Disclaimer: This story is based in the world invented by Rick Riordan with a mix of original and cannon characters. All credit of the Percy Jackson series and it's characters to Rick Riordan. Hope you enjoy!

Wpov

"She's here?"

"Yeah over there. By the bleachers."

"God she's hot."

"Don't bother guys, she won't talk to you."

"So I take it Cali's watching practice?" I asked stepping out of the locker room and noticing a cluster of boys talking together while facing the bleachers on the other side of the fence from the track. The group was made mostly of sophomores and freshman who still weren't used to her presence at track events, but there was still the occasional upperclassman who still felt it necessary to gawk at her.

"How could you tell?" Chris said rolling his eyes.

"I guess she and Max made up then." I said nodding towards the part of the fence where they were speaking to each other from opposite sides.

"Looks like it. How long do you think it will last this time?"

"Who knows." I said shrugging. Max was always irritated at Cali about something, but I mean, who could blame him. She was a difficult person to live with, Gods knew I knew that from personal experience. "They're bound to be arguing about something eventually."

"And when they do you'll be right there to sort it out."

"Basically." I said as we each grabbed a set of hurdles and started setting them up on the track.

"I don't know why you do it man." He said shaking his head as he helped me set up the equipment for practice. "Seems like a lot of work for zero reward. But I guess by now I should know better than to ask."

"Yeah probably."

He grinned and we continued to set up the track.

Practice went by pretty normally. Only two people managed to hurt themselves jumping over the hurdles and our coach was almost hit by one of the field throwers, all and all, a pretty good practice. It wasn't until after it had ended that things got eventful.

I was just helping the coach put away the last of the equipment when I heard a furious voice shout.

"I don't care if it's an open practice! I don't want her near my son!"

Everyone looked up to see a tall woman with dark brown hair and furious eyes shouting at our assistant couch. He was standing between the women and Cali who looked ready for a fight.

I swore.

"Uh oh." Chris muttered and I took off jogging in their direction.

"Mom, relax, it's not a big deal." Max said clearly embarrassed now that everyone was looking at them.

"No Max. It is a big deal. She's a bad influenced and I don't want you around her."

"But Mom she's-"

"Get in the car!"

"No!"

"NOW!"

Max hesitated, looking as if he wanted to argue, but eventually relented.

"I'll see you around Cali." He muttered dejectedly and started walking to the parking lot.

"Joanne, I'm sorry but there's really nothing I can do." The coach said uneasily. "Cali has every right to be here if she wants. Anyone can watch."

"But-"

"I'm sorry Miss Godwin." I said vaulting the fence and landing right in the middle of the argument. "It's my fault Cali's here."

"What?" she asked.

"Yeah, what?" Cali said raising an eyebrow, but I shot her a look and for once she kept her mouth shut. Luckily, Max's mother didn't seem to hear.

"Yeah I asked her to come to practice today so we could walk home together. I'm helping her study for a test she has tomorrow."

"Oh." She said looked a little shocked and considerably less angry. Max's mother loved me. She knew about all the help I gave Max during practices and that I kept bullies away from him during school. "Well that's very nice of you Will, and I trust you. But you know Cali, I'm sure you understand my concerns…"

"I do." I said.

"Excuse me?" Cali said furiously.

I ignored her.

"Don't worry about Cali coming to practice. I'll keep an eye on her."

"Who do you think-" she started but luckily Chris had caught up to us at this point. He grabbed Cali and dragged her away from the argument. Though she had the training and ability as a demigod to flatten Chris, she had the sense to let him pull her away.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to Max." I assured Ms. Godwin. "And if I think Cali's starting to become a problem. I'll keep her away from practices myself."

This last part was a lie. If there was ever a chance I could keep Cali near by and not have it look suspicious I was always going to take it, but she didn't know that and I knew she would believe me.

She frowned but after a minute said.

"Alright. But I'm keeping you to your word." She said pointing at me. "If I start hearing Max's grades are slipping, or he's skipping classes or practices."

