Random Person with No Name is really, really, tired. I had a coke at nine last night, and I didn't know coke had a lot of caffeine in it, so I was up past midnight tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Not fun. Also, I revised chapter eight, so you can either go back and read it or make note of how Hephaestus is not on Will's team, Athena is.
Mood: sleepy
Song that's stuck in my head: The Princess Pat- a Girl Scout song, don't ask.
Diss: No reviews on a chapter- which is what happened to the last one! Was it that bad?
It's gonna tear us apart/ Tell me forever/ It's gonna tear us apart love/ Or keep us together/ Cause you're the one I love- One I love by Coldplay
Sitting in this meeting for Capture the Flag had gotten old a long time ago. Everyone was arguing over something.
"Don't call me Nicky! My name is Nico!"
"Doesn't Erica call you Nicky?"
"Yes. Doesn't Katie call you Travie?"
"Touche. Well played, my friend."
"Now, you see, Rachel, your temper is as fiery as your hair. I like that."
"Yeah, and your face is just as creepy as your personality, Octavian. I don't like that."
"Hey, Travis, where are those sugar packets. I wanna pour one in Clovis's ear."
"Let's beat their faces in!"
"It's too bad I can't use my powers, or else we would win for sure."
The babble of voices was giving me a headache. It didn't help that in the middle of it all, our leaders, Percy and Annabeth, were making out. Again.
Now that I think of it, almost all couples except for Erica and Nico were. Them, and didn't Erica say something about the younger Stoll and Lou Ellen?
Groaning, I put my head down on the table. Bad move. Something sticky was dripping down my neck. . .
I slap my neck, and pull my hand away to see it covered in. . . was that molasses?
"The heck?"
I turn around and see Erica, Nico, Travis and Connor cracking up.
"Very funny, guys." I glared at them, before turning around. I learned by now there was nothing I could do. Erica was as stubborn as a mule.
"I know, it was hilarious!" My point exactly.
I walk over to where Malcolm was standing. I was surprised we could fit the entire blue team into the Athena cabin.
"So, you and Nyssa, huh?" I ask him before cracking up. Malcolm started laughing, too.
"Is it that obvious? I mean, it's just so awkward. Whenever we're, you know, alone, she is totally obsessing over you. Whatever crap she fed you about being over you-"
"I know, man." I grin. "B capital S."
"Why do you smell like molasses?"
"Do you seriously have to ask? Erica, Nico, Travis, and Connor are going around wreaking havoc, right before our eyes."
"Good point."
"So why doesn't start the meeting already?"
"Because my sister and her husband are making out. Like they need to. They just found out a couple days ago that Annabeth's pregnant with twins."
"Oh, gosh." I moaned. "Two mini Percies? That look exactly alike? This is not going to end well."
"I know, right? You know, before things get any crazier, I'm gonna start the meeting."
"Great idea." I look over at Erica and Nico. They looked like they were arguing. They've been doing more and more of that recently. I wonder what's going on.
Malcolm yelled a couple times, then pulled out a bullhorn. "EVERYBODY SHUT UP!"
"WELL IF YOU DON"T LIKE ME BEING FRIENDS WITH ANOTHER GUY THEN I GUESS WE'RE DONE!" Erica yelled, right after everyone else shut up.
Talk about awkward.
Erica turned her head away, looking at the ground. Nico looked furious.
"What did you just say?" He asked dangerously calmly.
"I said I guess we're done. I'm not going to be arguing with you all the time Nico."
"You- you- you biscuit!" Nico spat.
"Biscuit?" Percy looked at Nico incredulously from where he was sitting with Annabeth.
"Well, it's not like I'm going to use the real word." The dark boy snapped, then stalked out.
Erica heaved a deep breath. "You were saying, Malcolm?" She kept her gaze on Annabeth's brother.
"Erica," Annabeth said gently.
"You were saying, Malcolm?" Erica repeated, her tone more forceful. Her bangs fell in her face, giving her a stern, serious look. When it comes to Erica, that also means extremely pissed.
"Um, I was just, uh, going to say that we should uh, probably start the meeting."
