Just because it's my birthday, I thought I would try posting something.

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians - this applies to all the chapters in this story.

Chapter 1: A Change in Routine

My mom always called me 'special' and insisted that I was 'different', not weird like what everyone at school told me.

I can tell what they are thinking when they look at me, the way they sneer when I walk by, or when they move away because my hands wont stop fidgeting at times. I know what they are thinking.

Yeah, okay, I get that I'm different.

I learned a long time ago that people were cruel. I didn't like it, but that was just the way reality was.

I sat in the corner of the cafeteria, having a strong urge to cover my ears because the sound was excruciatingly loud. The chairs screeched when someone got up, the trays banged against the desk, people chattered and yelled loudly like a bunch of wild animals. Usually, it was fine for my sensitive ears, but today the noises felt unusually loud. For a normal person, the noise would be just fine, but imagine magnifying the sound 4 times louder. That is how I would perceive the noise that everyone was making. I dropped my apple mid-bite and cupped my ears with my hands so that I blocked out the world.

I began to rock on the soles of my feet even though I knew it would get me more alienated from my peers. I swear, I don't do it a lot, but it made me remember those times my mom would sit there for hours with her arms curled around my body, rocking me when I was afraid. Usually, I disliked skin contact, but with her, everything felt okay. She says I'm too old for that now so I pretend like I don't need her to hug me anymore; like I'm never afraid.

"—ercy, hello? Percy?" someone tentatively tried to remove my hands from my ears and I instantly recoiled backwards before realising it was just Grover. You see, he's my best friend. Well, not exactly best friend I guess, but he's really nice and talks to me a lot. He also walks with a limp so in a way, we we're really similar. Not that I walked with a limp, but everyone thought we were different, so they tended to just stay away from us.

Grover bent down and picked up my half-eaten apple before placing it on the table. He re-adjusted his backpack straps and shrugged apologetically at me. "Sorry," he mumbled, knowing I preferred not to be touched much. "Class is starting soon, we better get going."

"It's um, no need to apologize." I blushed in embarrassment. I looked around the cafeteria to see that he was right. Not many people were around anymore, they seemed to have all left. Staring at the floor, I quietly thanked him, emptied my lunch tray at the garbage can and followed him out the door to our last class of the day; Latin.

You see, I live at Yancy Academy which is a boarding school. However, this isn't any normal boarding you see around New York City. No, this is a school for delinquents, unwanted children, and kids who are just really hard to take care of. Me? I fall into the category of delinquents and troublesome kids. I guess you can say that every student at Yancy Academy fit together, but not like puzzle pieces that went together perfectly. No, more like puzzle pieces that couldn't fit anywhere, so they were all crammed together to make some messed up picture that was, in the end, unrecognizable and useless.

"Percy, can you tell us the names of the older Olympians?" My Latin teacher was named Mr. Brunner, and he was one of the only teachers who didn't treat me like a troublemaker. He was one of the most exciting teachers, even though he was older than most teachers and resided in a wheelchair most days. The only problem was the class he had to teach.

I slowly looked away from the window and glanced at Mr. Brunner for a moment before moving my eyes to my fiddling fingers. I didn't really know the answer—Zeus, Damiter… or something? Fiction never really appealed to me that much, I just didn't really understand why people would delight in reading about stories that weren't real.

There were things that were more interesting like the sea and its inhabitants. The way dolphins could use echolocation to identify how far and what objects are surrounding them. Or the fact that more than 80% of people live within 100 km of the coast so everyone highly depends on bodies of water to supply their needs. Or perhaps the fact that...

"Percy says Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Hera." Grover told Mr. Brunner. I glanced at him in surprise, before giving him a small smile. It was really a nice thing of Grover to do, even though we weren't close best friends.

"Correct Mr. Jackson, though next time please speak louder." the Latin teacher directed his attention back towards the class and continued teaching.

"Prissy has to get a crippled kid to talk for him; how pathetic." Nancy Bobofit, the class bully sneered from the back of the class. A few kids laughed while I involuntarily flinched, though no one noticed.

I stood up from my desk and kicked my chair down; I guess half from anger and the other half from frustration. "Stop. Stop it." I muttered and closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down. I would be lying if I said people didn't make fun of me often. I'm mostly used to it but today I just felt a lot crankier and tired than usual. Something was stirring in the air and I was just pissed off. And stupid Bobofit wasn't helping at all. I could feel 24 pairs of eyes staring at me and I tried to avoid looking at anyone.

