Ω A bet that leads to some changes Ω

-Travis-

After Leaving the field and be tripped by the plants Katie control, Travis found Connor in their room looking at the schedule.

"Connor, what are we having at 10?"

"Archery with Demeter." He answered after finding the right column on the form.

"You gotta be kidding." Travis scowled.

"No. What's wrong with that? I thought it's a good chance to annoy Katie. Isn't that what you want?"

The problem is Katie seems pissed off, and according to the experience, you don't want to get near when Katie Gardner is piss off. She will drop a lot of, mark my words, tons of f-bomb, and tried to kill you in every way you can think of.

"I pissed her off." Connor paused.

"Oh. That's not good. But how, you haven't prank on her today, did you?"

"No, I haven't so I have no idea why. And yeah, I'm pretty much died today." Connor looked at him with sympathy.

But what bugs Travis more is her attitude in the end of the conversation. Katie said somethings and it hurts. It's a common sense to both of them that their relationship isn't always in good terms, but she never said something like that harsh and actually mean it. He guess he just need to find out.

"Okay, gather around everyone. Wait, does anyone see Katie, it's 5 past 10, she's never late." Kayla, the Apollo kid, counted the heads and found that Katie hasn't show up.

"Sorry, had some problems need to deal with at the fields." Katie jogged to the front, stop next to Travis. They are pairing up because they are head counselors. Travis sent a sideways look to Katie, is that all he is, a problem to dead with?

"It's okay, just be careful next time. Today's mission: 50 shots and 25 of them needs to be bulls-eye. If you can't success in 50 shots, keep going until you do 25 bulls-eye. Now off you go!" Everyone except the Apollo kids frowned at Kayla's announcement.

Travis grabbed 20 arrows and head to the target where he and Katie usually use, Katie must saw what he takes because she chose two bows and followed behind him. People soon notice something is wrong between the two. There is no shouting, no bickering. Plus, Katie is walking behind him and Travis isn't even trying to annoy her.

Travis tried to talk to Katie, but her aura shouts 'don't even try to talk to me', and he isn't needing a more pissed Katie so he just gives up.

As soon as they reach their target, he set his mind on something. He turned to face her and took in a deep breathe.

"Let's have a bet." Katie frowned and pursed her lips, forming the 'what are trying to do to me' face.

Katie replied after a moment. "Details."

She's taking it.

Crowds are shocked, it's an unspoken rule to not take a bet from the Stolls. Even Travis himself thought she would back down, but things are out of track now and this is the only chance he gets to have his wish granted.

"The person finished 25 bulls-eye with less shots can make a wish to another."

"Deal. My request is easy: no prank for the rest of the year on me," so he still can prank her cabin, Katie must have read his mind because the next second, "and my cabin." Quick math, it is late March now, if she wins, it means no prank on Katie for eight whole months and a little. But compare to his request, he thinks this is worth a risk.

"WHAT! No, Travis, you cannot say yes!" Connor shouted into his ears, not believing his brother would except some deal like this.

"Gods, I'm going deaf." He turned to Katie. "Ok, deal." Everyone gasp, how can Travis be ok with this deal? Afterall, he is a Stoll, and that's a son of Hermes we are talking about!

Travis pretends to think about what he wanted to wish and lean in to Katie's ear, she shivered at the ticklish cause by Travis breath. "If I win, I want to go sleep at you room every night for the rest for the year."

Smack.

The next thing he feels is the heat on his cheek, it took him a full second to proceed what had happened. Katie slapped at Travis's face and jaw clenched, face harden. She glared at him for a moment, making sure he is talking for serious, then quickly head-towards Miranda, talking about the deal Travis just suggested.

Miranda looks like she is going to murder him in the spot but still on her feet. Saying something like 'Are you sure about this' 'There will be punishment if you were found!'. He thinks Katie said something like '... nightmare...'. Then she walked back in front of Travis and took a deep breath.

"Good, I'll taking your fucking deal." Great. Now the whole world knew that a pissed Katie will swear.

