Artemis:

I felt sick as I walked into the airport. It reminded me of when I left for school, watching in horror as Beck began to cry. Zak tensed. With his father being Hades and everything, the air wasn't a safe place for him. He had flown a few times, but he would almost hyperventilate when the plane hit turbulence. When we were kids, Nikki and I used to laugh at that, but we outgrew that when Hades grandchildren, Charlie and Avery, almost ended up in a plane crash a few years ago. Ever since then, anyone related to Hades stays away from planes.

Nikki, Marcus, Zak, and I had driven Joel here. His flight was leaving in a few hours, but he had basically been gone since Friday. Whatever went down with he and Annie-which she won't tell me- was an ending point for him. He let go, and he was ready to go back to California. I was happy for him, of course, but I was definitely going to miss him. I wouldn't see him for a long time. He's a business major, even though he spent years telling us he wanted to be a teacher and go to Africa for a while before returning to the states to work back in New York, but he still wants to do charity work for a while over in Africa. After business school, he says he'll return to New York without a doubt. He'll be in his mid-twenties by then, and I haven't decided if I want to return to New York. Joel has his life planned out, but, because he was still in love with Annie, he just couldn't get into it. Now that they've worked it out, he's ready.

Nikki was walking beside Zak, trying her hardest to stay away from Marcus. She had been doing that a lot recently. They worked everything out, and they're pretty good friends. But there are times where it's like it hurts her to be around him, and that's another thing no one will seem to explain to me.

"Summer's almost here," Annie smiled as she straightened herself on the couch. Zak, being completely bored, continued to flip through channels, and Joel looked mindlessly at a science book with me. We were fourteen, and finals were coming up soon. Annie wasn't worried about though. Honestly, I don't think it had once crossed her mind. Nikki had been freaking out about it. She was flying up to South America to be with her dad for part of the summer. It was going to be the first time she was going to see her dad in a long time, and her dad had always been top of the class at his days in Atlantic Prep. He expected her to be the same. Nikki had finally stopped hating him, and she wanted to make him proud. And failing finals would do the opposite.

"Which means my mom and step dad are going to Africa without me while I'm stuck at camp," Joel sighed. Africa was his favorite place. He had always dreamed about going. He could talk about it for hours on end. He's always said that he wants to become a teacher and work there for a while after college.

Annie looked at him as if to say 'Shut up, Kill Joy'. She quickly averted her eyes to look at all of us, her perky attitude making me want a long nap. Mom was at the doctor, and Percy was still at work. So, it was just us here. My little brother would be born any day now, they said. It still shocked me to think of my mom having a baby. They had told me a long time ago, but it hadn't set it.

I tried not to talk about it though. It felt too weird to talk about. Annie was excited. She had prayed for months that it would be a little girl, but she wasn't upset or anything when we found out it was a boy. She wanted a little sibling either way. As I looked up from the book and towards Annie, I saw the wedding photo. I had always hoped my mom would find someone as great as Percy, but, again, it felt weird. There were times when I really didn't know what to call him. Dad or Percy? He wasn't my real dad, but he's the closest thing I have. But a few weeks ago, I saw Hephaestus, and it made everything so confusing.

"I wonder what we'll be doing four years from now," Annie smiled, most likely knowing none of us were really listening. I knew by then we'd be in college, but I had a really weird feeling about it. It was like something was warning me to hold on to what I have now because, by then, I won't have it.

"Art will be freaking out about Finals," Zak smirked. I wanted to hit him, but I was too lazy to get up and do it.

"Says the guy who almost passed out when he saw when the exams were going to take place," I crossed my arms, smiling. Zak's face fell, and he stuck his tongue out at me.

I was brought back to the current time by seeing Joel check his watch. It quickly set back in that this was it. I wouldn't see him until this summer, maybe. He skipped out last summer, and he could again. I tried not to think about that and suppressed the urge to grab Zak's hand or kidnap Joel.

"This is it, guys," Joel smiled, and Marcus was the only one who could return a true smile. The rest of us faked it. Marcus and Joel were never friends, and they would probably never be. They both wanted Annie, and only one could get her.

"You better not fall of the face of the earth this time," I hugged Joel, partly not wanting to let go.

"Make sure Zak here doesn't do anything stupid," Joel smirked, seeming completely upbeat. I bit my lip not to cry into his shoulder and let him go. Joel's eyes still sparkled in the daylight, like they had when we were kids. I remembered the first day I met him in complete detail. Joel stood at the top of a ramp, looking like a god. Then, his gaze drifted down to the people below him, Zak and me. Zak mumbled something insulting and got up to the ramp. He then proceeded to beat him out, until where Joel looked more like a jumble servant than a god. After that, they were best friends.

"Make sure you don't do anything stupid, Joel," I smiled weakly, and Joel simply shook his head.

"Don't leave her, Zak. She's a smart one."

"What about me?" Nikki smirked.

They had the best friendship out of all of us.

I mean, we were all friends, but they had something special. It wasn't like the 'Zak and I' chemistry, but it was the best friends for life thing. They were like siblings. It was obvious that they would always have each other's back no matter what.

