Chapter Twenty-Five

Epilogue

A Month Later

Annabeth

I'd like to say that everything is getting back to normal... but I would be lying.

My normal is coming home from school, cleaning the house for Ben and making food to eat for when he comes home, doing everything he asks of me and hoping that I won't get a beating for anything I supposedly do wrong.

The situation I am in now is far from my normal.

It's kind of daunting to come home from school and be able to lounge on the couch and watch TV and have someone cook for me, and not me for them.

It's nice.

It's weird.

I think it could become my new normal.

"Do you have anything planned for after school, Annabeth?" the female voice asks as she walks into the living room, coming to sit next to me on the couch. She's wearing her uniform, her short hair in a neat bun, her face void of any makeup.

"No. I don't have anything planned," I reply. "Why?"

Susan Walker smiles. "I thought it would be nice if you invited Percy over for dinner. My shift ends at 6pm so I thought I'd pick a takeaway up on my way home."

"That would be nice," I reply, smiling back at her.

Ben never allowed me to have friends over, I instantly think.

"Great," Susan says and jumps to her feet, brushing off her clothes. "I've got to head out to work now. Do you want me to drop you off at school?"

"No, thanks," I say. "Percy's on his way. I'll walk with him."

"Okay, sweetie. I'll see you later," she replies, and squeezes my shoulder gently before she grabs her bag and leaves the house, closing the door quietly behind her.

I sigh and slouch against the seat, wondering how I got here.

A month ago, after Percy and I were found not guilty of murdering my uncle, I quickly realized that I was homeless, had no where to go, no one to turn to.

Percy had suggested I stay with him but the paparazzi outside his home was enough to make me decline. I wanted a fresh start. I wanted to try and forget about the past and I couldn't do that with cameras being pushed in my face and strangers asking me questions.

Detective Susan Walker had then informed me that she had pulled some strings and since she had fostered children in the past, I was able to come live with her. I accepted her offer because I had found myself liking the woman after spending so much time with her while I was locked away and she told me I could stay for as long as I needed.

The first few days of living with her were uncomfortable and tense for me. I was unsure of what I should be doing. Should I cook dinner? Should I clean the house? Could I go see Percy?

She had reassured me that her home was my home and that all she wanted was for me to feel comfortable.

If it wasn't for her I don't know where I would be. Never would I have expected Detective Susan Walker, the first officer to interrogate me about Ben's death, the woman I found most intimidating, to allow me to live with her for as long as I wanted.

I owe her.

A knock on the door brings me out of my thoughts. I quickly grab my school bag, not wanting to keep Percy waiting, and run for the door.

"Hey," he greets me, a goofy smile on his face.

"Hi," I reply and lean in to quickly press my lips against his.

"Got everything?" he asks.

I nod. "Yeah. Let's go," I say, taking a hold of his hand as we start walking. "Guess what?"

"What?" Percy questions, his eyes on me, waiting for me to answer.

"Susan asked me if I wanted to invite you to dinner," I tell him.

He raises his eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yes. So, do you want to come over today? She said she'll bring back takeaway food as soon as she finishes work," I reply.

"I'd love to. It'll be nice to sit at a table with her when she isn't interrogating me," he says.

"I know. She's so different at home than she is at work," I admit.

"How?"

"Well, she smiles more. She's not so scary. I guess, being a cop, you have to be kind of intimidating."

"I want to be a cop," Percy informs me.

"Really?" I ask, pleasantly surprised.

"Yeah. I'll know then that there will be at least one good cop out there."

"Not all officers are bad," I say.

"I know," he replies. "But, in the same breath, we don't know what goes on behind closed doors, do we?"

"I guess not," I admit. "I haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up."

"You have the rest of your life to decide," Percy says. "Just know I'll be beside you all the way."

Percy and I had the option to change school's but after much thought we decided to stay at Goode High.

Our first day back was tough. People didn't try to hide that they were talking about us. The teacher's would look at me guiltily, like they regretted not asking me about the bruises I used to try and hide with makeup. I don't blame them for not asking.

Back then, I didn't want anyone to ask.

Percy Jackson changed that when he moved in next door. He was the green-eyed boy that, for some reason, wanted to be my friend. He was the first that ever dared to ask.

As we walk through the gates to our school, Percy and I look around us. A few eyes fall on us but the excitement at having two suspected murderers at their school has faded, for which I am glad.

