DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN PERCY JACKSON OR CAMP HALFBLOOD!

CHAPTER TWO: ME AND MY BIG MOUTH!

"I win" Mr. D said throwing the ace down against my jack. It figures the one game he beats me at is "war" (kind of ironic really).

"Well Romilda, it seems we've finally found a game strategic enough for my great mind" Mr. D said smugly.

"There's nothing strategic about war. You just draw a card." I thought.

"Are you insulting my intelligence Roberta?" Mr. D thundered his eyes flashing purple. Oh boy, I guess I said it out loud. That's what I get for being stuck with Sparky.

"N-n-no of course not Mr. D I'm so-sorry, I guess I was just being a sore loser. I'm really sorry it won't happen again." I promised, the purple was gone from his eyes but that didn't mean anything.

"You know I should give you dishes duty for a month for that dismal display of rudeness and lack of respect (not to mention bad form as a competitor). As it stands I realize Agatha is punishing you making you watch that Lionel boy- where is that annoyance anyway?"

"Annabeth switched his classes around to during our card games so you don't have to be tortured by him as well" I answered. Yeah right, the only reason I don't have to drag Sparky to the card game is because the first time I did he said something stupid, Mr. D got really angry, he wound up a grapevine and then we all had to apologize to a very angry Zeus before Mr. D changed him back (I don't see Zeus' problem he was perfectly safe as a grape vine).

"Right like I was saying Rebecca, because I understand your pain AND I'm feeling incredibly lenient, I'll only give you dishes duty for 3 weeks instead." Wow how generous.

"Thank you Mr. D" I said quickly before he could think I was being ungrateful and make it 6 months.

"You're welcome Rachel. The cleaning harpies will expect you after dinner. War again tomorrow same time as usual and try to learn to lose gracefully this time will you."

"Yes sir"

"Well off you go." And with that I was dismissed.

I trudged as slowly as possible over to the school; it was a recent addition to camp- like the lesser gods cabins. Chiron felt that it would be a good idea if there was something to give the campers (especially us year-rounders) a sense of normalcy- so our ancient Greek and home school classes went from being on the front porch of the Big House to being in an actual classroom. Somehow math really didn't make me feel normal though.

I knocked on the door to the upper level classes (before you get a chance to think it, Sparky is by no means intelligent, he's just seventeen and therefore well a junior- I think). Annabeth opened the door quickly nearly taking my head off, her blond curls were coming out of her ponytail and she looked a little like a crazed lunatic. Great, so he was in a "good" mood.

"What took you so long?" She asked shutting the door behind her.

"Got assigned kitchen duty for 3 weeks" Annabeth frowned obviously annoyed but said nothing about it. I understood the frustration not only was she the substitute teacher for all of us, but she was also covering for Chiron this month while he was in Florida.

"I'll see if I can't get Percy to train with him while you're cleaning. Oh and don't forget about your math final tomorrow- you really need a good grade on this one." Seriously? The only break I get from Sparky was either when I was playing cards with Mr. D or washing dishes with harpies now, and I still had to worry about math, how was that fair?

"I won't," I promised. Why'd Malcolm have to pick now to get TB and have to go into isolation Annabeth's tests were way harder.

Annabeth opened the door again, and looked into the classroom. "Leo, Rosie's here for you" she called. Leo walked out hands in his pockets and a bored expression on his face.

"Is the prison guard routine really necessary?" He asked sizing Annabeth and me up (or should I say down, he did have nearly a foot on me).

"You're the one that tried to runaway, you're father told us to keep you safe Leo, and you've shown us this is the only option." Annabeth reminded- you can't say I didn't warn him. Leo rolled his eyes (real mature).

Alright, where to today Flower-Power?" Did I mention are no nicknames truce made it all of 45 minutes?

"Archery". I answered choosing to ignore his insult.

"When are you gonna realize how awful you are at that and give up already?" He whined.

"How do you know I'm bad, you haven't even seen me shoot?" I asked my nerves were already weighing thin.

"Word gets around" Was all he said.

When we got to the archery fields Jason a year-rounder from the Apollo cabins (and one of my best friends) was already showing a few of the new campers how to shoot. When he saw us he came running forward.

"Hey Rose ready for another lesson? I just finished with the other kids-" He began but when he saw Leo his goofy grin got even bigger. "You know when you told me you were babysitting I kind of imagined someone a little younger" He managed to get out before bursting out laughing; neither Sparky nor me were impressed.

"Jason you know Leo already I think" I said politely.

"Sure" Jason said still grinning and looking a little too much like his dad for comfort at the moment.

"He's a year-rounder-"

"For now" Leo cut in. I rolled my eyes annoyed.

