Chapter Title: My First Meeting With Percy Jackson Goes.. Poorly

Alternate Chapter Title: I Find The First Girl

(A/N: And yes, while you've already got Percy introduced into this fanfic, this chapter is when at least in this timeline, Colton Reynolds first meets Percy Jackson for real. Plus, I also welcome the introduction of Katie Gardner, daughter of Demeter, plus Luke, Clarisse, and a few other familiar faces.

Also, a shout-out to AO3 user goodmorningvoid for his unfinished series "The Son Of Magic", which has the reader as a son of Hecate in the original PJO series. A little bit of inspiration from it being used here.

Enjoy!)

I felt pretty good when I woke up the next morning, despite you know.. having to sleep on the floor with basically nothing. Then again, it didn't seem to have prevented Alabaster and Lou Ellen from getting any sleep as when I woke up, much like basically the rest of the Hermes Cabin, they were sound asleep. So I just put myself in a sitting position and sat there for a while, having woken up with the dawn. Soon enough though, Blake woke up and from his bed when he turned around and saw me already up, he simply let out a quiet kind of chuckle. He muttered something to himself - I didn't hear exactly what he said - before he starting waking up the rest of the cabin. Needless to say, the rest of the cabin was equally surprised to see me already up.

"Are you a light sleeper or something?" Alabaster asked me after he and Lou Ellen had woke up.

"No.." I told him. "I've always been one that woke up at dawn."

"Huh.. good to know then.." he said back to me.

After a few minutes of getting everyone else up and motivated, a horn sounded in the distance. "Uh.. Alabaster.. what's that?" I said nervously.

"Horn for breakfast.." he responded, before his face simply morphed from calm to sour at the sight of me getting a smile on my face. "Don't get your hopes up too much. The youngest and the unclaimed are usually dead last in this cabin, from what Blake told me."

My smile fell.

That was just.. a little bit of killjoy right there from Alabaster.

Unfortunately for me, true to his word, that's where I was. Dead last with him, Lou Ellen, and a few other unclaimed kids when we walked out of the cabin and Blake lined us up in 'orders of importance'. It felt honestly wrong, to put it simply.

It felt even more wrong when I considered that Percy would have to deal with this if or when he woke up.

After we had lined up, it was safe to say that it flipped back and forth between looking brighter and looking even more wrong in the next half hour in a seesaw fashion for me at least.

Looking at the other cabins, as they lined up, I suddenly found myself once again looking straight at the girl whose green eyes had caught my attention last night. She was about my height, maybe slightly shorter.. with a developing curvy kind of figure, and very pretty. Of course, judging by the fact that she was standing in line with those that had come out of Cabin Four, it was safe to say that she was a daughter of Demeter.

So it was looking up for me at the point, only to be brought back down again once we got to the dining pavilion. To be fair, it wasn't the pavilion itself that brought it back down. I mean, I will admit.. the torches blazing around columns of marble with a fire crackling in a large bronze brazier in the center of the place looked pretty cool. The food was good too, so it wasn't that either.

It was simply the fact that even though all the cabins had their own tables, because of a damn rule that prevented people from eating at other cabins' tables and that Cabin Eleven's table was overcrowded to the brink, I ended up having to eat my food on the ground by myself, like I was just the one no one wanted. My mood absolutely sank as I ate my meal, and then just sat there, head down with forehead resting up against my crossed arms resting on top of my knees as I sat there on my butt. I wanted to cry a little.

But then, I felt some arms wrapping around me and coos and cries of "Awwwww..!" in a sweet tone ring out. I lifted my head up, and there hugging my waist was Lou Ellen, while Alabaster simply just had a hand on my shoulder and his other arm hugging his half-sister. It made me honestly smile.

"You're never alone.. Colton.." Alabaster said. "You may be new.. but trust me.. we wouldn't mind being your friends."

"Nor would I.." said another voice, and another kid walked up to us, one that I had seen in the Hermes Cabin, but hadn't really paid much attention to, until now. He was tall, definitely around young adult age. He had an athletic, muscular build, and made Blake, as tall and strong as he was, look like mere child's play in comparison. He also had short-cropped black hair, blue eyes, a sharp nose, the sneaky look of Hermes, and this deep, thick scar that ran from the bottom of his right eye down to his chin. Honestly, the scar was probably the only unsettling thing about this guy. Like Blake, he definitely looked like a guy many could trust, but unlike Blake, I wasn't getting any gut feelings about him being bad news.. so I felt like I could trust him.

"You are..?" I asked him. He sat down on his butt, and scooted over next to Alabaster behind me, wrapping an arm around him and Lou Ellen.

"The name's Luke. Luke Castellan.." he said to me, his eyes generally showing pity towards me - and possibly resentment for somebody else. "Don't feel bad, kid. You're not the first to suffer because of the way camp is set up.. nor will you probably be the last." I didn't really want to know what he meant by that.

Either way, though.. it was incredibly comforting to know that I wasn't alone in all of this.. that there were people who cared.

People that I knew - and that I didn't know up until I met them - that didn't hesitate to step up for me before the day was out.

