Someone was shaking me. I flinched a bit.

Thank the gods. It's not my left shoulder.

I slowly opened my eyes and heard a soft voice.

"Come on, wake up. We've got work to do."

I lifted my head and saw a girl standing to the side of me. She had blonde hair and, oddly enough, grey eyes. She stood up from her crouching position and stuck a hand out towards me. Sighing, I stood up, taking her hand.

She stuck her hand out again, and I looked questioningly towards her.

"I'm Annabeth. Mrs. Velma assigned me as your math tutor. Also, Mrs.Rachel gave me your Bio homework since you had to go to the nurse."

I took her hand and shook it.

"Uhh, Percy Jackson, thanks, I guess."

She nodded and then started walking off in a random direction. At least I thought it was random. Maybe to her locker? Am I supposed to follow her? Do I go home?

No, not yet. Before leaving, I wanted to go work on that Offspring song and maybe some other music in the Music room first. Well, if she is going to go, then I'll just head to my sixth-period classroom.

I almost turned when she stopped, looked over her shoulder, and asked, "Are you coming? We should probably get started since there's a quiz in two weeks."

I was stunned. Annabeth wanted to actually tutor me?

"Um, ok, where are we going then?" I felt dumb, like I should know where we were going, but I still couldn't think of what was in this direction. The library and computer lab were behind us a few corridors.

"Well, since it took me a while to wake you up. The school ended up closing the other places we could study. So we're going to my house."

My heart stopped. I managed to get out shakily. "It- It's 5 pm right now?"

Annabeth stopped walking and looked at me funny," No, it's 3:30. They always close early on Mondays. Though I can't imagine why. Why not close early on Fridays? That way, the teachers could get off easy. But no, they do an early day at the beginning of the week. Who does that?"

I internally let out a sigh of relief as I shrugged. Annabeth ranted about how dumb the idea was and gave me a full-blown debate about why they should change it to Friday.

I just nodded along, giving a pointer or adding to what she was saying every so often. Eventually, we walked to my locker and got my math notebook. Then out of the school and down to Annabeth's house. Which was a few blocks away from the school.

Annabeth led me up to her front porch and then turned towards me," Listen, I kind of have a nosy step-mom, so don't listen to her or whatever she says. Also, if my dad's home, he'll probably start asking weird questions. So I'm hoping that we go in, we get to my room, and nothing happens till you leave. The worst-case scenario is both my step-mom and my dad are home and bombard you and I with questions and won't let us leave until we answer. Also, if the worst case happens, let me do the talking,"

I nodded, and she turned back to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it quietly. She slipped in, and I tried following her just as quietly, but I hit my knee on the door coming in. I hissed in pain as Annabeth closed the door and chuckled at me. Then she grabbed my hand and led me up to her room. Suddenly loud footsteps were running down the hall.

Annabeth started climbing the stairs faster, me right behind her. She opened a door nearest to the stairs and quickly said," I didn't think they'd be home. This is my room, stay here, I'll be right back".

I turned and looked around. I tried dodging the pieces of furniture but ended up cursing as I stubbed my toe on Annabeth's bed, which had a nice gray comforter. The room had a dark oak desk, a fluffy white rug that I landed face first after tripping on and landed onto a gray armchair.

I groaned as I pushed myself up. Suddenly I was aware of a soft giggle coming from the doorway. I stood up on my feet and turned to see Annabeth with a hand over her mouth shaking with laughter.

"I don't know how you did that. That was something out of Tom and Jerry," she managed through laughs.

I groaned and sat down on the chair I face planted in. Annabeth composed herself as she walked calmly, without stubbing her toes or tripping, might I add, towards me. She sat in the desk chair and pulled out her math notebook. I picked my notebook off the ground since it had fallen out of my hand when I face planted.

"Ok, so, what do you need help with?"

"Go over what we will need to know about for the quiz?" I said softly, trying to gauge what I needed to know and what I already knew.

Annabeth started naming words I didn't even know existed and started showing me work that looked super complicated. She must've noticed the confusion on my face because she stopped mid-sentence.

