fake | tratie | EDITING |

| eleven |

I found myself getting ready for the party the next night, regardless of how much I'd carried on about not wanting to go. I blamed it on the fact that Natalie and Miranda wanted to go, and I didn't want to leave my friends high and dry. (At least, that's what I told myself.)

That entire day, there was no prank from Travis.

In my dusty pink romper and flower-printed TOMS, I thought of how Travis would think I looked. Of course, I wasn't trying to look cute for Travis. That would've been dumb. But as I put on a delicate gold bracelet and looked in the mirror, I wondered how he'd react to seeing me. A wave of confidence surged through me as I did my makeup. Almost every girl in camp wanted to be with Travis Stoll, the least I could do on my end of the bargain was put in some effort.

Telling myself I hated him for the sixtieth time that day, I dismissed the thought of him from my head and focused on braiding my hair. I felt the need to add something more, so I donned a dainty flower crown on my head.

"So you're going after all?" Natalie grinned when I opened the door to the cabin. She stepped inside and greeted Miranda.

"I guess so," I grumbled. "He wouldn't stop bugging me."

I didn't have to specify who "he" was.

She clapped her hands giddily. "Good. I thought Miranda and I would have to go alone."

I rolled my eyes and sat on the bunk across from Miranda. "Whatever. I hate parties."

My half-sister inspected my outfit, sending me an incredulous look. "Trying to impress someone, are we?"

"Ew, no." I tossed a braid over my shoulder as I stood again, purposefully smacking her with it.

She giggled, sticking her tongue out.

We all finished getting ready together, Miranda wrapping a flannel around her waist and Natalie touching up her makeup.

"You ready?" Natalie motioned us towards the door. "If we leave right now, we'll be just in time to be fashionably late."

I rolled my eyes, but still followed her outside.

As we ducked under cabin overhangs to avoid the harpies, we crossed over to the Apollo cabin. The lights were dim, music tinted the air. I couldn't help but dart my eyes around, hoping to have a few moments before Travis found me. I wasn't used to parties, I usually steered clear of them. I needed a second to adjust to the new atmosphere.

No more than three dozen campers had been invited, and they were the usual party-goers. Solo cups of soda had been passed around, music played soft enough not to be heard outside but loud enough for people to be dancing. The dim lighting cast shadows in the corners where children of Aphrodite lured demigods to make out. 

"I'm gonna go mingle!" Natalie squeaked, as if she didn't already know everyone in the cabin.

Miranda grinned and grabbed her hand. "I'll go, too. See ya, Katie!"

"Wait, you guys!" I took a step towards them, but they were quickly swallowed up in a group of campers and I lost them.

I panned around the room and took in the sheer amount of people crammed into the main room of the cabin. Closing my eyes, I tapped my fingers on my arm. Everything's okay, you're fine. My heart picked up pace as I tried desperately not to dwell on the fact that I was at a crowded party with tons of troublemakers and people were bumping into me and the music was so loud and what if Chiron found out and I got roped into the affray and...

"Kates!" Travis beamed, scooping me up under an arm. 

I nearly jumped out of my skin. "Travis! Don't do that!"