Fun fact: only 1 more chapter left before this book is finished!

Fun Fact number 2: shoutout to ShadeDolphin101 she is amazing, also Its_Scarlet_Rose for her amazing Slam Dunk (Percabeth fanfic) book! Boo-yoo-ti-ful!

Annabeth's pov:

The rain fell heavily across me. I had decided to walk for a while, yet the sudden change of weather was starting to question my choices.

Suddenly, a branch from a tree snapped, causing me to fumble and slip on the wet ground. I cursed loudly, getting back up by holding on the tree firmly. That didn't work for me though, for I fell right where I previously did.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" I screamed at the tree, everything was starting to get to me, and it was making me feel even more deranged than I should be.

Rustling in the leaves brought me back to reality, and I swiftly turned my head towards the sound.

"Who's there?" I shouted, holding the snapped branch as a form of defence. "I have a weapon and I'm not afraid to use it!"

A boy too secluded in the darkness to be recognised, came out from the bushes. He had his hands out as if I was carrying a gun.

"Woah there, Annabeth. It's just me." The boy said.

My eyes adjusted to the added darkness, and I tilted my head to the side in confusion. "Nico?" I asked.

He smiled hesitantly. "The one and only."

I dropped my tree branch (I'll call him Kev) and walked over to Nico. He had on a dark black overcoat, engulfing him in even more darkness.

"What are you doing out at this time?" I asked Nico. Nico was a few years younger than me, but due to unknown reasons he had managed to get into the older classes. I didn't question it though, our school had always been abnormal.

Nico shrugged. "I needed to think, the night let's me do that." He nodded towards me. "What about you?"

"Oh me?" I laughed nervously. "I needed to walk outside, same as you."

Nico glanced at me skeptically. "Your red face and massive bag says otherwise. Want to walk back to Piper's house and we could all chat?"

I winced. "I'd rather not, we had a fight."

Nico nodded. "Thought so. So you're going to make it up with her?"

I shook my head. "No, I got kicked out. I can't just waltz myself back in there and say 'I'm sorry' like it was no big deal."

Nico turned towards me, a slight look of sorrow on his face. "Well I can't help you there, I'm not very good at friend advice, I like to keep to myself."

I nodded, not sure of what to say. The occasional sounds of shouting and cars flowing down the streets alerted me that I was in fact, walking across the streets of New York practically homeless.

To be honest, it scared me. It scared me that I was able to make someone hate me so much that I would be isolated from them. It scared me so much that people could turn on me so easily due to a girl they had barely known.

Sure, New York at night was not the best, but the thoughts that had submerged in my head terrified me.

"You have any place to stay tonight?" Nico asked nervously.

I nodded my head. "Yeah," I lied. "Piper wouldn't kick me out if I didn't have a place to stay."

Oh yes she would.

Nico nodded. "Well, goodbye Chase. I'll see you tomorrow at school."

I smiled and descended back into the darkness, knowing it was all a lie. I dug for my phone in my pocket, only to find it empty. What the hell? I thought. I then did the rational thing and checked for it in my bag. My phone was nowhere to be seen.

I cursed loudly, remembering that I had left it on Piper's bed. Now I had to go back to the one place I was forbidden to go, and not act like a nervous wreck.

I ran all the way back to the McLean household, looking through the window to see if everyone was there. Fate was in it for me today, for everyone was there, laughing and talking like as if I was never a part of it.

"Crap," I muttered, as Thalia turned towards the window, almost seeing me. I had managed to swiftly duck down behind a stragetically placed berry bush.

I walked over to the door, my hand hovering over the doorbell. Should I ring? I thought. I mean, if I did, Piper could come out and she could just slam the door in my face thinking I would apologise. Or she would want me to, and well-

Just press the damn doorbell! My conscious shouted.

I sighed, pressing the said item once. The muffled voices I could hear stopped, and I could hear the sounds of feet walking.

I looked down at myself, cursing myself for not cleaning up. All in all, I looked like a mess. My hair was stuck to my face due to the unwelcome rain. My clothes were damp and dirty, and my bag was drenched in rainwater. It didn't help that Kev the branch was extremely prickly, and now my hands were cut and calloused.

The door opened cautiously. Then opened wider, letting whoever opened the door know that it was me.

"I, uh, need my phone." I croaked out, me shouting at the annoying tree resulting in my voice breaking.

Great.

I didn't even care anymore, pushing past Jason and going into Piper's room to grab my phone. Once passing the living room, the others stared at me. Yeah, I looked like I was homeless but it didn't mean I was a zoo animal looking to be stared.

I cautiously stepped over the board game they were playing, the tips of my shoes accidently skidding on a dice.

"Sorry." I whispered, grabbing the misplaced dice and putting it back up.

