THIS IS RAW AND UNEDITED, I WILL GET THE EDITED VERSION UP ASAP

I stared at the vast, glittering blue lake in front of me, the smell of salt lingered in the air, calming my thoughts.

The off white sand had my feet wedged into it, burying them and encasing them in a less than comfortable rough blanket.

The gentle cerulean waves lapped against floor, marking its place in the world.

Clouds were hugging together in little groups among the sunset sky, brilliant shades of fiery oranges and subtle yellows swirled together to create a perfect picture.

I needed to pull myself together, I had managed so many years alone and I can't break down now. Not ever.

Pull yourself together Kristin. Get your emotions in check. I was intent on not letting a single tear flow down my cheek, not letting any sign of weekness show because after all, I'm a mouse in a field full of hungry snakes

I let out a small whimper, hating the fact I was so easily broken, so easily angered because I care too much. I care too damn much.

I don't know why I care, or how but I do and it's killing me. There is a reason why I shut my emotions out, because they creep up on me again and again and ruin my life.

Who needs emotions? They hold you back from doing things you need to do and saying what you need to say.

"What's up with you?" Luke asked quiety, approaching me with careful steps.

I swalled the lump rising in my throat and resisted the urge to cry again.

I stared pointedly at one particular pine tree in a sea of jade green, Thalia's pine, the one I came in past, quiet as ever.

I didn't have the energy to speak, to come out with a snarky reply.

This wasn't me. So quietly suffering with the pain i'd pushed away, so much that it strangled me until the point of my oxgen being non existant.

Luke moved closer and sat down next to me, pausing before pulling me in so I was resting on his chest. I could hear his heart drumming, a steady beat that calmed me almost instantly.

"It's okay if you want to tell me about it" he mumbled into my hair, "or if you don't thats fine too. I won't push."

And that's what I loved about him, my best friend. He didn't poke or prod, he knew when to speak and when to shut up and most importantly he accepted that part of me was closed off and I could see him burning to ask why but he never did.

Luke respected my bounderies and treated me like a normal human, no sympathy for something he knew briefly about and that helped me in so many ways I cannot begin to list.

I sighed and snuggled into Luke, while he held me like a delicate piece of broken china.

"I suppose I owe you the full story then huh?"

I smiled half heartedly and began to tell him of my life, of the living hell of the last decade. I paused when I got to my job at The Greyhound, trying to find the right words for a moment that turned the path of my life around.

"I was 14 when Alfie let me have a job there, and I worked 5 nights a week, from Wednesday through to sunday, 6 while 11."

" I would clean glasses and tables, serve drinks and endure the stares of paedophilic men. I've seen too many fights to count, many of which I broke up. I've seen broken hearted men and women, drinking themselves into a fit of hysterics and cleaned up so much sick." I stopped and shuddered at the memories flooding my brain,

" The pay wasn't great for what I did but it payed the bills and enabled me to eat every night, keep a roof over my head but some nights." I drew in my breath sharply as I recalled my most awful, pittied moment I've lived,

"Some nights I would walk the streets for hours, my feet covered in blisters, begging for food that I couldn't pay for that had to be spent on the house. I've sold my body to men time and time again, I've failed my classes time and time again because no one but Alfie knows and he's dead."

The words came out harsh and my breathing was raggedy. Luke rubbed circles on my back, reminding me he was here.

"I don't know how I did it but I did and now look at me. Running away from my problems like a coward. Running from his death. Luke you can never understand how much that man meant to me, never."

My voice broke but I pushed on. "He saved me that night. He died for me and the worst part was? He knew what I am and didn't tell me. He somehow knew and died before he could tell me the truth and that hurt. A lot. I felt betrayed and angry and confused and so I ran. And kept on running."

Tears were falling freely down my cheeks and Luke was silent, absorbing the information I'd held back for so many years. This was new to me, the whole I open up and someone listens. The whole trust in each other bonding thing. I wiped away the tear tracks from my face, now significantly red and puffy from crying.

"I'm sorry you had to see my like this." I murmured.

Luke looked down at my face, his jaw set and eyes ablaze with calm anger.

