Chapter Four:
New A/N: More basic editing! :P
Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure you all know I don't own PJO or HOO. If you didn't, guess what? I DON'T OWN!
I headed to archery. Most of the Hermes campers were already there. I grabbed a bow and quiver of arrows from the weapons shed. The Apollo cabin was instructing us (no surprise). Most of the Hermes kids couldn't shoot a bow to save their lives (Haha, demigod joke). I knew I was as good as any Apollo archer, but I pretended to be average. Occasionally I would get close to a bullseye. Why? Because for once I wanted to fade into the background.
After archery I was putting my bow and quiver in the shed when, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone staring at me. It was an Apollo camper. He was well-built, with muscular arms (no doubt from working with a bow). He was tan and had dirty blonde hair, darker than most of his siblings. I guessed his mom was hispanic. Being used to having people stare at me, I didn't think anything of it. Untill he went to the Apollo head counselor, Will Solace. The kid whispered to Will. Will raised an eyebrow and they both looked at me. I eyed them suspiciously before leaving.
~*~*O*~*~
I managed to get a seat at dinner. Some of the campers weren't happy, but I didn't care. I burnt some of my food to the gods. 'Dad.. please, whoever you are.. Help me find acceptance.. I don't believe the woman in my dreams...' After dinner, instead of going to the campfire (which I hardly did anyways), I headed back to the archery range. The moon was full and bright, illuminating the targets perfectly. I notched and arrow and inhaled. As I exhaled, I let the arrow fly. I heard the satisfying THUMP, as the arrow imbedded itself in the target. Bullseye. Second target. Bullseye. Third target. Bullseye. As I notched a fourth arrow, I heard a twig snap behind me. I whipped around, poised to fire.
"Whoa, whoa! Easy!." Jason said, holding his hands up in surrender. Piper stood next to him. Glaring at them, I lowered my bow.
"How long have you been standing there, and what do you want?" It probably sounded harsh but hey, they snuck up on me.
Jason flushed slightly and rubbed the back of his neck before answering, somewhat awkwardly: "Since target two and three."
"As to why we're here," Piper said. "We wanted to make sure you were okay."
"We.. um... didn't mean to uh.. I mean-" Piper laid a hand on Jason's arm and flashed him a quick smile, silencing his stuttering and saving him from further embarrassment. Ever since I healed Jason, he's been acting weird around me. I didn't mind (mostly). I was used to it. Piper turned to me.
"What Jason means is that we didn't mean to spy on you. We were just checking on you." Jason nodded in agreement.
"Well," I said, turning back to the target and notching and arrow. "I'm fine." I let the arrow fly. THUMP. 'Bullseye again.' I turned back to Jason and Piper. They both looked at me with raised eyebrows.
"When did you learn to shoot like that?" Piper asked. I shrugged putting my bow in the shed.
"About... three or four weeks after I arrived. So..." I paused and thought back. "About five and a half months ago."
They both gaped at me.
"Why do you hide your talent?" Jason asked. I closed the weapons shed and dusted my hands off before answering,
"I have enough attention on me, I don't need any more."
"But what if its positive attention?" Piper asked. I stared at her like she was from Mars.
"Yeah, I'm so sure." My voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Come to the campfire with us!" Jason suddenly blurted. I blinked.
"Do what? No. I'm not going."
Piper instantly perked up. "That's a great idea! Come on, it'll be fun." She smiled her cute smile, the one that usually got her whatever she wanted. I shook my head stubbornly.
"Nope. Not going."
Piper raised an eyebrow. She and Jason shared and look. Suddenly they both smiled. I didn't like the look they had. I started backing away.
"Oh no you don't!" Piper said, a devious smile on her face. "You leave me no choice. You will come to the campfire with us." I felt her charmspeak start to take effect. Against my will, I felt my feet walking towards the campfire. Piper smiled and linked her arm with mine. I scowled.
"I hate you." I muttered.
She kept smiling. Jason walked on my opposite side. Thank the gods he didn't link arms with me, too. If he did they would probably start skipping and singing, "Off To See The Wizard." I swear on the River Styx, I'd kill them. As I was walking, I had a bad feeling, like something big was about to go down. Soon I could see the flames, and hear campers singing and laughing. But I still couldn't shake the feeling...
R and R!
