Aha, I told you I would update more recently now! It has made me happier to be getting back into this story, although (yes) we're close to the end of this story. Just a little fill in, there may only be five or six more chapters of this story, but for now, chapter 13!

Song: Next to Me- Emeli Sande

Katie

Travis and I continued our search for the key, heading back to the beach. We figured it was the most recent spot we were at where the key could be, seeing as the dove had "swallowed" it there.

I still argued with Travis with that theory, thinking the dove could've pulled some smart tricks on us by burying the key in the sand, or hid it under some kind of rock. It didn't though, the dove knew where the key was and I think Travis and I can manage to convince her to show where it is.

I think.

The dove still was trying to make an escape on Travis and me, flapping her wings so harshly that her bad wing started to leak a little blood. I stopped with a sigh, and started ambrosia out of my pocket.

"I bet half of your ambrosia is already gone just from this wing," Travis guessed, stopping alongside of me.

I shrugged. "I can always get more," As Travis held the dove steady in his hands, I tried to force the dove the ambrosia.

A frown appeared on me, feeling as though I was dealing with a little three-year-old that was throwing a tantrum. "Well you for once stay still?" I said in frustration.

The dove chirped while turning her head, and I shoved the ambrosia into her beak as it slightly opened.

"There," I said in relief, and started putting the rest of my ambrosia in my pocket. My eyes peered up at Travis, and narrowing my eyes I said "Were you laughing at my misery?"

"Aw, Katie, I'm always laughing at your misery," Travis said with sarcasm dripping from his tone.

My fist flew at him, but like always he dodged it. It was annoying, but I couldn't get mad at him whenever his smile appeared on his face.

"Nah, I just can't help laughing whenever you're pouting. Did I mention you're cute when you pout?" Travis asked teasingly, bumping my shoulder as we continued walking.

"Yes you actually have," I said, trying to keep my straight face.

"And that you're also cute when you blush?"

"No, you haven't," I said trying to keep my eyes forward, but could tell he got me as the corners of my lips starting turning upward.

Travis smiled in achievement, and poked my cheek. I swatted his hand at him, frowning as he dodged me again like a ninja. He caught my hand though and smiled at me, and I knew my cheeks were still a little pink.

I will win a battle against this Stoll brother, but right now, nope.

When we reached the beach, I stopped as I remembered the bread I wrapped in a napkin and putted in my pocket this morning. My hand flew to the pocket and took it out.

I easily unfolded the napkin and held the little piece of bread up. Looking the dove straight into her eyes, I said "We will let you eat this on your own if you promise not to try to escape."

The dove nodded her head and stared at the bread like it was the only food source available for miles, but Travis looked at me uncertainly.

"Katie, are you sure about this-?" Travis started to ask, but I interrupted him.

"Yes, maybe we can get some clues while doing this," I said so that only Travis could hear.

Travis still gave me a hesitant look, but put the dove down on the sand anyway. I bent down next to the dove and held out the bread. Just as quickly she snatched it out of my hand and started gulping it down. My eyes met Travis's for a second wondering how we were going to do this, then I looked back down at the ravenous dove.

How many times I wished this dove could talk, I would never know. I still thought that she could talk, but so far I didn't have any proof that she could.

"Ok," I started. "Why were you sent here for the key?" My question flew right pass her as the dove didn't even glance at Travis and I as she continued to gobble the bread down. Travis's hand flew to the bread, and he snatched it out of the dove's reach.

The dove squawked, and started to wobble toward Travis, but she stopped as I said "One more step and that bread is going straight to the fishes." Animal cruelty by starving this dove, I didn't know, but I wanted answers.

In defeat, the dove plopped on the ground, but still didn't make any sign of Travis and I getting answers. "Who sent you here?" This time Travis asked, and the dove shifted uneasily.

It was like she was afraid that we could actually know the answer to the question on our own, but I ignored it and asked the question I mostly want the answer to. "Where's the key?" A little roughness was added to my tone.

The dove looked down. "She's looking at herself, I told you she swallowed it!" Travis said, and I rolled my eyes.

"She didn't swallow the key," I replied, but my eyebrows creased a little. "You didn't, right?"

Looking back at Travis and me, I couldn't tell the answer since she showed no emotion.

