Annabeth's Pov

-A, is this a sign of puberty?

I blurted out when I saw Percy's expression.

-Huh?

Grover and Percy said at the same time.

-Well...isn't it normal for teenage boys to feel shy around girls?

I tried to repeat my sentence even though it felt wrong.

-No way. How can you see that as shy or fierce? I'm not even that interested in girls.

Percy replied, though he looked annoyed and I could tell he found what I said funny.

-What, "Not interested in girls" are you gay? I didn't mean anything by it, I was just asking. I've never heard you mention it before.

Grover asked. I could see Percy's cheeks turn a little red but after a moment he shook his head repeatedly in denial.

-No! I mean, you know, my experiences with girls have never been good! Well, except for my mom, which I don't think counts! Thanks to Nancy, and then the girls at my old schools!

He replied. I didn't know who Nancy was, but I could tell by the tone of his voice that he definitely didn't like her. My experiences with both genders were bad. The girls would sneer at me, the boys would openly tease me. The common thread was that they all hated me. I'm talking about my experiences with kids my age at the half-blood camp.

-Yeah, I agree, Nancy is terrible.

Grover agreed, nodding his head. Even someone as gentle as Grover felt that way, so Nancy must be terrible. I suddenly thought of the Aphrodite girls, not that I think they're all like that, Silena for example, she's super sweet and kind but some of her younger siblings reminded me of the "mean girls" in school movies and the way Grover and Percy talked about Nancy was exactly like that.

-I can't believe I've met Medusa and I still think Nancy is terrible!

Percy said, as if he had completely forgotten that he was on a flying horse and crossed his arms over his chest.

-Well, the standards of good and evil for humans and monsters are different. Monsters that only stop at the level of bullying are probably enough to be considered saints on the moral scale of the mythical world. There's no point in comparing two things that are already extremely different.

I shrugged. Even though it was only 2 years ago, I still had the thought that humans were much worse than monsters, now I still think that way.

-Oh, you've changed a lot in the past two years... the last time I saw you was still..
Grover suddenly fell silent, he didn't want to mention this topic. Me too, I don't know if I've grown up at all in the past two years (actually it's only 1.5 years, damn Lotus Hotel).
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FLASH BACK
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-Get away from me!

I sobbed and pushed Grover away. He fell to the green grass. Luke stopped, his face showing concern, something I didn't want to see.

-Annabeth...

Luke said, helping Grover up. I felt my face burning with tears and shame, guilt for pushing Grover away when he only wanted to help me.

-I...I'm so tired! What kind of safe place is camp! It's all lies! I'm different from you...I don't have any siblings!! Everyone sees me as a bad person, a troublemaker! I'm nothing more than a thing for the other kids to vent their anger and stress on!! If they don't avoid me, they just want to make me look pathetic!

I ranted. I didn't want to say it because I felt like I was blaming Luke even though it was never his fault. And it also contains the smell of jealousy, that ugly emotion..But it's hard to think clearly when the emotions I've been suppressing burst out.

Luke's face darkened, oh no what the hell did I say!? Thalia didn't die for me to act like an ungrateful brat, right? Even the goat boy Grover's face paled.

-I've decided..I'm going, I don't want to cause trouble for everyone anymore.. And I don't want to deal with the Ares kids every day, it's tiring. I don't like the looks everyone gives me either.

I said. Wiping away the tears that were streaming down my face.

-But Thalia, she already..

-DON'T BRING THALIA INTO THIS!

Luke and I shouted at the same time, making Grover shut up. Maybe Luke said that because he didn't want Thalia's name mentioned like that or he was extremely angry with me. As for me, I just didn't want to admit that I had made Thalia's death almost meaningless, especially when it was my fault. Anyway, we scared Grover for a moment. If I was more sober, I would have apologized to Grover.

-Okay... Annabeth, go, if that's your wish, but try to live, okay? Okay?

Luke said. Luke in my eyes has always been a mature, kind, and thoughtful older brother, he raised me. The fact that he understood me made my respect for him increase more and more.
My hands were shaking, probably because I was touched. I felt tears flowing from my eyes again. If possible, I would have wanted to stay with Luke. But then I thought about how Luke could no longer spend time with me, or simply the looks and murderous intent that everyone gave me. I silently cursed myself because i thought that my thoughts of staying were selfish.

-Yes... You need Live well too,okay?

