Here's chapter 7! I'm so sorry it took me so long to post. I had a ton of homework and I kept forgetting about it. Sorry! Anyway, here it is! Please review! I'll post the next chapter when I get two reviews!
ArtyMoonSon: Thanks for leaving such a nice review! I'm introducing Daphne to Apollo in this chapter, so you'll find out what happens with them. There's a lot of pairings in this chapter, so I don't want to give away too much. Thanks for reviewing! Enjoy!
M'n'Mzutarians 4ever: Thank you for such a nice review! Hermes and Artemis get back together...in the third book. Sorry! Thanks for the review!
Hermes
"Alright, dudes, we have ourselves a problem," Ares announces, walking into the cabin. I stop doodling disturbing things above Apollo's bed and sit up.
"Is it your hygienic habits?" I guess, "Cause those are terrible. The whole cabin smells like urine mixed with fart, and that odor originates from you. See, there's this thing called soap-" Ares cuts me off.
"First of all, gross, no way am I using soap," He begins, "second of all, our problem is: the start-of-camp dance is in three days, and none of us have dates."
"I have a date," Dionysus points out. Hephaestus smiles and nods.
"Okay, well, you don't count, Sparkles McGay," Ares replies.
"It's a beautiful day in the-"
"Can we not make the gayborhood joke?" Hephaestus cuts me off.
"No," I answer. "It's a beautiful day in the gayborhood, and all the gays are out to play!" Hephaestus groans.
"Anyway," Ares draws attention back to the matter at hand, "this is serious. Do you have any idea how humiliating it'll be if we all show up single?"
"I don't think it'll be that big of a deal," Achilles replies.
"Do you want to spend another night on Theseus's wedgie machine?" Ares reminds him, "Didn't think so. And you're going to be the biggest loser at camp if you show up dateless."
"Lots of people go alone these days," Achilles argues. "Welcome to the 8th century BCE, Ares."
"Dude, this is the start-of-camp dance," Ares reminds us, "it determines your social status for, like, the rest of summer."
"It's funny that you should be so vehement on getting a date, when we could all easily get one before you," Apollo points out, "with the way you've fucked up your love life."
"Remember, you're girlfriend dumped you for me," Ares points out.
"Not for you," Apollo denies, rolling his eyes, "because of you."
"Whatever," Ares replies, waving his hand dismissively, "same thing. Point is; I could get a date way before any of you dweebs."
"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?" Apollo challenges, "You against the rest of the cabin. If one of us gets a date before you, you have to use soap. Thoroughly. And if you win, we won't make you shower for a week." Ares smiles wickedly.
"You're on."
Ares
I've got a big decision on my hands. I could ask Hestia to the dance, I like her more and want to patch up our relationship in any way I can. But she might say no, which would be the most humiliating thing ever. My other option would be Aphrodite, who's definitely beautiful and would definitely say yes. I just don't know if I like her that much. But I need to get a date fast, or else I have to use...soap. Gross.
Artemis
I pull the bowstring taught, aiming it at the center of the target. Then I release and let it fly. It hits the red, center circle and pushes through, burying itself halfway in the target.
"Wow, Artemis! Nice shot!" Daphne cheers. I groan. She's like a female version of Orion. She's totally obsessed with me and won't leave me alone. "Am I doing this right?" She pulls back her bow and lets her arrow fly. It hits the second circle, just shy of a bullseye. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Apollo firing flaming arrows on the other side of the shooting range.
"You know, Daphne, my brother is a pretty good archer, too. Why don't you go ask him? I'm kind of busy," I suggest. Daphne's ever-present smile falters.
"Oh," She mutters, "okay."
Apollo
I'm just about to let my arrow loose when someone comes up behind me.
"Hi!" A girl's voice, perky and excited, greets me. I drop my bow and whirl around, shocked at the sight before me. A gorgeous girl with long, honey-colored curls and bright, happy blue eyes, smiles at me. My eyes widen. I don't even realize I'm staring at her until she gives me a weird look. "Um, I said, 'hi'," She reminds me, "are you mute?" I give my head a quick shake.
"No, I'm not mute. Um, hi. I'm Apollo, uh, who are you?" I fumble.
