2. Now
"Steph, get out of the bathroom!" one of my sisters yells as she bangs on the white wood door.
"Just a sec," I call back. I quickly finish pulling my hair back in a smooth blonde ponytail and tie in a pink ribbon. I open the door just as Silena gets ready to start knocking again. "All yours. And I don't know what the big rush is considering I was in there for literally two minutes."
"I know you're unbelievably quick in the bathroom but I still have to curl my hair before breakfast."
Silena is 12 but like most other Aphrodite kids she's obsessed with her looks. I step back and let her go into the bathroom. Back in the main bunk area I do a quick sweep with my eyes to inspect for trash before one of the other counselors does the final inspection. Our cabin is pink with lots of lace. It's usually spotless but we are kids and teenagers so it does tend to get a little messy. Today it looks pretty perfect, just like the kids. You'd think they're getting ready for New York fashion week rather than another day at camp.
Once Silena gets out of the bathroom we're ready to go. There are only four girls and two boys in our cabin right now because summer doesn't start for another two days. These ones already here are either full-timers or started their summers early. They follow me to the dining pavilion and we get in line behind Luke and the rest of the Hermes cabin. He smiles at me and leaves his spot at the head of the line.
"Hey, Stephanie."
I hug him easily. "'Morning, Luke. Your group looks a little small today. What'd you do to your campers?"
Luke rolls his eyes. Since Megan went off to college he's been in charge. "The Stoll brothers decided to set traps through the cabin. Three kids got trapped so Travis and Connor are back getting them out and cleaning up."
I laugh. "I'm so glad they've been claimed by Hermes. I would've been so scared they were related to me. I've got enough sibling problems to worry about."
Luke shoots me a playful glare. "And I don't?"
I slip my arms around his waist in a friendly gesture. "Well if anyone can handle it, it's you. And I think they'll be good for you. It'll be nice to have Camp Half-Blood's king prankster dethroned."
He scowls and wiggles away from me and I can't help but laugh.
At this point we're at the front of the buffet line. I load my plate with lots of fruits and some yogurt with granola and indulge myself with a giant Krispy Kreme donut. Luke's breakfast is like the total opposite of mine. He's got a ton of bacon and eggs, sausage, hash browns, and Canadian bacon (aka, ham). I wrinkle me nose at him. "You're gonna get fat and have a heart attack," I say as he walks me to my table.
He lifts his shirt and shows off his abs. "I think I'm good. Besides, I hang out with this crazy girl that likes football and racing through the woods. I need to pig out to have the energy to keep up with her."
I smack his naked stomach. "Don't be a jerk. You don't have to hang out with me, you know."
He grins mischievously and my heart flutters in my chest. "Sorry, Steph. Let me make it up to you. Let's go canoeing after breakfast."
I shrug easily. "Sure."
As I say this, Annabeth walks by with a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Her large grey eyes dart quickly between me and Luke looking a little sad. I bite my lower lip guiltily. She's my friend and it doesn't take a daughter of Aphrodite to know she's got a major crush on him.
"Hey, Annabeth," I call cheerily.
"'Morning."
"Want to go to the canoe lake with us later?"
"No, thanks."
"Ok. But how 'bout you and I meet up at the arena later? We haven't sparred in a while and I need the practice."
She smiles a little and her face gets determined. "Yeah, ok. That'll be fun.
She has some bounce in her step as she walks to the nearly empty Athena table. I was right about her.