Hi All! -J.J. here. Please feel free to comment, like at all. Anyone? Anyone?...Ok.

Also, I do not own PJO (but you knew that already.)

Chapter 4: Dreaming/Friendly Encounters

KATIE POV:

He is disgusting.

Ugh, Answer to my prayers. Seriously?

For a brief moment, with his unruly brown hair and his bright blue eyes, I had admittedly thought he was charmingly handsome. But then he opened his mouth and just had to ruin the whole goddamn experience!

And, I can't believe I had actually thought he was cute.

I fall into step with Grover's clops. I know I should be pretty freaked out by the fact that the person next to me is half goat, but, in all honesty, I am way to tired to panic over that. Plus, with what I've seen so far, it doesn't surprise me.

The plants grow thicker here which, ultimately remind me of it. The fact that the undergrowth is unconsciously parting makes the feeling of guilt that's harboring in my stomach swell.

"Huh." Grover murmurs. "I don't remember there being a path here."

Ok Katie, say something nonchalant, normal, don't be awkward. "I don't know."

Nice.

Travis, obviously seeing write through me, snorts. Ugh, asshole.

God I can feel his stare on me as we trudge up the hill. It's like he has laser beam eyes that are boring into my skull.

What is his problem anyway? It's like he wants to piss me off…

We reach the top and I wipe the dirt and grime off my face. "Are we there yet…"

I trail off, my hands flinging to my mouth. Oh my god.

Grover smiles and gestures towards camp with his arms. "Katie Gardner, welcome to Camp Half-Blood."

At the entrance of Camp, there were two marble post and lintel pillars with a beam across that said, in Greek, Camp Half-Blood. Wait…Did I just-?

"But, b-but I don't know how to read…" My voice faltered there and while Grover ran down the hill, whooping and screaming Gloria Gaynor's 'I will survive', my head started to spin. All the confusion and monsters start to bear down on me. Crap, I'm having a panic attack.

My hands were shaking. Don't pass out, don't pass out, don't pass out. Memories filtered through my brain like I was reading a flipbook.

"WHO ARE YOU, DEMIGOD?"

"You'll be with good people Katie. People just like you."

"It's not like Kronus gives two drachmas about demigods, let alone a spawn of Hermes."

"Hypothetically, if I told you I was a satyr, so half human, half goat…"

"Katie?"

My last vision was seeing two deep blue orbs staring into me with a mixture of concern and wonder swirling beneath them.

###

"Katie?"

My first party was loud. I could barely hear anyone over the pounding music. Red cups littered tables and the strong scent of Alcohol on people's breath wafted through the air. I hated it.

"Katie!"

I turn and roll my eyes at my giggly best friend. "Lizzie, are you drunk?"

She bursts out laughing in her own comical way. "What? I can't- Katie." She pauses, being the dramatic diva she is. "How long have you known me?"

I give her knowing smile and grab her cup. "C'mon, I'm taking you home."

Her eyes narrow as she protests. "Hey, what? First of all," She reaches over and plucks the cup back from my hand, "I was drinking that. Second of all, NO. We just got here Katie! Give me at least 5 more minutes."

I look towards my nails, itching to bite them. A nervous habit, I guess. "Lizzie, we should really…"

My voice trails off when I see his face. OHMYGOD he's here.

Bewildered, Lizzie turns around and gasps. She whips her hand around and grabs my arm. "Oh my god there's Trent." She blatantly looks for him in the sea of highschoolers. "Oh my god I think he's coming over here!" She squeals as I try to shush her. She clears her throat and gives me a knowing smile as the Senior Football Captain approaches. "Oh, hey Trent!"

"Hey…" I manage to squeak out.

He smiles casually at Liz, before turning his warm brown eyes towards me. "Hey Katie."

Again, me being the awkward unsocial one, smiles shyly.

Lizzie then interrupts the getting awkward silence. "Well, I'm going to get myself a drink." As she walks behind Trent towards the keg, she winks at me and waggles her eyebrows before she disappears.

