Annabeth POV

She didn't want to wake up.

She didn't want to face reality.

But she was forced to.

Annabeth silently got off of her straw bed. She pulled off the quilt that her mother made when she was little, and folded it.

She rushed to her cracked mirror that was hanging onto the wall, and picked up the dusty brush.

After brushing her hair, Annabeth quickly dressed into a ragged dress.

It was a hand me down, one of the two outfits she owned.

She placed an apron around her dress, and opened the door of the attic.

She began her long journey down the staircase, until she finally reached downstairs.

Annabeth quietly walked out the back door of the house, walking towards the barn.

She smiled as she opened the door of the barn, and was greeted with all of her animal friends.

"Hello Arnold." Annabeth greeted the rooster, who was perched onto the chicken coop.

She walked into each horse stall, cleaning and washing the horses.

Suddenly, a bell was heard in the distance, along with her name.

"Annabeth! Get yourself over here!" Annabeth heard her step mother, Helen, scream.

"I'll be back, Bob." Annabeth patted the horses neck and closed the barn.

She quickly rushed towards the house.

When she entered the house, Helen was in the kitchen.

"You have extra chores to do today!" Helen gave Annabeth a list of things to do on a piece of paper.

Annabeth sighed. "Alright."

"Now, I'm taking Bobby and Matthew to school. Then I'll be at work. I better come home to see dinner ready." Helen huffed.

Bobby and Matthew came giggling into the kitchen.

"Annie! Can you tie this shoe lace for me?" Bobby asked, frowning.

"Sure thing bud." Annabeth smiled and bent down to tie his shoe.

"Mom, why doesn't Annabeth ever come into the kingdom with us?" Matt asked.

"She is always busy. She doesn't have time. Now let's go. We can get fresh bread from the bakery if we are early!" Helen rushed to the front door, then glared back at Annabeth.

"Don't disappoint me."

Annabeth nodded.

Helen slammed the door shut, and Annabeth watched as they disappeared from view.

Tears swelled in her eyes. Annabeth couldn't go out into the kingdom. It was prohibited. She also never got to have a real meal. She never got fresh bread, she only got the scrapes and left overs of her families meals.

Annabeth quickly looked at the list.

Clean the horses.

Get the eggs from the chicken coop.

Make dinner.

Wash Bobby, Matt's, and my laundry.

Polish the floors.

And the list went on and on.

Annabeth went back to the barn. After washing the horses, she walked towards the chicken coop, holding a small basket for the eggs.

"Hello ladies. Let's see how you're doing." Annabeth said, while ducking into the chicken coop, looking in every nest.

"Good job Cecelia! Four eggs. Oh, Jennifer, these are lovely." Annabeth laughed as Jennifer the chicken clucked.

"Keep up the great work ladies."

Annabeth got out of the chicken coop, and walked back into the house.

She placed the eggs away, then began making dinner.

+*+*+*+

After making dinner, Annabeth continued with the rest of her chores.

She broomed the floors, cleaned Helen and the boys room, mopped the floors, cleaned the dishes, dried and put away the dishes, then she began doing the laundry.

Piles of clothes were stacked in the laundry room. Annabeth sighed and turned on the sink to place water and soap into a bucket.

Annabeth took small piles of clothes and put them outside. She took a small stool, and the bucket, and sat outside.

The sunshine made her face glow, and the wind blew in her face. Annabeth inhaled the sweet smell of air and flowers.

Civilization was only a three minute walk from her home.

Annabeth looked a few meters away, and spotted the fellow people of the kingdom. There was a bustling amount of people, walking store to store. Among those stores was one of Annabeth's favorite places.

The library.

Whenever Annabeth finished her chores and had a few more hours until her family came home, she would rush to the library.

The librarian, Mrs. Williams, would always welcome her.

Annabeth sighed a she sat on the stool, and began scrubbing the clothes into the bucket.

Pile after pile, Annabeth soon finished washing the clothes.

Now she had to hang them up.

Annabeth took each piece of clothing and clipped them onto the clips.

When she was finished, Annabeth went inside to have a cup of water.

It was 1:49, meaning she had some time before Helen and the kids come home.

Annabeth brushed her hair once more, then closed the front door of the house.

She walked for three minutes, until finally reaching the bustling sounds of the city.

The kingdom was alive.

Annabeth smiled at the fellow citizens of Crete as she walked towards the library.

When she entered the room, the smell of fresh books filled her nose.

"Good morning Annabeth! I'm glad you could make it today.New books in section five!" Mrs. Williams greeted.

