★ kee speaks 9:53 a.m. and wattpad's already putting me through a mental breakdown by fucking up the format /lh anyway your godly parent isn't specified here so have fun. this contains swearing and an it chapter 2 reference, im sorry i'll just go now

My nose started to hurt and wisps of my wet hair stuck to my cheeks. I kicked my legs below me to stay afloat in the cool water. "I swear to the gods, Stoll, if you do that one more time, I'm going to drown you."

"Yeah?" Connor mocked, grinning like he was about to grab my shoulders and push me under water again. He was probably stepping on the sea floor, so he sank in the water up to his shoulders, his chin just above water level. "And what are you gonna do if I put black dye on your clothes, L/N?"

"I'm gonna change my style to the Hades cabin's and move there," I said stubbornly, glancing at Nico. Jason and Percy were trying to teach him how to swim. "I get along well with Nico and Hazel anyway."

"have you forgotten Hazel is Roman? Better get used to Will's moans!" He laughed, splashing salty water in my face.

"Shit—stop!" I coughed and swam close to him, my loose shirt, worn and faded from use, billowing around me. I put a hand over his mouth. "Shhh!" I hissed. "Don't let him hear you say that."

"Will's over at the sand." Connor pointed to Will sitting on the shore, only ankle-deep in the water.

"Yeah." I felt a leg hook around mine, pulling me down. I gasped and grabbed his bare shoulder, grumbling. "Hey! And anyway, it's Nico who's scary. Remember what that kid did at the Battle of the Labyrinth?"

"Eh. I do remember trying to convince him to play poker instead of that Myth game."

"Yep."

"Y/N!" Annabeth called from a rock jutting out of the sea floor. She was laughing along with Piper and some Nereids, all of them looking at something. Before I could process they were looking at Percy, a huge wave crashed down on my and Connor. I noticed the water was colder in the deeper part. I think I stepped on a coral.

Sound rushed back into my ears when I broke the surface. Percy was laughing while Nico clutched Jason's arm, whining. "Percy! Don't just let go of me like that!"

"We're still in the shallow part, Neeks, don't panic," Jason said.

Connor's figure bobbed in the water. I had an idea to get back at him. "Hey, Con," I said. He turned around and I smiled a little mischievously. "Look, I think there's a watch there."

"Where?"

"Down there."

"I can't see it."

"Yeah, cause you have to look closer, obviously."

"Is it a Rolex?"

Hoping he couldn't hear the smile in my voice, I replied, "I don't know." Before he could say anything else, I flattened my hand on his curly hair and pushed it down briefly.

He cursed, spluttering and coughing, then dramatically clutched his neck, splashing and kicking in the water. "Call an ambulance! Call an ambulance!" He stood still, then sank under the water. I stared as he sank, amused. Then he popped back up. "But not for me!"

He picked me up and threw me a few feet away, meanwhile I gave him the finger, floating in the water. He swam over beside me while a Nereid swam away. "You're tiny."

"Not as tiny as Nico," I said, looking over to the shore where Nico was storming over to sit beside Will, holding his hand. It was too late for me to realize I had let my guard down when Connor pushed my shoulders down, submerging me in the water once more.

"Y/N, Connor's taking forever in the showers." Travis plopped down on the crochet net, throwing me off balance and nearly making me drop the pretty rock I found.

Leo was making something with twigs and a soda can in his hands, sitting on the far side of the net. "Careful, he might be pulling a Stanley."

"He's not pulling a Stanley," Travis replied, settling himself down, making me drop the pretty rock. "He answered me when I called him."

"Why should I be asked about that?" I grumbled, sticking my arm through one of the holes and picking the rock off the soil. "And besides, we don't have bathtubs here at camp."

My mind wandered for the next hour or two, twirling the pretty rock in my hands. Soon, Valentina Diaz, Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson, Jason Grace, Piper McLean, and Clovis joined us after they were done swimming.

Clovis yawned. "It would be nice to take a nap. I'm tired..." His head drooped down and he snored.

I nearly fell asleep too, in the shadier part of the net, against Annabeth's shoulder. Then a voice rang out.

"Guys!" Connor called, running at full speed toward us. He could've stopped, but he tripped and fell on the net instead. He straightened himself, grinning and sweeping his curly hair back.

I bit back a smile at how cute that was, then asked, "Did you find a serpent in the shower? Is that why it took you three hours?" Yeah, I have a crush on him. Shut up.

"No. Well, kind of. I was um. I was taking a shower obviously and there was a worm. Anyway, we have a new camper! I couldn't find you guys," he pouted.

"Really? Who?" Percy asked. "And where did they come from?"

"Uhm, California."

"Everyone's from California," Piper rolled her eyes.

I turned to her. "Jason's from California."

"She's a legacy from Camp Jupiter! Her parents are Greek, children of Nemesis and Poseidon! And they actually got to survive past 25, with a house and all. Do you know how cool that is?!" Connor rambled.

Percy looked a little sad. "I've been here for 6 years already."

"She's prettier than you'll ever be."

Percy gasped dramatically. "Yeah, sure. Jason has prettier eyes than me. Annabeth is the prettiest."

"True," Piper agreed. "So where is she?"

