A/N: Hey guys! So... not too much to say today but HAPPY PATRIOT'S DAY, RUBBER ERASER DAY, AND TITANIC REMEMBERANCE DAY! (APRIL 15) Hope you enjoy this new chapter!

Peace out,

~silentwolf111

ATHENA'S POV

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

I woke with a start and groaned. One day of peace. That's all I ask for. Just one day.

Well, it looks like that wish isn't going to come true today, thanks to whoever just woke me up. Seriously, who goes around screaming at 7:00 in the morning?

I pulled my pillow over my head and was just on the verge of sleep when it came again.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Oh, for gods' sake, that is it.

I sat up angrily and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. I'm going to find this mystery screamer and give them a lesson on how to be quiet. And I might as well bring the duct tape too…

I grabbed a roll of duct tape and strolled out the door, not bothering to change out of my nightgown.

"All right, you," I said loudly. "Show yourself!"

I was answered with yet another scream.

"Fine," I said to myself. "If you won't show yourself, I guess I'll just have to find you on my own."

I followed the source of the scream to a nearby pond, searching everywhere for any signs of life.

After about 10 minutes, I turned around, ready to give up, when my eyes suddenly rested on none other than… Aphrodite. Staring at the pond surface with a stupid smile plastered on her face.

"Aphrodite!" I called, storming over to her.

She looked up at me, her grin widening.

"Oh, you're just in time! I'm watchin-"

I cut her off angrily.

"I'll have you know that your excessive screaming disturbed my peaceful slumber!"

She blinked.

"Okay," she said. "Anyway, like I was saying-"

"I don't care what you were saying!" I snapped. "Did you even listen to me?"

"Yeah, yeah, sorry for waking you up and all," Aphrodite waved her hand dismissively. "But still, you have to join me!"

"Join you in staring at a pond surface? No thank you," I said, folding my arms. "I have much better things to do, like going back to sleep."

Aphrodite giggled.

"No, silly, it's not just a pond surface. It's an IM! I'm watching Percabeth."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You're watching what now?"

"Percabeth!" Aphrodite squealed, gesturing to the pond surface. "Have a look."

I should have refused, but my curiosity got the best of me. Like an idiot, I took her advice and looked at the IM. Big mistake.

"Aphrodite," I started slowly. "Is that… Annabeth?"

"Yep!"

"With Poseidon's spawn?"

"Right again!" Aphrodite said. "See? Percy plus Annabeth equals PERCABETH!"

I took a deep breath, trying not to burst with fury.

"Aphrodite… surely you're not secretly spying on them during one of their make-out sessions, are you?"

Aphrodite shrugged.

"Guilty. But it's sooooo worth it!"

I was about to let her have it when she suddenly gasped.

"Come on," she urged, her eyes glued to the IM. "Kiss her, you fool! Kiss her already!"

My jaw dropped, for I was helpless as I was forced to watch Percy and Annabeth – as Apollo says – smooch up a storm.

Aphrodite let out another high-pitched shriek, causing me to wince and slap my hands over my ears.

"Gods, woman!" I spat. "Watch it! You sound like a deranged, over-obsessed fangirl!"

"Oh, sorry," Aphrodite said. "I just can't help it! That kiss? Soooo romantic!"

"But you don't have to-"

Before I could finish my thought, Aphrodite screamed again.

I would like to say I handled it in a wise and mature manner, but sadly, that wasn't the case; at that point, I pretty much lost it.

"APHRODITE!" I bellowed, my hands clenched into tight fists. "Just stop already! I've had it with all your romance mush! No one cares, so just give it a rest!"

Aphrodite was stunned at my sudden outburst.

"Well, Miss Smarty-Pants, you of all people should know that there is no such thing as 'romance mush'. One can never have too much love!"

"Oh, really?" I said. "Go tell that to Artemis and report back to me."

"But this isn't about Artemis," she said. "This is about you, and your belief that love is worthless!"

"That's because it is," I retorted. "Now, shut up or else…"

"Or else what?"

I pulled out the duct tape, dangling it in front of her face.

