Thanks for the reviews! Sorry I haven't been updating as fast as usual, I've been insanely busy. Hope you like the new chapters!
~Secrethalfblood
Hpov
I had no idea what had happened to the aloe plants which was weird, but they did seem to be healing quickly now that they were in the Persephone cabin with me and my siblings.
Eventually, I decided to give up diagnosing and went to find Dennis. I felt a little bad for bailing on him earlier, but that guilt rapidly disappeared when I found him laughing with one of the Aphrodite sisters as they walked back from the Big House. They both we're wearing book bags that seemed weighed down and packed to the bursting point with something, and I figured he'd once again roped someone into helping him steal.
Abandoning my attempt to hang out with him, I sat on the porch of my cabin trying to ignore the stabs of jealousy going through me as I attempted to read a field guide of succulent plants. I thought there might have been something in here that I had missed, but I was having trouble concentrating. Dennis and the Aphrodite girl had gone in to his cabin for a while, but had just come back out and were talking on the porch.
'It's not a big deal.' I thought trying to go back to the pages in front of me. 'He can talk to anyone he wants.'
But I glanced up again to see her touch his arm flirtatiously and I shut the book knowing it was no good.
'She doesn't even like him.' I thought darkly. 'She just likes him because he's popular.'
"I'm guessing you don't want to talk about it?" asked a familiar voice and I looked up to see Elle wearing a pair of square glasses I'd never seen before.
"What's with the book?" I asked looking the massive volume she was holding to her chest. "You hate reading. You've got the worst case of Dyslexia I've ever seen. You're even worse than me."
"Yeah but Adrian lent it to me." She said brightly. "And I don't hate him."
"Ah." I said in understanding. That explained the glasses. "Still have a crush on the Athena boy huh?"
Adrian was quite possibly the biggest bookworm in camp, and she'd had a crush on him from her very first day here when he'd been in charge of her Greek lessons.
"So, you going to spark notes it and look up talking points?"
"No." she said blushing. "I'm going to read it. He's been helping me read faster."
"Wait, he knows you hate reading?" I asked in surprise.
"Yeah, that's why he's been lending me books. He only lets me borrow the ones he thinks I'll like so I'll actually be interested and read them. Why is that such a surprise?"
"I dunno," I said shrugging. "I just figured you'd always let him assume you were a huge book nerd too."
"Why would I lie about that?" she asked looking astonished. "That wouldn't be the real me."
"You're wearing fake glasses."
"That's just cosmetic." She said shrugging. "But a guy should like who for who you are on the inside. I wouldn't want to date him if I felt like I had to pretend to be someone else."
"You're not dating him." I pointed out.
"Not now, but one day he'll figure out that I'm flirting with him."
"You've been saying that since you got here."
"I believe in him." She said smiling but it faded as she spotted Dennis and her sister. "But speaking of flirts."
"I don't want to talk about Dennis." I said stubbornly.
"Hannah, don't be ridiculous. I know you still like him."
"All the girls like him." I said flatly. "Including your sisters."
"But you're the one he dated for two years." She reminded me.
"Well it seems as if he's having no trouble moving on." I grumbled.
"You want me to ask Steph to back off?" she asked.
"Like she's do that."
"I bet you she would." She said fairly. "I know everyone thinks she's just like Crystal was but she's not. I bet you if she knew you wanted to back together with him she'd respect it."
"I don't want to get back together with him."
"You do remember who you're talking to right?" she asked raising an eyebrow at me. "I have a sixth sense about these things Han so you can't lie."
"I don't." I said honestly. "And even if I did, he clearly isn't interested."
I gestured to Dennis and Stephanie a little hopelessly.
She frowned but didn't say anything.
"What?"
"Nothing." She said frowning. "It's just. I'm a little surprised she'd be interested in Dennis that's all."
"Why?" I asked in surprise. I was pretty sure most girls were.
She seemed to weigh her words carefully before speaking.
"He just doesn't seem like her type."
"Dennis is every girl's type." I said darkly and she rolled her eyes.
"Oh stop being so grumpy. If you want to talk to him just go over there and talk to him. You're his best friend. You trump anyone else he's talking to and you know that."
"Yeah, I guess." I said grinning in spite of myself.
"So cheer up." She said in exasperation. "Go talk to him."
"What are you going to do?" I asked.
"I've got a book to read." She said brightly holding it up for me to look at.
"And Adrian to stare at." I muttered and she giggled.
"Exactly. Now shoo."
I rolled my eyes but got to my feet and jogged over to the Hermes cabin.
"Hey." I said looking at Dennis and while he looked away from Stephanie, and I knew Elle was right saying that he'd never ignore me for anyone, I couldn't help but feel a little intimidated when Stephanie looked at me.
She didn't look angry, but she was even more beautiful up close. She smiled pleasantly when she spotted me and I wasn't sure what to make of it. I'd thought she'd be annoyed at being interrupted.
"What's up Han?" Dennis asked.
"Nothing. Just wondering if you wanted to do something, unless you guys are busy?"
