague.

"Bea? Did something happen?"

"Apart from hearing some people badmouthing my advices, no."

Piper sighed from the feeling of weariness coming from Trish.

"We warned you this would happen. Wasn't that why you chose a pseudonym, so at least people wouldn't harass you in person?"

"I know, I know. Even though I knew this would happen, I'm still upset that it did. Isn't it pathetic?"

Claire gave the red-head a smile and kindly took her hand.

"It's normal."

Piper nodded in agreement, only repeating after Trish.

"And believe it or not, you kinda get used to it. If I got upset everyone got angry about what I write..."

"I'm sorry if I'm being to forward but... wasn't that why you did it? To piss people off?"

Bea's forwardness surprised them for a moment, even Claire. After a moment of hesitation, Piper let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"It's been recently brought to my attention that the REAL reason might be a bit more... personal than that."

"Either way, it took Sabrina and Chloe to hold me down so I didn't go there give those... ungrateful... goblins an earful!"

The unusual word raised Piper's eyebrow.

"Goblins?"

Bea shrugged, moving to her table and pulling a full chocolate bar from a drawer. Piper could almost hear Claire's heart picking up.

"My little cousin uses it as the highest offense. I don't why it came to my head right now."

Piper and Claire exchanged a look. With Trish's presence, their conversations barely needed any words. Nodding slowly, Piper turned to the third girl.

"Bea, be honest. Do you want to keep going?"

She looked at Piper, chewing her lower lip for a moment before nodding with conviction.

"... Yes, I do. I know I'll be criticized, but if I can help at least one person, I want to."

Smiling, Claire went to retrieve something from her own drawer, handing it to Bea.

"Good, because something was passed this under the door about ten minutes ago. Thought you might want to see it."

"What does it say?"

"We didn't read, it's addressed to 'Corinne'."

I really hope it's not a hate mail disguised inside that 'thank you' card.

I hope so too.

She opened the envelope, taking out the card and reading in concentration. When her eyebrows furrowed and her hand flew to her mouth, they got worried.

"Bea?"

The girl raised her eyes shining with tears and smiled. Claire's sigh of relief was audible.

"It's from A.L.D. She said she thought about what I said and gave it a shot, and that now she feels freer than she's ever been. She thanks me for taking the time to read and answer about her stupid problems and that she hopes I get all the happiness I deserve because I'm such a kind person."

She lowered her eyes back to the card in amazement.

"I helped her. I really helped someone."

Piper smirked.

"Want to try and help someone else?"

"Absolutely yes!"

A/N: I know that psychologists usually use their words to make YOU get to the conclusions, to get YOU to know yourself, but I don't have the patience, I'm working on a tight schedule here (the demigods have barely a month). To be honest, putting Piper/Trish in contact with a psychologist has been in my plans since the beginning, I just needed an excuse. It took me four years and over 150 chapters, but here we are!