"Good morning Mrs. Williams! Thank you." Annabeth smiled and walked towards section five of the library.

Annabeth looked through the books, after skipping fan fictions of people who read about 'Percabeth'.

Finally, she settled on a book called Maiden Voyage. (A/N: A real book btw! I recommend it!)

She took her usual spot in the library, a comfy bean bag in the side of the library. Next to the bean bag was a window, showing the passing people of Crete.

On the wall across from the bean bag was a clock, so Annabeth could always check the time.

Annabeth began reading her book, enjoying her time.

+*+*+*+

When it was 4:50, Annabeth quickly put the book back.

She would read the rest tomorrow. If she was able.

Annabeth walked out of the library after waving goodbye to Mrs. Williams, then rushed back towards her house.

When Annabeth reached the house, she sighed in relief. Helen always came home around five.

Annabeth got the dinner table ready, and when she placed all the spoons and forks in place, Helen and the boys came into the house.

"Good, dinner is ready." Helen sighed and gave her bag and the boys backpacks to Annabeth.

"Put the stuff away." Helen said and then went into the kitchen.

Annabeth went to Helen's room, and put her bag away. She then walked to the boys room, and put away the backpacks.

She then began her walk up the stairs to the attic.

She laid onto the straw bed.

She looked at the ceiling, through the sky view window. She then got up and walked to the corner of the attic, where a box was taped.

After Athena died, Annabeth's mother, all of Athena's belongings went inside the box. Annabeth never opened it. She was too distressed about her mother's death to open the box.

But now was the moment.

Annabeth picked up the box and placed it onto her straw bed. She dug her nails through the tape, opening the box.

Annabeth took a deep breath, until she opened the two folds.

An envelope laid onto a music box, a few clothes, and another small box.

Annabeth took the envelope and quickly opened it up.

Inside placed a letter. Annabeth quickly read through the letter, tears streaming down her face as she read.

Dear sweet Annabeth,

I know that I am deathly sick. But it is time to move on from me. There is great potential in you, my little owl. You are smart, brave, and very confident in yourself. Inside this box lays the things I want you to have.

I know that you won't have very much clothing, so I give you most of mine. I'm sure it will fit perfectly on you when you are in your teens.

The music box is the gift my mother gave me when I was little. It would play soft music, and it helped me calm down. I hope it will do the same for you.

Lastly, the small box. Inside the small box is a pair of gray owl earrings. You're father gave me those on our anniversary, and I am glad to now give it to you.

I hope these things will always keep your spirit up. Be brave my little owl, and whatever you go through without me there, know I'll always be in your heart.

                                                                             Love,

                                                                     Athena Chase

A tear dropped onto the letter. Annabeth sniffled and put the letter down. She took the music box out, and she sat onto the straw bed.

She turned the side key, and the lid flipped open.

A ballerina twirled around as a slow melody played.

Annabeth smiled then closed the music box. She pulled out the outfits that ehr mother had left for her.

Two pairs of jeans, three pairs of shirts, and two sweaters.

It was good enough for her.

She then took out the small box of earrings.

She opened the small box, to find the beautiful pair.

There was an owl, pure gray, twinkling in the light.

Annabeth gasped as she saw a sea green emeralds on the owls eyes.

It was a beautiful color.

Annabeth smiled to herself.

"Annabeth! Get down here!" Helen screamed from downstairs.

Annabeth quickly put the things back into the box, then put it in the corner of the room.

She rushed down the stairs, and went into the kitchen.

"Clean this mess up. I'm going to sleep." Helen went to her room.

Annabeth looked at the mess her step brothers and step mother have left behind.

She sighed as she cleaned the dishes, and picked up all the pieces on the floor.

Annabeth hurriedly placed the left overs into a small plate after cleaning up the mes sin the kitchen then rushed upstairs to the attic.

Annabeth sat down next to the window sill of the attic.

She slowly ate her food, staring into the pitch black sky.

A shooting star went across the sky, and Annabeth smiled.

The northern star glowed in the dark, and Annabeth knew what to do.

She looked at the star. "Please let my life get better. Please let my father come back from his trip safely. Let me find something that will make my life more exciting. Please, please, please." Annabeth wished, pleading at the star.

She knew she was being childish, but her mother always told her it was okay.

Annabeth put the dish onto the small table across the attic, then went to bed.

Her life was hard. If only something could make it easier. And Annabeth knew the answer to that. It was love.

-oOo

Hey guys! Great first chapter. Make sure you check out my other two stories, Taken Away (Percabeth) and Never Going Back (Percabeth)!

Thanks!

PEACE OUT

-DaQUEEN234