"Percy…" Mr. Brunner finally broke the deafening silence that seemed to hurt just as much as the loud noise the class usually was like. "I'm afraid you are going to have go to the principal's office. This behaviour is not tolerated in schools." He wrote something down on a piece of paper and held it out. I blinked for a moment before slowly walking to his desk to receive the small rectangular paper. A few kids behind me snickered.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, feeling like I let him down. Oddly, right before I left, Mr. Brunner gave a slight nod and patted my shoulder; this peaked my curiosity.

The hallways were empty; there were no fish in the sea at this time of day. Students were banned from roaming the hallways during class-time without a legitimate reason, and the consequence was suspension. No matter how tempting it was to just skip class and relax on the lawn, it was never worth it. The principal made sure of it.

As I walked through the deserted hallways, my shoes made thumping sounds on the hard concrete tiles. There were hardly any windows at my school, so sunlight was rare to find. The walls were coloured a dirty brown; they made me itch just by looking at them.

I tried to get my mind off the fact that I was supposed to be in Latin class right now, having our daily question session. I took a deep breath; I've done this before. Getting into trouble is like a weekly occurrence for me, but I can never get over the fact that it interrupts my normal schedule time.

I was so absorbed into my thoughts that I didn't notice I was staring at the door to the principal's office. Well, here goes. I opened the door to find the principal staring expectantly at me, like he was… waiting for something.

"Well?" the principal lazily stood up from his chair and rolled his eyes.

Was I supposed to do something? Say something? I was confused.

"Well…" I copied him because I had no idea what was going on. Maybe if I just stand here, he'll tell me what to do or just forget me. Fat chance.

The principal sighed like talking was the hardest thing he's ever accomplished in his life. "Okay Jackson, take a seat."

I sat down.

"Just admit it."

"I'm sorry Nancy Bobofit is always so rude." I muttered.

"No," he sighed. "stop playing stupid with me Jackson. Just admit the truth and I can send you to Hades the easy way."

Hades, the god of the Underworld? Okay, I was officially confused. My eyes darted around the room and the nails on my right hand began tapping furiously on the wooden chair. The principal stood up and slowly approached me; I imagined a predator stalking a prey. Out of nowhere, he grabbed my neck, lifted me up and slammed me into the wall. He morphed into something inhuman, with a lion-like body and a tail. His paw-hand-thing crushed me into the wall, but I didn't care—I didn't care, my head was on fire and I couldn't make it stop.

He roared into my ear, "WHERE IS IT? WHERE'S THE BOLT? Master will delight in having you."

I screamed in agony and tried to cover my ears in futile; his voice was the loudest screech ever and all I cared about at the moment was getting away. Almost on instinct, I kicked him in the neck, making him let go of me. The door slammed open and Chiron and Grover flooded in.

"Percy, are you okay?!" Grover asked as Mr. Brunner tossed me a pen. When I made no move to take the pen, he took out his bow (which was nonexistent a minute ago) and shot the temporarily paralyzed beast/principal right through the chest, making him explode in golden dust.

"I'm… what… was that?" My Latin teacher just shot my lion-like-principal. My Latin teacher… just SHOT MY PRINCIPAL. WITH AN ARROW.

Grover helped me up into a chair as Mr. Brunner said, "A blasted manticore, thankfully in its weakened state, or else killing it would have been harder."

Suddenly, the air in front of Mr. Brunner shimmered and a face appeared; my mind figuratively exploded with disbelief.

"Chiron," it said. It was the voice of a girl who I could see was blonde and wore an excruciatingly bright orange shirt. "There have been some skirmishes with groups of monsters outside the borders near Thalia's tree, and Clarisse wants to go charging out there. She won't take no for an answer, that stupid stubborn girl."

"Annabeth, get your cabin to make a strategy to fight them off and I'm afraid it will be up to Luke to make sure nobody does anything rash. I will be there as soon as I can, take care." The Latin teacher swiped his hand over the air then turned towards us. "I will take my leave now, Grover; assist Percy to Camp Half-Blood as soon as you notify Sally."

Mr. Brunner picked up the pen that I left on the ground and crouched so that we were face to face. He held up the pen by the tip, and looked me carefully with ancient, knowing eyes. "Perseus, this will help you in times of need. Do not forget that. We will meet soon again, but know that you will do great things one day."

I wanted to ask how, why, when? I wanted to scream that it simply wasn't possible, but deep down, I trusted him. I took the pen. "Riptide…" I murmured.

"C'mon," Grover put my arm around his shoulders to help me up, but I carefully slid away.

"It's fine, I'm fine… I can walk." I gave him a smile in thanks, and he reluctantly led me out through the hallways of the school.

