Work, work, and more work

Jack trudged up to the strawberry fields slowly, dreading having to do more work. The sun shone on his back, making him feel as if he were on fire. A little ways off he could see big puffy clouds, and he wished for rain to come and cool him off. Jack looked at the ground where he fell two days earlier. There was trampled earth and tangles of vines and leaves. Red strawberry juice had stained everything. The other campers gave them nasty looks. Right now, Jack and Helena might have been the most hated people in the camp, minus some of the Ares children.

He sat on the ground, tending to his hands. Jack knew he couldn't do anything with his hands in this state, but he felt like he should be helping Helena, since it was all his fault to begin with. So with a pit of guilt stuck in his stomach, he began to whistle a song while his partner in crime worked on re-planting what they had wrecked.

Hi ho, Hi ho
It's home from work we go
(whistles)
Hi ho, Hi ho, Hi ho

Hi ho, Hi ho
It's home from work we go
(whistles)
Hi ho, Hi ho
(more whistles)

Jack sang this, closing his eyes and wished for the best day ever.

Kneeling in the soil beside Jack, Helena looked at the strawberry plants she had to transplant and considered them carefully. Her mother had planted things in their garden on the terrace before but Helena had never done anything of it herself. Biting down on her lip, she reached into the ground in front of her and cleared away the squashed plants and did her best to make the spot look presentable before she started to put the new plants down on the small cleared patch.

There was much more do than that, but this was as good a start as any. Wrinkling her nose as the dirt got between her fingers and under her nails, Helena wasn't sure how the Demeter children handled all the mess.

But she laughed at how silly she was being. It was just a little bit of dirt. Looking to Jack, Helena smiled at his singing and whistling. She recognized the song but liked listening to his voice so much that she just whistled along and watched him.

"This is not so bad, you see? We are having fun." Helena added.

Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of a girl, she looked younger than her and Jack but didn't have the features of one of the Demeter campers. It could have been Helena's heightened sense at reading characters but that girl seemed to be mad at Helena and Jack...

(Before we begin, Alice is usually really nice. Given the circumstances I thought she'd be a mean camper.)

Alice Quinn Bates

Alice had peered at the two Apollo campers that were tending to the strawberries. The boy seemed to be slacking off and decided to be lazy. She hated lazy people. Alice then looked at the girl. She was on her hands and knees, doing her well deserved punishment. Alice then walked over to the campers.

"Well well well... If it isn't the campers who attacked my brother. That wasn't very nice to do to a camper of Hermes, now was it?" Alice snickered at the girl and the boy. The boy had stopped whistling and singing and peered at her through narrowed green eyes. "Since my brother never really got revenge, I'd thought I'd do it for him. You're lucky." Alice said, turning her attention towards the boy. "I don't believe in hurting crippled or injured people. You," She then turned her attention to the girl planting the strawberries. "Not so much."

Making the best of things was built into Helena, she knew how to do this since her mother and her hadn't been all that well-off before the chocolatire took off and even with that, they just lived comfortably. So Helena didn't mind doing the extra bit of work. After all they had ruined the strawberries, accident or not.

But just as she was about to open her mouth and say something else to Jack, a girl cut in. The same one that Helena had seen approaching them and the very same girl who she had sensed so much hatred off of. Looking up at her, Helena's expression went sour.

"We did nothing to your brother! He was the one that got in our way." She huffed, standing up and wiping the dirt from her hands onto her jeans. Looking at the daughter of Hermes, Helena was frustrated, more than she had ever been in her life. She was typically a passive girl but there was a new found rage in her that Helena had never identified with.

And then that horrible daughter of Hermes was rude towards Jack and seemed to want to pick a fight with Helena. Her face blazed red hot and Helena glared at Alice, taking a step into the girl's personal space. A bold move that Helena wouldn't have ever even thought of doing.

"Shove off!" She practically growled. "You and your stupid siblings get off making horrible pranks on innocent people! We did nothing, now go away! You should be the one taking the punishment for Jack and I!"