###

The dream changes now. It's still pretty dark out and the party is still going hard, but the mood has changed. Everyone has gotten into the whole time to get some mode and most people have drifted upstairs.

I feel like my throat is on fire. I have been talking, dancing and drinking with Trent since Lizzie left me. Speaking of Liz…

"I should really find my friend." I slur to Trent who is sipping his beer bottle with a smirk on his face.

He smiles, "Sure, but first," He brings me in closer and his lips hover dangerously close to my ear, "maybe we should have a little party of our own."

I feel myself almost give in to his proposal. The words are about to spill over when my phone beeps. It's Liz. "I have to take this."

I walk away from the bar and answer. "Hello?"

"K-Katie?" Her broken voice stops me dead cold.

"Liz? Liz what's wrong?"

"Katie, I don't know where I am." Her voice sounded so lost as I opened my purse and dig out my car keys.

"Keep talking, Liz. I'm right here."

I get into my Prius and slam the door shut, turning the ignition before you could even say go. "I think I'm in a car."

Someone took her.

Shit.

"Ok, can you tell me where you think you are?"

The line goes quiet for a moment before she whispers. "The park."

I know where they're going. And, unfortunately, I know exactly what they were going to do. "I'm coming sweetie, I'm coming."

"Hurry Katie, I-" she falters. "They're here. I love you, Katie."

"Liz wait-"

The line goes dead.

###

I wake up in cold sweat, gasping for air, like I had just run a marathon. Holy crap. I haven't had that memory resurface since…

My mind trails off as I look at my surroundings. Where am I?

I am lying on a cotton bed with silky soft sheets and a fluffy pillow rests on the wooden floor, it's purpose long forgotten it seems. I pick the pillow up to notice that there are many cotton beds with silky soft sheets and fluffy pillows. Am I in a hospital?

Long breezy canvas like curtains caress the tall wooden frame of the room as white light seeps through the cracks. A soft breeze makes the drapes flutter and a single lily is perched on my bedside stand. Along with it is a tall glass of what appears to be orange juice with a note that says: drink.

Just before I reach over and have a taste, a doe-eyed blonde steps through a curtain. "Katie! You're awake!" She exclaims as she flips through her clipboard and smiles brightly at me.

Meanwhile, I gape awkwardly at her and look at my nails. The girl gasps. "Oh my goodness! I haven't even introduced myself! No wonder you were looking at me weirdly, cause I was thinking: 'why is she looking at me weirdly? Do I have something on my face or…'" she trails off and wipes one of her hands on her jeans. "Now I get it."

We stare blankly at each other before she jumps up again and holds out a hand. "Oh, right, I forgot. I'm Jaime but everyone calls me J.J.."

I tentatively take her hand and shake it. It feels warm but not sweaty or gross. "I'm Katie Gardner. Nice to meet you."

"Ah the pleasure is all mine mademoiselle." She says in a horrible French accent as she bows and laughs at herself. "I'm sorry, was that weird? I don't know. I like drama so…"

"No, no it's just…" She smiles brightly as I pause, "You remind me of someone." I finally say.

She nods, her honey blonde hair bobbing with her. "Oh, yeah I get that a lot." She then glances back down at her papers. "Ok, so I'll just check your vital signs and you'll be ready to go." She then points to the glass with her pencil. "You also might want to drink that. It makes the headaches go away." She then quietly leaves the room with a quick murmur about how she would be right back.

I turn to the counter and pick up the note turning it over to see if there were any other instructions. Nope.

With that, I picked up the glass and take a sip. I immediately recoil at the taste. "What the…"

"Ambrosia." A voice calls out behind me and I turn around. Ugh. Not him again.

He chuckles as he swaggers forward, sitting on the bed adjacent to me. Today, Travis sported dark jeans, a worn but soft looking dark leather jacket and a white T-shirt. Classic cocky asshole fashion.

"You okay?" I see a hint of concern before he looks away. "Of course, Grover asked me to check with you."

