Chapter One:
How Dyslexia Became A Contagious Disease

Percy Jackson was sitting in the airport. His ADHD was really acting up, as it usually did in overcrowded public places. Although he was trying to listen to his mp3 player, he could not help but notice the man sitting across from him who was chewing his fingernails and speaking to himself.

Percy had not been to an airport in ages- not only did he dislike flying, but any plane with Percy flying on it had a ninety- nine point nine percent chance of being struck by one of his uncle's lightning bolts.

Therefore, needless to say, Percy was not waiting to catch a plane himself. The reason Percy had been waiting in an airport terminal for two hours on a perfect snowy day was because all of the times that Annabeth had teased him for being expelled from so many schools had finally come back to bite her.

Annabeth Chase was Percy's girlfriend and best friend. She had attended a public school in San Francisco up until a week ago, when her Algebra III teacher suddenly decided to assign extra homework- and then sprout wings and claws, and try to kill her. As it turns out, Mrs. Fryen, her teacher, was actually a Fury. Annabeth was quick to destroy her with her bronze knife, but all that her classmates saw through the mist was Annabeth pulling a knife on her teacher, and the little old woman running for her life, never to be seen again.

She was kicked out of school; she had begged her father to send her back to New York, to her old boarding school, Madison Secondary School for Girls. Mr. Chase reluctantly agreed, and Annabeth was arriving today. She was staying with Percy for the last days of winter vacation, and he was helping her move back into the school.

He nearly jumped out of his seat in joy at the sight of Annabeth's curly blonde ponytail coming through the crowd. He met her halfway, and greeted her with a bone-breaking hug. They had been dating for four and a half months, but it had been four months since they'd seen each other last. Even though she was clearly tired and jetlagged, she was an extremely welcome sight.

"You got taller, Seaweed Brain." She mumbled into his shoulder, before they released each other. Percy smiled at her. He knew from the silver sparkle in her grey eyes that that as her way of saying that she missed him.

"So, are you excited for your new- er- old school?" Percy said as they walked to the luggage carousel.

Annabeth nodded. "Yeah, I mean, the public school had no programs or classes at all for Architecture or Design, and you know what I have been working on, and I need those sorts of resources. Madison has all of that." She said, with a look of excitement on her face. Annabeth had been honored with the privilege to design the new city on Mount Olympus. "And I miss New York. It's too hot in California."

She thought for a second, as if she was calculating what to say next. "I'm still deciding whether being in such a close proximity to you all of the time will be a high or low point." She said, finally. Percy laughed, and slid his hand into hers.

"Madison is only, like, five minutes away from my school, you know." He said, squeezing her hand lightly.

Annabeth laughed. "Gods! Even closer than I thought!- Oh! There are my bags." She said, pointing to two identical grey suitcases seemingly held together by iron bands passing by on the carousel, out of her reach. Percy quickly stretched out and grabbed them before they passed.

They were a lot heavier than they appeared, so Percy was thankful when he saw that they had wheels.

He recognized the metalwork immediately. "Did Tyson make these?" He asked, as Annabeth took the second suitcase, and they began to walk toward the exit.

She smiled happily. "Yes! He sent them to me for Christmas!" She said, as the walked out into the parking lot. She pulled a blue ski cap out of her jacket pocket, and pulled it over her hair. "They were exactly what I needed, too." She explained. "He made them specially- they hold much, much more than they look like they can, and they confuse the X-Ray machines, so- well, I could bring my knife and armor without any questions."

"Ah, so my younger brother is helping you smuggle weapons across the country. I see." Percy said, with a smile. Annabeth elbowed him very hard in the side, as they approached Percy's truck.

"You got a new car?" She said, questioningly as he began- with extreme difficulty- loading the suitcases into the back.

"Um- yes-" He said, as he struggled to put them away. "Annabeth! These must weigh at least 200 pounds each. Is that even allowed on flights?" She shrugged and smirked. "Doesn't matter. Thalia taught me the mist trick after the battle last summer."

