Author's Note: Hello, Everyone! This is an in-progress fanfiction that I am currently writing about the characters of Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter. Before reading this, there are a few things you should probably know: This is an AU in which the battle with Kronos hasn't happened yet, Percy and Annabeth are already officially dating, Thalia never became a hunter, Percy and Beckendorf never blew up the cruise ship, Nico already lives at Camp Half-Blood, and Rachel is already the Oracle. Also, as I said in my other fanfiction, if you like music, feel free to listen to my Youtube music playlist entitled "Random Fabulous Music". As always, feel free to leave a reviews. I appreciate constructive criticism. Lastly, I do not own the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series or the Heroes of Olympus series, I am just a fan.
Chapter One: Annabeth POV: An Old Frenemy Pays a Visit
I moved quickly, my gray skirt swirling around my knees as I walked down the long hallway. Thalia and I were arguing. She stubbornly insisted on not reading the literature book that had been assigned. This caused her to get bad marks on her report card, and teacher comments in the margins, like "doesn't do work". She was trying to get me to give her my notes, but I wouldn't. I argued that she needed to do the work herself. Cheaters never got anywhere in life. Thalia couldn't understand why demigods had to go to mortal school if we would never have a normal life anyway. Fair point, I guess, but I was still set in my ways.
Thalia and I were in the same year (I had moved up a few grades) at an esteemed college in Seattle. Chiron had been skeptical of letting us move all the way across the country from Camp Half-Blood, but I had convinced him. It was the best college in the country, and I had wanted to attend for years.
Thalia, realizing that I wasn't going to change my mind, ended the argument with a defeated sigh. I smiled smugly. Thalia would just have to do it herself.
We arrived at our apartment, which was only about a block away from the university. I shifted my bag to the other shoulder so that I could get the key from my shirt pocket. I unlocked the door, trying not to drop any of my bags. Thalia was right behind me as I walked in. She collapsed on the couch and pulled off her boots without even bothering to untie the laces. I sat down on the worn armchair, putting my hands behind my head and closing my eyes. Finally, a moment of rest. We had just had five straight classes without any breaks, and there was a test in every single one.
Suddenly, my moment of peace was disturbed. I heard tapping somewhere. Cracking open one eyelid, I scanned the room. Thalia was stretched out like a cat on the sofa, both earbuds in her ears. I rolled my eyes. For some reason, she had found it fit to invest in an iPod, but not nicer living room furniture. Go figure.
Seeing nothing, I closed my eyes once more. Seconds later, I heard it again. I sat bolt upright and my eyes flew open. "Who's there?" I called.
Thalia looked at me with annoyance, before understanding. She yanked out her earbuds and came to stand next to me. "What's going on?"
I put a finger to my lips and turned to face her. "Someone's here," I whispered. Movement in my peripheral vision caught my eye. I tiptoed to the door and peeked out the window next to it.
I suddenly found myself staring into the familiar face of Luke Castellan.