Nancy and her friends walked by us in the hallway, and she stopped to taunt. "Oh look, the little freak got expelled. Good riddance." Her stupid friends smirked behind her, and I felt raw power build up in me, thinking of all the times she made fun of me. There was this strange and uncomfortable churning in my gut that I had only felt only once or twice before, and I knew something bad was about to happen from previous experience.

"What? Nothing to—"

Out of nowhere, the water fountain exploded and water lashed out at only Nancy, slamming her into the ground. Many students gasped while the stupid kleptomaniac girl gaped at me in almost horror. I stared at her with cold, disinterested eyes before turning around on my heels and walking away, with Grover running to catch up with me. "Where are we going?"

Grover blinked at me a few times in slight fear before answering. "To meet your mom, and then head to… a camp."

"Why are you not more scared… or well, curious?" he asked me after a moment. Some students turned their eyes on us, but nobody stopped us as we left out the door.

"I-I am, I just… I don't know, do you mind explaining more to me?" I really was confused and shaken, but I think I was still in a state of shock. However, I did know that something dangerous and evil tried to kill me. It was looking for something… a bolt, but I didn't have it. I didn't take anything.

Grover stopped walking when we reached the bus stop, then turned around to face me. He put a light hand on my shoulder, before thinking better of it and taking it back off. "Look, there's no way to say it and we certainly don't have the time, but... the Greek Gods are real." He rushed out, and then took a deep relieving breath, but I just stared at him.

There were dozens of questions swirling in my mind, but I suppressed them all as anger and betrayal overtook me. "Do you think I'm crazy? Sometimes I feel and do things I can't control. Act strangely. BUT I'M NOT INSANE!" Why would Grover do this to me? I swallowed thickly, thinking he was just like everyone else who thought I was weird and stupid. "Why would you lie to me?"

"N-no, Percy, I'm not lying!" Grover took a step towards me with a look of hurt and desperation, but I wouldn't fall for his stupid trick. The bus came just in time, and I quickly pushed him aside and sat at the very back, feeling dread rush into me. Grover rushed onto the bus before it left, and tentatively took a seat across from me.

I didn't want to talk to him, but he rambled on about how the Greek gods were real, and about a camp called Camp Half-Blood for kids like me, whatever that meant. The more he talked, the worse I felt. I pulled my knees to my chest and curled up, feeling as if something bad were to happen soon. I looked outside the window and watched as rain began to pour down and soak the city to the bone. I missed my mom, with all her delicious blue cookies and the warm smile she would give me, and the hope that shined in her bright blue eyes despite what a disappointment I was.

Finally, Grover said, "Percy, you're a demigod—half human, half god." knocking me out of my half-zoned state.

"So I'm not even human." I sighed monotonously.

Grover sighed, then scooted into the seat next to me. "Of course you're not a human!" he said loudly—which made me glare at him, partly because of his comment and the other part because he was so loud—and then placed a heavy hand on my shoulder, except this time, he kept it there. Lowering his voice, he said, "You're better than that. You're half-god for Zeus' sake. Chiron and I, we believe you will do great things soon enough; don't think you're anything less."

I hesitantly patted his shoulder lightly. "Thanks. Y-you're a good friend," I whispered.

"So you believe me?" he glanced at me hopefully.

I didn't answer until we arrived at our bus stop. There was plenty to think about; a lot of information to absorb and decisions to make. Finally, as we exited the bus, I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around expectantly, and I told him, "I believe you because there's no way that I'm going to accept that I'm crazy. Not now. Not yet."

We headed up Park Ave. towards my apartment building. The old brown brick building loomed over our heads as we headed inside. On the 4th floor, I knocked precisely 4 times as I always did, letting my mom know it was me.

As soon as the door opened, I jumped into her arms, feeling the tension and worry ease out of me. The feeling that something bad was going to happen subsided and I looked up at her and smiled.

Suddenly, in the background, I heard stupid Gabe—a smelly, ugly walrus-like stranger that lives in my apartment—ask who it was.

"It's Percy, honey! He's back from school." A stranger who happens to be my step-father, unfortunately.

"Tell him to go away!" I would if I could, really. I would go away, take my mother with me, and leave him alone and without his stupid bean dip she always makes him.

My mom ignored him and winked at me with twinkling brown eyes. "I've got blue cookies for you."

However, as soon as her eyes landed on Grover, she adopted a more worried look. I walked past the old walrus and took a couple cookies before going back to the door where Grover and my mom were chatting quietly.

