Chapter Sevent and a Half. Written by LadyGaara28 on DeviantArt. (Elspeth's POV)

I coughed through the cloud of white dust. Flour filled my lungs and clung to every part of my body possible. My arms, back and legs ached from where I had been hit, and added a new patch of bruises to add to the count. This week had been like a week in Hades. Travis had stayed true to his promise and pranked me any chance he got. Even with Byron and Blake as my lookouts, Travis has still managed to put a dead fish under my pillow, jelly in my socks, thumb-tacks on my chair, slammed a door in my face, attacked me with pink paint-balls, scared my Pegasus causing me to fall and land on my back, he locked me in the bathroom, replaced my new strawberry foaming face-scrub with shaving cream, countless of times he ensnared me with a rope, poured maple syrup and feathers on top of me while we were playing Capture the Flag, pushed me down hills, tripped me whenever he came near, sold one of my Snoopy-underwear sets on e-bay –it went for $20-, drilled a hole in my kayak, rigged one of my books to squirt me with some sticky and hard goo that almost broke my nose. He even put itching powder in my favourite shirt, how childish was that?!

His latest prank was Flour Bombs.

I was on the verge of insanity. I hated Travis with every part of my being.

I stumbled into the nearest bathroom. Someone else was there but she looked as run-down and covered in flour as I was.

She yelped like someone had just pocked her with a hot iron rod.

I stood there frozen, who was this other girl? More importantly I wanted to know if she had gotten hit because of me.

"Um hey, do you mind if I wash up a bit do you? I can go somewhere else if you'd like. Travis has practically got the whole camp against me ever since I fell in his Skunk Pit last week so it's understandable" I said shyly. It was true, the whole camp had been calling me The Skunk but a few nicer campers who had fallen victim to the same treatment.

The blond girl looked at me as if she knew who I was. She looked just about my age but there was a kind look about her. She looked slightly guilty for some reason.

"NO!" she suddenly half screamed as I turned to leave. She shook her head "No, stay! It would be nice to have some company, after all." She smiled and placed a warm hand on my shoulder.

I was bewildered. I had expected her to turn me away like everyone else. Even though she looked like she'd been to Hades and back, she still put on a smile. I had to admire her for that; I myself hadn't smiled in the longest of time.

"Thanks, um you don't mind me asking what has happened to you. Um I'm Elspeth by the way." I said with a thankful smile and started washing my face "this flour is never going to come out." I complained to myself when I saw my reflection in the slightly dusty mirror. Who knew that Travis would have such an accurate and strong throwing arm?

The girl smiled again. "Hello Elspeth, my name is Abby." Abby, I knew this name. She was the friendly archer from the Apollo cabin.

She walked over to the sink next to mine and took a paper towel from the dispenser. She ran it under warm water as she answered my question.

"As for what happened to me… Well, I'm being targeted by a Stoll and judging but our matching outfits I'd say it's the same for you," she grinned as she gestured to our flour covered clothes then drew a smilie face into the flour on her forehead.

I laughed at the silly action. It felt good to laugh again.

"It's nice to meet you and yeah you've got it dead right. What did you do to upset Connor so much?" I asked curiously as I grabbed a handful of paper towels and started dampening them under the running tap. "Travis and I got into an argument. It was so stupid and arg I dunno. Everything was going so well, I thought he was a nice guy but he just spat in my face." I explained with a hit of sorrow in my voice. I only realised what I had just said and spun around to see if Travis is eavesdropping. Having him literally spit would not be good.

I sighed when I realised he was nowhere to be seen. I grabbed one of the paper towels and started cleaning my face.

Abby pursed her lips. "Wow, He sounds like a jerk." She said as she pulled her hair out from her high pony tail. A large cloud of white showered her even more. I had to hold bad a giggle.

"So…You think he might like you? My Auntie Sarah always used to tell me that guys made fun of the girls they like," she quickly stuck her head under the running water but continued talking "As for what I did to Connor; I had no idea. I mean, he isn't made at me. He still talks to me and everything, and it's not like he makes fun of me."

She rung out her hair then said as she turned to me "We are going to need new clothes."

"Travis sure is acting like one. The fact that he might like me… I doubt it. I mean who puts a fish under your pillow as a sign of affection?" I thought about this but another thought grabbed my attention "Connor could be doing that to you." I sigh sadly as I wiped my arms free of the evil powder "at least you guys are on pleasantries." As much as I hated it, I kept thinking back to our dance, about how it was so fun, carefree and natural.

I shook my head to clear my head but it just made flour explode from my hair. I half coughed and half laughed "Your right about new clothes. How will we get back to our cabins without being pranked again?"

