Leo's POV

I turn back to see Piper smiling at me.

Actually smiling.

I look her in the eyes, which is the best I can manage, and repeat after her. "Together."

This time Annabeth comes toward me and bear hugs me.

I stay there stiff, my emotions running around like a drunk centaur playing tag.

"I'm not a hugger!" I squeal as Hazel hugs me from behind and Piper somehow gets in too.

"Ladies. Ladies! I can't, breath. I need air!"

They let go and I quickly take one last look at the window and make a silent promise.

To run when everything has calmed down. To insult them enough that they never come after me again. To push them away. To push everyone away.

They will hurt me if I trust them somehow I will get hurt, or worse, I could hurt them.

I glance at Frank and see him studying me.

I immediately look away but think to myself, maybe this time is different.

Maybe I can actually stay here and be happy. To use a real smile and enjoy myself. To not hear the voices that say I can't.

A place that I belong.

"Food?" I ask changing the subject and Jason laughs.

"Do you think of anything else?" Jason asks and I just shrug, not acknowledging the fact that I haven't had a meal in what feels like years.

Percy puts his arm over my shoulder and guides me toward the kitchen.

And I allow myself to relax.

Maybe I can start over. Like for real. Not pretending. Not daydreaming.

I glance at Percy's carefree expression. Maybe with these people, I can be safe.

Get away from my past. From Aunt Rosa. From tough foster homes; tough school situations. Perhaps I can actually move on from all of that... Right?

I can be-

Murderer

I stumble over my next step and almost fall on Percy.

"You okay?" Annabeth questions me, looking into my eyes.

"Yeah yeah. I'm just a-"

Diablo

"K-klutz." I stutter, finishing my sentence.

Annabeth looks unconvinced, I and hurry ahead into the kitchen.

Insecure

I can't do this. Oh, gods no I can't do this. I'm such a-

Coward

Everyone sits down around the round table and stare at me concerned, as Sally looks through the refrigerator for food.

The voices are back. The voices that always come when I get too comfortable in one place. The voice used to be Aunt Rosa's voice, but over time have become my own voice. Me doubting myself.

The reason I'm always running away is because the voices always remind me-

Seventh Wheel

-of who I am and what I've done.

The voices never let me forget.

And they never stop unless I tell them yes. Yes, that I'll keep running. Because that's what I do. Like a coward, I run from my problems.

No wonder Calypso left me, I would leave me if I could. But I can't, so I have to settle for leaving everyone else.

Sally sits down next to Paul and places a plate full of blue cookies.

"Dig in you guys, they're cold because I left the plate in the fridge for later, but they taste all the same." Sally explains and Annabeth touches the plate.

Percy smiles and grabs a handful, as do the others.

Hazel takes a tentative bite out of one. "Blue cookies? Is that something people do? Make it blue?"

Sally laughs. "No not everyone. It's what you might call a family tradition."

Percy smiles obviously knowing the tradition.

I look at the food and my stomach churns in disgust, though I'm still hungry.

"Eat something, Leo." Sally says gently and I shake my head.

"No, no. I'm not hungry." I respond staring at the plate.

"You're the one who asked for food." Jason's states puzzled.

"Yeah, well I'm not hungry anymore." I shoot back, stubborn.

"When was the last time you've eaten something?" Sally asks me looking me in the eye, I look away.

"I don't know." I say quietly.

"You have to eat something. Fruit, toast, I can make you a meal, anything, but you have to eat."

I sigh frustrated. "I'm not hungry. I'm fine."

"If you say you're fine one more time-" Paul threatens and I cut him off.

"You'll what? What'll you do?" I glare at him.

Paul looks to the ceiling as if exasperated. Oh please, Mr. Ceiling smack some respect into this boy.

I cross my arms and look to the side.

"I'm. Fine. Stop worrying, I mean nothing to you. Percy's your son. Worry about his eating habits."

Sally gives a small laugh. "Percy's 'eating habits' mainly consist of pizza, which I make him eat with salad, and blue cookies, which I make him eat with milk."

Sally thinks of something and looks at Percy pointing at the fridge.

Percy sighs and puts down the cookies and walks to the fridge to get a cup of milk.

"Leo, you do mean something to us-" Paul says, but like the respectful boy I am, I interrupt him again.

"You don't even know me. We just met, what? Yesterday? The night before? It's been about one day that you've known me, so cut the crap that you actually care about me."

Paul sits back and studies me. "You don't have to know someone to care about what's happened to them, or what's happening."

You know sometimes when you're frustrated and confused you just want to cry. Yeah, well that's me right now.

Tears pierce the back of my eyes. "Yeah well, whatever."

"Leo," Paul starts gently.

"WHAT?" I shout at him grabbing my head, to shut out the voices that are still whispering to me.

The room itself seems to hold its breath.

I feel Piper's eyes on me. "Are-"

"Shut. Up." I say, only partly talking to the voices.

Jason looks at Paul as if he could help. Paul nods silently.

"Can you guys, excuse me and Leo for a while." Paul says and the rest of them nod and walk out, but Piper says back.

"Can you help?" She whispers to Paul.

He sighs. "I can do only so much. I used to be a therapist, but Leo has to cooperate on his half. I'll try."

Piper thanked him and then surprisingly kissed me on the cheek.

My eyes flicker to hers and she gives me a small smile but I just look away.

But, don't think for a moment I believed she cared. Because if there's one thing this world has taught me over and over.

You can't trust anyone.

~*~

Okay so I WAS gonna make this like, I incredibly depressing and sad, BUT I didn't know where to put those feels in.

So I'm putting them into the next chapter with Paul and Leo. Your welcome!