Confessions of a Teenage Hunter –

Written from the point of view of Annabeth Chase

It was the middle of winter break and compared to our past holidays, it was really quite peaceful. On the subway home, I only encountered one weird mythological creature and so far I have remained unscathed. I was on the train now, going to meet an old friend. Usually Percy would have come with me but a couple of guys from class made plans with him to watch the big Yankees game on Eddie's flat-screen. So it was just me, a couple of old ladies and a homeless guy on the train. I was on my way to meet Thalia.

The Hunters were in New York doing some recruiting as the war had decreased their numbers and Thalia had contacted me last week to meet up for a burger when she had some spare time. I was supposed to be meeting her at the McDonald's for a bite to eat. Even though Thalia scared me sometimes with her studded dog-collar necklace and chipped black nail-polish, I was looking forward to seeing her because she was one of my closest and oldest friends.

The subway train lurched to a halt and I made to get off after the old ladies. My heart sped up at the thought of seeing one of my best friends after such a long time and I practically ran to the McDonald's we'd agreed on. I got even more excited when I saw the famous golden arches of the fast food chain and I pushed open the door and scanned the room. Thalia was sat at a table for two and waved me over with a rare smile.

"Thalia! Oh my gods, I haven't seen you in so long!" I said hugging her.

"Gods, Annabeth, enough with the hugging!" she groaned but I knew she was joking.

"So, are we gonna eat or what?" I said; I was so hungry I would eat whatever it was the put in the Big Macs.

"Oh, yeah, sure. I ordered us some burgers and fries."

We talked about random stuff while we waited for our burgers: school, recruiting, boys and lack of boys. This is what brought us to our next conversation.

"Thalia, why did you want to be a Hunter? If you don't mind my asking." I said.

"Well, I guess because I was hurt." she answered. I'd expected that: short answers, I mean it was Thalia after all. But she must have seen my disappointed expression because, to my surprise, she continued. "Annabeth, you have a boyfriend now. How would you feel if Percy dumped you for another girl? Like, a girl that you totally hated."
"I would feel really bad. Devastated and as if I had no reason to live." I replied, maybe exaggerating a little but not by much.

"Yeah, I guessed that's what you would say. I only ever liked one guy in my whole life, Annabeth. And he hurt me really, really badly. I guess I felt like I should just give up guys for good and begin again with a life where no male could ever hurt me." She looked down at the tabled and blinked really hard.

I had a pretty good idea of what she might have felt like and who did it. Only one boy had the power to reduce a girl like Thalia to tears. Only one boy would have the power to break her shatterproof heart. And somehow I was going to find out exactly how.