Favorite : Change for the both of us

Chapter 21

My birthday was a week ago. Poseidon and I have been told that we're free to go back to our house in two more weeks after the new security system is installed by Zeus's company (which is an airline company, yes, but has a lot of connections). It'll make sure that Kronos can't get on to our property without permission. And permission will be impossible for him, so...yeah.

The happiness I felt on my birthday has worn off. In the evenings, I go to bed terrified that my grandfather is lurking in the shadows, waiting for me to go to sleep before doing god-knows-what. I know that I should tell someone. I really should. But there's only one person that I really trust enough not to tell one of the adults yet still help me out with it.

I ask Annabeth to come with me to the garden, because Thalia isn't here (she's with Artemis at the badass girl scouts – god help us) and Nico and Hades aren't visiting today. Athena dropped her off this morning without warning because she's so busy with work. Geez – Zeus flipping owns the company, and even he doesn't have as much work to do as her. Personally, I think she's just making excuses, but I don't say anything to Annabeth about it.

I notice that my friend looks extremely down today. "What's wrong?" I ask as we sit on a bench besides the fountain.

"Nothing," Annabeth says, glancing up at me.

I raise an eyebrow at her. "Nothing? You seriously expect me to believe that it's 'nothing'? You should see your face, Annabeth, coz it's gloomier than the old children's home I stayed in,"

Annabeth flushes. "Sorry...I'm just thinking,"

Big surprise. "About what?"

"My mom," Annabeth sighs. "She's just always so busy. I hardly see her except when she's driving me to and from places. Even on my birthday – work comes first. It always comes first..."

"Wait, what?" I say, blinking. "Birthday?"

"Yep. Today's my birthday," Annabeth says, smiling timidly. "Nine years old. Exactly a week after yours..."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask her, feeling a bit hurt. Are we friends or are we not? "I haven't even got you anything!"

"You don't have to get me anything-,"

"Yes I do, you're my best friend,"

Annabeth pauses. "I am?" she asks, sounding shocked.

I roll my eyes. "What the heck does this mean, then?" I question, tugging my necklace out of my shirt with my thumb. Annabeth blushes again and shrugs. We fall silent as I wrack my brains, trying to remember what I have up in my room that could be deemed a suitable present-

Aha! I smirk in triumph, jumping off the bench. "Stay right here," I order Annabeth before sprinting into the house. Annabeth shouts after me, but I ignore her. I reach my room in record timing and hurry over to my drawers. I tug open the sock drawer and search through it for a particular bunch of old socks. I find the ball a second later and pull out the little piece of jewellery I stashed inside it.

My mom's ring. I found it in a box under her bed in her bedroom before I was taken to the children's home after her death. When she was little, her mom gave it her. It's been passed down through the women of my family for generations. Mom used to wear it all the time, but when one of her boyfriends tried to steal it, she took it off for good and hid it. It's a simple little silver band, a little scuffed from many years of being worn, encrusted with a small tear-drop shaped emerald and a few diamonds. Mom did have the option to sell it for money (and not be a...well...) but she didn't want to. She was afraid it would end up in bad care if she did. Luckily, I know the best person to take care of it for her. I stare at the ring for a second before sprinting back out of the room.