A Frozen Heart - Leo Valdez

5-Aphrodite Drama

Woo this is the longest chapter I have done so far:)

Chapter 5
Chaselynn’s POV
 
“Welcome to cabin 10!” The dark hair girl squeals as she opens the door.

Oh. My. God.  Somebody kill me now. I thought the outside of the cabin was horrific, but the inside? Oh boy, this is going to take some time to get use to.

I throw on a fake smile and walk into the cabin. A few other girls and boys are already in their bunks, most of the girls are painting their nails.

All the girls are very pretty, they look like they were torn out of a modeling magazine. The boys were also very handsome. Their hairs are slicked back and they are dressed as if they are going to a fancy restaurant.

How am I going to fit in here? I’m so unlike everyone here…

“You’re going to want to come on my side,” The dark hair girl snaps and knocks me out of my daze.  She grabs my hand and yanks me a few feet away from where I was standing. I practically fall over but luckily I stabilize myself before I can make another fool out of me.

“Drew, she can go on any side she wants,” A girl with chocolate brown hair says. The first thing I notice about her is that she isn’t wearing any makeup like the other Aphrodite girls, and the second is that she is insanely pretty.

Drew’s eyebrows furrow together and she crosses her arms. “Well, I met her first, so she is staying on my side.”

“What are you guys ta-?” I stop myself, noticing the straight white line that is painted across the floor, dividing the cabin in half. “Oh.” I’m guessing these two girls have a rivalry.

The girl with chocolate brown hair stands up from her bunk and walks towards us. She stands right before the line goes over to Drew’s side. “I’m Piper,” She says. “And if I were you, I would try to stay out of Drew’s way. She is a pain in the butt.” She stares at Drew as she says the last sentence.

Piper! Hmm. Maybe finding the seven will be easier than I thought. I should probably go on her side, but Drew seems like the mean girl around here… Khione said I have to strike at the heart of the camp, what better way to start a break out in drama than being on the girl’s side who knows what she is doing?

“You don’t have to be on anyone’s side,” Piper tells me.

Instantly, I feel soothed. “I don’t want to be on anyone’s side,” I say monotone. Whoa. Where did that come from?

“Hey!” Drew yells. “No charmspeak!”

Piper looks confused, he gaze moves towards me. “I didn’t mean-“

She is cut off by Drew’s confident words. “ Chase, you are going to stay on my side.”

I nod slowly. I feel as if I have no control over my mind as of right now. All I want to do is follow exactly what Drew tells me to do.

Piper suddenly groans and throws her hands in the air. “Fine!” She says, “She can stay on your side. But just because her bunk is on your side, doesn’t mean I still can’t talk to her, okay!?”

Drew smirks then grabs my hand and squeals. The six other people that are on Drew’s side let out an unenthusiastic cheer. 

Piper shakes her head and gives me a sincere look. “Good luck. Sorry I couldn’t get you out of that.” She turns around and starts talking to a girl with braces.

Drew practically drags me to an empty bunk. “This is your bed. We can work on decorating your chest tonight that you can keep all your clothes in. Omg! We can use my bejewler to make it all sparkly!  Won’t that be fun!?”

“Umm yeah…” I say. My eyes trail over to Pipers side. Everyone over there looks much more happy. There is about eight others on that side, and they are all laughing and talking. While on this side, everyone seems bored. 

I look back at Drew who is still smiling. I want to ask her how this whole line separation started, but I decide it would be better to just shut up and not make her mad.

“Oh and by the way, you need an initiation.” She throws her arms in the air in excitement.

“Initiation?” I repeat totally confused.

“Yes. It’s really simple. All you have to do is date somebody, then break their heart.” She says really seriously.

Piper must have heard  this, because she instantly stops what she is doing and marches right over the line, ignoring Drew’s protest.   “Drew!” Piper yells once again, standing only a few feet away from her. I step back. Maybe I won’t even have to do any sneaky business. Just maybe, these girls will tear themselves apart all on their own.

Drew doesn’t like the fact Piper is on her side. Her face instantly turns red and she stands up and gets face to face with Piper. “I’ve had it with you. First the line and now you are making a new camper do this stupid initiation, after I already said we are not doing that anymore?”