Percy made a mental note to get Annabeth to teach him that.

It was a short drive back to Percy's apartment. Percy talked the door attendant into allowing them to use the service elevator, and soon enough, they were up to the fourth floor.

Percy took a deep breath, and turned to Annabeth. "Just for the record- I have no idea what will happen after we open this door, but it may be scarier than anything we've ever faced before."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "What-?" She began slowly, but Percy unlocked the door, and pushed it open.

Percy's mother, Sally, was sitting on the sofa. She immediately jumped up, and squished Annabeth and Percy into a hug. "Hello!" She said, jubilantly. "Annabeth, dear! It's so nice to see you again!" Annabeth grinned, and walked with Sally over to the sofa. "How was your flight?" She said, as the two sat down. "Percy, Paul is in the kitchen finishing dinner. Why don't you see if he needs help?"

Percy left his mother an Annabeth, and went into the kitchen. Paul Blofis, his stepdad and teacher was taking a roasted chicken from the stove. "Hello Perce." He said, thumping him on the back.

"Hey Paul." Percy said, taking four plates and four glasses from the cabinet, and quickly setting the table. "Do you need any help?"

Paul looked around the kitchen slowly. "I think I've got it under control, thanks." He said, smiling. "Did Annabeth's flight go alright?"

Percy nodded. "It was delayed because of the snow, but she said it went smoothly." Paul nodded, and moved the chicken onto a serving plate.

He wiped off his hands on a towel beside the sink, and then grinned furtively at Percy. "Are you happy to see her again?"

Percy smiled back. "Very."

Paul laughed, and shook his head. "Why don't you call them in for dinner?"

Over dinner, Percy learned that he was right to warn Annabeth before entering the apartment. While he was in the kitchen, even though it was just for a short time, his mother had told Annabeth numerous stories about when he was little; the embarrassing, horrifying, baby-on-a-bearskin-rug kind.

For dessert, Sally made brownies with blue frosting. Percy saw Annabeth's eyes sparkling when Sally brought the plate out. He had told her numerous times about his mom's obsession with blue food. After dinner, Annabeth and Percy moved her luggage into his room, while Sally made up the sofa in the living room for Annabeth to sleep on.

Annabeth sat down on Percy's bed, and looked around the room. Her eyes rested on his dresser, where there were three pictures. One was taken a few summers back, and it was of Annabeth, Percy, and their friend Grover, A Satyr. The other was of Percy and Tyson. The last one was of Paul, Sally, and Percy at Paul and Sally's wedding. Annabeth looked from the pictures to Percy, who was hurriedly shoving clothes from the floor into his closet.

Annabeth laughed. "There's no point." She mused. "I figured your room would be a mess without Tyson to clean up after you. You should've cleaned before I saw the mess, Seaweed-"

Percy waved her off. "Well, we're not all brilliant strategists, are we?" He said, softly.

She blushed scarlet, and pulled her hair out of her ponytail. It had grown longer since Percy saw her last. Percy began absentmindedly playing with one of her curls. "So, can I see the plans for Olympus?" He asked.

Annabeth yawned. "You can see them tomorrow, when you help me move in. I don't want to unload everything now. I'm too tired." Percy nodded in agreement. "I'm almost done though!" She said, suddenly a little more energized. "We will have to bring them up to Lord Hephaestus and my mother. I really hope they like it." Percy stopped playing with her hair, and put his hand on her shoulder.

"They'll love it." He promised. Annabeth smiled.

"You haven't seen it. How would you know?"

"Because I know you."

And she kissed him.

At times, Percy felt odd- because they hadn't seen each other in so long, he and Annabeth were still caught in an awkward transition phase between being best friends, and being more. Sometimes it was strange to look at her and to realize that she felt the same way about him that he felt about her. He did not need to hide it anymore; he didn't need to deny his feelings.

