Faking It

Edited: 25

I stay inside my cabin for the rest of the day, missing all of my training lessons. I consider starting to working on my part in the strawberry fields again so I can calm my nerves, but I decide against it as I prefer to talk to the four others about the situation privately.

I've gone over what I would say over and over, but it never sounds right to me, and I keep getting the feeling like I'm going to say something wrong. 

"Gods. I don't think I can do this," I shake my head.

"We've gone over it already and it's not that difficult," Reyes pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Come on, Kates, you'll be fine." Railynn says looping an arm through mine as Miranda does the same to my other side.

"It's not rocket science." Miranda nods.

"Yeah but at least with rocket science it wont break my heart."

"Oh, come on, Katie, get a hold of yourself." Myra huffs. "You seemed so much more self assured when I thought of you as my competition—how is it that I'm on your side now, and you're falling apart?"

"Oh, shut up, you." Reyes says from his sister's side, "You're not making her feel any better. "

"What? I'm just being straightforward—Katie, just talk to him. Hold your chin up, keep your eyes level, square your shoulders, and breathe. You are a strong and bold young woman, you hold the ability to make the son of Heremes fall to his knees." 

"You're complimenting  her now?" Miranda's eyes widen.

"I am not." Myra sighs. "Merely reminding Katie of the power she has." 

"Needless to say," Reyes side eyes his sister, then begins to wiggle his eyebrows at me "—if Travis and Katie end up making out, take it as a good sign."

I gape at him as Miranda cracks a smile. I can feel my cheeks heating up as I'm, no doubt, redder than a tomato.

When we reach the dining hall, we get our food from the line and then separate our ways. Railynn to Athena's, Myra and Reyes go to the Apollo's table as Miranda and I move over to the Demeter Cabin's. I barely make a dent in my food and by the time most of everyone is done and heading over to their the campfire. I've only eaten half my sandwich. Most of my siblings are gone except for Miranda and Rosie. I sigh, accidentally catching Miranda's attention.

"You good?" she asks me in a raised eyebrow.

"I'll be fine." I answer in a tight smile.

I see her eyes drift past me and I look over my shoulder to see at what.

I should have guessed who. Travis is alone at the Hermes Cabin's table picking up all the trash, plates and glasses that his siblings have left behind and look back at Miranda. She looks back at me and winks before leaving myself, Rosie and Travis. The three of us are the only ones left in the dining hall. I watch her walk away and see that she left her plate behind. I get what she wants me to do. She wants me to help Travis clean up...possibly start a conversation with him too.

I squeeze my hands together to stop then from shaking from how nervous I am and count from three.

Three, what if I can't do this? What if I'm just going tomake a fool out of myself. Two, what if Miranda and Railynn and Reyes are wrong? What if Myra wasn't being truthful and it's all a big set up? One, I stand up and pick up my plate and my cup and walk over to the kitchen. I set them in the sink and then go back for the dishes that Miranda has left behind. Just as I walk out of the kitchen I hear a crash.

I look where the sound came from and see Rosie has tripped and fallen, her plate and cup have now broken. I kneel down to her.

"Katie that hurt." She whines.

"Are you bleeding?" I ask.

"My knee is."

"Well okay can you stand up for me—?"

My hand tingles from a brushing feeling as I'm using it to balance myself and turn my head towards it. 

"Sorry." Travis mumbles. He holds a broom.

"What are you doing?" I ask abruptly. Well, Katie, you totally worked the polite factor to talking to people.

"Cleaning up broken glass."

I frown at him "Why?" Gods Katie! You aren't making things any better!

"There is broken glass on the floor."

"Why are you cleaning it up though? It's not really your issue, I can take care of my sibling's messes and you still have things to do for you own cabin's table and—" My rambling floods from my mouth and out into a tragic mess as I can't stop the words from falling out. 

"Katie." Travis interrupts.

"What?"

"Do me a favor and let me do something nice. Okay? I haven't talked to you, I barely see you, I haven't pranked you—I haven't done anything." He stops, breathes, then kneels beside me like I have with Rosie. "Let me do something nice."

I feel the frown on my face leave as I look at him in his blue eyes. Those eyes that captivate me. I sigh, shaking my head as I break eye contact. We are so close right now. Maybe two feet away from each other. I wonder if he notices it too.

"Okay." I say. I nod once look at him again, get up and start walking.

"Where are you going?" he calls to me.

"I'm getting a first aid kit." I yell over my shoulder "I'll be right back."