Disclaimer: I do not own PJO

A/N Here's the next chapter : ) I have to give props to Perabeth for the invisibility cap idea. Also, for those of you who want to see other characters, you'll see some of the others throughout the quest. To all of the rest of the reviewers, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

"Our plan is great." Annabeth was thinking, as Beckendorf loaded the bags into the car. She wasn't pompous or anything, (okay maybe a little), but she was feeling proud of herself for coming up with two great plans in the space of two days. Okay, Percy had helped a bit. Emphasis on a bit.

She climbed into the back seat of the SUV the camp was lending them. Beckendorf would be driving; since they were old enough that they didn't need Argus to take them anymore. She had to keep herself from gasping out loud when she felt someone grab her hand from the next seat. She looked over and couldn't see anybody there of course, since he was wearing her Yankees cap. But, she knew who it was.

Silena climbed into the passenger seat. She had been giddy all morning, excited for the quest and apparently she really liked road trips. Probably mostly because Beckendorf would be coming with them.

"Oh Annabeth this is going to be so fun! Oh my gods, I have to give you a manicure while we're driving and I can totally show you a new kind of braiding I learned!" Silena gushed, her cheeks turning pink with excitement. Annabeth groaned inwardly, doing her best not to let Silena know that that sounded about as fun as a staring contest with Medusa.

Luckily for Annabeth, just then Beckendorf climbed into the driver's seat.

"To Manhattan!" He said as he started the engine. The radio started playing country music and Silena groaned and switched it to some Top 40 station. Annabeth sat back and pulled out an architecture book. This was going to be a long, long drive, especially since they would probably have to stay over somewhere at some point. She had had to convince Silena and Beckendorf that they shouldn't fly; using the excuse that Zeus was angry with Athena right now. Which was completely untrue. But, if they decided to fly there was no way Percy could sneak along. And Annabeth really wanted him on this quest. Maybe it was selfish, but it just felt right.

She heard a chewing noise.

"Grover, please don't eat my backpack." She said, trying to be patient. Grover looked back and forth guiltily.

"Sorry Annabeth." He gulped. They were giving Grover a ride into the city, where he was leading some kind of nature rally or something. She heard a stifled laugh from the middle seat and hoped that Grover wouldn't notice. Annabeth glared in Percy's general direction, since she wasn't sure where exactly he was. She was finding it hard to concentrate on her book, since now she could feel Percy's breath on her cheek. Then, she felt his lips replace his breath and they moved down to her neck.

She bet he was getting a big kick out of this, trying to make Annabeth show some reaction. She ignored it as well as she could, forcing her brain to read the letters in her book. He was placing butterfly kisses up her neck, moving towards her lips. She really wanted to slap him away, but she was afraid somebody would notice that her hand hit solid air. Suddenly, his lips were on hers, just for a second and she let out the quietest gasp. She saw Silena stiffen in the passenger seat, as if she could sense when there was someone kissing. Maybe she could. Annabeth wasn't completely sure what powers a child of Aphrodite might have. Silena turned around and stared at Annabeth questioningly.

"Did you feel that?" She asked, now looking around the car. Annabeth gulped.

"Feel what?" She said as innocently as she could. Silena's face looked confused.

"I guess it was nothing." She muttered turning back around. Annabeth sighed in relief and turned back to her book, but it was gone. She looked to her right and saw a guilty looking satyr with a half chewed Greek architecture book in his mouth. Annabeth groaned in annoyance.

"Beckendorf can we please stop for something to eat before Grover eats all of my belongings?" She called up to the front. Beckendorf laughed and gave her a sarcastic salute. They pulled into a drive thru at a Burger King and Annabeth was pretty sure it was the same one they had gone to on their way to camp. Percy seemed to think so too since he squeezed Annabeth's hand.

"Okay, what does everyone want?" Beckendorf asked.

Annabeth got two burgers, pretending that she was really hungry, Grover and Silena both got salads and Beckendorf got a huge double burger. Annabeth laughed to herself as she casually placed the second burger on the seat next to her. She had gotten it with mustard, pickles and tomatoes. Everything Percy hated. She felt like he deserved it for torturing her before, and he didn't really have any other option but to eat it. Annabeth felt an evil satisfaction when she heard gagging next to her. Percy would so get her back for that.

They finally got to Manhattan and dropped off Grover at a park. He apologized again to Annabeth for eating her books (he'd eaten her back-up book too) and then headed towards the crowd of waiting satyrs.

"So, where should we go first?" Beckendorf asked. They both looked at Silena, since she was the leader of the quest. She pursed her lips, her face unusually serious.

"Well, let's see. Who would steal Aphrodite's girdle? Someone she has a rivalry with, probably." Silena looked deep in thought. Annabeth thought about it too, and suddenly it clicked.

"Persephone. I bet they're fighting over some guy again, like with Adonis." Annabeth said.

Silena groaned. "That makes sense. She's probably still mad at my mom, just because Adonis preferred her. I mean, obviously he would."

They all agreed they would head to Los Angeles, to the underworld.