"Daphne," She replies slowly, "Artemis told me you could give me some archery pointers." I hardly hear her, I'm lost in her bright blue eyes. "Hello! Earth to Apollo!" She waves her hand in front of my face.
"Huh? Oh, sorry. What do you need again?" I mutter, blushing furiously. Smooth, I think to myself, real smooth.
"Artemis said you could help me with archery." She mimes out every word and speaks slowly, as if I don't speak English.
"Oh, sure. What do you need help with?" I ask. In response, she pulls back her bow and shoots. Her arrow finds the second-innermost ring and buries itself there. "That's great!" I commend her.
"I can't hit the bullseye," She complains.
"Well, let's see what you're doing wrong," I reply. She draws her bow, and immediately I see her problem. "Your elbow is way up in the air. Push it down so it makes a horizontal line with the rest of your arm." I instruct. She nods and obeys, furrowing her brow in concentration. "Great. Now, release." She lets go of the bowstring, and the arrow flies, straight and true, to the center of the target. It hits the bullseye perfectly. She squeals in excitement, jumping up and down.
"OMG! I hit it! You are amazing," She tells me, throwing her arms around me before releasing me and running back over to Artemis. That's right, I'm amazing.
Ares is going down.
Hermes
Alright, now. While she's alone. What am I saying, she's always alone! Just go ask her! What's the worst she's going to say? No. She won't say no. Besides, you don't even like her like that. Just ask her as friends. What if she likes me like that? That sucks for her. This is stupid. Who even has arguments with themselves? I'm just gonna go ask her.
Taking a deep breath, I start walking towards Jane. Asking Persephone to the school dance wasn't nearly this hard. Maybe that was because she asked me.
"Um, Jane?" She whirls around, dark waves flying.
"Oh. Hey, Hermes. What's up?" She flicks her hair smoothly off her shoulder.
"Uh, um, I, uh," I flounder, "I was wondering if, um, if you had a date for the dance yet?" Her face brightens for a moment before going back to it's usual depressing expression.
"Please, who would ask me?" She replies, "I'm Insane Jane, remember?"
"Oh, right, well, um, I don't either, so, I, um, I was wondering if you, um, if you maybe wanted to go, uh, with me," I mumble. "Just as friends!"
"Oh," She says, sounding slightly disappointed, "well, OK, sure. I'd love to." She actually smiles at me, before waving goodbye and sauntering off.
Apollo
I sit down at my place in the pavillion and survey the area for Daphne. There is no way I'm letting Ares not shower for an entire week. He (and the whole cabin) smells bad enough as it is.
"Apollo!" Hermes shouts, zipping over to me. "Apollo, I got a date!" I give him a high-five ('cause that's what bros do, bro).
"Sweet! Who is it?" I ask.
"Jane Belmont," He replies.
"Who?" I question, not recognizing the name. Just then, Achilles walks over, with Jason behind him.
"What's this about Insane Jane?" He asks, "Hermes, don't tell me you asked her to the dance."
"Just as friends," He assures us. Achilles's mouth drops open.
"Jane?" He demands, "Why did you have to ask Jane? Why not...oh, I don't know, Apollo!" Hermes and I share a frustrated look.
"We're not gay!" We exclaim in unison.
"Whatever you say," Achilles mutters.
"Look!" Jason cries, pointing. We look over to see Ares approaching Aphrodite. Hermes smirks.
"That is so not happening," He mutters mischievously, before waving his hands wildly in the air.
"What're you doing?" I ask.
"Um, duh, magical pranking powers," He explains, as if this is obvious.
"I don't think those exist, Herm," I tell him.
"Oh, they exist," He replies. He snaps his fingers, and a giant tub of pink goo mixed with confetti hearts appears in his arms.
Wow. I guess they do exist.
Hestia
It's not weird. Loads of girls ask boys. I mean, this is the 8th century BCE. Shouldn't we be advanced enough as a civilization for this? Yes, we should. And we are. So, I'll just ask him. It's not weird.
Oh, gods. It's weird.
No. No, it's not weird. Gods, why is this so hard? We were so happy together! Why can't we still have that? We can. I just need to ask him. Now. Three, two, one, go. Nope, I'm still here. Alright, this time I'm doing it. Three, two, one.
