INTERLUDE I - Part 2:

- Where there's a time skip and Annabeth's journey as a full-fledged stalker continues-

-----

Annabeth Chase would like to think that she's a pretty reasonable person.

She's a daughter of Athena, for Zeus' sake. It should practically be a given that she's reasonable, especially when one would take into account her position as head in a cabin full of strategists and tacticians.

Despite Annabeth's young age, her siblings look up to her - trust her to lead and guide them. Even if her pride does get the better of her sometimes, she's self-aware enough to know that she's pretty damn good - one of the best in the camp, even.

(Nobody said Annabeth was humble on top of her long list of virtues. Nobody's perfect and well, feigning modesty isn't really a good look on her.)

(It just doesn't fit.)

Because you see, even if any Athena camper worth their salt can read a situation perfectly, only a few of her siblings know how to read people and even fewer innately understand how to use this knowledge to their own advantage.

And well- there's a reason Annabeth's favored more than her siblings and it isn't because she's the youngest out of all of them when she came into the camp.

(Analyzing situations and people are Annabeth's lifeblood - as instinctive to her as breathing was to every other person. Deciding on an action that would yield her the greatest results is child's play and a habit. It's a constant balancing act with a power like that. To be human enough - to see people not for what they were worth to her and how she can manipulate them like a master holding the strings, but as who they are, is a constant struggle she's still having trouble with.)

Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to apply when Amirah Collins was in the picture.

Despite the girl's insufferable taunts the other week, Annabeth can't bring herself to stop stalk- no damn it - observing the newest camper.

It isn't intentional. It isn't like the blonde actually likes the smug, knowing look on the girl's face whenever she catches Annabeth doing the deed or the teasing that follows after from the new camper's usual crowd (even Annabeth's siblings joining the bandwagon too, those traitors). Although she admits that she knows Amirah's schedule by chance and her feet do sometimes lead her to places the new camper often frequent in, her walks start with no particular goal in mind, for fuck's sake. It's purely coincidental that Annabeth sees the said camper all the fucking time and no one can blame her for watching once-

-once she realized how convoluted Amirah actually was.

It's subtle. One wouldn't notice it if they're not looking at the girl closely - not that Annabeth is, mind you, but a sharp eye like hers can't help noting how-

How Amirah Collins wears her personality like a mask - like it's just clothing she can actually put on then take off again, with no one being any wiser. She twists her personality depending on the person she's with and it goes far deeper than mere impression management.

(As much as Annabeth hates to admit it - even in the privacy of her mind, it could not be denied that she finds the show horribly, irrevocably fascinating. A puzzle she can look on for weeks, months or years and still wouldn't solve. Like a painting painted with millions of different contrasting meanings created into a bafflingly cohesive art that should make sense, but didn't.)

Moreover, Amirah-

She's changing the camp little by little - slowly but surely - until Annabeth wonders if it would eventually be unrecognizable once Amirah's done with it.

Amirah knows Annabeth's on to her the little shit, and in spite of the girl's patented condescending smile, Annabeth is helpless against her own curiosity.

It had always been one of her greatest flaws.

(-so she just watches, not unlike a person enraptured by a train wreck yet to happen, and muses if Amirah would be Camp Half-Blood's salvation or its damnation.)

-----

Annabeth is just checking in the Hephaestus cabin- to talk about their alliance for the coming capture the flag - when she stumbles upon Charlie, the Hephaestus cabin head, talking to Silena and Amirah.

Annabeth knows Silena's there to woo Charlie and capture his heart. She, like everyone who stays in the camp long enough, is knowledgeable about the distasteful rite of passage the Aphrodite cabin has for every camper in their stead - to make someone fall in love with them and break up afterward after making sure they gave all they had to give.

The harder they fall, the better.

Everyone knows better than to interfere since, for all they know, Aphrodite's the one who started it herself. It used to bother Annabeth when she first came to the camp, but not as much once she realized people generally know better even without the warning.

