On Monday morning, there's no time to sleep out hangovers. Well, not that I have a hangover, but I'm sure Sawy- never mind. I am not saying his name. At the thought of him tears start forming in my eyes again. It's getting quite annoying really, but damn, I liked Sawyer! I think Kuro's passed out in his bunk, and I think there're some hickeys on his neck. Good for him.

I sit up in my bunk and slide down, trying not to be too loud. Kuro mutters something in his sleep and turns over. Eh, I think I'll let him sleep through breakfast. Not really thinking, I grab a faded yellow t shirt and black jeans where I roll up the hems. I may look hot, but I really don't care right now. Slipping on my boots, I carefully open the door and close it before turning to run towards the pavilion.

I get there just in time to get my food and throw some of it in the fire. Involuntarily, my gaze wonders over to the Eros table. He isn't there. Apparently, so isn't about half the camp. Damn, were people really that drunk last night? I wouldn't know- after seeing the gross display of affection between a gay guy and a presumably straight girl, I sort of ran to my cabin and cried for hours on end.

Right.

"Move it," a grumpy voice mutters behind me.

I'm too tired to do anything about it but move.

It's only then that I remember Corleone. Dark… mysterious… attractive, oh, yes, very attractive…. I give my head a little shake and head on back to my table. Corleone's nowhere to be found, I conclude as I sweep the pavilion with my eyes. Oh, but Jordan and Parker are there… I think that's the Demeter girl who (I think) gave Kuro those hickeys… there's Kaede… yeah, and I don't recognize the rest.

"Good morning! I see that despite my warnings, the Dionysus, Apollo and Hermes cabins have still organized their annual Winter Bash. I see I cannot stop it, but it is unfortunate that I have to welcome our heroes to such an empty breakfast."

Hero? What hero? Oh, maybe that weird dude (totally hot, by the way, but not as hot as him or Corleone) who saved the world or so!

"Everyone present, please welcome back Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase!"

There's a round of whole hearted clapping as a boy and a girl, both about my age (sixteen), step out of the shadows behind Chiron.

"Hey guys, how are you?" the boy asks, smiling. A round of 'good's and such greet him and he smiles. "Great! So, I'll be your sword fighting instructor, I think, and Annabeth will be the Ancient Greek teacher, right?" he looks at Chiron, who nods. "Now, uh, who are the new campers?"

Kaede and I stand up. Percy (I think) frowns.

"Only two?"

Chiron sighs.

"It seems the rest are busy sleeping trough their hangovers."

Percy's face molds to an understanding expression, and I get this feeling that he knows exactly what's going on. Then he frowns again and looks at Kaede and me in turn.

"How old are you guys?"

Oh crap. Do I really look that old? I mean, I heard that lack of sleeps adds on a year or two, but really? Oh god.

"I'm fifteen," Kaede says, and I come to my senses enough to say that I'm sixteen.

"Chiron-" Percy starts, but Chiron raises his hands.

"Percy, these children were not at camp the previous summer, and this is their first time here, and it is only natural for a parent to claim their child at camp."

Percy nods.

"Okay, everyone, finish your breakfast. Classes will continue as regular, but, as seems to happen every year, I'll let the people who attended the party last night be excused from classes today. But this will not happen again next year!" Chiron waves his hands dismissively.

I have this feeling this will happen again next year.

When I'm done with breakfast, instead of going back to my cabin, I go to the Big House. Maybe Corleone will be there. As the big blue building looms into view, a hand presses down on my shoulder. I spin. It's him.

"What do you want?" I snarl, grabbing his forearm and flicking it off me. He looks hurt. Good. Oh dear, I think this is the sadistic part of me showing through.

"Val, what's… what's wrong?"

I roll my eyes.

"Uh, let me think, hmm… oh, I know. Maybe it's you cheating on me in public with a girl!" I shout, turn around, and stomp my way up to the Big House, where a dark figure is leaning on the porch. I think they're watching me. I think they're Corleone.

He is, as yesterday night, looking damn fine in the same brown shoes, though in black jeans and a black and white plaid shirt. The headphones are gone, but the dark Ray-Bans are still there. He smiles when he sees me.

"Hey, Valerian."

"Corleone," I greet him back.

"Ouch, someone had a rough night. Want to talk about-" Uh… why did he just stop? I turn around to see him standing there. Ugh, what does he want?

"Val-"

"I'm leaving," I interrupt him, jumping over the side of the porch and walking towards my cabin very quickly.

