Hi guys. We've got some unexpected news. All of Thalia's friends are coming together and writing a story - this one - , both boys and girls! Who would've expected that?!

Okay, so I suppose that's not such a big deal to you, but in our neighborhood, we've had a Girls vs. Boys thing going for years. And I mean that in the least sexist way. Thanx. Anyway, this is dedicated to Thalia, whom we all hope will get up soon.

Post HoO.

R&R!

~Avery, Luke, Corey, Amalie, Zane and Sam

(Annabeth's POV)

"Mom, I'm home!" I yelled as I entered our house. You see, since I came back after the war, my stepmother, Susan, and I became quite close. She's actually really nice, but she used to hate me because I attracted monsters and she didn't want Matthew and Bobby getting hurt. Now that I can defend myself, she treats me like I'm her own child.

My step-brothers, Bobby and Matthew, look like their mother in some ways, but in others they are nothing like either of their parents. They have salt-and-pepper hair, which neither Susan or my dad have, but they have Susan's warm chocolate-brown eyes. The twins are always so mischievous, they remind me of the Stoll brothers, except that the two are twins.

On the topic of Camp, I have some good news. The gods and goddesses took pity and felt for the demigods that sacrificed themselves in the Giant War to protect Olympus, so they let some come back if they wanted- granted that they took and oath on the Styx that they would never turn to the enemy side.

That's great, because now we have Beckendorf, Silena, Micheal, and even Bianca back. There are many more, though. However, Luke didn't want to come back for fear that he would be wrongly influenced again. I have to admit, I kind of miss him. On the bright side, after the others came back, they said that Luke wanted them to deliver an apology to Percy and hope that they could become friends.

"I'm in the kitchen!" Susan yelled back as I started up the stairs. "Oh, and could you pick up Matt and Bobby on your way back from the Science Museum (A/N: You really should check out the California Academy of Science, it's really cool.)? They're just at school for detention because they pranked the teacher again."

I groaned. Recently, Bobby and Matthew have gone on a pranking streak. Whenever Dad asked Susan about why the sudden change in behavior (they used to be all perfect-little-boy-ish), she would blanch and shake her head, saying 'I don't know. You ask them.', but whenever he asked them, they just said, 'We felt like it.' "Do I really want to know what they did this time?" I asked, after setting my stuff down in my room.

Susan laughed from the kitchen. "No, probably not. I hope they stop this fooling around soon; they need to focus on their schoolwork and studies. They're in seventh grade, for goodness sake! What did you do in seventh grade, Annbeth dear?"

I laughed at that. "I don't know, that was six years ago. I think I was at Camp year-round then, so actually, I was training."

"Well, what did you do in your spare time?"

"Um," I thought about it. "Well, I think I was designing stuff, y'know, a better Camp."

I could practically see her half-smile. "Not about Percy?" she asked slyly.

I blushed. "No! He wasn't there when I was ten. He came when we were twelve. Anyway, I've got to finish my homework before I swing by the museum. Talk to you more over dinner," I called.

"Oh, alright," she sighed, "But I'll be waiting!" she added.

Just then, my cell phone rang. I looked at the Caller ID: Seaweed Brain. Did I tell you about Leo's cell phone design? I don't think so. Well, anyway, Leo (the one and only Repair Boy) designed a new phone that demigods could use without getting tracked. It also had a laser, satellite, retina display, unlimited data, calling minutes, etc., and a custom-made case. Mine was gray with an owl carved into it, and on the bottom, it had Wise Girl+Seaweed Brain. Everybody thought is was cute. Percy's had a picture of me and him on the back, and the same thing inscribed on the bottom. His was sea green with royal and navy blue trimmings.

I let it ring for a moment, and then I picked up.

"Hey Perce, what's up?"

"Annabeth!"

"That's my name. Don't wear it out."

He laughed. Gods, I loved that laugh... "Chiron has a quest for you. More like a mission, but whatever."

"Then why didn't he call me himself?"

"Oh yeah. I better hang up, or else he'll get the 'busy' voicemail. Love you!"

"Love you too, Seaweed Brain! Gods, I miss you."

"I miss you too. I'll see you soon."

