20

Ψ 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐞? Ψ

𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, getting over the almost panic attack I was just trying to relax.

I saw both Luke and Chris sit down in front of me. I've been getting out of my shell a lot more when it comes to the friend department and especially after my conversation with Damien about Luke and I hugging it's been a tad bit awkward, not for him.

Luke would try to talk to me, but I would make up an excuse and run away because I wouldn't know what to say. Everything is hard to figure out especially what I'm feeling and don't get me started with how Damien tried to explain how to make babies as a Satyr.

If a Satyr like him ever tries to ask you.

Don't. Say. Yes.

Anyways, they sat down in front of me, and I smiled as Chris asked me "let us see what the prized artist is working on today."

He was about to take my book away, but I snatched it before he could try and take it "nope. You're not doing that at all."

He complained "well if Luke got to see them, I feel as a friend of his you are now a friend of mine. Now show us!"

I looked at him and my eyes looked at Luke as he turned away and I huffed and bit my bottom lip hesitantly in my thoughts, but I just shrugged it off and opened it off and showed them my work.

"Since I've been at camp, I was surprised with how it's going. And because it is in the woods which I love because of all the landscapes and natural life...it's a great reference." I pointed out with a smile as they flipped a page and saw my mom.

"Who's this?" Chris asked and smirked "she's kinda..."

I stopped him and said, "before you finish that sentence you should know, that's my mom."

He swallowed harshly as Luke laughed at him as he hit Chris's head in a playful manner, but he still winced and handed back to me my book.

"Well, I can say you do look like her." He winced out still trying to recover from the hit Luke gave him.

"Thanks. My mom is important to me; besides she was the only person that would be a model for me in any sort of project. No kids liked being my partner, so I ran solo in all my art classes." I pointed out and smiled thinking of myself here rather than there.

Instead of having to learn quadratic equations I was learning how to sword fight with people that actually liked talking to me!

Chris grabbed my book again as I ate my sandwich and suddenly, he stopped at a page and laughed as he saw it and I asked him "what's wrong?"

He looked up at me and showed Luke as Luke almost choked on his drink as I tried snatching my book from him, but he pulled it back quickly standing up.

"Well, I didn't realize you enjoyed drawing Luke so much." He turned my book and I saw small sketches of Luke all on two pages of my book and I freaked out and stood up trying to grab it, but he pulled it back walking backwards.

"Give it back Chris." I demanded and he laughed out "I didn't think you were one of those gi-"

I tried reaching for my book again, but he continued to pull away as I tried sneakily grabbing it, but he had quick reflexes.

"I don't even know how those got there! I didn't draw them!" I shouted.

It was true, I don't know when I had time to draw those, it kinda freaked me out but it was my art style when drawing people and small sketches of certain people to then draw a picture. So, while I could deny all I want, just going through my sketchbook for another few pages it was clearly my art style.

"Hayley has a crush on Luke!" He shouted and people began turning their heads to us.

"Chris give it back! I mean it." I groaned out as he looked at me with a mischievous grin.

"I swear Chris if you don't give it back-"

"What? What will you do?" He simply asked.

I let out a heavy breath as suddenly out of nowhere a student's water exploded onto him and he let go of my sketchbook to cover his eyes and I quickly caught it only sustaining a few drops of water as everyone stared at us and I turned to look at Luke and he saw me and was holding his finger pointing to me.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry" I apologized again as I looked at Chris as he looked at me "I'm sorry." I repeated and ran off.

***

I got as far as I could feeling all the embarrassment rush over me but as I walked trying to not bump into anyone, I did bump into someone.

Clarisse.

She saw me and I groaned out "look I'm sorry Clarisse, please forgive me I just need to get away."

She grabbed my arm and I shut my eyes waiting for her to punch me but all I heard from her was "what's wrong?"

I opened only one eye at first as she looked at me "as much as I do enjoy making you suffer; I don't think you're all...stupid."

We stared at one another as I opened both of my eyes and looked at her as I held my book tightly and said "you wouldn't understand. You are strong willed; you don't care about what anyone thinks of you."

She let go of me and sat down on one of the resting spots and smirked "you know, for being here for a few days and having Luke as your counselor. You're slow."

I rolled my eyes as she said, "come on, talk."

Even if I didn't want to talk to her, she wouldn't have either bias or jokes to crack. Maybe just an insult or two.

"I just completely humiliated myself in front of everyone at camp. I don't even know how it's possible! All over 2 pages is just stupid Luke everywhere! How is it possible!? I never even have drawn him. Not that I wouldn't- that's not my point! Chris saw and now Luke probably thinks I'm a huge stalker-creep!" I yelled and panted as she took my book and skimmed through and laughed.

"Holy...wow. You have a crush on Luke it seems." Her eyes glazed up at mine as I looked at her.

"No, no, no. I don't." I tried to say as she shut my book with one hand and walked over to me.

She handed back my book and shook her head "we are demi-gods, but we still have mortal feelings. You're just hiding from the fact that you like him. Just as many girls like us do. Hide our feelings from certain guys...so we don't feel weak or just because we don't want them to see us differently."

I looked at her and asked "you? Do you have feelings?"

Clarisse glared at me saying "look I may not be a person you like but I know when people are struggling. And you're a mess for Luke."

We stared at one another, and she said "if I'm going to be honest. The way he looks at you I'm surprised neither of you have croaked yet."

She began walking away and I grabbed her arm.

"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.

Turning back to me with a smile and admitting "god I'm younger than the both of you and even I can tell when you guys talk, it's as if actually butterflies are roaming around you...or maybe that's Cabin 4..."

"But even then, I'm pretty sure half the camp knows." She shook her head walking off as I sighed and heard a tree branch break, and I spun around seeing Damien.

"Okay I was eavesdropping. For a good reason, of course. Are you and Clarisse LaRue friends now?"

I rolled my eyes and shook my head watching him grin.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

SO MUCH HAPPENED!

HAYLEY SUBCONSCIOUSLY IS FALLING IN LOVE!

CLARISSE AND HAYLEY ARE NOW FRIENDLY!

WHAT DO YOU THINK!!