Hi everyone! Sorry; I know it's been a while. To be honest, I've been getting some major Writer's Block with all my stories. Can I ask you guys for a favor? In the reviews, just leave little ideas on what you think will happen next. Then I can read those and come up with some new, better ideas. Thanks guys! You're all the best!

Percy was beginning to get very nervous. It was getting close to four o'clock, and the ballet closed at five on Sundays. He was hoping that Nico would settle for going in, watching the dancers for a few minutes, and then getting out again. With any luck, they wouldn't break anything in that short of a time frame.

It had taken them a half an hour to find a taxi cab, and then another hour to find the ballet place, because the cab driver had gotten lost and then Thalia had tried to jump out the window to chase a butterfly.

"Fifty dollars, kid." The cab driver grunted, finally parking in front of an inconspicuous little building. "This is it."

"Thanks." Percy told him, pulling a wad of cash out of his wallet. "Keep the change."

"SWANS!" Nico shrieked at the top of his lungs.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go, you guys. Go inside." Percy corralled the two of them in through the front door.

A fancy, well-dressed woman glared at them from behind the receptionist desk.

"Hi." Percy said uncomfortably.

"What do you think you are doing?" She asked in a very high, snobbish tone.

"We're here to see the ballet." Percy explained. "I was hoping we could just get in, and then leave right away. Money isn't a problem."

He had never said those words in his life.

"There is no ballet." The receptionist snapped.

"What do you mean?" Percy asked. "The cab guy's GPS said this was the ballet place."

"There's no ballet today." The woman amended. "The Nutcracker begins at two o'clock exactly tomorrow, and there are no late arrivals. You come at two, or you don't come at all."

Nico looked up at Percy hopefully. "Tomorrow? Please please please!"

Percy sighed heavily. "Fine. Can we have three tickets for tomorrow's show?"

"It's called a 'production.'" The woman pronounced snootily, but she accepted Percy's cash.

Percy stuffed the tickets into his back pocket and turned to Thalia and Nico. "Come on, guys, let's go get a cab. We might as well head over to the hotel now."

"What's a hotel?" Thalia asked.

Percy took her hand and grabbed the back of Nico's shirt. "Well, a hotel is basically a place where we're going to sleep."

"Is there going to be a bed?" Thalia asked.

"Yep." Percy nodded. He let go of Nico for a second to flag down a cab.

"Is there going to be a TV?" Nico questioned.

"Probably." Percy shrugged. He waved his hand out again, but the cabs mysteriously stayed away.

"What's the hotel called?" Thalia interrogated.

"Mariott hotel." Percy answered, waving frantically. One taxi sped by, without any passengers. The driver slowed and glanced at them before stepping on the gas.

"Isn't that the hotel?" Thalia tugged on Percy's hand and pointed across the street.

Sure enough, the tall, recognizable Mariott hotel was staring back at them.

"Oh, I guess we don't need a taxi after all." Percy mumbled. He picked up Nico and then readjusted his grip on Thalia. "Nice reading, Thals."

"I can't read." Thalia snapped. "You should know this, Percy."

"But you just read the name of the hotel and –"

"I said I can't read!" Thalia yelled.

"Okay, okay, you can't read." Percy muttered.

They crossed the street, but before entering, Percy stopped. "Okay, guys, before we go in, I have to tell you some rules."

"I'm super good at following rules!" Nico cheered.

"Right…well, listen up." Percy took a deep breath. "First of all, no screaming or running in the lobby. Second, you have to listen to me and do what I say. Third, don't talk to any strangers, okay? Finally, if you get lost, find a security guard and tell them to find PERCY JACKSON. Got it?"

"Be good, and if we get lost, ask for Peter Johnson. Got it." Thalia repeated.

"NOOO!" Nico shouted. "He said ask for Penelope Jaywater!"

"No! He said Priscilla Junie!" Thalia yelled back.

"Nuh uh!" Nico replied. "Penny Jackople!"

"Pace Jefferson!"

Pablo Jones!"

"Paige Jenn!"

"Parsely Jyo!"

"Paul Jonderman!"

"Uh, guys?" Percy interrupted.

"Shut up, Percy!" Thalia screamed. She turned back to Nico. "He said Pamela Judy!"

"Parastu Jupple!" Nico screeched.

"I SAID PERCY JACKSON!" Percy bellowed.

Everyone in the near vicinity immediately shut up.

"Ha! I told you so." Thalia said smugly. "Peter Johnson."

Percy groaned.