I sighed, standing up to stretch my legs along with Travis. "Well, this was successful," I said sarcastically, crossing my arms at the dove that didn't look back up at us.

"Well, Chiron said he's going to be gone for a couple more days, so we still have time," Travis said, tossing the bread at the dove, who caught it in her beak with glee.

I sighed, rubbing my eyes. "This is so stressful," I groaned, and felt Travis pull me into his arms.

"It isn't that bad, I mean it's just a key, right?" Travis said.

My head buried into Travis's chest. "I know, but I just keep feeling like something bad is going to happen,"

"Me too, I keep getting suspicious of everything now. Like-"

"Travis!" A voice cried out, and one that made me tell that I wouldn't like what was going to happen next. I looked up, my eyes still kind of blurry from rubbing them so hard, but from the voice I could already tell who was standing in front of us.

"Drew," Travis said with fake excitement in his voice. As my vision started to become clearer, I could make out Drew standing in front of us with two other people."

A two piece swim suit that for once came lower than her belly button was sported on Drew, along with a towel held with one arm and sunglasses bigger than my fists sat on her nose. The two other girls, I could already guess, were from the Aphrodite cabin, both of them too weren't wet probably not wanting to ruin their flawless hair.

"Oh and Katie, hon, how have you been?" Drew asked, flashing her pearly whites. Of course she was trying to hide the frosty tone from her voice, but didn't do that good of a job.

"Um, okay-"Drew didn't even stop to listen to my answer as her eyes shot back to Travis.

"So, Travis, how have you been lately?" There was a sickly sweet edge to Drew's tone and I could tell what she was trying to succeed at then at that moment: Flirting.

Now I respected Drew and tried to stay on her positive side, as I followed the rule "Don't judge someone because you don't know what they're going through in their life." I tried to keep an optimistic view on everyone. Also, I knew Drew too, and right now, this wasn't her.

Sure, she flirts with guys that already have girlfriends, and try to make a move on them, but when she gets the sign that they aren't interested, she moves on to the next one. Clearly, Drew knows that Travis likes me, and isn't the type to be cheating on me with another girl, but she probably hasn't gotten that indication yet.

Searching Drew's face, I stared more at her eyes. They looked a little misty, like someone had charmspeaked her, but I didn't think that was possible. Drew was a charmspeaker herself, and I had thought she had advantages of snapping out of the speaking. The two girls next to Drew looked a little woozy, and had eyes that were hazy too.

Maybe they're drunk or something, I thought. But there's no way someone could sneak drugs into camp.

"I'm, alright, I guess," Suspicion was heard in Travis's tone, and I was glad I wasn't the only one who was suspicious of Drew's behavior too.

"Well, that's always a good thing! Why aren't you in your bathing suit? Shouldn't you be swimming?" What, so you can stare at Travis like hawks?

One glance from Travis, and I could tell that he had no clue what was going on. Looked like it was time for me to save him from any more misery.

I stepped a little in front of Travis and crossed my arms. Tilting my head, I gave off a smile that probably would want you to back away so that you won't get slapped.

"Drew, is there something we can help you with?" I asked with the fake sweetness like Drew had.

"No, of course not! We just wanted to say hi and be the friendly dears we are," said Drew, but her eyes said other, being "Hon, you don't want to mess with me."

"Well, hi!" I waved at her, then turned around to pick up the dove and started pulling Travis by his arm away from the three "dears". For once, it seemed like the dove was on my side and gave an ugly chirp that resembled a bark over my shoulder.

I peeked over to see Drew's expression, and saw her looking disgustingly at the dove like it was a dirty rodent. She probably didn't notice the bird since she was too busy drooling over Travis. The other two girls had weird, confused looks on their faces. One of them was a red-headed girl but with no sign of freckles, and she was rubbing her head like she had a bad headache. The other was rubbing her eyes, looking like eyelashes fell in both of them.

Drew seemed a little green, and was holding her stomach. Her eyes were back to her warm brown color, and then suspicion ran through me. Wasn't her eyes still brown when she was talking to Travis and me?

I didn't know, probably she had the trait being an Aphrodite child where her eyes can change colors, like Piper's. But I never noticed that before…

"That was strange…" Travis said, pulling the dove into his arms.

