Chapter 1

A/N: Greetings, people of FanFiction. I'm a newbie here and I'm trying my hand at a Fic. If you're not interested in my author's note, go ahead and skip to the story. If you're extremely bored and interested in reading my note out of pure and utter boredom, yay for you. I got this idea while on vacation during spring break (Gasp! That means she's in school!) in Mendocino. Mendocino is a rustic little seaside town surrounded by forests, and while I was staring down the cliffs at the roaring ocean, I couldn't help but think of how beautiful the ocean was and how Percy would've loved it there. Ding, ding, ding! Lightbulb! And that was the birth of my first FanFic. Oh, my plot-bunnies have bred a new race of ideas! This Fic is beta-less, so forgive me if I have any mistakes. There are a few things I don't remember from PJatO, such as where Annabeth lives, what her house looks like, what her stepmom's name is, etc… so if anyone could fill me in on my gaps, feel free to do so. Also, I will try to keep the swearing at a minimum, but this is rated T because of future swearing in A/N's. (I curse like a sailor, if you know what I mean.) Oh, well this was ridiculously long…. On with the story!

Edit: I just realized that I never specified whether or not there would be demigods in this... but yes, there will be demigods. As of right now, Annabeth does not know she is a demigod; I planned a way for her to find out as well as reveal who Percy is. There is a twist, though. Just sayin'.

Disclaimer: Apparently, I'm supposed to do one of these. I own nothing but the plot, the idiots, and a three-foot-long stuffed animal wolf.

Annabeth POV

"Annabeth! Are you ready to go?" My dad yelled up the stairs at me. I took another glance around my room, just to make sure I had everything I needed, before throwing my backpack over my shoulder and tromping down the stairs.

"Yeah, I'm ready." I replied when I came into view. All our luggage was in the car, as was my step-mom and my two step-brothers, and everything I might need for the road was on hand in my backpack.

I scrambled into the family mini-van, thanking the gods that I was by myself in the middle row, and settled in for the three hour long trip to Mendocino. My step-uncle had invited us all to the summer house he owned there for most of the summer.

If it were up to me, I wouldn't have gone. Trapped in a five bedroom house with my annoying step-brothers and perverted step-cousin with only trees, rocks, and sea brine for company? No, thank you. At least I brought books. Even with my ADHD and dyslexia, I could still enjoy a good book.

I watched the highway fly past the window until I got bored and fidgety. By then, I deduced that the best option to kill time was to take a nap.

I woke up to the sound of Bobby and Matthew complaining about needing to go to the bathroom.

"Boys, didn't I tell you not to drink all of that soda?" My step-mom, Helen, berated. "Frederick, pull off at the nearest exit."

"Already on it," Dad said with a grin. I noticed a light fog had rolled in and wondered how far away we were.

"Hey, Dad?" Once I heard his replying, 'hmm,' I continued. "When will we get there?"

"Oh, say, and hour and a half." He said as he pulled into a McDonald's parking lot. As soon as the engine cut, the boys hauled themselves out of the van and made a mad dash for McDonald's.

"Bobby! Matthew! Don't run!" Helen yelled after them.

"But I gotta pee!" They shouted simultaneously, attracting the attention of a few bystanders. I ducked my head in hopes that no one noticed me in the car with them.

We waited in the car until Bobby and Matthew emerged, which took longer than expected. I had just pulled out my favorite Greek architecture book when Matthew ran out. Without even waiting to get closer to the car, he yelled, "Bobby fell in the toilet!"

The people who had forgotten the boys' earlier escapade were quickly brought to attention, yet again. Like before, I slouched into my seat.

"Oh, dear," Helen muttered as she ducked out of the car and went to save Bobby from the toilet.

They appeared a few minutes later, Bobby sheepishly looking at the ground. Bobby and Matthew both looked like they had been thoroughly chastised and sat in the car quietly as we drove away. Finally, some quiet.

"Stop touching me!" One of them whined. I sighed. I had spoken, or rather thought, too soon.

"Stop smelling so bad!" the other retorted.

"Well, if you don't want to smell me, why don't you just stop breathing?!"

"Boys, quiet down!" Helen looked over her shoulder at the back with a stern glance.

"But, Mom!" They synchronized.

"Listen to your mother, boys." Dad said.

We turned into an exit that led to a winding road through the now-existent forest. The trees were tall and dense, the foliage damp from the fog. It was quite a beautiful road, with the trees and the moss and the wild air about it. Though I was a city girl, originally from New York, I could still appreciate the beauty of nature.

Meanwhile, the others were still bickering and it was giving me an awful migraine.

"Will you guys just be quiet?!" I snapped angrily. Silence fell over the car in a blissful cocoon.

"Sorry, Annabeth," someone, I think it was Bobby, whispered. I huffed and crossed my arms, staring moodily out the window.

