The Fight

Percy POV

"I'm sorry that you aand Cally broke up. I kind of feel like it's my fault," I expressed quietly. I patted Leo's shoulder while walking to math class.

"Nah, man. It wasn't your fault. It just wasn't the right time," the curly-head Latino replied. He was still smiling about a recent joke.

"I get it. That's how I feel with Annabeth right now."

Leo paused in the hallway. We were outside of Ms. Dodds' classroom. If we wanted to talk, we'd have to do it out here. Our witch of a teacher had a 'no talking' policy in her room. It was so dumb.

Then, Leo stared at me with a mischievous smile.

"So, you're admitting that you like Annabeth," Leo stated. Then, he turned around in excitement and told a random classmate about my crush.

Oh my god. I facepalmed while harshly pulling Leo back towards me.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I hissed.

"You know how long we were waiting for you to admit your feelings. It's torture for us on the sidelines to watch you tiptoeing around. IT'S ABOUT TIME," Leo exclaimed.

"It wasn't that bad."

"Oh please, Percy. It's suffocating. I'm glad that we can finally get some relief from all this sexual tension," Leo laughed as my face burned.

There is sexual tension. I was feeling it for sure.

The students watched us closely while walking towards their classes. I didn't care about what everyone thought of me, but I was still nervous about putting Annabeth in the spotlight. Also, I had a lot of unfinished business in my personal life.

I didn't feel ready for a relationship just yet, but I am getting better.

"Anyway, why did you want to walk with me today? I don't mind, but you usually don't come to me for a buddy conversation," Leo asked nervously.

"I need a job, Leo," I paused. "I don't know that much about cars or bikes, but I can help out in your dad's garage."

"Hold on, why do you need a job all of a sudden?"

I faltered. I wasn't sure if I wanted to tell him about my life. "I'm moving out of my house. It's time for me to get out of there."

Leo looked confused. He was one of my smartest friends, yet he still struggled with social norms. He wouldn't be able to put things together unless I tell him the truth.

"Um, the garage isn't hiring right now. However, my grandfather is looking for employees at his restaurant, The Jewel. Plus, a waiter job pays a lot more, especially in tips," Leo explained.

"Could you really get me a job?" I asked.

"Absolutely. Grandpa Sammy loves you ever since you requested the dessert cake to be blue that one time. He hasn't forgotten about you since."

I laughed as I bro-hugged Leo in appreciation. I knew that he could help me in some way, and I owed him big time. If I wanted to move away from Gabe, then I had to get a job. Even if I was staying at Jason's and Thalia's, I'd feel guilty if I wasn't paying rent and helping them with groceries and stuff.

They're doing so much for me, and I'm not going to accept any more charity than I already received from them.

Suddenly, the second bell rang through the school. The hallway was pretty empty now.

"All right, we better get to class. As much as I love angering Ms. Dodds, I don't want another detention," Leo expressed.

"Ditto. Let's go."

However, we didn't get very far before Drew interrupted us. She kept bothering me ever since the proposal ended. She didn't like that I'd changed and was no longer interested in her.

Leo slipped away before she could corner him too.

I glared at him while he simply shrugged. His eyes demonstrated a message that said that he didn't want to deal with Drew. Neither do I.

Drew paused right in front of me. Even with her five-inch heels, she only came to my chin. My gaze narrowed on her cakey face. Her artificial eyelashes looked like they could poke her eyes out based on their length and plasticity.

"What do you want, Drew? I already told you-"

"You're looking quite nice today," she slurred. The strong scent of perfume suffocated the air around us. Her hands reached up and brushed my chest. She started batting her eyelashes in a very unattractive manner.

"We can sneak away to the janitor's closet. No one has to know." I ignored her horrid facial expressions and stepped back.

"STOP IT, DREW. I am not interested," I snapped firmly.

Suddenly, she started leaning forward and puckering her lips. My hands shot up and pushed her away. Her heels squeaked against the marble floor, and she fell to the floor.

In many movies, they show a mean girl surprisingly kissing a boy. Then, it looks like the boy is cheating on the main girl with this mean girl. What they don't show is that (most of the time) the boy has enough time to react against the mean girl.

In my opinion, men should be stronger than to fall for a random girl's demonstrations. That's what loyalty and commitment are about.

"Ow," Drew groaned while rubbing her back.

"I warned you, Drew. I'm not interested, so get over it," I said firmly.

Drew glared up at me while getting up. "You're rejecting me for Annabeth. That's a huge mistake, Percy. I'm so much better," she affirmed.

"Keep telling yourself that. Whatever makes you happy, Drew."

Anger sparked in her eyes.

