Here's the next chapter. I'm trying to update more regularly.

Arissa drives like her mother. If you didn't know Thalia you might think this is a good thing. Trust me it's not.

First of all a four foot ten twelve year old girl shouldn't be driving. She has a little trouble reaching the brake peddles. That is why Hero sitting by Arissa's feet pushing the brake peddles for her.

As always driving with Arissa, like Thalia, was an adventure. She had tried to stop at McDonald's for burgers- still in the truck. Thankfully Hero hastily went inside and bought them.

Kristen was sulking in the back of the UPS truck because Arissa's frosty sloshed over on to her. Oh, and she hates our guts. How could I forget she says so every five, ten minutes?

The whole ride was okay, in all. Arissa hooked up her I pod, the twins cracked jokes, Kristen whined, and I took my place as the quite one. Letting my mind drift I gazed out at the bleak scenery. We'd be in New York City soon. Being out in the country was weird to me. I was used to the city where people were packed and squished on top of each other like sardines. Where buildings reached the sky and seemed to be able to knock out planes.

Lounging in the front seat next to Arissa, Damon and, Hero who was still on the floor a song that seemed to wrench out my insides blared through the speakers.

"Let's burn a hole, so we can climb out,

Of these paper walls and this empty house,

Where the only thing that's real,

Is these visions have of ten years ago,

Of stars in the sky and us down below,

In streets and these coast lines,

We kept the scene alive…"

I felt an overwhelming pang of sadness. I used to love this song. "Paper Walls" by Yellowcard. But like all my other memories of Alex this was now poisoned. Tainted by his presence making me relive that terrible night again and again. Brushing off the bad thoughts I started to talk to Damon who the next demi gods' parents would be.

"Ten bucks says Aphrodite!" Damon shouted.

"Now Damon is that just wishful thinking?" I teased.

"Psh, of course not!" he defended himself. The four of laughed; we were hanging out and it was just like old times except for little snag, Kristen, brooding in the back of the truck. We stayed like (Arissa took a break the routine to scream at Hero for calling her a 'truckette') that until we were just outside of New York City when Kristen got nervous.

"Um, hey guys." She didn't even try to learn our names. "Wouldn't the people in the city, um see a twelve year old driving a truck?"

"Not a city kid that's for sure," Damon said to me under his breath.

"Really, these are New Yorkers! They could see a grizzly bear and a ostrich doing the tango in roller blades and wouldn't even bat an eyelid." Arissa the 'truckette' snorted. I laughed out my weird best friend.

"Oh," Kristen muttered averting her eyes from ours. No daughter of Athena likes to be proved wrong. was right once and Annabeth went into denial claiming that he was delusional.

After that there was an awkward silence that no one wanted to break. Hero and Arissa focused on driving, Damon became extremely interested in his shoes, Kristen stared off into space, and I tried to sleep.

I slept clear through the country side. When I woke up, or more aptly was woken up by Arissa squealing that we were in New York, we were on the high way. I opened the window and breathed deeply. Gasoline, French fries, and, stuff covered in cheese. Home. Gods, I can't say how much I love this city.

I saw Damon with his eyes closed inhaling deeply, too. He opened his eyes and smiled at me. People could say a lot of stuff about New York City but if you've ever lived here it was the best place on Earth.

Soon we were speeding in the city streets narrowly missing pedestrians. Arissa pulled over in front of an apartment building. She cut off the gas and hopped out Hero hot on her trail. Damon and I followed them out stretching are legs and arms. Kristen stumbled out behind us blinking in the sunlight.

"Do people actually live here?" she gaped. I nodded. It was a little fun to see Kristen not know something.

"Let's go meet the Barstows!" Hero grinned.

"Barrows," I corrected.

"Whatever." He shrugged.

I know it's short but I felt it needed to end there. So you know the drill: review, review, review!