Chapter 15- Warming Up

It was going to be another lazy morning, or so Leo thought. He woke up inside the workshop and lazily tweaked some parts of the machine. It wasn't until Travis texted, "Meet me outside The Elysium," that Leo's Saturday was picking up the pace. Leo was making his way until he heard a casual voice behind him.

"Sup."

Leo turned to see Percy jogging to catch up with him. Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes as the autumn breeze blew over Percy's hair, emphasizing the facial features and such. There Percy goes, Leo thought. Looking like a hero and whatnot.

"Dude, what is with you?" Leo asked as Percy slowed down next to him.

"What do you mean?" Percy asked, confused (which happens pretty often if Leo can tell you).

"Why is it that every time I see you, there's this… 'dramatic' flare to you?"

"I don't know," Percy shrugged. "You're the one who flirts with every girl you can find."

"How is that anything related to this conversation?"

Percy rolled his eyes, but had his smile. "Remember that time you tried to ask Jason's sister out?"

Oh.

Oh.

OH.

"How about we not?"

But Percy wasn't done yet.

"Or the girl from Quebec. 'Khione' was her name?"

"Okay, okay! I get it."

Those weren't definitely not the highlights of Leo's life. Percy snickered as Leo cringed at those memories.

"Very funny," Leo grumbled. He lightly shoved Percy as he continued to laugh.

In no time, they were met with Travis who was leaning across the building. Next to his leg was a dark green backpack.

"Hey," Travis greeted them. "You guys ready?"

Leo eyed the backpack, curious on what was inside of it. "What's the plan?"

"Okay," Travis started to explain. "You know how the season is autumn and so-"

"'Autumn'? I'm pretty sure you mean fall." Percy interjected.

"I gotta agree with Percy there," Leo added.

Travis rolled his eyes. "That's not the point."

"Who on earth says Autumn?"

"Look," Travis said with slight exasperation. "Katie refers to it like this, and I'm pretty sure she's right like 100% of the time."

"Whipped," Leo muttered as both Percy and him snickered.

"Haha, very funny." Travis just shook his head. "All I'm saying is that we replace one of the syrups used for pumpkin-spiced lattes with…" He searched his bag and brought out a container with some viscous, gray liquid. "This."

Leo squinted in suspicion. "What is that?"

"Vinegar," Travis responded. "Taste terrible when drank raw." He opened the container and let Leo smell it for confirmation. Sure enough, it was vinegar. Leo's nose completely revolted against the sharp smell of it.

"Dude," Percy whistled. "Drew and her gang is gonna kill us if they find out."

Travis shrugged. "They disserve it. So, are you guys in?"

Percy scratched his head, pretending to look like he was thinking. "Either this prank or listen to Frank talk about the biological difference between crocodiles and alligators."

Leo laughed at Percy's comment. Frank and his obsession with animals.

"Alright, I guess you're in then. What about you, Leo?"

"Either that or dealing with Calypso for the entire afternoon."

Travis smiled at his joke. "Alright dudes. Let's get started."

Getting inside the wasn't hard for them. Argus, the manager, was kind enough to let them 'sneak' in without notice. He was cool like that.

As the huge cafeteria conjoined with the kitchen. The trio made their way into the kitchen and sneak inside the supply room. They would go in, unnoticed, replace the syrup, and sneak back out. Easy mission.

"This is it," Travis said as they were in front of the door.

"It's locked," Percy stated.

"Do you really think that's a problem to me?" Travis asked. Of course, Leo thought. Travis was a master lock-picker.

Travis got out a paper clip as he started to jam it inside the door.

"Just give me a few minutes, cause the security precautions here is tough. Even for me."

Percy sat down as he watched Travis do his magic. "Okay, so now what?"

"Well, we wait and make sure no one watches us," Leo said as he looked at Travis intensely focus on picking the lock. Imagine if he focused this hard while he was studying.

They all sat there nonchalantly. For a prank, it was a relaxed environment. It wasn't until they heard a feminine voice at the cafeteria that they began to be alarmed.

"Hello, is anyone there?"

