Rainbow Drops [PJ]

Κεφάλαιο IV - Cigarettes

September, 2004

As September rolled by, Camp Half-blood began to look emptier and emptier by the day. Most campers returned home for the schoolterm, either to go back to school, spend time with their family or earn money by working. I always got hit by a wave of dispiritedness as my friends hugged me goodbye, promising to visit during Christmas or Easter. I wished I was one of them, returning home after the summer to a happy family, excited to start another school year where I'd progress in my life.

Instead, I was stuck here for another nine months. Training and surviving.

It could be worse, I could be completely alone at Camp. Most demigods did only attend for the summer months but there were at least fifty of us that were year-rounders. The ones who stayed were the ones who didn't have anywhere better to go.

Luke and I definitely fit into that category.

The only advantage to everyone leaving was that you could actually stretch your elbows out at the Hermes' table. At lunch, I flicked through a magazine given to me by Silena before she'd left to go to her dad's. It was about fashion, or clothes, or something else - I wasn't sure. Reading the small printed text gave me a headache but I liked looking at the glossy pages.

I squinted at one of the models wearing nothing but a see-through plastic dress. I knudged Luke who was sitting next to me. "Do you think this looks good?"

Luke, who was halfway through his sandwich, glanced at the page. "Nah," he concluded, taking another bite.

"Guess how much it costs."

"Six hundred and fifty dollars."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Yeah, that's the exact price."

Luke gave me a sly smirk as he finished his sandwich. "I know my shit. I could sell it off for another hundred bucks."

This was just one of the reasons why I had to hide my stuff in the Hermes' cabin. The expensive gifts my father sent me always seemed to mysteriously disappear after a few days, not that I cared. I didn't need branded clothes or the newest headphones or whatever else he tried to buy me.

Luke reached for another sandwich. I could swear he ate at least five meals a day, excluding snacks.

I turned my attention back to the magazine. The girls featured in these magazines were so perfect. Even in their ridiculous clothes they could have been blessed by Aphrodite herself.

"Would you wear anything in this magazine?"

I glanced up. The slightly accented voice came from Chris Rodríguez, an unclaimed demigod who'd arrived at the beginning of this summer, despite being older than me. He'd seemed like a decent guy but I'd never gotten the chance to speak to him, not that I'd made any effort.

I set the magazine down. "Never. I'd choose comfort over style any day."

Chris nodded awkwardly. I suddently became very aware of how empty the Hermes table was. It was probably the first time the people he'd gotten to know had gone home for the winter.

"Besides," I continued, trying to keep the conversation going. "I don't even think Aphrodite would wear this outfits. They're too outlandish and unconventional."

"Sounds like you're describing your sword-fighting skills, Rory," Luke added in.

He must have been listening to my awkward attempt at the conversation whilst stuffing his face full of salad. I could have been hallier with his though. Unlike myself, he was such a smooth talker and a amazing conversationalist. I don't know if it was a gift he'd inherited from his father or if Luke was just naturally charming.