(Not that it stopped the trail of broken hearts the cabin wrought around the camp since the shallowness and vapid attitude of some of their campers aside, the charms and beauty of the children of Aphrodite are truly considerable. And well-)

(Annabeth can admit, just to herself, that Silena stopping her advances on Luke had something to do with her easy acceptance of the other's presence and continued pursuance to the kind Hephaestus camper. Charlie's her friend, but Luke's another story. Annabeth would rather throw Charlie to the sharks if it means Luke wouldn't get into the beautiful girl's clutches.)

Closing the door behind her, Annabeth gives Charlie and Silena a nod before turning to the speaking amber-eyed girl.

"Are houses and structures a part of your Dad's domain, Charlie?" Amirah asks curiously, almost innocently with none of the mocking that Annabeth usually associates with her existence. Annabeth lightly shivers at the "innocent" facade and marvels at how utterly genuine it looks. If Annabeth doesn't know better, she'll really think Amirah's the earnest, naive camper she's playing at.

Annabeth knows better, of course.

Still, Amirah's skill in the art is certainly nothing to sniff at.

"I know homes are the goddess of the hearth's domain," Amirah continues. "But, since your father's also the god of carpenters and craftsmen, shouldn't it also be one of the things you're good at?"

Charlie nods slowly, shifting comfortably in his chair. "I think it is. I've heard of some of my siblings that managed to live outside of a camp, doing that kind of work. We've never really practiced it here since we're mostly focused on weapons, and honing our skills in smithing."

"Why not?" Amirah tilts her head. "That's a waste of potential. I mean, there were plenty of ways the skill would be useful in the camp, right?"

"Well-" Charlie pauses. "It had never really crossed our minds, to be honest." He sighs. "You're right, though. The Hermes cabin's a mess. The number of unclaimed campers is increasing and I've heard some are sleeping on the floor now."

"Right." Silena agrees. "I visit there, sometimes. And-" She purses her lips tightly. "You're lucky you got claimed quickly Amirah."

"I know," Amirah replies. "I was sent there by Luke before the sword practice." She shakes her head. "Hasn't anyone tried doing something?"

"It's not like we didn't try, Collins." Annabeth starts, leaning on a nearby table. "And it wasn't like it was a problem, before since gods usually claim their children immediately so it wasn't as packed as it was now."

"What about the children of minor gods, then?" Amirah glances at her intently, looking unsurprised by Annabeth's presence. "Did they have a solution to that?"

There was silence for a moment before Silena chimes softly. "It's the gods that made the cabins, Amirah. It's only been made with their blessing beforehand. We're afraid that once we start new once, it'll offend them and incur their wrath."

"Well, have you ever tried asking them before?"

Annabeth sighs. "As I've said, it's not like we didn't try, but it's been harder to contact the gods." She looks to the side warily. "There's seem to be an issue brewing in Olympus."

"What about Mr. D?"

"What about him?"

"Well, he's a god, isn't he?"

Annabeth rolls her eyes. "He doesn't like us, Amirah. He's been punished to staying here remember, so aside from his children, we're not in the position to curry favors."

Charlie and Silena nod in agreement.

Amirah falls silent for a moment. "Well, I think he's nice enough to me."

Annabeth looks at her bemusedly.

"We play pinochle sometimes - he's teaching me the basics," Amirah says earnestly.

Silena immediately puts her hand in Amirah's forehead.

"I'm not sick, Silena." Amirah rolls her eyes and interrupts Silena before she could speak up. "It's true. And well-" She bits her lip. "If that doesn't work-"

"If what doesn't work?" Annabeth prompts, faintly impressed at how even the slightest of gestures are calculated and executed by the other perfectly.

"I can always talk to Aunt Hest."

All of them looks at Amirah in shock.

"By Aunt Hest," Annabeth asks hesitantly, "You mean Hestia."

Amirah stares at her blandly - looking more like the Amirah Annabeth's more familiar with. "Well, there's only one of her as far as I know. Who do you think I was referring to then?"

Annabeth looks at her in undisguised fascination while Silena just shakes her head after getting a hold of herself.

Amirah stretches up languidly. "Why don't we do it now? The faster it's done, the better."

-----

Dionysus agreed to it.

Surprisingly.

Amirah's quite earnest in presenting the proposal and Annabeth can only watch the girl's perfectly subservient attitude in front of the wine-god with unreadable eyes.

