Hey y'all. This one's a Tratie for Daughter of Poseidon. I never really understood where people got this pairing from, but I think it's cute so I gave it my best shot. Enjoy my dear readers!

PS: I'm not Rick Riordan!

The strategy was laid out. The armor intact. The boundaries set. So when the conch horn sounded the start of capture the flag, I really should have been ready. Which led me to an intriguing question: why wasn't I?

I would never admit it to anyone, but the truth was I was staring at Travis Stoll. Again. I mean, it's not like I like him or anything of course. We're really close friends, but he never takes things seriously. In fact, I'm convinced he thinks life's just one big practical joke or something. It's just that he always has this cute smile on his face, this way of flipping back his sandy blonde hair, that raised eyebrow expression that makes me want to look back...

No, I definitely don't like Travis Stoll. So why was I staring at him? He was the enemy, as far as capture the flag was concerned. But I just stood there dumbly as the conch horn sounded, and the opposing team surged around me like the breaking tide. What were the plans? My mind was at point blank. Then relief flooded through my veins as the offensive lineup reentered my mind. Our Apollo alliance would shoot stunning arrows at the guard patrol on the east river boundary. Before enemy backup could arrive, the Athena cabin would charge from the middle to cut any reinforcements. Then the fastest runner on our team- I was this designated role- would sprint through the east side, hopefully unopposed because of the stun arrows and the Athena cabin's attack, and seize the flag.

After a jolted start, I began to run. Our archers were already in position, and the first volley of arrows had already been sent down from their perches in the trees above. An unsettling silence followed: the signal that it was clear for me to run to the enemy base. I took off in a flash, bounding over the creek side in a blur as the grass cushioned my landing and sprang me forward.

That was always a plus side of being a Demeter kid. With plants, you're always on their good side (trust me, they have bad side too) and they'll bloom around you, depending on your moods. With the grass adding to the spring in my step, my legs were flying at a wild pace, and only a minute had lapsed before I approached the flag base. Now only one guard remained stationed there now, a boy with of medium build and sandy blonde hair...

Travis Stoll. Surely my luck couldn't be that bad. How was I supposed to take him when I kept getting lost in his eyes? His cute hair flip, his perfect smile? The only advantage I had was the element of surprise. I gave one step forward, and winced at the crackle of a snapped twig my foot had caught on. Travis whipped his head around toward me, suddenly alert. Shoot. Forget that element of surprise thing.

I charged him, pulling my thin dagger from its sheath as I bounded toward the flag. Travis quickly grabbed it from its stand, his flag hand behind his back and sword hand at the ready.

I gave a quiet chuckle. "Oh come on Travis, you're really going to challenge a Demeter girl to a sword fight? I don't even have a proper blade."

Travis smiled, like always, and his blue eyes twinkled even under the twilight sky. "Nice try, Kate," he said, strolling up towards me, "but I'm pretty smart for a clueless person. I know you could easily take me any day."

I blushed at the compliment, but then realized in alarm what he was doing. He was try to catch me with my guard down! And with a sinking feeling in my stomach, I knew he was doing a pretty good job of it. I need to put on a mask of confidence, to intimidate him.

"Can't argue with you there," I said, taking a step closer, "but I'll just have to prove your point."

We were so close now, I could smell his warm breath on my face or count the number of freckles on his nose. Travis did that adorable hair flip again, and flashed me a nervous smile. It was took much. Suddenly I dropped my dagger and wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him gently. He let his sword drop to the ground as well, and wrapped his arms around my waist to kiss me back.

It was perfect, just perfect, and it was only when I pulled back to catch my breath that I realized we were still in the middle of a capture the flag game. And then I did the lowest move of my life. As we smiled at each other, I slowly inched my hand toward his, then pulling the flag from his slackened grasp and running, running faster and harder than I ever had in my life. I only looked back once, to see Travis picking a rose from the ground that had just bloomed. And it had bloomed...between where we kissed.

I hope you enjoyed it! Please review, it always makes my day. Justagirlwithideas signing off!