That summer was one of the best summer's in her life. The days seemed to go especially slow for her, letting her savor her relationship with Danny even longer. The news that they were going out spread like wildfire through the camp, some whispering to each other whenever they passed. Most people just accepted it whenever they saw them together. The two were an inseparable pair. They could be seen everywhere together, except at the dining pavilion where they were forced to sit at separate tables, but gave each other loving glances whenever they could as they were eating. I guess it's true that opposites attract.

Danny had warmed up a lot more to Katie ever since the Olympians had put their judgement on him, and she was really warming up to him too. She showed Danny things about her world, and he showed her things about his. She experimented on him with her music. After one week he liked rock music and he even got Katie to listen to some Beyonce songs as well, her favorite song being "Halo." His favorite song was "Scream, Aim, and Fire." At other times they swapped stories about adventures they had or events that too embarrassing for the general public to hear.

One time Danny played a practical joke on her. While she was showering in the camp bathrooms he replaced her shampoo with honey. The honey stuck to her hair and the result was that it was sticky for awhile, but had the greatest scent. She implored Danny to get it off her, which he did by licking through her hair when they were alone. It felt like heaven to her and she told him after he was done that he should do that more often.

One time she put some kind of fruit paste on his neck when he was asleep outside his cabin. he woke up wondering why his neck was itching. He automatically knew Katie had something to do with it and asked her to take it off. She took him to the lake and she began to lick and kiss around his neck. Once she was done and the fruit paste was gone Danny had a hickey on his neck and he had to tell campers that he hurt himself playing with Ms. O'Leary.

The only time they didn't act like a couple was during Capture the Flag if they were on separate teams, in which they fought each other like an elaborate duel when helping their respective teams. But right after the match, they would revert back to their original state of mind. June passed into July, and the fireworks came up. Of course Danny and Katie went together. They sat down and watched the fireworks explode in brilliant to make huge scenes in the sky: the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, the Battle of Olympus, Percy defeating Hyperion the Titan, and many others. They laced their hands together and watched the scenes unfold in front of them.

"Danny, what are you going to do after the summer?" said Katie.

"I don't know, go back and finish high school. Why?" said Danny.

"Where are you going to go?" said Katie.

"Back to North Carolina I think," said Danny. Katie face turned sad.

"What's the matter?" he said putting his hand on her cheek.

"It's just, I don't know if I'll see you again," she said.

"You will Katie," he said.

"But you may come to camp when I'm not here," she said.

"I'll be here when you are. You have nothing to worry about," said Danny. That answer silenced anymore questions she had and the two watched the fireworks in silence, but Danny holding her in a tight embrace. that night when they kissed for their final tome during that day, Katie couldn't help but feel that she wanted t give Danny something of hers that was precious, but didn't know what it was. She would find out sooner or later.


The days slipped into the August, the last of week of camp arriving. As each day passed Katie couldn't help but count the days until she and Danny would leave. She found them almost unbearable when he wasn't around to get the idea out of her head. She decided to talk to her friend from Aphrodite. She went to her at the stables where she had just finished riding a pegasus.

"Linda, I need to talk to you," said Katie.

"You came to the right person. What's bothering you?" she asked.

"It's about Danny," said Katie.

"Did something happen?" said Linda.

"No, it's not that," said Katie.

"Then what is it?" said Linda.

"I'm afraid of him leaving and never seeing him again," said Katie.

"Girl, that's nothing to worry about. Danny is a very loyal person," said Linda.

"I just don't want him to leave me and then he won't be there again," she said.

"He'll see you again, I'm sure of it," said Linda.

"Can I talk to you about something else?" said Katie.

"Sure," said Linda.

"I think I want to have sex with him," said Katie. Linda put her hands to her mouth, squealed, and took Katie by her arm towards the Aphrodite cabin, which was empty.

"Are you serious?" said Linda.

"Yes," said Katie.

"Are you sure you want to?" said Linda.

"I'm pretty sure. I want to give it to him," said Katie.

"Well, as the daughter of the Goddess of Love I think it's beautiful that you would want to do this for him," said Linda.

"So what should I do to get ready. We leave in five days," said Katie.

