Chapter 1: My Best Friend Gets Her Pilot's License (Percy's POV)

The first thing I did on the first day of winter break was check for ancient monsters in the alley behind my new house.

Satisfied there was no threat, I let myself in through the front door. Since I knew my mom wouldn't come home for three hours, I crashed out on the couch with a bag of blue tortilla chips and a Coke. I flicked the switch on the television and turned to CNN. Anderson Cooper's face appeared on the screen.

"There was a sighting of a World War Two-era Sopwith Camel fighting plane flying over Mount Tam in San Francisco, piloted by a teenager. Witnesses claim the plane was struck by lightning but came out of a cloud undamaged…mass hallucination or not?"

That would be my best friend, Annabeth Chase, flying her dad's Sopwith Camel near her house. And the lightning bolt…that would be her grandfather, Zeus.

Haven't I told you? My friends and I all are children of the ancient Greek gods. My dad's Poseidon the sea god, Annabeth's mom is Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, and my friend Thalia's dad is Zeus, ruler of the gods. My Cyclops half-brother, Tyson, is also a son of Poseidon, and my friend Grover is a satyr.

We all go to a special camp for half-bloods during the summer. Well, Thalia used to…but now she's a hunter of Artemis. You know, those immortal girls who spend their free time shooting innocent little bunnies? Yup, she joined them a while ago.

Anderson Cooper continued talking. "There is flooding in the Pacific Northwest…New England is in the middle of a snowstorm…"

I looked outside. Three feet of snow—I love New York that way. Snowball fights are awesome.

"The European Union met yesterday in Geneva…" Blah, blah, blah. Remind me why I care about that, will you?

The phone rang.

I checked the caller I.D. "Chase, Frederick." That was Annabeth's dad's phone I.D.…Annabeth must be calling! I grabbed the phone and pressed Talk.

"What's up, wise girl?" I asked her.

"I was wondering if you want to come here for Christmas. Grover and Thalia are coming, too," Annabeth added, as if I wouldn't want to come otherwise.

"I'll have to ask my mom," I said, "but I sure hope I can come. We haven't seen each other for ages."

"Yeah, Seaweed Brain, I—I really want—" Annabeth broke off. "I have to go, Kelp Face."

"Um…okay." I said. "See you soon."

The line clicked. I hung up and immediately dialed my mom's cell phone number. She picked up after three rings.

"Hi, honey," she said. "Is something the matter?"

I related Annabeth's invitation to her.

"Go ahead, Percy. I'm sure you'll have a great time; after all, you haven't seen your friends for a while. And I'll be fine—Mr. Blowfish is coming over for Christmas. I'll be home in a little while—do you want me to bring some blueberry sour sticks from the store for you?"

I felt a flicker of irritation at the mention of the man I had dubbed Blowfish. "Sure, mom. That would be great. See you."

I hung up and punched the air. I was going to Annabeth's for Christmas! I was going to see my friends again!

I dialed Annabeth's number as fast as my fingers could punch the keys.