Last chapter…

"Yes, three", he said answering the silent question. "The first one will be a test of strength. The second one will be a test of intelligence, and in the third test you're going to prove that you can choose the right choice. That is, if you pass the first two tests", he added.

That last sentence didn't help. And what did he mean "to choose the right choice"? I frowned.

"But, Chiron, why am I doing all this tests?", I asked.

"Oh! Didn't I tell you? Your mother. She wants to be your tutor", he said.

Chapter 6- I Have A Hard Time Choosing

"My mother?", I couldn't believe it. This was huge! I remembered Patrick had had Hephaestus as his tutor, and he became the greatest blacksmith in the mortal realm. I realized this was a great honor.

"Yes. And I would advice you to pass the tests successfully." Chiron sounded solemn.

"So the little Athena kid knows her challenge now?" Mr. D. appeared out of nowhere and looked at me annoyed. "You've caused quite an impact up in Olympus, you know?"

I frowned. "What?"

"The gods don't like it when demigods, or mortals for that matter, get tutored by another god. They think it's like getting competition." To my surprise, it was Drew who answered.

"So now everybody has taken sides", Mr. D. continued. I casted a quick glance at Drew. He looked upset. I wondered what was wrong.

"You must ask two people to come with you. You'll part tomorrow afternoon, so you have the rest of the day to decide who's going with you. And all three of you must come tomorrow after breakfast to the Big House so I can give you your first instructions." Chiron announced.

"And now I have some stuff to discuss with Chiron, so beat it", Mr. D. barked.

I walked with an excited Jasmin speculating about the tests I had ahead of me. But I was barely listening. I was still stunned.

"Dan?"

I turned to face her. "Yeah?"

"I've been asking you questions for a while now, and you haven't answered. Something wrong?" She was trying to show concern, but she kept glancing back.

I followed her eyes and found Max talking to Lucy, from the Apollo Cabin.

"She has a boyfriend, you know?" I clarified.

"I know", she said, not moving her eyes. "But since I'm coming with you, I feel I should…"

"Make every moment count." We finished together.

"I am coming with you, right?", she asked suspiciously.

I rolled my eyes. "Of course. But I don't think this will we as dangerous as our last quest. But go, you deserve some time with Max."

She smiled. "Hey, have you thought about who else are you going to ask?", she asked before heading towards her boyfriend.

"No. I guess I'll use this time to do that", I returned the smile.

I went to the arena, which luckily was empty. I took my ring off and seconds later I had my sword in my hands. I decided to practice with the dummies, since no one was here. Plus, the first test was about strength, so I could use the training. Who knows? Maybe I'd have to fight a giant, or hold the sky.

After a while I decided to take a break. I sat and leaned on the tree where I had talked to Drew about my quest. I blushed as I remembered telling him about the promise, and reached instinctively for my necklace.

I missed Patrick at times like this. He'd know what to do. I think. He'd had leadership and confidence, hadn't he? At least that's what everybody said, specially Max.

A silent question appeared in my head. A question I was afraid to answer. Had I really known enough about Patrick?

Now that I thought about it, my relationship with him had been so rushed. Like we knew it wasn't going to last. But with Drew was different. I did know him. And by that I didn't mean I knew his favorite color, or where he lived. But I knew how his eyes would grow somber when he talked about his dad. How he frowned and touched the tip of his nose each time he had to make a hard decision. How he always offered the pizza slices with pepperoni to the gods because he didn't like pepperoni. How he could hum each tune of his favorite songs, but couldn't whistle.

And I realized, I only knew this things because I had spent enough time with him to know each one of these things. I really liked him. Not in the way I'd liked Patrick, because that had grown into sudden love. But this could grow into love too, with time.

And it was in that exact moment that it hit me. I couldn't ask Drew to come with me and Jazz. I had no idea what kind of tests I had ahead of me. I couldn't face losing him. I couldn't go through this again. Patrick had been enough.

There wouldn't be a second time. I wouldn't allow it.

I decided I would ask Lucy. She was the perfect for the job. I figured if I asked Max then I'd have two lovebirds instead of two partners for the tests. As I got up, I noticed night was beginning to fall, so I hurried to the pavilion for dinner.

Drew caught my eye when we finished eating and motioned me over to his empty table. He was the only current kid of Zeus, but when I'd asked him if it was lonely, he gave me his best smile along with something that sounded like "more room for me".

I waited for him to finish drinking from his goblet. He smiled at me mischievously.

"Feel like skipping the bonfire?"

I answered before I could even think it through.

"Sure", I returned his smile.

We stood behind the pillars, acting like we were spies. When everybody left, Drew chanced a glance from behind the pillar behind me.

"Clear!", he whispered.

"Go, go, go!", I played along.

We reached the woods laughing like crazy and tripping over rocks. Eventually we sat on the ground, trying to catch our breaths.

"I hadn't laughed like that in years!", Drew gasped.

"We have to do something about that, then", I breathed, smiling.

