Troubled

4

chapter four
annabeth

"What did you do to your hair?"

As the door swung closed behind me I could already feel myself suffocating.

"Thalia dyed it for me," I shot back as my hand whipped up to grasp the strands of my usually honey blonde hair which I'd dyed a violent purple. "Why?"

My dad simply shook his head while he rubbed his temple, too annoyed to comment. He ushered me inside the house, which smelled of a home cooked meal. No matter how much I hated Helen, I have to admit, the woman can cook.

"Do you have any laundry to do?" Helen asked, suddenly appearing next to me, causing me to jump.

I shook my head as I held onto my book bag tighter. "No, we have laundry machines there."

She nodded, desperately trying to talk to me. Helen liked trying to 'relate' to me as if that would make me like her more. "Yes, I suppose so. But isn't it just so much better done at home?"

"I didn't bring home any laundry."

She sighed as she gave up and rushed into the kitchen, muttering something about needing to check on dinner.

"Annabeth, dodge!" one of my half brother's screamed as a toy basketball came hurtling towards my face, hitting my eye.

"I'll be in my room," I announced as I rushed up the stairs before my brothers could give some form of an apology.

Since I didn't live at the house year round and I would be moving out soon, Helen had already started renovating my room into a guest room.

As I dropped my bag on my bed I couldn't help but groan at the sight of the room.

She'd replaced my comforter with a bright pink flowery quilt and had painted over the walls in a soft gray. She'd even shoved all of my possessions I left behind in the closet.

After digging all of my stuff out of the closet, I crashed down on the bed and pulled out my phone and dialed my best friend's number.

"Hey Thals," I said as the ringing stopped, meaning Thalia had picked up her phone.

Thalia was my best friend since, well, ever. At least since we met in elementary school. Of course we'd been sent to the same boarding school by our families and we both had a rebellious streak, meaning we became instant best friends.

Her family lived in California, the other side of the country. They only sent her to a boarding school in New York as that was the only school that would take her.

Her younger brother got accepted to the school, too, but only because of his athletics. That was one thing our school prided itself on. He was on the football team with Luke, but unlike Luke he earned his spot.

"Weekend with the family already suck?" Thalia joked.

I rolled my eyes. "It's been mild so far, but I've been here less than an hour, so Helen's probably got more hell in store for me. She already re did my room."

Thalia groaned. "Did she repaint over the walls we painted together?"

"Of course, that was expected of her," I replied with a light laugh. "How's the school holding up? Has the football game started yet?"

"How should I know?" she asked. "With everyone gone no way I'm spending my time alone at an empty football field. I'm enjoying our empty room."

"You better not mess up my stuff!"

Thalia was my roommate at school. Since her family lived all the way in California and she despised them, she spent her time off at the school, almost completely alone.

"I won't, neat freak," Thalia shot back. "There's some new car here. New student too, I think. Him and his mommy came."

"He look 'troubled'?" I asked as I started unpacking my stuff in the bathroom. "Ugh, Helen's even repainted my bathroom. It's now a violent pink..."

Thalia burst out laughing. "Now I've gotta see that. And the kid doesn't look too eager to be here. He looks annoying..."

"Annabeth, dinner!"

I groaned. "Sorry, Thals, gotta go. My family will kill me if I miss dinner one more time. I'll call you later, okay? And keep me updated on your thrilling mystery with the new kid."

"I will."