Disclaimer: I do not own PJO, and it's thanks to GirlHayley that this chapter could be done! So, thank you!

The car ride was silent as Nico sat stiffly in between Thalia and Percy. Argus didn't speak, of course, but Nico could almost feel him debating on whether to make some noise or not.

Finally, Nico sighed and slumped down in defeat.

"So, what do you guys want to do at the mall?" He asked, turning to Thalia.

"When we get there, we'll see what looks like it'll be fun and do that." Thalia answered, as though Nico were stupid. "Duh."

"Yeah. Buh." Percy chimed in.

"Shut up, stupid." Thalia told him off, but her words lacked the usual snap.

Nico ignored it.

The mall loomed into view, and Argus quickly pulled up in front of one the stores.

"Looks like we're going through Macy's." Nico announced, recognizing the store.

"What's the name of the store?" Percy asked as Nico helped unbuckle him.

"Macy's."

"No, the big store." Percy pointed at the Macy's entrance.

"It's called Macy's, Perce." Nico grumbled.

"No, the store that the store is inside of!" Percy stamped his foot childishly.

"Oh, you mean the mall?" Nico realized what he was talking about. "Um, it's the Forestmeadow Mall."

"Fowestmeadow." Percy repeated, looking thoughtful.

"Come on!" Thalia snatched Nico's hand and dragged him towards the door.

"Ow! Gods, do you still have your super strength, or something?" Nico yelped as her hand tightened forcefully around his arm.

"Boys." Thalia stuck out her tongue at him.

Nico made sure Percy was following them before letting himself be dragged into Macy's.

"Hello, can I help you find something?" An employee rushed up to greet them.

Thalia quickly dropped Nico's hand and shrieked. "Stranger! Stranger! STRANGER!"

She started to run back out the way they had come in, but Nico grabbed her.

"Thalia, what are you doing?" He demanded. "You're making a scene!"

"STRANGER!" Thalia shouted, pointing at the freaked out employee.

"She's just a nice lady. She's not going to hurt you." He soothed, unsure what exactly to do.

"She's not going to hurt me?" Thalia asked suspiciously.

"She likes you." Nico encouraged.

Thalia freed herself from Nico's grasp and cautiously approached the lady, who gave her a nervous smile. With a deep breath, she reached out and poked the employee in the knee.

"She's clean!" Thalia announced.

"That's wonderful." Nico muttered. "Let's get out of here."

Grabbing Percy and Thalia, he apologized to the employee before nearly running out of the store, into the rest of the mall.

On the way out, someone ran into him.

"Oomph!" Nico fell onto the ground.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." A man hurried over to help Nico up.

"It's okay." Nico answered.

"Is everything okay with your sister?" The man asked.

"My sister?" Nico turned to see Thalia who was gasping and sputtering.

"Thalia? What's the matter?"

"STRANGER! STRANGER! STRANGER!"