Marie walked slowly from the cabin door, deciding to take the long way. She smiled at the memory of her first encounter with Juniper, Thyme, and Sage, who had become her confidantes, her friends. Her mood began to improve until she reached the outside of the half-oval of cabins, where the wood clearing still sat, as if untouched by time. The stone bench, as smooth as when she was twelve, and the moss covered fountain, depicting scenes from the tale of Cupid and Psyche, still dribbling water. Maybe taking the long way wasn't the best idea.
***
Marie loved winter, for many a reason, long talks near the fire with Lee, camp snowball fights, field trips into the city, and most of all, no mention of Silena Beauregard, although she missed her new friends Juniper, Thyme, and Sage dearly. They slept during the winter, and after one disastrous attempt to wake them up, involving many thorn pricks and temporary severe allergies, she decided to just wait till spring to try to converse with them again. Even though she badly needed their advice, or just to talk to them. Marie and her siblings didn't get along well, as she always comforted the loser of their late night cabin brawls and refused to participate herself. But in Lee, she found solace, another bright mind to converse with, even better, someone to play chess with during rec time.
"Check mate!" Marie hopped from her seat, pumping her fists into the air. Other kids looked at her, puzzled over why someone would show so much excitement over chess!
"You caught me off guard!" Lee protested, before playfully punching her arm. They engaged in a mini-battle, not noticing the swarms of half bloods flocking towards the bulletin board, tacked with old reminders, advertisements for various goods (mythical and not), and the newest, a sheet of creamy paper only used for announcements direct from Mount Olympus. The writing was curly, fancy, the kind written only on important invitations:
The Gods of Mount Olympus Invite You To
A Winter Ball
In Honor of the Solstice
December the Twentieth
"What?" The newer campers, Marie among them, wondered. Lee smiled nervously at the poster,
"The Gods host a dance every Winter Solstice, kind of a tradition, dresses, nice shirts, a little tent heated to a perfect 80 degree temp. It's all very fancy and overrated." He did a little pantomime and Marie chuckled.
"So, we're out then?"
"Negative, attendance is required." They sighed in tandem as the bell rang through the rec room. Everyone poured out, buzzing about the ball, and Marie and Lee were lost in the crowd.
That night, Marie lay on her small cot, (she had graduated from the floor a few months back) thinking about the dance. Maybe we could go as friends, you know, prevent the awkwardness of finding dates, which had been the main topic of discussion in the cabin that night. With that happy thought, she drifted off to sleep.
***
Marie awoke next morning to the clanging of the bell, signaling all campers to get their booties over to the Dining Hall.
"What's going on?" She asked Lee when they began their ritualistic walk to breakfast.
"Oh, you'll see." Lee sighed contently, enjoying his little game. They arrived at the dining hall where the tables had to disappear, requiring the campers to stand and mingle with other cabins. Marie kept her hands crossed trying not to bump into anyone. Chiron and Mr. D took the platform at the far end of the room.
"Good morning campers," Chiron bowed his head in early morning cheer, met with grumbles, "As you can see, we have removed the tables today for the purpose of outfitting you for the Winter Ball in outfits deemed appropriate by your immortal parent," The girls in the room tittered excitedly, "However, this means we will be bypassing breakfast." Marie and the boys moaned. She turned to Lee,
"So they're not feeding us AND making us shop for evening wear? Kill me now!" Lee smiled,
"Actually the boys just have to wear a shirt and tie from our cabin, we go to activities now. Later!" He let himself fall into the traffic out of the dining hall, waving at Marie. She stuck out her tongue at him. While Chiron droned on instructions: Only take clothes from your parent's section, blah blah blah…..The door flew open and revealed none other than Silena Beauregard, seated daintily on a cart of luggage.
"You've got to be kidding me." Marie muttered at the heavens.
"Silena, next time may I suggest a more discreet entrance." Chiron shot a look of disapproval.
"And now without further ado, let this fiasco commence!" Mr. D made a half-hearted gesture with his hands and the room was suddenly filled to the brim with a rainbow of lace, chiffon, and silk. In the moment Marie took to gawk, the demi-goddesses attacked the piles as if it were the Coca-Cola the satyrs occasionally snuck in! She sauntered up to the piles, picking through red dresses without much interest.
