part one:

dazed

It started with a boy. A boy who came to camp at midnight. A boy with blond hair and blue eyes and a bright smile.

I met him the next morning. He gave me a huge grin and said, "Hi, my name's Niles Northway, it's nice to meet you!"

I looked down at the twelve-year-old's hand, then back up to his face. Then I smiled. "Hi Miles, I'm Percy Jackson."

Niles pouted. "Not Miles, Niles! Like, with an N."

I laughed. "Like the Nile River?"

"Yes!"

"Well then, nice to meet you, Niles." And we shook hands.

He went and did the same thing with everyone else at breakfast. He chatted brightly with Will Solace, wore a grin that made me shudder with the Stoll brothers, and wasted absolutely no time in starting up a rivalry with a boy from Ares cabin, Sanders Urichi.

And when he shook hands with Annabeth, his cheeks went slightly red and he started stuttering about how he had other things to do while Annabeth giggled. I chuckled softly. The kid was honestly adorable.

I should probably tell Annabeth to nip that crush while it's still a bud, though. Might break his heart to realize we're dating when he's actually into her...

And I chuckled again.

Niles wasted no time in proclaiming to everyone that he was awesome and better than everyone there especially that prick Sanders!!!

He promptly failed at every single activity Camp Halfblood had to offer.

I had to admit, though, the kid had a spine of steel, a heart of gold, and a will of fire. When I pushed him down during sword practice, he stood right back up, dusted off his clothes, and charged into the fray with renewed vigor.

Of course, I promptly kicked his butt again, but that's besides the point.

That night, I was strangely not surprised when Apollo claimed him.

And, of course, we all had a good laugh at Niles' complete freak-out when Apollo's symbol appeared above his head.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"

"Apollo claimed you, moron."

"SHUT UP, SANDERS!"

Niles continued to suck at pretty much everything. Everyone still adored him though, even Sanders would, when pressed, admit that Niles wasn't the worst person he'd met.

And everyone noticed how a room would brighten up when he walked in. He could make people laugh (intentionally or unintentionally) and made up for his lack of skill with sheer guts and determination.

(And we'd all facepalm when Niles remained oblivious to Hannah Hills, who quite obviously liked him. Not to mention how much everyone cringed in sympathy when Niles proclaimed Hannah to be his best friend FOREVER!!!)

Sometimes I would find my eyes randomly drift to him, though. And I would feel this...this feeling.

It's not love, you creeps. No, I loved Annabeth with all my heart.

When I looked at Niles, I felt something different.

It took me three weeks to figure out what that feeling was.

It was when I was staring down at my steak, suddenly finding it unappetizing. It was when I realized how I had yet to eat a satisfying meal in what felt like weeks.

It was when the voice first appeared. It was when it whispered one, and only one, word into my head.

Hungry.

tbc

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Hope you all enjoyed the first installment of this! The chapters in this will be pretty small (like in my other story "Reasons", except this one will have an actual plot).

This is a pre-written short story and it will have four parts. So, yeah, don't worry about me abandoning this.

Remember to Favorite, Follow, and Review! Until next time, this is SSSRHA, signing out!