"Don't worry, we'll have plenty of time to fix that on your challenge", he laughed, but I didn't.

…

"I… don't want you to come, actually", I felt my face warm up. My voice quivered.

He looked at me with disbelief, and he shook his head. "Sorry, what? I didn't catch that."

"I don't want you to come", I repeated, my voice a little louder than I wanted.

"Traitor", he muttered after a few seconds, glaring at me.

Ow. That hurt. "Hey I have my reasons, okay? You don't have to react like this", I protested, frowning.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better? I thought we were friends", he said, his voice rising as well.

"We are!", I replied. He was getting on my nerves now. I noticed we were both standing.

"Then why in Hades aren't you letting me go with you?!", he yelled.

"I already told you! I have my reasons!", I yelled back.

He snorted, making me get even more upset.

"I bet you would pick Patrick if he were alive!" That really hurt. He noticed the hurt look on my face and blushed.

"Dan, I didn't…"

I shook my head, blinking the tears of anger that stung my eyes. "Yes, you did", I spat with a great amount of poison in my voice. "If you don't want to believe me, that's your problem. But don't put Patrick in the middle of this. I'm not picking you, and that's final!", I turned to go when he caught my wrist.

"Ow."

"Dan…"

"Let me go."

"No. Not until you tell me why."

I tried to get my hand back, with no success.

"Dan, come on. Just tell me. I just want to know…"

"You really haven't figured it out? Didn't you hear the story about my quest?! What do you think I would do if something happened to you on my challenge?! I like you too much to get you into something that might hurt you!", shocked, he dropped my hand. I rubbed my wrist, and I continued. "I already faced two losses. I won't make it a third time. So, there. Those are my reasons. I hope you're happy", I finished sarcastically, throwing my hands in the air.

I stormed away, leaving him there, aware that he was still on shock. That should do the trick, I thought, my face still warm because of the fight. And as soon as I got to my Cabin, I didn't even say goodnight to Jazz, and as my head hit the pillow I closed my eyes, and I held on to my necklace as I thought about tonight.

The next morning I packed a few things- a jacket, some drachmas, and for some reason, my silver pen. I had thought about what I was going to tell Chiron: I only wanted Jazz to come with me. I figured that wouldn't be a problem, since it was my challenge.

So after breakfast, and some goodbyes, we headed to the Big House to receive the first instructions for the first test. Chiron greeted us with a warm smile.

"Well, first instructions are here. Are you ready?" he asked me, and I nodded.

"Very well." Then, he took out a piece of paper, and read out loud:

A test of you strength you first shall face

And don't you dare to hesitate.

Brace yourself for what's to come

But don't stick to the word alone.

Remember: right after the end,

You'll leave behind one of your friends.

Chiron handed me the paper, and then pointed to a table behind him.

"I got you some ambrosia and two coolers with nectar, okay? Let me know when you're ready to go." He left, leaving Jazz and me with the words still floating in the air.

"Some instructions", Jazz muttered.

"What did she mean with 'don't stick to the word alone'? Does she mean the word alone, or the word strength?" I asked her.

She shook her head. "Don't know. But we'll figure it out", she promised.

I nodded, and put the coolers and the Ziploc bag on my backpack.

"Let's tell Chiron that we're ready to go", I said, and we headed to Thalia's tree. On our way we started chattering.

"Why are we exactly going to Thal's tree? Aren't we driving, like always?", Jasmin asked.

"Guess this is a different kind of quest", I said shrugging.

"Hey, who did you pick in the end? You never told me." It was true. I hadn't. Memories from the night before started haunting me.

"I'll tell you later, I don't feel like…" I froze. I saw a backpack leaning on a tree. Anger flushed my face.

"You didn't really think that speech was going to make me go away, did you? 'Cause if you did, then you don't know me well enough", Drew said grinning, popping out of nowhere. I glared at him.

"Great! You found your third partner", Chiron said brightly. "I'll transport you now to your first destination. Dan, get over here please."

Our eyes still locked, I walked to the "transportation spot".

"Good", said Chiron. "Now you two, I want you at Dan's left", he told Jasmin. "And you to her right", he said to Drew. I looked up, too mad to say a word.

"Okay, Dan, listen closely. You will have to do this each time you finish a test, okay? Close your eyes, and clear your mind. Pray to your mother: she will listen. Count to 3, out loud, and hold hands with the others. Here", he gave me a small leather pouch. "you'll find the next instructions here, so don't lose it."

I gave him a hug. "Thanks Chiron."

"Good luck, child." He stepped back.

"You all ready for this?", Jazz asked.

"You bet", replied Drew. I took a deep breath to prevent myself from turning around and punching him.

I did as Chiron told me, and a silver light blinded me, even with my eyes closed. When the light went out, I smelled the salty air of the beach, and I opened my eyes.

Sorry, sorry, sorry I haven't updated!! But seriously, school was killing me. I hope you'll like this chapter :] and I'm ready to hear some suggestions about Dan's first challenge! (Those who know SHUT IT!)

Review!