"Nope." Stephanie said shaking her head. "I was just leaving." she turned to Dennis. "I'll see you this weekend, right?"
"Yeah. I'll be there."
"Great." She said giving him a glowing smile then walked off the porch and made her way to her own cabin.
"What's this weekend?" I asked watching her figure retreat a little uncertainly.
"Oh nothing." He said shrugging. "Some of her sisters wanted to get a party mix CD that comes out today but obviously they can't leave camp, so she asked me to sneak out and get it for her."
"Can't they just wait until they leave to get it?" I asked frowning. That's what I would have done.
"Apparently they want it as a present for one of their brothers. It's made by his favorite DJ. They're throwing him a party this weekend."
"I'm guessing Stephanie invited you?"
"Yeah. You want to come? She said you could if you wanted."
"Why?" I asked suspiciously.
"Because you're my best friend and I'm doing her a favor." He said shrugging.
"I have a hard time believing she wants me there."
"Why?" he asked in surprise.
"It's kind of obvious she's into you. Girls generally don't like other girls hanging around the guys they like."
"Maybe." He said with another shrug and looking after her. "But she's pretty nice. Well," he grinned. "When she's not messing with people. I have a feeling she might get a bit carried away with her powers."
"Sounds like someone I know." I muttered and he laughed.
"What are you trying to say there Han?" he asked.
"Absolutely nothing." I said innocently and he gave me a fond smile.
"You know, if I didn't know you I might just believe you."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning you can act cute all you want, I know the real you. You're more diabolical than everyone else would like to think."
"Only because I hang out with you." I pointed out. "I never got into trouble before I met you."
"Well if it's trouble you're looking for, you can always sneak out with me when I go get the CD."
"I'm not hearing this." Said a voice and we both looked up to see Thea walking out of the cabin. "I'm also not reminding you that Chiron is sick today and will probably be spending a lot of time in his office. So you'll have trouble sneaking out on the path near the Big House."
"Good call." Dennis said grinning at his sister.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She said but her smirk ruined the feigned ignorance.
"What are you up to?" he asked curiously as she started to walk away.
"Going to talk to Tess." She said mentioning her best friend and Head of the Hephaestus cabin. "There's a rumor Chiron's going to let us have a chariot race this summer and if that's true, our cabin's going to need the best one."
"You're not going to work with Adam?" I asked in surprise and she smiled.
"No, I'm going to beat him." She said her eyes glittering. "He and his friend Kyle always team up for chariot racing, and I always team up with Tess."
"I've never seen her race a chariot." Dennis said frowning.
"She generally doesn't. She wants to stay available for repairs. Austin and I would always race it, but speaking of Austin, he's not here anymore. You want to ride with me?" she asked looking at Dennis.
"Sure." He said grinning.
"We're going to crush Adam and Kyle." She said with an evil laugh. "Don't get caught sneaking out of camp ok? I've got enough on my plate today without having to add pretending to lecture you about camp rules to the list."
"Alright." Dennis said amused and with one last smile she made her way towards cabin nine.
He watched her for a moment, still grinning, but then turned back to me, an excited glint in his eyes that I'd learned to associate with Dennis and his idea of an adventure.
"So what do you think? You want to sneak off with me?"
I wanted to say no, but as usual something about his smile made me change my mind. He had asked me to go with him, not Stephanie. That had to mean something, right?
"Alright." I said and he looked pleased. "But how are we going to get out of camp?"
"Well the easiest way would be to steal a Pegasus."
"Oh." I said a little uncertainly. I wasn't a huge fan of flying. I'd practically crushed Dennis's hand during the take off and the landing on our flight to DC.
"You'll be fine." He said accurately assessing my hesitance.
"Won't people see us?" I asked.
"Not if we take off from the woods." He said sounding unconcerned. "Actually, you'll be really helpful with this. We can just say one of them isn't feeling well and we need to find a plant in the woods to help it feel better. No one will question you."
"I dunno Dennis." I said uncertainly. "If we're flying I might stay here."
"Where's your sense of adventure?" he asked rolling his eyes. "C'mon, it will be fun."
I wanted to protest but he grabbed my hand and started dragging me towards the stables.
I wasn't exactly sure how it had happened, but ten minutes later we were in the woods where capture the flag was played. It was exactly as he'd said it would be. No one questioned him when I'd lied and said we were looking for medicinal herbs, and he'd hopped up on a pinto with russet colored wings, then held his hand out to help me up as well.
"Ready?" he asked and I hesitated.
"How high are we going to be flying?" I asked.
"Do you really want me to tell you that?" he asked grinning down at me mischievously.
"I guess you've got a point." I muttered still not taking his hand.
"Come on Han." He said rolling his eyes. "You'll be fine."
"I know," I said defensively. "It's just nerve wracking."
"You really think I'm going to let anything happen to you?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"No."
"Then trust me." He said his eyes meeting mine and after another second of hesitation, I took his hand.
"Was that so hard?" he asked as I slid my arms around him. I couldn't see his face but I could tell by his tone he was rolling his eyes.
