that he was wasting our precious time and that I didn't need any of his help but I didn't have any pride for that. Or courage, or anything at all.

But I went to the weeping girl, and when I got closer, I noticed that she wasn't human at all.

It's a mist thing. Nico's the one who could tell who's dead or not.

"Hi, what's wrong?" I ask as I slowly approach her.

She sees me but she only shakes her head and cries louder.

"Um, if you need anyone to talk to, I'm here," I reluctantly made the offer, but I didn't want to immediately ask her to be Apollo's girlfriend and scare her away which leads me to no help from Apollo and not to mention I've wasted time.

She was very pretty- no she was absolutely beautiful. The way she weeped made me overly self conscious about how I looked when I cried. Her caramel colored skin complimented the dark shade of green hair she had. She noticed me, her eyes slowly drawing me in. They have got to be the prettiest warm brown eyes I've ever seen. No wonder Apollo has a crush on her.

"Really?" She asked, wiping her tears

I held the nape of my neck, "Sure,"

Then it began. I don't even know which part of the story she was in, her story was so long because she made so many detours, telling other stories then forgetting she was telling her own story and getting back on track but she'd go tell another story again- well, you pretty much get the point.

It was endless.

I kept nodding at her, as if I was really listening, but I was only thinking about how we could get to Hecate without any clues. I began praying really hard that whatever help Apollo will give, would be very useful.

I was also beginning to think that a slice of cheescake from The Cheescake Factory from across the street sounded really good right now. But that was just an extra thought.

"- and when they cut my tree, I thought I would disappear but I'm still stuck here! It's been how many years yet I'm still here! It's three days before May which is my birthday, I've already lost count of how long I've been here" The lady said, before engulfing me into a hug and sobbed on my shirt.

I felt my shirt slowly getting wet, but whatever, I still had shirts inside my backpack. I reach out to her pretty green hair and softly pat it. She was a wood nymph. Dryads were always so beautiful, like Juniper.

"It's okay," I comforted her, but I pushed her, and grabbed on her shoulders, my eyes filled with alarm.

She looked as surprised as me.

"THREE DAYS BEFORE MAY?" I asked, panic settling in my voice.

Nico and I only left camp three days ago, that couldn't have been possible. How could we have been away for a week and a half?

The booming voice I heard in my dreams crept up to me. Less than a month. Less than a month.

"Less than a month, and that was almost two weeks ago- how- Circe! I swear I'm gonna sack her in the stomach until she throws up," I cursed, groaning in frustration, clenching my fists so hard I almost forgot they were my hands.

The dryad touched my face, "You've consoled me, so I'll console you too. Do you want me to sing you a song?" She asked gently, worry lacing her voice.

I instantly forgot about my anger towards Circe and nodded but a certain smiling sun god popped into my head and I shook my head, hoping to take it back.

"You can sing for someone else, his name is, um, Lester. He's a good guy, I'll feel so much better if you console him instead. Is that alright?" I said quickly. Hoping Apollo would forgive me for naming him such a name but it was the first thing that popped inside my head.

The dryad looked concerned, "Are you sure you would feel better if I sang to this Lester person?"

I nodded furiously, "I'd feel so better, I'd feel like I was in heaven!" I exclaimed

She giggled and nodded, "Alright, I will meet this Lester you speak of,"

I smiled brightly and headed back to McDonald's. Apollo and Nico were now conversing, but Nico looked grumpy and Apollo looked satisfied. He must've annoyed Nico. Nico still looked tired, but I guess only a small amount of time of sleep already helped him.

When Apollo spotted me literally skipping my way towards him, he waved his hands around.

"I got her!" I cheered, a little too loud that people gave me odd looks.

I blushed, "Oops," I say as I sat down beside Nico.

Apollo looked over my shoulder, I looked to where he was looking and I smiled when the dryad shyly waved her hand towards Apollo.

Apollo smiled, and stood up "Thank you, I'll just set a date with her and-"

I grabbed his flannel, "Wait! Can't you help us first? We're in a bit of a rush"

The god paused before breaking into a lopsided grin, and gently pinched my cheek. "You're cute, I almost said yes. But I'll be back, don't worry. I'll help you!" He waved around and dashed off outside.

I held my cheek and blushed, almost forgetting my purpose. Did all gods and goddesses have an effect like this?

"Hey dunderhead, stop daydreaming about Apollo, that's gross," I snapped back to reality when Nico hit me in the head with a straw.

"Ow!"

"Why are you like that? It's paper straw," Nico looked at me with disgust, chucking another paper straw at me.

I puffed my cheeks out, grabbing a french fry and ate it although it was already cold.

"We spent a week and a half in Circe's island," I say dejectedly

Nico nodded, "I figured. She casted powerful magic on the island, it was slightly similar to the Lotus Hotel, but weaker"

"Lotus Hotel?" I asked, feeling stupid

"It's a magic hotel, the time we spent in Circe's island only felt like hours, right? If we were in the Lotus Hotel, spent the same amount of time in Circe's island, then we would have been trapped for maybe two to three weeks" He explained.

It felt really nice to hear Nico talk more. If he's not insulting me, he rarely spoke over a sentence and was always tired.

"I see, but we've lost quite a lot of time," I tell him, shooing my thoughts away.

"Yeah," Nico replied shortly. I was a bit bummed that he didn't talk extra extra. He took a glance behind, "Apollo's coming. Thank Hades he didn't take long,"

Apollo skipped back towards us, and sat in front with a huge smile that obviously pointed out that he scored.

"I guess it went well?" I asked

Apollo nodded and fished something out of his pocket, "Here," He put a small compass on the table.

"What is that?" I didn't realize how offensive I sounded until Apollo coughed.

"Oh sorry, but how is this supposed to help us? Do we just follow North and find my mom there? Or some other help waiting there? Or is this compass broken, its trajectory altered, because there's a stronger magnetic field in the country and going there would lead us to my mom?" I rambled on

Apollo gaped at me and even Nico looked a little surprised, "You sure you're not Athena's child?"

I shook my head, "Sorry, I'm very hell bent on finding Hecate. It's just stuff I learned at school,"

Apollo's smile returned, "Actually, the compass is broken. I apologize to have broken your theories, but I got that from an old friend. He's a descendant of mine, and gifted with immense knowledge. Head northwest, and find someone who sells very valuable junk,"

Nico shifted next to me, as if something in Apollo's explanation bothered him.

"Give the compass to him, and ask for help. The last thing I can offer to you is transportation"

I almost cried with real tears when he said so. Could we have gotten the chance to ride his sun chariot?

Apollo seemed to have read my mind because he gave me another apologetic look, "Oh, I didn't mean my transportation. There's a chariot at the back alley, sadly I cannot offer a pegasus or a horse- same thing. But it's all I have right now, like I said, I was pretty lazy today"

I nodded, it was better than anything.

"Thank you Apollo, when I get back to Camp Half Blood, I'll offer you my dessert for three weeks," I tell him and he breaks into a wide grin.

"That sounds wonderful, thank you Eretria" He then turned to Nico and his expression turned serious.

"Remember what I told you Nico di Angelo,"

Nico glared at him and took my hand, "No," He grumbled before dragging me out of McDonald's.