AJ Hale & The Olympians: Son of Lightning

Chapter Five: I Get A Quest

The next morning, I woke up in my new home—Cabin One. The dusty old sleeping bag I found was still over the statue of my father, so he couldn't be a creep and watch me sleep. And I planned on leaving that sleeping bag over his head forever.

I left my cabin and walked down the row of cabins. Percy's cabin is next to mine. Annabeth was walking inside when she spotted me. She smiled and waved to me; I waved back.

It's safe to say I had a ginormous crush on Annabeth Chase—oh my bad, the soon-to-be Annabeth Jackson. It had a great ring to it if I do say so.

I wasn't sad that she was marrying Percy; I was actually over the moon. I knew I stood no chance, mainly because she was in her twenties. And I think I'm in my thirteens or my two hundred and fifties. She is both way too young and way too old for me.

Talk about the right place and the wrong time.

But to be honest, I never had any intention of being with her. She is way too good, and I saw the way Percy and her look at each other. I practically see little hearts floating around their heads every second.

Plus, Percy would kill me.

"Morning Aj! How'd you sleep?" Annabeth said from the doorway of Cabin Three.

"Pretty good, once I covered that tall statue of my father with a sleeping bag I found," I said. Annabeth laughed, "Hey, can I uh... I found some stuff in there...my cabin. And I know you are the smartest person here. Can I ask you something later?"

"Sure thing, AJ, find me later, ok?" Annabeth smiled.

"I will, thank you."

She waved, then slipped into Percy's cabin and shut the door behind her. I made my way to the Aphrodite Cabin with a letter from my brother, whom I'd never met. I am most likely making him angry by delivering his letter to the girl named Pipes.

My best guess at the Aphrodite cabin was Cabin Ten. It had a blue-painted roof and blue pillars, a checkerboard deck and steps, gray walls, and a bright pink door. And to seal the deal, once I got closer, I was bombarded with a cacophony of horrendous smells so strong my eyes started to water.

A girl and a boy were standing on the deck talking. When I approached, they looked disgusted. Both are beautiful beyond measure.

"You two freaks, bring someone called Pipes out here," I said, plugging my nose with my hand. "And take a bath."

The girl rolled her eyes and scoffed, disappearing inside. The boy stayed; he leaned on the railing, looking at me like I wasn't as good as him.

"What are you looking at, pretty boy?" I asked. "Want a kiss?"

The boy scoffed and went inside, too. A few minutes later, a tall, gorgeous girl burst out of the cabin, holding a knife. She charged down the steps and held it to my throat. Brown, tied-up hair and sharp green eyes. She was Native American.

"Who do you think you are insulting my siblings?" the girl snarled.

I pulled up the picture as her knife dug into my throat. "Brown hair, but..." I looked at the eyes squinted in anger. "The eyes are different. The picture is blue; I need someone called Pipes."

Her mean snarl fell, her knife dug in deeper, and I could feel a trickle of blood run down my neck.

"You know her? Or do I need to go in and see myself?"