"Girl, we need to get you ready then," said Linda. They went to the camp parking lot, where Linda's car was at. She and Katie got into the car and drove to New York.


When they came back it was near dinner time.

"Okay, I think you got everything," said Linda, giving Katie the bag.

"Is this everything?" said Katie.

"Yes. We got what you're going to where, and we have the pills. You're good," said Linda. Katie took out the circular container of tablets from the bag.

"I'd start taking those today if I were you," said Linda." It will increase the chances of you not getting pregnant, but doesn't stop it all the way, but good enough."

"Thanks Linda. You have anymore advice for me?" said Katie.

"Actually I do. I'm going to talk to you about what to do during physical love," said Linda. She and Katie walked back to the cabins whilst talking about it. The conch horn for dinner rang and everybody went to the dining pavilion. after eating Danny and Katie hung out by the hearth in the middle of the cabin area.

"Where were you all day?" said Danny.

"Me and Linda went into town," said Katie.

"What did you do there?" said Danny.

"Stuff girls do," said Katie. She decided she wouldn't tell Danny about them having sex, wanting it to be a surprise for him.

"Okay. You okay? You seem to be a bit off," said Danny. In actuality, Katie was fantasizing.

"Yes I'm fine. So what are you doing tomorrow?" said Katie.

"Just some regular stuff," said Danny.

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then," she said. They kissed each other good night and went back to their respective cabins.


(Four days later)

The days seemed to stretch even longer for Katie as the countdown to her and Danny's night was coming ever closer. She was counting down till it was the second to last day for the camp to leave. She already signed the form from Mr. D that she was going back to her home. Now all she had to do was find a way for her and Danny to have sex without anyone finding out.

That day was probably the longest she had ever experienced. That whole day she was debating whether or not she would go for this. She really liked Danny, practically loved him, but she didn't know how he would react to this. It would all have to depend on how he was feeling, so Katie was making sure he had a very good day.

All day Katie made sure she and Danny had a great time. She and him were always together that entire day. They did sword fights, chariots, and other things for the entire day. They would sometimes sneak back to behind his cabin when no one was looking to makeout secretly. It was one of the best times they ever had.

That night they lay on the grass by the dining pavilion gazing at the stars. Katie was lightly kissing his neck while Danny caressed her cheek and look at the sky.

"I don't want to leave you tomorrow," he said finally. Katie stopped and brought her head over his.

"Me neither," she said. They shared a kiss before retiring to their cabins for the night, passionately kissing each other when they did.

Back at her cabin, Zetes and Calais were still wide awake.

"Katie, where have you been at all day?" said Zetes.

"I was..out," said Katie.

"What's in the bag?" said Calais.

"None of your business. Light's out," said Katie.

"But we're not tired," said Zetes.

"Come on, you know we have to leave tomorrow, now go to bed," she said. Zetes and Calais grumbled and complained, but they went to bed. Katie still lay in her clothes from the whole day. She calmly waited for her two brothers to go to bed. as she lay she went over the things that she would do to get out of her cabin and see Danny. The thought of their impending meeting sent chills down her body. She wanted nothing less than to give herself to him mind, body, and soul.

Linda had told her everything she needed to know. She knew the first time was going to hurt for a little while and she knew that after that was going to be mind-blowing pleasure. She hoped Danny would go easy on her, him not knowing she was a virgin and all. Danny, she knew now, was probably fast asleep and didn't know anything about what she was planning. This was a good thing to surprise him and get him to accept her 'gift'. She was going to give it gladly to him. Now all she had to do was play the waiting game.

It was about one o'clock when she decided now was the right time, Zetes and Calais fast asleep, and the entire camp. Katie slipped out of bed and put on the clothes Linda bought her for the occasion. Then she pulled a trench coat out and got on some sandals. She put her hand on the door to leave, but then stopped.

"What if I'm rushing things? What if I do this and Danny doesn't want to? I could be pressuring him," she thought. Her thoughts played over and over in her mind as she walked out the door and went towards Danny's cabin. She stopped at his door, still debating. Finally she made up her mind. She was going to show Danny that she really did love him.