"Anyways he's been hanging out with me this past week-"

"By force"

"Until the summer session starts and his friends get back." Oh happy day!

"That's cool" Jason said his eyes laughing- oh dear that didn't bode well! "You know Rosie if you need help babysitting-"

"Shut your trap Greer I'm older then both of you!" Leo snapped- why'd I have to use the word babysitting?

"Oh yeah? Well what're you gonna do, make me?" Jason said stepping closer.

Oh joy nothing says fun like the idiocy of male testosterone! I could already see sparks coming out of Leo's hands and Jason reaching for an arrow. But with their attention focused on each other it was easy for me to use my powers.

I felt the pull in my stomach as I focused my attention on their consciousness, if either had felt me creeping in they didn't show it. It was a little harder to snake through someone's mind when their defenses were up- much less two people, but with some effort I was in and it wasn't long before-

"Ack! Rosie, stop it!" Jason cried arms wrapped snugly around Leo (who looked like he was foaming at the mouth) in a nice warm hug.

"I am so going to electrocute you hippy." Leo growled. Oh yeah, that makes me want to let him go!

"Real smart Sparky insult the person in control of you" I had to stop a minute losing my breath now that they (more Leo than Jason) were aware and struggling against it, it took an awful lot of energy to keep them there.

"Rose remember what Chiron told you" Jason warned, I rolled my eyes.

"Do you two wanna go frolic hand in hand in the strawberry fields now?"

"NO" they chorused.

"And do you promise not to fight with one another- or shock each other- or me?" I added. Grimacing a little as a sudden pain in my head started before disappearing just as quickly.

"Promise" Jason said immediately. Sparky didn't make a sound.

"You know I could always make you go hug Peleus pr Mr. D instead." I reminded, the pain from early was blinking in and out now. I couldn't hold on much longer.

"Fine" Leo said. I left both of their consciousness just in time to nearly pass out in front of them; luckily for me Jason caught me and sat me on the ground clearly angry.

"Are you out of your mind?" He asked all care-freeness gone from his face- in fact he kinda looked a bit pale.

"What's the big deal I thought she did that all the time?" Leo asked confused.

"It's a little bit different" I managed to get out, a weak smile on my face to try and get the glare off of Jason's- it didn't work.

"Yeah but still, my powers don't drain like that on me- at least I don't think they do. I haven't really pressed the envelope with them." Leo pressed. Jason rolled his eyes.

"Ok for one, you're a Big Three kid, you're more powerful then most half bloods anyways. Two, zapping people's a little different than breaking into someone's consciousness- much less two. And three, there's a reason you and everyone else for that matter, don't push the envelope when it comes to your powers because it's incredibly stupid- if you're not careful you can drain yourself to exhaustion which makes you easy bait for monsters." Jason lectured staring at me for the last bit.

"Chiron has been helping you with it, and he's warned you about what could happen if you pushed it too far, I can't believe you were stupid enough to try it!" He scolded making sure not to scold (I don't know if it was a peace thing or a me thing but I did not deal well with being yelled at when someone was getting on to me).

"Well I didn't know it was my limit" I replied sheepishly. Leo let out a low whistle.

"I got to hand it to ya kid, you're cooler than I thought" Leo said. Kid? I was two years younger than him- definitely not a "kid".

"Don't encourage her! She could have killed herself." Jason said still fuming.

"You sound like Eddie" I told him. That did the trick.

"Do Not" Jason whined back to his usual carefree self.

"Who's Eddie?" Leo asked confused.

"Edison Bell son of Athena" Jason supplied. "Take it back"

"In your dreams." I replied. "Eddie's also the cousin of Elsie Bell- daughter of Hermes" I added to Leo, Elsie was about his age maybe they knew each other.

"Two half-bloods in one family?"

"Their parents can see through the mist," Jason explained adopting Leo's bored tone. "Eddie's pretty cool he can just be a bit of a know it all sometimes."

"Not to mention a tattle-tale," I added.

"Wow you two seem like great friends," Leo said.

"We are" Jason said choosing to ignore the sarcasm.

"Besides, that's just how the Insensitive Satyr's Club rolls" I said folding my arms and trying to look "gangsta". Jason looked at me and shook his head.

"Don't do that again" He advised- oh yeah that coming from the guy that asked out one of the Aphrodite girls last year in a monologue using cheesy lines from every romantic movie known to man, she said no (some girls just don't appreciate the beauty of being cheesy).

Leo was still hung up on what I'd said. "The what?"

"The Insensitive Satyr's Club, the ISC, also known as Monty's club" I answered as if that was explanation enough, Leo looked frustrated so I guess I did my job.