Oh wow. WOW. Jerk.

"Tell Grover I say thanks." I mutter and rub my arms, feeling the chills.

We stay in silence for an awkward amount of time before he pipes up again. "How does it taste?"

For a moment I don't understand the question before I remember what I'm holding in my hand. I take another sip and feel it in my mouth. Mmm. "It tastes like a friend of mine's world famous brownies." I manage to say before I feel my eyes widen. Note to self: Don't talk about past with strangers.

Luckily, Travis doesn't notice and he stands as J.J. returns, a box of equipment in one arm, her clipboard in the other. "Hey Travis." She mutters, obviously showing great dislike to the boy. I can't say I blame her.

Travis smoothly ignores her attitude and nods in greeting before stepping out of the room. Just before he leaves, I hear him say a very inarticulate; "See you around, Katie."

Once the boy leaves, J.J. huffs angrily and drops her box of instruments. "Ugh, that boy gets so on my nerves, like," She drops her clipboard and picks up a small flashlight, "he is so sweet for a few moments and then he turns into this evil prankster and playboy." She shines the light into each of my eyes briefly.

She drops the flashlight and she checks my pulse while I wonder in amusement. "Prankster and playboy?"

She gives me an annoyed glance. "I know right? I don't know. I'm just especially pissed off at him because he recently pranked us." Before I can even ask what it was, she holds up a hand. "Don't ask."

I nod silently as she continues on her tangent. "And then he goes off and dates every single girl on campus." She pauses before letting go of my hand. "Of course, most of us are smart and decline his gross offers, you know, girls like me." She dramatically points to herself and I grin. I like this girl. "But, there are a select few who disgustingly enjoy his company if you know what I mean."

I turn to stand up in my tattered jeans and gross looking Green Day t-shirt. "Um…"

"Oh, right! You're free to go." She takes my hand and leads me out the door and up a few stairs. "I should show you to Chiron and Mr. D first."

"Chiron? Wait isn't he that centaur from…?"

"Yup. Oh and Mr. D is a Dionysus so, don't cross him."

Gotcha.

Upstairs, we come to a cozy looking dining room that is littered with battle plans and strategies. We step through a glass sliding door that leads to a round a bout porch. From this point, I could see everything. In the far right, I could see a volleyball court and a large Greek building that had multiple sculptures guarding its entrance. In front, I could see twelve cabins lined in a U-shaped form with a campfire pit in the center. In the distance, I could see several other buildings, a lake and a large forest.

"Um, Excuse me?"

I turn to face to men, one in a wheelchair, one wearing a gross Hawaiian shirt, sitting at a table, playing cards.

Before I could speak, J.J. beats me to it. "This is the new camper. I was just wondering if it was okay if I take a break and show her around camp."

Hawaiian rolls his eyes while the wheelchair guy smiles at us pleasantly. "Most certainly Jaime."

He then holds out a hand to me. "My name is Chiron."

"I'm Katie Gardner. Pleasure to meet you." I shake his hand and smile while the other man who I presume to be Mr. D snorts. "I can already guess who her mother is."

Chiron ignores him and stares calculative at me. "Gardner you say?" He murmurs while he scratches his beard. "Have I seen you here before?"

I gaze at him, slightly confused. "I swear sir, I have never been here."

He nods and before things get more uncomfortable that it already has, J.J. coughs. "Well, we should really get going."

She hooks her arm around mine and we trot down the stairs and back into the "hospital".

"Oh my GODS! You've been here before and you didn't tell me!" She punches my shoulder and crosses her arms. "Now I don't have an excuse to hang out with you. Ugh!"

I laugh at her reaction, knowing the real truth. "No, J.J. I was serious. I have never been here before and I don't know why he recognized me, but I don't know him."

She turns her face back to me and uncrosses her arms. "Are you sure…?"

"I'm sure."

She smiles and grabs my hand. "Great, because I was going to show you around anyway."

I laugh and smile. So this is what having a friend feels like.