Hi you guys are so nice! I really don't have any idea what this chapter is going to be about but I'm just going to start typing and see what comes to me. Haha no joke.

Chapter 5: The Favorite Tree Campers Return

Whoa. Just—whoa. It was the middle of the night around 11:00 and since that interesting experience, everyone has been giving me strange looks and avoiding me. It's like I'm a criminal or something! The only person I wanted to talk to right now was Leo. Surely he would understand.

Anyway, so after my dad (wow, I still can't get used to saying that) broke the silence saying, "Well, this is awkward . . ." you don't have to remind me that that just made things more awkward. And then, everyone started chatting at once, some whispering and some laughing or joking. And I bet they weren't talking about what the weather will be tomorrow. Chiron looked just as stunned as everybody but remained calm and collected. "Silence," he bellowed and the whole crowd quieted. "Everyone is dismissed to go to their cabins and get ready for bed. Lights out in fifteen minutes and anyone to fail that order will be punished. Goodnight."

Campers walked off, still staring and whispering about me as I just took long, swift strides toward my cabin, careful not to make any eye contact. Even my own cabin mates stayed their distance. I mean, honestly, I didn't have some kind of contagious disease!

Glancing around, I noticed everyone had fallen asleep. I know it was against the rules, but I just had to go there, I was desperate. Completely out of options. The tree.

I had to get away from all this drama. I mean, Dionysus is not even supposed to have kids (A/N: Let' just pretend, ok?) but here I am, in flesh and bones. It's just like my last school, I realized. All over again. No—I could not go through this. Right now, I'm only going to concentrate on the soothing sounds of the night.

Swiftly, I made myself up to one of the highest branches and closed my eyes, remembering the first night I had gone up here. As if on cue, Leo jumped up on the exact same branch he sat on last time. He almost fell and this time, I had to grab him from falling over.

"Hey tree buddy," he smiled that irresistible, sweet smile and made butterflies float up in my chest.

I sighed. "Hey."

"Ya know, it's not a bad thing." I frowned. Of course it was bad thing, he didn't know. He didn't understand.

Yet I pretended I hadn't picked up. "What's not a bad thing?"

"Knowing how smart you are, Chelsea, I have a feeling you know. " Leo's face could be described with concern, comfort, knowing, and. . . something else. I just couldn't seem to find it.

"Leo, didn't you see everybody talking and whispering about me?" I chocked. I was tearing up. No, this was not happening. I was totally crying in front of the guy I like, the only one who wanted to hang out with me in a tree. I hugged my knees tighter and turned away as a tear silently streamed down my face.

"Chelsea," Leo started. He gently slid his hand into my left one. I squeezed back; it seemed it like Leo's the only person I had left who hadn't given up on me. His hand felt warm and tough, yet smooth against mine. "Listen to me, they have a lot of reasons to talk about you. You're smart, beautiful, strong, passionate, and determined. If they're talking, they're jealous of you. You're every guy's dream girl and every girl knows it."

I slowly lifted my head up, making eye contact with his sparkling eyes, filled with the emotion I couldn't figure out. Affection. Not quite love, we're too young for that, but pretty darn close. I smiled and he smiled back. "You really know how to me make me feel better."

"So you . . . reciprocate my feelings?" he asked, hopefully.

I giggled. "Of course I do." We both leaned in and I was one-hundred percent positive we were going to kiss, when a camper from down below shouted, "They're gonna kiss!"

Leo and I both turned to the sound and were blinded by a flashlight that shone on our red faces.

"I guess someone figured out our secret hideout?" Leo asked as we slipped down to the ground, opposite side of the apparent spectator and ran.

"Not so secret anymore," I responded, rather peeved someone interrupted my kiss. And it was so romantic! Think about it, a tall tree, lit by silver moonlight. It felt like a faraway place you could only read in fairy tales!

Not really looking where we were going, we bumped into something, creating a thud sound. "I see our favorite tree campers are back," a voice boomed overhead. Looking up, I saw that it was Chiron! Oops. "My office, now. And Chelsea, you're lucky I don't inform your father."

Well, I think that went well for a not-planned-out chapter. Tell me what you think. Oh and to my disappointment, no one has guessed the number so I will give you another hint. It is between 1-15. Review plz!