I never really knew what it was like to be friends with a girl, except for Annabeth and she wasn't really all that girly. My three best friends, Andrew, Connor, and Travis, are all guys. I loved them, but I needed someone to go shopping with, and giggle about guys. I had found that person in Katie Gardener. We only really got to hang out that last week before camp was over but I knew I would miss her. So that's what led me to adding another person to our growing school group.

"Katie, please!" I begged.

"I want to, I actually do, but I'm supposed to stay here until Christmas and then spend the rest of the year with my dad. I was actually supposed to go home all year but oh no, his idiot boss just had to send him to Tokyo on a business trip. Not to mention that now Miranda's mad because we're sharing counseling time and she feels like I'm out to get her or something. Does she not realize it's not my choice? She's making me look bad and people are questioning my power! Me! I could take them all down. Plus, I named her my second-in-command so she should be grateful!" Katie could have and would have rambled on like this for the remainder of the day if I hadn't interrupted her.

"That's perfect then," I told her. "Come to Goode for the rest of this year and then after Christmas you can go back with your dad. Who cares if you spend it here or at camp? And don't even mention that your dad wants you safe," I cut her off before she even had the chance. "Tell him you'll be with Percy Jackson. If he can't keep you safe, nobody can. And now, Miranda will be satisfied and get off your case and you're authority will no longer be questioned."

"I knew there was a reason I liked you," she said and I just responded with a satisfied smirk.

Later that day, I expanded our group even more to include someone who absolutely could not be left out.

"Are you serious? School? God, no," Andrew had said when I first proposed the idea, but after begging for literally about an hour, he was starting to cave.

"Brooke, I really don't want to," he said but it sounded half-hearted. I knew I almost had him. It was time to pull out all the stops.

"Andrew, I couldn't possibly last an entire year without you. I need you," I pleaded and to top it off I gave him my puppy-dog face which he absolutely can't resist.

"Fine, for you," he consented with a weary smile as if he knew all along I would win, which he probably did.

"Yay!" I squealed, jumping up and hugging him. "I love you!"

"Love you too, Brookie," he answered with a resigned smile.

Oh and for those of you who are wondering about what we did to the Stoll brothers, it's best you don't know. Chiron was pissed but he doesn't know that it was us who did it and we want to keep it that way. He's been searching for the culprits but to no avail. An experienced prankster like myself knows how to stay out of trouble. The best part is that Travis and Connor know it was us but they can't prove it and even if they wanted to they wouldn't. It was all part of a pack Andrew, Travis, Connor, and I made two years ago that we would never rat each other out. It was certainly working in my favor right now, but it had been used against me many times before.

I do feel a little bad leaving you completely in the dark so let's just say it involved the canoe lake, some very pissed off cleaning harpies, and two very confused, very scratched up, and very wet Stolls. We had gotten Percy to help with a few of the water tricks but Katie and I had done the rest.

The best part was when they confronted us. They knew we did it but of course, we denied everything.

"Seriously, Brooke? You're consorting with the enemy," Travis said, referring to Katie.

"Anything to take you down," I retorted.

That had all happened throughout last week and today was the night before the day I'd be leaving camp for a while for the first time. Wow that was confusing. Basically all of the campers who aren't year-rounders have to leave tomorrow and for once that includes me. It was scary but also sad. Camp Half-Blood was my home. I had spent my entire life there.

I needed to stop thinking about that otherwise I'll start crying and I'm not wearing water-proof makeup. Tonight was the Stolls party and there was no way I was going to show up looking like a clown. The party was actually supposed to be last week but that was the night I ended up getting claimed and the party was cancelled. This time though, the party had actually been approved by Chiron as an end-of-summer party. It also wasn't like the other party in that it would be on the beach so it was way more casual and it would be semi-supervised meaning that there would be no alcohol whatsoever. I don't drink though so it doesn't matter to me.

Katie and I had gotten ready in the Poseidon Cabin. There was definitely a bonus to having a cabin all to yourself, except for a brother who is sent running at the sight of two girls and a bag of makeup. Annabeth had come over for a little but she clearly was not a makeup girl so she left quickly.

"So, Brooke," Katie drawled. "I know I'm about to sound like an obnoxious little 5th grader but who do you like?"

"I told you, I like anyone who likes me and can kiss well."

"I know what you said, but that doesn't mean I believe it. I also know that somebody has been sending you some not so secret looks," she teased.

"Who, Connor?" I scoffed. "There is nothing there, absolutely nothing. He may like me now but we both know nothing will come of it."

"Pity, you two would be cute together," she mused.

"Well what about you and Travis, hmm? I swear whenever the two of you are near each other there is so much sexual tension in the air, it's ridiculous."

"Wh-What?" she spluttered. "You must be imagining things," she said with a nervous laugh.

"If you think you can deny it, then you must be imagining things too," I told her. "Don't forget who I am."

"Don't worry, you're quite unforgettable."