Percy and I try hard not to let things bother us. We turn a blind eye to the students that whisper as we walk past. We try not to notice that suddenly everyone wants to be our friends.

What I do notice, however, is that Rachel Elizabeth Dare has been absent since our return.

Except for today.

I spot her standing at the top of the concrete steps that lead towards the double doors of the school. A small crowd of girls are surrounding her, asking question after question.

Her eyes meet mine through the sea of people and she smiles kindly at me and starts to make her way through the crowd.

She walks towards Percy and I and stops right in front of us.

"Hey," she greets, her voice portraying her nervousness.

"Hi," Percy and I reply at the same time.

"How are you both doing?" she asks, tugging at the straps on her backpack.

"We're doing great," I say. "Yourself?"

"I'm okay. Dad... Um... William Dare had his court case a few days ago. He got sentenced to fifteen years in prison and he's not allowed near me again. He also had his badge taken from him," Rachel explains.

"He got what he deserved," Percy says.

"I know," she replies. "But the thought that it's my fault that he's gone to prison..."

"It was time, Rachel. You didn't deserve what he did to you. No one does. You can't feel guilty for allowing a guilty man to get his punishment."

"You're right. But he's my father. I should love him, miss him... but there's nothing. I just feel relieved."

"You are allowed to feel that way," I say. "Don't beat yourself up over it. You've had enough beatings to last forever. It's time for you... and me, I guess... to discover what life really is about. Only good things can happen to us from now on."

"I hope we can be friends," Rachel says.

"We are," I reply. "And I'm sure we always will be."

We set the table as we wait for Susan's return.

I feel slightly nervous at having Percy over for dinner but I know nothing bad will happen.

"Are you okay?" Percy asks from behind me.

I turn around and smile at him. "I'm fine. Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?"

"Probably," Percy replies and I laugh. "I feel great."

I hear the sound of key's jingling before the front door swings open.

"This is it," I tell Percy and he straightens up.

"I'm home!" Susan calls from the hallway and Percy and I rush over to help her with her bags. "Hey, Percy."

"Hi, Detective," Percy replies and Susan makes a face at him.

"Ugh. I'm out of work for now. Just call me Susan," she instructs.

We take the bags of food over to the table.

"Oh. That looks lovely," Susan says as her eyes fall on the table that Percy and I set up. "It's not often that I get to set the table to eat. It's a nice change."

"How about you go change your clothes and Percy and I will dish out the food?"

"Are you sure?" she asks, looking from me to Percy.

"Yes. I'm sure. Now, go freshen up," I reply and she smiles wide as she runs to the stairs.

"You're an angel, Annabeth," she says before she disappears from sight.

There's a small smile on my lips as I open the bags and serve the delicious food. The heavenly smell of beef burgers and fries makes my stomach rumble.

"She really is different out of the police station," Percy says as we both take a seat and wait for Susan.

She comes running downstairs moments later, wearing jeans and a blue t-shirt. "You didn't have to wait for me," she says as she brings a french fry to her mouth. "How are you, Percy?"

"I'm fine, thanks," Percy replies as he digs in to his own meal.

"Good. How was school?" she asks, turning her attention to me.

"It was much better today. Rachel was there, too. William Dare has been sentenced to fifteen years," I reply.

"Got what he deserved," Susan says. "It's crazy how you think you know someone but really you don't know them at all."

"I know. I used to think Rachel was my worst nightmare but she's actually a really nice girl," I admit.

"I'm glad you're friends with her. Feel free to have her over at any time," Susan says.

"Thanks," I reply and she rolls her eyes.

"You don't have to thank me for everything I say or do, Annabeth. I've allowed you to stay here and I've took on the responsibility to care for you. It's my job," she says.

"I just can't thank you enough for what you've done for me," I say. "If you hadn't offered for me to stay with you, where would I be now? I could be anywhere. I owe you."

"You owe me nothing," Susan says. "You deserve to be cared for and I want to provide that for you."

Tears fill my eyes at her kind words and I don't bother to hide my emotion. I want to thank her again but I know my voice will break if I try to speak. So, I stay silent and smile, looking from Susan to Percy. They both look back at me with their own smiles on their faces and my heart feels full.

And in that moment, I know...

I know I'm going to be okay.

The End