(Percy POV )
"Sally. I'm home!" Gabe said throwing his dirty boots on th floor and plopping down on the couch.
"Piper, quietly go to my room. My step dad is back and he isn't to fond of new people. Hide." I say to Piper, pushing her towards my room.
"Sally! Get me a beer! Then get me some chips and dip. Now!" Gabe hollered from the couch. With Piper hidden, my mom git Gabe a beer and I got his chips and dip. We carried his stuff in and I saw that the floor mom worked so hard on was covered in mud and dirt.
"Whatcha looking at boy? Give me my damn chips!" He says. I hand over his food and turn to leave.
"Come here,boy." Gabe says, his voice oddly quite. I know what's coming.
"Yes Gabe?" I say.
"That's yes dad. I want you to look at me when I'm talking to you." With that said, he backhands me and I fall to the floor. My cheek is stinging.
"Go to bed, boy. Your mom and I are gonna have a talk." Gabe says, grabbing my mom's arm and pulling her to their room. I quickly run to my room to see Piper on the floor, convolsing(shaking uncontrollably.)
(Piper POV )
I heard Percy's step dad yelling and then I heard someone get hit. I started remembering what had happened to me. I went into a hazy dream. I was running and then I was caught. They tied me and I was left alone. Then, in the distance, I heard a voice. They were calling me. Telling me to wake up. My eyes opened and I saw green eyes looking at me, tears pouring out.
(Percy POV )
I walked into my room and saw Piper shaking on the floor. I run over to her. I don't know what to do. I can't call mom. I start crying . I don't know why. I guess I was scared for her.Suddenly I remember something I read in a magazine.
I picked her up and held her in my arms, making it difficult to shake. Slowly, the shaking stops. She looks up at me. She sees my tears and hugs me. I wrap my arms around her. We sit like that until she says, "Percy, I need to tell you something."
(Piper POV )
We sit across from each other and I begin.
"When I was 13 years-old I was kidnapped and...abused. During the time I was missing, my mom searched for me. She never quit. Even after the police did. Finally, she found me. In our attempt to escape, she was shot. Her last wish was for me to stay strong and let myself continue to love people. My dad moved here and started drinking. I was new and had a friend. Drew. I told her my secret because I thought I could trust her. She told every one that I was a slut who slept with any guy who looked at me. I was humiliated. Then, Rachel and I became friends. Drew told her my secret and I couldn't stand the thought of her leaving me so I did it for her. I'm always going to be alone. Goodbye Percy." I stand up to leave and he grabs my wrist. I look at him and he says, "We all have secrets. Can I tell you mine?"
