“He is literally the definition of hotness. I mean, have you seen him?” Amira fiddles with he hem of her dress,trying to figure out if it looks good.

“You know that wearing a camp shit under your dress barely qualifies as wearing it.” I rolled my eyes, sitting on her bunk.

“It still qualifies,” She turns to thee the back in the mirror, “I know Aphrodite makes people hot, but gods.”

I hand her a necklace, and she does a little twirl.

“Remind me again why I’m listening to you?” She smiles and sits next to me.

“As my best friend, you listen when I rave about how hot the guy I like is.”

“And in turn you listen when I have someone to rave about?” I look over at her, earning an eye roll.

“Pretty much. Now let’s go.” Amira pulled me off her bunk, dragging me out of the Demeter Cabin.

Amira and I walked across the grass towards the Aphrodite Cabin, probably saying we wanted to hang out with our friend. By friend I’m referring to my friend Calum, who my best friend thinks is the hottest person alive and wants to make-out with him before inevitable death.

We knocked on the door, heard a few things get knocked over, a couple giggles and a few guys say some muffled phrases before Calum opened the door. A waft of perfume entered my lungs, making me cough like I had bronchitis.

“Hey guys, strawberry patches today?” He suggested, closing the door behind him. The three of us began to walk towards the strawberry field.

“Did someone get new cologne? It wasn’t the usual choking sensation, it has some sort of musk sent to it today.” I asked, earning a light laugh from Calum.

“Yeah, Jay did. He’s been going on about how he’s a chick magnet.” He said, “I’m grabbing some baskets. Be right back.” Calum ran off towards a few satyrs.

Amira sighed, still looking at him, “The things I’d do to that boy.”

“Ew. Thanks for the image.” I shuddered, earning a glance from Amira.

Calum came back with baskets, “So, ladies. Is there anyone in Eve’s life?” He grinned, causing me to roll my eyes. Of course it didn’t stop my mind from thinking about a certain someone…

“OH! She’s blushing.” Amira poked my sides, and I hit her arm.

I started picking strawberries, looking at Calum and Amira stand next to each other. “Psst. Go for it.” I whispered to Amira who cleared her throat.

“Hey, uh, Cal?” She started to fiddle with a leaf on a strawberry.

“What?” He puts a strawberry in Amira’s basket, looking over at her quizzically.

“Uh, maybe we could ya know, go out sometime? The summer is almost over and…” She shrugged, picking a few more berries. They seemed ripe all around me and Amira. Probably due to our parents always loving plants. Well my dad really likes wine, so grapes would go crazy if I were by some.

“Maybe after we beat Kronos.” I could see a little smile on his face.

“Yay! I mean- cool.” Amira’s cheeks were so red a strawberry could blend in. I cleared my throat awkwardly, what did I expect?

“So, are you staying here to defend Camp?” I asked Calum, and he nodded.

“Yeah. Aren’t you going with Percy into Manhattan.” He glanced at me.

“I’m not sure. He doesn’t exactly makes plans or anything.” I grinned, rolling my eyes. The laughed lightly, and Amira start to go to the Satyrs. She said something about her basket being full.

“Annabeth kissed him in the Labyrinth you know.” Cal looked over at me.

“I know. He told me. And don’t worry, I’m not in love with him or anything. I don’t like guys, remember?” I looked over at him.

“I was worried you liked Annabeth.” He rolled his eyes.

“Nah.” I shrugged, starting to walk tot he satyrs. I put my basket down by the other full ones and headed back to Calum.

“So, what is going on with you and Water Shoes?” Cal asked after putting his basket with the rest. We walked towards the cabins again.

“I’m not sure, really. I just like what it is.” I shrugged, earning a little nod and silence as we walked back to out cabins.

It gave me time to think about Manhattan and Camp. About everyone and even mortals who could die this summer. There is no way I was letting that happen.

Notes

Eve
Amira