"You look confused. What's wrong?"

"Uhh, what you just said sounded like mumbo jumbo to me, and that looks calculus level."

Annabeth slowly nodded her head and asked to see my math notebook. I reluctantly gave it to her. As she skimmed through the pages covered in unreadable scribbles from me not actually taking notes, she sighed.

I expected her to be annoyed, to tell me to get out of her house. To leave and never talk to her again. I expected to see her face twist into disgust when she looked at me. But she calmly assessed my scribbles as if they meant something. I wanted them to mean something, but because of my ADHD, I have a hard time paying enough attention to write anything meaningful down.

"Ok, is there a subject you are good at in school?"

"Umm, I'm pretty good at music and French, but that's only because it's oral."

Annabeth nodded to herself.

I was surprised she didn't just outright call me dumb.

"Anything that makes class hard?" I couldn't believe that she actually cared about what my problems were. She actually wanted to help me and not just act like she does. Annabeth looked at me all confused, and I quickly realized that I was lost in thought.

"Oh, uh, sorry, I also have ADHD,"

She nodded and tapped her chin. My eyes were drawn to the window as I watched a flock of birds fly over the horizon. I felt my eyes glaze over as I watched the wind blow through the nearby trees. I heard a snapping sound, like fingers. I flinched and turned quickly to see Annabeth trying to get my attention.

"Sorry," I muttered, wanting to curl into a ball and disappear. Five minutes into a conversation and I already zoned out.

"That's ok, and it's no problem. I just need to figure out a way to keep your attention. But while I'm thinking about that, I'll try to teach you how to solve this specific type of Quadratic"

Annabeth had me try the steps while she taught them to me. Eventually, my math notebook had actual pages of math instead of scribbles. Every time I started zoning off into nothing, Annabeth would snap her fingers or tap the page to get my attention.

It was starting to get late, and I had just finished a problem by myself, and Annabeth looked full of pride. Then something caught my eye. I looked to the right and saw a small black dot.

"What are you looking at, Per-" Annabeth turned her head to look at what I had directed my attention to and shrieked mid-sentence.

I looked at Annabeth with a confused look on my face as she backed up away from the desk, got up on the bed, and stood up. She whipped the pencil that was on her ear into her hand like a sword.

"What's wrong, Annabeth?" I was still perplexed

"That is a motherfucking spider," She hissed

"Umm, yea, it is?" I was still confused. It was tiny, a jumping spider, I think, and it was just chilling out. I honestly really like jumping spiders; they're just so chill. They go from 0 to 100 and don't take shit from no one.

"Kill it," She hissed again with so much venom I wouldn't be surprised if she turned into a snake.

"Umm, do you mind if I just take it outside?" I was honestly feeling more in danger here than the spider. The pencil waving made me nervous, and I was sure that Annabeth could kill with it if she wanted to.

She just hissed again. I don't know if she's trying to talk to me in some different language, but I figured if the spider left, so would the snake possessing her body.

I slowly took a cup of pencils off the desk, dumped them out, and placed it on top of the spider. Then I ripped a piece of paper out of my notebook and put it under the cup. When the spider was full on the paper, I lifted the cup and walked towards the window.

Annabeth hissed and reared back as I moved the spider around the room. I slowly opened the window and let the spider out. Quickly closing the window, I waved goodbye to him as he turned and jumped away.

I turned around and walked back to the desk, calmly. Annabeth put the pencil back on her ear, got off the bed, and returned to tutoring like nothing happened.

Honestly, I was too scared to ask. I don't know if asking a girl if she was just possessed by a snake spirit was considered acceptable by modern society.

So I just kept my mouth shut until around 5:30 when Annabeth asked if I would like to stay for dinner. I really, really wanted to. I really did. But I knew that right now was probably the only time that I would be able to slip out and not feel too much regret for not staying. Also, Annabeth didn't know that I would be over for dinner, so I'm sure that her parents wouldn't have made enough for me.

"Uh, no, actually, it's getting kind of late. I should probably head home anyway."

