"The lonely become either thoughtful or empty."

~Mason Cooley

Chapter One: Project Runaway

Thinking back, I have just realized that running away probably was not the best idea I could have come up with. I mean, aside from from two suitcases of clothes and necessities, I have absolutely nothing with me-not even an adequate amount of money so that I could stay somewhere for the night. For a self-proclaimed genius, what I did in a rash moment of decision was pretty dumb.

Well, what could I do? In my defense, the idea seemed like a pretty plausible one at the moment. I had everything packed. I had the route planned, and I booked the flights. I forged my papers so I can pretend to be eighteen and live alone by myself for the rest of the days.

Anyway, I suppose I should explain how I ended on the beach, stranded and alone. I could either choose to endure the humiliation and go back home quietly, or I could continue to stay here and pretend that something would actually come out of this strange thinking session.

I stayed. It's not like I would get in trouble for staying out here a little longer, really. My father, Dr. Fredrick Chase, is on yet another trip, this time to the British Museum for some history stuff again. My step-mother, however, would definitely still be on the stopping trip with her friend(s) in New York City. So that would leave me, Annabeth No-Foresight Chase, in the house alone, on the day before school starts for my junior year. So much for my grand plan.

It was not my fault, really. How would I know beforehand that something just had to happen to the airplane and my flight would be cancelled? And how would I know that my credit card (linked to my father's unfortunately, as I am a minor) would expire around December? Even though I am stupid, incredibly so at the moment, I still knew that it would be futile for me to runaway so dangerously low on money. I would not survive till the end of the year with that amount.

So of course, being the emotionally unstable and slightly insane sixteen year old girl, I took a cab all the way to the beach. I dismissed the taxi driver, although he insisted that he could wait for "whatever business I must attend to".

The truth is, I am just tired. Tired of life, tired of my negligent parents who never seemed to understand that money could not make me happy, tired of the ordeal with Luke and just about everything else. I just wanted to escape it all-could you really blame me for that?

A sea breeze blew by me and I sighed tiredly as it caressed my hair, throwing the curls into the wind. I have always liked the coast, and if anything, that was the one thing I was going to miss if I actually boarded the flight.

I guess in some way, it was trying to recompense for my foiled plan.

The sparkling blue waves lapped against the sandy beach, and I smiled softly at the beautiful scenery. After dropping my luggage next to a protruding rock, I climbed on top of it and closed my eyes, imagining myself in another life, living in another universe which everything was much less complicated.

The breeze pushed my bangs from my eyes and I enjoyed the salty sea breeze. It was a beautiful day. Not too hot like you would expect in the middle of August, but just enough that the wind felt nice against my skin. Perhaps I can still deal with staying here-at least my best friend Katie Gardner would be pleased. I haven't told anyone about my plan, but I think she knew. She knew me too well.

"Why are you sitting on my rock?" A voice rang out behind me, and I frowned a little. Still looking out at the sea, I replied in a rather unhappy voice, "Your rock? Sorry, didn't see your name on it." I was not ready to deal with anyone yet.

The owner of the voice was silent for a few seconds before he renewed with vigor, "Well, actually, I beg to differ. Check where you're sitting on."

Hesitantly, I shifted a little bit to my right, still not looking at the stranger. No use identifying who was the annoying little prick that disturbed my peaceful thoughts.
"Per-cy." I read. The name was carved in the stone neatly in a beautiful, Roman-like font. "What kind of name is that?"

"My name. It's short for Perseus." The boy replied as I finally looked back at him for the first time.

Truth to be told, the guy was very good looking, with his unruly dark hair and cerulean eyes. They held so much depth in them, and I felt like I could drown in them any second.

No. I told myself. After what happened to Luke, I shouldn't even think about drooling over boys. They were not worth my time and effort, and I should definitely save myself from unnecessary heartbreak and heartache... For once, I agreed with my dad. I should focus on my academics instead, there's plenty of time for boyfriends after I am admitted to a good college.

But if the guy (sixteen, seventeen? I wasn't sure) can pull of a plain black t-shirt and those pairs of ugly baggy jeans effortlessly, than that's saying something. His lips quirked up a little as if he were amused, and immediately, I realized that I was staring openly at him.

I cleared my throat and immediately pulled up an expression of indifference. "What kind of name is that? What are you, Perseus the Greek Hero?"

His eyebrows arched a little, and said, "Who do you think he was named after?"

I rolled my eyes at him, who did he think he is? I would have punched him playfully, but I needed to keep a hand on my luggage, and I didn't know him well enough to exhibit my 'less-than-ideal behaviors'. "Woah. If your head is gonna get any bigger, it would definitely burst into pieces."

"Well, at least I know someone who's gonna miss my handsome face." He said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively at me and giving me a cheesy grin. It would have melted my heart if I were just one of those cheerleaders in my high school, but his attitude simply served to infuriate me.

"Are you flirting at me? Because if you were, you better wish you have a pair of wings so you can get the heck out of here."

"From you? No way."

"Are you implying that I'm weak?" I asked indignantly, fists raised. I would like to think that I can defend myself perfectly well, after all, I am a second degree black belt. It was a sort of compromise I made with my father so that he would buy me the architecture books that I had wanted. Although I hated those self-defense lessons when I was younger, my father insisted upon them and sometimes I would be secretly glad that he did.

"Oooh, feisty and violent, just like Athena." He muttered, rolling his eyes at me.

"Just like whom?" I inquired.

"Athena, my cousin." He said, shaking his head and running a spare hand through the black locks. "Doesn't matter, you won't know her."

A block of silence then followed. It was quite awkward, truthfully. Me, standing on the turf with my suitcases looking like a desperate hobo, and him, just standing there and messing his hair every so often, eyes glancing at the sea every once in a while.

I cleared my throat. "Um, okay. I think I should go now. You know, school starts tomorrow and stuff and yeah... I should stop bothering you now."
He nodded without saying anything.

I sighed, then I turned back and grabbed my suitcase, prepared to drag it through the sandy beach. How am I ever going to get a cab? Practically no one comes to this desolate area-especially these few days since it was surprisingly cold. I shook my head. Maybe I can just take the subway-the one good thing about living in New York was how convenient going anywhere in the city was.

Just when I was about to step away, the boy, Percy, called out, "Hey, um, which high school do you go to?"

I shot him a weird look, "Goode High, why?" It was probably not the smartest idea to give a stranger my school's name, either. But what could he do? After all, he was just a normal, arrogant, teenage boy in New York.

"Nothing, I'm just asking." His eyes glittered with mischief.

"Sure..." I hesitated before asking, "How about you?"

"You'll see." He said, and I turned away to prevent my suitcase from falling into the sand.

"Sure," I replied, "As long as you don't stalk me or-" I turned back to face him, but he was already gone.

All that left was a few imprints from his shoes on the sand.

This is a reboot of my story, "Immortality". I like the idea, but my old writing sucks. So I guess here's something new! Reviews are very welcome, as always. And follow me on tumblr! My url is starlinks.