"Mattie?" my mom called up the stairs. "Come down, please. We need to talk."

Talk? I thought. This must be about my 62 on the math test. I put down my math homework (What a brilliant idea, to stop me in the middle of my math homework, the class that I'm FAILING.)

I walked downstairs and into the living room. One wall was completely windows, looking out over the spacious backyard. At the end of the room was a table strewn with bits of colored glass, Mom's latest project. The walls were a pale blue, painted to 'relieve stress' as Mom said.

Mom and Dad were sitting on one of the two facing couches (also blue). Dad was still in his medical coat and scrubs, which made me sure that this wasn't about math. Mom was in her yoga stuff, blonde hair plastered to her neck with dried sweat.

"Sit down, Mattie." Dad said, gestring to the opposite couch.

"Why are we talking?" I asked, perching on the arm of the couch.

"Mattie, you will be fourteen in October, and we were... told... a long time ago... to tell you this news the summer before your fourteenth birthday, and before, if necessary." Mom said gently.

"Um, okay..." I said. "Then why does it look like Dad rushed home from work, and you didn't take a shower after yoga?"

Dad flicked his eyes to Mom for a split second, a 'you are handling this question' look.

Mom took a deep breath. "Mattie, you were adopted."

My eyes widened. I opened and closed my mouth like a fish. Normally a chatterbox, I couldn't think of what to say.

Likewise, my normally full brain was mostly empty. The thoughts scrolled like a banner: Why haven't they told me until now? I look nothing like my parents. I mean, Mom is barely five feet tall, with straight blonde hair. Dad is just over 5'5", and he has black hair and blue eyes. I'm a little taller than Dad, but I haven't quite reached adult height, and I have brown curly hair and brown eyes. Why didn't I figure out before now that I was adopted?

"We found you on our doorstep when you were only a month old. There were a few consent forms, but no one could make out the name from the signatures. Under Child's Name they just wrote 'Baby.' And then there was this note." She handed me a semi-yellowed piece of paper. It said:

Please take care of her. Her name is Materia. She was born October 24th, 1995.

Do not tell her any of this until June before her fourteenth birthday,

and send her to the enclosed address. From there she will choose her destiny.

Olympian Strawberry Farm

Farm Road 3.141
Long Island, New York 11954

The address seemed strangely familiar, but I couldn't place it. I looked up at my parents. "Did you research the farm?"

Dad nodded. "There is a farm with that name, near that address, that supplies strawberries to high-end restaurants in New York City. But no one has ever met the owner."

"We'll look when we go to New York, then." I said confidently.

Dad looked at Mom. My heart sank. "We are still going, right?"

"Yes, of course!" Mom said. "Lucy is still coming, too."

I smiled. Lucy was my only friend, and Mom and Dad had been hesitant to let her come because she is in a wheelchair because of a car wreck, and she only moved here last year.

"And we can check out the strawberry farm?" I clarified.

"Yes." Mom said decisively. "We can drive you there, you and Lucy can go by yourselves..." She trailed off.

I nodded. Mom was such an understanding parent. She was very spiritual, but she had no real religion. She just went her way.

"Che..." my dad said. "Are you sure that's such a good idea?"

Mom sighed. "Luc, Mattie and Lucy are very responsible. It's not like anything life-threatening will come out of this." She chuckled drily.

"Can I go?" I asked, standing up. I was halfway out the door when I turned. "Why did the note say 'her name is Materia' if the forms just said 'Baby'?"

Mom shook her head. "I don't know, Mattie."

I walked back to my room and continued slogging through my math homework.

It wasn't until later that I realized Mom hadn't answered my question about why she hadn't showered and why Dad was still in his scrubs.

Two Weeks Later, New York City

We drove to New York, instead of flying, which I found odd. We always flew, even if we were going from Atlanta to Birmingham.

It was a long drive, but since I could jabber with Lucy all I wanted, I didn't really mind all that much. Plus, we had better snacks in the car than the stuff on the plane.

As the New York City skyline came into view, Mom ejected the Kelly Clarkson CD we'd been listening to, and amid Lucy's and my protests, (and Dad's thanks,) put in a new CD.

"Mom!" I cried. I was going to say more, but as the first chords of "NYC" from Annie came on, My eyes lit up and I smiled, blissfully humming along.

Soon, Mom, and Dad were singing along.

Lucy just sat and listened with a half- smile on her face.

Traffic crawled to a halt once we entered New York proper, but we soon reached our hotel. There was a parking garage, where the car would live while we were here. (and it would hopefully be there when we needed to leave...)

Dad parked the car, and we unloaded the stuff onto rolling carts to bring up to our suite. (One of the many perks of being a rich kid, though I hate stereotypes.)

I wheeled Lucy onto one elevator with her stuff on the back of her wheelchair, and my backpack on (where else?) my back. (I hate suitcases, so I always bring just one backpack, instead of a rolling monstrosity of a suitcase.) and Mom, Dad, and the carts went onto the other one. I punched the button for the 26th floor.

We traveled up while annoying music played.

Ding! I looked at the digital display for what floor we were on. 13. I had never been superstitious.

As the elevator slowed, Lucy stiffened, her nostrils dialated, and her eyes went wide.

At first I thought she was having a seizure, but when she rolled over and jammed the door closed button, I realized she was just freaked out.

I stared curiously at her as she repeatedly puched the 1st floor button.

As we arrived, she tossed me her cell phone, saying, "Call your 'rents. I don't care what Keer-"

She whipped her head around, surveying the lobby. "I mean, call them NOW!"

