Hello Readers! Welcome to my second story called "Love is Free, not bought." If you are one of my followers and you're like, "Hey, where is Chapter 7. in 'Forbidden Love and a Forgotten past'?" Don't worry, it's coming. If you just saw this story and wanted to read it, by all means, read it, but check out my other story too. I feel that that story is way better written and I only wrote the first chapter of this one so far.

I wanted to write this because I feel that the things in this story aren't said enough, abuse is not the excuse and taking advantage of someone is even worse. If anyone is going through any of the events in this story, you may PM me if you want, for support or just to talk. I am here for you. That is only a suggestion.

Thank you to all who are reading this, now on with the story!

Chapter 1.

~Annabeth's pov~

It all started when I was younger. My family was very poor and we had to make ends meet. It was my father and I. My mother had left for no reason and we had to provide for the two of us. I worked at a drugstore, my father knew. Then my father got married. My stepmother already had two sons, so we had to provide for all five of us now. We were middle class for a while, until my stepmother became sick.

Where am I going with this? Believe me, you'll find out.

So my stepmother became sick and we had to get her some medicine. I was twelve and now I had two jobs.

But my dad never knew that. He was just happy that I was able to bring home some money.

No one knew my job, but me, my stepmother and my customers.

Before I say anymore, I will tell you, I am a virgin. Enough said right?

Yes, I would offer up my body to those who wanted it and paid a great amount of money.

See, I would give them my body, but when it got to the point of any type of sex, that's when I would knock them out.

How?

I did say I worked at a store. A drug store to be exact. I would use something I either bought or stole from the store or I could just grab an item somewhere off to the side a hit them in the head if needed.

And I always got away. The drug I used would make the person forget me and my face, so I would never have to run from someone who was unsatisfied with my job.

My stepmother said it was the only way I could help my family. Even if they weren't blood, I still cared for my step brothers. My stepmother was a different story.

See, she was the reason I got into this mess. She forced me to do it. I would never have done anything like this to myself. She wanted the money for her greedy self so she could get better, but she was willing to put me at risk for her safety. She never loved me.

Now let's fast forward. I am currently sixteen years old. My stepmother is healthy and there are no more medical bills, we are (somewhat) happy and are no longer poor.

How my secret got out, I don't know. In my first year of high school, I met Luke. Captain of the soccer team (soccer is the main sport at my school, not football), the guy every girl wanted.

Everyone but me.

He targeted me and at the end of my sophomore year, he invited me to a party.

Stupid me.

He was a junior and I was a sophomore. I found him attractive but never really had a crush on him, and I decided to go with him. So I was technically a junior and Luke was technically a senior, and we went to the party together.

Never trust horny guys and don't go anywhere with them alone, go with a group of friends and don't leave each others sides.

Luke, being a stereotypical guy, wanted what stereotypical guys want. He knew that I had once sold my body to people and wanted to try me out for free. He tried to get me drunk and once he thought I was, he pulled me to his car and drove to an abandoned factory. He began to touch me and I played drunk. I looked around for anything that could help me. I settled with the boot he was wearing, steel-toed and heavy. He torn off his clothes and tried to get mine off when I grabbed his boot off the car floor and smashed it into the side of his head.

I got out of his car and ran, calling my dad, tears in my eyes. I promised myself not to cry but when he answered and asked why I was calling him so early, I burst into tears and ugly snorts. My father picked me up only ten minutes later. Normally it would have taken twenty to half an hour, but he knew I was in trouble.

I told my dad what happened but not enough that he would go digging into my story and be able to find out the truth, about where I got all the money I was getting when I was twelve and all the things I had gone through that I never should have gone through at that age.

When I left the party that night, I had not known that Luke was going to tell everyone about my past. What he didn't know was that I never actually had sex, and he said he had sex with me.

And here I am today. Starting my junior year at the same school as last year, forced by my stepmother.

Looking in the mirror, I bring my hands to my face, pushing my hair back. My hair looked like it normally does, bouncy, curly and blonde. I shake my head, hands resting on my cheeks.

"Don't listen to them. They all know something, but it's not true. Don't get sucked into their lies." I repeated this five times, my counselor suggested it. He also suggested I go to a different school but my stepmother told me to grow up and decided against it, telling my dad and the counselor that I had come to her saying that I wanted to go back to that horrible school.

And I even heard that there was a new principal this year. One who doesn't know the students yet. One who is young and inexperienced.

I pulled on my book bag and looked at the time.

7:20.

I walked out of my room and my dad took me to school. When we were outside of the school, my dad stopped the car and I got out.

"You don't have to go. We can find another school." My dad said more as a plead more than a suggestion. I hesitated for a moment. I remembered what my stepmother had said. If I said anything to my dad about switching schools, she would put me back into the unpleasant business I once had to go through. Why she wanted me to go to this school so bad, I had no idea.

