A/N: Well hello again, FanFiction! It has been much too long since I have last picked up a pen to write. This is the first chapter of my new story called Hydrophobia. It's more of a teaser, to see how you guys like Brennan Wells, the main character.

I do not own PJO.

Chapter One: Are Those Wings?

Sitting quietly by myself was how I usually spent gym class. I'm just a scrawny freshman, added to the fact that in order to pass my first year of high school, I have to swim a mile.

I'm gonna let you in on a secret: I hate swimming. It's terrifying. The feeling that something is completely surrounding me makes me feel like I'm not the one in control.

The worst part of the final day of school was knowing that last period I was going to have to get in that God forsaken pool and swim.

I sat through first period tapping my pencil rapidly on my notebook. Jenny Rice glared over at me and put a finger to her lips. Jenny may have been the prettiest girl at Notre Dame High School, but she sure wasn't the nicest. Needless to say, she had rejected me twice in middle school.

I lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee, cultural mecca of the world. Not. See, while Chattanooga has a great art scene, it's boring. The only thing I ever looked forward to was the Riverbend music festival, and I couldn't even go to that this year because my mom and stepdad were hauling my sorry butt to Tampa to see my grandparents. They live in a house right next to the beach. I really, really hate the beach.

Okay I lied. Chattanooga has an awesome aquarium. I mean like some of the coolest things I have ever seen are in those two buildings. It's right on the Tennessee River, and I could spend hours in there. I felt whole in there.

I was snapped back to reality by the bell. Second period was just a joy. My English teacher was a bit...off her rocker. Mrs. Darlington was convinced that Jesus would return within her lifetime (and there wasn't much of that left, if you know what I mean).

"Brennan!" she snapped.

I blinked a couple of times and looked up. Mrs. Darlington was standing over me, her tattered copy of Romeo and Juliet held aloft.

"I said, who was Shakespeare's mother?" she questioned harshly.

I racked my brain, but the answer just wasn't there. "I, uh, I don't know," I stammered. A few kids snickered but Mrs. Darlington silenced them with a steely glare.

"You should have studied for this exam," she hissed and slid the test onto my wooden desktop.

I sighed. Yet another exam I was going to fail. I wasn't stupid, exactly, just lazy beyond belief. I got most of my homework done five minutes before we had to hand it in. So, obviously I didn't study at all for any of my final exams.

After stumbling through the English exam, while attempting to keep my ADHD at bay, I pondered my options. Latin was next period and I was screwed. We had a crazy teacher who was nice and all, but she couldn't teach worth anything. Not that I could do any better. I could always skip the exams and head home, but the look on my mom's face would have been bad.

The Latin exam was brutal. Halfway through I just gave up and started bubbling random choices. Needless to say, when I finished first, I slept.

The next few periods were a blurr. I'd like to take the time to thank ADHD for making my life just so much better. Plus, medicine does not help. Trust me.

Gym class finally came and I sat down in the locker room after I had changed. I took a deep breath, attempting to prepare myself for the torture that was about to come.

I pushed my shaggy black hair out of my eyes and looked up. Everyone was gone and I quickly followed them. The group of boys gathered around the pool. One by one, they dove in and swam the required mile.

Eventually, it was my turn. "Coach is there nothing else I can do?" I begged.

The coach shook his head. "Wells, get in the water," he ordered.

I glanced at the clear blue water and shook my head. "I can't do it," I whispered.

"Then you can go to summer school!" the coach yelled.

"For Wellness? No way! I can run the mile, just please, don't make me swim! I'll run two miles if I have to!" I begged quietly.

The coach and I argued like this back and forth for fifteen minutes. I opened my mouth to retort and the final bell rang.

"I'll see you in summer school, Wells," the coach sneered and walked out of the pool area.

I sighed and turned to go but a big group of guys blocked my way. "So Brennan, we think you've got a little case of hydrophobia," the biggest one said.

"Uh, yeah I guess I do," I stammered.

The group laughed and the big one stepped forward. "How's about we help you cure that," he growled. I shook my head vigorously, but he had already picked me up.

He began walking toward the water, holding me upside down. "No, no, no!" I screamed. "Put me down! Seriously, I can't swim!"

"Then have fun," the guy said and tossed me into the deep end.

I hit the water with a huge splash and sunk in. I felt weightless and I struggled to find the surface. In fact, I couldn't find the surface at all. I sucked in quite a bit of water before I finally broke the thin line of water. I stuttered and gasped for air as I dog paddled to the ledge.

A younger boy ran awkwardly to the side. His brown eyes were wide and he looked around frantically.

I pulled myself out of the water and coughed up the water that remained in my lungs. I fell onto my stomach and layed on the cool tile floor while the boy stood over me, wringing his hands.

"Brennan, are you okay?" he asked.

I glared up at him. "Do I look okay?" I said harshly. The pool house was empty except for us.

He shook his head and helped me up. "Who are you?" I asked. I'd never seen him before and I shook the water out of my hair.