Abby bit her lip with a blush. "N-never mind about Connor! Affection comes in many different forms. Maybe Travis is just trying to hide his feelings?" she suggested as her face turned its natural shade while I giggled. It was easy to tell that she had feelings for Connor, but I had to admit thought that Abby did have a point. Boys do have strange ways of expressing emotions. She drummed her fingers on the counter as she thought. I was really hoping she had an idea because in all honesty… I had nothing. My plan was to just wait until night then sneak out and that was as stupid as running in a field with landmines.

I stared curiously at the blond as she made her way to the door, peeked out then dragged in a body and slammed him against the door.

"H-hey what's going on?!"

I chuckled at our new captive. His beautiful green eyes met Abby's then my own. He got out of Abby's tight grasp then folded his arms across his chest as an attempt to look serious but he burst out laughing instead "You look like ghosts with a bad hair-day and I've seen my fair share of ghosts."

I rolled my eyes. "I know, blame the Stoll Twins."

Abby pouted then folded her own arms across her chest. "Whatever, Percy we need you to do us a favour."

Percy scratched the back of his neck. "Uhh… this isn't one of those mafia things is it..?"

She stepped forwards and slapped his lightly on the head "No, we just need you to go get us some clothes. Pleeeeaaase?" she said has she put her hands together in front of her chin then activated the Puppy Dog Eyes.

Percy sighed then placed a hand on Abby's head "Okay, okay and just how do I do that?" We both smiled.

"Just go to our cabins and get us clothes." Abby said simply. Percy made a face. "Well all-ah… What all do you need?" we all simultaneously shared a blush but I let my hair fall over my face to hide my embarrassment.

"Just um if Byron's there he'll know what I need and where it is." I mumbled with a glance up at Percy. Relief flashed across his face. He turned to Abby.

"Well what do you need? I was sort of supposed to meet up with Annabeth soon." He stammered nervously. Abby just rolled her eyes "Just find Byron and Kayla and tell them where we are."

Percy smiled gratefully.

"Awesome. I don't wanna be late~ I'm walking Annabeth to her cabin."

"Yes Jackson. We all know you have a girlfriend. Now go!" she opened the door and pushed him out. Once he was gone she turned to me.

"You know," she started "even though he is a total moron, they're really cute together."

I nodded "Annabeth wouldn't shut up about how cute he was when they started going out. Who knew a moron and a smart girl would end up together?" I said down against the far wall. I kept thinking back to the dance Travis and I shared. It made me sad all over again. Why did I keep doing this to myself? I shook my head again to clear my thought. Thankfully only a little clump of flour fell out.

"So um you like Connor Stoll?" I asked shyly.

Abby swung her hair down to shake some invisible flour from her hair but I swore I saw her blush.

"What-" he voice cracked "what makes you think that?"

I just rolled my eyes "Even a heartless son of Ares could figure it out." I tried to joke. "But you do tend to blush and get nervous whenever the topic is brought up when we converse." I pointed out.

She winced. "It's it that obvious?" She shook her head "I don't even know why I like him. I mean, I should hate him right? He torments me… But I- Oh! I don't know!" slumped forwards as she put her head in her hands.

I stood up and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder "We can't choose who we like Abby. There is a famous dead philosopher that said 'the heart wants what the heart wants, even that which is worst for it'" I said with a smile. She let out a shaky breath but smiled back. "Okay," she said determination in her stance. "I like Connor Stool," she said to her reflection in the mirror. There wasn't any doubt or regret in her voice.

I beamed at her proudly "It's good to hear you admit it." I had only known Abby a few minutes but I could already tell she was very brave. I wouldn't have the guts to say something like that ever. Let alone with another person present.

A smug grin made its way to Abby's face. She opened her mouth as if to say something but the door opened.

"Wow," a girl breathed. "Ya look good."

"Oh, hush you!" Abby snapped but the girl just rolled her eyes as she handed us our clothes.

"Thank you so much. I feel bad for not knowing your name." I said apologetically as I checked my clothes over just in case Travis had put itching powder in them. Thankfully they were clean.

The girl shrugged then jogged out the door. Abby and I both entered different stalls to change out of our white outfits.

"That feels much better." I said with a sigh of relief as I stepped out of the stall.

"You look much better too. White isn't your colour twinkle toes." A familiar smooth voice said from the door. I gasped and bolted straight back into the stall "Go away Travis! Or I'll fry you!" I yelled angrily from behind the locked door. What was it with the guys at this camp?! How can they keep casually walking into the girls bathroom!?

I heard Abby's stall open and close. I stayed in my stall until I was sure Travis had gone. I peeked only to see Connor Stoll wink then bolt out the door.

I walked over to my new stunned friend and waved my hand in front of her face "Hello Abby? Are you ok?"

She jerked back "Oh! Yeah, I-I'm alright," her face was as red as a tomato. I wonder what Connor could have done. "Well," she started "It was really great to meet you; maybe… we could talk sometime?"

I nodded with a smile "Most defiantly, that is if we live that long. Who knows what those brothers have in store for us. See you later." I said before I crept out of the bathroom and made a mad dash for my cabin.