Then there were other times- times like this- when nothing felt more meant to be…

…At least until the door swung open.

Percy and Annabeth jumped apart, color rising into both of their cheeks. Sally stood there, her face split somewhere between embarrassment, shock, and an extremely strong desire to laugh. "Annabeth, your dad's on the phone."

Annabeth stood up. She was red in the face, and biting her lip. "Thank you, Mrs. Blofis." She said through gritted teeth. She fished a pair of pajamas from her suitcase, and then forced a smile at Percy. "Get some sleep, Seaweed Brain. I've got a lot of stuff to move in tomorrow."

With that, she winked, took the phone, and turned away. "Hey Dad-"

Sally looked at Percy, and smirked. Percy raised an eyebrow at her. Neither of them blinked. Finally, Sally looked away.

"You win. I'll knock next time."

After breakfast the next morning, Percy and Annabeth reloaded her bags into his truck. It was a fifteen-minute drive to Annabeth's school.

Annabeth's room was on the top floor of the dorm- of course. It took the two of them nearly an hour just to get the bags up the stairs.

The room was big- much larger than any of Percy's rooms at boarding schools had ever been. There were three beds, three desks, three dressers, and a closet. Two beds were bare, and the other was covered with a large, hot pink comforter, fuzzy pink pillows, and several stuffed animals. Annabeth and Percy exchanged glances, and then Annabeth rolled her eyes.

"Do you know who either of your roommates are?" Percy asked, opening the suitcase that Annabeth told him to. She shook her head.

"The woman who called only told me that I'd be rooming with one of their Junior class adviser and they were going to stick another transfer student in too. Put that on the bed." She explained and directed, while putting clothes away into the dresser.

"Do you know anything about either of them?" Percy asked, putting Annabeth's white sheets onto one of the empty beds.

"The adviser girl's name is Jane, Jean- something like that. I don't know anything about the other one though. They would not give me any details. I sounded like the woman on the phone didn't even know."

"That's really weird." Percy said, suspiciously, unfolding her grey comforter. "Do you think it's-"

Annabeth read his mind. "No. I don't think it's a trap or anything. But just in case," She reached into her bag, and pulled out her trusty celestial bronze knife. She waved it in the air, before putting it in its holster concealed by the sleeve on her sweater.

"Okay." Percy said, a little uncomfortably. He did not like the thought that Annabeth could possibly be living with a monster. They finished eventually, the last thing unpacked being Annabeth's plans for Olympus. She spread them out on her desk- the one beside her bed.

Percy looked at it in amazement. Despite the letters and numbers that were flying off the page for Percy, beneath the angles and measurements, there was a plan for a striking new city.

There were monuments and temples to all of the Olympian gods. "Gods- Annabeth- It's amazing." He said, putting an arm around her.

"Really?" She said, beaming up at him.

He squeezed her. "It's perfect."

"Thanks so much! I was worried about the columns on Aphro-" She began, but she instantly stopped talking when there was a knock on the door. They turned to face the door, where a small girl who was their age, walked in. She had a short, pink skirt on with a white t-shirt.

"Hello!" A high, peppy voice said. "You must be Annie Bell."

Annabeth stood up to shake the girl's hand. "It's Annabeth." She corrected, politely. "You must be Jean?"

"It's Jane."

"Sorry, I'm dyslexic."

"Omygawd! I'm so sorry. Who's your friend?"

Percy, who was doing all he could not to laugh, gave a slight wave. "That's my boyfriend, Percy. He's just helping me move in."

"Aw, he's cute." Jane said, hugging one of the many stuffed cats on her bed. "So, you're new here?"

Annabeth shuffled her feet, briefly touching her plans. Percy knew this was his cue to hide them. He began to roll them up. "Yes and no. I came here for a while a few years ago, but then I moved to San Francisco."

Jane wrinkled her nose. "Why would you move back here? I'd miss the beach."