"And you," he smiled widely, "Nikki, you're like my little sister. I love you, but please dye your hair back. I mean please."

"Come here, you dumb-butt," she opened her arms to hug him, and Joel closed the distance. I couldn't hold back a smile, even though the moment was kind of sad. Zak wrapped his arm around me and kissed the top of my head, reminding me that this moment was depressing.

Nikki whispered something in his ear, which I couldn't hear, and Joel smiled and whispered something back, as if he had known all along whatever she told him. I had a feeling that I didn't know whatever this secret was, and apparently it wasn't much of a secret.

As Nikki let go of Joel, he turned his attention to Zak.

"Zak-Attack."

"Joey."

"Stay good."

"Try being good."

"Call me tomorrow?"

"Will do," Zak's smile was bright, like it always was.

Joel looked down at his watch, and I knew that this was it.

"I better get going if I want to make my flight," Joel smiled, not seeming to understand that he was leaving us for good. He spoke like he was just going to run to get a drink and come right back, but he wasn't.

"Good luck," I forced a smile.

Joel smiled and started to walk away.

I felt my heart break. It wouldn't be the same without him. Honestly, it hadn't been. It was out of nowhere that we stopped talking. He broke up with Annie, and Annie was my sister. So, I had to choose her side. It was still hard to understand that it really was over. I wouldn't wake up to find that it was a dream and that we were still seniors at Atlantic Prep, enjoying life and praising the gods that we were lucky enough to not end up like those girls in our class who found out that they were pregnant senior year. This wasn't a joke. This was it.

Joel whirled around before completely walking away.

"Tell Annie I wish her good luck with Boy Toy."

Three Days Before Thanksgiving:

Annie:

I stopped the car, remembering how many times I had come down here to the parking lot. Artemis and I drove home for Thanksgiving, and it was the opposite of fun. Nikki was on some island in Spain, where her cousin is living with her daughter and husband, and her dad wanted her to spend some true time with him, meaning no phones. Zak came down earlier as Thanksgiving was the big announcement day for his mom's engagement, meaning he wanted to talk to Arty nonstop. Marcus was California, where his grandmother retired and wanted the family to come for Thanksgiving this year.

That all wasn't too bad and all, but I just couldn't enjoy it.

I missed my family and all, especially my dad. I had been hopeful to see them for weeks, and I should have been happy. Artemis was, but it was something about coming back to this apartment building.

A lot of good things happened here. I grew up in that apartment. My dad announced that he was going to marry Annabeth in the kitchen. I met my little brother for the first time in the living room. I found out I was going to be captain of my high school swim team on the fire escape. I read my college acceptance letter in my bedroom.

But I had a lot of bad things happen here. I watched my father be lonely for years, knowing that no matter how much we loved each other, it wouldn't make a difference. Bullies got to me, and I cried onto my dad's chest as he tried to soothe me. I found out that I wasn't Daddy's only girl anymore in there. I broke up with Joel in the hallway. I got excited after my first date with Joshua and learned that he had a girlfriend on the same night.

I tried not to think about that as I got out of the car.

It was hard to think of my room being repainted while I was gone. It was probably dull by now, and Will had probably snuck in there hundreds of times since Beck's window was baby-proofed and mine wasn't. My closet would be far from empty, but it all be so out of date by now. I didn't understand how so much had changed in the last few months. This was my home. My life was here, and, now, it was hours away in a college dorm room. I didn't get it.

Artemis pressed the elevator button, and images of the first moment I met Joshua filled my mind. I bit my tongue not to say anything and pulled my purse up higher on my shoulder, making a mental note to come back down to get my bags later. Artemis stepped onto the elevator, not scared at all.

She wasn't thinking about how her room had been redone. Or how no one sat at her seat at the kitchen table. Or how the only thing left of them was pictures everywhere. Or maybe how our parents weren't crying like most parents of college kids as they had a four year old to take care of.

I began to long to be like her, like I had many times in my life. She didn't know this of course, but Arty was the good daughter. She followed instructions. She had good grades. She wasn't boycrazy, and she had a great boyfriend who the entire family loved. Our little brother liked her more, and our parents trusted her more. Plus, she had love, which was something I wanted again more than anything.

"It's hard to think it's already Thanksgiving," Artemis smiled.

Oh, and she's beautiful, too.

"Yeah," I nodded, "Time just flew."

It didn't go fast enough though. I had thought that time would help me with the 'Marcus' situation, but it makes everything worse. And I can't talk to Artemis or Nikki about it because Arty is tired and Nikki just doesn't want to talk about it. I can't speak to him about it, and I have no clue what to do.

And I'm left to ask Zak for advice on this, which is so not an option.

The elevator dinged, making me snap out of my thoughts.

I followed close behind Artemis, trying not to think. But it was all I could do, especially since Nikki would barely talk to me these days for reasons I didn't know. I hated not knowing things, especially about Nikki. She had never been complicated. She told you how she felt when she felt it, which was what I liked most about her, but she hasn't been doing that at all recently.

"You're back!" Beck's voice was the first thing I heard, and it reminded me of how I was supposed to be happy during this.