"No, I'm okay dad. I'll be okay." I gave him a kiss and closed the door. I looked at the car in front of me and saw the driver grab at the person in the passenger seat, yanking the hair of that poor person. Then the person in the passenger seat grab the arm of the driver. He twisted it and I heard a yelp. The door opened and a boy stepped out, he had black hair. I heard curses from inside the car as it drove off and the boy pulled out his cell phone. He began speaking in a hushed voice and after about a minute he hung up. I turned around, hoping that he didn't see me watching him. My dad was still waiting there and had seen the whole thing. He didn't drive off until I was safely inside.

I walked to my locker, we were given our locker numbers, unofficial classes and combinations during the summer after we got our ID's and pictures taken. I still had time to get to class, there was almost no one out in the hallway.

I pulled out my stuff and put it in my locker, only leaving three notebooks for my first three classes. Still five minutes. People began to fill the hallway. Anywhere would be good but in a crowded hallway with people from last year, people who knew the lie Luke had told them, everyone who knew my secret. I pulled out my unofficial schedule that I got during the summer and headed to my first class, social studies. When I got there, the teacher began passing out official schedules. I picked up my stuff, I had to walk to the other end of the building in three minutes. When the one minute bell rang, I ran the remainder of the way to class and looked up.

Not fast enough.

I ran into someone. A boy, messy black hair, sea green eyes, I wanted to melt. He was handsome, way more than Luke and he was my age because otherwise he wouldn't have been in this class...unless he flunked. He was tall, around six foot maybe, compared to me at five foot nine. As we smashed into each other, I dropped my social studies book I grabbed from my last teacher and it hit the floor with a thud.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." The boy said, scooping up my book. As he bent down I looked at the class, no one had noticed me yet. He came back into my view and smiled. He rubbed the back of his neck and I saw his cheeks color. I felt my own cheeks grow warm.

Yup. Never seen him around before.

"Sorry again."

"It's alright. Thank you for picking it up."

"I'm Percy. Percy Jackson."

"Annabeth Chase." He smiled.

"I'm new here, could you maybe show me around? Well, unless you're new here too." The bell rang.

"Oh, no. I have been here since freshman year. I can show you around. Are you free after school?"

"Should be."

"Alright, meet me here." I replied.

"Good morning everyone. I'm your teacher this semester. Call me Mr. J. Here are your seats." He projected a seating chart on the front board and everyone got into their seats. To my disappointment I sat across the room from Percy. When he found me staring, he smiled and waved, catching to attention of no other than Rachel who sat next to him.

"Ew! I have to be in the same class as that!?" She yelled pointing a finger at me. I pulled my head down as everyone followed her finger to me. Percy looked confused, he didn't know.

But that didn't mean he wouldn't find out sooner or later.

"Rachel, have respect for your classmates, now, let's start the first day off with a pop quiz!" Everyone groaned, but I don't know if it was because of the quiz or me.

I stayed quiet the rest of the hour. Even after the quiz was over and we could talk to people around us. Instead I pulled out my phone and listened to music. I looked over my schedule and found my next class was English. I looked up and I saw Percy next to the teacher, who was reading Percy the questions. Percy was answering them out loud. The bell rang and I was the first one out of the classroom.

"Hey! Annabeth, wait up!" I heard through my earbuds, it was Percy.

"Yes?" I asked politely.

"I need help finding my next class. Where are the English classrooms?" I grabbed his schedule and looked at it. For second my heart skipped a beat, until I saw his room number.

"Follow me, we're going the same way."

"Are we in the same class again?" He asked hopefully, catching up with me once again.

"No, our classes are right next to each other."

"Oh, that's sucks." I blush and nodded.

Oh, no. I can't like Percy. He'll turn out like the others. He'll cast me off when he finds out the lie everyone thinks is true.

And if he is anything like Luke (although I doubt it), then he'll break my heart, or worse. Try to do what Luke did to me.

When we were outside of our classrooms I looked at his schedule again. I told him we had hour 1, 3, 6 and 7 together and we both had B lunch which was after fifth hour. I handed him his schedule and we parted ways.

English flew by after I saw my friend Piper and then I had science. Percy sat next to me because no one wanted to.

Fourth hour Greek. Fifth hour math, thankfully I was with Piper again, but then I also had to deal with Rachel too.

Lunch came and I sat with Piper and her boyfriend Jason, who was also my friend. They had been dating since the beginning of sophomore year. I told Piper the truth and she told Jason with my permission. They have been helping me out with the situation ever since I first told Piper.

I looked up from my food to look at Piper and Jason but found myself looking past them. I saw Percy. He was standing up, he was at a table with the popular kids, and right next to Rachel. Our locked eye on each other and he started his journey to my table.

