Annabeth's day started normal. She woke up early and snuck out of the house before anyone else woke up. Her step-brothers were snoring upstairs, and her dad and mom- step-mom- were still asleep upstairs. She was in her normal orange t-shirt with the name of her summer camp across the front, ripped jeans, and a pale green hoodie to finish the outfit. When she looked at her reflection, she saw a bit of orange peaking out under her jacket. She pulled it down absentmindedly.

It was just like any other day. The only difference was the looming threat of the new kid the principal had announced the day before. She tugged absentmindedly a strand of curly blond hair that had fallen from the braid hanging down her back, tucked inside her t-shirt. She walked faster, until she reached her bus stop. That was where she saw him.

Percy was sitting at the bench behind the sign announcing the bus stop location when he heard footsteps. He was the only one there, that he knew of. Then, he heard a soft voice humming a song. He recognized it as Tell Me Something I Don't Know. He only knew it because his mom listened to it as she cooked. He ignored the new arrival, staring down at his feet and fiddling with his shirt sleeve. Finally, he looked up.

He swept his black hair out of his face, and his sea green eyes met silvery gray ones.

He was gorgeous. Annabeth was all but hypnotized by his windblown black hair and green eyes- no, they couldn't be described as green, they were like whirlpools in the ocean, dragging you into the depths and sending you out out of sorts and confused. But she wasn't confused. She knew what was right, and that was was her ending up with him. She sat beside him, and he tensed up.

She sat down. Inside, he was panicking, screaming out, but outside, he was able to stay mostly calm. The only thing that he couldn't prevent was his reflexive "tense-up". His mom moved the family around a lot- she was constantly getting odd jobs in new areas- so Percy was used to the new kid drill. The first person to talk to him was the bully. But he couldn't imagine this girl having a dark side.

If it wasn't for a curl of blond hair hanging down in front of her ear, he would have thought she had cut her hair short, not even below her ears. As it was, though, he saw that her hair was longer that shoulder length, going nearly halfway down her back. She looked into his eyes, and he saw how enchanted she was. He had never understood why people stared at him like that. He wasn't special at all. He looked away, his face turning slightly pink. He hid his blush in his sweater hood, pulling the tassels and closing the hood front.

Annabeth looked away sadly. She had intimidated him. As he hid himself behind his hood, she realized the intensity of her stare.

"So.. My name is Annabeth. Not Anna. Not Beth. Annabeth."

"Hi Annabeth. My name is Perseus. I usually go by Percy."

"Where are you from, Percy?"

"I was born in New York, but my mom travels around a lot. She works weird jobs, and they land her in place all over America."

"Why does your mom do all the work?"

"My dad left us when I was just a baby, and my step-dad was kicked out when my mom found out that he was a huge jerk."

"Oh." Annabeth felt stupid. Smartest girl in school, highest grade in all advanced classes, but she felt stupid.

"It wasn't your fault for asking." Percy saw that she felt bad.

"Yes it is."

"No. There's no way you could have known."

At that point, a boy with curly brown hair and eyes with a mischievous gleam in his eyes ran up. He had dirt smeared across his cheek, grease on his nose, and he wore brown overalls over a dirty white shirt.

"Hey Leo." Annabeth greeted him.

Percy looked at the boy.

"Oh. Percy, this is Leo Valdez. Leo, this is Percy- I don't know your last name."

"Jackson."

"Percy Jackson."

"Hey, Percy."

Percy inclined his head in a hey gesture.

At that moment, the bus pulled up. Annabeth stepped in, then Leo, and finally, Percy. Annabeth sat in the front, near the window, Leo sat next do her, and Percy wandered off to the back.

"Poor new kid." Leo sighed.

"Someone should really go sit with him."

"Don't look at me." Leo had already pulled a small contraption out of his jacket and was fiddling with it. Annabeth sighed and slipped past him. Looking behind her, she saw Leo's girlfriend, Calypso, taking her place.

"You shouldn't sit there." Percy looked up to see Annabeth standing next to where he was sitting. "That seat belongs to Octavian. Total jerk, and a blockhead. Come on, I'll show you where the open seats are."

"Okay." Percy stood up and followed Annabeth back to the front. They ended up across the isle from Leo and a slender girl with light brown hair twisted back on the top of her head.

"Thanks."

"Huh?"

"I really appreciate your help with all of this. I'm used to being the new kid, but I've never had someone so eager to hang out and show me around. So, thank you."

"It's nothing, really. Any time you need anything, just let me know, okay?" she visibly blushed.

"Okay." He replied gratefully. He noticed the way her gorgeous silver eyes acknowledged the scene passing by as the bus began to move. How does she not know how beautiful she is?

As the bus began to move, Annabeth stared out the window. She watched the way the trees flashed in and out of view behind buildings that all but blocked the forest and hill that held her summer camp.

"Percy?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think you and your mom are going to be staying in town for a while?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Just outside of town, there is a forest. My summer camp is there. I was wondering if you were planning to ask Chi- Mr. Brunner if you qualify."

"I might check it out." She smiled slightly.