"My name's Danny Fitz. We should, uh, hang out this afternoon," he stammered.

I raised an eyebrow. "Dude, I've never seen you before. Sorry, but I have riding this afternoon anyway. Uh, maybe some other time," I said awkwardly. No way was I gonna hang out with some random kid.

"Oh, uh, can't you like, skip or something?" he asked nervously.

"Danny, you seem cool and all, but I really have to go," I said and pushed past him into the locker room. I changed as fast as possible and sprinted out the other exit.

I was looking for my mom when I ran straight into my friend Lindsey.

"Brennan!" she gasped and steadied me.

Lindsey was one of the few girls here who even looked my way. I still don't get what she sees in me.

For one, I'm a freshman. Two, I'm about as scrawny as they come. I'm only 5'4 and I probably weigh less than the anorexic girl in my biology class. The only interesting thing about me are my green eyes. Even then, they're dull.

"Hey, Linds. Look, I don't have much time to talk. Have you seen my mom?" I asked frantically. I was already late for riding as it was.

Lindsey shook her head. "Sorry, Brennan. Look, I'm going to Memphis to see my cousin tomorrow, so I won't see you much this summer. I just wanted to say bye," she said quickly.

I hugged her and smiled. "See you next year," I said and waved as I walked off. She gave a tiny wave and turned around.

I sprinted around the other side of the school and found my mom waiting in her minivan. My little sister, Kim was in the back tapping on the window.

I yanked the door open and my mom smiled at me. I chucked my backpack into the back seat and Kim yelped.

"Brennan, are you okay?" my mom asked. She pushed her brown curls out of her face and looked at me.

I nodded and sighed. My mom was too good to me. She should have kicked me out ages ago. I'm kind of a problem child.

We drove to the stables and I changed as fast as I could. Tom, my riding coach, was already there.

He silently handed me the reins of my horse and stalked off toward the track. Tom was a bit sensitive to time frames.

I stroked my horse's nose and slipped a sugar cube out of my pocket. I'd had the girl since I was ten, and she was practically my best friend. I named her Wonder, mainly because I couldn't think of anything else, and Stardust sounded too girly.

Wonder whinnied and nudged my closed fist. I opened my palm and she lapped up the sugar cube. I rubbed her mane and swung myself onto the saddle. Together we cantered over to the racing track.

I've been riding horses since I was seven. It's really expensive, and my family sacrifices a lot for me to do it, but I can't stop.

I race. I guess this is due mainly because of the fact that I'm so small. Let's just say being a jockey is not for fat people.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm really good. It's my talent, I guess. I've won a few races. Alright, I've won a lot of races. But talking about winning is weird. I feel like I'm bragging.

Tom glared at me. "You're late," he stated simply.

I made a face. "I got thrown in the pool today," I mumbled.

"Kid, you really need to get over this whole fear of water thing. I mean, aren't you supposed to go to the beach this summer?" he asked.

I cringed. I was still trying to beg my way out of that one.

Practice was the same as usual. I got through half an hour early, mainly because Tom said I cut fifteen seconds off my lap time. Wonder was really pushing it, I could tell. By the time I gave her water, she was still panting heavily.

"Good job today, girl," I whispered. I took my riding helmet off and hung it on the wall. I rubbed Wonder's mane and she nuzzled my neck.

I heard footsteps behind me and turned around. Danny Fitz and my mom were standing together next to the door of the barn.

"Mom, how do you know Danny?" I asked.

My mom looked down. Danny pulled me out of the barn and pushed me towards the other stables. A white horse was standing next to the doors, but it didn't have a saddle or bridle or anything.

"Danny, what's going on?" I asked. "Mom? Someone answer me!" I cried.

My mom hugged me tightly. "You need to go with Danny, okay? Just go with him and you'll be safe," she said softly.

"Mom, what in the world are you talking about?" I yelled.

Danny grabbed my arm and pulled my toward the horse. Only, it wasn't a horse. It had...wings?

"What the hell is that?" I cried.

Danny bit his lip. "It's a pegasus," he said slowly.

"What's that?"

Danny turned and looked at me wide eyed. "You don't know what a pegasus is?"

I shook my head and Danny rolled his eyes. "May the gods help you, then," he mumbled.

"Okay, seriously, guys what the heck is going on?" I asked desperately.

My mom kissed my forehead. "Go with Danny, dear. I love you," she whispered.

"Mom, no!" I yelled, but Danny was on the horse and he yanked on my arm.

"Mrs. Wells do you mind if I incapacitate your son?" he asked, making me pretty nervous.

My mom shook her head sadly and suddenly Danny pressed on the side of my neck and everything went black.

A/N: Hey! I have come to hate long author's notes, even though I'm guilty of them, so I'll keep it short.

Brennan Wells is a boy, if you didn't catch on.

Tell me what you think about this story, and if you guys like it, I'll keep writing. I do this for y'all.

ψcamille elisabethψ