Stupid Cupid

~Stupid Cupid - Chapter 23

As Nico lead my two idiotic friends to the other side of the arena, I positioned Riley into the correct stance and showed her how to hold her blade correctly without cutting herself. Riley grips the end of her gladius and stands in position. I shift my body so she can see my movements without getting injured and begin to parry slowly. Once I've repeated the pattern enough times I watch her move her legs in the correct rhythm. 

"Good. Now, I'm going to show you how to fake a jab and attack from underneath all without cutting anyone." My friend nods once with her weapon raised and eyebrows creased in determination.

I demonstrate the technique once and then a let her try on me. "Okay, now I'm going to show you a disarming technique. Don't get discouraged if you can't do it correctly, it's a very tricky move." Riley gets in position and I jab at her. My blade catches at the hilt of her weapon and I twist once, watching as her blade falls. "Now try on me."

Riley doesn't hesitate. Her blade comes so fast I almost don't see it. The gold metal catches on my hilt and then I feel my grip loosen on my sword and her the clack of metal. I pick up my blade and Riley and I begin a short battle. It's short because not even two minutes in and we both have or blades to the other's neck.

"I think you're ready." I move my blade from her neck at the same time as she does and walk over to see Jake and Brandon's progress. "How's it going, babe?" I question Nico who looks split between irritation and impressiveness.

"Well, Brandon's doing great but Jake can't seem to keep his mind set on - What in Hades' name are you doing now?" I look over to where the son of Hades has turned his head and see Jake is trying to balance a set of daggers on what seems to be a catapult. 

"Huh?" Jake jumps surprised and accidentally sets of his contraption which send three daggers flying in different directions. "Watch out!" he yells at a young camper who jumps back just as one of the weapons hits the ground in front of them.

I push Nico back as he tries to advance on my friend. Jake dives behind Brandon who dives behind Riley as she appears. Riley doesn't like this so she spins around and puts her gladius to Brandon's gut and makes him step off. Well, at least she's got the hang of it.

"Okay, Brandon and Riley spar while I try to get Jake on track. Come on," I grab Jake's ear and pull him a few yards away. "Since you couldn't pay attention with Nico, I'm going to have to show you why we need training the hard way." I don't let Jake reply. I toss my sword and shield in his direction and pull out my bow and arrows. 

I jump to higher ground and aim my first arrow at him. Jake looks wildly around for me but can't seem to figure it out. I let my arrow go and it hits the spot next to his foot. My friend looks up at me and then pulls the shield in front of his body. I let several more arrows whistle by his head one of which cut the side of his ear.

After what seems like an eternity, Jake's senses start up again and he steathily makes his way towards me. Just before he can get within a sword lengths away and attach my bow back onto my necklace and pull a ten inch dagger from my belt. Jake swipes his sword down onto me but my dagger blocks the blow and we're finally in the middle of a proper spar. 

Jake seems to sneak around each of my attacks like a snake and can appear behind me with only a split second for me to block him. Water begins to rise from the ground as I get more into the fight but I force it back down. Jake fakes left but I anticipate it this time and step behind him my blade pressed against his throat.

"Good job, dummy." I breath out and take my sword back. I return my sword to its place on my necklace along with the shield and put my dagger in place. "Let's go check on Brandon and Riley." Jake and I head back over to where Brandon and Riley are resting on the bleachers both breathing hard but laughing.

"Good practice I'm guessing?" Jake mutters my way with a wink. I stifle a laugh. 

"Let's get some lunch." Nico says and takes my hand. My three friends walk along side me on our way to food.

***

Since most people were training for Capture the Flag, lunch ran really very late. It was only and hour before the weekly game would start when my friends and I were done eating. I say a quick bye to Brandon and Jake before Nico takes them to get armor. I grab Riley to my cabin already knowing she's my size and give her my spare armor. Percy went to gather the troops which usually takes about half an hour. 

Riley and I sit across from each other on my bed and I ask the question that been poking at my brain all day. "Do you have a crush on anyone?" Riley's eyes shoot to me and narrow.

"Yeah..." Her voice trails off and her cheeks tint pink slightly.

"Who?" I shout excitedly.

"Brmmm." I inch towards her as she mumbles the incoherent name.

"What was that, RiRi?"

Riley sighs heavily but replies, "Brandon, okay?"

"I knew it!" Riley's eyebrows raise at my outburst and so I quickly calm myself down. I tell her about my suspicions.

Once Riley and I have completed our heated crush discussion, it's time to suit up for Capture the Flag. Riley struggles only slightly with adjusting her armor but figures it out quite quickly. My own armor was already strapped tightly to my body. Riley and I walk out of the cabin and go straight towards the meeting place. Riley charges a head at the sight of Brandon and Jake but I trail behind at the large scar by the Mess. 

I stand in that spot for much longer than needed and someone runs straight into me. My feet stumble and I see the ground coming closer so I brace myself for impact. Before I can touch the floor, a hand grabs my arm and pulls me back into standing position. I look up to see the warm brown eyes of Leo Valdez.

"'Sup, Valdez?"

"Nothing much. Sorry for running into you. The Stolls are on my tail for a little prank I pulled yesterday. I should be going." A sudden thought pops into my head and I stop him for dashing off again.

"Hey, I was thinking about what happened back in Houston. The... almost kiss?" Leo's chest rises and falls heavily.

"Uh, yeah. That... That didn't mean anything and I know you like Nico. You and him make a good couple. I shouldn't have even tried since Calyp-" He stops suddenly and I know he's hit a touchy subject. "I have someone waiting for me up in Olympus. I'm glad to wait for her and I'm glad nothing happened. I couldn't hurt her, not again." A darkness passes over his face like all the happiness in the world was gone, then he's back. "I'll see you out there!" And he's gone.

Still very puzzled at what just happened, I walk off in the direction of the rest of my team.