AN: hey guys. please review so I know if you like the story or not. I'd love to have your feed back on this please?

Chapter 6

He was silent for a few moments unsure of how to answer at first. "Why do you want to know?" He asked her calmly.

"I just want to know. Do you?" Stephanie asked again as she stared into his eyes.

He felt uncomfortable under her stare. "Yeah, I kind of do..." He said quietly.

Stephanie was silent for a minute. "You do know there's still Pascal..." she said quietly.

"He's the one that could keep me from her...I already know he loves her." He clenched his fists. "Listen, can we…can we talk about this later?"

Stephanie stared at him before nodding, her eyes sad. "Come on. They're waiting for us." she said as she took his hand and led him outside.

She's not the only one I like... Jarred felt sorrow come over him and he stayed quiet, his amber eyes turning to a deep chocolate brown showing he was deep into his thoughts.

Once they were outside, Jarred saw Pascal and Alice close together and talking. He also saw how Pascal looked at Alice. Like she was one of the most precious things he's ever had.

Alice looked over and saw Jarred and Stephanie's linked hands. She looked at the son of Ares and smiled as if saying, good luck.

Pascal saw the same thing then nodded at Jarred, a flicker of emotion crossing his eyes. The two then walked ahead of them towards the Mess Hall, with Pascal's arm over Alice's shoulders.

Jarred's eyes turned their normal color for a moment, but soon seeped back to the dark color they had been. Maybe I should just stay in my thoughts. Gather all my pieces and patch myself up, get my head straight. Just do those things first, before I really think about a relationship... His expression was blank, and distant. He looked as if he was far away from reality.

Jarred let Stephanie lead him to the Mess Hall then he sat down on his Cabin's table.

"What's bugging you now?" A voice to his left asked. Turning, he saw Jake looking worriedly at him.

When he blinked his eyes quickly became normal. "Hmm? Oh, nothing's wrong." He gave Jake a confused look. "What made you think something was wrong?"

"Your eyes were dim and blank a while ago kid."

"Oh, that. I get lost in thought a lot. I honestly don't know what I look like, or how I act when I do that."

Jake remained silent before shrugging. "Alright if you say so." He then proceeded to explain to Jarred about the offerings, the dinner and then the sing-along afterwards.

He listened carefully, trying his best to pay attention but he could feel his ADHD begin to act up. His mind was wandering a lot and it was beginning to get harder to focus on what his older brother had to say.

"Now. Since it's a song-along, the Apollo cabin will naturally be the ones to lead it. Understand kid?" Jake asked.

Jarred blinked a few times. Focus! "Yeah, I understand." He said.

Jake nodded then stood up, carrying his plate with him. Jarred followed his older brother, still in a daze. Jake threw part of his food into the fire then looked at Jarred. Jarred did the same and glanced up at Jake. The younger boy's eyes were still dark but he knew what was going on around him. Jarred let himself be led back to the table. He could here Jake urged him to eat so he did. Maybe too little but he did.

Listen to what Jake's saying, eat something. If you don't you won't be able to train as hard or long. Jarred blinked a couple of times before finishing most of the food left on his plate

"Are you sure you're okay kid?" Jake asked, his eyebrows furrowing in worry. Most of the cabins have finished by now and were going to the amphitheater.

"Fine." He said snapping to attention a bit as he got up to get rid of his plate "You don't have to worry Jake, I'm fine, honest." He gave the older boy a reassuring smile.

Jake stared at him for a minute before nodding. "Alright. Leave your plate there. The nymphs will take care of it." He said before standing up.

"Alright." He said. "Come on before we're late."

The two brothers walked to the amphitheater with their other siblings, lost in their own thoughts. When they sat with the others, a soft voice reached Jarred's ears.

"Are you okay?"

He turned to look at who was talking to him, and smiled when he saw it was Alice. "Yeah I'm fine."

He saw Alice's expression turn uncertain. "Are you sure?" she softly said, brushing a tuft of Jarred's hair from his face.

No I'm not... He wanted to tell her, but Jake was there. He couldn't. Instead he chuckled, "I'm fine Alice don't worry."

Alice's expression didn't change as she came closer. "You don't have to lie to me." She whispered in his ear before pulling back and smiling softly.

She then turned around and walked back to her siblings who were waiting for her so they could start.

I'll tell you later... He sighed slightly, but smiled a bit waiting for them to start.

The Apollo cabin waited for the campers to quiet down before they held up their instruments. Jarred saw that most of them had guitars, a few had lyres, flutes and tambourines. He noticed that only Alice had a violin. Soon the campers were singing along, stomping their feet and clapping to the songs. The bonfire in front of them rose higher and higher in bright colors.

Jarred followed along, watching the fire, it seemed the louder they sung the higher it got.

After a few more songs, the campers slowly quieted down then turned to the Apollo cabin as if waiting for something.

Jarred looked to Jake confused, hoping he would tell him what they were waiting for.

Jake smirked at Jarred then nodded his head towards the Apollo Cabin. "Listen." he whispered.

He nodded silently watching the Apollo Cabin.

The Apollo cabin turned to Alice who was still holding up her violin. Not opening her eyes, she lightly dragged her violin bow across the strings and started playing a soothing tune to end the day. Soon a few of her siblings played along to the song.