Percy suddenly remembered something. "Annabeth, I'll be back in a minute." He said, grabbing his keys, and starting out the door.

"Fine." She mumbled back, trying to hide the annoyance in her tone. Percy knew he would be punched for abandoning her with Jane later. He ran down ten flights of stairs, and into the lobby. There were two women standing in front of the front doors. One was clearly a school administrator, and the other was a teenager. He overheard a little of their conversation.

"So the room is on the top floor?" The girl complained loudly.

"Yes, Miss Gail."

"So, it's really high up then?"

"I suppose that depends on what you consider high, Miss Gail."

"Are there lots of windows?"

Percy hurried out to the parking lot. He grabbed what he had forgotten out of the back seat of the truck, and then raced back into the building. In hurry, he bumped into the girl. She turned around as if she was going to yell at him.

The girl had on very dark, seemingly opaque sunglasses on. Her hair was very long. It was pitch black, but was hidden by an equally dark hooded sweatshirt. She had on blue jeans, and torn and dirty converse sneakers. Percy thought she looked familiar. "Sorry." He muttered, when the girl surprised him by not yelling. She just looked mildly offended, then laughed, and then walked into the housing office.

Percy walked back up the ten flights of stairs, and then back into Annabeth's room.

"What's that?" Annabeth said, as Percy sat back down on her desk, handing her the box.

"Just something to remind you of me. Be careful- it's breakable," He said.

Annabeth opened the box, and pulled out a small fishbowl with a tiny blue fish swimming around.

"Aw, Seaweed Brain!" She giggled, putting the fishbowl on her desk.

Jane raised an eyebrow. "Seaweed Brain? That is the weirdest pet name I've ever heard in my life."

Annabeth laughed. "Trust me, its not a pet name." Percy smiled. Annabeth had initially called him 'Seaweed Brain' as an insult. Sometimes he forgot that she used to hate him.

Jane looked liked she was about to ask a question, when there was a knock on the open door.

It was the girl with the sunglasses.

"Annabeth Chase, I think your boyfriend just gets stupider by the year," She said, leaning against the doorframe, with her arms crossed.

She removed her sunglasses.

Percy could recognize those fierce blue eyes anywhere.

Thalia.

He and Annabeth both sprung out of their seats.

Annabeth hugged her tightly. "I've missed you!" She exclaimed, letting her friend go.

Percy hugged her. "I can't believe you didn't recognize me, Seaweed Brain." She snorted, looked at him fiercely.

"Sorry, Pinecone Face, I've never seen you with sunglasses or long hair." He retorted.

Jane raised her hand, timidly with a slight smile.

"Confused- Party of One." She said, looking at Thalia.

"You must be Jean." Thalia said.

"It's Jane."

"Sorry, I'm dyslexic."

"Wait- what? You too?"

"Exactly. Any more questions?"

"Yes, what's your name?"

Thalia shook her hair out of her hood, and threw her sunglasses on her bed.

"I'm-" She shot a look at Percy and Annabeth. "-Tanya Gail."

Jane smiled. "Well, welcome to Madison, Tanya."

Thalia nodded, and looked at her desk, then at her bed, and then out the window. Percy and Annabeth were both looking at her inquisitively, both wondering why she was under a false identity, and why she had come back to the same school. She began unpacking her suitcase, and making the bed.

"How do you all know each other?" Thalia looked at Percy for less than a second.

"Percy and I are cousins." She stated. "And we went to camp with Annabeth."

Technically, it was true, and Jane seemed to accept that answer because she nodded.

"Cool. I'm going to run to the vending machine, down the hall. Does anyone want anything?" Thalia, Annabeth, and Percy shook their heads. "I'll be back in minute, then."

Thalia leaned forward. "So do you reckon she likes pink?" She laughed, glancing at Jane's bed. Percy and Annabeth looked at each other, and then at her with the same inquisitive looks as before. "I guess I have some explaining to do." She muttered.

"A little, Tanya." Percy scoffed.