It had been months since I had seen him, and he was already so grown up. By the time we were finished with college, he'll be eight years old and probably done with loving his sisters so very much, which was a true pity.

"Oh my god, Beck! You're so grown up!" Arty was the first to speak, of course. She was his favorite, and he was hers.

Artemis:

"This totally sucks," Zak told me, and I simply nodded even though I knew he couldn't see me as we were talking on the phone, looking out at the window. It was yesterday that he had to go around telling his family that he was so happy that his mom was getting married, even though he really just needed a shot of something strong.

"It can't that bad," I tried.

"My aunt is talking about bridesmaid's dresses upstairs. The only way I got out was to say I needed a cigarette," Zak sighed.

"You don't smoke."

"Don't tell them that," Zak smirked, making me smile.

"Avery and Charlie came over."

It was the only thing I needed to say. I loved them so much, but they can be little devils when it comes down to it, especially Charlie. They're good kids, but they just have a knack for pranks, which are usually targeted at me.

"My condolences," Zak responded without another thought to it, "I guess my family isn't that bad. It's better than when they talk about you."

"They talk about me?"

"You know, the old 'Oh, you're still together' or stuff like that. They mean well, I guess. But it's just annoying after a while."

"All my family knows you, except for Uncle Bobby, and he's too busy with his kids to notice that I'm even dating someone," I remembered the moment we had started dating as it had happened here on my fifteenth birthday.

The night had been cold, and I had somehow talked my way into not having to do any preparations for Movie Night. Annie was checking on Beck and Charlie, who were watching Star Wars, and Avery was putting out the candy for us to watch our movie, Legally Blonde for the millionth time. I got a text from Zak, and I claimed that I was getting more blankets. I still don't know how he got up on the veranda, but he did. I slid into a pair of combat boots and went outside in my Fairly Odd-Parents pajamas. I still felt cold, but, somehow, Zak's presence warmed me up. Zak started talking, and we both sat down on the ledge to keep talking. He then leaned over and kissed me. After that, we were a couple.

"Sounds like heaven compared to listening to 'Well, Zakky here is going to be such a great best man!'" Zak did that choking thing that showed me just how upset he was about all this.

"I already offered for you to come over here, but you said you'd be fine," I went back to the mirror where I began to reapply blush, remembering I was supposed to be down for lunch soon.

"I know. I know, Artty," Zak sighed, and I knew I heard the faint sound of a lighter in the background. Zak took a deep breath, probably trying to smoke like he was supposed to. Instead, he simply coughed until where I could believe he was going to cough up his lungs.

"God, how do people smoke?" Zak complained, making me smile again.

"I wouldn't know, Zak," I looked at myself in the mirror, thinking it was hard to believe that it was me in the reflection.

I remembered when I would look at myself and not see this. First, I would see a tiny toddler with bouncing blonde curls. I then morphed into a little kid with annoyingly curly hair and pale skin. Let's not even bring up the middle school years.

But I didn't look like I had in the past.

My hair had gone from annoying to beautiful like my mom. My grey eyes were bight like my mom, but they had that mischievous spark from my dad. I was tall, not tall enough to beat out Zak, but that was a pretty hard task. I wasn't thin or perfectly built like Annie, but I did think I was pretty.

"Yeah, my little goody-two-shoes," Zak smirked, and I wasn't sure if I should smile or not.

"Shut up," I checked my watch, suddenly remembering my family.

"Eh."

"Listen, Baby, I love you, but I have to get going. I'll call you later," I knew I would regret hanging up the moment I sat down to listen to my Uncle Bobby reminisce about when I was a kid and such.

"Love you, too. Tell Beck I said hi, okay?"

"Will do," I smiled one last time before hearing the 'click' of him hanging up the phone. I set the Droid back down on my dresser and looked at the reflection of my room in the mirror. The walls were beige, and the comforter was light blue, which was nothing like I had kept it. My closet was open to the memorable clothes I kept because I couldn't bear to part with them. The room didn't have the feel to it that it did when I lived here.

But that was it.

I didn't live here anymore.

This wasn't my room. It was a room.

My breathing got heavy out of nowhere, and I pulled myself together so I wouldn't cry. It was hard to do though. I had been alright with moving out of the apartment I lived in as a child, but I was moving here. And I still was a kid. I could still make new memories. This wasn't the same though.

I was grown up, and I'd be out on my own in a few years. I lived in a dorm room, not in a room in my parent's apartment. I went to American University, not the prep school a few blocks away. Beck did all those things. Beck was the baby, and I was the young adult.

"Arty?"

"It's open, Beck," I pulled myself together, faking a smile. The door opened, and little Beck stood at the doorway. He had been a great mood since we all got here, which made sense. It would only be natural for him to be like that, I guess.

"Hey, Artemis," Beck's bright smile reminded me of Percy, who he looked just like except for having our mom's eyes.

"What's up, Becky?" I smiled.

"Um, remember how I said I didn't like Katrina?" Beck stared down at the floor nervously.

"Uh-huh…"

"Well…I lied," Beck's green eyes met mine.