I turned and ran to the dining pavilion, unwilling to face Reyna or Nico. I could feel tears prickling behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. This is why you don't get tangled up in love, Erica. I thought angrily. It messes you up, it causes you pain, and it distracts you from what's important.

I plopped into a seat next to Percy. "Where have you been?" He asked me. "Just wandering around." I replied, proud of myself for not allowing my voice to shake. Percy studied me for a moment before shrugging and turning to talk to Hazel and Frank, who were sitting across from us. "Does Reyna want to sit here too?" He asked them casually. I clenched my fists under the table.

Frank shrugged. "I really don't know. It's possible that she'll want to sit at the front."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like Reyna, I guess." Let her sit at the front. I thought. Then she'll be out of my hair.

More people started to trickle in. I kept glancing into the crowd, looking for Reyna...not that I wanted to confront her or anything like that. If she made Nico happy, so be it...not that I cared. It's not like I thought about any of this stuff...at all...ahem.

The last few stragglers took a seat at their table. Chiron stamped his hoof to quiet us all down. "Okay, Greeks and Romans! Now that we're all here, let's eat!" He shouted. A loud cheer echoed around the dining pavilion and the sound of moving feet told us to get up before everything was gone.

I chased Percy up to the front and started stocking piles of food onto my plate, then joined the line of demigods offering food to their parents. When it was my turn, I did the usual and offered some food to my dad...and then I did something a little different.

I tossed half a pork chop into the flames for Aphrodite, while I asked for a little advice.

Listen lady, I began. Probably not the best way to start speaking to a goddess...but whatever. Suck it up.

I don't know what your doing with this little love game you have planned for Nico and I-

Note my awesomely correct grammar...

but whatever it is, end it. I will not be manipulated nor will I be turned into an insane cry baby. I don't like love, so stop having Cupid shoot me with his little arrows, 'cause it's so not happening. Okay now I'll ask for some advice...HOW DO I HANDLE THIS!?

Again, not the best way to speak to an immortal goddess that could turn me into a frilly pink rabbit or whatever...but I was angry. I was beyond angry. I WAS FREAKIN' PEED.

Sitting back down at the table, I stuck a fork into the other half of my pork chop and pretended it was Reyna's face. Not that I would...um...actually do that...

Percy watched me stab my food. "What's up, Princess?" He asked me. I glared daggers at him. "What, goddess got your tongue?" He teased. I slapped his arm, hard.

"OUCH! I mean...that was weak." He winced and grabbed his bicep. I'll admit, that made me feel a little better.
But only a little.

~*~

That night, I had a dream.

I was standing in...the middle of nowhere. Literally. It was all black around me. Frankly, I don't even know how I was standing. There was definitely something solid beneath me...but it was so dark I couldn't make it out.

Suddenly, a bright pink light popped into existence a few feet away from me. As it came closer it grew bigger, until it was the shape of a women.

And then, standing there, where the light had been, was Aphrodite. How did I know it was Aphrodite? Well, the fact that her face was shimmering like a mirage was kind of a dead give away. There was no definite form for that women...or goddess...or whatever the heck she was. Her facial features changed every time I blinked, though they always stayed stunning. To be totally honest, it was kind of nauseating.

"Hello Erica." She said, smiling coyly at me. I scowled at her. "What do you want? To mess up my life even more, sweetheart? Well, it's not going to happen." I snapped. Yeah, I know, I was practically wadding up my life, shouting; "DIE!" And throwing it out a window.

Aphrodite only smiled a little more coyly. "Erica, darling, I know you're angry right now." She said, pulling out a mirror and checking her makeup in it. "I'm beyond angry." I replied testily. I figured saying the word "peed" to her would be stepping over the line.

Aphrodite merely glanced at me over the top of her mirror. "Right, darling, however you want to put it. Anywho, I just want to let you know, that the pork chop was delicious! Great choice, indeed, darling." I stared at her for a moment. She ate the pork chop. Wow. I guess every once and a while you could use an escape form ambrosia and nectar. "Is that all you came here for?" I asked. "Oh, no, dear. Let me explain something. Love is absolutely inescapable, like me."

You ain't kidding there. I thought.

"So you will eventually, fall in love, marry someone, have children..." Aphrodite continued "How do you know?" I demanded. "Sweetheart," she said, raising an eyebrow. "I'm a goddess. I know almost everything. Plus, I've laid out the love story between you and Nico, so don't think I'm going to stop it now. It's like my...ah...what do you mortals call that show...?"

"I have not idea what you're talking about." I replied blankly. Aphrodite didn't say anything for a while. Then, she snapped her fingers and shouted; "The Big Bang Theory! That's it!" And disappeared. "What!?" I yelled after her. "The Big Bang Theory is nothing like this!"

~*~

A/N: Please let me know if you like my story! I appreciate any comments, votes...or anything! Give me a little feedback.