A bell rang, signalling the end of another typical New York school day in a typical New York high school. Only it wasn't just a typical high school for one young man. Ever since he was attacked by a pair of monster cheerleaders during orientation, Percy Jackson kept his guard up wherever he went in the school. Normally Percy wouldn't care how many monster surrounded him as most were easy to dispose of, but it wasn't just Percy's life at risk. Every student and teacher in the school was in danger because Percy is the demigod son of Poseidon, Greek God of the Seas. Although, after a secret war against the fierce Titan Kronos ravaged Manhattan, the monsters that hid hid in plain sight at Percy's school feared what would happen if they attacked the "Hero of Olympus".

Percy closed his locker and was about to leave when he was grabbed by a boy who with hair that was dyed green. he wore a thick grey winter jacket, despite the fact that there was an unexplainable heatwave going on, and baggy jeans.

"Well, if it isn't my good buddy Goku," the boy said cheerfully.

"Hey Sam," Percy greeted his classmate, "wait, why am I Goku?"

"Because you have black hair," Sam pointed at Percy's hair, then at his clothes, "and you're always wearing blue and orange."

It was true, Percy often wore jeans, and he always wears his orange "Camp Half-blood" t-shirt. And now that they were entering winter, though the heatwave would say otherwise, he started wearing a blue sweater. As for his hair, it was true that most of it was black, but he also had a white streak that he gained from a demigod quest a couple years prior.

"So," Percy looked at Sam's hair, "What happened to you?"

"My sister thought it would be funny," Sam said as he ran his fingers through his hair, "anyways, what are your plans for the break?"

"I haven't really thought about that," Percy lied.

He had actually been creating a schedule for Winter break since summer. It was a schedule large and detailed enough to make Athena herself proud. His mom, Sally, and his step-dad, Paul, were going to bring him on a family road trip. He would use the stops for the monster hunting expedition he was planning.

"Well I'm sure you'll think of something," Sam said before running out the school doors, "See you in January."

Percy and Sam went their separate ways. Percy walked through the streets of Manhattan, passing multiple groups of girls. What he didn't notice was that they were all staring at him.

"All right," he said to himself, "goodbye school, hello expedition," he drove his fist into the air, "Woo!"

"Hello Perseus," One of the girls said as he passed.

"Hi Artemis," Percy took a few more steps before he realized what he had said, he turned around to look at the girl, "Artemis?"

Sure enough, the Goddess of the Hunt was standing right in front of him. Her auburn hair flowed naturally down, rather than being tied back like it usually was. Her gleaming silver eyes glittered in the sunlight. She wore a thick white jacket and jeans. On her feat was a pair of black combat boots. She had a scowl on her face. Percy thought the whole look was cute considering the twelve year old form Artemis had taken on.

"What are you doing in New York?" Percy asked.

"I'm going to give my brother a piece of my mind," she stated, gesturing to a nearby coffee shop.

The blond Sun God, Apollo, was easy to see, especially since he was flirting with every young girl there. Parked outside was his gleaming red Mustang, the Sun Chariot.

"Afterwards," Artemis continued, "I would like to have a word with you, so please wait here with my hunters."

With that, Artemis left Percy with the hunters and entered the coffee shop. Percy was too busy watching Artemis beat her brother up in front of the girls he was flirting with to notice one of the hunters sneak up behind him. The hunter tackled Percy and nearly sent him into traffic.

"How's my favourite cousin doing?" she asked.

"Thalia!" Percy excitedly exclaimed.

Thalia Grace, Percy's cousin and daughter of Zeus, looked to be the same age as Percy. Like him, she had Black hair, but while his eyes were green, hers were blue. The two playfully threw each other around, acting like children on the sidewalk. Artemis came out of the coffee shop to see her second in command rolling around and laughing with the only male of this generation that she trusted. She stood over them with her hands on her hips.

"I don't recall ordering you to attack him Thalia," Artemis said in a stern voice.

The cousins looked up at the goddess to see her smirking at them. They quickly got up and dusted themselves off.

