Ok, I feel bad for taking to so long with this chapter, esp since your all leaving me such nice reveiws! I meant to have it written up earlier, but didn't for several reasons. The first was the 4th of July, I was out celebrating with my family, and then I had a dance rehersal and then recital, and then theres this character. I decided to write a character who turned out to be nothing like me, which made him a bit difficult to write. He probably would have driven me crazy in JH… none the less I hope you enjoy it! I wish it were a little better, if you have any ideas on how it could become better, please tell me : ).

Also, I don't own Percy! But I'm pretty sure that the greek gods are not copywritten, so they're kind of like public property, and I'm part of the public, so in that way, I kind of own the gods….. :D!

Some people say I'm cocky. I like to say that I use positive thinking to create a reality. This positive thinking usually has something to do with being the fastest individual on the planet. And maybe I could be, except that I usually don't have a coach. Someone decided about a hundred years ago that if you didn't have at least a C+ in most of your classes, you couldn't participate in sports, which makes absolutely no sense. If I had good grades, then I wouldn't need a sports scholarship, would I?

Between my less-than-stellar grades and the trouble that seems to follow me like a lost puppy, I can't seem to stay at the same school two years in a row, let alone stay on the teams. The sports I'm best at are basketball and track. I was immediately proclaimed "too skinny" by most football coaches to even be considered by them, but if they saw how well I could throw a ball, I think I could do well on a team. I've been on various basketball teams since I was six years old. A part of me loved it, all that win as a team/ loose as a team stuff. The rest of me wished I actually was a part of the team. Most people I only played with for one season, if that. That's when running really took over. I love to run; the feeling of it gives me more and more energy until I think I could cross the continent.

When I'm actually allowed to run, I set records. Unfortunately that rarely seems to happen. Teachers hate me (they can allegedly see evil intentions written all over my face. Like an upturned nose and curious eyebrows are my fault), one teacher invented a new letter grade for me: G-, for good riddance. Another teacher actually called me Slime ball Simon under her breath. It's hard enough getting through my assignments with dyslexia, but then there are the minor disasters that just happen to occur around me. I swear, I did not make the hole in the wall of my old school's cafeteria. I'm just the only one who saw the 9 ft tall man who did break the wall. I also did not break the jungle gym (I don't know how they thought I did that, I was a scrawny eight year old at the time), nor did I throw the old track uniforms in the lake. I wouldn't even consider destroying the lake with all the sweat and dirt on those things; but I was planning on burning them when I had the chance. Who thought it was a good idea for a boys' track team to wear booty shorts? Not Simon Goodheart.

This year, I was certain, would be different from all the rest. Turns out it was, but not the way I planned. All I wanted was a win at the national track meet, a good basketball team, and to not get kicked out of anything. What I got was out of this world.

First track meet of the year. I'd gotten this far, and I was certain nothing could ruin this day for me. I jogged in place, eager to start, and looked at my competition out of the corner of my eye. I didn't recognize anyone, and besides the fact that a few of them were hanging from trees, they seemed pretty normal. That's the thing about schools in the country part of the north east; they're pretty much in the middle of nature. The founders of this school had just carved out an oval track in the middle of a forest, and as a result some of the taller tree branches hung over the track. This was awesome on hot days, but it also meant that track was easily cancelled because of lightning.

Well, whoever was in charge of lightning needed to wait a few hours and give me my time to run. Everyone was lining up, and as soon as the whistle blew, I started to sprint. It felt amazing. I was enjoying every minute of it, when I heard a hideous sound. At first I thought it was someone's grandmother, shrieking- I mean, cheering- from the crowd. But the crowd was to my right, either sitting on beach chairs or jumping up and down in their excitement. The shrill whine that I heard was….behind me?

I turned, but kept running. Good news: I was in the lead. Bad news: hideous creatures were flying strait towards me. I only got a glimpse, but I saw ugly faces, feathers, and most importantly, claws reaching forward to grab me. I ran faster than ever. Adrenaline kicked in, and I didn't feel tired in the slightest. I went on and on, until I crossed the finish line- and kept right on going.