I shamefully admit that I didn't listen until I had finished my batch of cookies (they were extremely satisfying). Grover told my mom that I knew about the Greek Gods and that he had to take me to the camp—apparently my mom knew what he was talking about. She told me to go upstairs and back my backpack, which I did. I didn't really know what to pack for, so I just stuffed a bunch of stuff in that I thought I would need. I headed downstairs with my backpack on my shoulders.

My mom turned to me and pulled me into another big warm fuzzy hug. "I wish you didn't have to go so soon, my baby."

"Wish I didn't have to go either." I mumbled regretfully. "I'll be back, won't I? You'll see me soon."

She looked at me sadly. "Hopefully."

No matter what, even if the camp or whoever forbids me, I will go back here. I will come back to my mom.

Grover and my mom talked a bit more before we said our goodbyes and left. I was still confused but I trusted my mother enough to know what was going on and to make the right decision for me—she always did. However, that didn't exactly mean that I didn't want to get some questions cleared up.

As Grover and I walked down a wide alley, I turned around and faced him, making him pause and look at me questioningly.

"I need to ask some questions. First of all, what is this 'camp'?" I asked.

My best friend sighed and scratched his head for a moment. "Well, it's a camp for demigods, like you; half god and half human."

"So..." I said. "Who's my dad?"

"We... don't know yet." He mumbled, but he looked like he was holding something back. Before I could question him though, Grover's eyes widened and he took a few steps away from me, before tragically tripping over his own feet onto the ground.

I blinked, then furrowed my brows in concern. "Grover, you have hooves for feet."

He ignored what I said and pointed to something behind me, his hands trembling. "Y-you know wh-what I said about Greek g-gods being real?"

Suddenly, I was acutely aware of somebody's revolting and ragged breath uncomfortably breathing down my neck.

"W-well, so are the monsters."

Slowly, and carefully, I turned around nervously, only to stand face to face—well, snout, really—with a bull. Well, it would have fit the criteria for a bull if it did not have legs of a human with fruit-of-the-loom underwear. Two long horns protruded from his head and a golden ring was pierced through his nostrils, making him even more menacing if possible. I instinctively covered my ears as the bull-thing roared (also making bystanders scream) and threw me to the side with his hoof. I hit the wall hard, but got up straight away when I saw it charge at Grover. It ran at him and I yelled in terror, before Grover dove to the side. I was disappointed to say that the goat man fainted next, leaving me to panic alone.

"HEY! BULL MAN! OVER HERE!" I yelled at him. He turned towards me and began to charge. Luckily, he never got a chance to finish swiping his hoof (as bulls do) before I ran away and through a narrow ally with many bikes and trash cans, where he would have trouble following me.

"COME FOLLOW ME!" I had to get him away from Grover. Bikes and garbage was thrown everywhere as the bull man rammed through the alley way. I didn't know what to do; I didn't have any plan.

Perseus, this will help you in times of need. I could hear Mr. Brunner's voice in my head. Now was as good of a time as any, I suppose.

I took the pen from my pocket and glanced at it, hoping it would do something—anything. It looked like an ordinary, cheap ball point pen that I could get at any convenience store, except for the fact that it was engraved in Greek. As if someone had planted the thought into my brain, I uncapped it and it transformed into a glowing sword right in front of my eyes. It looked to be about 3 feet long and was the practically the perfect balance for me.

In the open, I turned around and met the bull head on. He charged towards me as he did previously, and I waited until the last minute. Wait... Wait... NOW! He was almost upon me when I dropped to the ground baseball style and used my sword to jab right in between his rib cage. The bull stomped on the ground a bit and I almost got trampled by his feet. He stood up on his feet and screeched in pain at the sky, allowing me jump on his back (which was very hairy) and stab him in the neck with Riptide. All of a sudden, the creature exploded into golden dust, leaving me to fall down. I didn't have time to catch myself and heard some of my bones crack from the pressure.

Vaguely I heard people screaming in shock and several people surrounded me. Somebody said something to the crowd and even I calmed down internally at his words. And then, all of a sudden, everything went silent. I looked up to see a young blonde man with sunglasses dressed in a polo shirt and jeans—everyone else was gone. He had a powerful yet relaxed aura and as he bent down to look at me, I somehow knew he wouldn't hurt me.

I got up and placed the cap back on Anakalusmos, turning it back into a pen that could do no harm. Suddenly the world got shaky and I felt faint headed. I felt as if the air weighed a ton and it was hard to stay upright.

"Woah there—" before the guy could say anything further, I felt my feet escape under me and my vision faded slowly to black as I lay on the floor.

I hope you guys enjoyed it :)

Please review or constructively criticize, and I will update whenever I can, but I can often be busy sometimes - However, winter break has just begun, so that's fantastic!

December 19, 2013.