Hi! So, i'm back with more! I hope you like this chappie. The next one will be better, i promise!

PS. Think of this song when you're reading this chapter- i was debating on putting the Alvin and the Chipmunks version, but then decided against it. here it is- watch?v=gH476CxJxfg

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Percy Jackson

Hate and Punishment

- Katie POV –

So, Travis described me as annoying and bossy and a goody-goody. That is SO not how I am.

Well, maybe just a little bit.

But you can't blame me for wanting to follow the rules. Especially at Camp. Camp Half-Blood punishments are legendary. Dish washing at regular camp is gross, but dish washing with molten lava? Please. Your regular old weekend camp is NOTHING in comparison.

Anyway, I was off in the strawberry fields when the "earthquake" came. My first thought was to save the plants (what? It's in my blood!) and I hid in the shed. When the vibrations stopped, I came out to find the Hermes Cabin completely trashing the camp. Then, Travis "Annoying" Stoll runs into me, and I rightly take his Stupid Spray, and then look who gets framed for the whole fiasco. Me! Me, Katie Gardner, Demeter Cabin, who's never done anything bad in her life. Me! I still couldn't believe it.

Apparently, neither could Chiron from the looks he was giving me. You'd have thought that he would give me some kind of leeway since I've never done anything bad in my life and I don't plan on ever doing anything bad, but all he did was stare at me in stony silence.

We were sitting in the comfortable chairs in Chiron's office in the Big House. Dean Martin was playing softly in the background, and I recognized the song, surprisingly enough. It was my grandfather's favorite.

Chiron (finally!) cleared his throat and glared down at us. "I would like an explanation as to why Camp Half-Blood is completely trashed, and you two were standing in the middle of it."

I flinched. Had it really looked that bad?

"Travis, you have been given many warnings about this sort of behavior. You should have known better."

Travis just shrugged nonchalantly. It would seem that he had had that talk with Chiron multiple times. Then Chiron turned on me. "Katie, I can see Travis participating in this, but you? Why did you do this? I expect better from you."

Travis gave me a sideways glance to see if I had started crying or something, but strangely, I wasn't scared or ashamed. I mean, I didn't even do anything for pete's sake! I was about to open my mouth to explain everything to Chiron, when I saw Travis give an almost imperceptible shake of his head. Of course. If I told Chiron the whole story, then the whole Hermes Cabin would be to blame, and it would be all Travis's fault. They would hate him. While part of me relished the thought of this kid being shunned, the other half felt pity for him. How horrible would it be to have your whole cabin hate you?

I took a deep breath. Chiron looked at me piercingly. "Would you like to say something, Katie?"

Travis seemed almost as still as a statue.

I bit my lip and nodded.

Travis went rigid.

"I'm very sorry for Travis and mine's actions. It was mostly Travis."

Travis relaxed and shot me a grateful look, but I noticed that there was still distrust in his eyes. Well, that was fine. I didn't trust the little sneak either.

But Chiron didn't seem convinced. "Are you sure that there were no other accomplices?"

"Yes, I'm positive. I didn't work with anyone else." Not exactly a lie, since I never actually did anything.

Chiron settled back into his chair. "This was a severe breach of conduct for both of you. As a result, punishment is unavoidable."

I shot a glare at Travis. This was all his fault.

"Your punishment is that you two will work together for a week cleaning up the camp, doing the dishes, and many other chores around camp. You will come and see me at 6:00 every morning for your list of chores. When you are done with them you may go. You will also have to assign a substitute to take over your duties of cabin leader. Is that clear?"

My mouth fell open. Literally, I could not close it. A whole week of chores?! With Travis Stoll?! This was like a nightmare. Based on the weird sounds Travis was making, I guess he felt the same way.

Chiron clapped his hands together. "You may go now. Just remember- you have brought this among yourselves."

I whirled around and stormed out of the Big House without another glance. That STUPID Travis Stoll! Thanks to him, I now have the worst punishment in Camp history. Spending a week doing chores with him.

How will I survive?

As soon as I got to my cabin, I called a meeting. "All right guys, listen up. Remember this morning? Well, thanks to Travis Stoll, now I have to spend an entire WEEK doing chores with him."

My cabin murmured their apologies. Claire patted me consolingly on the back. "Sorry that you have to work with that loser."

"So am I, Claire, so am I," I muttered. Then, speaking louder, I appointed my second-in-command. "Hannah will be taking over for me as head of the Demeter Cabin for the next week."

Hannah squealed, which she normally never does. "Yes! The cabin leaders get to help plan the Camp Dance!"

I groaned. "Ugh. That's right! I have to find a date for the dance!"

