Smile (Solangelo)

Part 4

Time goes by fast when you're reading a book and blocking out the rest of the world while trying not to make your mind go to dark places.

Fun, am I right?

The thought of a new camper worried me slightly. It worried me even more when Will said I wouldn't like them.

I trusted that idiot with all of my frozen, ice cold heart! The fact that he wouldn't tell me just this little thing- it wasn't a good sign.

So, here I am, sitting at the Apollo table with the Apollo kids and refusing to look at Will for not telling me the new camper's name.

"Nico, eat," Will says, noticing my untouched food. The plate had conjured up exactly what I felt like eating, but I hadn't touched it.

I started scarfing down my steak, still not looking at him. Or talking to him, for that matter.

And because every camper was suppose to have a balanced diet, there were also a few vegetables on my plate. I stayed far away from those.

"You're not eating," Kayla stated while casually waving a fork around.

"I am eating!" I protested and took the last bite of my steak. "See?" My mouth was full when I said it, so all she heard was grunts.

"Eat your veggies," Will commanded. I finally looked at him, my eyes full of pain.

"You wouldn't dare make me taste that trash, would you?" I challenged him.

"Oh, I'll let you taste a lot more than vegetables," he mumbled under his breath. I didn't know what he was talking about, so I kind of pushed that comment to the side.

I was about to open my mouth and make a snarky comment about his choice of clothes (a Camp Half-Blood T-shirt and rainbow jeans) but he turned to face me, filled my fork to the brim with broccoli and slowly started to inch it close to my mouth.

"Here comes the airplane!" Will smirked as I turned into a child again.

"Choo choo," Kayla added in under her breath.

Will shoved the fork into my mouth, a little surprised I could fit everything in my mouth at once. "Wrong noise, Kayla." He chuckled a bit.

"Let me be creative, Will!" Kayla yelled dramatically. "Gods, this is why dad started writing haikus!" She said "haikus" the same way a disgusted wife would say "alcohol".

Will made me eat the rest of my vegetables using the airplane method. Kayla tried her best to make airplane sounds, while failing miserably.

And before I knew it, the time was here. The new camper was standing out of light's reach, so I couldn't see them. Chiron was on the little stage area thingy.

He stomped his hoove for our attention. "Campers of Camp Half-Blood!" Chiron's voice boomed across the pavilion. "First thing first, there will be Capture The Flag this weekend, so get started on picking teams!"

There was a loud cheer from the campers, except for the Apollo kids, who groaned. They knew how many maimings and injuries there was going to be.

"And for our second announcement," Chiron continued once the roaring and excitement died down. "We must welcome a new camper!"

Everyone was so silent, a needle could drop in China and you'd still be able to hear it.

Chiron coughed, clearly not use to the silence, even though this happened every time there was a new camper. "Everybody welcome... Jase Lee!"

I gasped, not at all expecting him. People cheered, and Will clapped respectfully with a scowl on his face. I leaned onto Will's shoulder for support and comfort. First of all, I only had to deal with him at school.

And now... he takes my only true escape. He takes Camp. He's going to put everyone in his pocket, have the admin wrapped around his pinky, and then he's going to go around causing trouble for everyone. That's just how Jase is!

Nothing good can come out of this.

Will reached for my hand and gave it a little squeeze. "It's okay," he whispered. "At least you can use a sword against him now. He's not trained with that." He smiled down at me, giving my hand another small squeeze.

That was true. And he's probably an Ares kid or something, so it will be easy to avoid him. Campers aren't allowed in other cabins unless they have permission or it's an emergency. I'll still have my escape.

Only Will Solace could make me see that little silver lining in a time like this.