Chapter 2:

PERCY

Percy had battled about a million monsters since he had found out that he was a demigod. But a mere cup of coffee with Annabeth made him nervous. Especially since HE was coming.

As Percy entered Starbucks, he looked around for them, but couldn't see anyone. He waited five minutes before they entered.

Annabeth was looking pretty as usual, with her blonde hair down today. She was only wearing a shirt and jeans, but Percy's stomach still did a little lurch. Then he saw him. His blonde hair was now shaggy. He had had the courage to wear a Camp Half-Blood shirt. A long scar still ran along his cheeks. Luke.

He smiled at Percy, took Annabeth's hand, and came over.

Immediately, Percy felt a pang of jealousy against him. Percy knew that Annabeth used to have a major crush on Luke, but after his death, had started liking Percy instead.

When Luke took Annabeth's hand, she blushed, but on seeing Percy's expression, let go of it immediately and came over to talk.

"Hey Percy,"she said.

"Hey Annabeth,"he said."Hey Luke."

"Hey"

"So,"Percy said,trying to start the conversation."Annabeth told me that you were back from the dead. The Doors of Death, I'm guessing, but if Hades isn't catching people and deporting them back to the Underworld, there must be about a thousand souls who are here but are not supposed to be."

Luke smiled."You're right Percy, I did come through the Doors of Death, and after the seven of you closed them, Hades DID deport the souls back, but for some reason, a few souls, like mine, did not get deported back to the Underworld. Whether Hades forgot, or made a mistake, or I was given a second chance at life, I don't know, an as you can see, I'm not complaining"

"Okay. Supposing I believe you, but why show yourself now, why not immediately after you came back."

"The time wasn't right. If I had barged in on you before, your whole quest would have been ruined. Would you really want that? I had to time my appearance properly, and only after the second great prophecy."

"Point taken, but why meet here, and not at camp?"

"Too dangerous. What if nobody listens to me? That's why I'm asking you and Annabeth first. If I go with both of you, people might think that I'm good now,"Luke replied, but with a tone of bitterness in his voice.

"So when are we going to camp?"

"After we finish talking."

"So what are we waiting for? Let's catch a cab to Long Island."

************************************

The cab ride was quiet. Nobody talked, except for the driver, who was singing along to 'California Gurls' on the radio. When they reached, Annabeth handed over a roll of mortal cash to the driver, and the three of them got out and stood staring at the pine tree at the hill, while the taxi driver speed away.

Slowly, they walked towards the tree, wondering of what to tell Chiron. When they entered and went to the big house, they found Mr D sipping diet coke and playing cards with Chiron and two satyrs.

" Percy-"Chiron started, but his voice faltered when he saw Luke.

"Ahh! Leslie Cameron!" Mr D said," Welcome back."

Chiron ignored him and said,"It looks like we have a lot to discuss. Percy, call for a cabin counsellors' meeting."