"Right." Percy shifted Annabeth off his lap and stood up. "So we have a strategy. Er, duh. Sorry. Uh, We have Ares, Hades- I gotta tell Nico- oh, uh, Hermes, and Nike on Offense. Hecate and Poseidon will be on border patrol, Apollo will be aerial guards from up in the trees, Athena will be ground guards, and Nike, sorry, but since there's only two of you, you're jailers. Any questions?"
"Is that it? There's got to be more."
"What about specific positions?"
"How are we going to get into the trees?"
"What about Annabeth?"
"What is the Nemesis cabin doing?"
"Alright!" Percy called out over the outbreak of voices. "No, that's not all, we just don't want to disclose too much information until the game is ready to start. Specific positions will be assigned per person at the pre-game meeting once everyone has armed themselves. You get into the trees by climbing them, and as we discussed with Chiron, Annabeth will not be playing, but is still allowed to strategize with her siblings. The Nemesis cabin will jail, too, sorry. Um, I missed something. . ."
"Weapons." Annabeth prompted.
"Oh yeah! Ares, Athena, and all participants capable of fighting well with more than one weapon, we ask you to please hang back to pick your weapon last, we will make sure there is weapons suitable for your use, we just want the less experienced players to be using something they're comfortable with. That's it. Did I miss any questions?"
Everyone looked at each and shook their heads no, and started filing out.
"See ya man." Malcolm said as I passed him.
"Later. We should hang out sometime."
"Definitely."
I walked out and over to my own cabin. Everyone was all filed in, except for me and Erica, who came in several moments after I did. After a quick head count, I told my siblings, "You guys go ahead. Josh, tell Miranda from the Demeter cabin that I can't make it, family stuff. Erica, stay behind."
They all filed out, leaving me and Erica alone.
I sat down on the couch in front of my bunk. "Why didn't you say anything about you and Nico. I would have been happy to help."
"I don't need your help." She snapped.
I sighed. "You know, it's okay to admit to needing something. Or someone."
"It is not okay! Otherwise you would have admitted a long time ago that you love Nyssa!"
"What are you talking about?" I rolled my eyes.
"Oh, my gosh, I know I am going to sound like that cliche kid who knows way too much but Will it's obvious she still loves you and you love her and why can't you just goshdarn admit it!"
I looked at her, poking at my teeth with my tongue. I took a breath in, and looked at her. "Well, if I loved her so much, then why am I hopefully going out with Miranda from the Demeter cabin. Hopefully because I just canceled on her to talk to you. Also, why is Nyssa going out with Malcolm if she loves me so much?"
"Gah!" Erica punched her bunk. "Are you that stupid!" she yelled. "Nyssa is only pretending to go out with Malcolm, just to make you jealous, and you turned the game around on her when she suggested you ask out Miranda hoping you'd be turned down so you'd come back to her by asking her out and she saying yes and you're now just rubbing it in her face! Must I explain everything!"
"Erica." I said. "Did you seriously think I didn't know that Nyssa was pretending to be dating Malcolm. Not only did I overhear her begging him to do it, he and I had a conversation about it! Maybe that was only because he knew I overheard them though. . ."
"Alright. I'll give you that." Erica conceded.
"But we're not done yet. You turned this around on me when we're talking about you. Why didn't you say something?"
"What was I supposed to say? 'Hey let me tell all my brothers about how my relationship is epically failing so they all think I'm some sort of weakling who can't take care of herself! Yay!'"
"There's nothing wrong with being weak sometimes."
"Yes, there is, because if you're weak, then you're a joke. If you're weak, you get walked on by enemies, strangers, friends, family, people you've loved and trusted for as long as you can remember. Being weak is not an option."
"But if you really know the person, it can be. You let them in, find a whole new level of trust with them."
"I'm not going to listen to this." And with that, Erica stomped out of the cabin.
Mark of Athena is released on October 2nd that is just not fair the genius is making us wait!
I was walking out of the mess hall when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and gulp.
Miranda does not look happy.
"Why couldn't you come to our date? Where were you anyway? Who were you with? Why couldn't you tell me yourself you couldn't make it yourself, instead of sending your dorky brother?"