“You are over the line,” Is all Drew says in response. She doesn’t yell, her voice just gets really dark and angry sounding.

“I don’t care if I am over the line! You are acting so childish!” Piper responds.

“I am not! I was the counselor of this cabin before you came along and ruined everything. Now you have my own sibling turned against me!” She gestures to everyone on Pipers side.

Piper shakes her head. “I didn’t turn anyone against you, Drew. You turned everyone against  yourself.

Drew’s face turns bright red. Her lips start to quiver and her body starts to shake. Her eyes are slightly closed and a squeak escapes her throat.

I know that look too well. She is about to lose it.

She gives one final look of sorrow to me and makes a break for the door, running out into the darkness of the night. The cabin is silent. Some of the Aphrodite children have their mouths gaping open, and others wear a smile plastered on their face. 

“And yet again,” A boy from Pipers side says as he makes his way over to her. He places a hand on her shoulder and continues. “Piper has showed us we can stand up to that bitch.”

Piper slightly smiles as the cabin claps for her. Her smile looks fake, as if she didn’t mean to hurt Drew’s feelings.

Once the clapping dies down, Piper gestures for me to follow her to her bunk. I sit beside her as she nervously begins to braid a section of her hair. “Sorry you had to witness that,” She finally says.

“Oh,” I whisper. “It’s fine, and you did a good job of standing up to her.”

“I guess,” She shrugs. “You can’t just let people bully you like that.”

I nod and move my gaze to the door. Drew still hasn’t come back yet. “Is she going to come back?” I ask.

“Probably. If she isn’t back by ten, she is going to be in a lot of trouble.”

I look at the clock on the wall. It reads 9:45. “Maybe I should go check on her,” I say, but it comes out more like a question. Piper gives me an ‘are you serious’ look but I just shrug. “She was very nice to me when I first met her.”

“Okay, go ahead. Maybe it will be good for her to know a new camper is willing to be her friend. She is probably going to tell you, never to talk to me again, but don’t listen to her. You seem really nice and I would love to have you as one of my friends.”

I smile as I realize I have just earned Pipers trust. “I’ll be right back,” I say as I make my way out the door.

The camp was a beautiful sight in the day time, but at night? It just looks straight up creepy.  “Drew?” I whisper. I don’t really know why I am whispering.  Maybe I am because I’m scared a ghost is just going to pop out and take my soul. “Drew?” I repeat, not daring to raise my voice any higher.

I make my way behind the cabin, and that’s when I notice a light sobbing sound. I can’t see anything except for about a foot in front of me. It’s a moonless night, and lack of stars are really not helping.  “Hello? Drew?”

“What are you do-?” The voice starts to ask, but is cut off by the collision of my head colliding with theirs. “Ow!” They scream. “Watch where you are going!”

I’m taken back by the sudden clonk of my head hitting another. I shake my head and strain my eyes to try to see in the dark. I make out a figure about a foot in front of me, rubbing their forehead. “Drew? Are you okay?” I whisper. “It’s me, Chaselynn.”

A few seconds pass before she speaks again. The voice is croaky and shaky as if she has been screaming a lot.“Are you alone?” She asks.

I nod. When she doesn’t respond I almost face palm from being so dumb. She can’t see you!  My brain yells. “Yes, I am.”

“Thanks for coming out here,” She sniffles then takes a deep breath. When she speaks again, her voice is more confident, as if nothing ever happened. “ So what’s up?” She asks casually.

“Drew… Don’t do that to me. I know you’re upset.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Come on, Chase. You got to get her to like you. To trust you. “ I don’t like Piper,” I admit. “I think she is bossy and rude. You should be in charge.”

I see Drew’s face brighten up through the darkness. “You really mean that?”

“Of course,” I lie.

Drew suddenly hugs me. “Thanks, sis.” She says. “We have to get her back from making a fool out of us…”

“How about we…” I trail off as I start to think of all the possible ways we can start some drama. Drama that can turn everyone against each other, along with hurting Piper and the rest of the seven. I want to tell Drew my entire mission, but I decide it would be best to just keep it in between Khione, Gaea, and myself. “I got it!” I say with enthusiasm as the idea pops into my head. “First we have to get all the Aphrodite girls to go along with it. Piper has to be out of the room, she can’t know about it.”