I start walking towards Ares, plastering a smile on my face. Just as I'm about three feet away from him, He turns around and starts talking to someone else. Oh my gods. It's Aphrodite. Oh no, he's asking her to the dance! No, it doesn't matter to you, he's a douche, I remind myself, don't cry. Not here, not now. Despite myself, I feel hot tears pricking in my eyes.
Why doesn't he see? Why doesn't he see that I love him? I'm ready to forgive him, I'm ready to start fresh. But he doesn't want me anymore. I'm alone.
"Aphrodite!" Her golden curls fly in a halo around her head as she turns to reply. Her blue eyes sparkle, her red lips shine. Even though I've told myself I'm over her and I'm only doing this for the bet, her beauty is breathtaking.
"Yes?" She says sweetly, batting her eyelashes seductively.
"You look nice today." I've learned to butter her up before I ask her for anything.
"Well, thanks. Don't I always?"
"Sure. Anyway, um, I was thinking-" But before I can finish, I feel something cold, wet, and sticky pour down over my head. I reach up to touch it, and my fingers come back pink and slimy. Oh, gross. Little shiny confetti hearts decorate my body, my face is covered in pink goop. Aphrodite is smirking at me, and behind me I hear laughter that I recognize all too well.
"HERMES!"
Hermes
How to Annoy Ares
Written by...someone (not me)
Embarras him in frunt of Aphrodite
Embarras him in frunt of a large krowd
Do both one and too
Run.
Now is about the time for step four...
Ares
Hermes takes off, ripping through the pavilion and knocking over three tables. I start to run after him before realizing it's no use, with that damn super-speed of his. But he has to come back to the cabin at some point...
"Ares?" Aphrodite taps me on my pink-slime-covered shoulder.
"What?" I snap irritably.
"I'll go to the dance with you, if that's what you were asking," She says.
"Oh," I reply, "okay. Thanks." She waves at me girlishly, wiggling three fingers and then running off. Despite the fact that I look like Valentine's Day threw up on me, a smile spreads across my face. There's nothing like a date with Aphrodite. But my high spirits come crashing down when I turn and see Hestia pushing through the crowd and running towards her cabin, her face buried in her hands.
Apollo
Ares glances at me desperately. We both saw Hestia run off, tears pouring down her face.
"What am I gonna do?" He asks, sitting down at our table and wiping slime off his face. I shrug.
"How should I know?" I reply.
"I just- I thought she hated me. If I'd known she still likes me, then I would've asked her. I just wanted to win this stupid bet. Which, by the way, I did," He points out, "Aphrodite said yes."
"No, you didn't," Achilles informs him, "Hermes won. He asked Insane Jane." Ares groans.
"Does this mean I have to...," He trails off and motions with his hands, not willing to say the word.
"Don't worry," I assure him, "we'll help you through it." Ares sighs and puts his head in his hands.
"I don't even care about the bet," He groans, "I just need to talk to Hestia."
"Dude, you think she'll listen to you now?" Dionysus points out.
"And what would you know about girls, Sparkles?" Ares shoots back. Dionysus throws his hands up.
"Just saying," He replies. Ares groans again.
"You're probably right," He mutters. Then he looks to me. "Can you talk to her for me? Tell her I'm sorry?"
"What?" I exclaim, "Why me?"
"I don't know, cause you're a good person and shit," He answers.
"Fine," I sigh, "I'll patch up your love life for you." I leave the pavillion and chase after Hestia. It's a good thing I went after her, because when I find her out on the lakeshore, she's surrounded by fire. I quickly wade through it and sit down beside her, putting an arm over her shoulder. She doesn't say anything, just buries her face in my shirt and sobs. "It's okay," I tell her, "it's okay."
"It sucks to be cheated on," She mumbles into my shirt.
"I know," I tell her, "Athena cheated on me, too, remember?"
"Yeah, with Ares," She points out. "I just- I thought he liked me! And I was mad at him, but I'm ready to forgive him now. I guess he just doesn't want me anymore."