"Hey!" Josh yelled.
"I couldn't come because I was helping- or, at least trying to help- one of my sisters. I was in my cabin. I was with Erica. I couldn't tell you because I was trying to be a good big brother and not be treated like a criminal by a very good sister of mine!" I bent down to Erica and turned around as I was saying the last point as she breezed past me without a word.
I straitened up and turned back to Miranda, heaving a sigh. "I'm really, really, sorry that I couldn't make our date tonight. I'll make it up to you another time, I'll really try."
"Not likely." Miranda snapped and she walked past me. Wow, she's short. Or did I just grow. . .
"Smooth." Malcolm said as we walked over to the Athena cabin.
"Don't you dare comment."
"Man, I wish I could've handled something like that as well as you did, and in front of the entire camp. Screwing up with two very important girls, one you were just trying to be involved with because of Nyssa and I pretend- er, dating, and the other is your sister, who has an extremely short temper. You also revealed something is bothering and or embarrassing her in front of the entire camp. Nice."
"Malcolm."
"Yeah man?"
"Shut the Hades up."
I played Capture the Flag at a friend's birthday party and instead of flags they had hockey sticks so when I was running away from the enemy base I hit the guard over the head with a hockey stick.
"Will, Travis, and Connor, you take the best runners of this team, meaning Malcolm, Chris, Morgan, and Erica and make a big sweeping loop- avoid everyone at all costs, and you need to be absolutely silent- around the North ridge, along the borders of camp, and do so quickly. Don't get lost, use the stars and moon for guidance, Erica is especially good at that. Percy, you take frontal border duty, use your powers, enough said. Hecate, spread yourselves along the creek evenly on either side of Percy, best fighters or spell casters, I'm sorry, I don't know what you call yourselves, closest to Percy. Again, use your powers, people. Frank, could you and Hazel lead two fighting charges, split the offensive cabins between you two, one goes Northeast, the other South. Remaining Apollo campers, get up in the trees and arm yourselves, throwing knives, arrows, whatnot. Arabelle and Riegan, you guard the flag itself, the rest of you spread yourselves in a big circle around Zeus's Fist. Hypnos, I don't know if Percy mentioned, you guys are on the border too. Do not, and I repeat, do NOT fall asleep or you will be reporting directly to me, and I will make sure that is not something you will look forward to. Use your powers. That goes for all of you, and I can not say that enough. Use your powers! That's our secret, you need to use them! All but Travis, Connor, Will, Chris, Malcolm, Morgan, and Erica, dispatched. To your positions!"
As everyone but our group cleared out, Annabeth and Percy had us form a closer circle.
"You guys are our main force. If you guys fail, the game is thrown. What we need you to do is to get to the flag. Will, Travis, we had a little birdie tell us that Katie and Nyssa are the guards. Distract them. Malcolm, you help too, but only if necessary. Erica, you're the best climber here, they have their flag in a huge tree. Don't worry, it's climbable, or else they wouldn't have gotten it up there. You need to get the flag, without being see by Katie or Nyssa, that's probably the most important part of this plan. Connor, Malcolm, Chris, and Morgan, you need to be helping distract and keep anyone on the other side from getting to Erica. Morgan and Chris, one of you needs to stay free the entire time, because Erica- Erica, I'm coming back to you now- Erica is going to hand it off to one of you two. You'll run it back to our side, but if worst comes to worst, either Erica runs it over, or we somehow get Nico in there to shadow travel out. You all clear?" Annabeth looked at all of us as Percy ran off to the creek.
"Go. This game depends on you."
"No pressure." Erica and the other girl, Morgan say at the same time. They grin at each other. That can't be good. Morgan is known for her rebellious streak. It's almost as bad as Percy's but she tries to break the rules when she pranks- when her pranks actually work.
I've never met Morgan before, but I knew her reputation. Loud, trouble making, and the fact that she likes to steal a little too much make the possibility of her and Erica becoming friends a bad one. Thank goodness she's only eleven.
