I stood in front of Griffin's door, poised to knock, but I couldn't bring myself to hit the door with my fist and ask for entrance. I took a deep breath trying to calm myself. Griffin is my best friend; he won't hate me for telling him he is being immature about losing. Actual…this might not end well. I kept going over different ways to start off… Hey birdie…No I'd only use that if I don't mind having a death glare sent my way…Griffin, I need to talk to you…that's direct, but it might make him give me the cold shoulder…I'll just try and be casual…Hey Grif…yeah, that should work. The entire time I was thinking I stood at the door, fist raised, but I had the nagging suspicion that something was going to happen. It might be bad or good, but something was going to happen and I don't know if I want that something to change my friendship with Griffin. I could just wait until he gets over himself and comes back upstairs with the rest of us, but because I had hurt his feelings so bad, I don't know if our friendship would be the same. Or I could just-

Griffin stood in the door way having just throw open the door. Nis hand was still on the knob. The scowl that marred his face was thrown off by the barely concealed surprise in his eyes that he had from seeing me. We both stood frozen, waiting for the other to speak, but neither of us dared to. I tried opening and closing my mouth, probably looking like some fish, but he words wouldn't come to me. Finally I just steeled my nerves and spoke.

"I'm sorry." "I'm sorry."

At the same time he did…

"What are you sorry for?" he asked me the scowl dropping off his face to be replaced with confusion. "I'm the one who was a sore loser. I need to learn how to control my anger better. Then, I got angry at you for telling me to get a hold of myself when that's exactly what I needed to hear."

I gave him a half-hearted grin, "I shouldn't have scolded you in public. I should have taken you aside so I didn't embarrass you."

"You didn't embarrass me," he started. "Actually," he gave me a grin, "You did, but to be honest I needed it."

I laughed, "Thanks," he gave me a questioning. "For making me feel better."

He shook his head, "You're my best friend Nay, and I'm not going to let you wallow in shame, guilt, or self-pity. I'll always be there to pick you up when you're down." I looked at him trying not to cry, and I thought I was doing pretty well, but this was Griffin I was trying to hide my emotions from, it was almost impossible. He wrapped his arms around me as I clutched his shirt in my fist, silently crying into his chest. "Why are you crying? I wasn't trying to make you feel bad. I'm not the reason you're crying right?" He sounded so panicked.

"I can't lose you," I said looking up at him, he tightened his grip on me. "You're my best friend. If you keep being such a sore loser and it continues when we're on missions, it could-"

"Become my signature," he said realization coating his voice. "Anytime someone suspects us they can challenge us, beat us, and I would give us away by being a sore loser." He closed his eyes in shock, his grip on me slacked off slightly as he leaned against the door frame and my grip tightened on his shirt. "That's why you were so worried. You don't want me to give us away on missions."

I sniffed and laid my head against his chest. "It would but us all in danger. I can't let our team be put in anymore danger than normal."

He chuckled and looked down at me. "I'll try my hardest, OK? But, you'll need to help me, so feel free to yell at me anytime I lose my cool."

I smiled up at him, "OK. Now let's go grab something to eat before capture the flag."

He nodded in agreement and we began to walk towards the stairs, his arm around my shoulders, "When am I taking you to dinner?"

"Well, if you had stuck around after your tantrum," He rolled his eyes at me, "You would know that Fiske is letting us go out tonight."

"So, where are we going?"

"Carrabbas, with Annabeth and Percy."

"The newbies?"

I rolled my eyes at him; we were paused at the bottom of the steps. "Yes, the 'newbies.' They don't know their way around, so I asked them to join us."

He shook his head, "Why are we in charge of the newbies."

I gave him an exasperated look, "I'm a team captain and you're my best friend, that's why."

He sighed, "Fine." He shot me a grin, "Now let's go eat." He grabbed my hand and took off up the stairs, heading straight for the kitchen. I laughed, slightly tripping over my feet in my haste to follow him. we entered the kitchen laughing, a lot of the team looked up at us from their various places around the kitchen, but it probably didn't really surprise them at our behavior. We often acted like this, it was perfectly normal. Annabeth and Percy were sitting at the counter, giving us curious glances, but Griffin and I walked past them into the kitchen to grab a snack. We quickly worked together, making two sandwiches. I sat down with my sandwich next to Annabeth and Griffin sat next to me.

"So, have you two enjoyed your time here so far?" I asked eating my sandwich. Griffin looked completely involved with his sandwich and was pretending that my conversation with the newbies wasn't happening.

"I'm loving it here. You all are so nice, the school looks amazing, and there seems to be a lot to do here." Annie said.

"And you Percy?"

"I am enjoying myself here too. The upside to this place would definitely have to be the pool though."

I laughed along with Annie, "Well, I'm glad you're both enjoying yourselves, but before we can go to dinner we do have a little game of capture the flag. I hope you both are up to it."

They looked at each other, then Annie looked at me and said, "I highly doubt your game of capture the flag will ever compare to the one we're use to."

I laughed, "Will see."