Our 33rd date is interrupted by the arrival of my former maths teacher

Nothing beats a good, fine day with cheese enchiladas (Grover's work) and a double cheeseburger in front of the Parthenon in Nashville with an architecture crazed girl. It was Annabeth's idea since she'd always wanted to visit the Parthenon in Greece but since we couldn't exactly fly over there yet (I was still praying to my dad about it, asking him to convince Zeus to let us go without incinerating me). And plus, it was our thirty third date. See, a few months ago, Annabeth and I- well, Annabeth threatened me to- agree that we'd meet somewhere… special, I guess on our thirty third date. She got the weirdest idea that since three was a sacred number, she'd double our luck by making it thirty three. I guess it's a girl thing, go figure. Anyway, there we were, stuffing ourselves… I mean, I was stuffing myself with cheese enchiladas while Annabeth blabbed on about facades and elevation and all that stuff that made my head hurt. So naturally, I pretended to understand and enjoyed our picnic lunch- which wasn't much I'm telling you, but being with Annabeth made it worthwhile. I stared at her while she talked, just happy to be with her and bear her long talk about architecture. After the huge battle with Kronos and his army of monsters and Luke's death, Annabeth and I had grown a lot closer than I'd expected. With her I felt… comfortable. I had tried to explain this to my mom the other day and she wasn't much help: all she did was smile that annoying smile- that all-knowing sly smile- like she knew it was going to happen one way or another. Of course, she was over the moon about it. Gods, it was embarrassing! Busy thinking about how embarrassing my mom was going to be when I came back home with Annabeth, I didn't notice that my girlfriend was snapping her fingers in front of my face.

"Um, Percy? Helloo?"

When I finally snapped out of it she cocked an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Huh? What?"

Her lips twitched. "It's our thirty third date and you're sitting there looking like you've got the burden of the world on your shoulders."

"I do?"

She rolled her eyes and sighed. "You know, sometimes I wonder how I fell for a seaweed brain like you, let alone become friends with one." I would have taken this to heart, if it wasn't for the fondness I detected in her voice.

"Aw, come on, what's not to like about me?" I said, grinning.

Annabeth pretended to puke. "Your sense of self importance, for one thing."

I shrugged, smiling.

"Come on, let's go back to the resort Wise Girl," I said, standing up. I held out my hand.

Annabeth rolled her eyes and took my hand… only to stumble back and fall. I stood there cracking up while she glared at me.

"Ow! What in Zeus' name did you do that for?"

"S-sorry… but… you looked… haha," I said between shaking fits of laughter.

"Whatever, urgh. Percy you are so immature," she said, getting up. "Let's go."

Still chuckling, I headed for the red Ford Verve Sedan parked ahead- my pride and joy. I grinned widely when I saw it. Annabeth noticed my expression and rolled her eyes for the millionth time.

"Boys and their cars," she muttered.

"It's a guy thing," I said.

* * *

It just goes to show that good times don't last forever. Thankfully, bad things always happen a little later. Meanwhile, Annabeth and I returned to the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. We'd reserved two separate rooms… for obvious reasons (mostly because my mom threatened to split us apart if we didn't). Honestly? It was awesome. Great gardens, great scenery, good food, you name it. And it was a good break from all that monster fighting. I came out after having a shower and found my bed already occupied by a beautiful woman checking her reflection in a mirror. The goddess Aphrodite.

"Uh…" I said stupidly.

"Ah at last! The Romeo of the century!" she said dazzling me with her smile.

"Um, Romeo of the century?"

"I told you didn't I? Such a successful romance story I just have to add to my collection!"

"Oh… yeah, we're together now." Then it suddenly dawned on me. "Hey! Wait a minute… you-"

She waved her hand dismissively. "Well of course I was the one who used Rachel to confuse your feelings. I did say I wasn't going to make it easy for you. Tut tut, and you kissed her once… hmm, I wonder what your girlfriend will do once she finds out."

The goddess of love assumed an expression of contemplation.

"No, uh… it's okay, I'd rather you didn't- let her find out I mean."

Aphrodite laughed. "Aw, you're so cute! Tell you what, I'll make this relationship a little more interesting for you… no, no, no, I'm not going to complicate it, don't worry. My favour, alright? I just dropped by to congratulate you on getting the girl. Well then, I have to go and keep Ares happy now. Good luck!" She waggled her fingers and disappeared in a shimmer of diamonds.

I blinked. What the heck? Her visits always confused me. I shook my head and got dressed and went to go stand outside Annabeth's room. It was then I heard the hissing. Habitually, I reached into my pocket for my pen. Then the hissing stopped. Thinking I'd probably imagined it, I relaxed. After a few minutes of waiting, the door opened and Annabeth came out, blond curls slightly damp. The smell of lemon soap drifted to my nose. I swallowed. Annabeth closed the door and locked it. I remembered the talk with Aphrodite and I felt my face grow hot. I swallowed. Annabeth looked up at me and frowned quizzically.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah… just fine. Why?" I asked, my voice a little hoarse.

"You look a bit tense…" she said, her voice trailing off. She looked like she suddenly realized something and a smile slowly spread across her face. Annabeth linked her arm with mine and pulled me along.

"Come on Seaweed Brain, let's go for that walk."

We didn't get very far. The atrium gardens were beautiful, but I kept hearing that hissing noise- and I figured it wasn't a hissy cat. Finally, I got annoyed.

"Where the heck is that hissing coming from?"

Annabeth stopped with me. She turned, wary. That was Annabeth, always on her guard. "Have you been hearing it as well?"

Then we heard a scream. Several people shrieked and started running away. I don't know what the mist made them see but what I saw was a nasty looking old lady that I didn't really want to or expect to see interrupting my thirty third date with Annabeth. My former maths teacher approached us, hissing and glaring at me with flaming eyes.

I gulped.

"This can't be good," I muttered.

"Wait, I don't think she's here to attack us," Annabeth said, frowning.

I was still aware that the fury had once tried to kill me before, but Annabeth's wisdom had saved us countless times in the past so I shut up.

Mrs Dodds stopped in front of me. "Percyyyy Jackssson." She glared at me with loathing.

"Lord Hades has sent me to give you a message: he requests your presence soon after your visit to camp- as sssssoon as possible. You are to return to camp half blood now."