The room, however, was deathly silent, as if one single word from someone else would kill someone.

I went into Piper's room, grabbing my phone and wincing at the slight contact. The cuts on my hand were still bleeding, causing me to worry. There were no band aids (plasters for english) around, no bandages either.

I sighed, thinking about how just an hour ago, I was sitting down on Piper's couch reminiscing about life, not knowing that I'd be kicked out and possibly being out on the streets again.

As I opened the door, I heard Hazel ask me a question. "Do you have a place to stay, Annabeth?"

I turned towards her, a soft smile on my face. "No, but I've been homeless before." I pushed the door back bitterly, before stepping outside. "I can do it again!" I called out, shutting the door and turning back around to the streets I now called home.

I knew I couldn't sleep in my own home. Helen was there and her disorder would worsen if I was still there, and I definitely couldn't go to my other friends houses. Why? Because most- no, all of them hated my guts. So yeah, I had to sleep on the sidewalk.

I found a small crevice big enough for me to crawl into. The downside was that it was too close to Piper's house, meaning every single person could see me as they came out.

I smiled, realising that I had most of my books inside my bag. A book could take you anywhere, no matter how horrible the situation was.

I grabbed my set of the Hunger Games and started reading.

My eyes started to slowly close as I neared the halfway point. Before they completely shut, my blurry vision saw a bunch of teenagers coming out of Piper's house, all pointing at me.

"Annabeth?!" Hazel shouted, running past the street and coming to me.

"What the heck? We thought you were lying." Jason said, as I rubbed my eyes.

"You're actually going to sleep on the sidewalk?" Leo asked, all humour gone.

"Yes, yes I will. Now, could one of you guys pass Kev the branch and I will be on my way. If this area is too much of a nuisance for me to sleep, I'll go find somewhere else."

Frank pushed me down. "You're not staying here."

"That's what I just said. I'll move to another spot if you want."

"Kev the branch?" Thalia asked.

"Yeah, go pick him up. But be careful, his sides are prickly."

"She's gone mad," Leo muttered.

I dramatically yawned. "Guys, just go. I'm trying to sleep." I pulled the hood of my jacket over me, trying to drown out the noises of these annoying people.

I didn't even realise I had fallen asleep until I woke up, my Hunger Games book still nestled in my hand.

I groaned, my neck was sore due to the emptiness of a pillow. I tried to stretch it, yet it only hurt more.

Kicking a can out of frustration, I left the crevice, ready to go to my father's house.

. . .

"Hello? Who is it?" My father's voice called out.

I rolled my eyes. I was tempted to say you're daughter who just so happens to be homeless. Instead, I gritted my teeth and spoke calmly.

"It's me, Annabeth."

The door opened wide, and he looked at me quizzically. "Why are you so . . . you know?"

I raised an eyebrow. "I live on the streets Dad, what do you expect me to look like?"

My father opened his mouth, then shut it. He hurriedly let me in. "Helen is not here, come on in. Let's talk."

I sat down on the couch, hoping my half brothers didn't see me like this.

"What do you mean homeless? I thought you were living with your friend Piper?" My father asked, giving me a cup of water.

I drank it quickly. "Yeah, that didn't work out. We had a fight, and I got kicked out."

"Kicked out onto the street?! I don't care, I'm calling this Piper girl and ask-"

I took his arm. "No Dad, I just wanted to ask if I could stay here. If that's alright with you and Helen?"

My father sighed. "Helen might be a tad bit angry, but that's all right. Of course you could stay here."

I smiled thankfully. "Thanks Dad."

He smiled back. "You're welcome."

I grabbed my wet bag and trudged off to my room. It looked the exact same as I left it in its clean state, except for a few dust bunnies gathered here and there. I fell back onto the bed, relieved that I would not have to be on the streets.

Checking the time, I gasped. School started two hours ago- and the dance was today.

"Crap." I muttered whilst searching in my bag for decent enough clothes.

Grabbing the items, I changed like there was no tomorrow.

"Bye, Dad. I have school!" I shouted out as I closed the door and ran to Goode.

The dance was today, I thought. Percy was supposed to take me. I laughed at that bit, me and Percy were not on good terms. I doubted I'd even go to the dance, yet the only thing keeping me there was the food.

I rushed to the secretaries office.
"You're late." She bluntly said.

"Yeah, I forgot."

She laughed. "Well don't do that again, now go to your class." I smiled, a bit suprised at her reaction. I had expected a late note, not a pass.

Smiling, I walked over to my class.
The bell rang right when I stepped in, and I quickly turned around before the teacher could notice me.

I looked at the clock, what time was it now? Glancing up, I noticed it was lunch time. I sighed, realising that I had no one to sit next to.

You'll always be alone, Annabeth.