"I wish to speak with Perseus alone," she told Thalia, who nodded her head.

"Hunters," she said to the other girls, "back to camp."

Artemis directed Percy in the direction he was originally walking while Thalia and the hunters headed the other way. The pair walked in silence for ten minutes before Artemis finally spoke.

"Aphrodite intends to set her plan for you in motion sometime next week," Artemis explained.

"Great," Percy groaned, "why does my life have to be her personal soap opera?"

"It isn't just yours," Artemis told him, "she watches me like a hawk."

"So," Percy wondered, "What's your plan?"

"Give her what she thinks she wants," Artemis began, ignoring Percy's confused look, "I will sending the hunters to Camp Half-blood, then I will join you on your road trip. Aphrodite will get excited at that sight. We will then make her forget about her plans for us by pretending to fall in love with each other."

"I'm not sure about that plan," Percy said, "Aphrodite always seems to be one step ahead with things like this."

"You will be using the trip for a monster hunting expedition, right? That is a common interest between us. We will be able to fool her, I'm sure of it."

"Well, if you're sure about it, I guess it's worth a shot."

Percy knew, from experience, that he shouldn't argue with a god when they are certain of something. However, Percy had a feeling that Artemis' plan was destined to fail. There was very little chance that anyone could fool the Goddess of Love into thinking that someone was in love. After all, love is Aphrodite's job, how do you fool someone like that?

"Then it's settled," Artemis continued, "I will see you this evening."

"Alright," Percy turned right into an alley, "see you later."

Percy was packing his bag in his room. After the mortal necessities were packed, he started putting his demigod necessities on top, for easy access. He didn't have many necessities to place in the bag, just a pouch of Drachmas and his emergency supply of Ambrosia and Nectar. Percy zipped up the large, dark blue duffel bag and, not having anything else to do, laid down on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Percy turned on the radio on his alarm clock to listen to music and pass the time. One Republic's Counting Stars started playing and Percy, bored out of his mind, sang along. After the song finished, Percy received a surprize.

"Good looks, skill set, and a great singing voice?" an all too familiar voice rang through the room, "I made a good choice when I selected you as my entertainment."

"Aphrodite," Percy groaned.

"The one and only," the Goddess of Love chirped, "I just wanted to tell you that Artemis was right when she said that I watch her like a hawk. I know all about her little plan and I intend to make sure that she doesn't fake it. Expect a… package on the second day of your trip. It's sure to make things interesting for you."

With that, Aphrodite's demanding atmosphere left the room. Percy wasn't given a chance to think about what he had just been told as there was a knock on his door.

"Percy," his mother's voice called from the other side, "there's someone here for you."

"I'll be right out," he called back.

Percy got up from his bed giving Aphrodite's warning one last thought before opening his door. Percy walked down the hallway into the kitchen of the apartment suite. Artemis was sitting at the kitchen table, talking to his mom and Paul. She turned to see Percy standing in the doorway.

"Perseus," She greeted the demigod, "I was just explaining our plan to your mother and step-father."

"Our plan?" Percy asked, "It's your plan."

"You are just as involved in it as I am, that makes it your plan as well."

"I think your sister would disagree with your logic."

"And your mother has agreed to allow me to join you on your trip. If we leave early, than we had best get to bed.

"There's only two bedrooms in this apartment you know," Percy stated, "so you can sleep on the couch or…"

"Or what?"

"Swallow your pride as the "Man Hating Goddess" and sleep with me,"

"I guess it's a good thing I trust you then," Artemis stated, getting up from the table, "because it is unbecoming of a goddess to sleep on a couch."

She walked out of the kitchen, grabbing Percy by his hood on the way, and walked to Percy's room, dragging him along the way. She entered Percy's room and threw him on the bed.

"Why are you doing this?" Percy asked.

"We have to put the into action now," she told him, "I have a feeling that Aphrodite is onto me."

Percy groaned and covered himself up. No matter what Artemis said, he was going to wait for tomorrow to enact the plan. Besides, Percy already knew just how much Aphrodite knew about Artemis' plan.