-Katie-

People seems to be surprised at the fact that Katie swears, after all, she isn't the one who cause trouble all the time. Conner's mouth wide open, seem to be shock that his brother agreement with the 'no prank for eight whole months' and a 'swearing' Katie, not knowing which one cause more damage to his poor mind.

"What's Travis's deal?" Someone from the crowd shouted. People haven't release from the drama that shows in front of them, the question happens to snap them out of shock.

"This is our business, drop it." Katie snapped. The person who asked look upset.

It will be a lie to say that she isn't considering about the deal Travis make. One part of her hopes she can win this and no prank for the rest of the year to deal with, but other part of her hopes Travis can sleep with her, literally, again. She noticed that with him around she won't have the nightmares that bother her for years. Though she knew Travis is making this deal for blackmail.

"Do you want to go first?" Travis asked me, smirking, again.

"No, let's do this at the same time, Connor and Miranda can help us count."

"Fine with me. Connor! Miranda! Come here, yes you two. Help us count, Connor, you do Katie, and Miranda, you do me." Travis finished explain the whole thing and turn to me.

"Are you really to lose, Katie-Kat?"

"No, this time you are the one going down." Katie fired back. Steady her position, and let go her first aim. After 4/5 bullseye for her and 5/5 for Travis, she starts to get nervous. Maybe she meant to lose this, after all, Travis is better at archery.

"Seem like our Sunshine over here is getting her nerves." He whispered the words in her ear.

"I'm not your Sunshine, don't call me sunshine. Seriously, you need to work on your skills in making those fucking nick-names, Travis." Katie straight her face at Travis, not happy about the fact she might lose and the poor nick-name she doesn't like. With the swearing, yeah, definitely not pleased.

"Let's just finish this and see you died."

And the outcome, Travis wins. Screw you, Tyche.

"I hate to say this but it's obvious that Travis wins, Katie." Miranda announced. "Are you sure about the 'thing' you promise him? And you seem more upset with him compared to the morning." She asked Katie in whisper to make sure no one else is eavesdropping.

She pulled Miranda aside decided to tell her the whole story.

"So, remember he told you that he came to my room for prank?" Miranada nodded. "Actually, he told me he came here because he also had a nightmare and he was checking on me, I asked him what it means but he just brushed me off. It's pretty late so we drift off."

"And?"

"And I talked to him is morning, after breakfast. He told me the nightmare is about me."

"Are you sure is not 'the nightmare is you.'? That sounds more like something he would say."

"Positive. I mentally double checked myself. Here is the worst part, just as I thought he warming me up, you know, he said don't get him wrong, we are still hating each other." Miranda gasped.

"He said that into your face?!"

"Do you think he knew what he did?" Katie's voice trembled. Miranda has a long pause, picking up her thoughts before she response.

"This is my theory; he thinks you hate him so it doesn't bother him to say the same."

"What in hades?"

"I think you really shouldn't take his words this seriously." She gets a glare from Katie. "Anyways, are you going to expect him tonight? You know, for the 'thing'."

"No, of course not. And the way you saying it make it sounds dirty." But Miranda didn't miss the little blush on her face.

"You like it when he sleeps by your side, do you? The nightmare thing is just an excuse."

"What! No!" Katie shouted, loud enough to attract Travis's attention.

-Travis-

"What things 'No'?" Travis walking to them. "Oh, and Kates, are you prepare for the deal?" The last part is whispered in to her ears, sending chills down her bones.

"I thought there is nothing need to be prepared? And don't call me 'Kates'."

"Oh, so you don't need to tidy up your bed?" Travis smirked, and the next moment, a branch from the nearby bushes whipped under his legs and send him landing on the grass with his back.

"Ouch! What's the purpose of this?"

"Why do Katie need to tidy up her bed?" Connor asked, when did he stand here and listening to the converse?

Can I explain? Travis raised an eyebrow at Katie, asking the question in silence. Go ahead. She answered with a shrug.

Travis pulled Connor aside, "Is this happened to be related with your missing this morning?" Connor asked. Travis is shocked, how come he knows?!