Let's just say her reaction wasn't quite what I expected.

"Ooooh!" she squealed. "Hot pink!"

For the first time, I looked at the duct tape, mentally kicking myself as I realized that I had chosen tape in Aphrodite's favorite color.

"No, you idiot! I'm not threatening you with pink!" I said, thoroughly frustrated.

"Well, you should," she said.

"You're not very wise, are you?" I said. "You see, you're a living example of why wisdom is much more important than love. Look at Einstein, for example. Or Daedalus, or Archimedes, or Edison. All chose wisdom over love, and look where it got them."

Her face was blank.

"Who would be stupid enough to do that?" she asked.

"Only the smartest people in the world. And judging by the look on your face, you're obviously not one of them."

Aphrodite narrowed her eyes.

"Athena, I've had enough with you. Love is what keeps the Earth together. If all we ever did was fight and act like a bunch of know-it-alls, then the world would be in complete chaos. You don't want that, do you?"

I groaned in frustration.

"Aphrodite, I understand that," I said. "But you take love just a bit too far."

Aphrodite stared at me.

"Too far?" she said. "TOO FAR?!"

"Yes," I said. "Too far. You know, for once, I just wish you would give up the whole romance gimmick."

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a brilliant idea came to me.

"I dare you," I said.

"Dare me to what?"

"Aphrodite, I dare you to reject love for a whole week."

Her face paled.

"W-What?"

"You heard me correctly," I said, a smug smile forming on my face. "I dare you to reject love. No messing with couples, no flirting or dates; don't even mention the word 'love' for an entire week."

Aphrodite stared at me, eyes wide with disbelief.

"A-Athena, but that isn't possible! A whole week? How will I survive?!"

"You'll do just fine," I said. "Look at Artemis. She's rejected love her whole life, and look how happy she is. I say a week without love will finally teach you a lesson."

Aphrodite's jaw dropped.

"Oh yeah?" she said. "Well, I think you need to learn a lesson, too."

I snorted.

"Oh, please. I'm the goddess of wisdom. What lesson could you possibly teach me?"

"You, missy, need to learn that love is good for you," Aphrodite said. "Which is why I'm daring you to flirt with Poseidon for a whole week."

My smile was replaced with a fierce scowl.

"What did you just say?" I muttered through clenched teeth.

Aphrodite smiled.

"I dare you to flirt with Poseidon. Act like you're all head-over-heels for him. Pretend that you find him… irresistible. And, whatever you do, don't let him out of your sight. Just play the part of a lovesick goddess who finally found her true love."

I gasped.

"No," I breathed. "I can't possibly do that. It'll destroy my reputation… and what will everyone think?"

"Hey," Aphrodite said. "If I can go without love, you can act like you're in love. Besides, it's just a week! You never know, this might be good for you!"

I narrowed my eyes.

"Aphrodite, how could this possibly be good for me? Poseidon and I have been immortal enemies for several millennia! If you think I'm just going to waltz up to him, blabbering endlessly about how handsome I find him-"

"Then he'll be yours forever," Aphrodite finished with a sigh.

"No, he most certainly won't!" I roared.

Aphrodite stuck her tongue out at me.

"Come on, Athena. I'm just trying to show you that love can put an end to even the toughest conflicts!"

"Well, if you think flirting with Poseidon can end our rivalry, then you are sadly mistaken."

"Whatever," she said. "But you still can't back out on a dare."

She paused for a second, considering me.

"Unless you're not up to it…"

"I am very much up to it, thank you!" I snapped, putting my hands on my hips.

Aphrodite held out her hand.

"Then it's a deal. I'll give up love for a week in exchange for you flirting with Poseidon for a week."

Sighing in defeat, I reluctantly shook her hand.

"All right," she said. "Then it's settled. Come Monday, I won't say a word about love."

"And I will act lovesick for Poseidon," I said.

Aphrodite nodded.

"Until then," she said as she turned to walk away.

I watched her as she left, cursing silently under my breath. Oh, sweet Hades, what have I gotten myself into?