In Between Two Worlds (HP/PJO Crossover)

Chapter 4: My Mother Heads For The Hills.

I woke up to Percy shaking me and telling me that we had arrived in Manhattan. We got off the bus and Grover said that he wanted to walk me and Percy home. But when Grover went into the bathroom...we ran. I'm not proud of our choice but, Grover was starting to creep us out. Just a bit.

We got out of the station and got into the first taxi we saw. Percy told the driver, "East One-hundred-and-fourth and First." And we were off.

That address sounded familiar so I pulled out the "letter" that my mom sent to me. And when I say "letter" I mean it was just a slip of paper with my new address on it. Much to my delight, it said 'East One-hundred-and-fourth and Fourth.' I smiled at Percy and said, "I guess we live in the same building now! My mom moved during the school year!"

He smiled and said, "Thank goodness! I couldn't stand it if I was alone with Smelly Gabe all summer!" At my confused look, he said "He's my pig of a stepdad. I hate him!"

I laughed at him as I felt the taxi pulled to a stop. We paid the driver and after much arguing about who was gonna pay(we decided to split it), we headed up the stairs.

We said our goodbyes and I went up to see my mom. I got to the door and was about to go in when I saw a note taped onto the door with my name on it. I took down then sat on the ground to read it. I could barely read it—stupid Dyslexia—but I think it went something like:

"Dear Karlee,

Taking care of you is too much for me to handle right now. Please don't try to find me because I will just run again. I want you to know that this isn't easy for me either, sweetheart. I'm sorry.

Sincerely,

Maya Gray"

I was shocked. I read the note more ten more times before I understood it fully. She had finally left. I always knew that it would happen one day. She was never the most involved mother. But really! Not even a goodbye, not even an "I love you." She didn't even write "Love, Mom," for crying out loud! I read the letter one more time, with tears streaming down my face.

After a few minutes, I decided I would go see if I could stay with Percy for a little while. I headed down the stairs and knocked on his door After a few seconds I was met by the smiling face of who I assumed to be Ms. Jackson.

"Hello! Can I help you?" She asked me cheerfully. There something about her that I couldn't put my finger on.

"Hi." I sniffed "I'm a friend of Percy. May I please come in?"

"Of course! Come on in! Percy's room is right this way."

"Thank you, Ms. Jackson."

"Honey, please call me Sally. Any friend of Percy is a friend of mine!"

I knocked on his door and as soon as he said, "Come in," I barged through the door. He looked at my red and swollen eyes and said confusedly, "Hey, Karlee. What are you doing here?"

I tried to explain how my mother left me, but I just broke down in tears and just showed him the letter. After he was done reading it, he spread his arms out and said, "Come here," and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. When I was done crying, I pulled away and asked him, "Do you think your mom would let me stay here for a little bit? I've got nowhere else to go."

He nodded enthusiastically and said, "I'll go ask her! I'm sure she won't mind! Can I take the letter with me to show her though?"

When I nodded he ran out of the room. A few minutes later, he came back in the room with his mom behind him. She still looked kinda familiar. Before I could say anything she sat next to me and pulled me into a hug. When she pulled away she started to talk.

"Karlee, you probably don't remember me, but when your mom was pregnant with you, she and I were best friends. When you were born, she named me your godmother. I was one of the only reasons that your mom didn't put you up for adoption. Shortly after your birth, she and I got into a huge fight...and we haven't spoken since. And I would love it if you came here to live with me, Percy, and my husband Gabe. Would you like to?"

"Wow," was all I said. The two of them laughed and then I finally got my words back. "I would love to live here with you, Sally!"

"Oh, and by the way," she said, just as she was leaving the room, "We are going to the Montauk beach so you don't need to unpack!"