AN: Puns inbound, watch out! Also, I wrote this along with the other first person's before any feedback, I'm not the greatest with portraying girls. Guilty... Review all you want!


#7 – PUNishable by Names?

POV Katie

It was hot humid day, my shirt drenched around the collar. Like usual, the sun was high in the sky, blisteringly hot. Lately the weather was one dimensional. Just sunny. Normally I would be fine with it, I mean seriously? Who doesn't enjoy good weather? But, at the same time, there needs to be some rain. It would be awful for our strawberry patch to fall victim to drought.

I raised myself from my kneeling position. Hoisted the straw weaved basket against my waist and made my way towards the storage area. By the time I arrived to the old worn out shanty my arms felt like jelly. In hindsight, it's not really a long trek, but doing it on multiple occasions alongside a merciless sun can quickly take a toll.

I entered the shanty and with a satisfying plop, placed the basket and its contents on top of a pile of freshly picked berries. I alone picked out more berries than the rest of my Cabin, just one of the few reasons why I am counselor and they aren't.

Oh my, that came off as quite arrogant. I can guarantee you I am most certainly not like a hooligan cocky no good scum Stoll. I would never stoop so low.

Never...

What I obviously meant was that I am very determined and responsible. Chiron witnessed my beneficial traits and promoted me to counselor due to them.

Just for clarification sake.

Anyways, I exited the shanty and made my way towards the cabin. Unfortunately, luck was definitely not in its most generous of moods. Turns out that my hard working endeavors is what makes Travis Stoll drawn towards me, likes to pick on those with work ethics. The slimy Hermes born leaned against a tree with a lopsided smirk as he appeared to wait for me.

"What do you want?" I asked, not waiting for a reply as I continued firmly walking past him.

He soon followed, syncing his steps with mine, arms strapped across his chest.

"Are you always this uptight?" He complained, mocking me no doubt.

I was determined not to give him the satisfaction as I ignored his comment.

"So, I saw ya working today, and by the gods, you really shouldn't try so hard, your goody two shoes vibe might rub off on me." Travis persisted.

I'm sure that was some sort of attempt at a joke, But I wasn't in the mood to have any of it, I was tired, I started working before the sun. And just finished, a good twelve hours or so later, breakfast and lunch haven't even occurred to me. Why you ask? Well, I like to feel productive, useful and definitely not like an annoying jerk.

Instinctively my eyes flickered onto the tall teen beside me. His eyes meet mine as he raised a skeptical eyebrow, then a snide smile followed as he embellished a wink. I quickly averted my gaze. I fought back the heating sensation that so desperately tried to climb up my neck and onto my cheeks.

"Why did you watch me work anyways?" I mumbled, taking long shallow breaths.

"I was bored, plus, I had to hide from the Athena cabin." He nonchalantly stated, his hands buried deep into his pockets as if hiding from any cabin was common.

"Right.." I dragged, finally fully composed.

"So, I've been meaning to tell you a joke." Travis began, the gleam in his blue eyes turning childish and just plain mischievous in general.

I gulped subtly and braced myself for the worst. At this point trying to lecture him about anything seemed futile. Can't beat them, can't teach them, join them. A motto I decided to live by seconds ago.

"Alright, let's hear it." I sighed.

"Why did the apple cross the street?"

I froze in place, prompting him to do the same. To begin with, this joke was going to be random, that much was clear, but defying the very physics of common sense, please, couldn't he have tried to make it somewhat relatable. Who can relate to a darn apple? Unacceptable, I disapprovingly nodded my head before answering.

"Apples can't walk, let alone cross streets." I protested, finding anyway to belittle his inevitable bad joke to be.

"Suspend your belief Katie-Kat." Travis cheered, clasping an arm around my shoulder playfully.

I stiffened, felt as tight as a statue that's been dipped in chilly frozen waters and refrigerated for a century. No one gives me condescending nicknames. This whole encounter was a massive train wreck, first the joke, which he hasn't even finished, and now this?

I slapped his arm away as I massaged my temples, steady breaths to calm myself.

"Okay, why did the apple cross the road?" I gritted, eyes glued shut and allowing my fingers to massage the mental pain away.

"He wanted to get to the other cider the road."

The birds even stopped for that one, silence, absolute dead silence. If any human had to endure such shame as he is right now, they'd without a doubt lock themselves into their room and cry away their sorrows for years on end.

"Meh, I got others." Travis broke the silence, the birds chirping once again.

"Do you now? I'd love to hear some more." I sarcastically put.

Or so I thought, guess I wasn't obvious enough as Travis cleared his throat and proceeded onto the next pun, "Do you know why trees can't wait for winter to end?"

"Trees actua- no... No I don't" I corrected myself, noticing him narrow his brows in what I presumed was a joking glare. Regardless, I'd be more than willing to make sure he doesn't repeat that wretched nickname ever again.

Katie-Kat? Really? Where did that even come from? I struggle to see the symbolic connotation involved with my name and Kat. Short for Katie? Does it even mean anything to begin with? Realistically we are talking about Travis here. I doubt he thinks about anything other than his next prank.

"Um... Katie? When exactly will your reaction turnip?" Travis questioned, tilting his head in a mixed fusion of discomfort and confusion.

"Pardon?" I replied sheepishly.

Travis puffed out a long dragged sigh before continuing again, not that I cared or anything, he was the one who waited for me after all.

"Okay, Trees can't wait for winter to end because they will feel relieved."

"..."

"Did you not get that? Relieved, as in re-leafed? 'cause you know? Trees get their leafs back after winter and stuff."

"Yes I get it!" I screamed, feeling very inclined to pull out my hair.

"Sheesh, no need to be grumpy, I recommend eating something." Travis mocked before shifting on his heels and quickly hightailing away from me.

I would have started to pursuit the bastard if my legs didn't feel so flimsy. Instead I allowed my grumbling stomach do the talking as I sluggishly dragged my feet towards the dinner pavilion.

The rascal can wait for next time.


Clingy Author Note: Sorry if OOC. I'm seriously bad in getting in the minds of ladies. Proof being my one week relationship...*Sniff**Sniff*

Gasp! That's probably why I made Katie extremely hostile internally!? Psych analyzing myself is quite the chore...