He watched her closely all day. Something was off. He could tell. She was one of his closest friends, even though she acted like she hated him a lot. At breakfast she had a dejected look in her eyes as her sisters and brothers tried to talking to her. She didn't say a word to them. She always talked to them, even when she was angry with them. Her beautiful bright green eyes didn't seem as bright. They were dull and lost.

At training she sat on the benches, not sparring with anyone. Even when he challenged her, saying he was better than her. She just looked at him blankly. He had never seen her eyes look so… emotionless. It tugged at his heart in a way that was almost unbearable. He asked her what was wrong and she shook her head. She stood and left him standing there, confused and hurt.

He watched during free time as she stared at her plants. The strawberry plants started wilting around her and she just closed her eyes slowly. He could've sworn he saw a single tear roll down her cheek. He moved toward her but decided against it. She probably needs to be alone.

At dinner time she was still spaced out. Everyone was concerned now, even one of the Ares kids asked her if she was alright. She looked at them blankly, like everyone else, not muttering a single word. Her siblings piled on questions as she ate in silence.

At the campfire, she sat alone. Everyone had given up, obviously she didn't want to talk to anyone. Well everyone gave up except him. He walked up to her, sitting next to her on a log.

"S'more?" he offered. She looked at him and shook her head before turning her green eyes back to the flames. He frowned. "Katie, seriously, tell me what's up. You never act like this. What's wrong? I'm gonna keep asking until you answer me."

She stared at him. He saw her eyes start shining with tears. He thought he may have hurt her feelings and was about to apologize, but apparently didn't have to.

Her arms wrapped around his neck tightly as she pulled him to her. She sobbed into his neck. He winced, he never liked when people cried because he never knew what to do. But this was Katie. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her back. He could feel the stares on his back but he ignored them.

"He's dying." she sobbed almost silently into his shoulder, her first words of the day. The words made her cry harder as she held him tighter. He had never been so close to her and he would be lying if he said his heart wasn't beating a thousand times a minute.

He pulled back and took her face gently in his hands. He looked her in the eyes, seeing the brightness was slowly edging back. He frowned at her as he pushed the dark hair out of her face.

"Who?"

"My dad." she said, closing her eyes tightly. He wanted her to open them. "Lung cancer. I told him to stop smoking those damn cigarettes. Doctor said he has a slight chance of living. He wasn't the greatest dad but he is still my dad."

The sobs came back and he pulled her back to him. This time her arms were tucked between them, grasping his camp shirt in her fists. He could smell the strawberry scent in her hair. He felt her tears on his collarbone as her face dug into into it. But he wasn't the least bit uncomfortable.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, Katie." he whispered. She sighed, not believing but grateful for the words. She took a deep breath and he felt her relax a little. She pulled back this time, a sad smile on her perfect lips.

"Thanks Travis. I needed this."