Yeah, Shopping! And Percy didn't like it. For some reason, Aphrodite had decided that he needed a shopping trip. He didn't know why, but he did know that he was currently in some giant mall, somewhere, with a pink, unlimited credit card, and a shopping list. He hadn't looked at it yet. He honestly couldn't get himself to do it.

He sighed, and looked up at the sky. 'Say, Aphrodite! What about a shopping partner? So I don't pick the wrong things, you know? I mean, Annabeth has a good eye for it...' He heard a small gasp behind him. Happily, he turned around, expecting to see his girlfriend. Instead, he saw Sheila, who was clutching her cane. She was waving her other arm around. Percy grabbed her hand. She turned her head around, and stared at him.

'Oh, eh... Sorry. It's Percy Jackson.' Sheila nodded, and she smiled at him. 'Right. Are we still at the camp, then?' Percy shook his head, but then decided that that wasn't going to work. 'Eh, no. We are at some mall, somewhere, and Aphrodite wants me to buy stuff. I asked if she could bring me Annabeth as a shopping partner, but apparently she send you instead.' Sheila laughed. 'Well, I guess that is a hint that you are going to have to do it alone.'

Percy sighed. 'Probably.' He grabbed Sheila's hand. 'Eh, if you don't mind, Sheila, but I think this is the easiest way to guide you through this mall. Since you can't see where I am going, and stuff.' 'Yes, probably,' the girl agreed.

Then, Percy decided to finally take a look at his shopping list. 'Ok, so, Aphrodite expects me to find a new suit, and a pearl necklace… she wants me to hire a limo? what?' Percy stared at the weird list. 'This is all just romantic trash!' Sheila tapped him on the arm. 'Well, it sounds like stuff someone would use for either a wedding or a school dance. So, are you going to your school's' Prom anytime soon, or are you and Annabeth secretly engaged?'

Percy went silent for a little while. 'Wait, let me just get out my agenda,' he told Sheila. It wasn't like Percy had a very neat agenda, but sometimes Annabeth, Paul or his mother wrote something really important into it. He scanned the upcoming weeks, and lo and behold, there was a date for prom written into it (Like, a date as in the day, not a romantic date. Well, I guess it was romantic… but we're moving on).

'Prom. Aphrodite wants me to go shopping for Prom.' Sheila nodded thoughtfully. 'That's probably also why I am your shopping partner and not she. It has to be a surprise. So, let's start with that suit.'

'Yes, good idea!' Percy agreed, smiling. It took three seconds before that smile faded away. 'Ehm, do you know of any shops that sells suits?' 'Well, a few cheap ones. But, eh... I don't think Aphrodite will be content with cheap suits.' Percy breathed extremely dramatic. 'This is going to go nowhere. I don't know where anything is in this mall, and I don't know what is a good suit, and...'

At that moment, a personal shopper popped out of nowhere. 'Are you mister Jackson? I believe your mother called me. You need a suit for a school dance, right? Oh, and this is probably the lady in question.' He winked at Sheila. Percy stared at the personal shopper. 'Ehm, Sir, I think I am the right mister Jackson, but that was my… aunt. Not my mother. And, eh, this isn't my girlfriend...' The personal shopper clapped so loud in his hands that Percy stopped talking. 'I am so sorry, Mr. Jackson. Yet, you still need a suit right? I guess the young lady is your sister, then? Well, she can still see what looks good!'

Percy decided to just go along, but Sheila didn't let the personal shopper go that easily. 'Yes, sir, he does need a suit. Yet, I am his first cousin once removed, and also blind. I still have my cane in my hand, right? Or is this some random branch?' The personal shopper stopped walking. The colour left his cheeks while he stared at Sheila's cane. 'Miss, I am so sorry! How can I make it up?'

'Apology accepted. Let's just find this boy a nice suit, so that his girlfriend has someone who is actually nicely clothes.' The personal shopper quickly nodded, and leaded both of them to the lift. They stepped inside, and the personal shopper pushed a button. 'I saw you wanted to buy more? A pearl necklace and a silver ring, I believe?'

Percy didn't immediately answer. 'Eh, everything you mentioned, and I would like to see the book section, please.' The personal shopper nodded. 'Alright sir.' They heard a little bell, and the door went open. The personal shopper showed them a changing area. 'Wait here, please!' Percy nodded. 'Alright.' The man walked away, and Sheila and Percy stayed in the changing area.

