Chapter 2 (Annabeth) The Truth

Why did Percy have to be so handsome. What was I going to do with Luke? And Adrian isn't helping at all. I really hope Chiron kicked him in his soft spot. If he gets claimed tonight then I'll finally know if he's the one. To lead a quest. Not a guy to be with me forever. I was so preoccupied in my thoughts that I didn't even realise someone was talking to me.

"Hey, you there?" It was Malcolm, one of my siblings from the Athena cabin.

"Yeah. So, what do you want?"

"The new guy. You know anything about him?"

"He's called Percy Jackson. His fathers an Olympian and," I blushed. "he drools in his sleep."

Malcolm snorted. "Probably one of those Ares kids. Stupid idiots. Prats."

I was so glad he didn't notice my little giveaway. That's when things got complicated. Adrian walked through the door and was a little red in the face.

"What happened with you?"

He looked a little ashamed. "Thalia."

Now I knew why. Thalia Grace was one of our best friends before dying to save the two of us as well as Grover and Luke. Adrian was 8 and I was 7 when we were on the run together from monsters when we met Thalia and Luke. Thalia was 12 and Luke was 14. They took us in and helped us reach Camp Half-Blood but Thalia didn't make it. She held off a horde of monsters sent by Hades so the rest of us could get past the camp borders. She made her final stand on top of the hill we call Half-Blood Hill. Adrian had a massive crush on her on our journeys together and Thalia liked him back so when she died, Adrian cried for a week. Now he looked at me and said sorry. I walked over to him and hugged him. Even though how much I hated him sometimes, he was still my brother. He sniffed inaudibly, as though trying to sniff with the smallest sound possible. I looked at him and smiled.

"Now who's the one crying now?" That brought a smile to his face.

"I'm being stupid. She's gone and there's no way she can come back. And I'm sor-"

Before he could finish his sentence, the conch horn sounded, indicating dinner at the pavilion. I signalled for everyone to line up and we made our way to the amphitheatre. It was amazing how many people the camp had. Campers trooped in from all directions and dryads stumbled out of the trees. When we took our allocated table, we made an offering to the gods. Chiron made a few announcements but I didn't hear them at all. I had just spotted Percy Jackson standing next to Grover on the side looking happier than I had seen him earlier. I started when everyone clapped which signalled the end of Chiron's announcements. This also meant that Mr D was going to speak.

"Yes. Yes. Welcome back to another year at this miserable place where you will be participating in activities that will hopefully kill, I mean train you." Droned Mr D. "As you know we have a new camper today. Perry Johnson." Chiron bent down and whispered in the gods ear. "Aah, Percy Jackson. I guess I have to say it. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood. Huzzah. Whatever. Now go eat your food." He rambled. Everyone was silent.

"Well? Do I have to tell you brats how to eat as well?"

That got everyone moving. As the dryads moved into serve the food, Adrian sidled in next to me.

"Tell me the truth." He whispered. "Do you have a crush on Percy?"

"I…um, uh…"

Adrian sighed and went back to his dinner. I looked for Percy and found him sitting at the Hermes table next to Luke. I didn't know which boy to choose.