Rachel saw where he was going and grabbed his arm. He turned and she stood to whisper in his ear. He looked back in my direction. His eyes were wide and surprised. I felt tears in my eyes again and my throat began to throb, getting ready for me to cry. I slightly shook my head begging him not to believe her.

Suddenly, his eyes went soft and he looked like he was in pain. He harshly broke out of Rachel's grasp and continued walking towards me. This was it, he was going to reject me like everyone else. He came up to my table and bent down next to me.

"So, are we still on for after school?" I was shocked. He knew. Rachel told him, I could tell. He knew and he still wanted to meet me after school.

I nodded and a tear streamed down my face. He used his thumb to brush it aside, smiled, and got up as the bell for the next class rang.

~Percy's pov~

I woke up. My alarm didn't go off, again. I looked at my alarm clock.

7:05

I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. I brushed my hair but it didn't really help get it under control so I left it and brushed my teeth. I ran back to my bedroom and pulled on the clothes I put out the night before. I looked in the mirror and smiled.

Today was going to be horrid.

But at least I can start it off with a good attitude.

I ran downstairs and grabbed something to eat. I kissed my mom goodbye and heard a yell as I ran out the door.

"Make me breakfast woman! Now where's that boy!?" I ran faster down the street but stopped when a car almost ran me over, a cackle coming from inside.

"Get in the car boy." I pulled open the door, I had no choice unless I wanted to get kicked out of my house...again.

"It's Percy." I said through clenched teeth.

"Whatever prissy. Stop complaining or I'll send you to school with half your hair out of your head." I rolled my eyes at my stepdad. The rest of the ride was silent. When he pulled up to the school, I opened the door to get out but he grabbed my arm, pulling me back in.

"Listen here, boy. If you get kicked out of this school..." I flinched away as he grabbed my hair and yanked it back.

"I'll make sure your mother pays for your mistakes." That was it. He had been threatening my mom for too long. I grabbed his arm with both of my hands and twisted his skin in different directions. He yelped in pain and loosened his grip on my hair. I scrambled out of the car and slammed the door. I rubbed my head and turned towards the school as I heard curses from inside the car that quickly pulled away. I called my mom before stepping inside to warn her of the incident with my stepfather. She thanked me and wish me good luck on my first day.

I turned around and saw a girl with blonde hair enter the school. She had on a gray sweatshirt and blue skinny jeans. Her hair fell over her shoulders and bounced at every step she took. I noticed a man watching me from his car as I was walking into the school. He gave me a smile and nodded, then pulled off.

I walked to my locker and then went to my first class. There I was given a new schedule and was sent to another class. I walked in and put my stuff down on a desk. I sharpened my pencil at the desk and stayed quiet. When the one minute bell rang, I stood up and walked over to the garbage can, where I emptied my pencil sharpener and bumped into someone. A book fell and I decided not to have any enemies on my first day.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." I said picking up the book. I looked at her feet, then her legs. Blue skinny jeans. I stood up and looked upon the girl I saw walking into the school, her blonde hair bouncing, gray sweatshirt that matched her mysterious and intimidating gray eyes. She's beautiful. I rubbed the back of my neck and smiled, my face growing warm. She blushed.

"Sorry again." I said.

"It's alright. Thank you for picking it up." Her voice came out so smooth it sounded like silk.

"I'm Percy. Percy Jackson."

"Annabeth Chase." I smiled.

"I'm new here, could you maybe show me around? Well, unless you're new here too." I was interrupted by the bell.

"Oh, no. I have been here since freshman year. I can show you around. Are you free after school?"

"Should be." I replied.

"Alright, meet me here."

"Good morning everyone. I'm your teacher this semester. Call me Mr. J. Here are your seats." I looked at the screen and projected was our seats. I grabbed my stuff and moved to my seat. I sat right across from Annabeth. I looked at her and found her staring at me. I decided to smile and wave. I nearly jumped out of my socks as I heard someone scream next to me.

"Ew! I have to be in the same class as that!?" She yelled pointing a finger at Annabeth. Annabeth sunk in her seat and I gave her a confused look.

"Rachel, have respect for your classmates, now, let's start the first day off with a pop quiz!" The whole class groaned. I had trouble reading my quiz. I had to walk up to the teacher a lot so he could read me the questions. He asked me if I was alright but once I told him I had dyslexia, he understood. I sat next to him the rest of the hour finishing up my quiz. I was close to the exit. I finished right before the bell rang and watched as Annabeth rushed out the door. I stood up, grabbed my things, thanked the teacher and ran after her.

"Hey! Annabeth, wait up!" I yelled, making Annabeth turn around.

"Yes?" She questioned.