"Don't give me that look, of course it is about Katie. When are you going to confess your undying love to her?" Connor smirked before he smacked his arms. Then he told Connor the whole thing, his nightmare, her nightmare, the sleepover, the deal. He only left out the talk they had in the fields.

"Really, Travis, I was hoping you can do better. Fine I will help you with the whole sneak out thing. Just don't get caught, seriously, I don't want to find out how much trouble we will be in."

"Thank you! Thank you!"

"And bro, if she accepted the deal you mention, doesn't it mean she is also fine with the 'event'?" Smirking, Conner went off to finish his archery lesson. Left a blushing Travis in the spot.

Since he already finished the assignment, he bid Kayla goodbye and went back to his room for nap. He has been thinking of the things he did today, trying to find out any clue of his actions that tip Katie off. First, he didn't prank her today, cross. Second, she already slapped him for the deal, so not that, too. There left the only option, the talk in the fields. The only thing he did that will make her mad is calling her Katie-Kat, but it isn't something she will have this huge reaction.

There is the last thing he could do, ask her himself. He doesn't really expect her to give him the direct answer, but hopefully, he can get some ideas of what is running in the brain of hers.

-Katie-

The rest of the day goes smoothly and Katie lost track of time, until Travis showed up.

"Katie-Kat, I know you love the plants more than you love me, but you are about to miss dinner."

"Can you stop saying those lines, you just make my day worse." She stood up at her spot and head towards the pavilion. Suddenly, she stopped on the half of her way, Travis nearly bumps into her as he follows behind.

"Thanks, for reminding me about the dinner." She turned around and stare straight into his eyes, turn back as soon as she finished the statement.

"Anything for you, Kates."

"Don't flirt with me, go do your tricks on the Aphrodite girls." Travis flinched at her words. She doesn't know why and wasn't sure if she really wants to find out.

"Did I do anything at the morning talk that piss you off?" After a while of silence walking, Travis asked, sound confused.

"Why do you say that?" She decided to play dumb.

"You started to swear at the end of the conversation." She glared at him. "Don't look at me like that, I know swearing is a habit of yours if you are pissed. Just tell me what did I did."

"You really have no idea?!" Katie started to rise her voice.

"No, normally is the prank, but I didn't do it today and your mood is fine in the beginning so is definitely in the end of the talk." She sometimes really hates him to be such perceptive.

"Yes, it's about the talk, just think of what you say. Tell me when you figure it out, and don't expect me to give you a good attitude before that." Shut up, I'm done discussing this. This is the hidden message in the words. She picks up her pace trying hard to not look at his expression.

Travis went silence after that, seems like he is trying very hard to figure what set her off. They turn out walking side by side and their entrance to the dinner earned everyone's attention. The whole room silence for seconds before people turn back to their own conversation, filling the pavilion with buzzing sound.

"Why are you coming to dinner with Travis? I thought you want to avoid him if necessary." Miranda asked her when she sit down at the Demeter table, Katie shot her an eye and say 'waffles' down at her magic plate, eager to eat.

"He came to the fields and get me to dinner, probably thinking of the 'event' at night, but he didn't say anything. He also asked me what he did to piss me off." Katie sighed.

"He hasn't figured what he exactly did this morning?"

"Apparently no. So, I'm going to act like an ass to him until he finds out." She turned her head and look at Travis. He is now talking to his brother; he caught her glaze and look confused by the situation but still managed to give her a slightly nod.

"Maybe you should just tell him that you are upset by his words, you know. I think he will apologize to you." Miranda suggested after witnessing the whole interaction.

"And let him blackmail me? No, he is going to have enough things to do that, I'm not going to add 'hurt by him saying hate me' to the list."

"Just don't regret, it's your decision to make." Miranda struggled.

The rest of the event in the night didn't stay in her mind, her thoughts are occupied with Travis. His words, his wish. Why did he make that wish, if he wants to have something to blackmail her, he sure has other options. But no, he chose to have this strange request. Then again, she won't have the nightmare for the rest of the year, as long as they don't get caught, it's a win-win.

She climbed in her bed after taking a shower, waiting silently for a son of Hermes to show up.

Another chapter finished, proud of myself~

-Elva