AN: Hey everyone! I posted on the last chapter that I would post within the next two weeks, but I managed to post within 5 days! :D Anyway, without further ado, the next chapter of...
Son of Hermes, Daughter of Demeter
Chapter 4: Girl Talk
"Katie! Katie!"
She turned around and found her half-sister Miranda staring at her. "What is it, Miranda?"
"I heard you went somewhere with Travis when you were gone last night! Were you really with him?"
"Um… yeah… kind of."
"Oh my gods! Wait, wait, before you dish out the details lemme call Silena, and Ariana, and Felicity…." She immediately ran for the Aphrodite and Apollo cabins.
Katie sighed. Miranda and Felicity (daughter of Apollo) spent time with Silena and Ariana, both from Aphrodite, and it seemed that they'd rubbed off on those two.
In a few moments Miranda returned, with three girls in tow.
"Ohmygosh, Katie!" Ariana exclaimed. "Give us the juicy deets!"
"Charlie told me he talked to Travis and Connor a bit earlier," Silena said. "So, spill!"
"There's nothing to spill," Katie said abruptly. "All we did was go to this place near the beach and talk."
"Ooh!" Silena squealed. "That's so sweet of him!"
"What?" Katie didn't see how she had thought of that, based on what she said.
"Well," Ariana said, "I bet he took you to some secret, hidden place with a beautiful view of the beach, and he declared his undying, eternal love he's harbored in secret for you for years, and then you declared your undying, eternal love you've harboured in secret for him for years, and you kissed each other and spent a romantic night under the stars and over the beach!"
Katie was speechless. How did she know? She gaped.
"Katie, you're so funny!" Ariana said. "Mom told me and Silena the details after Miranda told us you were with him. But don't worry! She told us to keep quiet, but we would do that even if she didn't say so!"
"Oh my gods. Aphrodite's on my case?"
"Yeah!" Silena said, flipping her black hair over her shoulder. "Mom said you two were one of the cutest couples in camp, and she couldn't wait for last night, to see what you would do. She said you two are right up there with Percy and Annabeth—"
"Don't forget you and Beckendorf," Felicity said happily. "Aphrodite said she was really happy for you two, remember? She said you guys were absolutely perfect together."
"Well," Silena said, smiling and blushing.
"Don't deny it, Silena—or should I start calling you Mrs. Beckendorf?"
Silena blushed harder, but she was still smiling. "Stop it, Felicity!"
Felicity grinned. "You know you enjoy it deep down! You two are such lovebirds!"
"Well, later I have a date with Charlie! I'm really excited." Silena smiled wider, her brown eyes brightening.
Felicity smiled smugly. "I told you!"
"Anyway," Miranda said, "what else happened? Tellustellustellus!"
"Actually, I think you already told it all," Katie said.
"No!" Miranda said loudly. "There's more!"
People stared at her weirdly. Then they realized who she was sitting next to.
"Stop yelling," Katie said. "People are looking."
"Let them look," Ariana said. "I wanna know every little detail! Every word you said! Exact quotes!"
Katie sighed in exasperation. "You can't seriously expect me to memorize every single thing we said, do you?"
"We just wanna know what happened," Miranda said.
"Why? I wanna know why you want to know!" Katie exclaimed.
"Because, well, you know," Felicity said.
"No, I don't know," Katie said shortly.
"Well… It's 'cuz you, like, totally hated Travis, and people knew about that, believe me," Miranda said.
"Okay," Katie said, remembering that one time she chased Travis around the pavillion after he played a prank on her involving sunny-side-up eggs, glue, and purple dye.
"And, even if they knew you hated him, some Aphrodite girl was talking about how much more peaceful it would be if you two were friends."
Katie raised an eyebrow.
"Anyway, the story somehow spread, but it got mangled, and one version said that you and Travis were secret lovers, but both of you wanted to keep up your image, so you just pretend to hate each other. But when you're alone, you're totally in love and falling head over heels for each other."
"That is absolutely ridiculous!" Katie huffed. "Wait a minute. Back up. There are versions? As in, the plural?"
"Well, kinda," Silena said. "We don't know many of the others, though. But I don't think you'd like to hear one that some guy made up…When I heard it, I didn't believe it at all."
"Where'd you hear that one?"
"Charlie told me… Trust me, you don't wanna know."
"Okay, I won't ask," Katie said. "But, I think, ew."
"You're absolutely right." Silena grimaced.
"What is it?" Felicity asked curiously.
"No. You really don't want to know."
"Alright, alright…"
"Anyway," Katie said, "please, just don't tell anyone, guys. I know that you think it's sweet and all, but I don't think other people should know about it just yet."
"Sure thing, Katie," Silena said. "It's cool. Hush-hush!" She held a finger up to her lips.
"Thanks, guys," Katie said gratefully. "At least you understand."
And together, the girls walked into the mess hall.
AN: Hope you liked the chapter! It might take me much longer to post the fifth chapter, though, as I haven't started writing it yet, and my exams are coming up. But, as always, constructive criticism is much appreciated, thank you!