Ahhhhhhhhhhh thankyou so much if you're following this story/me! Chapter 4 won't be up until 2018, I have another writing project to complete but I'll get onto it asap!

As always, all credit goes to Rick Riordan

Chapter 3

"So how did your first day at -" Percy paused as he tried to recall the name of my new school. "- Harbour Academy?"

I shrugged. "Okay."

"Did you make any friends?"

I thought of Dana Redwood, the girl Dr. Sparks had sat me beside. She had reminded me of Thalia a little, with her menacing glare and spiky dark hair. Then when we began talking, she was surprisingly easy-going and cheerful, but swore like a sailor. "Yeah, I guess."

"That's good," said Percy. "Are you classes satisfactory enough for a daughter of Athena?"

"Yup," I said, thinking of my AP Math and Calculus classes. "I have the most amazing math teacher. Her name is Mrs. Collins. How did your day go?"

Percy pulled a face. "Oh, gods. Wise Girl, how are you supposed to give a reasonable explaination to mortals for why you were away for a whole school year?"

I laughed. "The same friends you introduced me to in sophomore?"

"Yeah," groaned Percy. "Kaleb and Mitch tried to beat me up. Can you believe it?!"

"I judo-flipped you."

"Well, thank the gods Bridgette or Lulu don't know how to."

"We're getting off topic."

"We are," Percy stilled for a moment. "But what should I actually say?"

"I suggest you ... tell the truth." Percy cocked an eyebrow at me. "No, don't explain the whole son-of-Poseidon thing. You can say ... you can say you've got a pyscho aunt who kidnapped you and some cousins saved your ass but had to take you to Greece because there was something big going on with your dad's side of the family."

Percy nodded enthusiastically. "I think I will. Thanks, Annabeth."

"Pleasure, Seaweed Brain." I glanced at my desk, where a stack of homework awaited me. "I've got to go," I said, blowing him a kiss.

"Call me later," Percy said.

"I've got nothing better to do."

My laptop buzzed. I looked up and saw that a message notification had popped up from the Hangouts installation. My mind ticked. Who could be messaging me? Then I remembered Dana passing me a note during calculus, with a phone number (which I'd neglected to punch into my phone yet) and a Hangouts username.

6889: hey remember me? The girl who showed ur lazy ass around?

I smiled and leaned over, typing in a response.

wisegirlchase: I distinctly remember outrunning you in PE, Dana.

6889: omfg, Y do u txt in full sentences? with propr grmmr?

wisegirlchase: I just do - I'm a nerd like that.

6889: ewwww I made frnds w a nerd?

6889: Kidding ;)

wisegirlchase: Talk later - stepmom's yelling to go help with dinner

I shut my laptop and hurried downstairs, where I found Helen in the kitchen. "There you are," she said. "I was wondering if you could cut up these onions for me."

I nodded and picked up the knife, breadboard, and several onions. As I peeled off the first layer, Helen asked, "How did your first day go?"

"Good."

"See any cute boys?"

I gagged. Gods, that is so Aphrodite of her. "I have a boyfriend, Helen, and I have absolutely no intention of dumping him any time soon."

"Don't tell your father that," warned Helen. "He's convinced that you won't be dating anyone until you graduate college. Isn't it a family tradition?"

My mind raced, until I remembered my uncle once talking at a Thanksgiving dinner about the evils of distracting boyfriends when you should be studying. I groaned. I had clearly broken a family law.

"Is it that Percy friend of yours?"

"Who else?"

"He was a good kid," said Helen, stirring the contents of a pot. "He seemed to care about you a lot."

I smiled wistfully, thinking of Percy. Wondering what he was doing right now. Probably hanging around Sally's kitchen for tidbits, or moaning about homework. Either way, it was clear from our call earlier that he missed me. "I miss him already," I admitted. "But then I've seen him every day for the past four months."

"Couple seperation anxiety," said Helen wisely.

A bloodcurdling scream startled me awake. It took me a moment to realise that it had been my own, as I shook clear the terrifying image of Arachne's gnashing fangs.

"Annabeth!" Dad burst into the bedroom, light spilling through behind me. "Is everything alright?!"

"Yeah," I said hastily, as I took deep breaths. Assured myself that it was all just a figment of memories. "It was just a nightmare. I'm fine."

Dad nodded grimly. "Just let me know if you need anything," he assured me, before stepping back out and shutting the door.

I leaned over and flipped the switch of the lamp. Pale light spilled across my room, but I felt every hair stand on end when I saw something scuttle into a corner. Something hairy and eight-legged.

I grabbed a pencil off my desk and approached the corner somewhat cautiously. There sat a spider, a hairy, disgusting spider, its beady eyes fixed upon me. It freaked me out. Arachne's snarling face flashed across my mind and I speared my pencil into the beastly thing's monstrous head.

I felt my muscles relax as I withdrew the pencil, sticky white stuff dangling from the end of it. I recoiled in disgust, and used a tissue to discard the spider's carcass into my waste paper bucket.

I realised I was shaking.

I slid back into my bed, reaching down and fetching the book I'd been reading earlier off the floor. The Hunger Games: at least it didn't have disgusting spiders in it. There was no way I was laying a hand on any James Dashner novels for another week.

Aaaaaaaaand that's a wrap! Hope you guys all have an amazing Christmas and Santa leaves you something special! ;)