"And then I said, 'Of course I'll have a date there Daddy', and he said…" Marie could recognize the whiney little voice anywhere, a constant buzz just at her level of consciousness, "Oh, Marie! I didn't see you there." Marie turned looking into the flawlessly tanned face of Silena, "How have you been gorgeous?" her words dripped mockery. Marie turned away,
"Same as always Silena, same as always."
"Delysia and I were just discussing our intended beaus. Do you have a date yet?"
"I'm probably just going with a friend." Silena gasped,
"Oh no, that will NEVER do. How old are we, four? An event such as this practically REQUIRES an escort," She looked Marie straight on," I'd work on that if I were you."
"Go to Tartarus." Marie grabbed a dress and bolted from the Dining Hall.
***
Marie was loath to admit it, but Silena's words bothered her. It wasn't so much she was worried about Silena herself, no, Lee DESPISED Silena, it was the…coupling part. "Date" entailed something Marie felt awkward discussing, something she wanted to keep from interfering with her friendship. Nonetheless, her demons got the better of her during their weekly game of chess, just a few days before the dance,
"So, do you wanna just go to this thing as friends, we can bypass the awkwardness!" Marie laughed. They had traded stories all week of awkward propositions brought forth to their brothers and sisters. Lee smiled reassuringly,
"I'd love to—"
"Great!" Marie was secretly relieved," So we can meet at the fountain around eight? Ditch all the awkward beginning songs—"
"But my dad already arranged something." Lee looked pained and Marie's thumping heart stopped abruptly,
"What?"
"My dad, he arranged for me to go with Silena."
"Well, can't you say no…?"
"It doesn't work like that Marie—"
"What do you mean? He should know you can't stand her—"
"Marie!" Lee hardly ever raised his voice, "I have to, ok? Don't make it any harder." His words stung, making her feel like a child. Their game was unfinished, but she stood up,
"Have fun. Really, make Daddy happy." And she walked away, hoping no one would see a daughter of Ares cry.
***
Marie felt stupid, sitting on the bench by Cupid & Psyche's fountain in her red dress, which had fit her perfectly! Even Darius, Ares head counselor and the "scariest warrior ever seen in Capture the Flag", had nodded his head and smiled when he saw her. It was almost eight and the sky was dark, but the clearing was lit by small fireflies, keeping her safe and warm. Part of her hoped Lee would come galloping into the clearing, sweeping her into his arms, and affirming her secret wish. But the other part hoped he wouldn't come, letting her dream burn out, and giving her no more cause to hurt. Marie felt time pass, her heart sinking with it. Then, at a rustling of leaves, Marie leapt to her feet. She may have been in an evening gown but that would NOT keep her from defending herself!
"Show yourself!" She hissed at the silhouette coming through the shadows.
"Easy, easy! Its me!" The voice was so wonderfully familiar!
"L-Lee?" Marie let herself relax and fall back onto the bench.
"Here I am!" He held out his arms as if to say 'Surprise!'.
"I suppose you have to get back to Silena, now you've checked on me." Marie practically spat, surprising herself with her own fury.
"No." Marie turned to him.
"What about Apollo?"
"He should understand better than anyone…wanting to spend the night with a smart, beautiful friend." The first few notes of an Irvin Berlin song, slowed to a ballad, floated out to them. The silence was thick.
"Would you like to dance?" Lee held out his hand. Marie shook her head,
"I can't dance."
"Oh come on, everyone can dance," He pulled her up, placing her hand on his shoulder, and his hand on her back, "Just, follow me." She tried, clumsily at first, but slowly, surely, picking up the steps. They smiled at each other, Lee sang into her ear,
There may be trouble ahead,
But while there's moonlight, and music, and love, and romance,
Let's face the music,
And dance!
Marie laid her head against his chest; she could have stayed like that forever.
There may be teardrops to shed,
So while there's moonlight, and music, and love, and romance,
Let's face the music,
And dance.