I am not a dude; therefore I am not Rick Riordian. I DON'T OWN PJO.

ZITA LOVED TO RUN. She felt so free; it was like she left all her problems behind.

Your father's in crippling debt. Run

You'll never hold your little brother. Run

You'll never stop running away. Run Run Run

As her huge boots crushed the twigs beneath her feet, she felt like she was just stomping on a fly. The harder you stomp, the faster it dies. Zita picked up speed, Thalia and Mei-Yin had the advantage of longer legs, but she had more experience running.

Mei was breathing heavily now, drenched in sweat. She had been easy pickings from the start. Thalia was on Zita's heels though, determined to win. Artemis's longest standing Lieutenant couldn't lose to a newbie, a daughter of Demeter, an eleven-year-old, now could she?

Apparently, she could.

"Ha…Ha…You…little…cheat...er!" Thalia called from behind her. "No…pow…ers!" She had just tripped over a vine that had conveniently appeared on the otherwise clear path.

"It's not my fault I'm a plant celebrity!" Zita called back. It honestly wasn't her fault, plants tended to reach out to her when she was happy, scared, sad, or exited. Any emotion brought out her inner Demeter.

Zita was almost there, she could see the end of the trail they were on from here. Just a little longer! She thought. Even she was starting to break down, and she ran daily.

"Ha!" She called, stumbling into the road. "I win! Inclinarse, perdedores!" Thalia came up the path next, on her knees and practically panting.

"Shut…up…Hernandez!"

Mei-Yin was next."O-Okay, I guess…I'm the rotten egg." She said and joined the two on the side of the road. "But, even rotten eggs smell worse than you two!"

"Not all of us have magic deodorant voodoo, sorry for your inconvenience." snapped Thalia. Honestly all of them smelt horrible, Mei-Yin only slightly better. "Anyway, we need a ride."

The girls looked at each other. They were on a road that led to some random national park. Zita never paid attention to where they stayed.

"We could hijack a park ranger." Mei suggested. "Or a golf cart!"

"I like the way you think, Mei," said Thalia. "Sadly, none of us can drive."

"But Thalia, you're fifteen, can't you-"

"None. Of us. Can drive." replied Thalia through gritted teeth. "Understand?"

Zita timidly raised her hand. "Uh…actually, I can drive a golf cart."

"What?" Thalia and Mei said. "Why can you drive but we can't?"

"Papá used to work at a golf course; I've been able to drive since I was eight." Zita replied. "If we knock out a driver, we can easily get out of her."

Mei and Thalia sat in stunned silence. Since when was Zita the capable and responsible one? They must be thinking. Zita was annoyed why is it that nobody trusts me?

"Come on, let's go!" she said. On that note she sprang up like she hadn't just run a mile and zoomed off to the golf course. Mei shrugged and followed her. Zita was surprised, why did they believe me?

"Wait up!" Thalia called, joining them at last. "So, I'll give them enough volts to knock 'em out, Zita will take the key and start the cart while Mei keeps watch. 'Kay?"

"Bueno."

"Okay."

"Good."

Thalia reached the course first, and started looking for a cart. Soon, Zita joined her.

"Over there!" Zita whisper-shouted "Next to that hombre feo!" she pointed to an old man who was picking his teeth with an old toothpick. She and Thalia sneaked up behind him, Mei stood casually talking to him. 'Oh yes that uniform looks lovely this time of year' stuff like that.

"One" Thalia mouthed "Two." She put her hand on his back "Three!" she said as sparks trailed down her arms and into the man's back. He stiffened and fell down in a heap. "Now, Hernandez!" Zita turned him over and reached to his jacket.

"This man wears pocket protectors? En serio?" Zita muttered. She was tired of sticking her hands in gross pockets. "Here we go!" she called. Zita raced over to the golf cart and hopped in. She practically force-fed the car the key and jerked it so hard it woke up on the first try.

"Hop in, guys, que no tenemos todo el día!" Zita called. Mei-Yin hopped on the back.

"Shotgun!" Thalia called as she raced to the car, elbowing security guards on the way. She flew into the car, or she at least she leaped much farther than should be possible. "Step on it!" she screamed.

'Déjà vu' Zita thought as she floored the pedal, speeding off the course. Screams from Mei and Thalia echoed behind her. She never said she drove well. Thalia was laughing her ass off while Mei furiously tried to buckle in.

"SLOW DOWN!" Mei screamed.

"HA…MEI, YOUR VENUS IS SHOWING!" Thalia screamed back, still smiling like an idiot.

Zita couldn't have been happier as they slowed onto the main road, she must be a child of Hermes. Zita Hernandez, for the second time since she was nine, has stolen a golf cart.

TRANSLATIONS:

"…Bow, losers!"

"Okay"

"…Ugly man!"

"Seriously?"

"…we don't have all day!"