"Listen, Hestia, that's not it-"
"It's because of her. Aphrodite. She's so pretty, and flirty, and seductive. Maybe if I was more like her, he'd like me. Maybe if I was thinner-"
"Hestia, stop!" I demand, cutting her off, "I went down that road with Artemis. It's not a pretty one. Look at me." She lifts her tear-stained face off my chest and looks me in the eye, sad features drooping pathetically. "You're beautiful. Any guy would be lucky to have you. You're perfectly thin, you don't need to lose weight at all. You're the nicest person I've ever met. Did Aphrodite tell Theseus to stop picking on Harpocrates? Did Aphrodite single-handedly save the school musical? I don't think so. You're perfect just the way you are. Don't ever try to be anything else." The corners of her mouth lift up in a small smile. She flops her head back onto my chest.
"Sing me something," She says quietly, her eyes closing, tears still leaking slowly out of them. I smile.
"Sure."
Her head still lays on my chest when I finish singing. Her eyes are closed and her breathing is even. She's asleep. I run my fingers through her silky hair a few times, wiping the tears off her face with my free hand. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ares walk in. He looks at us, her head on my chest and my fingers in her hair, and gives me one of his best death glares.
Shit. Gets. Real.
I walk into the cabin a few hours later, during common time. The other boys are already there. They're playing some card game that Hermes is clearly dominating (which makes me assume it's BS, because other games are too complicated for him to understand, and he's the god of lies so...). Ares jumps to his feet as soon as I walk in.
"Dude, what was that?!" He cries.
"What was what?" I defend, playing innocent.
"You know what," He hisses. "Back there. By the lake. When Hestia had her head on your shoulder, and you were petting her like she's some kind of dog! That's not what I meant by 'talk to her'!"
"Well, I'm sorry I did your job wrong!" I exclaim.
"I asked you to tell her I was sorry, not cuddle with her like an elderly married couple!" He shouts.
"Well, maybe that's what she wants!" I counter, "Maybe she's tired of being ignored and cheated on! Maybe she wants a shoulder to cry on! Maybe she wants someone who actually cares about her!"
"I care about her!" He defends.
"Sure, you care about her," I scoff, "that's why you cheated on her. Twice. With my girlfriend!" He steps closer and grabs my shirt, pulling me closer to him.
"I love her," He snarls, "and she loves me. Not you, me. So stay away from Hestia."
Hestia
I try to remember the song Apollo sang me as I stand in front of the mirror. Girl, you're amazing, just the way you are. I lift my shirt and shake my head in disgust. I'm not amazing. I reach down and pinch my stomach with two of my fingers, feeling a big lump fat in my hands. I look up and examine my dull brown eyes, my boring, straight hair. Of course he wants Aphrodite. Thin Aphrodite. Blue-eyed Aphrodite. Curly-haired Aphrodite. Beautiful Aphrodite.
Boring, fat, ugly, wallflower Hestia.
Before I know it, I'm in the bathroom, kneeling in front of a toilet. I need to be thinner. That's all I can think about. Thinner, prettier, better. Synonyms. I gaze down at my reflection, the rippling water distorting my image. All I can see is the round face, the pudgy cheeks, the crinkles of fat near my eyes. I can't be that girl. Aphrodite isn't that girl. And Aphrodite has him. That girl- she disgusts me. She is me. But she can't be me.
I plunge my fingers down my throat.
It's all for him.
Jason
Her red hair stands out like blazing fire against the white moon. Gods, she's so pretty. And if I don't ask her soon, somebody else is going to figure that out, too. Come to think of it, why hasn't anyone ever asked her? And what were the boys talking about yesterday? What does Persephone have to do with winter? You're just coming up with reasons not to ask her.
Before I can think about it, I'm walking up to her, trying to plan out what I'm going to say. I'm not the best conversationalist.
"Hi, Persephone!" I blurt out. Oh, Gods, now what do I do? She turns around, a blur of flying red locks.
"Oh! Hey, Jason!" She says, all smiles.
"Um, I, uh, hi! Um, I was just, um, thinking, uh, that, um, you...I, um, you look nice!" Smooth.
"Thanks!" Now what?!
"Uh, so, um, maybe, if you, uh, don't already have a, um, date, would you maybe like to, um, go to the dance with me?" I stammer.
"Sure! That'd be awesome!" She replies, flipping her red hair over her shoulder.
"O-ok, so, I guess I'll see you then," I tell her hastily, eager to end this conversation. She smiles warmly.
"Ok. Bye!"
I am never talking to someone one-on-one again in my life.