- — - — - — -

That started almost the minute I had stepped out from the dining pavilion.

"Hey! There's the newbie!" called out someone.

A bunch of footsteps came running behind me, but then as I turned around, another person stepped in between me and them, and said to them, "What have I told you about initiation ceremonies?" From the sound of their voice, the dude who had stepped in to defend me was very cross at the ones who had come up towards me, most likely because he was their older sibling, I'm guessing here. From what I can see of his backside, this guy was a bit taller than him, with messy black hair, multiple body scars, and a muscular build, I had to bet that this guy and the other ones were from the Ares Cabin.

"But.. Austin.." whined a female voice. Judging from what I could see of this one, she was almost, if not a little bit shorter, as tall as her sibling in front of her, with pale stringy brown hair, dark eyes that looked like they came from a pig, and an incredibly muscular frame.

"No buts, Clarisse.. I'm not risking Chiron having to lecture the cabin again about not doing those types of things.. so just to be clear, if you try this with the other new kid.. there will be consequences.." Austin said back grimly to them. Clarisse and her two siblings gulped in fear, turned around, and just made tracks back to where their other siblings were - maybe. I couldn't tell.

Austin turned around, and I could see now that he had green eyes and more scars on the front side of his body. The dude looked like he had been through way more than Luke had. "Apologies for the behavior of my younger sister Clarisse and my siblings, kid.." he said to me, with calmness that seemed unusual for a guy that looked like a son of Ares. "..I really do apologize for it."

"Thanks.." I said a little bit hesitantly.

"I'm Austin. Austin Maxwell, head counselor of the Ares Cabin.." he said, confirming my suspicions. "..and I have to admit, Colton. You definitely look like the kind of kid that would do what you did last night."

I didn't know whether to treat that as a compliment or not, so I just said to him, "I don't know what really came over me. I mean.. I lost both of my parents before I started on my journey here.." I tried hard not to cry. "..and then I see Percy lose his mom in front of my eyes.. like I think I snapped or something."

Austin got down on one knee and put his hand on his shoulder. "Hey.. look.. it's okay kid. Life happens sometimes, and we just have to keep going. Just for you, if I ever see the Lydian Drakon.." I perked up at the mention of the thing that killed my parents. "..when I'm out at college, since I'm leaving at the end of this summer - don't tell anyone I said that - I'll kill it just to give you closure."

I broke down at that, crying into his shoulder for a while, while he just let me cry and then calm me down. I wanted to end that monster's life for myself, but at the same time, for a mere stranger older than me - who I didn't know - to promise me that, it was unbelievable and heartwarming. I just.. after I lost my parents, I didn't really know or remember how to handle it.

That's when Blake came over.

"He okay, Austin?" he asked from behind me, indicating that he was there.

"Yeah.. Clarisse and a couple of my siblings tried to do that initiation ceremony horse dung again.." Austin replied. "..so I had to put my foot down basically."

"At least you're trying to be better.." Blake said back.

"It's been my goal since Day One, remember? It's always been my goal to be a better son of Ares. You've probably heard that from Lee and Caeli many times by now.." Austin told him, getting up after gently taking me off of his shoulder, getting back up in a standing position now.

"Indeed. You do you, Maxwell.." Blake said gently.

"Same to you Posey.." Austin replied before walking off.

I still didn't feel like trusting Blake, even as I acted like I did as he guided me back to where the rest of the cabin was, but honestly.. I was kinda happy that at least some of the other camp counselors were nice and decent human beings.

- — - — - — -

The rest of the day was uneventful to be honest. But as Cabin Eleven walked to breakfast the next morning, it seemed to me as if from the way the wind was blowing, that someone or something was laughing. I don't really know why I actually felt that way to be honest, but it felt like someone definitely was.

Blake asked me to go run up to the Big House, as the building up near the crest of the hill I had basically butchered the Minotaur on was called, to help one of the Demeter kids out with bringing in a few boxes. He was supposed to, but an issue regarding a spat between one of the other Hermes campers and Clarisse from the Ares Cabin had just popped up audibly in the air, so he assigned me to do it.

The sun started to shine brightly as soon as I had gotten up to the Big House - for it had been cloudy up until that point in the morning - and just as I rounded the corner to the driveway behind the building, at least from my perspective, I could see why.

That daughter of Demeter, whose green eyes had entranced me twice in the past two days, was there, picking up boxes and loading them into the back of one of the "Strawberry Buses" as they called them. The instance she saw me as she was going to pick up another box, she froze in place and stared at me, almost as if there was something about me that demanded her attention whether I wanted it or not.

"Uh.. hi.." I said, shyly, scratching the back of my head. That attraction to her was strong, very strong at the moment, and it was driving me crazy as to why that was.

"I was expecting Blake.." she said, and holy shit, her voice was also beautiful. God, I feel like Donatello right now. The Ninja Turtle, mind you, not the artist.

God, you are a mess now Colton.