Isabel smirked. "Well, while you were gone, Andy from Hephaestus Cabin asked if you were available. What should I tell him next time he comes?"

I rubbed my temples. "Tell him that I'm NOT interested, and that I have rabies!"

Everybody laughs at this. Andy is the biggest loser in all of Camp, and everybody knows it. Even though he's in Hephaestus, he seems to break everything he touches, and he's none too bright, either. The fact that he wanted to ask me to the dance is probably an indication that I shouldn't go.

I walked out of the cabin and trudged through the cabin circle, heading up the hill. I zigzagged past the strawberry fields and through the hedge until I was right at the edge of the forest. I gave a quick glance either way and then stepped into the thick foliage. It wasn't forbidden, but I didn't want anyone following me.

I trudged down a well-worn path toward the river. There's a little moss patch just big enough to be a beanbag chair, and I love sitting there. It's my favorite thinking spot. The light shines down through the trees, and the stream is always cheerfully gurgling.

I plopped down on the moss and laid my head back. Worries? Number one- I was in trouble with Chiron and had to do a week of chores with Travis Stoll. I wasn't good with boys regularly, but Travis was just so annoying that it was completely impossible to have fun with him. Most people seem surprised that I'm not a boy person. But you're so pretty! they insist. You've got to have at least a couple of boyfriends! Ha. Please, I'm not like Isabel; changing boyfriends every week. You'd think she was an Aphrodite.

Worry Number two- I needed a date for the dance. Back to the boy thing again. It would be totally embarrassing to show up without a date! Not that I haven't done more embarrassing things. Still…

I sat up straighter. No! I was starting to sound like an Aphrodite! Maybe Isabel was rubbing off on me. The thought made me shudder.

I stood up and walked around. There were some really pretty Stargazer Lilies by the riverbank, and I picked one and put it in my hair. Stargazer Lilies are my favorite flowers. They are white on the outside and light pink on the inside with dark pink spots like freckles closer to the inside. I ran my finger along the delicate pink petal, and the colors seemed to become brighter. I put the lily in my palm and concentrated hard. When I opened my eyes, the lily was glowing a light pink-gold-ish color. I had never shown anyone this trick, not even my cabin. A girl who could make flowers glow? Pretty weird, even if I am from Demeter Cabin. I don't want to be singled out for my weirdness any more than I already am.

I passed my hand over the flower, and the glow vanished. I put the lily back in my hair and looked at the sky. The sun was in the west, and quickly sinking. I estimated that it was about 5:00 in the afternoon. It would be dinnertime soon. I sighed and walked back the way I came, down the path and out of the woods. I was walking past the tetherball court when I felt a sweaty hand grasp my arm. I whirled around and came face to face with a horrible sight.

Andy from Hepheastus.

My eyes got big and I tried to escape, but Andy's hands must have gotten really strong from making stuff, because he had an iron grip. He gave a grimacey-dorky smile and laughed, sending his flabs of belly fat jiggling and the smell of garlic pizza breath towards me. I tried not to gag. "Um, hi Andy."

"Hey hey hey Kat!" Gods, he sounded like Isabel!

"What do you want?" I was trying not let my irritation show, but it was getting hard.

"Well, I was just wondering if you were, you know, available for a picnic now?"

I grimaced at the thought of spending time with Andy. "Actually, I have a …..thing. Like right now. So, if you could just let go—"

Andy heaved a sigh and let go of my arm. Quickly, I started taking steps backwards. "Yeah, well, it was nice talking to you and all, but I really got to go." My steps got bigger.

Andy grimace-smiled again. "You won't get away from me so fast!" He tried for a flirty voice, but it came out as more of a high-whinying voice. Like a horse. My horror increased by about a hundred when Andy started galloping after me. I turned my heel and ran.

I could hear snickers coming from all over as I ran for my life. Some guys whistled. "You go Andy! Catch that girl!"

I reached my Cabin and flew in, slamming the door behind me. "If anyone comes in here," I panted, "tell them I'm not here and that I went over for dinner!" I then flew into the bathroom. I sat there panting, for about ten minutes, until Claire came in and announced that the coast was clear. "Thanks," I said weakly. "All right cabin! We're going down to dinner!"

All in all, not one of my better days.

Probably better than tomorrow would be, though.

Curse you Travis Stoll!

Poor, poor Katie! Anyhoo, please read and review!

Hey! That ryhmed!

I'm a poet and I didn't even know it!

Sorry, that was bad.

It makes me real sad.

OK, that was bad too.

Now i'm feelin' real blue.

Stop rhyming, i mean it!

Anybody wanna peanut?

Aaaaagh!