I hit my head on the tree branch, but I didn't stop. I leaped over large rocks, and tripped-er, I mean somersaulted - over smaller ones. I still felt like king of the world, but then the trees parted, and I saw the cliff. I just had time to think 'what I nice spot for a picnic' when I was airborne. For a split second, I was where I was meant to be: the fastest boy in the world, who could run so fast, he could fly. Then my face hit something hard and wet and my nose filled with salt water. Worse: I heard the screech I had been running from, and it sounded closer than ever.

I rolled and struggled in the water until my knees hit hard rock. Gasping, I lifted myself out of the cold water. As soon as my ears were emptied of water, they were filled with yelps and shrill cries of pain. I turned and saw a boy much older than myself slashing at the- what were they? Demons?- with a sword. I don't know about you, but I don't normally bring swords with me to track meets. Irresponsible, I know, but I missed the "Demon slaying equipment" booth at the last fair.

I struggled to run in the water, to reach the shore. The water weighed me down, and tugged at my clothes. Once there, I grabbed a sharp black rock, and flung it at the demon face. Bull's-eye. The creature fell in the water, and the boy stabbed it through the heart. I reached for another rock, and another. I didn't even bother watching to see if I hit my mark. Their squawks merely confirmed what I already knew, we were winning. I raised my hand again, with a gray rock as sharp as an arrow, but stopped when I saw that the last demon was flying away.

The silence after the demon screams and the sound of my heart beating out of my chest was shocking. The only sound was the crashing waves.

"Nice job" I turned to look at the speaker. He was a dark-haired boy who was younger than I initially thought, and was still standing knee deep in the ocean.

I stared. "You're holding a sword." Totally rude, but sometimes I just say whatever pops into my head.

He looked surprised. "You can see through the mist?" He began walking closer and pulled a cap out of his pocket. He touched the cap to the tip of the sword; it looked a bit like a funny little hat until the sword shrunk. He was left with a normal looking pen. I kinda wished that he had just left it as a sword, it made everything seem much cooler.

I shrugged and backed away a little, "I don't know if you have bad eyesight or something, but it's a perfectly clear day. There's no mist out here."

"Not that kind of mist." The kid –maybe he was 15 or 16?- cocked his head. "Does this sort of thing…happen a lot?"

I stared at him incredulously, "Do I get attacked by demons a lot? No, actually, I don't."

"Harpies." He corrected automatically. "Well, do you get attacked by other things?"

"No." I wasn't going to tell this guy I'd just met about the man I saw with one eye in the middle of his forehead, or the goat that looked like it was talking. I definitely wasn't going to tell him about the time I told my mom that wheat cereal was gross and the plants outside my house attacked me.

"Ah, well…good for you…" I don't think he believed me.

"I think I should go back now-" I started to turn away, but then I noticed something even weirder about this guy. "Hey! Why are you still dry?" I could still feel the salt and water clinging to my body and clothes uncomfortably, but he was completely dry.

My outburst was greeted by a good natured grin. "Water and I get along very well. I don't get wet unless I want to."

"Not fair!" I shook my head in disgust. "Water hates me. I can't even run fast in it. It's like my kryptonite." I tried to ignore the fact that a) this guy was apparently 'best buddies' with the water, and b) there is no way he clothes could be dry. I don't care if he's friends with every element known to mankind, he could not stand in the ocean and not get wet. 'Clearly', I thought to myself, 'he is a raving lunatic and he is dragging me into his delusions.'

This idea gained more of my support when he laughed; apparently he thought I was funny. Or maybe he just drank too much salt water.

He shook his head, "you can already see through the mist, this might be easier than I thought. Percy Jackson."

"Huh?"

"I just introduced myself."

"Oh," Percy? What kinda weirdo name was that? "Um, Simon Goodheart."

"So," Percy walked by me so that he could sit on the rocks, "how many schools have you been to?"

Bizarre question, but one with a simple answer. "I haven't kept track."

Percy nodded. "How'd you like to change schools again?" I wasn't exactly jumping at the bit. He must have seen my hesitation, because he added, "I promise, it's a lot better than regular schools, it's not even exactly a school to tell you the truth…more like camp."