Thalia took a deep breath.

"Well, I never was planning on staying with The Hunters forever, I mean, immortality was great and all, but I never pictured giving up boys forever, I mean, come on. I only joined because Seaweed Brain who needed to fulfill the Prophecy. Lady Artemis was not too happy, but I think I want to experience life for once. I mean, I am twenty-one years old. I spent seven of them as a tree, and one as immortal. I don't want to lose anymore of my years."

Percy looked at her. "But what's with the long hair and the changed name?" He asked.

Thalia nodded. "Courtesy of the year-rounders of the Aphrodite Cabin." She said, flipping the long black locks over her shoulder, with mock enthusiasm. "If I came to this school three years ago, being sixteen, and I still appear sixteen, and 'Thalia' should be in college, don't you think a couple people might be suspicious? Think, fish boy."

There was still one question that hadn't been answered, and Annabeth beat Percy to asking it.

"But why did you come back to this school?" She asked, seemingly upset that she had not already figured the answer on her own.

Thalia took a deep breath. "You'll never believe this, Percy! I heard that there was a demi-"

Jane walked back into the room, holding a bottle of water in her hand. She sat down on her bed. Thalia's conversation went on without a hitch.

"-Lovatoconcert coming to town, and I was like, gods! Annabeth would love that." Thalia finished, her voice rising a whole octave. Percy was always impressed by Thalia's quick thinking.

"Omygawd! I love Demi Lovato! When is the concert?" Jane said, looking at her cell phone screen. Thalia looked as if she would rather claw her own eyes out that actually attend a Demi Lovato concert.

"Don't remember."

"Oh well." Jane responded, lying back on her bed. "So what's with the weird nicknames? Seaweed Face and Pinecone Head or whatever?" She asked.

"I like the ocean." He said easily.

"And I like…" Thalia bit her lip. "…Trees."

Annabeth quickly covered her mouth, suppressing a laugh. Jane's eyes narrowed a little, clearly trying to figure out if they were lying or not. "Does Annabeth have a nickname too?"

"Wise Girl." The three demigods said at once.

"But we don't ever use it." Percy said. "It's just the best we could come up with."

"Why Wise Girl?" Jane asked, curiously.

"Because she's really smart." Thalia said, as if it was obvious.

"Really?" Jane exclaimed. "What are your favorite subjects?"

Annabeth squirmed in her seat a little. "I like Design- I want to be an architect, Ancient History, and Gym classes."

Jane looked disappointed. "Hmm. That stinks, I'm not in any of those classes. What about you, Tanya?"

Thalia looked up at her, smiling. "Sorry. Ancient History, Gym, and Latin."

Jane snapped her fingers in disappointment.

A woman, the same school administrator from the lobby, knocked on the open door, and poked her head into the room. "Miss Sanders, can I have a word with you?" Jane jumped up, and followed the woman out.

Once she was gone, Thalia, Annabeth, and Percy all leaned their heads closer together.

"So, there's a demigod here somewhere?" Percy asked. "He's claimed, right?"

Thalia nodded. "She, and yes, Percy- she's claimed. She just keeps evading the satyrs anyone who tries to bring her to camp. She a strong one."

"Who's her parent?" Annabeth asked, staring intently at Thalia, her eyes stormy. Thalia however, smiled smugly, and held up three fingers.

"Who?"Annabeth and Percy whisper-yelled together. Thalia bit her lip.

"Congratulations, Seaweed Brain. You're a big brother."

Percy felt his jaw drop. "Wait. What?"

"That's right. Your dad broke the oath twice. You and then two years after you."

Percy blinked a few times. "What's her name?"

"Melissa Robbins, she's fourteen." Thalia said, getting up, and continuing to unpack where she had left off. "I guess she has been having a lot of trouble with different monsters. That is why she doesn't trust the satyrs. She's refusing to believe anything."

"What does she look like?" Percy asked, curiosity bubbling inside of him. Thalia shrugged. "Don't know."