"Yeah," I glanced back at Drew for the last time. "How come that sudden interest, and that flirting, I mean, what was that about?"

Travis shrugged and swung his arm over my shoulder. "You know what, I don't care, because I got you Katie-cat, and that's good enough," Travis smiled at his comment.

"That's always I good thing, I guess," I tried to keep a straight face.

"I guess?" Travis asked, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded my head, but couldn't myself from laughing at Travis's expression.

Travis frowned and nudged me. "Don't lie like that,"

"I'm sorry, did I offend you?" I said sarcastically, showing an equivalent pout like the one Travis had.

Travis sniffed. "Yes, you did,"

I rolled my eyes. "Well, how can I make it up?"

Travis, still pouting, tapped on his lips then crossed his arms. The corners of my lips lifted a little at the look Travis kept on his face, but I leaned in and pressed my lips against Travis's.

I could feel him smile against my lips, and knew he achieved another battle yet again. But despite that, my stomach kept flipping out and blood rushed to my face. I wondered if I would feel like this when with Travis. A little part of me hopes so though, I never wanted this feeling to die down.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" A voice shouted out, and Travis and I pulled apart just as we saw a figure running away from us, laughter carried from her.

I scowled, and shouted "Jenny!" But she was already out of sight, far from where she could hear me.

Travis grinned and looked at me. "Interesting sister you got there,"

My scowl still looked off to where Jenny had off to, and I said "Interesting can be a pain sometimes."

Travis laughed, and we continued walking. I glanced at the dove and saw her eyes were closed, and her chest was falling up and down steadily.

"The dove, she's sleeping," I said softly, looking at Travis.

Travis glanced down at the dove down in his arms and nodded. "I got a plan, how about you stop by the pavilion and try to get more bread or something so that we can bribe the dove to answer our questions."

I frowned and said "Oh yeah, and how? It's not like she can talk or anything,"

"Well, looks like we're going to play a long game of charades," Travis said. "Meet me at my cabin,"

I took a deep breath, and paused thinking this through. Still not knowing how this could work out, maybe this could somehow. "Okay," I said.

Travis grinned at me, and looked down at the dove, who was making little high-chipped noises, like she was snoring.

"This is going to be a long, painful process," I said, starting to head towards the pavilion.

"That's what she said!" Travis called after me, and I squinted at Travis.

"Don't even," I replied, but Travis was alredy laughing and heading back to his cabin.

Travis

When I got back to my cabin, I gently laid the dove in her cage. She stirred slightly, but then settled back down into her peaceful slumber. I slumped down onto my bed, and rubbed my face. Katie was right when she said that this was stressful, just dealing with the dove alone was giving me a headache.

Looking up, I noticed that I was the only one in my cabin. Everyone one else was probably out, since it was still midday. The silence crept over me, and I jumped when my door banged open.

I shot up, my fighting instincts coming over me automatically. Finding the nearest weapon around me, I held up my lamp, holding it in a position that made it looked like I was ready to throw it.

In the doorway, with hands on hips and a wicked smile stood Drew looking about ready to pounce on her prey like a cat.

"Drew, what are you doing-?" Drew cut me off, taking slow steps toward me.

"Travis, I think we both know that you want me," Drew said in a daring voice.

I made the most confused face ever, that if there was a prize for it, I would've won it. Around my cabin I looked around, while the most awkward silence ever filled the gap between Drew and me.

Noticing Drew was waiting for my response, I asked "Sorry, I what?" I wondered if I misheard what Drew said. In my defense, I still held the lamp up over me.

"C'mon Travis, don't deny it!" Drew said in a playful tone, still advancing on me.

With the hand I didn't hold the lamp in, I held it up and said "I have no idea what you're talking about-"

"You're just hiding it because you're dating Katie, isn't it?" Drew stuck out her lower lip, crossing her arms.

This time, I tried to back away, panic filling me just a bit. Who knew that a daughter of Aphrodite could be so terrifyingly threatening? As I took a step back, the back of my head hit Connor's part of our bunk, and my head turned around to glare at the inanimate object while I rubbed the sore spot that had a bump growing on it already.

In that split second, I felt hands grab the front of my shirt, and I turned around to see a devilish smile on Drew's face, while on mine I had my prize-winning look of misperception.