Although two cabins can only be put up since that's the maximum number of cabins Hestia and Dionysus could vouch for, it's still a huge boon to those who were unclaimed by the gods in the Hermes cabin.

Once the go signal was raised, the campers immediately got to work. Under the leadership of the cabin leaders, the tasks were divided among themselves equally and with the help of Hestia, the whole process was finished earlier than expected. After a month or two, two cabins - one for the unclaimed and one for the children of minor gods and goddesses - were finished and fully furnished for the unclaimed campers to use.

Looking at the fruit of the whole construction process, Annabeth just stops and along with Clarisse, shakes her head in disbelief.

"Is your sister magic?" Annabeth can't help but ask, her eyes greedily taking in the structure her blueprints she, along with her siblings, planned and designed. The two buildings are placed outside the U-shaped formation, but it's spacious and aesthetically pleasing to the eyes.

Annabeth would have thought that even with the manpower that they have, it would take more time since it's difficult to stimulate the other campers into doing their jobs properly, but somehow Amirah has done it.

Little by little, with Silena's help - Annabeth saw how Amirah managed to cajole most of the campers to her side, help out through the whole process from the garden outside to the painting of the structure in order to finish the project as soon as possible.

Clarisse looks taken aback for a moment before nodding slowly. "I think she probably is."

Silena whistles, impressed, as she walks closer putting her arm around Amirah's shoulders."Damn, my baby's a genius. I just checked out the interior and the changes you made are beautiful, Amirah."

Annabeth agrees. Amirah's style's pretty good. The two cabins looked beautiful - managing not to sacrifice comfort for style. Amirah's suggestions were in line with Japanese aesthetics but it didn't obstruct the previous plan and complemented well with the exterior.

Simplistic, elegant furniture. Free and regular lines. Imperfectly perfect walls. Tatami mats for flooring-

It's unorthodox since no one can really understand Amirah's attachment to the Japanese culture in the first place, but the campers in charge of the interior design - the Aphrodite campers - still took her suggestions into account, because of their cabin head's support.

It's apparent in the unprecedented satisfaction in the Aphrodite campers' eyes as the people gasped at the finished product that they didn't regret their choice.

"So I'm you're baby now?" Amirah replies playfully, taking advantage of the close proximity for all its worth and sneakily placing her arms on the older girl's waist.

Silena pinches Amirah's cheeks. "Of course you are, darling."

"Well," Amirah bats her lashes coyly. "A kiss wouldn't be amiss, sugar."

Silena looks at Amirah in mock-disdain. "I give you an inch and you're taking a mile, aren't you ashamed?"

"What shame?" Amirah laughs before taking the initiative and kissing Silena's cheek herself. "That's not in my dictionary, Silena." She shoots Charlie, who's listening to the banter beside Annabeth, a challenging look. "Better move fast, Charlie or I'll bite."

Silena and Charlie blush as Amirah sneaks a kiss from Silena again.

The people around them can only roll their eyes and chuckle - even those that were from other cabins that liked to keep to themselves looks on at Amirah's antics fondly.

Annabeth's eyes flash faintly as she observes the sheer amount of camaraderie and goodwill Amirah managed to build up with the majority of the campers. Something that even Annabeth haven't manage to achieve, despite the number of years she spent in the camp.

Really-

How terribly, terribly cunning.

-----

After that Annabeth started to hasten her efforts in building the bridge between them again.

Not that it's ever severed, to begin with since Amirah seems to like her well enough, but Annabeth still makes a concentrated effort to make up for her initial impression.

"Where did you get the pug?" Annabeth asks casually as she makes a beeline towards Amirah - placing her chess set beside her as she sits on the bench comfortably. She just finished her scheduled tasks today and as far as she knows, Amirah doesn't have anything to do either so Annabeth took it to her own hands to bond and get to know the other girl better.

From Annabeth's calculations, getting into Amirah's good graces wouldn't hurt despite their cabins' continued dispute. Being Amirah's friend would be anything but disadvantageous when she's shaping up to be one of the camp's strongest and most influential campers.

"My father gave it to me as a gift yesterday," Amirah replies, her face buried in a book with a peculiar cover. She absentmindedly pats the sleeping dog on her lap. "His name's Pakkun Jr."