"Me Rosie, Elsie, Eddie and some other campers were all found by Montague Hill- Monty, so we all kind of got to know each other through him." Jason explained. "Shouldn't we be doing something more productive like I don't know, practicing?"

"Aw do we have to?" I whined. If I haven't said it already, I hate training of any kind.

"What's the matter Hippy, scared of hurting the target?" Leo teased.

"No!" I glared back. "Jason, teach away!" I said convinced I had to prove Leo wrong.

Fifteen minutes Later and I had managed to hit a tree, the fence post, the ground, and only narrowly missed one of the new campers head (Jason sent everyone off the field after that).

"Hahaha, and I thought this would be boring" Leo said almost doubled over from laughing so hard. I wish I could hit him with an arrow but I guess Zeus wouldn't take to kindly to that.

"Shut up Lewis you're not that great either" Jason defended (badly I might add).

"No I'm not," Leo agreed, "But at least I can hit the target." The thought of giving his eyes to the grey sisters crossed my mind again. Well that and carving his heart out with a Spork (you know I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I should have been a daughter of Ares).

"I could hit the target if I wanted too" I said. Oh crap, no I couldn't! Why'd I have to go and say a stupid thing like that? Didn't I learn my lesson from the Mr. D incident?

"Oh really?" Leo asked eyebrow raised in amusement like I was a five year old that had just informed him I was the Queen of England. Boy did I want to wipe that look right of his face. Jason looked at me concerned.

"Rose" He warned, but there was no going back. Leo had driven me over the edge.

"Really" I said hands on my hips looking as menacing as my 5 ft stature would allow.

"Well why don't you prove it?" Leo smirked. Just Great Rosie, you just have to open your big yap again! Why didn't I see that coming? I bet even the target saw that and it didn't have eyes.

"F-f-fine." I stammered all of the stupid anger gone leaving nothing but the anxiousness my imminent humiliation brought. I should just buy a muzzle.

I grabbed the bow again and knocked an arrow.

"Ok Rosie, just square your shoulders before you take your stance so your back is straight, and don't be afraid to use your ear as an anchor-"

"Jason, I appreciate the help and all but could you just shut-up for right now?" I asked. He nodded but not before whispering "please dad just let her get it, just this once"

Now there's an idea! When in doubt ask for help.

Ok, I don't know if you all are too busy to hear, but if anyone's listening and could help me out, I would really, really like to hit the target just once- it doesn't have to be a bull's-eye or anything. I mean just hitting the outermost part would be awesome. Ok well, I know you're probably busy with something so I guess I'll let you go now, thanks for your time. Ok Bye.

Maybe that would work. I straightened a little bit and took aim, pulled my string back to my ear closed my eyes and fired.

The other two didn't make a sound so I opened my eyes to make sure I didn't hit them instead. What I saw made my mouth hang open.

Not only was the arrow in the bull's-eye but there was a piece of paper attached to it. I walked over to the target Leo and Jason right behind me. Took the arrow off and opened the note.

"What's it say?" Leo asked.

"I'm afraid your powers won't be enough for the task ahead. I hope this new skill proves helpful enough." I read unsure of what that meant.

"There's a P.S on the back" Jason said. I turned it around and read.

"The debt has been paid. Thanks, is not necessary. Dear Rosie enjoy."

"Well dad wrote the P.S- it's a haiku, but who wrote the rest?" Jason said taking the note and looking over it.

"It doesn't say," I said.

"Ok, well did you pray before you made the shot?" Leo asked.

"Yes, do you think it would have done that otherwise?"

"Who did you ask for help?"

"I don't know" I answered, "I just asked anyone that wasn't busy, I try not to pick favorites." And then it dawned on me.

Leo swore and Jason shook his head.

"I'm sorry Leo" I managed. He ignored me and began pacing.

"It's ok Rosie, just put the bow down for right now and let's think." Jason said. Leo rolled his eyes.

"You wanna think? Let's think about the fact that Miss Flower-Child here has just made herself a human puppet- probably for whoever is out to get me."

"I'm sorry"

"Oh you're sorry? My parents stick me in this stupid camp so the monsters someone is sending out can't get to me and somehow you've managed make yourself availa-"

"Would you shut-up for a second!" Jason said absolutely livid. "Look I get that you're worried, but she feels bad enough and in all honesty I doubt this has anything to do with you."

"Oh and you would know because?"

"Because my dad's the one that gave her the gift and I think he's intelligent enough not to turn Rosie into a trained assassin for the son of Zeus- especially if he left a trail back to him."

"That still doesn't explain who asked your dad to give it to her." Leo said although he had calmed down enough to sit and look at me with out glaring.

"And that's why we'll go to Annabeth and Percy- if anyone knows what to do they will."