"Well.. uh.. Clarisse got into a shouting match of sorts with one of the other Hermes kids at breakfast.. so.. Blake sent me instead.." I reply. "I'm.. Colton. Colton.. Reynolds. You.. were looking at me through the window.. the night I arrived."

She brings her hand to her lips, surprised that I remembered her doing that. "Well.. I.." she says back awkwardly, turning her head to the side. "I really.. didn't know what to think.. honestly. I was there.. when you did what you did to the Minotaur. I don't think.. I've ever seen a young kid literally go berserk like the God Ares himself all over a monster. By the way, I'm Katie Gardner."

"Katie.. cute name.." I say back, making her blush a little. "I mean.. that kid Percy is pretty much without his mother.. so given that I lost my parents literally a week prior.." I tell her, and she gasps in horror. "..let's just say, watching that just made me snap."

"I'm.. so.. sorry.. you poor thing.." she said, tears threatening to come out of her eyes. I walk over to her and put my hands on her shoulders and she just hugs me. My mind goes blank.

WHAT?!

The attraction is at a frenzy, and the fact that she stops her tears a few moments after she hugs me, gently pulls away, and is like the happiest girl in the world.. all friendly and upbeat.. makes it pretty clear in my mind.

I think I just found the first girl I'm meant for.

- — - — - — -

It was on the third day that what happened on the night I came into camp once more took center stage. The kid that had his mom taken away from him, Percy, was awake finally.

Luke had come running into the cabin as we were all chilling in the middle of the day like hell itself had been after him, slamming the door behind him and shouting, "He's finally awake!"

Everyone started to clamor towards the door, and I just stood there in surprise, but then Blake yelled, "HALT!"

Everyone froze. Blake just turned to me and said, "First one in the cabin that gets to talk with him is the new kid."

"But.. Blake.." shouted one of the younger kids. Blake shut the kid up as he stared at him with a glare so hard that judging from the fracas that ensued seconds later, might have made the kid poop his pants.

"No buts Travis.." Blake said back. "Colton was the only demigod that helped the other new kid out with the Minotaur that night.. so he gets the honors of talking to him first."

Just then, there was a few knocks on the door.

"Coming!" Blake hollered, and then gestured to me to come with him. Like I said, I still didn't trust him, but I complied nevertheless.

Percy and Grover were at the other end of the door when Blake opened it.

"I take it this is him?" Blake asked Grover and he nodded.

"Percy, this is Blake.." Grover said to him. "He's your counselor for now."

"For now?" Percy asked.

"You're undetermined.." Blake explained. "They don't know what cabin to put you in since your godly parent hasn't revealed that you are their child yet, so you're here kid. Since Hermes, our patron, is the god of travelers, naturally Cabin Eleven takes all newcomers, all visitors.. though at times, an upgrade on space would be nice. So welcome, Percy. You'll have to sleep on the floor unfortunately.. so choose any spot you want. You don't have to be picky about it."

His words, at least on the last sentence, did make Percy felt a little bit better, barely noticeable but still.

"Before he comes in.." Blake said. "I'd like someone to be the first one in the Cabin to talk to him. Grover, mind introducing Percy to Colton Reynolds for me, please?"

He stepped aside, revealing me. Both Percy and Grover gasped, and I just sized both of them up, not really saying much.

Grover cleared his throat. "Colton, this is Percy Jackson. Percy, this is Colton Reynolds.." he said.

"Have fun.. when you're done.. I'll show you around Percy.." Blake said, leaving us there as I stepped out onto the porch of Cabin Eleven and Blake shut the door behind me.

"So.." Percy started. "You're the one that went psycho on the Minotaur."

"Yeah.. felt enraged after what that thing did to your mother.. sorry for your loss.." I told Percy, placing a hand on his shoulder. He pushed my hand off of him, looking a bit miffed for some reason.

"What's it to you?" he asked annoyed.

"Percy.." Grover said, trying to calm things down. But it was too late. I was now ticked off.

"I lost both of my parents to the Lydian Drakon a week before I got here.. so let's just say, I felt angered that basically another kid was either an orphan or stuck in a situation they don't want to be in if they have to go back home at the end of the summer because they have to go to school.." I hissed at him. "..so consider it an act of pity that I could have decided not to do, but chose to do so anyway."

"I could have handled that thing by myself.." Percy said back, and that only served to tick me off further.

"It knocked you unconscious before I went to town on it, dumbass.." I said to him, causing Grover to say "language!" in response.

"Apologies, Grover.." I said to him respectfully. "Plus, the Minotaur clearly seemed dead set on hurting or killing you.. so in all honesty, I basically saved your life out there."

"Why me? What did I do to deserve that?" Percy asked, really confused. I wish I knew the answer to that, but unfortunately, I didn't. I didn't hesitate to say as much.

"I have no idea.." I said, hissing once more. "..but just so we are clear Jackson, I don't know who your godly parent is or what your problem here is, but if you can't get it through your head that some people here are willing to do things for you out of pity on your situation, you're going to have a very miserable existence."

With that out of the way, I turned and stalked off, away from the Hermes Cabin. I needed to find a place now to blow off some steam.