I looked at Annabeth, who looked a tad bit disappointed. I didn't want her to feel bad, so I tried to fix it," But, uh, maybe next time I could stay over? I'll have to tell my mom, though,"

Her face lit up, and I felt a tingle of happiness for being the reason. She grinned at me and went full into planning mode," Well, we have a session tomorrow, though we'll probably be in the library. Do you want to come next Monday? Or after our session tomorrow?"

"'Um, well, I should probably give my mom a week's heads up, so next Monday sounds good?" I scratched the back of my neck, hoping I would remember. Thankfully, I would be at Annabeth's house so I wouldn't be late or anything.

"Great! I'll tell my parents when you leave that way, you have a chance to get away," she smiled.

I closed my notebook and walked towards her bedroom door," Wait!" she yelled softly.

I flinched and turned around. Annabeth walked past me and checked the hallway before motioning for me to follow. She walked down the stairs, stealthily while I fumbled and almost fell down the stairs. Just barely catching myself before face planting into the floor.

Annabeth stifled a giggle as I righted myself and followed her down the hallway to the front door.

"Oh, here. I forgot to give this to you" she handed me a small slip of paper" Also, next time we meet, I'll try to have a plan to keep you on track and to help you learn easier." Footsteps sounded down the hall," Shit, ok, bye Percy, see you tomorrow." Annabeth rushed.

On the way out, I tripped on the first step out of her house and just barely caught myself on the handrail before I ate the concrete. Sighing in relief, I heard another laugh and looked up to see Annabeth failing to keep her laughter in.

Shaking my head, I righted myself and walked down the sidewalk. I heard the door close, and I rounded the corner. Then I leaned up against the fence on the corner and sat down on the sidewalk. I opened my right hand to see a small piece of paper. I opened it cautiously; what did Annabeth forget to give me?

I was expecting a math formula or a studying tip, but this was a million times better. It was a phone number.

Ok, I know what you're thinking, her phone number, so what? But honestly, I don't get people's phone numbers. The only number on my phone is my mom's and Gabe's. That's it, so I'm pretty shook that she just gave this to me.

I quickly brought out my phone and typed in the numbers. Which took a minute or so; I didn't want to mix the number up.

Then I stuffed the paper into my pocket along with my phone and walked a little giddily home. I don't know why; I might have just been excited to have someone to talk to besides my mom. Or maybe I was excited that she didn't immediately hate me on sight.

I don't know what it was, but whatever it was died when I unlocked and opened the door to my house.

I can't believe I actually allowed myself to walk into my house with a small smile on my face.

I can't believe I actually allowed a small coincidence to take over my entire mind.

I can't believe I actually thought that whatever just happened was out of want. Annabeth was appointed to be my tutor. She was a goody-two-shoes, so that meant that she had to make the teacher proud of her. This whole tutoring gig probably gave her extra credit.

I can't believe I actually thought that she didn't just want to know me as the kid she tutored.

Gods, I'm so dumb.

The only thing that I know that's constant is Gabe.

The harsh reality that no one I know cares for me and that I only go home to get beat up was rammed into my face like a brick wall.

As soon as I opened the door and put the key into my pocket, Gabe had grabbed my neck. His fingers pressing on the previously formed bruises. I had learned how to do makeup at a young age to hide my bruises because Gabe didn't care how visible the beatings were. He knew I wouldn't turn my back on mom.

So here I am, slammed against a wall and gasping for air and trying to ignore the pain. Gabe's grip slowly tightened, and I clawed even more desperately at his hand. His face was pulled tightly into an angry frown, and his eyes burned with drunk anger.

"Where were you, boy?" He spat in my face, and I tried to breathe.

I looked at him with pleading eyes as my mouth tried to form words. They wouldn't leave my throat; I needed to breathe. Black spots danced across my vision as Gabe's face grew darker. Suddenly I was dropped onto my left shoulder. Hitting the ground.

"I asked you a question" his voice was threateningly low, and I felt fear ripple through my body as I gasped for breath.

"I- I was get- getting tutoring," I managed to cough out as I regained the oxygen in my veins.

"Liar! You were probably just playing those stupid instruments again!" he screamed at me.

