ANNABETH was starting to get very annoyed.

She'd been waiting outside her housing complex (that some could call a villa) for thirteen minutes already, and Malcom wasn't even in sight. She should've known this would happen. Malcom, her half-brother, was known for his tendency to lose track of the time. He was late to almost everything, which was odd, because Annabeth was the opposite. She was on time for almost everything. In the cases when she wasn't on time, she was early.

Finally Annabeth saw Malcom hurrying down the street, carrying what for all the world seemed like seven fully-written college papers in his hands. She rolled her eyes and walked down the white limestone staircase, descending onto the pavement.

"Late again." She said, emphasizing the last word and glaring at him.

"Sorry, Annabeth. I got caught up."

Most people Annabeth knew would be stammering and quivering because of her glowers by now. But Malcom didn't even blink in her direction. That was one of the reasons she liked being with him.

The two sixteen-year-olds walked down the street, matching their strides. They were both silent. Annabeth moved her bag to the other shoulder; her right arm felt like it was falling off.

"It was an Archimedes Calculation." Malcom said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Annabeth stared at him, eyes wide. "Really?"

"Really."

A long time ago, when the half-siblings were only six, the two of them had read about Archimedes. Annabeth and remarked that finding all sorts of calculations like Archimedes had done must be very time consuming (though she didn't use that saying). Then Malcom had offered to use the words "Archimedes Calculation" to describe a genius, new discovery that might cause troubles with one of their schedules. Basically, if one of the two had an Archimedes Calculation, their mistakes and\or odd timings were forgiven. They hadn't had one for almost a year now.

"WOW! Malcom, that's… incredible!" Annabeth smiled, her grey eyes flashing.

"I know! It's a mathematical problem- see, if you put the X here and the Y here and then you multiply by M and square the double…" Malcom opened one of his "college papers" to prove his point. Annabeth realized he'd written page after page about his calculation, and then stapled it all together.

"Malcom, this is impressive. But if we don't run now, we're gonna be late." Annabeth said, shifting her bag again.

Malcom stuffed his papers in his own backpack. "Right, then." He said. "Let's go."

The two made a mad dash for the elitist, Athena-only academy that was their school, passing the gates just as the bell rang and they slammed shut.

Annabeth's first class was Calculus. She dropped her bag in Homeroom, grabbed her notebook and study files, and dashed into the classroom. The teacher luckily had her back to the door, so Annabeth made it to her seat without being spotted.

"Please copy the following to your notebooks." The teacher said, and promptly started to recite a long list of Calculus rules and equations. Annabeth scribbled studiously in her notebook. She knew King Zeus strived for Athena children to be the best, and she knew he doted on their immortal mother. That was why Athena descendants lived in large houses with marble décor and big gardens, and studied in schools with the best teachers and the highest standards and quality. Even so, Annabeth felt that Zeus didn't care much about REAL education. He just wanted Athena children to remember all their studies. He just wanted robots to build his castles.

When Annabeth went to the marble washrooms to use the toilet during recess, a floating scroll appeared in her face. Anybody else would freak out, but Annabeth knew this was sort of her mother's way of sending messages to her kids. She grabbed the scroll and unfurled it.

Dear Annabeth, read the text. Your seventeenth birthday is approaching, and your father and I have been searching for a present. Just today King Zeus himself recommended a gift to you, and fairly insisted you receive it. You will find your seventeenth birthday present waiting for you when you arrive at home.

Have a good, intelligent day,

Athena