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Disclaimer: My name ain't Rick Riordan. There, I said it.
Grover waited and waited and waited in the strawberry field. He already had planned what he was going to say at campfire tonight, where he knew every camper would eagerly be attending. But at the moment, he had other things to worry about.
Juniper warned him that Percy and Annabeth were tracking him down, because apparently they were both told that all the whispering and snickering was caused by him. Later, she told him that some Aphrodite girls informed her that the couple planned on ditching campfire- again.
It was times like these that Grover really appreciated Juniper's extremely good hearing and Aphrodite's lack of interest in anything but gossip.
Finding everyone giggling at you for no reason can be hurtful. And at one point, it gets irritating. Annabeth sadly, learned this the hard way, and snapped at the Demeter girls during archery.
"What are you laughing at?" she demanded. "There is nothing funny about a bow and arrow!"
The girls just giggled even harder, but before they could prance off, Annabeth, grabbed one by the hand and looked her in the eye.
"I repeat. What. are. you. laughing. at?" she interrogated her, knowing the intimidating look on her face would make the girl succumb to telling her the answer.
The girl turned red, scared of the fact that Annabeth was holding an arrow in her hand. "Just go find Grover. He'll tell you." Taking advantage of Annabeth's slackened grip, she got loose and skipped off with her friends, and resumed their invariable snickering.
The blonde they left behind, still holding the archery weapons in her hands, notched the arrow into place, and aimed it at the girls; unfortunately, she could only imagine letting it fly.
"Yo, Wise Girl," Clarisse came up behind her.
"What?" she shrieked as she pivoted on her foot to face the daughter of Ares.
"Calm down, prissy. Don't yell at me again, or I'll run you through with Maimer."
Annabeth held her hands in defense: she knew it wasn't a good idea to provoke Clarisse at 10 in the morning. "Sorry! I'm just annoyed. Everyone's either been pointing and laughing or whispering at me, and not even doing it discreetly," Annabeth never thought her emotional outlet would ever be Clarisse.
Clarisse grinned. "Oh. That. Ha, well, can't help you there," she patted her on the back, rather roughly, before leaving.
Annabeth just glared at her back. She was in on it too?
"Just go ask Grover. He'll tell you."
She contemplated what the Demeter girl had said.
Did Grover say something? To every single girl in camp? Oh, she was going to get him.
Guys really aren't the gossipy, tittering type. So it confused Percy when the demigods he hung out with were staring at him, muttering things, then giggling like ditzy school girls; he was dumbfounded.
It really struck a nerve when Travis Stoll glanced at him, and then turned to his twin, making kissy faces. He was reaching his boiling point, about to lash out at him, yet before he could, Chris Rodriguez called him (apparently there was a backup in the plumbing in the boys' bathroom).
But even then, Chris was smirking at him. "Hey, at least it's not lava, right?" he told him.
What? What the hell does plumbing have to do with lava?
He really wanted to know what was up. Why in the name of the gods were people laughing at him for no apparent reason?
So when Will Solace was caught smirking at him with I-know-one-of-your-secrets looks, Percy jumped down his throat.
"What's the matter with you guys? What in the name of Zeus' beard are you laughing at?" he practically screeched.
Will flinched, trying not to cower in front of the other demigod. "Go ask Grover," he replied, crossing his fingers behind his back that all the blame would be taken on the satyr instead of him.
What? What in the gods did Grover say? Percy could only wonder what his best friend did to transform all his guy buddies into giggling, gossipy girls.
Percy and Annabeth caught each other between arts & crafts.
"Do you know what Grover said?" they both questioned in unison.
"I guess not," Annabeth rolled her eyes. "I just want to know what everyone's talking about. It's so annoying."
"I tried looking for Grover, but apparently someone tipped him off, because Chiron said he went to 'assist Argus in going to sell strawberries,'" Percy sighed in defeat.
"So... is there any chance we can meet up in your cabin again tonight? During campfire?" Annabeth questioned, rocking back and forth on her heel, waiting for the answer.
"'Course," he smirked before leaning in to kiss her, before he could finish his painting of Mrs. O'Leary.
Grover rubbed his hands, trying to stay cold. As predicted, all the demigods were present- all but two, of course. Chiron even convinced Mr. D to join in with them.
There was complete silence as Grover made his way up to the center of the circle. No one wanted to miss a word this time, and after last night's fiasco of interruptions, no one dared to say anything.
"Hi. Yeah. So I'm glad you all came tonight," he internally winced at his lame opening, but luckily, no one called out this time.
"Before I start, guys, do you think you could not mention my name in front of Percy and Annabeth? Like, ever? 'Cause they were prepared to hunt me down today." Although he was completely serious, there were still a couple chortles.
"I thought tonight I could tell you guys about Rachel Elizabeth Dare," he said. Some of the older campers, who knew the red-headed Oracle once had a thing for their current Olympian hero, grinned widely along with Grover. "And maybe even Calypso," he remembered she was a factor in the story as well.
"So Annabeth, Percy, Tyson and I," he began, glancing at Malcolm, "went on a quest through the labyrinth, like I told you yesterday.
"We definitely couldn't navigate through the labyrinth. We couldn't even see half of the traps and tricks that lay right in front of us. But after we split, and Percy and Annabeth went to Mt. St. Helens together and convinced Annabeth to get out of there..." he paused, waiting for the oohs that came from the smirking campers. As it came, he grinned widely.
"And Percy accidently blew up Mt. St. Helens. He actually caused the explosion. I really don't know how, that's just his luck, though.
But when he landed, he landed in a very interesting spot. Caaalyyypsooo's Iiiislaaand," he said, stretching out the vowels on purpose.
Even the younger campers knew what that was. There was so much laughter that Grover was scared that his two best friends might hear from their cabins.
Luckily, no one came, so he continued. "For those that don't know the story," everybody did, but Grover felt the need to explain it anyways. "Calypso was put there, and every thousand years or so, a hero washes up on her beach.
"A hero," he said, "that she can't help but fall in love with." This time the laughter was even louder, and more hysterical, and Grover started to sweat a little. He was sure if Annabeth (or Percy, for that matter) were to ever hear what things he was spreading around camp, they would slice him in half and serve him to Mrs. O'Leary (who had actually been looking at him kinda funny in the last few days).
As the laughter continued, Grover's prediction came true. Annabeth and Percy were coming up, behind the benches, where the campers couldn't see them.
Grover froze on the spot, unable to say anything else. What if the two lovebirds had heard something he had said? He would have to start running now if he actually wanted an opportunity to survive their wrath.
Unfortunately for him, after the laughter died down, people to yell at him.
"Hey, keep going, dude!"
"Did Percy ever love Calyso, then?"
"Does Annabeth punch Calyso in the face, or something? 'Cause, dude, I could totally see her doing that."
"O.M.G. What if Calyso is, like, planning revenge on Annabeth, or something, now that she's free? O.M.G." [Yeah, that was an Aphrodite].
"This is the best campfire ever. Keep talking, Grover!"
Percy and Annabeth, who were holding hands and still making their way to the benches, froze.
"What?" Annabeth managed to get one furious word out.
Every single camper turned around in their seats, startled. Even Chiron and Mr. D looked like surprised. But Mr. D wouldn't have to worry about his life. Lucky him.
Grover began to tremble. And then, he ran for his life.
Ha, this is really fun to write.
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