My eyes met Drew's, and for a second I observed them. It looked like she had a thin white sheet covering her eyes, as they looked a little foggy. Her pupils were distorted, being two times bigger than normal eyes would be. She looked like she was under a spell, like she wasn't being able to control herself.

"Well, not anymore," Drew said and crashed her lips into mine.

Now, let me just say, I would prefer kissing Katie over Drew any day, any girl. Katie had the softest lips ever, and she didn't wear lip gloss which never gave my lips an aftertaste of cherries or watermelons from a tubed bottle. On the other hand, the weird smell combination of licorice and pineapple drafted from Drew that made me want to gag.

I've always liked Katie's smell of strawberries and pine trees, and really wished that I was kissing her instead of Drew.

Wait, Drew was kissing me.

In the second Drew had kissed me, I pushed her straight off, not knowing now what the Hades was going on today.

Drew had a smile of achievement, looking ready to lunge at me again.

"Travis?" A little voice said that made my heart break.

Drew and I looked at the doorway, and found Katie standing with a limp look and her hand carrying the bread wrapped in a napkin. A single tear fell down her cheek, and past her chin that was trembling. My heart shattered into a million pieces.

I pushed past Drew and said "Wait, Katie-"

Katie didn't even wait for my response as she ran out of the doorway. I tried to follow her, but sharp nails grabbed my shirt. Managing to yank myself out of Drew's grip with a protest from her, I ran out of the cabin.

I crashed into a figure, but didn't bother to apologize as I searched for Katie to see if she was anywhere.

"Whoa, Travis, in a hurry-"A voice started that I instantly made out to be Connor, but I interrupted him.

"Katie, she caught Drew kissing me-"My face was falling by second, and I was shaking my head while I was still searching for Katie.

"Wait, you were making out with Drew-"Connor asked questioningly.

"No!" I started, trying to keep myself calm. I turned around realizing the real cause of this whole situation. Drew was standing in front of our cabin, smirking with her arms crossed. Her foggy eyes looked down at us. "I wasn't, Drew made out with me,"

I climbed the steps to my cabin, and towered over Drew with a threatening look. "And may I ask, what was that about?" You could tell I was just a teensy bit mad.

"You like me-"

"I don't like you!" I wasn't shouting, but I still made Drew wince.

I turned around to look at Connor, who had a guilty look on his face. No one else could tell that he did, but I could. He was my brother, after all.

"What?" I asked him.

He shook his head, looking at the ground. "Nothing, um, sorry man,"

Sorry, I repeated in my head. There was a huge ravine between Katie and I, and I didn't know how I was going to fill the gap.

WHOA, whoa, whoa. Okay, your reactions were probably not that overdramatic, but I bet you were thinking something similar to that, right?

What? What do you mean you're mad at me now? I warned you, (or I think I did), I was pretty sure I said something bad was going to happen in one of the upcoming chapters! I don't know if I did really, my grandma and I have a pretty equivalent memory…

Also, from how I make Drew in this story, don't think that's how I view her in the story, because I don't. Same goes to all the other Aphrodite people! I try to keep a positive outlook on all the characters (like I made Katie have).

Besides, Drew probably "wasn't being able to control herself"… *hint hint*

Midnightstar-and-Echosong: I know, aren't cookies just awesome?! But they kind of make me too hyper, and I may or may not have had some before I wrote this chapter… Haha, thanks for liking my last chapter and for the review! :)

Noodle Fanatic: You're welcome, I'm so glad that you enjoy this story! I'm glad too for continuing this story, and will try to update more as possible (maybe the next day or two!)

Neusuada: Thanks! I hope this is soon enough, I've been busy a lot this week, my mom making me babysit my siblings, uck. Thanks for liking the last chapter!

unknown123123123: Thanks, I'm glad you like this story so much! I'll try to update soon, I'm really enjoying writing this story!

I was a little s: I KNOW, finally I managed to have my schedule open! Haha, thanks for the review!

greekgeek25: Thanks, glad you like it! And if he does, then SHHHHHHH. I'm not saying though if he actually does ;) Thanks for the review!

I've been saying a lot that I'm enjoying this story, but I am! Also, I don't know why I was acting all cheery in all the review replies when all of you are probably still mad at me for what happened in this chapter…

Hehe, oops?