The voice sounded really familiar to Leo, but he ignored the feeling. He looked at Percy and Travis.

"You could go out and distract her," Percy suggested.

"Are you kidding?" Leo asked. "What am I suppose to do? Make her a sandwich?"

"Just go."

Leo grumbled. "Fine."

Leo grudgingly got up and walked toward the source of the voice. It wasn't until they made eye contact that he knew he was in trouble.

"Oh no," Leo said. "It's you."

There stood Calypso in all her glory. She widen her eyes in surprise.

"You!" she said, as if she was accusing him of something. "What are you doing here?"

It bothered Leo that she looked really good in just a plain t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. It bothered him a lot that she looked so good without even trying.

Leo sighed. He had to make up a lie. Quick.

"You know. Um. Just helping out Chris Rodriguez with the kitchen."

She raised her eyebrows with skepticism. "I never knew you were the one to cook."

Leo crossed his arms in defiance. "I never knew you were the one to be skipping work."

She blushed at his accusation. "I could say the same for you."

"I'm technically not a worker there. I just help out my dad."

"You're impossible."

"So I've been told," Leo said sarcastically. This wasn't the first time they argued. Ever since Calypso came along, they've been bickering nonstop. He leaned across the tray liner, staring at her. He wondered if the banters that they had truly intentional or just for amusement. "Seriously, aren't you suppose to be working on that project of yours?"

"I already finished," Calypso simply stated. She gave him a smug smile. "Some of us can actually have the skills to finish what we build you know."

"Hard to call knitting as 'engineering' skills you know." Leo rolled his eyes.

"You're the one who asked me for help," she refuted. "Do you see the irony in that?"

"Fair point," Leo admitted. He had to admit, there was a slight thrill every time they talk. Some warm feeling every time they talk. It was annoying.

"Be honest," Calypso said as she leaned across the tray liner as well. They were close, with the pan holders for the food only thing that was separating them. "What kind of prank is it this time?"

"How did you?-"

"Warnings from Katie about your… fiasco." She said.

"I see."

She was waiting.

"Swap an ingredient from the pumpkin spiced latte for something else."

She frowned. "I was about to ask for one."

He looked at her with surprise. "I don't remember you as the one to be so… basic."

"Hey it taste good," she sounded defensive. "It's not my fault. It's the first time I had a chance to drink something after I was…" she trailed off.

"After what?" Leo asked. He never knew about Calypso's past. Somehow, Percy knew. It happened on a late Friday's night of conversation when Leo realized Percy knew Calypso. It bothered him. Leo doesn't know why, but Leo wanted to about Calypso's past. She still annoyed him though.

"Don't worry about it," Calypso rolled it off. "I just don't see why you guys would need to target people who drink it"

"Me neither," Leo admitted. "But seeing the Drew completely freak out about it would be great. Besides, Travis wanted to."

"Travis, huh," Calypso raised her eyebrows. "That's interesting."

"Tell me about it," Leo said. "Usually, Travis tries to prank on Katie."

"Hmm, that's suspicious."

"Travis has it bad."

"You don't think it's funny how Katie was complaining about Drew was messing with her plants?"

"Hmm," Leo noted. "That doesn't sound like a coincidence."

"That cute of them," Calypso snickered.

"Whipped," Leo snorted.

"Well, it is Katie."

"You're right."

"Well, since it's for a 'noble''- you could definitely detect the sarcasm- "I suppose I'll allow it this time."

"Hey, since when did I need your permission to do stuff?" Leo said. But even then, there was a good humor behind it as he gave her a smile.

"Don't I always?" She was smiling too.

"As my gratitude, you want a pumpkin-spiced latte?"

Calypso laughed. "Don't push it, Valdez." She had a cute laugh, Leo noticed.

As they chatted across the cafeteria trey line, Leo couldn't help but realize, she was a remarkable women. Perhaps, she was warming up to him. She was still annoying though.

Hey guys. Well, here's another one. Hope you guys can enjoy this. I'll try to pick up the pace with this story. Reviews would be appreciated. Thanks.