I replied.

-Oh and remember to send me an IM once a month! Just to make sure you're okay! If anything happens, remember me! I'll definitely help you! We're family, didn't I promise? Don't ever forget

Luke said, he smiled softly but very warmly. Yes, family...

-Yes, family..as you promised..I will keep in touch, Goodbye and see you again..

I turned to look at Grover, he was still shaking from the sudden scream of me and Luke but when he saw me like that. Maybe Grover wanted to say something but he didn't want to say it anymore, it was understandable...if we meet again in the future, I will definitely apologize to him.

I turned and left. On the way, I looked up at Thalia's tree, in my mind appeared the image of Thalia's smile and words of encouragement for me. I don't know if it will be possible but if one day I meet her again, I will definitely apologize and thank her with all my heart and no matter how guilty and grateful I feel, it will not be enough to repay what she did and suffered because of me. Forget it, what am I thinking? I won't be able to go to Elysium, no way.
I don't know where I'm going, what I'm doing, but I know that I have to survive no matter what. My mind goes back to my old family... I don't think it's a good idea to visit my step mom or Matthew or Bobby. I still haven't seen them after what happened..

I suddenly think of Magnus and Aunt Natalie. Magnus is my cousin, I don't know who his father is. Magnus and I used to be quite close, maybe because he gave me a strange sense of familiarity, and we sympathized with each other because he didn't have a father, and I didn't have a mother, of course, until Dad told me who my "mother" or other father really was. I still don't understand... you know what it is about! But then I remembered the last time I saw him, my dad and Aunt Natalie and my Uncle Randolph had a big fight and at the funeral she seemed kind of weird. So it's probably going to be awkward.

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END OF FLASHBACK
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-Hey Grover..

I called Grover.

-Huh? You got something to say?

Grover asked, a little confused.

-Sorry..about last time..

I said softly but loud enough for Grover to hear.

-Huh?..it's okay, it's okay, I understand how you feel..

Grover said, his tone sympathetic. Even though he usually seemed timid, this goat friend was definitely a friend everyone should have.

Percy sat behind us, silent, probably because he was confused about the topic we were talking about. Maybe he also understood that this wasn't something he should delve into. I appreciated the silence.

I didn't know what else to say. I wasn't a fun person to talk to, even I knew that.

-Hey, uh, after you left, where did you go?

Grover asked me. I called Grover but only once or twice, so of course he didn't know.

-I went all over America. Mostly in the countryside, to think about my life? Something like that. Nothing special. Well, after wandering around for about 3 months, I stayed in Hades Castle until this summer.

I said, shrugging a little. I didn't want to mention that damn Hotel.

-Wait!? You went all over America, alone!? AND HOW OLD WERE YOU!?

Percy was shocked. Yeah, this didn't sound normal at all. A kid who wasn't even a teenager yet, going all over America by herself was crazy. But oh well, I didn't have any other good options.

-I'm 12. Well, I ran away from home when I was 7.

I answered him.

-Oh my god?? Where are child protective services when we need them the most?
Percy whined. He could have asked more questions about what happened but he didn't.

-You don't know anything, we're demigods, what can a mortal organization do?

I said, my voice a little bitter. I still remembered when adults treated me like I was crazy for being a demigod, I didn't blame them because it was hard to believe but I didn't like the pitying looks as if I was insane.

-In a sense, I guess I'm in the demigod child protection department, right?

Grover joked. Actually, that's true, satyrs are responsible for protecting and bringing demigods back to camp safely.

-You're the best protector, man.

Percy chuckled and put his arms around Grover's neck. I guess Grover was the one who brought him back to camp, it was pretty predictable and they seemed to be close. Wait, am I the "thirdwheel" here?? I'm so used to it, you know Luke and Thalia...oh my god. I can't believe I just realized it now.

-And Percy, if you hadn't noticed, you took your hands off Grover and Alisk and crossed your arms a few minutes ago.

I said as Percy wrapped his arms around Grover's neck. This made Percy's face suddenly pale. So he really didn't notice?

-Oh my!? Why didn't you say so sooner!

He exclaimed, moving to hug Grover as his face scrunched up a little.

-I was thinking about your feelings, right? What if I told you that you were so scared that you fell straight to the ground?

I said, half serious, half teasing him.

-Hey! I'm not that stupid.

Percy said, I couldn't see his face but he was definitely pouting.