Chapter 5

By the time I arrived at the camp fire, everyone else had already sat down and Lucas was nowhere to be seen. I ducked my head as people looked around at me. As I sat down beside a guy wearing a dark grey hoodie over his orange Camp Half Blood t shirt which everyone wore, my brothers and sisters squished up beside me on the bench whispering excitedly together. They pushed me up uncomfortably close to the guy in the hoodie but he didn't seem to mind. Anya, Tamsin and Ruby were sitting on a bench on the other side of the fire, laughing and joking together. I pulled my jacket closer around myself and stared at the fire. My siblings were giggling and whispering but I didn't feel in the mood anymore. Chiron stood up and looked over at the boy sitting next to me and smiled. "Theo, you said you wanted to perform for us?" he said.

"Yep" Theo said, standing up. He was taller than I realised, taller than Ruby even, (and she was a little bit taller than me). He pulled back his hood to reveal dark hair and dark brown eyes. He picked up a guitar and began to sing.

"Stage fright"

Every time that I close my eyes

I catch a glimpse of the west coast sunrise

And I can tell you, you're just as beautiful

Overwhelmed by the fear and stage fright

You're the only one in my spotlight

Even when you don't feel so beautiful

We've got one chance, we've got one chance

We've got one chance to shine, to shine

Still awake at the start of daylight

I miss you bad but I swear I'm alright

I'll see you soon when the leaves turn colourful

I see your face in my own reflection

Scan the crowd but there's no connection

Without you, nothing feels like home

We've got one chance, one chance yeah

We've got one chance to make things right

We've got one chance to shine yeah

He was a really good singer and when he'd finished everyone clapped and cheered. I smiled at him as I sat down. Then Chiron dismissed us and people started to head off back to their cabins. My three "friends" headed off without a backwards glance. This day had been so amazing and now it all seemed to be going wrong. I pulled my legs up to my chest beside the fire. Then Theo sat down beside me.

"Rough day, huh?" he said.

I jumped and so did the fire.

"It's ok, I won't hurt you." He said smiling. "So, what's wrong?"

Before I knew it, I had poured my heart out to this complete stranger. I told him all of my worries about university and boys and my mum and my friends, everything. He listened intently, nodding and smiling comfortingly.

"So yeah," I said when I'd finished, lying back on the grass and looking up the stars. Theo lay down beside me and put his hands behind his head.

"Look! A shooting star!" he said, pointing up at the sky. "Make a wish!" he winked. I closed my eyes and wished for something better. Theo looked over at me and leaned on one elbow.

"What'd you wish for?" he said grinning.

"If I tell you it won't come true!" I smiled.

"Well I'll tell you what I wished for."

"What?"

"A beautiful girl, to hold and call my own."

"Oh right ok," I muttered, looking away.

"I think I've found that beautiful girl." Theo said softly. "And she sitting right here." he whispered in my ear. I looked up and Theo was looking straight into my eyes and holding my hand tight.

"Please Kalina."

Suddenly I felt like I would do anything to please Theo. I would say anything, be anything and do every single thing he asked.

So I did.