'So, Percy, why suddenly so interested in books?' Sheila asked. Percy shrugged, mostly because of habit. 'I want to give Annabeth something that Aphrodite didn't force me to buy.' Sheila nodded. 'That's a pretty good reason.' She snickered. 'Also, a silver ring? I Always knew Aphrodite wasn't really the goddess of subtlety, but that is kind of a dramatic.' Percy laughed. 'You're right.'

Within four minutes, The personal shopper was back with seven suits. Percy gasped. 'Do I have to fit them all on!?' The shopper nodded. 'Yes. Don't you want to look good for your girlfriend, Mr. Jackson?' Percy nodded. 'Well, I guess...'

Yes, he guessed, but after nine suits it was too much. He decided to pick a nice, dark blue suit, with black tie. Yet, of course he wasn't done. The personal shopper (Who had eventually told them that his name was Michael) pulled him to the jewelry section. Percy almost screamed while seeing the prices. He grabbed Sheila's arm. 'Sheila, that necklace with about one square centimetres of diamond is literally four thousand… pounds!' He whispered. Sheila turned her head towards him. 'Percy, Aphrodite is paying everything.' Percy thought about that for a while. Then, he decided that this might be the perfect way to get back at Aphrodite telling him that 'She would keep it interesting' (Did I say perfect? I meant 'Only way').

So, he chose a ridiculously expensive necklace, with Pearls and diamonds. It looked so simple, that you could be forgiven for thinking it cost about twenty dollars and the gems were fake. Then, he chose a very nice, very simple silver ring. Percy didn't know if he would immediately give it to Annabeth, though. Maybe he could wait, and give it at a moment that felt more natural, or at least wasn't a promposal.

After that, Michael brought him and Sheila to the book section. 'So, what are you going to pick?' Sheila asked. 'There is this detective series Annabeth really adores, and because this is Harrods, I expect them to have it in big print; you know, for people who can't see very good, but also perfect for people with dyslexia. She'll love it!' Sheila moved her head around a little. 'Well, you are her boyfriend, so you probably know what she wants. Just... Does Annabeth ever truly like the easy version of things?'

'She does with books. I gave her a copy of Sherlock Holmes once, with big print, and she loved that too,' Percy answered. 'If you say so,' was all his shopping partner had to say to that. Percy rolled his eyes, forgetting that Sheila was not going to notice that. He found the volume Annabeth didn't have yet, and with everything they wanted, they went to the nearest check-out line. They paid for everything (Percy could have sworn the store clerk was enchanted, so that she didn't ask questions about the ridiculous amount of money these two teenagers were spending), and stepped out of the store.

As soon as they had one foot outside, a pink cloud that smelled of roses and perfume picked them up and transferred them back to the USA. There, Aphrodite was awaiting them. 'So, Perseus and Sheila, darlings, what did you buy? I hope it is something nice. Truly, your parents are lovely, but their style is just so… of, sometimes. If I dare say, it was way better back in the ancient days!' Percy didn't answer. Yeah, okay, he had to agree with that.

Aphrodite opened their shopping bags. 'Oh, how nice are all of these things! You just picked out just the right things, Percy! Except, the suit could be bluer, of course, and the Pearls are a little small...' Percy cut her of there. 'Yeah, eh, thanks, Aphrodite (Mostly thanks for not picking them for me, he thought). Yet, um, I'd like to go home now? Aphrodite shoved everything into the bag again. 'Go home? What? Oh, Percy, you still need to propose to your lovely girlfriend!' and so, Sheila and Percy were pushed back to earth again - right in front of Annabeth's house.

Percy wiped the dust of his clothes, and straightened his back. 'Ehm, eh, do I look good enough?' He stared at Sheila. It took a few seconds before he realised how stupid that question was. 'Oh, right... Well, I am...' At that moment, the door flew open and Annabeth stepped outside. 'So, Perseus Jackson, do you want to go to prom with me?' she asked.

Percy just hugged her. 'Yeah, wise girl, I do.' Annabeth smiled. 'Aphrodite decided to move the process along a bit.' Percy sighed. 'You gotta love Aphrodite, I suppose. He got the necklace and the book out of his bags. 'She made me buy this,' He said as he hung the necklace around her neck, 'But this comes straight out of my heart, He continued while he gave her the book. Annabeth cheered. 'Yes! Where did you get it? They don't have it in big print in Barnes & Nobles!'

Sheila walked up to them. 'Well, Percy, I guess you are right, she does like the big print.' Percy tapped her arm. 'Obviously. This is my wise girl, immortal.' Sheila sighed. 'Oh, so now I get called 'immortal' already, huh? Crazy.' She smiled so wide while she said it, that Percy couldn't take her seriously. Annabeth chuckled. This shopping trip must have been weird, she thought.