"Sorry, honey," Helen reached back and gave my knee a pat, "Why don't you take another nap? We'll be there in no time."

I gazed through the window a few more minutes before giving in to the lull of sleep.

"Annabeth, Annabeth, wake up." I groggily opened my eyes to Matthew's slightly blurry face. I had a horrible crick in my neck from sleeping in such an awful position.

I straightened up and groaned when my neck whined in protest. I shot a quick glance out the window to notice that we were finally here.

The house was large; three stories, five bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, full kitchen, and a sitting room. The architecture wasn't that great, but before I could criticize it, my attention was drawn to the surrounding wilderness. The backyard was literally a forest, with soaring trees, dense underbrush, and a variety of forest-y looking plants. I would have to explore that later. But for now, my gaze was at the ocean.

The house was right off a cliff leading straight into the sea. The waves crashed and rolled against the rocks in mesmerizing movements, the salty taste of the sea spray permeating the air. The water was a turquoise/gray color, due to the cloud cover, but I would expect it to be a clear blue/green with the sun out. The road that led up to the house veered off the main road, which led down to the beach.

I took in all of this in a matter of seconds, storing it away to ponder later.

I eased out of the car and stretched stiffly once out in the cool seaside breeze. I shifted my weight around from leg to leg, trying to gain feeling in my numb butt. No sooner had I taken a step in the house, had I been barreled into by a massive form.

"Watch it!" I snarled, my natural reflexes taking over and righting me before I could fall.

"Woah," a deep voice I didn't recognize said, "You okay?"

"I'm fine," I replied tartly, dusting myself off, "Just watch where you're going next time."

"Right… sorry." I looked up to see a fairly good-looking guy. Brown hair, brown eyes, tan skin, lean, average build, average height… pretty average. The expression on his face was one of embarrassment.

"I'm Collin, by the way." He rubbed one hand at the back of his neck and extended the other for me to shake.

"Annabeth." I hesitantly placed my hand in his firm grasp and shook it once. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, uh, I'm a friend of Mark's." Collin shrugged and stuffed his hand in his pockets. I shuddered at the mention of my step-cousin's name. Mark always seemed to find a way hit on me or, on some occasions, perv on me.

"How are you a friend of Mark's?" I asked incredulously, "You're too well mannered."

He laughed nervously and shrugged.

"Well, I have to go unpack," I shouldered my way past him into the hallway, "if you'll excuse me."

"Wait, wait, wait," Collin moved in front of me so that he blocked my way, yet again, "What do you mean, 'unpack'?"

"I mean unpack, as in 'undo or remove contents from' my luggage." I said sarcastically, nodding my head slowly as if talking to a child.

"Oh, uh, yeah, I get that," I saw a faint blush rising up his neck and thought it kind of adorable, "But does that mean you're staying here?"

"Nooo," I dragged out the word, my sarcasm making a show, once again, "I'm staying in the big conifer tree out in the backyard…. Yes, I'm staying here."

"Why?" Collin truly looked confused.

"'Cause I was forced to." I bypassed him, casually ending our conversation, and made my way over to my dad.

"I'll see you around?" Collin yelled after me. In reply, I flicked two fingers up behind me in a gesture that could mean anything.

"Hey, Dad. What room am I staying in?" I readjusted my backpack on my shoulder, "Please don't tell me I have to share a room."

"You don't have to share a room," Dad chuckled, "You get the room on the third floor, furthest to the left, with a view of the ocean."

"Okay. Is my stuff already up there?" I paused at the foot of the stairs and looked back over my shoulder.

"Yeah, Mark and his friend were kind enough to bring them up for you." Dad glanced around absentmindedly, "Oh, and Annabeth."

"Yeah?" I was slowly inching myself up the stairs, hoping to hide in there for the remainder of the day.

"Once you unpack, change into your swimsuit. Everyone is going down to the beach to have some fun; you should come, too." I groaned internally.

"Do I have to?" I whined. I knew I sounded petulant but, I just wanted to curl up and read a good book by myself.

"Yes, Annabeth. Go out, have some fun… maybe you'll even meet a nice boy out there." Dad raised an eyebrow suggestively. I shuddered; that was just too weird.

"Ew, Dad, that's just – ew." I shuddered again, this time emphasizing it.

"Come one, honey. You're seventeen and you've never had a boyfriend." Wow, that was harsh. Especially when it's coming from my dad.

"Gee, Dad... thanks." I sighed in acquiescence, "Fine, I'll go. But don't expect me to socialize."

"Oh, well. I tried," he shrugged, "Maybe you could hang out with Mark's friend, he seems like a nice boy."

I shook my head in exasperation and continued my way up the stairs.

This is gonna be a long summer.

A/N: And there's my first chappie. I'm hoping to add Percy in the next chapter, so don't worry. I will try to update regularly but it all depends on my moods. See you all in the next chapter,

lessthanthree - Dawn