The flight was terrible. All the turbulence made me sick to my stomach. Not to mention I have a terrible fear of flying. Also, I had to sit next to Smelly Gabe. He kept talking about how there better be a bar in Bodega Bay. When the plane finally landed, I felt like I was going to barf up my insides. Of course, I couldn't. We were already running late(though how you can be late to a family reunion, I will never know) and had to get a taxi ride wasn't that bad if I kept a window cracked. Smelly Gabe just couldn't keep his gas in. It was disgusting, really, but he kept on doing it.

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When we pull up to the house, a big three story monstrosity with four little cabins surrounding it, Gabe makes Mom pay for the taxi.

It seems like everyone is already inside, because no one runs to great us. I am fine with that, I don't want anyone to meet Smelly Gabe, although they will. With all our stuff on the ground, Gabe does something surprising. He says, "Sally, why don't you go inside. Percy and I will get the suitcases."

Mom looks at me, seeing if I am fine with that. I nod, already knowing something is up and that Mom doesn't need to hear what Smelly Gabe is about to say. She smiles and walks toward the house. She hesitates at the door, probably wondering if she should knock. Deciding against it, she walks in.

Smelly Gabe turns to me, a sneer on his handsome, as he likes to say, face. He takes a step forward, grabbing the front of my blue T-shirt and pulling me towards him. He tries to look intimidating, but it doesn't work. Not when he has to tilt his head up to look me in the eyes.

"Listen up you little punk. Just because I came on this trip doesn't mean our deal is off, you understand? You still got to give me the money you make. And don't tell your mom."

I try not to gag, his breath is that bad, and nod my head. I swear his eyes are going to pop out of his oversized head, but he pushes me away from him as if I'm the revolting one. Without looking back, he heads to the house. Before he opens the door to go inside, however, he calls over his shoulder, "Do something with the suitcases."

I start picking up the suitcases when I get an evil idea. I eye Smelly Gabe's suitcase, which was not small enough to be a carry on, and wonder what would happen if he found a crab in it. I look down at the beach. Its low tide, good, and there are some rocks. Even better.

I look back at the house, making sure no one is watching, before running towards the rocks. The crabs should be in clusters around the bottom, and even though I know I shouldn't make a crab do this, I just can't help myself. Maybe the crap with like pinching Smelly Gabe. The thought makes me smile.

I get to the rocks and see the crabs. I can't let Smelly Gabe have evidence that I put the crab in his bag. I take off my flip flops so they don't get wet, which would most definitely be evidence, and am glad that I remembered to wear shorts. I look at the crabs, trying to decided which one would be most willing to hide out in a suitcase for a while.

I see one that almost looks black, which is weird, since crabs are reddish, and decide on that one. I quickly snatch him out of the group, trying to avoid getting pinched. Which is stupid, really, seeing as how I have a strange connection with sea creatures. They normally like me. Luckily, the blackish crab doesn't pinch me or try to get away from me.

I feel bad for the crab. I mean, I wouldn't want to get stuck in a suitcase with Smelly Gabe's underwear. That would be grosser than swimming in barf. Well, maybe not, but still. I look at it, black shell and all, and wonder how he got to be like that. I get this strange urge to name him, so I do.

"Lets see here, Mr. Crab.I am going to call you...Blackjack?"

I look at the crab, waiting for any signs that it likes the names. Stupid, I know, but the crab does seem to like the name. He snaps his pinches once. I smile for what seems like the tenth time in five minutes. I tell Blackjack the plan, and once again, he agrees. Okay, I really do sound crazy, talking to a crab. Not just any crab, though, Blackjack the Crab.

I slip on my flip flops and run back to the bags. Gabe's is the biggest and ugliest, so it isn't that hard to spot amongst our three bags. I open the main part, just big enough for Blackjack to climb in, and close it. Not all the way because Blackjack still needs to breath. He is a living creature, after all.

Right after I finish putting Blackjack into the suitcase, I hear a voice behind me say, "Kelp Head, what on Earth are you doing?"

I turn around to see Thalia, my cousin, smirking. I put on my best innocent face and answer. "Well, Pinecone Face, I was checking to see if Smell-er, my step-dad packed everything."

Even I have to admit, it is a stupid lie. Thalia, as always, can see right through it. I instantly go to Back-Up Plan Mode. I make my puppy dog face. Thalia glares at me, and I know my face isn't working on her. Crap.

"Tell me the truth or I'll tie you up in a tree, Percy."

I don't want to back down, but I also want to tell someone about Blackjack and what he has to do. I crave, partly because I believe she will tie me in a tree and leave me there for days and partly because it's Thalia. I mean, she is my cousin, who I do love.

When I get to the part about naming a crab, although I do leave out the part about talking to the crab, she laughs. I can't help but laugh with her, even though I am going to keep Blackjack. And NOT for food. A thought hits me so suddenly that I have to ask Thalia, "Is it illegal to keep a pet crab that I found on the beach?"

She doesn't say anything, just smirks and walks away.

Hello peoples...Anyway, Percy and Annabeth are 17. Which would make Thalia 15, since that is when she became a Hunter. Basically, I am using the ages that they were during the Heroes of Olympus series. At least, I am pretty sure Percy is 17 at the end of the series...but he might still be 16, almost seventeen.