Five Times Percy Didn't Adult and the One Time He Did

Five: Dionysus

"Chiron is unfortunately away at the moment, so if any campers have any issues, they're welcome to keep them to themselves and not tell me," Dionysus announced before he let anyone eat that night.

The news was ignored by every single one of the campers. Chiron had already told them to pester Dionysus if they needed anything - it is his job and he will be held accountable - and when they were hungry, any news went in one ear and out the other. One of the many reasons the camp meetings had a snack bar.

Most of them went to Percy or Annabeth, anyway.

Once they'd all begun eating, Castor shuffled over to the Hermes cabin and whispered something to Travis. Travis shot up, grinning, and passed the news over to Katie from the Demeter cabin. It made the rounds until Malcolm from the Athena cabin told Annabeth, and Annabeth told Percy.

Tonight, at the beach. We're having a hula hoop competition.

Percy raised an eyebrow. That wasn't particularly exciting.

With prizes.

Interest picqued, but Percy would still prefer to spend a quiet night in his cabin.

Winner doesn't have to do the cabin checks for a month.

Percy was sold on the idea.

Even though there was nothing in the camp rules against hula hoop contests on the beach, there was an unspoken agreement to wait until Mr. D disappeared into the Big House for the night. The minute the door closed, the Hermes campers were dragging hula hoops, someone from the Apollo had provided an old radio that worked questionably well, and the Demeter cabin set up snacks.

Percy didn't win by any stretch, but he did secure a cleaner for his cabin for a week in one of the consolation rounds- and then he cheered as Annabeth managed to win the elimination game (she always won, and no one was surprised). 

"Who ate all the guacamole?" Katie shouted from the snack table. She immediately pin pointed Travis with an accusing glare and Percy, laughing, slipped away from the beach.

Probably best not to let Katie catch the actual culprit.

"You demigods are impossibly loud."

He almost jumped, but gods had appeared around him often enough. Percy didn't even turn to acknowledge Mr. D.

"It was fun."

"You're leaving."

"Katie's threatening whoever ate the guacamole. I'd rather not get caught."

Mr. D huffed and took a drink of his soda. "Coward, Peter Johnson."

"It's Percy Jackson," he answered, more out of habit than anything else.

"Whatever," the god rolled his eyes. He narrowed his eyes at Percy after a beat. "No smart answer?"

Percy couldn't think of a smart answer- or he could, but he couldn't figure out how to put words to it. He bit on his lip and oh gods-

"Jackson?" Dionysus said, a little more urgently. He pretended not to care- he called them made up names and kept his distance, but that was because when you are immortal and watch everyone you care for die, you learn to keep your distance.

Percy looked up at Dionysus. "I think I'm having an allergic reaction."

"The only reason I helped is so your father wouldn't kill me."

"Sure, Mr. D.," Percy chuckled quietly. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."