Chapter 1:
Beep! The alarm clock cut through my crazy dream of floating fiery owls. I shook my head, as if to clear the sleepiness from it. Its' the last day of sixth grade. I rolled out of bed and got ready for school. Once I finished brushing my teeth, there's a knock on the door. "Hold on, Malcolm!" I said through the door. I am staying at my friend Malcolm's house because I live in California, but the school I attend is in New York, where Malcolm lives. We go to the same school, but he is one year older than me. Everyone thinks we are siblings, because we look almost the same and he is very protective of me.
"Fine, but hurry up, Annabeth!" Malcolm shouted through the door. I pulled on a grey tank top and skinny jeans. Since I didn't want to be late, I didn't bother putting on makeup (not that I would anyway) or a jacket. I dashed out the door, not bothering to eat breakfast, and jumped on the bus. Once I arrived at the school there is nobody there except for one teacher, Mr. Brunner. I walked over to him, but other students began to arrive. My friends Thalia, Grover, and Luke run up to me.
"Hi Annabeth!" said Grover, and Thalia punched me in a friendly way. Luke smiled at me. I shivered happily, before smiling back. I might have just the tiniest crush on Luke. Okay, maybe not that tiny… He turned towards me. "Are you cold?" I shrugged, but he pulled off his thin black windbreaker and put it over my shoulders. "Better?" he asked, and I nodded wordlessly.
The whole day was pretty boring, on the whole, except for that exchange with Luke. By the middle of the last class, my ADHD started to kick in. I looked at the clock. Can't you go any faster? I thought. Suddenly, a crackly voice comes over the speakers. "Annabeth Chase, please come to the principal's office." I tried to ignore all the whispers of "Ooh, she's in trouble." as I headed to the front of the room.
When I got to the office, I opened the door cautiously. Thalia was standing there, looking at a very confused boy who looks about the same age as me. "What?" I looked at the boy, at Thalia, and finally at Mr. Brunner. "What is going on here?"
Thalia rolled her eyes at the boy. "Annabeth, meet my cousin. Percy Jackson."The boy smiled at me. "Wait, why am I here?" I ask. "Annie," Thalia started, knowing I hate the nickname, "Percy just moved here. He needs tutoring in every single subject over the summer. Also, Malcolm's parents say you can't live with them anymore, and Percy's apartment has a spare bedroom."
"So, I'm going to live with a totally random stranger?" I asked Thalia. "No, he's my cousin," she said. "Plus, he needs your help. You are the smartest person in your grade." she smiled. "Flattery won't work on me." I laughed. "Well, would you rather live here with Percy or go back to California?" she asked. "Percy." I grumbled, and the decision was made.