I explain the rest of the plan to Drew, who is smiling the whole time. When I’m done, she lets out a squeal and hugs me again. “You are totally my sister. A true daughter of Aphrodite.  Mom would love this.”

~

It was 7 o’clock am. Piper just left to go hang out with Jason, leaving the rest of the Aphrodite cabin alone with Drew and I. Boy this was about to get interesting.

After everyone was done getting ready, and about to leave for breakfast, Drew stood right in front of the door, blocking everyone from leaving. 

“Move!” A dark skinned boy yells. “We’re hungry!”

Drew smirks. “Oh, just let me speak first then I will let you guys go. I want to talk to you all about a special arrangement I thought of,” I told Drew to leave my name out of this, and I was glad she was doing just that. “Remember the initiation we use to have? Before Piper ruined everything? Well, we are bringing it back. Aphrodite would want us too. But no longer will it be just for new campers, now it is for everyone. Each one of you will decide on one person to fake date. You will also decide on another person to flirt with while you are already in a relationship.  And once you are sure the person you are fake dating is in love with you, break their heart and say you are in love with the other person. This will start today. Piper cannot know about this, okay?” Drew is putting so much power into her words, I want to do exactly what she said. Her siblings must be feeling the exact way I am, because every single one of them are nodding in agreement. “For Aphrodite!” Drew yells.

“For Aphrodite!” Her siblings yell back.

Drew steps out of the doorway, smiling. The children of Aphrodite walk out the door, many already talking about who they are going to flirt with and fake date. Drew walks up to me a gives me a high-five then we leave for breakfast.

“This is so neat!” I say in excitement as I yell different types of drinks at my goblet. It changes to exactly what I say. First Dr. Pepper, then Rootbeer, then Cola, and a then a mix of all three.

Drew is sitting on one side of me, she has remained quite ever since Piper has sat down on the other side of me. Practically everyone shut up as soon as Piper sat down, because almost everyone was talking about the speech Drew just gave. Drew is okay with me talking to Piper because I told her I had to get Piper to trust me.

Piper was really friendly, it’s a shame she is going to have to be destroyed in the future. She has been talking non-stop. It’s kind of annoying, but sweet that she wants to be friends with me so bad.

When breakfast is over, the whole Aphrodite cabin goes to the volleyball court. Well, the ones that want to. Drew and a few others went back to their cabin.

“Are you any good at volleyball?” Piper asks me.

“I’ve never played before,” I admit as I pick up the volleyball. I toss it in the air to serve, but the contact with my hand to the ball never happens. I miss it completely. The volleyball slams right into my face.

A lot of people start to laugh. Heat rises to my cheeks as I nervously chuckle.

“It’s okay!” Piper assures me in-between laughs. She tosses me another volleyball.

Okay, Chase. You got this. Just hit it as hard as you can. I put my game face on and throw the ball high in the air. This time, the ball does make contact with my hand.  Except I must have been really nervous because right when my hand touches the ball, I freeze it. Crap! I really hope nobody noticed that! Too late now, because the ball is flying away with full force.

“Watch out!” I yell at the boy who is starting to walk in the path of my deathly ice ball.

The boy turns around looking absolutely confused. Then he notices the volleyball coming with full force straight at his face. The boy lets out an “Eeep!” Sound and he blazes into a full out camp fire.

“Oh my gods!” I yell and point to the boy who is covered in flames. Nobody around seems to be doing anything about it. They are just pointing and laughing. What kind of camp is this!?

I’m about to go and use my power to take out the flames, when the fire finally goes out. In its place stands a perfectly good Latino kid. Unharmed. He is dusting himself off and that’s when he notices us. He is staring directly at me, his expression blank at first. I give him an awkward wave and he smiles a smile so big, it reminds me of the cat from Alice in Wonderland.

The boy picks up something flat and black from the ground and runs on over to us.

“Hey,” Piper says laughing. “Nice show out there. So I guess that’s exactly what you are suppose to do when a volleyball comes flying at you. Burst into flames.”

