Chapter 6

The Lake and Practical Jokes

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and The Olympians

Authors Note: I think I'm going to keep my chapters shorter because they are easier to write and to read! I will try to keep them about 800 words though. (Including authors notes and disclaimers)
And I will do a little time skipping, because this story is a collection of short stories my friends and have done so I have to fill in a little in-between parts.

July 1
Three weeks after Mary's arrival at camp

Mary left the arts and crafts tent and headed to her next activity, archery. She was a good archer though not as good as the Apollo campers. She had her quiver slung over her shoulder and her bow in her hand. It was a hot July day, even for camp.
Joe waved to her as she walked over to him. "Hey Mary, ready for me to beat you?"
She laughed. "In your dreams. How far are we shooting today?"
"Try fifty yards."
"You have an un-fair advantage."
"What?" Joe grinned at her. "I'm just a measly son of Apollo"
Mary snorted. "Yeah just a son of the god of archery."
"And medicine and poetry." Joe put in.
"Ha. Bad poetry. No offence."
"None taken as long I don't offend you by beating you." Joe drew his bow and shot a bull's eye. "Beat that."
"I'll try." Mary drew her bow and her arrow struck the target right next to Joe's arrow. "There."
"You could have split my arrow."
"What if I didn't want to?" Mary taunted.
"Ha ha." Joe set down his bow. "I see you don't have anything else for me to teach you."
"So what now?"
"We could go down to the lake."
"You could help me think of pranks to pull on Nico." Mary's eyes glinted mischievously.
"What did he do to deserve your wrath?"
"It's fun to do things to him."
"I see. Well you should have Hannah help you." Suggested Joe.
"That crazy girl from Hecate, who's related to that crazy guy I almost punched?"
"Yes."
"Okay. But I like the idea of the lake." She grinned at him. "I'll grab my swim suit." Mary shadow traveled to her cabin. "Dang, that's tiring." She muttered.

Joe sat on the beach watching the waves pounding on the shore. When he looked up Mary was walking toward him, her black one-piece making her skin seem shockingly pale.
"Want to swim?" asked Mary as she laid out her towel next to Joe.
"If you want to." He pulled some sunscreen out of his bag. "Want some?"
"I already put some on. Let's swim."

They ran into the surf.
Mary laughed for the first time in a long time. "I really like it here at camp."
Joe smiled at her, "Good."

Later that day

Mary knocked on the door of the Hecate cabin. A girl with an iridescent color changing necklace answered the door.
"Hello Hecate cabin, Hannah speaking. How may I help you?" she asked with a grin.
Mary took a few seconds to contemplate why Hannah sounded like she was answering a phone before asking her question. "I need a favor. Can you help?"
"Hmm that depends? What kind of favor?" her smile was bright and distracting as she giggled. "I can do lots of things." Her eyes glinted mischievously.
"I need help pulling a prank on my brother."
"Well you really should have checked with the Hermes cabin first, but I suppose I'm slightly more trustworthy."
"Can you help me or not?"
"Yes I CAN." Hannah put extra stress on the word "can"
Mary rolled her eyes, Hannah was beginning to annoy her, "Will you help me?"
Hannah made a weird face. "Why didn't you just ask? Come in. That last question was rhetorical by the way." She stepped aside to let Mary in.
The first thing Mary saw was a purple pond. "Why is there a purple pond in your cabin?"
"What do you use a pond for? Swimming! Duh." Hannah sat down on a bunk. "So what were you thinking of doing."
"I'm not sure, maybe making all his clothes pink or something."
Hannah grinned again, "My dear I can do so much more . . ."

Authors Note: I'm ending the chapter her because I need ideas for pranks on Nico. Please review and tell me!