Well hello there.

If you're seeing this and confused about why it looks different, it's because I totally like re-wrote the first chapter, so if you're here for the second you probably need to read this one too.

Okie dokie?

I do not own the Percy Jackson series, nor do I own any characters other than my OCs. (Liz, her Mom, a bunch that haven't been introduced yet and junk)

RATED T FOR LANGUAGE

Anyway, this story takes place the summer after the Second Titan War at Camp Half-Blood. HOO never happened. I love it, but I started this like a couple of years ago and I don't feel like changing everything. So, I hope you like it, and I hope you can put up with my ridiculous writing, and I hope you will read the whole way through. Flames are accepted, though constructive criticism would be more appreciated.

I rubbed my bottle of salt anxiously as Mom pulled the car over to the side of the road. Was I nervous? Of course not. Liz Hale does not get nervous.

At least, that's what I like to tell myself.

"Liz… you don't have to go. I-I know it's hard knowing that your father's going to be there. I'm not making you go back. You could come live at home with me again. We can try, I mean… the monsters won't be interested in you forever. You don't have to stay all year." I glanced at Mom out of the corner of my eye as I undid my seatbelt.

"Yeah Mom, I know. I just wanna. I can't let Connor and Travis have all the fun, now can I?" I smiled at her, just to let her know I was serious about wanting to go. I hated leaving Mom behind, but the monster attacks were too frequent. I couldn't live at home for a while. I had to let the house air out.

We got out of the car and she insisted on carrying my trunk up to Thalia's pine, where we said goodbye.

Mom: Promise you'll write.

Me: Geez Momma, I promise. Promise you'll send brownies?

Mom: Geez Liz, brownies? Really? I'm kidding, I love you.

Me: Well you have to.

Mom: I don't have to love you. I could just leave you here. Or adoption. Adoption sounds good to me.

Me: You've put up with me for 16 and a half years mother. It would be rather silly to get rid of me now.

Mom: You have a very good point there.

Me: Plus I'm funny. Combined with my charm and good looks, I think there is reason enough to keep me.

Mom: I can see the logic in that. Alright, enough jokes, I love you. I'll miss you. We'll Skype at least every week. I love you so much.

Me: I love you too, Mommy.

Then we hugged and she was gone.

I held the tears back and turned towards the valley. No use in crying, this was best for everyone.

Right?

I managed to get twenty or so steps down the hill before Travis found me. New record.

"Liz! I wasn't sure you'd come back this year! I'm so happy to see you! How do I smell?" Travis looked down at me with happy eyes and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Travis! Of course I came! I'm happy to see you too! Why do you smell like strawberries?"

"We had a bit of a mishap with a male prostitute last night. I smelled like sweat, disdain, and pot. I spent twenty minutes in the shower scrubbing myself. So I smell like strawberries?"

"You smell like fresh picked strawberries. Or maybe it's just the valley. Now that you mention it, I do smell a bit of disdain on you…" Travis and I grinned at each other before he helped me carry my trunk across camp to the Hermes cabin. We stopping so Travis could sniff himself (he didn't think he smelled like strawberries) or so we could both laugh at something funny (because we're Hermes kids and everything is funny).

When we came into view of the cabins, I couldn't help but smile. One of my favorite things ever is watching everyone get moved into their cabins for the year. It's awesome to watch because you see everyone so happy to know that their siblings survived another year.

Plus, I get to watch the cute boys in the Aphrodite cabin.

They got nice butts.

Down the line I could see Will standing on the front porch of the Apollo cabin, which seemed to have gotten a lot bigger since last summer. Will was shaking hands with some kid, and Scott Wilson stood behind him holding a set of matching black and white suitcases.

I couldn't see his face, but I could almost hear Will's voice in my head: Nice to meet you, I'm Will. I'm here if you need me. Just shout and I'll show up ASAP. Then he'd grin and assume you were on the same page as him and tell you what you needed to do next.

Will was always great at being a leader.

I shook the thoughts of Will out of my head and followed Travis (who had dropped my trunk) (asshole) into the Hermes cabin, where he made a show of leading me into the girl's room.

Honestly, it was hard to control my enthusiasm. This was the first year I wouldn't be sleeping on the floor all summer, and I was totally happy about it. And a room for just me and my three sisters?

Totally fucking awesome.

Then again, this was also the first summer since Percy Jackson made the Gods claim all their kids. So, of course, the Hermes cabin has a significantly lower population. Thanks to that one particularly attractive son of Poseidon.

And, of course, the gods had decided to come visit their kids this summer. We're all here, so why not?!

At least, that's what I got out of the letter Travis sent me. It's hard to decipher his hyper handwriting.

"Liz? Is that Liz I hear?" I giggled and peaked into the girl's room to find Emily sitting on her bed holding a book. "It is you! I'm so glad you survived! You're staying the year this time right?" Emily laid down her book and gave me her full attention, making me kind of uncomfortable.

"Well ya. The monster attacks were too close together so I have to stay here for a while. Is this my bed?" I had wandered into the room while Emily was talking and assumed the only other top bunk was for me. And my own dresser? Cool.

"Holly wasn't exactly happy to move to my bottom bunk, but she gave up the top bunk for you. Katie sleeps below you. The dresser at the foot of the bed is for you to do whatever with. It's yours for all intents and purposes." Emily's eyes followed me while I dragged my trunk over by the dresser, and I felt her watch me when I walked over to the door and started inspecting the handle. "What are you doing, Liz? Is there something wrong with the door knob?"

"Other than the fact that it doesn't lock? No." I frowned at the lockless knob and made a mental note to talk to Jake Mason about getting a lock.

Personally, I like my stuff to remain my stuff.

"Oh well. Anything interesting happen?" I busied myself with putting my stuff in my dresser while Emily babbled about who was dating who and how many times the Hermes cabin had lost/won capture the flag and blah blah blah.

I tuned her out honestly.

Emily: Liz, aren't you listening? I just told you that Jake Mason and I are dating!

Me: You can ask him for a lock then.

Emily: What?

Me: I said congratulations.

Emily: Oh ok.

Then, thank the gods, I heard the conch horn blow, signaling lunch.

Well?

I hope you liked it, and that's why you're at the bottom of the page. If not, let me know what I did wrong and maybe I'll take it to heart. It's up to you.

Thanks for reading!