"He won't." I said firmly. "Max is a good kid. He wouldn't."

She gave me one last suspicious look, but then turned and walked towards the parking lot where Max was waiting for her.

I breathed a sigh of relief along with our assistant coach who thanked me for stepping in, then started walking back to the track among whispers.

They didn't bother me much, I was used to people talking about my unnatural involvement in Cali's life but it didn't matter to me what they said. It didn't change the situation in the slightest so I didn't really care.

"Why do you always go butting in?"

I looked up to see Chris confused and on the floor and Cali storming towards me. Obviously, she'd waited until Max's mother hand left before getting out of Chris's grip and attacking me.

"You know you could thank me." I said irritated.

"I was handling it."

"Yeah. Sure." I said sarcastically very aware of the attention we were drawing. "I could see that considering the fact that you were two seconds away from Max's mother into putting a restraining order on you."

"That's none of your business."

"But I stopped it didn't I?"

She hesitated.

"I didn't need your help."

"Of course you didn't." I said rolling my eyes.

"I didn't!" she said annoyed. "Would you just butt out? Why do you care if I get to see Max or not? It has nothing to do with you!"

There was a silence and I realized everyone, even the coaches were looking at me now. I knew this would be the topic of discussion in the halls tomorrow. Everyone wanted to know why I put so much effort into trying to help Cali but I didn't say anything. What was I supposed to tell her? The truth? There was no way that would ever happen, it would have been less reckless to charge an angry bear.

"You're so annoying." she said angrily. "Leave me alone."

She stormed away from the track and I watched her go. People were whispering again but I ignored them. I made my way back to the coach who was looking at me uncertainly.

"What else do you want me to put away?" I asked calmly and his gaze was incredulous.

Twenty minutes later, I was the last one to enter the locker room to change before I went home. I'd stayed late to help our coach decide who should be running on varsity during our next meet, as team captain I was expected to do that sort of thing. What I didn't expect was when I walked into the first row of lockers to change, I found I wasn't alone.

"You're not supposed to be in here." I said rounding the corner to see an impossibly beautiful woman sitting regally on the benches as if it were a throne. I pointed to the sign that said, 'Boy's locker room.' "No girls allowed."

Her long hair fell to her waist in soft waves and her light eyes fixed me with a wrathful stare. It was one I recognized with eyes like Mediterranean… just like her daughter.

"Oh please, like it's anything I haven't seen before." She said rolling her eyes and gracefully taking a seat on one of the benches. Aphrodite took many forms, all with varying styles, but today she'd gone the hipster route. She looked to be about sixteen with a thin hippy style headband, square black rimmed glasses, an over sized sweater that exposed one shoulder, and ripped high waisted shorts.

"You and I have a problem." She said a steel edge in her tone as her eyes narrowed. She could have been Cali's twin.

"What?"

"We both know what." She growled.

I did know, but I didn't want to admit it. I didn't say anything and her eyes flashed.

"Shall I remind you?" she said acidly and in one fluid motion she raised her palm. There was a bright light and a scene appeared in front of me. Cali in the halls with Tyler's arm around her shoulder, the scene then switched to her arrest, then another night I didn't know about, where she was sneaking out of her window, climbing down the fire escape to meet…

"Tyler." She said as if reading my thoughts.

"What do you want me to do about it?" I asked playing for time.

"You were supposed to be watching her." She said and I felt the air thicken with power. "Keeping her away from…" her eyes narrowed as she watched scenes of her daughter and the low life she considered a friend. "This."

"How was I supposed to know?" I asked angrily. I couldn't be around Cali twenty four seven, it just wasn't possible.

"Because it's your job." She spat. "Or have you forgotten our arrangement?"

I winced.

"No."

"Then break it up."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because she doesn't listen to me!" I said in exasperation.

"And whose fault is that?" She said her voice callous.

"You know it's not as easy as you'd think." I said glaring at her. "Have YOU ever tried dealing with your daughter. She's a little stubborn," I said sarcastically. "I wonder where she gets it from."

