Rockland - Jason Grace

5. The people in Tessa's life are way too overprotective of her

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Chapter 5
The people in Tessa's life are way too overprotective of her

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The campfire was fun. It was always fun.

Tessa sat next to Jason and Annabeth at the front of the amphitheater that was carved into the side of a hill, facing a stone-lined fire pit. Fifty or sixty kids filled the rows, clustered into groups under various banners. Katie had sent her a suspicious look when she said she wasn't sitting with her sisters that evening as they walked away from the dining pavilion together. "What's going on with you and the new kid ?"

"What's going on with you and Travis ?" Tessa countered, with a raised eyebrow.

"Carry on," her sister squeaked out, flushing red. Their two other sisters laughed from where they were walking behind them.

Tessa had not gotten a chance to actually work her wingwoman magic (which was insanely good) at dinner because Katie spent the entire meal telling her off and angrily stabbing at her food. Miranda and Billie sat with them, watching the twins like a tennis match with amusement on their faces. The four sisters were close. They were also close with their two brothers (the boys weren't there though, staying with their mortal families for the holidays this year). There were six of them left so it was easy to form a close bond with each other. Demeter definitely got around.

Instead as they walked, Tessa threw her arm around her twin sister's shoulders and pulled her into a hug. "You know I love you, right ?"

"I love you too," Katie softened. "I worry about you."

"I know. I worry too."

They reached the amphitheater together and Katie pushed her towards where Jason was standing a little awkwardly, not sure where to go. "Go and save your lover boy," she joked.

The younger twin flicked her sister in the arm. "Not my lover boy."

Katie only winked, throwing her arms around Miranda and Billie who both made kissy faces at their sister. Tessa flipped them off before going over to Jason. "Hi," she smiled, her hands wrapping around his arm.

He smiled as soon as he saw her. Somehow, despite the rather intimate moment they had shared earlier, it wasn't awkward. Something just felt natural, like something tugging them towards each other. "Hey."

That was how she found herself sitting with him at the front. Annabeth joined them pretty soon, still looking exhausted but better than before. Her head rested on Tessa's shoulder as they watched the Apollo cabin and a few other kids. In front of the fire, those half a dozen campers stood with guitars and lyres, jumping around and leading a song about pieces of armor, something about how their grandma got dressed for war.

Tessa lowly sang along. It wasn't her favorite (that belonged to the song where they were all complaining about their parents) but this was definitely one of the funnier ones. Others were singing too and making gestures for the pieces of armor and joking around.

As the energy level got higher, the flames did too, turning from red to orange to gold.

Finally the song ended with a lot of rowdy applause. Chrion trotted up. He brandished a spear impaled with toasted marshmallows. "Very nice ! And a special welcome to our new arrivals. I am Chiron, camp activities director, and I'm happy you have all arrived here alive and with most of your limbs attached. In a moment, I promise we'll get to the s'mores, but first—"

"What about capture the flag ?" Sherman from Ares yelled. Grumbling broke out among his siblings who were in armor, sitting under a red banner with the emblem of a boar's head to represent their dad.