Chapter 12: Camp (After Battle of the Labyrinth)
Phoebe's POV
We're inside Apollo's chariot (in bus form) on our way to Camp. Fiona keeps staring longingly at Apollo, Thalia is leaning against her window crying-but it looks like it's just the rain on the window sill-and Artemis is holding Thalia's hand as she rolls her eyes at Fiona.
"So you guys are going to secure the Camp?" Apollo asked.
"Yes." Artemis seemed tired.
"How is Pinecone Face today? Ready to electrocute Luke if he comes anywhere near Camp?" Apollo joked.
The whole bus suddenly had sparks flying on the metallic walls, so everyone but Thalia screamed and pulled their legs off the floor and scooted away from the walls (because the seats are rubber and rubber's not a good conductor). Apollo was jolted with electricity and his hair was sticking out at odd ends.
"That's the fighting spirit." Apollo coughed.
"Leave her alone Apollo, she's easily agitated." Artemis rolled her eyes and put her feet back on the floor.
I suddenly noticed that Fiona had been electrocuted too, and she was in about the same condition as Apollo.
"Sorry. To everyone except Apollo." Thalia muttered.
There was a broken quality to her voice. She was obviously really sad about Luke. Artemis hugged her closer. That's one of the better qualities about Artemis, she's motherly to us. We pulled up near Thalia's tree at Camp, so we were almost there. As soon as we passed the hill, we saw campers waiting for us. At least it was dry inside the protection of the Camp. Apollo opened the bus doors for people to get out.
"Don't forget to give me your numbers on the way out." Apollo grinned.
"We don't have phones." Artemis smacked the back of his head.
When we walked out, Artemis directly went to Chiron and Dionysus, Thalia went to Annabeth and they hugged (and for once she didn't insult Percy), Fiona tried to sneak back on the bus, most of the Hunters went to Artemis' cabin, and I went to find Connor. It didn't take long.
"Phoebe!" Connor called out.
I turned and saw him standing next to Travis and Katie. Travis had a look like I don't understand and Katie just grinned.
"I have something to tell you." I started to drag Connor away.
"Probably about beef." Travis muttered.
Katie elbowed him sharply. Travis gave a look of defeat. I dragged Connor over near the lake.
"So what do you have to tell me?" Connor questioned.
"I killed Lycaon on the hunt, so Artemis rewarded me with letting me have whatever I want." I said.
"And what is that?" Connor seemed confused.
"You. I can date you." I explained.
Connor's face broke into an earsplitting grin and he suddenly kissed me.
"But the other Huntresses don't know that. Except Thalia." I pulled away.
"Oh. So we're going incognito? Except we won't be in trouble with Artemis or Thalia if we get caught?" Connor was still grinning.
"Basically." I agreed.
"Let's go tell Percy." Connor seemed excited.
"Why?" I asked skeptically.
"Because he's like my brother, he's better at keeping secrets than most people give him credit for, and he's a sucker for tragic love stories." Connor reasoned.
"A sucker for tragic love stories? And since when are we a tragedy?" I giggled.
"Aphrodite mentioned that his love story with Annabeth is the greatest tragedy since Paris and Helen. And our love is technically forbidden, that's why we're a tragedy." Connor elaborated.
I turned and saw that Thalia had stopped hugging Annabeth and was heading to Artemis' cabin. Now Percy was hugging Annabeth and she gave him a kiss on the cheek. I guess I can see Connor's point.
"Besides, they've both been sad since Luke became Kronos, so maybe this can cheer them up. And truth be told, Annabeth is like part of the family because she used to stick around Hermes cabin so much before she met Percy." Connor suggested.
"Okay." I sighed in agreement.
He grinned and dragged me over to them.
"Hey guys, guess what?" Connor could barely contain his excitement.
"What's up?" Percy asked.
"What?" Annabeth seemed almost as upset as Thalia.
"I've loved Phoebe since she came to Camp and I figured out she liked me back, then she killed Lycaon, so Artemis gave her whatever she wanted, and that's me! She can date me, but none of the other Hunters know except Thalia!" Connor said that all in one breath.
I just smiled nervously.
"That's... cool. I didn't know that there was any exception to the Hunters' rule about not dating. Congradulations." Percy looked like he was still trying to processs all that information.
"I've never thought about it, but I guess the reward for killing Lycaon could be a loopull to the no dating rule. That and the reward for killing the Nemean Lion. Which reminds me, what did you ask Zoë for when you killed the Nemean Lion Percy? Because any Huntress who sees someone kill the Nemean Lion has to give them anything they want." Annabeth responded.
She seemed like she was back to her factual self.
"I swear I didn't ask for what the past heroes asked for!" Percy paled in nervousness.
I wouldn't think he did, because the heroes in the past asked for sex.
"Why? What did heroes in the past ask for?" Connor seemed puzzled.
"Sex." Annabeth stated as if she were talking about a random, non-weird fact.
"That's not what I asked for! Zoë assumed I was going to, but I didn't! I couldn't think of anything in particular, so I gave her a kiss on the cheek and counted that! Maybe that's why she trusted me..." Percy seemed to ponder that last statement.
At first, Annabeth gave Percy a funny look, then she grinned.
"That's my Seaweed Brain, gets offered sex and instead gives a kiss on the cheek. I love how modest you are." Annabeth ended up giggling.
Percy smiled in his trademark way that always got him in Olympus Weekly, then he grabbed Annabeth's hand and said, "Chiron said that after we greeted Thalia we had to go back to our regular schedules. Bye lovebirds."
Funny that he's the one who called us lovebirds.
"Anyway, I have to go back to my regular activities. So I'll see you later, okay?" Connor remembered.
"Okay, I'll be in the Artemis cabin for now." I said.
"Bye." Connor called as he ran toward archery class.
"Bye." I waved.
This could be fun, especially if Thalia can get cheered up by her friends.
Fiona's POV
Did that Hermes kid just say that he and Phoebe can date?! Why can't Artemis let me date Apollo then?! I know exactly what to do.