So I'm majorly bored right now-
Jason: You could update my story!
Lucky: I haven't gotten around to that because of a terrible case of writer's block. Sorry.
Jason: I hate you. Also, about that Celia kid-
Lucky: This is the wrong place to talk about this. I don't own PJO!
Jason: I have an announcement to make!
Lucky: Lovely...
Jason: So I'm hosting a little game! In every chapter of every story, I'll ask you a question about me! Some of the answers can be found in the books, but others have to be found in Lucky's stories! If you get the answer right, you go on my board of awesomeness! It doesn't really exist, but let's pretend it does! Okay, first question...
Lucky: This is so stupid.
Jason: What's my nickname?
Lucky: Oh dear gods...I'm so sorry you have to read this. Review, please!
Jason: And answer my question!
Thirteen year old Luke dashed out of the drug store, carrying a box of granola bars and a bag of chips. The clerk rushed out after him, but the son of Hermes was to quick for him. Luke made his way down the busy street, pushing through the crowds of pedestrians. The clerk gave up and watched the boy slip down an alley.
Luke jumped the fence at the end of the alley and into the kindergarten courtyard. School was out for the summer, and Luke figured that it would be okay if he slept there for the night.
He nibbled on a granola bar and leaned against the bar of the playground, but leaped up and reached for his dagger when he heard a crunch.
A girl, younger than him and much smaller, had three granola bars and the bag of chips clenched in her fist. She froze when she saw Luke.
Luke stepped forward quickly, brandishing the dagger. "Who are you?" He demanded.
He figured that this was whatever had been stealing his food for the last few days. He'd first noticed it a week ago, when his left over bag of Cracker Jacks disappeared over night. Ever since then, his food vanished when he wasn't looking. The theif left food for him as well, which Luke thoroughly appreciated.
The girl stumbled back. "I- Listen, I'm sorry. I'll go and I won't steal from you any more, okay? Please don't hurt me."
"Who are you?" Luke demanded again.
"Who are you?" The girl countered, gaining her composure, "And more importantly, what are you?"
"What do you mean, 'What am I?'" Luke asked, puzzled.
"You're like me, aren't you?" The girl asked, "You see things that other people don't."
Luke put his knife down. "Yeah. Why were you following me?"
The girl looked down. "I...I ran away. I don't know what I'm doing. You do. So I figured that maybe I could tag along with you, but I didn't know if you'd hurt me or not, so I just followed you."
"If you don't know what you're doing, go home."
She shifted. "I can't. My mother...She's terrible."
Luke softened. He understood perfectly. "Hey, it's okay. If you want, you can help me find this 'safe haven'. It's for people like us. I heard about it from someone else. Then they, uh..."
The girl threw her arms around him. "Thank you! Thank you so- What am I doing?"
Luke laughed as she pushed away from him.
"You know what," He said, "I think we'll get along fine."
She smiled. "Me too. My name's Thalia."
He shook her hand, signifying their new family. "Luke."