Connor jumped, is if an electric shock went through him. "Oh yeah, I forgot. Austen!"

Will had a half-brother named Austin. I looked at him with raised eyebrows. He shrugged.

Connor came back pulling a girl's hand along. She had a bob cut, half of it tied up and the other half down. She wore an Adventure Time blouse and jean shorts.

"Imagine if this one's named Austen River," Leo snickered.

I glared at my shorts which I fidgeted with. Austin Lake's still going to be better than her, I thought.

Connor glanced shyly at Austen. "So...you're staying in the Hermes cabin for now, right?"

"Oh. Actually," Austen tucked her dark hair behind her ear. "I'm already claimed. I'm going to the Poseidon cabin."

Percy got up and mumbled something about having to clean up. Connor's eager smile faded a little.

"What's it like in New Rome?" I asked, hoping my voice didn't sound as stiff as I felt.

Whatever she said about New Rome or Camp Jupiter or her demigod parents, I didn't listen. I only saw how Connor would glance at her and his laugh when she slipped in a joke or two. He pulled out a rubber band from his pocket and stretched it with his fingers, wrapping it around and plucking it. He only did that when he was nervous.

Some time later, Annabeth jumped and said it was time for Capture the Flag.

Austen looked down. "How is that played? I mean, I've heard of it but-"

"I can show you where we play! And how we play, too. I can show you a few tricks, if you like..." Connor said. And holy schist, did his cheeks go red?

I would say some colorful insults and statements, but since I want to be nice, I won't name them. Why, you ask? Alright. It's because I saw Connor laughing with Austen with an arm over her shoulders. They just met today! What kind of Frozen plot is this? I know I shouldn't assume, but it's different when you have a crush. And I know Connor's touchy, but only after a month or two! He never puts his arm around people either.

I guess the Fates were feeling particularly hyper today, as well, because they had to go and put me and Connor on the same goddamn team in Capture the Flag. That might sound good, but what if he also lets Austen's team win?!

I was left with Connor to guard the flag. "What do you think of Austen, Y/N?" he asked.

Wow. No hi, hello, do you have any strategies or anything. Just straight to Austen I guess. "She's fine."

"Uh-huh. Well, d—"

"Do you like her?" I blurted out.

Connor looked surprised. "What?"

"Dude, you had an arm around her earlier. And...I saw you staring at her."

"Does that mean you always look at me as well?"

"Oh shut up!" I mumbled, shoving him. Being 6'2, he was hardly bothered.

He crossed his arms. "What's the matter, L/N? Jealous?"

I gave him my best glare. "I mean, if you like Austen so much I can go with Jake from Cabin 9."

"Oh, like he'd be able to treat you as well as I would."

"What?"

"What?"

I looked up at him, blushing. "Would you—would you be willing to explain that?"

Connor took out the rubber band again. "Um...You first! Why are you being weird?"

"Why are you so clingy with Austen all of a sudden? Do you like her? It's been, like, 2 hours since she came here, Connor."

Connor took off his helmet. "Y/N, I don't like her! Chiron told me to give her a tour! I was on my way here when she arrived." He laughed. What was so funny about this? No wait, it was only funny for him, probably.

"Then what about you going to the Big House with her?"

"Y/N, I twisted my ankle. And besides, I've only liked one person for...er, a long time."

My expression softened. "Who?"

He played with the rubber band and stretched it so wide, it snapped. He picked it up and put it back in his pocket, avoiding my eyes. "Um...please don't get mad..."

Why would I be mad? "It's you, Y/N. Only you. For a year or two." He laughed nervously.

"Me?" I asked, shocked. A jolt of energy and cold went through me.

"No, the nymph over there."

A tall, slim girl with braided hair and skin tinted green appeared beside me, scowling. I nearly jumped out of my skin at that. "Don't drag me into your lovers' quarrel!" Then she disappeared into green mist.

I looked back at Connor. "You're serious?"

"No, I'm Connor."

"Connor, please."

"Yes! Yes, of course, you! It's been so damn long, Y/N! I've been scared that you wouldn't like me back, but I now that you asked, I can't help but say it. I haven't had more than one crush for years because of you, because of how your eyes look when you talk about something you like, or the way you smile, or the way you speak and how touch starved you are when you're tired, Y/N. You're the only one who's on my mind, all the time. Only you." He smiled shyly, tapping his fingers on his helmet.

"Nice speech. Uh, I like you too, Con. A lot." I swallowed nervously.

"Then...will you be my princess and go to the ball with me?"

"Of course," I replied breathlessly. "But first, we have to claim our victory over this battle."

He put his helmet back on. "Sure."

I gripped my sword, but then I remembered something. "Hey, Con."

"Yes, Y/N?"

"What if Austen likes you?"

"Oh, no, I'm gay," said a third voice. We spun around to see Austen, still in her Adventure Time shirt and shorts, a bow slung over her shoulder and a knife in her hand. "...That's okay, right?" She asked.

"Oh, yeah, totally." Connor shrugged.

Austen relaxed. "Okay." Then she tried darting past us, but Connor and I took out our swords.

"Thank you!" Someone shouted. Annabeth stood at our base, holding our flag, grinning proudly.

I looked at Connor. "Well, I guess we got too distracted."