"I don't have the grades to get into most special schools, except, you know, military schools… and that kind of thing."

"Oh, that's ok," Percy looked totally unconcerned, and it occurred to me that he didn't seem like the strait A type either, "your fighting skills are already pretty good. You'll probably do really well there."

"Are you serious?" I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes. "What kind of school- or, camp- is this?"

"An awesome camp," He grinned from ear to ear. "Ok, ok," he added when he saw my expression, "It's a camp for heroes in training."

"You just lost your new recruit."

"Aw c'mon."

"How on earth am I supposed to believe in a school, which is really a camp, which trains…heroes? What makes you think I could be, or even want to be, a hero?" Such a nice guy. Too bad he was totally loopy. He even thought dyslexic, ADHD kids were as special as the guidance councilors said we were.

Percy scratched his head. "Would it sound too cliché if I said it was in your blood? Listen," he leaned forward, "you are the son of a mortal, your mom, and a god. That makes you a demigod."

"What?" I sighed, "not meaning to be rude, but, I don't believe in this god of yours."

"The Greek gods. They're real."

"Right." I stuffed my hands in my pockets. "Well, do you have any proof of these gods?"

Percy gave me a half smile, "You saw the sword. And the harpies. And you saw some of my demigod powers."

For some reason that made me nervous. "Your demigod powers?"

"Son of Poseidon. Water pretty much does what I want it to. And you," he nodded, "are a son of Hermes."

"What makes you so sure of that?"

"First of all," Percy stood up, "how fast you were running. Did you know Hermes is the fastest of all the Olympians? Also, the before mentioned fighting skills. And then there's this," he took something from his pocket and held it out for me to see. "It's a list," he declared, "of all the children of Hermes."

"….What did you do to it. Dude," I shook my head, "that thing is basically destroyed." The paper was creased and frayed; the ink was even slightly faded, although the names were still legible. Still, it looked several years old and beaten up, with various stains.

"What?" Percy demanded, "I've been traveling with it, and I'm not allowed to use a plane."

I don't know what kind of crazy parent lets their kid carry a sword around in their pocket (albeit one in pen form) but won't let him ride a plane. It seemed the more I learned about this guy the stranger he seemed.

"How have you been traveling?"

"Mostly underwater." Percy's face brightened, "Hey! I can bring you to camp that way! The other kids I brought to camp weren't next to the ocean, you see, but this'll be easy!"

"Um yeah, how about we run instead?"

"Point taken, out of your comfort zone. But seriously, we aren't that far away. I'll just create an air bubble for you and we'll be there in a few hours."

At this point, 80% of me believed him. The other 20% was ranting and raving at both of us, telling me that we had lost our minds. All of me was wondering if he had gills. Either way, I wasn't thrilled at the prospect of more water. I was serious when I said that it was like my kryptonite. As far as I know, there's no magical reason for this, water just makes it difficult to run. On the other hand, if Percy could do everything he said he could, then his whole story was almost certainly true. I made my decision.

"You have four minutes to create this giant air bubble thing. If it looks like it'll keep me alive, I will go with you."

He looked like he won a three layered cake. "Great! C'mon in!" He jumped in the water and quickly disappeared from view. I went in more slowly, hoping that he was telling the truth and wouldn't drown. When the water was above my waist, I leaned forward and slipped under water, holding my breath. A hand grabbed me, and I almost panicked before I saw that it was Percy. He dragged me quickly to his air bubble and tossed me inside. The bubble was on the floor of the ocean, so for now, at least, I could walk normally.

He was telling the truth! I was a demigod! And he was bringing me to a camp designed for us? Maybe, this camp would have a coach, or a trainer, that could train me to be the best runner I could ever imagine.

Thanks to my sister for reading through this and fixing some of my terrible spelling (also, I finished this at 2 am, and had to make sure that it made sense!). I'm hoping to have the next chapter up in a few days, and I think it's going to be just a bit darker….

Anyway God bless, read Percy Jackson, and hope for a good PJ movie this year!