fake | tratie | EDITING |

| twenty seven |

Okay, I would've waited a day or so to post this, but I literally could not because I was too excited.

This is the last chapter. I still have the epilogue ready to upload, so don't fret! There's still one more part.

So, sit back and enjoy.

. . .

Even a week later, the birds still chirped sweeter than they had before in the mornings. The sun sifted into the cabin warmly, but not too brightly. I wasn't too hot under the sheets, but I also didn't freeze when I pushed the covers off of me. The room felt lighter and more peaceful.

A peaceful start to another peaceful day.

"Wake up, sleepyhead." I kicked the bunk above me, and Miranda groaned.

"Five more years."

"How about minutes?" I corrected with a giggle, rolling out of bed to start the day.

Knowing that Travis meant what he said and that he was telling the truth the whole time was absolutely ineffable. He hadn't lied to me. Not once. He cared about me, and I cared about him.

Ashley had stayed away from me for the majority of the week. Though I received evil stares and hurtful snarls, she only threatened me once. She'd told me yesterday that I would regret crossing her, and I told her to screw off.

I'd been in a better mood lately, and I could enjoy things I'd found hard to sit through - counselor meetings, for example, were more fun when I wasn't fighting with Travis. Now, we exchanged blushing glances and grins.

I could finally think about us without my anxiety attacking me.

It wasn't fake anymore.

"Morning, Kates."

The words had become an expectation to every morning, accompanied by my boyfriend's arms winding around me from behind on the way to the pavilion. Though every single time it made me jump because I never saw him coming, I couldn't find it in myself to be mad. His early morning voice alone was enough to make me willing to set aside any annoying thing he did.

"Morning," I replied giddily. I'd never get used to his greetings.

He stayed wrapped around me and lowered his voice. "I love you so much, you know that, right?"

Tingles shot down my back and I grinned like an idiot. "Yeah, I know."

He hadn't stopped saying it since that day next to my cabin. He didn't apologize for it, either - he just kept saying it. And the best part? I loved hearing it.

I watched him leave to try (and fail) to control the Hermes table as they toppled glasses over, dumped ketchup all over plates, and wreaked unimaginable havoc like usual. He was so adorable. I chuckled to myself and joined my own table, passing by the Aphrodite table as I went.

Piper made eye contact with me and waved me over, so I stepped to be next to her.

"You'll never believe what happened," she said excitedly.

"What?"

"Ashley got Stoll'd."

"Woah." Grinning, I slid onto the bench next to her and glanced at Natalie as she sat, too.

"She's in the cabin trying to fix it before she leaves," Natalie filled me in with glee.

I fidgeted my foot, unsure of how to react. I didn't know how far Travis intended on going with Ashley, but he'd already set up some petty pranks for her: tripwire over a mud puddle, soy sauce in her coffee, a faulty bow in archery - but they were all harmless. Annoying and discouraging, but harmless.