Percy walked into the apartment. Pearl? Why does it seem so familiar? He wondered as he opened the door.

"Did you figure out her name?" Sally asked.

"That's... Pearl." He said with surprise.

Sally smiled lightly. She passed him a plate with pepperoni pizza on it. She set some drinks on the table and a plate of veggies. 

"What are you so surprised about?" She asked.

"I think I know the girl, I just can't place it." He quietly said as he sat down.

"Oh... you probably know her, just you don't." She said sadly.

Percy glanced at his mother. Something's up. He thought as he took a bite of his pizza. "How would you know?"

"I don't." She said quietly. "I wouldn't."

Percy quieted down. He ate in silence, and all he could think about is the strange girl watching a girl he couldn't stop thinking of. Was it the way she looked? Maybe the way she resembled a younger, girl version of himself? Was it that she didn't have a family? Or that he hadn't noticed her until that day?

Poseidon, tell me the answers. He thought as he looked out the window.

No. Was the answer.

That's new. Percy thought. I don't remember gods taking the time to say no. He looked back at his food. He wished that Tyson was here, he'd know what to do. He watched the rain pitter patter on the window. It slowed and there was a light, the sun.

Was Apollo doing him a favor? He walked to the window and stared out the window. The girl was there, and she hadn't even touched the money or food, she had only brought it under the slide. She had taken a drink but that was it. She was staring up at the window that Percy was at. She knew where he lived.

"Hey, can I go down there again?" He said as he turned slowly around.

"Yea, go ahead. You should probably give the girl some food too." She passed him a bag with some food and drinks in it.

"Thanks!" He grabbed his sweater from the rack and ran out the door.

He saw the girl under the slide. He came under too. "Hey, here's some food for you." He put it beside her bag.

"You still came back?" She asked.

"Um, yeah." He said uncomfortably.

The girl wiped her hair away from her face. She looked at her untouched food. She was hungry, but now wasn't the time to eat. It was the time to question the boy.

"Why do you care so much that I get food? That I'm alright?" She questioned.

Percy hadn't been ready for these kinds of questions. "Um... I- I don't know." He answered, his head hung low.

She got out from under the slide.
"Well then, why should I stay?" she questioned him as she picked up her bag.

"I don't know, but stay anyways." He passed her the food and water.

"Thanks, but no thanks, I gotta find a place before the storm hits." She picked up the food and put it in her bag.

"Oh, why don't you..." He scratched the back of his head. "with us?"

"Um, thanks, but no. Your parents wouldn't want me there anyways." She turned to leave.

Percy grabbed her shoulder. "Stay."

"No."

Percy tugged at her shoulder. She tugged away. They fought until Pearl had had enough. 

"Stop! I have to find an alley okay? Leave me already." She walked away.

"Well, that went well," Percy said under his breath.

He walked back into the apartment building and to his room. He lay on his bed staring at the ceiling.

"Where did I go wrong?" He wondered.

"No where Percy, she's just real stubborn," Sally replied as she walked into his room.

"How would you know?" He asked.

"Oh, Percy, I wish I could tell you. It's just not the place or time. It's complicated." She sighed.

"Okay then." Percy turned on his side.

His breathing slowed, he was sleeping.

Sally walked out and closed the door. She went to the kitchen and started to wash the dishes. She had just finished washing a cup when there was a knock at the door.

She wiped her hands and opened the door. Standing there was Poseidon.

"Hello, Sally." He said as he came in.

"Poseidon." She nodded slightly and closed the door.

He looked around. 

"I saw what happened."

"I was watching too." She paused. "Now can I tell Percy?"

"I- I don't know."

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