Chapter 5! You know I think the hardest part of writing a fanfic is the author's notes. I never know what to write!

My head hurt. My consciousness was barely there. I tried many times to wake up, but it took forever to open my eyes. When I finally did, I blinked groggily.

"Wha—wha?" I said. My head was pounding. I put a hand to my skull and felt a large knot buried under my hair. I squinted in the bright light. I was sitting in a chair on the back patio of a big, blue house. I tried to stand, but I was too weak.

Then my eyes focused, and right in front of my face I saw a boy. "Good morning Sleeping Beauty," he said with a mischievous smile that made me jealous. As my eyes focused more I saw that he had a very mischievous face, tanned skin, curious dark brown eyes, and crazy curly brown hair. My ADHD made it hard for me to resist the urge to run my fingers through it.

"So how's it feel to be among the living again?" he asked.

"Uh, what?" I asked. Who was this boy? And why was his smile so irking?

"Oh, right," he said. "You probably have no idea what's going on. Percy told me you just showed up".

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "Where am I?"

"You, chica, are at camp half-blood," he said, then held out his hand. "I'm Leo".

I cautiously shook his hand. "Jo".

"Interesting," he said. "So, Jo," he chuckled. "Hey, that rhymes. Anyways, I've been given the job to give you an explanation. So, do you have any questions?"

"Yeah," I said, "Can you call my step mom? I'll probably get kicked out of this place so you might as well have her on speed dial for when it happens".

Leo cocked an eyebrow. "I don't know. I'll have to ask the activities director. But that's not important right now. What I need to know is: what did you see the day you blacked out?"

I bit my lip. "Nothing much. I just saw a really big bear and panicked and passed out".

Leo laughed. "It's ok. I know what you're thinking you saw seems impossible, but you can tell me. Trust me: I won't think you're crazy".

With some reluctance I told him about the dragon, and how it had attacked me. I felt crazy, rambling about something I had obviously hallucinated, but Leo listened intently.

When I was finished, I said, "I don't know what actually happened. I probably ate something weird and my vision went berserk".

"Don't worry," Leo said. "Peleus just isn't used to visitors. We've been trying to train him not to attack if it smells like a half-blood".

I stared at him. "You mean to say, that really was a dragon?"

"Bingo," Leo said.

I leaned away from him. "Ok, looks like I'm not the only one who's gone cookoo".

Leo looked at me with a reassuring gaze. "Don't worry. I know it seems hard to believe now, but you'll understand". Leo looked over my shoulder. "Oh, and here comes someone now who can explain better".

I turned and saw a boy with black windblown hair and eyes the color of the sea. It was the same boy I had seen with the dragon.

"You," I said in awe.

"Hi," he said in a friendly voice. He turned to Leo and said, "You didn't freak her out too much did you?"

"Me?" Leo said. "Since when does Valdez freak people out?"

The boy chuckled, then turned to me. "So how are you feeling?"

"Like my brain is noodle soup," I said. "I am so confused".

"That's good," he said. "My name's Percy Jackson".

"Jo Goodrace," I said.

"Well, Jo," Percy said, "you seem to be in good physical condition. Would you like a tour of the camp?"

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We walked around the house and my jaw dropped. The camp was beautiful. The lake, the rolling hills, the strawberry fields, the woods. I had never seen such a marvelous sight.

"Welcome to Camp Half-Blood," Percy said. "Leo, would you get Annabeth?"

"Ok," Leo said, and ran off toward a cluster of buildings.

"So Jo," Percy said, then chuckled. "Hey, that rhymes. Anyways, are you ready for your tour?"

Percy showed me everything. I soaked in every sight and smell and sound like a sponge in the bathtub.

"And these are the cabins," Percy said, gesturing to a cluster of the strangest cabins I'd ever seen. One looked like an ancient Greek temple while another had a grass roof while still another had a boar and a bloody spear over the door.

"Which one will I be in?" I asked.

"That depends," Percy said.

"On what?"

"Percy!" a voice called. I turned and saw a blonde girl running towards us. She looked very athletic and had a tan from being out in the sun a lot. When she reached us she said, "Is this the new camper? The one that passed out yesterday?"

Percy smiled and said, "Annabeth, meet Jo. Jo, meet Annabeth. She'll explain how things work at camp".

Annabeth was giving me a gaze that made me uncomfortable. She looked like she was calculating the best way to take me down in a fight. I knew right away that this was not a person I wanted as my enemy.

"Nice to meet you Jo," she said, smiling. I shook her hand. "I know you're going to love it here".

Yeah, before I get kicked out, I thought.

Annabeth cocked her head, as if reading my thoughts. "Follow me," she said, and Percy and I followed.

We sat down at the hearth in the middle of thecabins. A little girl sat there too, tending to the fire.

"Jo, I thought this was the best place to tell you," Annabeth said. "I want you to tell me about something. I want you to tell me about your parents".

"My parents?" I said. "My step-mom lives in a mansion and I never leave her sight. There's not much to tell".

Annabeth pursed her lips. "It's not your step-mom we need to know about. Tell me about your real parents".

I put my guard up. "Why?"

"I know it might be a little uncomfortable to talk about. But it's ok, we understand".

"How can you understand?" I asked. "You don't even know me".

"Please," Annabeth said softly.

I sighed. "My mother left when I was born and my father died when I was ten. Happy now?"

"Jo, I know this is going to sound crazy," Percy said, "You're mother did leave, but not for the reason you think".

"Oh, so now you're claiming you know my mother?" I fumed.

"Jo, don't get upset—"

"I knew it! This isn't any different than any of the other places Holly sent me! You guys just want to know about my life so you can figure out where I am on the food chain!"

"Jo, that's not it at all," Annabeth said. "We just want to help you. Calm down".

I did so somewhat.

"Now, have you ever heard of the Greek myths?"

"Yeah," I said.

"Well, they aren't myths," Percy said. "They're real, just like you and me".

I looked at the two. "I'm surrounded by nutcases," I said.

Annabeth slapped a hand to her forehead. Percy groaned.

"And you act like I'm the stupid one?" I said.

"Jo," Annabeth said, "I know this is going to be hard to believe. It was for all of us. But your mother was—is a goddess".

When she said that, I didn't know what to think. I didn't know whether to laugh or run away screaming. I would have done both, and I'm sure you would have too, but something held me back. No matter how much I told myself it wasn't true, that these two people were crazy, a tiny part of my mind still said it was a possibility. It would certainly explain a thing or two if all the Greek myths were true. But I shook my head defiantly. "You guys are crazy," I said, "I want to speak to whoever's in charge here. You guys need help".

Percy said, "Jo, please—"

"No," Annabeth said, holding up a hand. "Mr. D and Chiron should have been the ones to talk to her in the first place. Come on Jo". Annabeth and Percy stood up, and I followed them back to the big house.

So there you have it! Hope ya liked it! I'll update soon!