Disclaimer: I do not own PJO or HOO.
The shrill ringing of the Goode High-School bell rang out across the expansive campus, heralding on a much needed holiday. There was a steady stream of students rushing out of the main entrance, down the sloping steps, and towards their freedom, and away from the looming four storey building.
Among the torrent of excited adolescents was Percy Jackson.
He pushed and shoved his way towards the red double-doors, his raven-black hair being pushed from side to side as he continued onwards. Once he exited the building, he breathed an audible sigh of relief; ten weeks of hell has now been replaced with many weeks of relaxation and fun.
His emerald-green eyes scanned the crowds of students and parents until they finally saw what he was searching for; his best friends in the world. Thalia and Grover were leaning against a tree nestled against the black-iron fence that separated Goode from the rest of the world.
"Thals, Grover!" he yelled in an attempt to be heard over the deafening roar of excited teens, but to no avail.
Once he had broken free from the crowd, he sprinted over to the wooden picnic bench and dumped his bag next to it, causing Thalia's eyes to shift up from her phone. Her bright blue eyes bore into Percy's soul as she raised her eyebrow, amused by her cousin's antics.
"Someones excited," she murmured.
"What are you guys doing for the holidays?" inquired Percy, only to be met with a chorus of "nothing", causing him to pout childishly.
"Well," he continued, "how about we go back to my place and have some of mom's blue chocolate-chip cookies?"
At the mention of food, Grover's head shot up, and before Thalia could even comprehend what Percy had asked, Grover exclaimed "Sally's famous blue chocolate chip cookies? Of course!" enthusiastically. "Thalia, please tell me you're coming too," he bleated.
"I've got no other ideas," she muttered before taking out her earbuds and stuffing them in her black jeans pocket.
"Well, shall we go?" Percy asked innocently, leading the charge towards his small apartment.
"Mom! Thalia and Grover are here!" called Percy, only to be shushed by his mother.
"Perseus Jackson, how many times do I have to tell you not to yell in the house?" chided Sally in a motherly tone. After one final disapproving glare at her son, her gaze shifted to Thalia and Grover. "Thalia, Grover, its good to see you both, and my how you've both grown!" she exclaimed. "Come in, come in, I'll go get you some cookies."
"Thanks, Ms Jackson," both teenagers replied, only to be scolded like Percy.
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Sally?" she sighed.
Grover remained still and silent, but Thalia just shrugged her shoulders and waltzed into the small apartment, dumping her bag by the shoe rack. She and Grover then proceeded to follow Percy through the minuscule living room to the kitchen.
As the three teenagers pulled out stools and sat down at the kitchen counter, Sally grabbed the blue Tupperware container that was by the sink and peeled off the lid, releasing the mouth-watering aroma of chocolate-chip cookies.
"Percy, dear," vocalised Sally as the adolescents began to dig into the cookies like a pack of wolves, "You know how I got a call a few days ago from a lawyers office?"
Percy nodded his head, knowing better than to answer his mother with a mouth full of food.
"Well, earlier today an older gentleman stopped by, and he said that my parents were one of his clients," she continued, looking half excited, half apprehensive. "It turns out that my family has owned an Island not far off the coast for countless generations, and that it is now mine!"
Percy dropped the cookie he was eating and stared at his mother. "Wait… so you own an actual island?" he enquired, his voiced laced with childish excitement.
"Yes honey, and that gave me an idea," answered Sally matter-of-factly. "Thalia, Grover, do you two have anything planned for these holidays?" she questioned.
"I wish," Thalia cried, throwing up her hands for dramatic effect.
"I've got nothing," answered Grover.
At hearing those answers, Sally's face lit up with a dazzling smile. "How would you three like a spend some of the holidays on the island?" she asked.
All three yelled yes, with Sally chuckling to herself at their apparent lack of volume control.
"Of course Thalia and Grover, you two have to ask your parents," she continued, "but I'm sure they'd love for you to get out of the house for a bit.
"Dad wouldn't even notice I'm gone," muttered Thalia softly so that only Percy and Grover could hear.
"If your parents do say yes, you'll need to make sure that you bring warm clothes, flashlights, batteries-" Sally continued listing various essential items, writing them all down on a piece of scrap paper, humming as she did so. "I'll be able to handle the food and water and transportation of course," she added.
After she finished with the list, she made Thalia and Grover both take a picture of it so that they could show their parents.
"And hopefully we should be able to leave by tomorrow morning, but of course I'll get Percy to send you more details," she added helpfully.
Seeing that the boys had finished their cookies, she told them to put their plates in the kitchen. "Oh and also," she stated, "Percy and Grover, I'm going to need you to go down to the store and get some chocolate chips. There's some money on the table by the door!"
"But mom" whined Percy, "how come Thalia doesn't have to go?", only to receive a glare from his mother and a firm retort. "Thalia and I have to have a word, and hurry up; I don't have all day."
At that, Percy and Grover shuffled towards the door, grabbed the loose change on the table, and opened the door and exited the apartment.
"So… what did you want to talk with me about?" inquired Thalia, her voice quivering slightly. While she was the toughest person at Goode, Sally looked past this and treated her as a daughter, making Thalia feel vulnerable and weak. She wasn't used to maternal affection.
"I just thought that it would be nice for you to bring along another girl to the island, I was thinking Annabeth. I haven't seen her in years," she said.
"No offence, but that would be a terrible idea Ms Jacks- Sally," Thalia corrected herself, "Percy and Annabeth hate each other."
"And this trip would be a great opportunity for them to rekindle their friendship and get over their petty grudges," she replied sternly.
"Well, I'll ask her," Thalia continued, "but I don't know whether she'll be able to come, her parents are very strict."
Sally smiled slightly and replied, "don't worry about her parents, I'll give them a call tonight and try to persuade them to let her come."
Looking at her watch, Thalia cursed under her breath realising that she was supposed to be home for dinner 5 minutes ago, and muttered a good-bye to Sally, before darting out the door and down the stairs.
Authors Note: I should be able to update this story quickly and regularly, and most likely finish it, because unlike my others I have a plan for all the chapters so I won't get Writer's block. Also, the plot is mostly from the book 'The Famous Five- Five on a Treasure Island'.
Anyways, I would really appreciate reviews, especially advice on how to improve my writing, and especially in regards to making conversations flow better and writing scenes with multiple characters in them.