"I need help finding my next class. Where are the English classrooms?" She grabbed my schedule that I pulled out of my bookbag while trying to catch up to her and looked at it.

"Follow me, we're going the same way."

"Are we in the same class again?" I asked a little too eagerly, catching up with her again.

"No, our classes are right next to each other."

"Oh, that's sucks." I saw her blush and nod, her hair bouncing. I looked at her again, she looked deep in thought, maybe even fighting with herself. I could only wonder what she was thinking about. When we were outside of my classroom, she looked at my schedule again. She told me we had hour 1, 3, 6 and 7 together and we both had B lunch which was after fifth hour. She gave me my schedule and we went to our classrooms.

English was a bore, but after accidentally flicking my pencil at the person in front of me, we became friends. His name was Jason Grace. He had blonde hair, sky blue eyes and a small scar on his lip. Turns out he was also in my first class and gym class. After our english teacher, , asked us to stop talking he resumed his lesson and Jason and I began to crack jokes about him. Nothing mean, just mimicking and other things guys do.

I can tell Jason and I are going to be good friends.

Science came next and I sat next to Annabeth. The seat was open and I didn't know anyone else...so why not? After that came math which I almost fell asleep in. Next was study hall, which I did fall asleep in. After about forty-five minutes, I woke up to someone shaking me. It was a guy, he was about as tall as me, maybe an inch taller. He began talking to me and asking me questions.

"I'm a junior." I told him, answering his question.

"I'm a Senior. What's your name?" He asked.

"Percy Jackson."

"Nice to meet you Percy. I'm Luke Castellan." He held out a hand and I took it. He told me he was in the band and he had it seventh hour. I pulled out my schedule. I had band too. I remember signing up for it but didn't look at my schedule close enough to notice.

No one really knew, but I was a pretty good saxophone player and drummer. I've been playing since I was in fifth grade and haven't given up. Although I didn't really care for marching band, I decided to join because I still wanted to play.

Honestly, I didn't really care which one I was chosen for. I just wanted to play and being in the band was the only way how. The bell rang and Luke asked if I wanted to sit with him and his friends at lunch since I was, and I quote "A new kid" and "First days are always the hardest". I told him only for a little while because I had another friend (Annabeth, but I didn't say that) to sit with.

I walked back to my locker and put my book bag inside. Then I got in the lunch line and grabbed my food. When it came to finding somewhere to sit, I found Luke. He waved me over and I sat down next to him. I was introduced to his friends. One of them was Rachel. The girl who spoke out in my first class. She made me really uncomfortable, sitting really close, trying to hold my hand, trying to make me look down her shirt. I looked around the room to find Annabeth. When I found her, I stood up and began walking towards her. Someone grabbed my arm and I freaked.

I had to remember that this was school.

My step dad isn't here. He isn't here.

It took everything in me not to rip loose of the grip and punch the person who had grabbed me in the face. I turned to find Rachel holding my arm. She stood up and whispered something in my ear.

"Don't go by Annabeth. She's a prostitute." She told me Annabeth's past, what happened with Luke, and some other discussing things. I looked at Annabeth eyes wide. This couldn't be her. She wouldn't. She is too good to do anything Rachel had said. Annabeth looked at me. She knew what Rachel had told me and tears were forming in her eyes. She was shaking her head, almost telling me not to believe it. That's why she was always alone, because everyone believed what Rachel had just told me.

But I wouldn't. Not until Annabeth told me it was true.

I had been lied to and about before. I knew her pain. I might not have been in her situation, but when I went home everyday, I was abused, I was starved at some points, I would have to protect my mother from an enraged drunk who doesn't care for either of us. It always fell on me, my stepfather would blame all the pain coming to my mother and I on me. And since freshman year, I believed it.

To this very day, I believe it.

Rachel tried to get me back to the table but I ripped out of her grip and continued my journey to Annabeth, each step imagining what she might have had to go through. I stopped at the edge of the table and bent down.

"So, are we still on for after school?" She was shocked. She didn't know this yet, but I wasn't one to hurt someone even more than they already are.

She gave me a small nod and a tear began to fall down her cheek. I brushed it away with my thumb and smiled. I stood up and the bell rang. I turned back to see Rachel and her table, along with Luke watching me. Actually, almost the whole lunchroom was watching.

But I didn't care.

Annabeth had been treated the wrong way for too long.

So how was it? I know, not to good, but 'Forbidden Love and a Forgotten past' is way better! Please, go read it.

I like to ask questions to the readers and then give them the summary of the next chapter if they get the answer right. So here is a question.

Will you read my other story?

Okay, so maybe this question doesn't have a right answer, but do you see how much I want you guys to read my other story?

Read & Review!

Thanks. ~VictoryD