This is the perfect explanation for what happens when I read a new book series:

in·fat·u·ate

1. to inspire or possess with a foolish or unreasoning passion, as of love.

and the following is the result of said explanation.

Disclaimer: My name is not Rick. I do not own any of the Percy Jackson books, nor do I own anything else mentioned in this story.

She pressed her lips to my cheek; I felt my face melt.

"Bye honey!"

"Yeah, thanks Mom." I rolled my eyes, but she ignored me.

"Say hi to Paul for me!" she called after me as I walked away.

My name is Percy Jackson. It's not an average name, I know. I was named after Perseus, who saved... well, you probably know the story. If not, you're totally missing out.

"Percy!" a familiar voice shouted from behind me. I turned to stare back at an old friend.

"Rachel Elizabeth Dare." I smiled, folding my arms. I met Rachel accidentally a couple years ago at Hoover Dam.

She practically tackled me. "Geez. You're like a rock, Percy." she chuckled, falling in step with me. "Side-effects of the Achilles thing?"

I had almost forgotten about it. Last year, I took a swim in the river Styx down at Hades place. You probably know the story of Achilles; invincible dude... shot in the heel? Yeah. I took a more intelligent approach, like choosing the small of my back.

"Yeah I guess."

"How is Annabeth?" she asked casually. "Still working hard?"

My stomach fluttered and I smiled. "As ever. She has already rebuilt two new temples."

"That's great! I bet her mother is so proud." she cheered, taking out some chapstick and spreading it evenly on her lips. The sun made her red hair even brighter. "Oh by the way, have you talked to Poseidon in a while?"

I tensed, "Why?"

"Just wondering."

"What have you seen?"

Rachel's eyes blazed. "So you turn seventeen next week?"

"Not a party!" I groaned; this was worse than any monster coming to attack me.

She frowned at me. "I'm sorry Percy... but I wish you could see it!"

It took you me a minute to fully register that. "Wait... am I not going to see it?"

She faltered, "Oops."

I took her hand and dragged her into an empty classroom. "Tell me."

"He told me not to tell you!"

"Who?"

"Apollo."

That threw me off. "You talked to Apollo?"

"What? I can't talk to a god? We do share a gift." she tapped her temple with her index finger. It was going to take me a while to get used to her being the Oracle. I still couldn't believe she chose that fate.

"Okay, what did Apollo say?"

"Nosy, aren't you?"

"So are you."

"We're going to be late for class." she walked around me and the door shut behind her.

* * *

Luckily, I had chosen a no-class for first period, so I made my way to the football field all ninja-like. Thank the gods the sprinklers were still on. I pulled a golden drachma out of my pocket and tossed it in the rainbow that sprayed in front of me. "Annabeth Chase, Mount Olympus." A picture formed quickly.

"A little to the left!" Annabeth was shouting at a cyclops who was positioning a statue inside a model of the Parthenon. I recognized it to be Athena. Annabeth looked like she hadn't slept in days. She was wearing khaki shorts, a yellow construction hat, and an orange Camp Half-blood t-shirt.

"Annabeth!" Whisper-shouted.

She turned around and smiled at me. "Hey Percy! I miss you."

I gushed. "I miss you too. How are things going?"

"They've been stressful." she blew a curl of her blonde hair out of her face. "I probably look horrible."

"The exact opposite, actually."

She giggled. "Are you at school? How's Rachel?"

The important stuff popped back in my head. "Oh yeah. I saw her today. She said she talked to Apollo about my birthday party."

Her face went white. "She told?"

"Annabeth, that's not the point." She was too busy muttering ancient Greek curses to hear me. "I can't go."

She stopped short. "Wha- why not?"

"I don't know yet. That's what I was calling you for."

"Its never just to tell me I'm pretty." she sighed, shaking her head. "Well, go on."

"She told me that I wouldn't get to see my party."

Her face fell even more, which I didn't think it was possible. "Won't get to..." she pulled out her cell phone and dialed. "Hermes, its Annabeth. I need to speak to my mom."

* * *