Drew was planning something, but I didn't care. She can do whatever she wants, but she can't hurt my relationship with Wise Girl. Besides, Annabeth could easily take on and defeat Drew. I have no doubts about that.

I love Wise Girl, and I only belonged to her (not as a possession, but as a loved one). I have no interest in anyone else.

I smiled while thinking of Annabeth. I was grateful that she was by my side when I released my mother's ashes into the universe. It meant a lot to have Grover and Annabeth with me. I smiled as my mind wandered to Wise Girl; she is my new person.

I decided to skip Ms. Dodds' math class. After all, she can't give me a detention for being tardy if I'm not there.

That's my advice to all you tardy students out there.

***

I spent the whole week quietly packing up my stuff. I did it in secret. I had moved all my boxes and suitcases into my trailer. Annabeth, Grover, and the Grace siblings helped me when I was certain that Gabe wasn't home.

Later today, I'll link the trailer to my car and drive it to Jason's house. That's where I'll be staying from now on. I AM MOVING OUT OF GABE'S HOUSE TODAY.

He isn't going to stop me this time.

I felt amazing. For the first time, I was feeling free. I couldn't wait to get away from Gabe. He deserved to be alone like the trash that he is.

My bedroom was completely empty now. It was time.

Unfortunately, that's when Gabe decided to come home. However, he wasn't going to stop me. I ignored him as I packed up some stuff from the kitchen.

His beady eyes followed me curiously. He didn't know what I was doing, but he wanted to find out. he wanted to keep me here.

"You better be working on Lasagna for me and my buddies. That better be what all the noise is about," Gabe intrusted. He chugged a beer while I continued packing a box with my mother's cooking utensils and books.

"I SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE ME DINNER," Gabe snapped.

"Yeah, I'm NOT doing that," I stated firmly.

I looked around the kitchen and dining area one last time. I didn't leave anything behind, so I closed the cardboard box. As I look around the dingy apartment and smelled the alcohol and cigarette smoke, I realized that I'm ready to get out of here.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Gabe shouted. He stormed over to me. I set the box on the floor before facing him confidently.

"I'm not scared of you anymore," I stated. "I'm leaving."

He laughed cruelly. I was standing against the stove while he positioned himself in front of me. "And, where do you think you're going?"

"Anywhere but here."

"Have you forgotten that you can't leave? You know what my buddies and I are capable of. We know your friends and your girlfriend."

My hands enclosed into fists. I was ready to punch him.

"I don't care. I'm leaving this hell, and you can't stop me. Furthermore, I dare you to touch my friends and Annabeth. The instant that you do, your life will be over," I affirmed deeply.

"What?" The smelly pig laughed. "Will you kill me?"

"No, I'm not like you, Gabe. The instant that you hurt Annabeth or my friends or me again, I'll make sure that you are locked up," I paused to let it sink in. The laugh on his cruel face faded while he watched me. Sweat beaded his forehead.

"It wouldn't be my first time putting monster behind bars," I threatened. My voice was dangerously calm and confident.

I meant every word of what I was telling him.

The only reason that I wasn't going to the police already is that his money did help me and my mom in the past few years. However, if Gabe pushed me any further, he will have to pay.

"Now, step aside because it's time for me to go," I expressed firmly.

I watched his arms raise, and I was ready for it. I caught his wrist before it could make an impact on my face. He wasn't going to lay a hand on me today.

He lifted his knee to kick me, but I pushed him to the floor. His face shone with surprise and shock as I watched him from above.

"You may think that I'm weak, but that's only because you haven't seen me fight back. Don't make me show you what I can do," I warned.

Gabe scampered to his feet and grabbed my shirt. He struggled to pull me to the living room, and we both fell over as we wrestled with each other. I effectively dodged his hits before turning us over.

I leaned over him and punched him.

Each blow evoked a new bruise on his face. He deserved this, considering all the times that he did it to me. All the bruises and pain came back.

However, I was not Gabe. I wasn't going to hit him unless I had a reason to.

After one final punch to his jaw, I stood up.

I watched him from above as Gabe panted heavily. The blood flowed out of his nose and mouth, and his eyes bulged with pain. I remembered his assault from a few weeks ago. I looked way worse than he did now. Jason and Thalia could confirm that.

I shook my right hand while leaning closer to him. Gabe was in no shape to fight back, and he knew it. Fear was in his eyes.

"Don't come near me again. Don't come near my friends or Annabeth. Be grateful that I'm letting you go after all the pain you caused me," I stated.

Gabe groaned and coughed in pain while I walked away.

I grabbed the remaining box in the kitchen and walked out of the house. It wasn't my home. Home is where family is, and no family exists here anymore.

As such, I was beyond ecstatic about leaving this place.

I can finally be happy and free.