The Skeletons In The Closet

Chapter Eight

Congrats to percyjacksonlover21 for guessing the correct POV!

Piper's POV

"Ah, man! I was hoping they'd skip over me," I said when I saw my mansion. Pretty much everyone's jaws dropped.

"THIS is your HOUSE?!?" Connor screeched. "Yes," I answered, "my childhood was a different kind of story. It wasn't as traumatizing as some of yours."

Jason cocked an eyebrow to which I rolled my eyes and grabbed his hand.

I felt a blush rising in my cheeks when we entered the mansion. Everyone was gawking at it and it made me feel embarrassed. Like it's not fair that I grew up in this house when Leo grew up in foster homes, or Percy in his apartment with Gabe. I certainly didn't deserve such a nice home, so why me?

Our first order of business became finding me in the huge house. Eight of us went to search the east wing, and the other eight to search the west wing.

After searching for fifteen minutes, I heard Percy hollering from the other side of the mansion, "We found you, Pipes!"

So my group made our way to the other side where they were crowed in a bathroom. It took me a second to get what was going on. I was about eleven and I was crying. I was looking at myself in the mirror with distaste as I held safety scissors in my hand.

The memory came to me then. A private hairdresser had cut my hair all nice and pretty that morning. It was long and even. My dad didn't even bat an eye when I showed him. He didn't really care, it was just a haircut. But it was important to me.

The thing is, a lot of seemingly normal things were important to me. My dad was always so busy with his work that he never had time for me. There was always hired help to deal with me. Never him. It got so bad that I'd do anything just to get a little attention.

So I held my long brown hair in my hands. My look of sorrow turned into one of determination and without giving myself time to change my mind, I sheered it right off. The remaining strand just reached my shoulders. I continued to cut and cut and cut until my long and even hair was short and choppy.

My eyes were wide in the mirror's reflection. I dropped the scissors like they were hot and ran my hands through my hair. But what was done was done. So I squared my shoulders and marched out of my room, right down to my dad's office.

We all hurried to follow eleven year old me. At first, my dad didn't take notice of me even being there. I cleared my throat and he lifted his head, eyes still following whatever script he was reading. Finally, his eyes flitted to me and he balked.

"Piper! What did you do to your hair?" He looked mortified and I allowed myself a smug grin.  "Just-I'll have Mandy deal with it." He went for a phone to dial Mandy the hairdresser. My grin slipped from my face. I was losing his attention.

Attention was my drug. My father never had time for me it seemed. All I ever wanted was to feel loved. But he would always shirk off his dad duties on the hired help like I wasn't worth his love and attention. Now I know that was never the case, but still. It left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"No! Don't call Mandy. I cut my hair and this is how I want it," I planted my feet, being as stubborn as possible.

He sighed. "Fine."  I guess young me wanted to take advantage of the situation. I had his attention, better push that as far as I could.

"Hey, Dad? I want to show you something."

"What is it sweetheart? I'm kind of busy," he said without really looking at me, just skimming over the script for his new movie.

You see, I had this very special place when I was young. It was where I retreated to when I was angry or sad. Or just wanting to be alone, which wasn't often because I was usually left alone on a regular basis. Not by choice.

"I want to show you my Sanctuary," I said. I had read a book earlier that week and the characters had used the word 'Sanctuary' to describe their forest kingdom. So I decided to call my special place my sanctuary.

Watching my face, I could see the hope brimming my eyes. Maybe he'd put down his script and come with me. Maybe he'd pay attention and share my Sanctuary with me. But no.

"Honey, maybe later. I'm really busy. I have to meet with the director soon. I'm really sorry," He said. But I knew he wasn't sorry. My Sanctuary was just some childish fort to him. He didn't see it like I did; my special place of escape.

I could see myself start to tear up. "Okay, Daddy. Maybe later," and with that, I ran from the room.

Who's next?

How'd everyone like that one? I really enjoyed writing this chapter. Writing in Piper's POV is one I don't normally do, but still enjoy, you know? Probably not, I don't even know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter! Remember to vote and comment and have an amazhang day;) Love you demigods:)