CHAPTER EIGHT – And Then There Was One.

"Chase. One-oh-three-three."

I stand and make my way to the back of the line of girls shuffling out of the cafeteria. The walk was so familiar now that I was sure my footprints were embedded into the ground.

"Chase. One-oh-three-three," I told the guard when it was finally my turn.

He scans the chipboard in his hand. "Box twenty-one."

I move past him, a guard following me. I know by the way he walks that it's Beckendorf without even turning around. He's been around me so much over the past few weeks since I saw him first here, that I am now familiar with his persona.

It's still funny seeing him here, all grown up wearing the uniform, when I still remember that first time I ever saw him in the cafeteria. With Percy's group – my, er, friends now, I guess.

God I miss Percy.

Today it's not Rachel. Or Thalia. Or Silena, who visits now Bechendorf works part-time here (although she seems friendly, I think really she just does it so she can ogle at her boyfriend when he's in uniform). Of course it won't be Percy because I still won't let him see me like this.

Nico sits in the seat across from me, the glass between us, looking detached and out of place. He fidgets with the large silver ring on his left hand. His dark eyes lock onto me and he watches as I take the seat before he picks up the phone. I do the same.

"Annabeth."

"Goth Boy."

"Guess this place hasn't changed you that much. Still with the nicknames."

"What are you here for, Nico?" Beating around the bush is too frustrating, especially with limited time.

"Lucky me gets to be the errand boy," he glared. "Look, I'm here on behalf of Percy. He wants to know what we can do to help you."

"We?" Okay so maybe I could use up a bit of time just to rub his own words in his face.

He looked to be in physical pain as he snapped, "Yes, we."

"Gosh and here I was thinking that you hated me."

"Just know that this wasn't my idea and is hardly my choice," he grumbled. "What do you need, Annabeth?"

"I hate to make this trip here pointless, but you guys can't help. I have to be a good little girl all on my own. Although… Did Percy tell you about Bianca?"

Nico frowned and I realised why. His sister. His sister's name was Bianca.

"I mean, don't worry-" I quickly tried to back track but Nico cut me off.

"You're talking about the girl in here, right? Percy said you were trying to get someone else out, but he didn't know much more. He did say that her name was Bianca. Don't worry, I won't break down if you say that name."

Unfortunately, this wasn't what I thought he was going to say so I sat there, watching him without a single thing to say back. It was Nico who spoke next.

"So I assume it's her, this Bianca, that we'll be helping instead."

"Uh, yeah. She'll probably get out of this Hell hole before me, so maybe if you guys are able to help set up a place for her to stay? She has no immediate family and I don't want her to be thrown into the foster system and end up like yours truly over here. So…can you just look after her?"

Even though I'm sure Percy isn't the type of person to not help someone, I'm not sure he and Nico have that trait in common. In fact, Nico is probably that guy to watch on the sidelines rather then get involved.

And from the look on his face, I could tell that's exactly what Nico was about to do so I hurriedly went on.

"Look, Nico-" wow, I haven't called him by his name to his face very often –"if you don't want to help then that's fine, but at least ask Thalia or Percy. Bianca isn't like me; she can't handle the type of things you see in here every day. There's a way that her charges can be overturned or whatever, and when she's out, she needs someone to look after her. Her mother was murdered. She has no one."

His dark eyes met mine through the thick plastic separating us.

"I'll help her. After all, I know what it's like to feel lost – to be alone. I'll talk to the others about what we can do for her."

"Thank you, Nico. I mean it." And I did.

The buzzer above us went off. Time's up.

"I know you do. And Annabeth," he said, just as I was about to pull the phone away and hang up. "Ever since your letter, Percy's been more himself. As much as it burns my mouth to say this-" and not for the first time this visit, it looked like Nico was in pain; I guess I just bring out that in people –" you're good for him."

Then he hung up the phone, and left.

"I always thought that guy was a bit shady," came Beckendorf's voice from behind me. I hung up my own phone and stood, pausing just before I started the walk to the exit.

"I thought you wouldn't be someone to judge a book by its cover," I said low enough that no one else around could hear. As a prisoner here, I'm not supposed to really be talking to a guard, and it's especially dangerous when in public. With a heap of witnesses around. Like now.

And I'm supposed to be going "clean" so getting into shit now about something as small as talking to a guard is so not on my To Do List.

Although, I never thought that defending Goth Boy would be on my Already Done List.

Nico was wrong; Baldwald's Juvenile Detention Centre for Troubled Girls has changed me. I've been a bitch in here, but I don't feel like one anymore.

I don't even act like one anymore. Because if I was, I wouldn't have decided to help Bianca. I wouldn't have opened up so much to Reyna. And I wouldn't have promised Percy anything.

I don't know who I am anymore. I never thought I'd be thinking about this big philosophical question, at least not so soon. Aren't you meant to be having these questions when you're like 30?

Once, I knew who I was and what I wanted to be. Then I was changed into someone that was easier to be, and even though I was totally messed up, I still had something that told me who I was.

But now I'm not either of those girls. Now I'm none. I'm both. I don't even make sense but I do.

Oh boy, a detention centre is so not the place to be having these thoughts, because there is nothing to distract you.

Not even the meagre activity of peeling potatoes. Lots and lots of potatoes. I think I might actually hate potatoes now.