Jarred blinked, the dark color of his eyes flashing back to bright amber. He smiled slightly. He hadn't heard music like this before.

Jarred saw Alice smile softly as she played, the moonlight hitting her and some others like a spotlight. Some of the other campers were swaying their head to the music, humming lowly.

"Ah...the Apollo cabin..." Jake whispered. "Amazing musicians aren't they? Especially Alice, their youngest sibling."

He closed his eyes, listening to each note carefully. "Yeah..." He whispered. "It's something else isn't it?"

The tune continued on for a few minutes before fading to a stop.

Jarred opened his eyes and looked to Alice. His expression told her that they needed to talk.

Jarred saw Alice nod then walk over to Pascal, whispering in his ear as she handed him her violin. Pascal whispered something back then turned to look at Jarred, his expression saying hurt her and I will kill you. The other campers were busy walking back to their cabins, yawning as they went.

Jarred smirked slightly. He got up, gesturing for Alice to follow as he headed to a path to the woods.

As he walked, Jarred heard light footsteps crunching leaves behind him signaling that Alice was following.

When they reached the lake, he sat in the sand bringing his knees to his chest. He looked up at her with a small smile beckoning her to sit next to him. He watched as Alice carefully walked towards him. She sat cross-legged beside him as she stared at the lake, waiting for him to start.

Jarred was looking out across the lake with soft eyes. "You play the violin beautifully." He said, not looking at her.

From the corner of Jarred's eye, he saw Alice smile softly at him. "Thank you. It's my favorite instrument."

His eyes met hers. "You're welcome." He said calmly.

Alice's eyes were twinkling in the moonlight as she continued to smile softly at Jarred.

He turned back to the lake. He wrapped his arms around his knees, gripping his jeans in his hands. "Most people don't push me to tell them what's wrong." He said. "Most don't even see through," He turned to her a slightly confused look glimmered in his eyes. "How did you know?"

Alice stared at the lake as she answered. "It's your eyes. There was something in your eyes that told me you weren't okay."

"The darkness in them." He murmured. "That's always what makes people ask, or so they've told me. I don't know what I look like or what I really do when I get lost in thought."

"Your face turns a bit blank….like you're in another world." Alice murmured.

"I am in another world but yet, I somewhat know what to do outside of that. It's complicated. I guess you could say I daydream a lot." He smiled slightly.

Alice chuckled lightly. "Yeah...I guess. I used to do that too. Sometimes even now and then recently."

"Really?" He chuckled. "I can't see that ever happening with you." His voice was filled with sarcasm

Alice chuckled then pushed him lightly. "Shut up." she muttered, smiling at him.

He laughed and lay down on the sand, hands behind his head. "You do know that is never going to happen, right?" He looked up at her with a smirk.

Alice laughed. "Yeah I guess." she said before lying down beside Jarred, looking up at the stars.

"Alice." He said.

Alice turned to him, hey eyes shining from the moonlight. "Yeah?"

"Do you like Pascal?" He didn't meet her eyes. But he was curious to know. Pascal did love her after all, he wondered if she had the same feelings.

Alice stayed silent as she turned to look back at the stars. "I did. But he likes someone else..." she murmured.

Jarred looked at her. "Who?"

She didn't meet his eyes. "Stephanie. Daughter of Aphrodite." She murmured. "Pascal's been pinning for her for a long time now. I just want him to be happy…" she trailed off.

Jarred bit his tongue. He wanted to tell her that Pascal loved her, but he didn't know how Pascal would act. He chose his words carefully. "Honestly I thought he loved you. With the way he acts and all."

Alice laughed humorlessly. "We've always act like that. I'm just more reserved. You should see him when he's around Stephanie." she said. She stared up at the stars for a while before murmuring, "He's made it clear anyway. He only thinks of me as a sister."

I'd say otherwise... "I see. How does he act around Stephanie?"

Alice laughed with humor this time. "Like a blubbering idiot. All clumsy and tripping over his words." she said, as she shook her head in exasperation.

He smirked. "Wow..."

"Yeah I know. You should have seen him a while ago while we were flying." Alice chuckled. "His hands were shaking with nerves so he had to put them in his pockets."

Jarred started laughing. "Oh gods. Why doesn't he just, you know, tell her!"

"The idiot's too afraid." She said, chuckling.

He shook his head. "He'll tell her eventually. Most guys do."

"I hope so. The guy's giving me a migraine with his indecision." she chuckled before quieting down. "I just really want him to be happy..."

"And he really wants you to be happy."

"Yeah...I know." Alice turned to look at Jarred. "Sorry about the look he gave you a while ago. The idiot's very overprotective." she said.

Jarred just shrugged at that. "It's nothing new. I honestly didn't give it much attention." He laughed

Alice chuckled. "If you're sure." she said before looking back up the stars.

"Yeah, I'm sure." He looked back to the sky and closed his eyes. Sound drained from his ears. All he could hear was his breathing and the sound of the waves hitting the shore, and soon, he was slowly drifting to sleep.

He heard a faint chuckle as he drifted in and out of consciousness. He was just falling deeply asleep when he felt something warm against his cheek and a faint whisper of "It's you I like..."

AN: review please~ feed back means a lot to me ^^