"Don't ever apologise for breaking down. Ever. I was wondering how long you could hold out until you broke."

"The weight is sagging you down hunny and I can visibly see it, the bags under your eyes, the forced smiles and laughs. Even you're cold humor can't mask everything."

Taken aback, I met Lukes pale blue eyes, searching them for any trace of lies but he was telling the brutal truth, and he knew it too.

Pulling away from him I stood up and offered my hand, which he took and stood, towering over me.

"Well then," I said, wiping my eyes. "I suppose we should go and eat something, since the conch horn blew about 5 minutes ago."

Luke laughed and raced off, feet pounding on the floor as he went. "I bet you can't beat me hunny!" He shouted over his shoulder.

"You want to bet?" I replied, taking off sprinting and enjoying the rush of wind as it parted for my path.

Luke looked shocked when I passed him, pushing forward until we were both running side by side.

We arrived at the dinner hall a sweaty mess, breath coming out in short gasps. I dragged him over to Poseidons table and campers stared and whispered excitedly to each other.

I caught snippets of their conversations, many different voices popping up at once.

"What does she think she's doing?"

"Surely Chiron won't allow this."

"Can she even do that?"

"Ooh that guys hot, I wonder if he's single?"

I whipped my head around at the last remark and found a boy with windswept dark blonde hair and hazel brown eyes eyeing Luke up and down.

"He's single alright, good in the bedroom too from what i've heard."

I winked at the boy and faced my now flustered best friend and dragged him to a seat with Percy.

I glared at him and laughed at Luke who pulled his tongue out at me blushing furiously.

I asked for a plate of mac and cheese, to keep things single and went to scrape some food of my plate for Poseidon.

"This does not mean I still don't hate you," I hissed when the flame turned blue, "I still won't forgive you for leaving me."

The fire flashed red for a brief second and I stalked back to my table and tucked in to the first decent meal I'd had in years.

Don't mind me, just here to break up the line

Once everyone had finished their meals, Luke and I set off to the campfire.

Luke wrapped his arm around me and pulled me to his side, a genuine friendly gesture and there was nothing romantic about it; simply 2 best friends supporting each other with blissful silence.

He smiled down at me, caramel hair flopping down over his eyes as he led us towards the campfire, already packed with singing campers.

We took a seat on one of the many wooden logs, hit in the face by the warmth of the large bonfire in the middle, creating an aura on tranquil and senerity.

Some, like us, were sat in the comfort of each other, though they had the sense to bring a blanket to keep the cold from creeping up on them. Typical thinkers.

Suddenly, a faint yellow glow appeared on top of Lukes head, an image of a staff surrounded by two snakes immerged from the center on the golden light.

Jake, seemingly purposely stood nearby yelled "All hail," He coughed and muttered, "Um what's your name?"

"Luke" he replied, blushing.

"All hail Luke, Son of Apollo." Jake finished and bowed as did many other campers. Cheers errupted from all around and Luke dipped his head in embarrassment.

Jake asked Luke for a walk and he passed me a panicked glance, to which I responded by shoving him into Jake. With an awkward cough, both of the boys set off laughing and joking along the way.

I felt a presence near me and I faced a pair of startling green eyes and raven black hair.

"What?" I asked sharply, keeping my expression blank.

"Hello to you too." He said, brows furrowing., "Look I just wanted to apologise for earlier, I didn't know about Mom and Dad. What they did to you was wrong."

He looked at me, concern ridden of his face.

"I know it was wrong but I'm glad you know it too, I can't be mad at for for something you can't control." I offered him a weak smile and stood up, brushing off imaginary dust on my jeans. "I say we go back to, cabin three is it? Yeah, cabin three and get some sleep."

Percy smiled and walked off into the night, and I followed shortly behind. I knew things would settle soon but I couldn't shake the feeling something wrong was about to happen.

Honestly that didn't surprise me since whenever I settle down, or somewhere starts to feel like hime, everything does pear shaped and someone ends up hurt.

Please excuse how late this is again, I'm off on my half term this week so I'l try to get as many updates up as possible. Please R&R!