"Nervous?" I ask Bianca. Of course I already know the answer, it's obvious from the way that she keeps fidgeting and pacing.

Today was her big day. It had taken weeks but Reyna had managed to get an attorney and the attorney had managed to get a retrial.

From what Bianca's said, the attorney seems nice. Confident of a win, which is good, but kind as well. Bianca told him everything and he accepted it, stuck with the case, and now he's representing her today.

"What if this just makes things worse? What if they put me back in here – but for longer? And then I'm sent to actual prison? Oh my god – what am I doing?!" she hyperventilated.

Standing, I pointed at the spot I'd just vacated on the cot. "Sit."

She sat. Still fidgeting.

"That's all not going to happen. It's going to go great," I told her. And who would have thought that I would be the positive one in this situation? "You've got to keep optimistic, Bianca. Everything is going to be just fine, you'll see."

I gave her a reassuring smile – but hers was a weak effort in response.

"Just remember what Reyna told you; look sweet and innocent at all times and the jury will be the ones feeling guilty."

She raised an eyebrow at me. "She said to keep my chin high and to keep my cool, no matter what the jury decides or the prosecution tries to pin on me."

I shrug. "Yeah, well, if I do say so myself I think my advice is better. You've got to look like you would never hurt a fly, which, lucky for you, you already do."

"But what if the evidence against me is stronger?" she protests.

"You're attorney is gonna wipe the floor with that so called 'evidence' and then he's going to bury it under evidence of his own that shows you as the victim. You just wait and see. And also don't forget about little old me when you're out enjoying your freedom."

She smiled, for real this time.

"Annabeth, I'm not going to forget you. Ever. You're the one who's got me this far. Without you, I don't know where I would be. Who I would be. You're my friend – no, best friend, Annabeth, and you're the only one who has showed me any kindness since my mum was killed. When it's your turn, your trial, I'll be there, waiting with Percy and Thalia and the rest of your friends, no matter what."

Not for the first time, Bianca stunned me.

In a good way, but in a way that made me want to cry.

"Great," I sniff, my eyes watering, "Now you've made me mess up my game face."

She laughs and hugs me. I freeze for a millisecond, then hug her back. We stay like that for what feels like a long time, but then I notice that I'm not the only one sniffling. I pull away and see the tear tracks down her face.

"Shit, you've ruined your game face too. You're only supposed to cry on stand and at the end of today when they let you go," I say while wiping away a tear of my own. "Dammit, Bi, haven't you been listening to anything I've taught you over the last few weeks?"

She laughs. "I promise I'll use some of that knowledge on the stand."

"You better 'cause that was some great life advice. You be sure to teach your kids it – that is when you have kids twenty years from now."

She laughs again, her doubts and worries about her trial now at the back of her mind like I had intended.

"Well if I have anything to do with it, my future kids will never have to take the stand in court unless they want a career as a corner or scientist."

I shrug. "With your brains, you know, they just may turn out that way."

"Maybe, maybe not. I mean, look how far my brains have gotten me," she said sourly. "What am I even supposed to do when I get out? Who's going to hire someone with a past history of violence and spent a few months in juvie?"

"Hey," it came out like a bit of a snap which shocked her (and me) a bit. "By the end of today, those charges are going to be gone. Then when you walk outta here, you'll be getting your butt to school until you graduate. And then its college. And then it's a good, stable career. And if you've got some time, it's a few boyfriends before finally marrying a man who treats you like a Princess, and then it's kids."

Leaning against the wall I bring my nails up and pretend to clean them. "Face it, sweetie," my eyes flick up to her before back to my nails, "your futures been planned – don't mess with it." This time when I looked up she was grinning with watery eyes. "I thought I told you no more crying," I point at her.

"I know but-"

Then the guards arrived. It reassured me as I recognised Beckendorf was one of them. At least Bianca would make it to the courtroom without a scratch.

The other guard looked older – like someone's tough-as-fuck granddad type. "Alright, one-one-four-two. Bianca Lewis. Let's go." He didn't growl or bark at her – another good sign.

When Bianca looks at me I can tell she wants to hug me. But I've done enough hugging for today – and to be honest, I'm not sure if I could stop myself from breaking down. This is like good bye.

The real fact is that even when Bianca gets out, I may not when it's my turn.

"Remember my advice and you'll be fine, kid," I told her with a half smile, not moving from my position against the wall.

She returned the smile. "I won't. And hey, I'm not a kid anymore," then she turned away and walked towards where the guards were waiting. Beckendorf clapped on the hand cuffs while the other man took Bianca's forearm and lead her off.

"She'll be fine," Beckendorf surprised me by saying as he closed the cell door. He gave me a reassuring small smile before striding away as well.

And then there was one.

OKay woah, so it's been a while... Real sorry about that. To be honest I just haven't felt the passion to write this story for a while. Like I have other sorta stories that I just write for me (because I'm not game enough to let anyone else read them) and I just seem to have moments and days where I want to work on one of those.

University has also started (I'm pretty sure I started writing this when I was in grade 10 or 11 or something which is like 2ish years ago) and I'm only in the 3rd week this week but I'm hella swamped already.

But I did promise you guys I would finish this story and I swear I will. It may take some time (as you've already noticed) but eventually this will be done and you guys can have some sort of closure about this FanFic.

I'm so sorry but please be patient with me! (Although you guys already are so like hella thanks for that)

Until next time,

Cassie.