Hello.

So basically i have absolutely no self control whatsoever and i couldn't help myself.

Enjoy some fluff before we reach chapter 4 :).

Word count: 1.4k

"Hey Katie-Kat!" I hear a voice behind me.

I close my eyes and force my breathing to return to a normal pace. Stupid Travis and his stupid face that makes my heart beat stupidly fast.

I turn around, trying to mask my giddiness with annoyance.

"Hey Trav. Forgot what happened last time you called me that?"

He grins at me, "I believe I recall Silena doing a very cruel, very unladylike act on my person."

"You recall correctly, too bad Silena isn't here and i'm not half as gentle."

At this, he laughs, "You wouldn't ever lay a hand on me, Katie Kat."

"Oh wouldn't you like It if I did, you little idiot," I mutter under my breath.

"How inappropriate, Katie Kat!" Travis gasps, "I didn't know this side of you! Although, my lips are getting a little lonely."

I nod solemnly, "They must be, being attached to that face mustn't give them much action."

"You're right," He leans in, "They're saving themselves for the only action they want, yours."

My body stiffens at how close he is and I urge myself to breathe. He alway does the same things with the pick up lines but never actually makes a move.

I'm sick of It.

"Maybe you should give them that action." I snap.

At this, Travis seems to be caught by surprise and stares at me, mouth agape.

I smirk, looks like he's all bark and no bite.

I stand up, deciding that if I ever have something with Travis, it won't be because of him, so I'd better get moving. My anxiety can make me regret it later.

I rush into my cabin. My eyes scan the shelves, my brain considering variations of a plan, like gears shifting in my mind.

My eyes dart towards the bookshelf.

Reading. Travis loves reading. He's a huge English nerd.

I smile to myself. Nerd. That's what I thought of calling him the first time we talked. I'm so original.

I scan the books, trying to think of one I can give Travis, when I stumble upon one of my all time favorite series: Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco.

I pick It up, running my fingers through the pages, and feel myself smiling. He's going to love this book.

I select a page towards the end and slip in a small note.

"Want to be the Thomas to my Audrey Rose?"

He'll love this book almost as much as I did. Everything from the plot to the writing pulled me in almost immediately; the way Audrey Rose thinks and views the world is truly inspiring, and the dynamic she has with Thomas is one of my all time favorites. I know Travis will have a lot to say about it, too.

I love that about him. I don't read as much as he did, but we always have the best debates about the books we've both read. He'll even come to my cabin late at night to talk to me about some amazing new book he's just finished.

His eyes light up and he waves his hands around, the passion taking over his handsome features unlike any other I've ever seen.

He will love this book too, I can almost picture his face, the way his eyebrows will shoot up when the identity of Jack the Ripper is discovered, how he will scream and curse, claiming that he knew it all along. The way he's going to grin at Thomas's stupid jokes or his eyebrows will knit together when they lay out the scientific facts, or the murder.

Every word of that book was perfectly put together in an intelligent and witty narrative that perfectly captures humanity and the true greyness in morals, while at the same time, dragging you into a modern romance.

I square my shoulders and pull my chin up, standing taller. There's no turning back now.

But is there? So much could go wrong...

What if he hates the book? Or has already read it? He's so much smarter than me, he must have read a thousand better books than anything I could ever recommend.

And what if he doesn't like me back? What if he was just playing around? Why would he like me back anyway? He's so amazing, and I'm just...me. I'm nothing special, Trav deserves so much better. I'm not worth fighting for anyway...

No. I can't think that way.

I push down my nervous thoughts. Anxiety will not get the best of me, at least not yet.

A fresh wave of confidence washes over me as I imagine my friend's faces. Silena will be so proud if she could see me now, and even Clarisse would be happy, in her own way.

I march down to the Hermes cabin and knock on the door. Connor greets me with a crooked smile and a knowing look dancing in his eyes.

"Heya, Kates."

I hold a finger up to his face, "Don't say it."

Connor throws his hands up in a defensive gesture, "Hey! I didn't even open my mouth! Not that I had to, anyway," He adds under his breath.

I glare at him and look for Trav's bed.

The cabin is a mess. Although more and more campers are getting claimed, there are still sleeping bags thrown around the floor and personal objects are covering almost every inch of spare space. This place looks like it has been mauled by a pack of wolves.

I send a pointed look at Connor and gesture towards the cabin with my hand, "How do you live here?"

"Well, we get up, get dressed, go out and do things, and then..."

"You know what I meant," I interrupt. I almost forgot how annoying this boy is. "Where's Trav's bed?"

"Wow, Kates," He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively, "I didn't know you two were moving this fast. I thought you of all people would want to keep It PG," He grins, but a quick glare immediately shuts him up.

"I didn't think my brother would have it in him to tell you, anyway," He adds.

I freeze, not sure how to react. Tell me? What does he mean 'tell me'?

"Wait. Tell me what?"

"You mean, he didn't tell you?" Connor's face pales, "Oh man, oh fuck. Travis is going to kill me."

"What?" I ask again, not completely sure what he means, or how to react.

"I said nothing, okay? That's Travis's bed," he says pointing to a blue-sheeted bed in the corner "Go do whatever you had to do, and don't tell Travis I said anything, he will actually maim me."

I nod, still perplexed, not quite being able to process this new information.

I walk up to his bed and leave the book before I convince myself to turn back, smiling at Connor on the way out.

I decide to find Will, because he always eases my nerves when Grover's not here.

I walk into the infirmary, where Will's working his shifts, and walk towards where he's sitting.

There aren't many people currently staying here and the place is almost empty. There are a couple of demigods sleeping with casts and wraps on, but that's about it.

"Hey, Will."

Will turns around and offers me a warm smile that instantly calms me.

"How're things going with Death Breath?"

He grins, and asks a question of his own, "How're things going with 'super gorgeous glimmering sparkly eyes'?"

My nerves are soon replaced by mortification. While it is true that Will always knows how to get my mind off my anxiety, he also always chooses the most embarrassing topics.

"Hey! I said that one time!" I exclaim, blush creeping on to my face, "And I was eleven!"

"Mhm, sure. You're still avoiding my question, Katie."

Just as I'm about to answer that Travis and I were nowhere close to being a 'thing' the way Nico and him are, Travis himself bursts through the door and wraps his arms around me from behind.

"Only if you'll be the Mrs.Harvey to my Mr.Harvey. I'll pick you up at seven on Friday." He says and kisses my cheek before he leaves me, gaping and beet red in the middle of the infirmary.

Of course he has already read the series, and of course he made an inappropriate comment about It.

I hear laughing, and I muster a halfhearted glare to send Will's way.

"Please tell me you didn't understand that reference."

"I think you're forgetting who recommended that series to you in the first place."

I groan, but can't hide my smile. He said yes. He actually said yes.

Ha! Take that, anxiety!