"We've got to find her and protect her, or get her to Camp Half-Blood…" Annabeth began, right as Jean walked in the room. "…Princewas by far the worst Harry Potter movie. They screwed everything up!" Percy and Thalia both nodded in agreement, and gave the most convincing fake laughs that they could. Annabeth slid her hand into Percy's casually, and squeezed it.

"Sorry, guys, but I have to go give a tour." She said, letting out a fake sigh. " I guess I will see you girls later then. It was so nice meeting you, Percy." Jane said, beginning to retreat from the room.

"Goodbye, Jean." Percy said.

"It's Jane."

"Sorry. Dyslexia."

"Oh my gosh. Is it like, contagious?"

"Deathly." Thalia scowled.

Once she was out of earshot, Thalia smiled. "Wow. She is a special one." Then, she stood up. "Why don't we take a walk around campus and then get some lunch in the caf? We can talk about all of this down there."

The three of them exited the dorm, and walked outside. There was a long line of cars, as parents dropped off their daughters who would resume classes the following day. The girls were squealing, and hugging, and jabbering about their vacations. The campus was small. There were four very tall buildings and a short one. Of the tall buildings, one was a dorm, two were classrooms, and the last, and shortest, was used for after class programs. Annabeth said that there was a pool on the ground floor, a gym on the floor up from that, the third floor was a studio, used for dance and fencing. The remaining floors were a theatre. The small building was the cafeteria. In between the buildings was a cobblestone courtyard with a large tree and several park benches, all covered with snow.

"She probably looks like you, Percy." Annabeth said, softly. "All of my siblings have blonde hair and grey eyes."

Percy just shrugged. For some reason, he had not taken his father seriously when he said that he would send him siblings for next summer.

"I'm still waiting to see how many new people are in my cabin." Thalia said, letting out a huff of breath in the cold winter air. "You know my dad, there'll probably be a million little Thalia's running around."

"Oh gods." Percy and Annabeth said, together.

They quickly made their way out of the cold, and into the cafeteria. There were only a couple girls in the corner, sipping hot chocolate and speaking rapidly. All three bought cheeseburgers and Cokes.

"So how've you two been? Why aren't you in California, Annabeth?"

Annabeth bit her lip. "I got expelled from school."

Thalia looked at her with raised eyebrows. "What kind of monster? What class?" She said, reading Annabeth's mind.

"Kindly One. Algebra III."

"Sweet."

Annabeth scowled at her.

"What about you, Percy, what have you been up to?"

Percy shook his head. "I had an uneventful first semester." He smirked.

"Lucky you." Annabeth said, taking a sip of her Coke.

After eating lunch, they walked back through the courtyard, and out to Percy's car.

"Alright," He said, quickly unlocking the door. "Call me as soon as you find out who she is. I wouldn't, like, pounce on her or anything. Get to know her first. Don't scare her away."

Thalia nodded, laughing. "We know, we know, Perce." She hugged him tightly. "Just hope she isn't as weird as you." She said, messing up his hair.

She started back into the dorm. Annabeth grabbed Percy's hands. "We'll make sure she stays safe." She promised, taking Percy into her arms.

"Be careful." He warned.

"I always am." And with that, she kissed him on the cheek, and started after Thalia.

Alright, there are a few things that I'd like to address:

1.) Please tell me what you think in complete honesty. I'm seriously debating whether or not I am going to pursue this story, so I need honest opinions.

2.) Thalia: I recently got into an argument with one of my friends on whether or not Thalia could choose to leave The Hunters. I said yes, but he disagreed. I researched in various places, and they all said that she could leave, and the only consequence would be the loss of her immortality. Feel free to leave your arguements in the reviews if you disagree, and if the response is overwhelming in my friend's favor, I will consider rewriting.

3.) If I have any majorly out of canon elements in the story from here on out, please tell me so that I can correct it.

Thanks a bundle :)
Mary