.:.

"May I come in?" It's Corleone. I'm sitting alone in the Hecate cabin (no clue where Kuro is- he wasn't here when I got back) on my bed, sulking. Yes, I actually do that… problem? The door opens and a crack of light floods the room. Ugh, that's really bright. The door closes again, and the cabin is returned to its nice cozy darkness.

I think it's an underworld-kid thing, but I can see just fine in the darkness. But, unfortunately, I don't know if Corleone can.

"You can turn on the lights if you want," I mutter, but my suggestion is met with a chuckle.

"I'm a like you- a child of the underworld. I see better in the darkness."

"You never actually told me who your parent was, just that you'd have to kill me if you told me." I think I sound a little pouty. Corleone chuckles in response again. Wow. Does he chuckle at everything?

"I was actually just messing with you- you know, testing your knowledge on the gods and so- but I guess I can tell you. However, I would actually ask you to please put a secretive charm on yourself so that you don't blab. I'm quite happy with people knowing me as the mysterious dude who lives in the Big House."

Uh, okay, that really doesn't make a lot of sense, but whatevs. I turn to the wall.

"Hey, can I have a secretive charm please? One that will make me keep a secret I'm being told?"

A few seconds later, a tiny black book materializes from the wall and falls onto my bed. Pretty sweet, huh? Well, Kuro and I have already figured that the wall trick only works for spells and charms and keys, not for food or anything else.

After I've put the charm on myself (after failing for about five hundred times), I turn back to Corleone, who is sitting on one of the black wood desks, an amused expression on his face.

"All right then. Son of Thanatos, at your service."

Wow. That's a lot to take in. Not.

"Uh, no offence, but what the hell?"

.:.

"I guess I should explain why I want you to keep this a secret. You see, every now and then you may see Nico di Angelo floating around camp. He's a son of Hades, and only accepted because of the part Hades played in the last war. But any other Underworld children, save for those of Hecate, are still outcasts. It's better to be mysterious and unclaimed than claimed and by Thanatos, do you get what I mean?"

Uh… I guess?

"I guess…" I reply. He nods.

"Now, what are you going to do about your situation?" he looks around a little warily, then cracks a smile. "The secretive charm is done now, by the way."

I nod.

"You see-" Corleone starts, but is cut off by a knock on the door.

"Come in!" I call, praying to however many things are up there that it's not him. It is. I roll my eyes in a very annoyed-ish way, making it so that he can see it very clearly. Then I raise my eyebrows in a very inquisitive way (what is it with all these big words lately?) and stare at him, making him look and, hopefully, feel uncomfortable.

"Val… I'm sorry for what I did. It's just, after you left the dancing and started talking to him," he starts, shooting Corleone a dark glare, but then continues, "I guess I wanted to… make you jealous?"

Hmm… nope, I don't believe him.

"Don't believe you."

"Val… please. It was a mistake! I promise it won't happen again, I swear!"

"Sawyer… I can't trust you! Look, I need someone who's secure, not someone who will make out with a girl for whatever reason. I- I don't- I don't think… t-this, uh, I can't, well…" I try not to into his eyes, but I can see him shaking his head slowly, dreading, as if I could still change my mind. But I know- I don't know how, but I know- what I'm going to do. Hell, I already knew from our first make out session on that it would last. I want a sweet relationship, one where we can just do things together like go for walks or have talks, not where we make out every time we see each other.

"Valerian…"

"Sawyer, I don't want a relationship… not with you, not now."

"I-"

"Saw-"

"I get it. You need some time. It's cool, we were taking things way too fast."

I'm seriously biting back tears right now.

"Sawyer, I don't want to be with you. Not now. Not- n-n-not ever."

Sawyer gulps. His shoulders droop even more. His lips start quivering, and he looks so damn cute, I just want to run over there and hug him; tell him everything will be alright, that I take it back, that I regret it, but I can't.

He leaves.

And I start crying hysterically into Corleone's shoulder, who has taken his Ray-Bans off in shock and pats me gently on the back, hugging me closely.

Sawyer's gone.

*Tear

Okay, that was sad. For that last part, 'It's not Over' by Secondhand Serenade was a real inspiration- I might even incorporate that into the next chapter. See, here's how I work. I like basing chapters off songs. So, if you have a cool song that is within reason of me listening to (absolutely not Justin Bieber or Rap), please tell me! I'll give you credit and all that stuff :)

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