Prologue

Call me crazy but this really happened. A couple of months ago, I went on a trip to California by bus, the trip there was fine, if not a little uncomfortable, but it was the trip back that was crazy.

I don't know who I'm supposed to blame for all of this, I could blame the bus driver for leaving me stranded, I could blame myself for being stupid enough to not notice the bus leaving. I could even blame my friends, Max, Sophie, and Angela, for convincing me to take the trip in the first place. But I blame myself, for being stupid enough to get into a van filled with crazy teens, and actually think things would be okay. It's like horror movies have taught me nothing!

I'm Ethan Reynolds, and this is my exciting neurotic totally unbelievable (yet utterly true) story.

Chapter 1: Hitchhiking

One word floated through my head as I surveyed my situation: hitchhiking. That was the only way I could see of getting home. So of course, being the bonehead I was I tried it.

It wasn't long before a blue minivan slowed to a halt in front of me.

The window slowly opened and I gulped, I felt like I was in a horror movie. That is until I saw the driver.

He was a teen, with shaggy black hair and bright sea-green eyes

"Hey," said the teen, a goofy grin plastered on his face. It didn't fool me though, I' m going to be a psychologist one day and I'm pretty good at reading people. This kid had a sad look in his eyes, like he expected to meet an opponent stronger than him one day.

"Um," I said intelligently, "I'm trying to get home to New York, and my tour bus sort of stranded-," here I was cut off as the driver called into the car

"Hey Annabeth! This guy said he's trying to get back to New York too!" then I heard a cry of "WHAT? SEAWEED BRAIN!" the girl (I'm guessing Annabeth) dropped her voice to a whisper and began to argue with the boy in what sounded like a secret language. Then the boy popped his head out the window, quickly followed by a girl I could only assume was Annabeth.

She had golden blonde hair, and dangerous gray eyes, like she was scanning me for weaknesses. I trembled, she glared at me for a moment, than both teens ducked back in side and resumed whispering in the same language, until I heard the Annabeth girl say matter-of-factly "We need Rachel," then from the back I heard another girl's voice exclaim "yeah we have a problem,"

Annabeth groaned, "What Thalia?"

The other girl, Thalia replied "Rachel's asleep,"

"Then wake her up Pinecone Face!"

"Watch it Kelp Head! I'll wake her up, but I want it on record that I'm not responsible for any damage," there was a pause, then a sharp yelp then a third voice, probably Rachel's, said angrily, "OW! Thalia!"

The middle window was rolled and I saw two teen girls, the first one had electric blue eyes, choppy black hair, and on her head, was a silver circlet that looked very strange with her punk clothes. The other girl had bright green eyes and wild red hair. The punk was looking at the other girl expectantly, and the other girl was staring at me intently

"Well, Rachel?" said the punk, (I'm guessing Thalia)

Rachel nodded and said calmly, "He's fine!"

Thalia smiled and waved her hand motioning for me to approach the car

"How about you travel in 'style' with us," she said, a bit sarcastically. I hesitated "c'mon we don't bite!" then after a pause she added, "everyone."

I admit I was really nervous, but I really needed a ride, So I got in the van.

I wish I had known what I was getting into…