As we run silently through the woods, I get a better look at this girl. Honey blonde hair, with natural copper streaks- I've heard Drew make comments- and swirling green and blue eyes paired with a thin face- she isn't that bad looking for someone so young. Tall, thin, all the rumors I've heard about her dating one boy after another is not unbelievable.
I also realize, we're not exactly running silently. We can hear one pair of loud, thumping footsteps.
And they're mine.
I try to run softer. That helps, but not enough. They still echo throughout the woods.
"Will." Erica had slowed down so she was right next to me. "Will, don't rely on your heels so much. Find your balance on your toes and stay there. You'll also be more agile." She whispered. I rose up the slightest bit onto my toes, which felt really weird, but it worked. I couldn't hear my footsteps.
"It's still too loud." Chris murmured to Erica. "Is there anything else that we can do?"
"Well, Will can stop stepping on every single darned stick that's in our path." Erica glared at me as she responded.
I glanced down, and missed a twig. No snap. I kept doing this, and soon we were nearing our goal.
I could see Nyssa through the brush cover. I nudged Erica, and everyone stopped when she raised her hand. I was soon the last one standing, left there looking like an idiot, the rest army crawling like they had been doing this for years.
I dropped down, and Travis waved me over to the East side of their flag encampment, the closest to our home base.
Travis motioned for me to get up and hide behind a tree parallel to his. I see a tree off to the side move ever so slightly. Must be a bird.
Casually, confidently, Travis walks into the clearing. Katie whips her head around as he steps on a twig. Nyssa is glaring around, trying to find who was with him.
A little late on the timing, I follow Travis out into the clearing. Still confidently, but a little rushed. Travis glares at me.
Well, sorry, I guess I missed the memo for the rehearsals.
Nyssa stops searching the brush and looks at me. Travis grins cockily, and shoots me a look. Maybe I wasn't that bad after all.
"What are you doing here?" Katie walks up to Travis.
"Well, I was kinda hoping you wouldn't mind sneaking away for a bit. It's not like Nyssa's not capable of handling herself, and you look like you want a distraction."
Katie hesitated. In that moment, Travis kissed her.
The way Katie gasped and left her eyes open for a moment before responding gave me the expression this was their first kiss as a couple. Key words: as a couple.
They sure took things slow.
Anyway, Nyssa had her back to the tree in the center of the clearing, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw something go from one of the trees around from the edge and jump into the center tree, sailing a good ten feet before reaching it's goal. It was way too big to be a bird or something.
It was Erica.
I laugh and shake my head. Nyssa looks at me strangely.
Giving her the first explanation I thought of, I said, "You know, Percy and Annabeth, they spent a lot of time keeping themselves from each other with a load of different excuses, once even another girl. Same with Travis and Katie, except Travis had a string of girls." I watched as Travis picked up Katie bridal style, and walked out of the clearing still connected at the lips. "Yeah, I don't wanna know where they're going. But, it reminds me of me and you. No matter how many other people we distract each other with, we always seem to come back to each other, you know?"
I took a deep breath, not knowing if I wanted to continue with a lie or with the truth knowing I had an audience. Of course, Nyssa thought we were alone, and I was not going to give a half hearted answer and have her suspect something.
Nyssa looked at me with big, dark eyes, some loose curls hanging down in them. "Will, whatever it is, you can tell me."
Course I couldn't, I'd be giving away the entire plan and ultimately cause us to lose the game.
"Will," she whispered, putting her hand on my forearm, and letting it trail down to my hand. My eyes met hers, and her face shone in the light of the torch Katie had left.
She was honestly glowing, and I couldn't describe what it was. It was like some powerful force was pushing my head down. I grabbed her hand, and hesitated briefly, before that weird force started pushing again, and I let my eyes flutter shut. I could feel her breath on my face, and we were so close I could hear her heart beating. I took in a breath, and-
"Will, we got it, let's move!" Connor yelled, and I stood there a second. Erica jumped from one of the branches of the trees, and gave me a big shove. I stumbled away from Nyssa, who looked as dumbstruck as I felt.
"Move it Solace!" Chris grabbed my arm, and that was enough. I shrugged and mouthed I'm sorry, before turning and taking off.
It felt like the worst thing I ever did.
