Is it just me or does Nino from The Maze Runner remind you of Frank?

Percy

"Hey shadow kid." A girl with choppy brown hair sat across from me.

"Listen, I don't have money, okay? Go get it from someone else." I rolled my eyes.

"Listen here Percy, I don't want your lunch money. But I made a new friend. Her name is Annabeth. She's sitting over there, and she thought maybe you could join us." Piper pointed towards Annabeth. Annabeth had her head in her hands, and I lightly chuckled at her embarrassment.

"Alrighty." I stood up and followed Piper to the table.

"ANNIE! Look who is here!" Piper shouted, and plopped right next to a blonde haired boy.

"I told you not to call me Annie." Annabeth growled, still keeping her head in her hands.

"Percy, you can sit by Annabeth." A girl with chocolate skin stood up and let me take her seat.

"Okay..." I say down beside Annabeth, and I just looked down awkwardly.

'They can't be your friends. You have to be the lonely shadow kid. Gabe would kill them and you. Don't get too attached.' My brain yelled at me.

"Hey isn't that shadow kid?" The blonde haired boy pointed at me.

"Is there a problem?" Annabeth looked at Jason threateningly, and I grinned.

"Woah, woah. No need to go all defense mode on your boyfriend." Jason put his hands up in surrender. My grin faded.

"He isn't my boyfriend." Annabeth said stubbornly, slightly annoyed.

"Okay.." Hazel continued to drink her iced tea.

"Anyway, introductions?" Piper suggested.

"Right." I said, looking at all the people around me.

Piper talked about each person, and what their name is. She was slightly blushing when she as talking about the blonde haired kid, Jason. We talked a bit more, but I always saw Annabeth looking at my left eye, the red one. But then the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.

I was the first one to exit the lunch room, eager to get to Language Arts. Never thought I would say that. Due to my dyslexia and all.

When I reached the back of the class, the rest of the gang came and sat around me.

"Is there something you guys need?" I asked, oblivious to the fact that they were just trying to be nice.

"Percy, we stick together. You're part of the group, man." Leo punched my shoulder.

Group? Am I dreaming? Gabe would hurt them. I can't make friends. Restrain yourself.

"Group?" I asked.

"Yes, Percy, a group. A group of friends." Piper rolled her eyes.

"No." I said, barely a whisper.

"No? Why not?" Frank asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I-I can't." I looked away.

"Why not?" Annabeth asked, while she placed a hand on my shoulder. I winced, and pushed my shoulder away from her grip.

"Percy?" Annabeth started looking concerned.

"You guys don't even know me. Didn't you hate me? I can't have friends. Things should stay the same as before." I growled, and got up to sit on the other side of the room.

The group was puzzled, and looked at me sitting by myself. They were all whispering to each other, and I just sat there, alone.

No friends. Gabe will hurt them.

As school finished, I grabbed my skateboard before anyone could come up to me. I headed straight into the route to my house.

Please don't be home, please, please, please.

As I rolled into the driveway, I saw multiple cars, including Gabe's truck.

Fuck. So close.

I got off my skateboard and walked nervously to the front door. I twisted the knob, and it creaked open.

Gabe's friends were all sitting on the couch, playing a round of poker. Gabe was in the kitchen, grabbing beer bottles from the fridge.

"Yo Percy!" James, a friend of Gabe waved at me.

They don't know what Gabe does to me. All they know is that Gabe likes to gamble. They think he treats me good, and is a great step-father.

"Hey James." I said nervously, and I slowly closed the door. I took off my shoes, and took my chance to run up the stairs. But of course, nothing goes my way.

"Where you going knuckle-head?" Gabe growled, and grabbed me by the collar of my sweatshirt. He looked behind him to make sure none of his friends saw him, and quickly went upstairs, dragging me behind him. He walked into my room, and pushed me onto the bed.

"Listen here shit head. After my friends are done playing and leave, you're going to clean this shit-hole. Got it?" Gabe growled, and I slowly nodded.

"Good. Now don't come downstairs until I say you can." Gabe slammed the door as he exited, and I just sat on my bed awkwardly.

I looked out at my window that I always sneak out to. I had math homework, but I could skip it. It's not like I actually pay attention to Mrs. Craig.

I opened my window all the way, then carefully removed the net. There was tree branches always brushing against my windows, so I carefully climbed onto the branches, and worked my way down.

When I was on the ground, I slowly started walking. Whenever my head was full of thoughts, I would always walk around. I didn't have a phone. It was too expensive, and my mother would never have enough money to buy one. My mom has a phone though.

As I was walking, someone bumped into me, causing me to fall on them.

"Oof!"

I rolled off the person, and placed a hand on my forehead. I looked next to me. There was the one and only Annabeth Chase.

"Really? The second time?" Annabeth shook her head, and got up.

I slowly got up.

"Well? No hello or what's good?" Annabeth raised an eyebrow.

I didn't respond.

"You know, you can at least say something!" Annabeth raised up her hands in frustration.

Still didn't respond.

"You can be so annoying!" Annabeth stormed off, and I chuckled.

I continued my walk to a special place. Whenever mom had late night shifts, I would always sneak out without Gabe knowing. AFter being yelled at, or beaten, I would walk to my special place.

As I walked through the trees, I spotted the sparkling lake. The stuff I left from my last visit was still there. An old sweater, and my swimsuit. Whenever I needed a swim without people seeing, I would go here. Whenever I needed to empty my thoughts, I would go here. There was a deck from the grass to the front of the lake. I would always keep my feet dangling as I sat there on the edge, thinking.

I took off my shoes and socks, and walked to the end of the deck. I sat there, and dipped my feet in the water.

Relaxation. But life just really hated me.

A twig snapped, and I quickly snapped my head back.

"So, this is where you go to escape from life, huh?" I heard a familiar voice.

-oOo

HEY GUYS! You probably know who it is, but I decided to end it there. Anyway, how was your day?

Well, thats great, but I got to go now, so BYEEEE

PEACE OUT

-DaQUEEN234