To be honest, I think Piper looked better before.

Aphrodite will probably kill me for saying that, according to Jay's teasing, but I couldn't care less. Piper looks exceedingly uncomfortable with all the attention everyone is giving her. Jason went to talk to her afterward, hopefully to apologize for announcing she was a knockout in front of the entire camp.

Jay stays with me for most of the walk to the Hermes cabin, trying his best to distract me from the fact that I wasn't claimed tonight. After the fiftieth lame joke about parents, I want to scream that I already know who it is.

But I don't.

Jay suddenly stops and coughs into his hand. "I'm guessing that's for you." He gestures to a figure waiting impatiently in front of the Hermes cabin.

"Hi, Sera." I greet, as Jay slips past her inside.

She waves distractedly. "You didn't tell anyone?"

"About anything you told me today." I confirm.

"Good. I'm kinda surprised ya didn' get claimed tonight, though. If Zeus could spare a min', why can't..." She lowers her voice. "You-Know-Who?"

"Great, my dad is Voldemort now." I smile.

She laughs. "Close enough. Now ya better get inside. The harpies don't take well to kids who break curfew."

"What about you?" I ask, as she starts to walk away. She turns back with a glint in her eyes.

"They know better." Then she waves casually and sprints towards her cabin.

I shake my head, going inside the Hermes cabin. My first impression is that it reminds me of a lock-in. Kids are all talking, laughing, with sleeping bags for some and bunks for most.

Jay pats a bag. It's squishy and purple, so not horrible. "Got anything important on you?"

"No." I sit down beside an identical bag that someone else's orange pillow is on.

"Good. It'd be gone by tomorrow. That's Gil's, by the way." He points to the pillow. "Hope you don't mind. He's newest not including you, so he's stuck on the ground."

"People ever graduate to bunks?" I ask.

Jay shrugs. "Only after a big battle." And with that, he slides his beanie over his eyes and starts to snore, leaving me to wonder what the heck that meant.

"Don't mind him." Another voice says, and I look over to see Gil next to me, wiggling into his sleeping bag. "He's just grumpy that another unclaimed is in here. He hates the gods for neglecting everybody. He didn't even get claimed until after the Titan War, and he'd been here since the Labyrinth the year before."

"Maybe the gods are just busy." I suggest, smoothing my bag before laying back.

Gil shrugs. "Sure. But they live infinite lives, and it barely takes two seconds to claim someone. Your own kid, after all. Would you accept that excuse?"

"No, I guess not." I admit.

"Lights out!" Someone yells, and the lights douse instantly.

"Night, newbie." Gil whispers. I don't say anything, and soon the room around me is filled with rhythmic breathing.

And, exhausted from my long day, I don't remember the mental warnings I've always given myself. You never fall asleep in front of other people.

But the soothing medicine on deep cut on my back, paired with the snores of kids around me, I'm asleep before I know it. 

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I KNOW it's short. Next chapter out in... about a few seconds. :)