Eventide

Chapter 3: Percy's House

As they got off at the bus station Grover kept murmuring something about sixth grade, he then turned to them. "I've...go to go to the restroom. Will you guys please wait for me?"

"Sure Grover." Percy said. But as soon as Grover was out of sight he turned to her, "Come on let's go."

"What?! What do you mean?! We just said we'd stay."

"I know but he's seriously starting to freak me out." he grabbed his suitcase and stepped outside. Darcie looked back at where Grover disappeared and cursed, "Fine Percy wait up!" she picked up her suitcases and ran after him. He hailed a taxi and slipped inside and she scooted in after him. "East One-hundred-and-fourth and First." the cab driver nodded and drove off.

Darcie gave Percy a look, "Why'd we do this? We didn't even get any information!"

"No we didn't." he looked disappointed.

Once the cab stopped outside of Percy's house he looked at her, "You can come in-if you want. Will your dad be mad?"

"No-he was just going to drop me off at home then go back to work anyways."

Percy stiffened, "I kept you from getting to see your dad while he was on break didn't I." it wasn't a question.

"Yeah," she had a lump in her throat. "It's fine, he got to get some sleep and I know he needed it. We'll just hang out later." she said grabbing her suitcases and getting out. "I do have to text him though." she told him.

They stopped in front of Percy's front door, "Um my stepdad-he's not the nicest person...." he trailed off. Darcie frowned as Percy stared at his feet, "and uh he doesn't smell the best."

"It'll be fine Percy." she smiled. She knew he wasn't as well of as she and a bunch of other Yancy students were. She could tell by the look of the apartment building but she played it off. She stepped inside to see a balding hunched over fat man smoking a nasty cigar playing poker with a few other guys. Beer cans, and chips surrounded the men as ESPN blared in the background.

The man hardly looked up, "So, you're home."

"Where's my mom?"

"Working, you got any cash?" he asked.

Percy flushed as Darcie frowned, so this was what he meant. Darcie opened her mouth but Percy shook his head, "No, I don't have any."

The man leaned back looking at them and raised a greasy eyebrow, "You took a taxi from the bus station. Probably paid with a twenty, got what six, seven bucks in change. Somebody expects to live under this roof he ought to carry his own weight am I right Eddie?"

Another man-presumably Eddie frowned at them with sympathy. "Come on Gabe, the boy just got here. And he's got a friend."

"Am I right?" Gabe repeated. Eddie scowled into his bowl of pretzels and the other two men passed gas in harmony. Darcie struggled to keep from grimacing in disgust knowing that it would only get Percy into more trouble and probably embarrass him.

"Fine." Percy scowled, throwing a wad of one dollar bills onto the table. "I hope you lose."

"You're report card came in boy," Gabe sneered, "I wouldn't act so snooty."

Percy looked at her, "Come on let's go to my room."

She nodded as Gabe called after them, "Wouldn't want your pretty girlfriend to find out how much of a punk you are."

Entering Percy's room Darcie was greeted by the scent of stale cigars and stale beer. Which while better than the smell in the living room but still not pleasant. Percy shoved car magazines and old clothes off of his bed and dropped his suitcases next to it. Darcie set hers beside his as they sat down. Darcie opened one of her suitcases, "It should be here somewhere, oh there it is!" She set her oil diffuser on his desk and the smell of mint burst from it.