"Okay, Okay!" I was shocked. Lucy was so mild, usually. "Do you mind me asking why?"I asked as Lucy whizzed to the curb and frantically hailed a taxi.

"Tell them that you're going to check out the address!" Lucy said as a cab finally pulled over.

Something in her voice made me listen to her, and I called Mom's cell. She would understand way more than Dad would.

I talked to Mom for a moment as I helped Lucy into the cab.

"So soon?" she asked when I told her why we were leaving.

"You said we could go on our own..." I reminded her.

She sighed. "All right, then, but call me when you guys get there."

"I promise, Mom. I love you." I said.

"I love you too, honey."

I snapped the phone shut and handed it to Lucy.

"Ready?" she asked.

The cabbie was watching us impatiently.

Lucy told him the address, and his look changed to one of disbelief.

"Ya got enuff money?" He asked. I showed him some money, (another of the perks of being a rich kid) and he reluctantly nodded.

About 15 minutes later, Lucy sat up as a pine tree on a hill appeared on the side of the road. "Stop here!" she cried.

The cabbie stared. "There's nuffin' here." he said, but he stopped the cab.

I handed him the cash, and helped Lucy out.

"Up the hill," she instructed, anxiously looking around.

I pushed her up the hill. As we passed the pine tree, she sighed in relief. I saw the valley spreading out below, and something clicked. I know this place. I have been here before.

My brain scrambled to make the connection.

Lucy beamed. "Mattie, welcome to Camp Half-Blood." she swept her arms out in a wide arc, as if presenting the valley to me.

Camp Half-Blood. Books. R, R-something. Rick? That's right, Rick Riordan. But, I haven't just READ about here, I know I've BEEN here.

Lucy looked at me, obviously expecting me to say something, as she was unaware of my inner turmoil.

"I've been here before." I blurted, unthinkingly. Great time for your ADD to act up- Oh, god. I'm a half blood.

Lucy frowned, clearly not expecting me to say that. "I- I don't understand." she said. "I know you read those Percy books, but you having been here?" she shook her head. "Impossible."

I shrugged. "I can't explain it, but it feels so familiar. Like deja vu times 10." I reached out and touched Thalia's tree gently, like I was stroking a cat.

Lucy bit her lip. "You'll need to talk to Chiron. Or maybe the Oracle. How should I know? I'm only a Keeper." She nodded towards the Big House. "Over there, Mattie."

I wheeled her over to the house, and up the ramp onto the porch. We rounded the corner, and, sitting at a table, playing cards, was Chiron (in wheelchair form) and Mr. D.

Chiron looked up. "Lucy?" he said in surprise. "We weren't expecting your update until the end of the sum-" Then he saw me. And stared, mouth open.

Mr. D. looked up disinterestedly, glanced at his cards briefly, then stared at me in shock.

Chiron recovered first. "Welcome." he said. "Are you familiar with-"

"She knows, Chiron." Lucy interrupted.

Both Chiron and Mr. D paled. "About what exactly, Lucy?" Chiron said sharply.

"Um, camp, the gods, and so on. What else?" Lucy said, bewildered.

"Good." Mr D. said. He looked me over and nodded. "Luck is needed for you to succeed, child. Welcome, Materia Maddox." He stood and walked into the Big House.

Chiron pursed his lips, worried. He saw Lucy's expression and immediately became cheerier. "Oh, my dear! This has nothing, I repeat, nothing, to do with your Keeping abilities! Look at Allie, Alex, and Natalie, not to mention Anna! Come here." He held out his arms, and Lucy began to wheel herself over to him.

He chuckled. "The charade is already over, Lucy. There is no need for the wheelchair anymore."

Lucy grinned and got out of her chair, giving Chiron a hug.

"I'll show Mattie the Hermes cabin and get someone to show her around, then I'll give you an update. Is that alright with you?" Lucy asked, kicking off her shoes to reveal goat hooves. (Of course, I'd already guessed that she was a satyr, but it was weird to see my best friend with hooves.

Chiron nodded. "I'll be here for a while."

Lucy led me down to the cabins. We passed small clusters of people, who said hi to Lucy and nodded at me.

Eventually, we stopped at the Hermes cabin. A lot of campers were in there, because it was almost lunchtime.

"Cabin Eleven, this is Mattie Maddox." Lucy told the assembled campers.

"Regular or undetermined?" asked a girl with long, wavy blond hair.

"Undetermined." I said.

Before anyone else could talk, moan, or anything of the sort, Lucy quickly asked if anyone would show me around before lunch.

"I'll go." It was the girl that had asked 'regular or undetermined'. She stood up and walked over to us.

"Allie?" Lucy asked slowly, cocking her head.

"Lucy!" the girl (Allie) asked.

"I can't believe it!" Lucy shrieked, and they hugged.

A boy near the door covered his ears. "I can't hear anymore." he complained.

"Suck it up, Dylan." Allie told him, smacking his shoulder, but she gestured that we should moved outside anyway.

I walked around the cabins, looking at the decorations while Allie and Lucy gabbled on about who knows what.

When the conch horn blew for lunch, Lucy and Allie looked up. "Sorry, Mattie." Lucy said sheepishly. "Allie'll show you around after lunch, I guess."

I shrugged. "Doesn't really matter to me, anyways."

"Then lets get to lunch!" said Allie, and we raced off to the pavilion.

Thanks for reading this far into my story! Flames and reviews welcome!

And thanks to my reviewers:

Annie-morphs

Thaila-Luke

MyPenIsSharperThanYourSword

Taurus989-(I'll take that as a compliment.) thank you! (but in what way, exactly?)

olympianchef213

Coco96