"I'm not lying! If you would listen, I bet even your walnut-sized brain could comprehend that" I blurted out. My eyes grew wide.

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh schist, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

Gabe's eyes narrowed with fury. He brought his leg back; I immediately understood what he was going to do. I couldn't let him kick the bottle wound; it would never heal. I scrunched into a ball and shielded my stomach with my legs.

He didn't seem to mind as he kicked me. I didn't know how long he kicked me. All I knew was that it hurt, and it was seemingly endless. As he kicked me, I felt numbness in my legs, blocking out the pain. My winces and cries stopped almost completely. When Gabe realized this, he walked out of the room.

Thinking it was over, my cloudy mind pushed myself to my hands and knees. I slowly tried to stand, wincing at my bruised shins. But then a massive weight landed on my back.

I bit back a cry as I landed awkwardly flat. I tried to see what had hit me.

Gabe.

With a knife.

My eyes widened.

I tried to scramble away, but Gabe just grinned at me.

"This is what you get when you talk back, you little shit."

Then he lifted my hoodie and t-shirt. Enough, so my entire back was showing besides the top where my shoulder blades were. I laid there and resigned myself to whatever he was about to do. I couldn't do anything. I was weak like that. I couldn't stand up to him without grievous consequences. The only thing I could do was stay out as late as possible and hope that when I got home, all Gabe had in him were a few punches and kicks.

Then a searing pain made my back arch as I felt the knife enter my skin. I bit my lip as I gasped in pain. I tried to blink through the tears threatening to fall, I tried to breathe through the pain, but it was no use.

I screamed and cried as Gabe continued whatever he was doing. I tried to get away, but that just caused more pain. While Gabe carved with his knife, he told me who I really was, what I am,

A piece of worthless space,

Stupid,

Pathetic

Worthless

Failure

Disappointment

Ugly

Useless

He continued listing words even after he stood up. My hand went to my back; it felt sticky and wet. Probably with your blood, you dim-wit.

Gabe kicked me a few more times for good measure, but I didn't have enough energy to move my legs to protect my torso.

I had to get up. It was probably past 6 already, and Mom will be home soon. Today is one of the few days a month I get to eat a meal with her. I shakily pulled down my clothes over my back and stood up. Leaning against the wall, I looked for any bloodstains. Seeing none, I walked over to the kitchen.

My back screamed at me to lay down, but I ignored the pain. I saw that Gabe carelessly threw the bloody knife in the sink, not bothering to clean it. I took the knife in my own bloody hands. It's funny; it's my fault my mom has to work so hard and had to marry Gabe; it makes sense that my hands are as bloody as the knife.

I did this to myself.

Sighing, I cleaned the blood from the knife and my hands. I put the knife away and dried my hands. Staggering over to the bathroom, I took out the many bandages I stole from the nurse and closed the door. Taking off my hoodie and shirt, I tried to see what Gabe did. It wasn't hard just had to look in the mirror.

I nearly dropped the bandages. All across my back, Gabe had carved into my skin the words he was telling me earlier.

Stupid,

Pathetic

Worthless

Failure

Disappointment

Ugly

Useless

I would have made a sassy remark about how I didn't know he could spell, but that was if it wasn't literally carved into my skin.

I gulped and scolded myself for nearly crying again. Don't you understand? This is precisely why those words were carved in the first place.

I was still horrified as I wrapped my torso again. Covering up the words but knowing they were always there. I shook my head; I needed to be happy for my mom tonight. She was always away working and trying to make me feel better; I needed to give her a brave face.

It's not like any of this is new information. I've known this for a while. Stop being weak and get over it.

I shook my head as if trying to get rid of the thoughts. Closing my eyes, the words flashed through my brain again. Snapping them open, I finished wrapping my torso. Not after checking my bottle wound. Which had reopened and was bleeding a lot again.

I sighed as I slipped on my shirt and hoodie, walking into the kitchen. I fished out my phone and saw a message from Mom.

Mom: Hey honey, I'll be home around 7:30. I'll see you soon! Love you!