Chapter One

Like all fairy tales, they end with a happy ending. Well, for me, I don't believe that. Sure, Cinderella gets her prince, Little Red Riding Hood lives, Hansel and Gretel get their lives back. But, they all have hard times. Me? I don't get a happy ending. I am stuck with the horrible middle. I'm something people call a freak because I'm different. I thought that that's what makes you special, but I guess not. They make fun of me because of my dyslexia and ADHD. I am never safe from anything. Monsters are always chasing you. By that, I mean the popular kids. And not only that, but strange things would happen to me. Once, a man walked down the sidewalk in my elementary school, with a woman behind him. Normal, right? Wrong. Every time the man would say something, the woman would repeat it. Almost like an echo. My parents told me that it was my imagination, but I knew they were hiding something. Also, people make fun of you. It's really hard to enjoy anything when you are being neglected by people, especially your if you have no friends.

All I've ever wanted was a friend. One that will always be there for me, never let you down, and will stand up for you anytime. I have Thalia, but she is probably the only friend I have. People don't want to hang out with a lonely, beat up, young girl like me. At school, no one takes a second look at me. Teachers don't call on me, even though I'm really smart. I just want to fit in. I've never thought that one day, I'd be in a fairytale, running for my life, but with a friend. It felt like a huge weight has been lifted of my shoulder, and I know, that I have someone by my side.

I'm at my high school, Truman High, in California, studying for a huge test after spring break. Oh. Sorry for being rude. My name is Annabeth Chase and I'm sixteen years old. I have blonde, curly with a streak of gray from studying too hard. I dress like any other person. A t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. I have owl earrings on from my dad as a birthday gift for my fourteenth birthday. My mom also gave me a Yankees hat, but I only wear it outside of school because of the dress code. Life for me has always been hard. I've never been popular girl in my life, but, somehow, I'm okay with that. For me, studying is my life. I want to be able to get into a good college and be a successful architect. I've always wanted to be an architect since I was little. The Parthenon is my inspiration. It's beautiful. The columns make me yearn to go to Greece one day. But for now, I'm stuck in high school, with a minimum wage job.

Anyway, back to studying. I'm so tired, especially because Gym when we had to run the mile. I was first place with a time of 7 minutes exactly, but I'm pooped. When tenth period was over, I was so happy that I was going home. It;s the start of spring break, and I'm visiting my friend Thalia in New York. I've miss her so much. I haven't seen her in five years! We met when my mom had to go on a business trip and I came with her. I am also very excited to see the Empire Stated Building, the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge, and Broadway. I can't stand my brothers, Matthew and Bobby. They like to pull pranks and sometimes, it just gets on my nerves. Sure, it's funny, but once in a while, they prank me. They change my caller I.D or scare me. I am so glad that they won't be coming with me to see Thalia.

You see, Thalia has her own little problems. Her little brother Jason is really annoying her. He would prank call her when she's doing homework, or pound on her door, than run off, or out whipped cream on her face when she's asleep. Not only that, but spring break is the only time that her cousins are coming to visit her. You do not want to meet her cousins. They are just a pain in the butt. One of them is Nico Di Angelo. He's only twelve, but has a mind of a seven year old. He ears black all the time so you might mistake him for goth. His sister died when he was eight so I've always had a soft spot for him, even if he is just as annoying as Matthew and Bobby, but at least he brushes his teeth and flushes to toilet. And then, there is Percy. Percy Jackson. I won't be surprised if he turns out to be the host for Punk'd. You do not want to meet him. He is my age, but he is always and will always be a stupid kid. Percy has sea green eyes and jet black hair, but it's always messy. My and him are complete opposites. Oh. My. Gods. (I tend to say gods for some reason) Percy has always been worse than Matthew, Bobby, Nico , and Jason combined. He will prank any girl he sees except for adults. The last time I was in the same room as him, I swear, I was going to wring that kid's neck. All I know about is background is that he has a half-brother named Tyson, a mother named Sally, and a dad that lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Percy and his family live in Manhattan, New York. That's the only bad thing in my vacation. Boys. I've never been attracted to them. Never have and never will. I've always had bad experiences. Well, I'm home.

"Hey, Mom," I yelled as I was going up the stairs to my bedroom. As I opened the door, Matthew and Bobby come running out of my room. "MOM! Matthew and Bobby were in my room! AGAIN!," I screamed. I could here my mom yelling at my brothers and I had a smirk on my face. Then, I went to wonder about why Matthew and Bobby were doing in my room. A few seconds later, I found a spider in my drawer where I keep my shirts. They know that I'm scared of spiders. So, I screamed.

"What's wrong, honey?" my mom said as she reached my room.

"Sp-sp-spider!" I stuttered. She picked up a piece of paper, got the spider on it and left. But she turned back and said "Hurry up and pack, sweetie. We are leaving in forty-five minutes." I am psyched. I can't wait! I started to pack. You only get this once in a lifetime.