My Secret Life

Chapter 13

First of all, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 100K READS!!!I honestly am so grateful for each and every one of you lovely readers.

Argus drove us out of the countryside and into western Long Island. It felt weird to be on a highway again, Annabeth and Grover sitting next to me as if we were normal carpoolers. After two weeks at Half-Blood Hill, the real world seemed like a fantasy. I found myself staring at every McDonald's, every kid in the back of his parents' car, every billboard and shopping mall.

A few more minutes went by, and the occasional feeling of staring was still present. Shifting in my seat, just slightly, I was able to catch the culprit. Apparently, Annabeth thought it was just fine to throw an irritated stare at me every now and then.

I grit my teeth to reign in my anger.

"Remind me again-- why do you hate me so much? Like I know that there is that rivalry between our parents, but we are not our parents."

I was glad to see that my sudden question surprised the blonde.

She slapped on a face of indifference before saying, "I don't hate you."

At this I let out  scoff.

"Could've fooled me."

She folded her cap of invisibility. "Look . . . we're just not supposed to get along, okay? Our parents are rivals."

It's like she didn't hear that I just said that. I felt like she was thinking about this rivalry thing for the wrong reasons. I might have to ask her.

"Why?"

She sighed. "How many reasons do you want? One time my mom caught Poseidon with his girlfriend in Athena's temple, which is hugely disrespectful. Another time, Athena and Poseidon competed to be the patron god for the city of Athens. Your Father created some stupid saltwater spring for his gift. My mom created the olive tree. The people saw that her gift was better, so they named the city after her."

I was getting angry and I get petty when I'm angry, "They must really like olives."

"Oh, forget it."

"Now, if she'd invented pizza — that I could understand."

"I said, forget it!"

Everyone was laughing at that.

Turning serious I said, "You honestly believe a rival between two gods should be carried down through their children? Really? For a child of Athena that's, like, the definition of stupid."

Annabeth was too stunned from my words to give a proper response. I just scoffed again and returned to looking out the window.

In the front seat, Argus smiled. He didn't say anything, but one blue eye on the back of his neck winked at me.

Traffic slowed us down in Queens. By the time we got into Manhattan it was sunset and starting to rain.

"Always a great way to start a quest," Thalia said sarcastically.

Argus dropped us at the Greyhound Station on the Upper East Side, not far from our penthouse. Taped to a mailbox was a soggy flyer with my picture on it: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL?

"Won't it be more difficult if someone sees you during the quest, since you were reported missing?" Marlene asked Daria.

"Yeah if someone cares enough to notice,"