"Jr.?" Annabeth asks bemusedly. "Who's the Sr. then?"

Amirah finally lifts her head and smiles beatifically. "He was my friend I left behind from before." Her eyes turn nostalgic and solemn. "He was so sassy, but I-" Her voice softens. "I miss him very much."

"I don't know if that's sweet or insulting to that friend," Annabeth says wryly.

Amirah's eyes just crinkled in amusement. "Yeah. He'll probably get jealous and think I was replacing him."

"Right."Annabeth coughs, before changing the topic. "What are you reading, then?" She glances at the words on the page Amirah was on before her eyes widen in astonishment. "Is that Chinese?"

"Nope."

"Well," Annabeth prompts when Amirah didn't continue. "What is it, then?"

"It's in Japanese," Amirah replies - her lips curving slightly in a somewhat condescending manner.

Annabeth's face twitches in annoyance - barely managing to wrestle her temper back. "Right. My bad."

Amirah shoots her an amused look, before turning back to her book - this time exaggeratedly hiding the contents from her.

"What is it about, then?" Annabeth says, her face twitching again at the obvious ploy, but biting it anyway because Amirah would most likely ignore her if Annabeth persists to ignore the action.

Amirah looks at her pityingly. "It's not for kids like you."

"You're younger than me," Annabeth replies dryly.

Amirah waves one of her hands languidly as if shooing Annabeth away. "You're still an innocent bun. I don't want to corrupt you."

"Is it that provocative?"

Amirah nods gravely.

"Well, there's no use hiding it from me since I can't read it anyway." Annabeth rolls her eyes. "Not to mention, I have dyslexia so even if I do know some characters, it still wouldn't make sense."

Amirah quirks her lips. "It has pictures."

Annabeth pauses and her face pales before flushing red. Is that-

"Yes," Amirah answers before Annabeth can ask. "It's porn."

Annabeth flushes. "That- that's-" She stammers. "That's illegal. Where did you even get that?"

"I got some from the Stoll brothers when they went out." Amirah winks. "You want some too?"

Before Annabeth can reply, the shameless one continues and as if by magic - presents books in various hardbound covers. "I have German, Chinese, Filipino, Korean...Latin ones too for some variety. And-" She pauses and looks at Annabeth slyly. "Greek. Those were from my private library, though so take care of them, A-chan."

Annabeth freezes. She opens her mouth, before closing them again. This went on for several times before Amirah grins at her brightly.

"I know you're overwhelmed by my generosity but I didn't expect you to be this excited," Amirah says magnanimously, obviously chuffed with herself. "I'll let you borrow two of my Greek ones because we're close."

Close?

Close, her ass.

Annabeth closes her eyes for a bit in an effort to control herself from hitting Amirah in the head, but when she opens her eyes again, to her horror, she sees Chris Rodriguez strolling in hurriedly in their direction.

As if on cue, Amirah's eyes light up in passion.

Annabeth can only look on in dread at the unholy light in the Ares camper's eyes.

"Hey, Chris!" Amirah calls out happily before Annabeth can try to stop her, placing Pakkun Jr. to the side.

Chris nods, slowing down his pace a bit but didn't stop walking. "Hey."

"Why are you in a hurry?"

"I need to get something from the cabin." He says warily.

Amirah suddenly walks up to him and pats Chris in the shoulder in a suspicious manner. "No, no, don't be like that. I've got something for you. Something so good it even left Annabeth," She emphasizes, acting so shady that it makes Annabeth wonder if it's not her first time dealing in criminal activities and coercing someone. "speechless."

Chris finally stops. "What is it?"

When she saw how the victim took her bait, Amirah smiles triumphantly. "Are you interested in po-?"

Annabeth quickly puts her hand in Amirah's mouth - smiling at the Hermes kid widely. "Ah. Amirah's just feeling a bit weird today so don't mind us, Chris." She bares her teeth ferociously. "If you're that busy, we won't stop you."

Chris stares at them funnily before shaking his head and leaving.

Annabeth hurriedly puts away her hand and immediately regrets her decision when Amirah pouts and looks at her like Annabeth killed her dog and danced on top of it.

"I'm just sharing my good blessings,