Ellie's POV
"C'mon people let's go! Time is a-ticking and this party must be perfect!" I yelled through Coach Hedge's bullhorn as I walked out of Bunker 9 towards the Zeus Cabin. It was Meredith's birthday and I was throwing her a surprise party. Right now I was heading toward her cabin to say happy birthday.

"Knock knock knock," I whispered opening Meredith's door. "Happy Bday Mere!"

"Hey Ellie, thanks!" She answered giving me a hug as I crawled into her bed. I handed Meredith her breakfast in bed tray that contained her favorite, a chocolate chip muffin and a cup of hot chocolate.

"Aw thanks El, you know me so well," Meredith laughed taking a bite.

"I know I know," I laughed taking a sip of her chocolate.

"Hey!" She protested.

"What? I got it for you!"

"Ok fine." She laughed giving up. "Uh Ellie? Have you seen any sign of Charlie?"

"No. I'm really sorry Mere. But he'll show up, don't worry," I answer not making any promise though.

"You think so?" Meredith asked brightening up.

"Oh sure. Besides even if he doesn't, you'll have the best birthday. You'll see."

Just then Rj, Hunter, and Ginger walked in. Ginger showed up at camp last week with a satyr and she immediately became friends with our group. She looked like a surfer with blonde hair to her mid-back, really tan, and ocean blue eyes. Ginger was yet to be claimed though so we all have money on who we think is her parent.

"Happy birthday!" They chorused.

"Aw thanks guys," Meredith smiled.

I caught Hunter's eyes and he smiled at me. I felt butterflies in my stomach and I mentally slapped myself. I was definitely not in the mood for boys.

"Why are you guys not working?" I asked them thinking of Meredith's party.

"I don't know, why aren't you?" RJ answered winking at Hunter and Ginger.

"Because I'm in charge! I'm allowed to take breaks!" I huffed.

"What are you in charge of taking breaks of?" Meredith asked confused.

Oh gods. How did it slip my mind she was in here?! The four us exchanged a glance but I guess we all interpreted that glance differently because we all shouted something different.

"It's for the party!"

"We had to wash dishes!"

"I'm making them clean my cabin!"

"Ellie's a jerk!" I glared at Rj at that last one.

"What?" Meredith asked confused again.

Luckily Ginger was quick on her feet. "What we meant was, there was a party yesterday and we had to wash the dishes and now Ellie's making us clean up her cabin because she's a jerk."

"Who's party was yesterday?" Meredith asked.

"It was..."

"Uhhhh..."

"Well the person was..."

"We errrrr..."

"Hold up guys!" Meredith said holding up her hands. We all froze knowing we had given it away. "It was Michael Joan's birthday yesterday wasn't it? But I didn't go because I was out with Alex!" We all breathed a huge sigh of relief. Well Meredith was no daughter of Athena.

"Exactly!" We all cried.

"Ok, so let me get dressed and I'll meet you guys at the Bunker," Meredith said beginning to shoo us out.

"No no no no no!" I blurted out. "I mean, why go to the Bunker? We always go there! How about we go kayaking or something?"

"Kayaking?"

"Yeahhhh..."

"Ok I'll meet you at the kayaks in 10 minutes," and with that we all filed out of the cabin.

Meredith's POV
After my friends left I brushed my teeth and put on my hot pink bikini. I brushed my hair into a side braid and quickly added some sunscreen. On my way out the door I grabbed a t-shirt for a coverup and my Yankees baseball cap. Even if it doesn't make me invisible like Annabeth's it's still pretty cool.

I was walking down to the lake when I saw Ginger and Rj in a kayak and Ellie was in one by herself. There was another boy walking down too. I saw Ellie groan and yell something to RJ. Rj rolled his eyes and switched places with her. The boy looked embarrassed and quietly got into the kayak with Rj. As I got closer I realized the boy was my brother, Tristan. Then I realized why I didn't recognize him.

"Hey guys," I said to my friends. "Nice haircut," I called out to Tristan.

"Thanks. Some Aphrodite kids did it." I was being honest actually. It did look good. It was a lot shorter. His hair used to be long (for a boy) and always kind of hung in his face. Now you could see him. I was happy Tristan was trying to be a new and improved person.

I climbed into another kayak. We put on our life jackets and talked for another minute until Hunter showed up.

"Sorry I'm late. I had to finish something," he answered climbing into my kayak.

"Alright!" Ellie yelled. "First one to the bridge wins! On the count of 3! 1...2...3!" And with that we all took off.

"Ok," I called back to Hunter. "Right, left, right, left."

We paddled really hard and when I turned back I found that we were wayyyyy in front of everybody else. I mean it's always a bonus to have the biggest and most muscular guy at camp paddling your kayak.

"Well I guess we're in the lead," I said to Hunter.

"Yeah I guess we are," he answered. We sat in silence for a little bit. I then asked him a question I had been wondering about for awhile.

"Do you like Ellie?" I asked him. He blushed and coughed awkwardly.

"What are you talking about?" he says trying to play it off cool.

"Alright Mr. tough guy, just don't hurt her. I love my brother to bits but he was an idiot." I say as we arrived at the bridge. He was about to respond when Ellie came in next screaming.

"You cheated!"

"Hey, fair is fair." Hunter says. Ellie shut up after that. Could they be more obvious?

"Guys let's head back in." RJ says winking at everyone.

"What's with the wink?" I say.

"No reason, let's go." He says.

I didn't question them as we turned around the kayaks back to camp.

Hey guys, I hope you liked part one of Meredith's birthday. Please comment and vote. Get excited for the next chapter!! Love you guys and hope everyone is having a fabulous summer! ❤️