Percy + 

I rushed home after my swim meet, already late. Wise Girl was going to kill me. + 

I practically ran into my room, threw myself in front of the computer, and logged into my Heroes of Olympus account. I knew I shouldn’t have spent so much time with Grover, but seeing him and Juniper one last time was worth it. I doubt I’ll ever see either of them again. + 

I wished we didn’t have to move. I loved New York. Everything – my friends, my life – was here, and I really didn’t want to leave. + 

I snapped out of my thoughts and checked the chat box. Two messages already. + 

Daughterofathena_wisegirl: + 

Where the hell are you????? We've got to kill Kronos!! + 

I replied. + 

Sonofposeidon_seaweedbrain: Sorry, practice ran longer than I expected.???? Anyway, I have huge news!!???? + 

Daughterofathena_wisegirl: + 

Fine. Doesn't matter. Let's go kill some monsters. + 

Sonofposeidon_seaweedbrain: + 

You're not going to ask what the good news is? + 

Daughterofathena_wisegirl: + 

Should I really? + 

Sonofposeidon_seaweedbrain: + 

I’m moving. + 

Daughterofathena_wisegirl: + 

This affects me how? + 

Sonofposeidon_seaweedbrain: + 

What, no ‘OMG! Where are u going?’ or ‘I’m gonna miss u!’? + 

Daughterofathena_wisegirl: + 

First of all, I don’t care where you’re going. Second, you told me no private questions. And third, I don’t know you in real life, so no, I’m not going to miss you unless you stop playing this game, then I’m coming wherever you live and kick your ass. + 

Sonofposeidon_seaweedbrain: + 

Smartass. + 

Daughterofathena_wisegirl: Wow! I didn’t know that my username gave that away. ???? + 

Sonofposeidon_seaweedbrain: + 

I’m moving to San Francisco!! There, I said it. Is that sarcasm I smell? + 

Daughterofathena_wisegirl: + 

Congratulations, I guess. Duh! You know you really are a seaweed brain. Anyway, I really have to go. Bye. + 

Sonofposeidon_seaweedbrain: Wow! I didn’t know that my username gave that away. ???? + 

Daughterofathena_wisegirl: + 

Copycat! Can't even think of something original to say. That's why I'm the brain of this duo. + 

Sonofposeidon_seaweedbrain: + 

Fuck off!! ????????. Stop rubbing that in my face. + 

Daughterofathena_wisegirl: + 

I will. Byeeeeeee! + 

********** + 

Wow, she always insists on killing a few monsters before leaving. Did I offend her or something? Nah. She probably had something to do. Wise Girl and I met through a game called Heroes of Olympus. It’s a game where you kill Greek monsters and go on quests. It's really fun. Although I suspect we used to go to the same camp. I think you guys might have heard of it – Camp Halfblood. + 

I could play the game without Wise Girl, but that’s no fun. I could pack my stuff, but that could take a century! And I don't have that kind of time. + 

I decided to surf the net. While scrolling through Facebook, I came across an old picture of my mom and me standing in front of Camp Halfblood. It brought back a lot of fond memories. + 

The first time I went to camp, I was twelve. At first, I felt like I didn’t belong, but slowly I started to like it. It was like a second home. Camp Halfblood is like an educational camp. I know that sounds boring, but once you go there, you’d never want to leave. + 

The Camp is run by a guy called Chiron (like that old dude in Greek myths who trained heroes), and he’s the best. Our camp is divided into five cohorts, and I’m a proud member of the fifth. In camp, we get to take sword fighting lessons, horse riding lessons, etc. + 

My favorite part of Camp is that at the end of the day we sit around the campfire and toast marshmallows, then have our traditional war games. The best part of camp is the pranks. You should never ever get cross with the Stolls unless you want your pillow filled with shaving cream, your face turned into a canvas, and all your snacks stolen (get my pun?). + 

Even though I’m sixteen, I still want to go to camp. I know it seems lame to others, but that camp made me the guy I am today. It’s funny what good friends, pranks, jokes, and marshmallows can do to you. + 

I sighed and scrolled down, and another picture greeted me. It was taken a few years ago – me, my mom, Tyson, my half brother, and my stepfather, Paul Blofish, taken in front of our house. I’m going to miss New York really bad. + 

Before I could go even further down memory lane, Grover, my best friend, called. + 

"Hey Perce, how are you?" + 

"Good. You?" + 

His voice sounded energetic, like he’d had ten cups of coffee. "I’m always fine! How’s cleaning up the pigsty – a.k.a. your room – going?" + 

I chuckled. "Not so good. How’s Juniper?" + 

"She’s good as always. Anyway, I called to remind you to contact Rachel." + 

"RED?" I remembered her nickname. "Why?" + 

I could hear his eye roll over the phone. "Just call Rachel." Without another word, he ended the call. + 

I mentally facepalmed. Of course I should call Rachel. I seriously forgot she lived in San Francisco. I dialed her number. + 

She picked up. "Hello?" + 

"Hey RED!" + 

She must have recognized my voice, maybe it was the nickname that gave it away. "Percy! How are you?" + 

"I’m fine. How are you?" + 

She sighed. "I’m okay, I guess, but I definitely feel sad that the vacation is going to get over. And did you know..." + 

I cut her off – she could rant for a while. "Hey, um… you do remember that I’m coming to San Francisco, right?" + 

She chuckled. "Of course! All of us are waiting for you! When will you be coming?" + 

"I’ll land in San Francisco on Saturday night." + 

"You mean tonight?" + 

"Yep." + 

"You’ll definitely love Goode High. It’s amazing, and their swim team is the best in the state. You’ll definitely be the captain here as well." + 

I responded. "It won't be much fun if your stepfather is my English teacher." + 

She considered it. "It might not be, but it might get you out of homework. And by you, I mean me. He can’t punish the cute and sexy best friend of his stepson, right?" + 

"Grover’s staying in New York," I deadpanned. + 

"Fine, cute and sexy female best friend." She corrected. + 

I chuckled. "Do I have another cute and sexy female best friend that I don’t know about?" + 

She scoffed. "You’re impossible. I don’t know how Grover dealt with you for so many years." + 

"I wonder that myself. I should go. I still have to clean my pigsty." + 

"Your what now?" + 

"Gotta go, bye!" With that, I cut the call. I’m really happy Paul got a better job, but I wish we didn’t have to move to San Francisco. + 

I sighed and started to clean my room. I really didn’t want to go to San Francisco, but there was nothing I could do about it. + 

My room looked bare without my posters and picture wall. I’m definitely going to miss New York. + 

My mom gave me a side hug, like she was feeling nostalgic herself, and gestured me to get in the car. + 

But little did I know that San Francisco was going to change my life forever. + 