"I'm having second thoughts…"
"Don't doubt yourself now."
"I feel sick." I muttered.
"Well this isn't going to help that."
"What?" I asked but he'd already dug his heels into the horse and it shot into the air.
"Oh gods." I said doubling my grip on him and he laughed.
I closed my eyes as the ground shrank beneath us.
"Dennis! Dennis I change my mind! I want to go back down!"
"Too late!" he shouted as he encouraged the horse to fly faster.
"Slow this thing down!" I shouted terrified as we shot between branches and then emerged over the beach only to hurtle over the sound.
"No can do!"
"Why not?" I shrieked closing my eyes as the salty breeze tore at my hair and I was almost certain I was going to be pushed off.
"Because that would be less fun!"
I swore as he continued to laugh.
"Oh gods." I muttered closing my eyes, trying to ignore the way we rose and fell along with the beat of the wings. It felt as if my organs were jumping up and down inside me. "Oh gods I don't like this."
He said something but I couldn't hear him over the howling wind.
Finally, after several terrifying, heart wrenching minutes, we touched down on the roof of a music and DVD shop.
"Well that wasn't so bad." Said Dennis easily sliding off the horse and extending a hand to help me down which I took.
"I hate you." I muttered darkly, my voice shaking along with the rest of me and he chuckled.
"No you don't." he said.
"I really do."
"If you hated me why are you here?" he said with a smug smile and I glared at him.
"Because you're good at convincing people do to what you want."
"True." He said amused and dropping off the roof easily his reflexes, which were far better than mine, stopping him from injuring himself.
"Uh Dennis?" I said looking around.
"Yeah?" he asked looking up at me.
"There's no ladder."
"Oh." He said. Obviously since he didn't need one he hadn't noticed. "Well, looks like you're going to have to jump."
"I'm not you." I said scowling down at him. "I'm going to break something."
"I'll catch you." he said easily.
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Do you know how physics works?"
"Yes." He said smirking. "Unlike you, I got an A in that class."
"Oh rub it in why don't you." I said sourly and he laughed.
"That still doesn't change that fact that I'll be falling very fast. I'm just going to hurt you."
"Hannah, you're tiny," he said rolling his eyes. "You weigh like three pounds."
"I weigh a lot more than that." I said. "Something you're bound to notice when I hit you at terminal velocity."
"And I'm a demigod. I'm stronger than regular mortals. Just jump."
"Why did I let him talk me into this?" I groaned and sat on the edge of the roof. It wasn't that big of a drop, maybe fifteen feet, but still…
"Sometime today would be nice Hannah." Dennis said impatiently.
"If this is how I die, I'm coming back in another life to kill you."
"I'll take those odds."
"You're an ass."
"And you're a coward." He said amused. "I thought you said you trusted me."
"I do." I insisted.
"Then prove it." he said holding up his arms and once again smiling me in the way that convinced me to do things I shouldn't.
"This is so stupid, why am I doing this?" I asked in a groan then closed my eyes and dropped. I fell for what felt like less than a second and then came to a sudden stop.
"Was that so horrible?" Dennis asked sarcastically and I looked up at him.
"Why do I listen to you?" I asked grumpily and he smirked.
"Well I am very smart." He said not too modestly. "And I am very persuasive. Girls tend to think I'm charming."
"Shut up." I said wriggling out of his grip.
"Oh relax Hannah, you're fine." He said letting me go. "Besides, now we can go to the library or a plant nursery or something and you can figure out what's wrong with the aloe plants."
"You care about that?" I asked him in surprise.
"No." he said with what some people might consider brutal honesty. "But you do. So I figured we might as well see if we can figure out what's up."
"Thanks." I said a little shocked and he smiled.
"Of course."
"This doesn't mean I owe you a favor right?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"Why would you ask me that?" he asked frowning.
"I dunno," I said shrugging. "Isn't that how you operate?"
Dennis rarely did things for people for free. One of the reasons he was able to get away with as much as he did in camp was, like Thea before him, he used his abilities to do things for people in order to get something in return.
"Yes." He agreed putting his hands in his pockets and walking out of the alley. Beany, the pinto we'd stolen, whinnied from the roof top and I saw several confused mortals look around for the source of the noise as we hit the street. "But not with you. You should know that by now."
"Why?" I asked curiously. Now that I thought about it he was right. I'd never noticed before, but Dennis had always helped me whenever I needed it, and he'd never asked for anything in return.
"'Cuz you're my friend dummy." He said rolling his eyes. "Apart from my siblings, you were the first one who treated me like something more than a Hermes camper. And we weren't very popular at the time. You think I'd forget that?"
"Well it seems like everyone likes you now." I muttered remembering how intently Stephanie had been talking to him and he smiled. I wondered if he was thinking the same thing.
"Yeah. But you were the first." He said putting an arm around my shoulder. "Now, let's go save your precious plants."
I grinned.
"You think I'm a dork. Don't you? Caring so much about this?"
"I know you're a dork." He said amused and pulling me closer. "But you're my dork."