Hey! I hope you people of the internet are somewhat kind to me, because english is not my native language and this is my first story EVER (no kidding, the longest english text I wrote was about 150 words long). I hope you can still enjoy my attempt at a story, even if I make countless mistakes.
I also have no idea how the american school system works so please don't judge me on that. Continuing with the stuff I have no clue of: Romantic scenes, english grammar, proper punctuation, … I could probably fill a whole chapter with what I am not capable of, but I think it would not be interesting enough to keep you reading so let's get on with the story!
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights for PJO or HoO.
"Hey!", Stacy called behind me, as we were exiting school for the last time before summer.
"What are your plans for the summer?" she asked as she catched up.
"Dunno, nothing special-"
"You could come with us, we're going to be Florida the whole summer!" Stacy cut in.
"I'm sorry but I wouldn't be able to stay the whole summer. My Dad's got a small trip to Montauk planed. Just enough to keep me from going with you." I bluntly replied.
"Well, I'm sorry for your awful summer."
"It's ok, It isn't your fault."
"Oh, my mom is here. Bye. 'till next year" she yelled as she ran of to the car of her mother.
"Yeah, bye" I mumbled while turning around and continuing to walk home.
I should introduce myself. My name is Zoë Jackson, but my friends call me Zoe. I'm nine and I live with my family in New York. I've been kicked from a few school though my dad says he has been kicked from almost every school he went to. He is a lifeguard in a public swimming pool in New York. Mom is a famous architect, but on Mondays and Tuesdays she is a greek Teacher in my school. I also have a brother, he is a seven year old bundle of annoyingness.
"I'm home" I yelled as I finished unlocking the apartment door.
"How was school honey?" my mom asked
We went into the kitchen where dad was sitting and eating.
"Meh. I'm glad it's ov-"
Then mom saw dad. "What are you doing, Percy! At least wait until Charles is here!"
"I'm coming mom" Charles yelled as we heard the door to his room flying open.
"Now you can start eating" mom said as everyone was sitting around the table.
"Finally!" we heard him mumbling as he had his mouth stuffed with spaghetti already.
I was about to open my mouth for the noodles when I saw some blue cookies on the counter.
"What kind of special day is today?" I asked. You have to know always when mom makes blue food for us, then that day will be special.
"Why do you ask, honey?"
"You made some blue cookies"
"Oh" mom said, I don't know why, but she sounded kinda relieved "We're going to Montauk today, you didn't forget, did you?"
"No, but I thought we'd go next week"
"Dad thought it would be better to go right away and therefore stay longer."
"Ok, when do we leave then?"
"Tomorrow at 7:30 AM"
"Ok, I'll go packing then." with that I left the table and put my dishes on the counter, stole a cookie and went to my room. After about 3 hours of deciding what to bring with me, putting it in my suitcase, unpacking it and starting from scratch, I was finally done. By that time it was 4 PM already. A normal kid now would go and play video games, but not here. My Parents don't agree to buy me a console, my own PC, a tablet or a real phone. Just a crappy little piece of junk where I only can call them. They say it is to protect me, but I can't make sense of how it should help keeping me safe. We only had a PC for mom's work and a TV, so thats were I went. To the TV.
While heading there I went by the master bedroom and heard mom and dad talking.
"I'm so glad we get to see them again, how long has it been?"
Mom had to think for a few seconds before answering "13 Years if I'm correct. We did leave on your 20th birthday Seaweed Brain, didn't we?"
"You're the mastermind here, so don't ask me."
Then I heard some one standing up, so I rushed to the living room, turned the TV on and sat there as if I was here the whole time. 5 seconds after that dad entered the room and asked if I was done packing already.
"Yeah. I packed for two weeks of Montauk. We are staying two weeks, right?"
"Um… Well, see… I'm sorry I didn't tell you but we are going to stay even longer." dad said, while scratching his neck.
"How long is it then?"
"Umm… like the whole summer or s-"
"WHAT!?"
"Yeah. As I said I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."
"I don't have clothes for 9 weeks!"
"Don't worry they have a washing machine there."
"I guess I'm going to have to go packing again" with that I left the living room.
"And you won't need more than two or three shirts. Don't ask why, just do it." my dad called after me.
Wired. Just wired. Today is everything but normal.
So let's redo all the packing. So fun. Much happy.
After it was all done I intentionally fell face first onto my bed and not even five minutes later I had fallen asleep.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
"C'mon honey Charles is already here!" my mom yelled
"Ten more minutes!" I called back as I lifted myself from bed and stared at the wall for a few seconds. It was about then, when I realized that it was Charlie's birthday. I sprinted to the bathroom, took a shower in a time that should be in the 'Guinness Book of World Records'. After that I raced back into my room changed myself and went to the kitchen.
"Whoa! Calm down!" dad said smirking.
"Charles will get his presents when we're there." mom answered
"So unfair!" Charlie threw in.
"Stop complaining and eat your breakfast now we'll head of to Long Island in twenty minutes" with that mom gave him some waffles and he didn't say a thing.
About an hour of later we were on the middle of the highway. Me, singing of key to the songs of the radio. When suddenly 'Escape' by Rupert Holmes came on. At the time I didn't know the song so I didn't start singing, but mom and dad burst out laughing.
"Whats so funny" Charlie asked.
"Oh, its just when we heard this song the first time." mom said, still laughing "It was in an elevator, and it was the worst song to be played in that particular elevator" dad finished
"Then why is it so funny?" Charlie said
"Let's just say we passed out and the rest is a story for another time" mom said smirking.
"I still don't get it, but besides that, why are we leaving the highway?" I questioned.
"Don't worry it's a shortcut."
"A shortcut to where?"
"To our destination."
"Which is?"
"Umm… a beach."
"Don't be so mysterious dad, tell me already!"
"Tell you what?"
"You know exactly what I mean."
"Percy give up, we can't hide it anymore" mom cut in.
Dad sighed.
"Ok, Zoë, Charles." dad said while looking at both of us individually "We weren't going to Montauk at all. All along the plan was to go to a summer camp. The summer camp where we met."
he said the last thing with a slightly dreamy voice looking at mom.
"A summer camp!? I don't want to go to a lame camp."
"No, not 'a Camp', 'the Camp'. Camp Half-Blood." dad said in a dramatic tone.
"Camp Half-Blood? Why this strange name?"
"We'll tell you in just a minute."
Before I could reply, the car came to a halt. Mom and dad got out of the car and gestured for us to get out too.
"We are here." Mom said smiling from ear to ear and giving dad a hug.
"But here is nothing."
"Exactly."