She glowered at me.

"We had a deal."

"I'm aware of that." I said my tone much calmer than I felt.

"You were supposed to make sure that she-"

"I can't help it if she's gone off and gotten herself some scumbag boyfriend. I'm looking out for her but I can't do everything."

"You're not doing enough." She said furiously. "He's a bad influence."

"Yeah," I said jerkily. "I know that."

"Then do something about it."

"You don't think I'm trying? You're the one in charge of this stuff. If you hate him so much why don't you do it?" I asked bitterly.

"What they have is far from love." She said distastefully. "It doesn't cross into my domain."

"Well I don't know what you want me to do about it." I said incensed. She was a goddess after all. It wasn't my fault Cali was about as self destructive as a grenade. Aphrodite was the one who'd pulled the pin and thrown her at me. The girl had serious issues, not helped by an absent mother and a train wreck of a father. All I could do was prepare for and lessen the damage for the inevitable moment when she'd explode.

"I wanted you to protect her."

"Well she's making it damn near impossible!" I shouted. She was a disaster. She was constantly getting into trouble skipping class, refusing do work, defying authority figures, sneaking out, and intentionally seeking out the very worst crowd, then relying on her incredibly powerful charmspeak to get her out of whatever unfathomably stupid situation she'd managed to land herself in. Anyone who tried to help was pushed away, and anyone who could make her life even more chaotic was welcomed with open arms. At first it thought she'd wanted attention but that didn't seem right. She hated anyone getting involved, it was as if she didn't want people to care about her at all, and she got her wish. Eventually teachers, councilors, even her own father gave up. I was the only one left. Though, it wasn't as if I had a choice.

"That's not my problem." Aphrodite said coldly.

"You're her mother!"

"Which is why I've got you keeping an eye on her. Where do you think she would have been if I hadn't had you watching her every move since she was fourteen? But you're getting lazy. She's getting into more trouble now than ever all because you're not bothering to pay attention."

I glared at her.

"I don't know why you even want me to bother. She doesn't want to change and she can take care of herself."

"My reasons for wanting my daughter protected are my own and not to be questioned by a mortal." She said her voice raising dangerously as it echoed off the walls.

"I have a life you know. Other concerns."

"You gave away your rights to other concerns when you agreed to trade your happiness for your mothers." She said standing and walking towards me getting taller with each step. "Remember? The man of her dreams falls hopelessly in love with her, takes her away from the projects and your past, in exchange, you protect my daughter."

"She doesn't need protecting."

"You don't know what my daughter needs."

"I know her better than you!" I said in frustration and I knew immediately I crossed the line.

She looked at me, and in that moment all I could feel was her cold fury. My heart pounded against my chest, pain erupted through it, pushed along by my heart that felt as if it wanted to rip itself apart. I fell to my knees.

She was towering over me now, at least seven feet tall and glowing. I knew she was tempted to assume her godly form.

"Don't you dare insult me with your arrogance Silverman." Her voice boomed bouncing off the walls making my ears pound as each word hit me like a blow to the head. "I will not permit you to think mortals could ever know more than the Gods let alone my own daughter."

The room was shaking now, her anger was taking over.

"Things with Callista have gotten out of control, this has gone far enough."

"It's not that simple." I said angrily while pushing myself to my feet. "She doesn't listen. What am I supposed to do? Tie her up?"

"I don't care what you have to do. You got yourself into this. It was your decision, now go and live with it." She said her eyes flashing. "Unless…"

The scene changed to my mother and my step father, at their wedding.

"It would be so awful if thing's in your mother's perfect marriage would start to fall apart. You know how easy it is these days to fall out of love…"

The picture started to fade.

"No!" I said quickly and she gave me a furious look.

"Then fix it." She said bitterly. "Or else."

I closed my eyes and turned away. There was a bright flash, and noise like a canon that filled the entire locker room, and she was gone.