"Wait.. what?"

He chuckled. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I'm coming to San Fran for a little while to help you with the 'assignment' that Chiron has for us. Grover, Nico, and Thalia are coming too!"

I choked. Literally. A full-out choke. Okay, sure, I didn't have anything in my mouth at the time, but hey, I can still dry choke, can't I?

"Um, Wise Girl? Are you okay? It's not like you have another boyfriend there or something, right?"

I actually laughed at that. He sounded so worried. "'Course not, Seaweed Brain. You fell in Tartarus for me; I'd never leave you or cheat on you!"

I could hear him smile. "'Kay, good. Uh-oh, gotta go. Chiron's glaring at me. Bye!" and the the line went dead. Not five seconds later, it rang again. This time, the Caller ID read Chiron.

"Hi, Chiron. Percy tells me you've got a mission for us."

"Hello Annabeth! He is quite right. I'll get straight to the point. Satyrs in the Bay Area have detected three powerful demigods in the Bay Area, one of which I know is you. The two others are related, we can tell you that much. They aren't any older than thirteen, otherwise the gods will have sent me or Rachel a sign. The satyrs around you, especially Mark and Jasper, constantly tell me that you have a connection to these two young demigods. Your scent is too strong to be only one demigod, that is, unless you are a child of the big three- which, we both know you aren't."

"So you're saying that you're sending the Savior of Olympus, the Ghost King, the Luitenant of Artemis, and the Lord of the Wild to help me find two demigods that you're saying I actually know, but don't know they're demigods?"

"Exactly."

"Okay. So when are they going to get here?"

"Should be about anytime now. Nico's shadow traveling everyone."

"Where do I-" I was cut off by the shadows under my desk seemingly bending. Then there was a large popping noise, and suddenly, instead of one, there were five people in my room.

"Nevermind. They're here. Talk to you later, Chiron. Bye!" and then I hung up. I looked at the four people in my room.

Percy was wearing a green hoodie over his t-shirt, which I couldn't see. He was wearing black jeans and blue Vans.

Nico, being his emo self, had an oversized black leather aviator's jacket, black skinny jeans, and black shoes. His Stygian Iron sword hung off of his jeans.

Grover wore a 'Save the Earth' tee and loose light blue Levi's, white converse over his fake feet, and a beanie (his horns had grown too big for his rasta cap).

Thalia had a silver jacket, a 'Death to Barbie' graphic tee, black skinny jeans, and black converse. She wore Aegis (in bracelet form) on her wrist, and on her head was the silver tiara that signified her ranking as Luitenant of Artemis. She grinned at me.

"Annie!" she yelled, lunging forward and knocking me over. Two seconds later Susan came bursting into my room with a frying pan raised above her head. When she saw Thalia, Percy, and Grover, she lowered her pan. However, when she saw Nico, she raised it again. Oops. I don't think I told her about Nico.

"Oh, uh, hi mom." I said.

Susan was still looking at Nico.

"Hello, Grover, Thalia, Percy. And may I ask who this is?"

"Mom, this is Nico di Angelo. He's thirteen, but in reality he's about seventy."

Susan looked at me with a bewildered expression.

"Lotus Casino," Thalia piped up, as if that explained everything.

Susan nodded. "Oh, okay, that's fine. How did you get here?"

"That was Nico."

"So he drove you here, underaged, and then you crawled through the window?"

"Son of Hades, at your service. And no, I didn't drive. I shadow traveled. Oh, you know, using shadows to 'teleport' to another place..."

"Mmkay. Well, dinner's ready! Wait a minute... why are you all here?"

We filled her in on the details. Her face paled.

"Mom? Do you know something?"

"If this mission is absolutely crucial, then yes. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you earlier. But you can't tell your father," Susan said, looking depressed.

I raised an eyebrow, while the others leaned in to hear her as her voice had dropped to a whisper.

"It's..."

Ooh, cliffie!

So, how is it? If it's good, review. If it's not, review anyway. Don't blame us if it's bad... this is almost literally the first time we've worked together. PLEASE REVIEW!

~Amalie, Corey, Zane, Sam, Luke, and Avery.