My Sister got Me a Stoll: A Tratie Fanfic

Chapter 3 (Katie's POV)

I have to confess, that when the game of capture the flag started, I was pumped. Why? Because no Stolls. They basically carried the red team, alway snuck up on people, set traps, and made an all around mess. Then while everyone was worried about them, Cecil or someone would swoop in and take the flag. So yeah. No Stolls. At least that's what I thought.

I'm always on defense. Which is okay. That's where I like it. I have time to think and enjoy the forest. I was standing by the creek and looking into it, swirling the water with my fingers. I breathed in the sweet night air. Then I heard a rustling in a bush near by. I rush over with my sword in hand. I push away the branches and see Miranda making out with Conner. "Eww guys get a room!" They laugh and run off. I smile, thinking how cute it was that they were finally together. My smile faded seconds after, though because I remembered that Conner and Travis were supposedly sick in the infirmary. I had to warm the others. This most be a surprise attack. I start running towards the flag but then as soon as I see that the flag is still on it's place by Zeus's fist, I turn around and walk back to my post. That's when someone grabs my hand and pulls me into a bush. I was about to scream, when the same person clasps a hand over my mouth. "Mmhmmmhm." I then with a start realize who's kidnapped me. "Shush, Katie-Kat. Sorry but my dumb-ass brother blew our cover and you are the only one that has evidence that we're not lying in the infirmary dying." Dying? Was the lie that extreme? I took in the surroundings. Travis and I, sitting not even three inches apart, his hand still holding mine, and the other clasped over my mouth. He must have realized how weird this looked to anyone who would find us. His face turned the color of a strawberry on harvest day. "Sorry, I um sorry." He let me go and sprinted away. I was disappointed, than mad that I was disappointed, so I grabbed my sword and chucked it in the ground. "Stupid boys." I grumble. I froze. Why was I so upset? He was just an annoying boy, who may be hot, and my friend, but nothing more than a friend. I heard yelling and saw a scene that so many have seen before. Travis Stoll sprinting away from the guards with the flag in his hand. I was raging. Oh he could not get away, I knew that. I did what was natural. I grew vines and tied him to the spot. The smug look on his face was wiped right off his face. I walked right up to him, so our noses were an inch apart. "The tides have turned, eh Stoll?" This was a little aggressive, even for me. I ripped the flag out of his hands, and saw Miranda sprinting across the creek, with the flag. Our side screamed and celebrated! We won! Chiron came over and smiled. "Well, broke the red teams streak didn't you?" I beamed. The Demeter cabin had definitely carried our team. I smiled until I heard a familiar annoying voice, "Are you going to free me or leave me to die?" "Oh Travis, you are offering a deal too good to be true." Chiron gave me a stern look so I snapped my fingers and the vines dropped Travis onto the wet ground. "Aww, thanks Katie-Kat! I feel so loved!" Travis knew how to push my buttons. And not in a good way. "Good night Travis." I ended the conversation. And walked off to celebrate with Cabin Four. "Hey Katie!" Travis's voice made me stop, again. "What?" "You STOLL my heart!" I rolled my eyes, it was an on running joke of ours. To say stupid pick up lines to each other. This was his favorite. Normally we both smiled then rolled our eyes. But this time it arose butterfly's in my stomach. Why Katie? He's just a friend, nothing special, he's just annoying. You know this. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling of giddiness.

When I got back to the cabin, I showered got dressed in my pajamas and was about to round up th rest of our cabin, but then I saw something moving outside. I crept outside and stared at the spot I had sworn I saw something move. Then, "You're out here to?" I looked towards the few trees near the lake, Travis was sitting in the tree right next to our cabin. He looked... different. He didn't have the usual mischievous gleam in his eyes. He looked older. Sadder. "Yeah, couldn't sleep." The lie came out before I could stop it. "Want to join me Katie?" I noticed that he used my real name, instead of my nickname. I felt... sad. "Sure I'll join you." I climbed up. He smiled weakly. I let my legs dangle off the edge the branch, hanging towards the ground. Travis, on the other hand, hugged his legs to his chest and kept his face into his knees, while his arms wrapped around his knees. I hesitated but then, I put my hand on his back and asked something I never thought I would ask a Stoll. "Are you okay?" I expected him to just laugh it off and pretend he was okay, but no. He looked at me with red eyes, tears running down his face. His nose was dripping. "I-I have s-so much t-to live up to. I-I don't know h-how to p-protect Conner, half the time I make it up a-as I go. M-my mom w-would be s-so disappointed." I had no idea what to say. That he was going to be okay? Obviously, this wasn't the first time he had thought and cried about these problems. I did what came naturally, again. I hugged him. He leaned into me. He sobbed in my shoulder while I breathed in his scent. He smelled like nature and a hint of cologne. We sat there for the gods know how long. Until I held I sniffle and Travis pulled away and whispered: "Thank you, thank you so much Katie. I normally come up here on my own, to hide, because if I told anyone else, they would doubt me, it would change their perspective on me." Why didn't he think it would have that effect on me? Maybe because we were... close? No, not that close, but still. "Why me Travis?" I whispered. "I don't mind of course, I still see you as an annoying friend who pranks me, but just a little more human." He smiled at this. "Why you?" He mused. Tears kept streaming down his face, but he didn't see to care. "I was just asking the same question, when i thought, Well Travis, she must be a hell of a person to make you feel comfortable talking about this with her. So yeah, Katie Gardener, you are one hell of a person, not only to listen to me, but not leave me to cry by myself." The fact that he was being so open, was, heart warming. I couldn't stand watching him suffer. "Could you tell me what happened to your mom exactly?" I could tell that I had gone too far. "Good night Katie." He whispered as he swung down from the tree and walked off towards his cabin. "Good night, Travis." I whispered long after he left.

I had trouble sleeping that night. No surprise. But what did surprise me is the fact that all I could think about was Travis leaning into me sobbing. I felt giddy about this. For reasons I was unaware of.