The boy is not paying attention. He is still staring at me which is really giving me the creeps. He then holds out his hand. In his palm lays a black, paper thin, a size of four quarters circle. “Here’s your volleyball back,” He says smiling.

I reluctantly take it, “Thanks…?”

“Oh right!” Piper says. She gestures to me, “This is Chaselynn. She likes to be called Chase though.And this my friend, is the world’s first talking oven!” She gestures to the boy.

“Hey!” He protests.

“Watch out,” She whispers in my ear loud enough for the boy to hear, “He can erupt in flames any second now! Be ready to take cover!”

My eyes widen and I search Pipers face for any sign of humor. I really do not want to end up like that roasted volleyball..

“Don’t listen to her,” The boy says, grabbing back my attention. He holds out his hand. “I’m Leo Valdez.”

“He watched you in your sleep,” Piper says quickly, a smile forming on her lips.

Leo’s face begins to burn red and I’m sure mine is doing the same. I take his hand, “Chase. Like Piper already said,” So this is the Leo my mother was telling me about. Shouldn’t be that hard to break his heart. He looks like the kind of guy who falls for every girl he sees.

“For an Aphrodite girl, you gotta pretty good hit. Would’ve knocked me out if it wouldn’t have been for my awesome mucho fire powers.” Leo says with a grin.

“Awesome fire powers?” I chuckle. “If you were any closer, you would’ve roasted me alive,” I hold up the burnt volleyball for proof. “Just like this poor volleyball.”

Leo opens his mouth to say something but somebody cuts him off. “Piper!” A girl yells.

She runs up to us, sobbing. “He went on a quest!” She repeats as she runs into Pipers arms, soaking her shirt.

I take a step back and eye Leo. He just shrugs.

“Who went on a quest?” Leo asks.

“Kolden! Why would they let him do that, Piper? Especially at a time like this! He volunteered! It is dangerous out there! If anything happens to him I-”

“Alex, calm down. What quest did he go on?” Piper asks.

“A satyr found a handful of demigods at this school in Pennsylvania… But  something happened to the satyr and I guess Kolden overheard the conversation between Chiron and Dr. D, so he volunteered to go. And they let him!”

Piper just rubs her back. “Well, Kolden did the right thing. The camp needs more demigods, especially if the war is coming… Everything is going to be okay. You should stop crying.” Her voice was smooth and calm.

The Alex girl finally stops crying. She turns around and stars at me, a puzzled look on her face like she just realized I was there.

She had curly, short dark brown hair and big brown eyes. After a moment of staring at me, her face hardens. “Who are you?” She asks harshly.

“Umm,” I stumble over my words. “I’m Chaselynn. Daughter of Aphrodite.”

Alex shakes her head. “ I already know that,” She snaps. “But who are you?” She repeats.

“I don’t understand your question…” I glance over at Leo and Piper who are looking back and forth between us, both looking confused as well.

“Hey Alex, maybe we should go Iris message Kolden? That would be cool, huh!?” Piper says nervously as she grabs Alex’s wrist and starts to tug her away. Alex doesn’t break eye contact with me the entire time.

When they go inside the nearest cabin, I turn to Leo. “What was that all about?” I ask.

He shrugs. “That is Alex White. I don’t know much about her other than she is a daughter of Athena and has this freaky mind reading power.”

My jaw drops. There is no possible way… Oh please no… Could she have found out all about my past? My mission? My real mother? She can’t get away with knowing this information… Something needs to happen… I need to stop her before she ruins my entire plan.

I look down at my palms and an idea pops into my head. I’ve never tried that before, but it could work, right?

“Chase?” Leo asks.

I jump. “Oh sorry, Leo.” I totally forgot he was there.

“Are you okay?”

I nod. “I’m perfectly fine,” I force a smile.

Leo smiles back. “Well, before I was rudely interrupted by a volleyball, I was on my way to the canoe lake. Do you wanna come?”

I bit my lip. “Well, I kind of have to take care of som-,” I trail off. Leo’s face has turned from a happy smile, to a loopy forced grin. Crap. Come on Chase, you gotta hang out with him more. You have to get him to fall in love with you. “Actually, I would love to go.”