Alice Quinn Bates

"Thats what children of Hermes do, daughter of Apollo. We play pranks." Said Alice equally as angry. "I can't help it if you hate us for it. If you can't stand us being who we are, I suggest you get out of camp along with your little... Boyfriend there." Alice said, stroking Jack's hair. Jack moved back quickly out of reach, wincing in pain as he hurt his hands further. "Besides, don't act so innocent. You're the ones who threw pinecones at him!"

Alice was going to take revenge on her, but how? Physical fighting would land her in trouble. She felt something heavy in the pocket of her cargo pants. As she lifted it out, she realized what it was. Greek fire.

"Tell you what. Since I believe in fair play, I'll make you a deal. I'll set this greek fire bomb off, and in that time you can beat me up. When the bomb goes off, I'll run away and get my revenge." Said Alice. She set the bomb off. "Oh and no, I don't know if it kills you."

(Set the bomb off in your RP)

Helena's first thought was flee, it was just hint of a scream in the back of her mind that came from the girl she had once been. And part of her wanted to heed that, to pulled Jack up and run as fast as she could to protect the both of them.

But the way that Alice spoke and the way she had treated Jack made Helena's hands clench into fists until her arms were shaking. Helena was abosloutly engraged and the very moment that Alice threw down the greek fire, Helena did something that she had never done in her life and would never have done. And likely regret...

The threw a punch at Alice, a good hard punch that she wasn't even sure was inside of her until it connected with Alice's shoulder. A breath caught in Helena's chest as she stood there in shock at what had happened. But the anger inside of her couldn't quell now and it was like Helena was taking the example of Jack attacking the other Hermes camper.

For that moment the greek fire wasn't there threatening Helena, it was just her and Ace and the concept of making those Hermes campers realize that they couldn't mess with her and Jack. Grabbing Alice's shirt collar and pulling the other girl close to her face, Helena glared down at her.

"Do not mess with the children of Apollo..."

At that moment, the greek fire which was between Helena and Alice blew causing a burst of flames that Helena hadn't expected. Immediately she felt pain that the girl could never have imagined, letting go of Alice, Helena let out a cry of pain that would have went on much longer if she hadn't bit down on her lip so hard that it bled.

"You...look what you've done!!" She practically sobbed, stumbling back from the fire.

Jack Cyrus Byrne

Jack just sat on the muddy ground, to shocked to move. Was Helena actually fighting? Like actually physically fighting? He just sat there, with his mouth open, dumbfounded. Then the greek fire went off, and he snapped into action. He scrambled up and grabbed the golden bow and arrow and shot one. It hit Alice square in the ankle and she let out a cry a pain to match Helena's.

"DON'T EVER COME NEAR US AGAIN! OR I WILL FIGHT YOU NEXT TIME, NO MATTER HOW INJURED I AM!!" He yelled at the girl, his chest heaving up and down.

Then he turned his attention to his best friend at camp: Helena.

"Helena? Helena, are you ok?" Jack said, rushing over to her. The Greek fire still burned sightly, the flames licking all of their hard work. "Gods, I'm so sorry, I should have helped you. I should have fought, or at least ran away with the bomb. I'm so so sorry, Helena. I should have done more."

Helena was stunned and mortified. She had just hit another human being. Punched someone in rage. The emotions that were flooding Helena had super high speed was like nothing she had ever felt before. This passive, gentle, girl had experienced a whole new world and it was staggering.

And then there was the pain. Greek fire was nothing to be taken lightly and as Helena staggered back another few steps, the girl fell down onto her bottom with tears finally streaming down her face. She wanted to curl up into a little ball and sob but her body couldn't want to be touched with how the greek fire had burnt it. Even the tips of her hair were singed.

Looking up at Jack, Helena's eyes were wrought with pain and anxiety. She could barely stand one more second in her burning, stinging skin. Biting down on her bleeding lip, she tried not to cry too hard and catch too much attention.

"The pain..." She murmured. "Make it go away..." Her voice was hopelessly wracked with pain as she searched Jack's face for help. "...All I feel...is pain..."

Jack wanted to put his arms around Helena, to comfort her and tell her that it was going to be ok. But he knew he couldn't, not with her in this state, in this pain.

"I-I can't. I mean, I don't know how." He said, pacing. He wiped away angry tears. It was all his fault, and Jack knew it. But then he stopped and an idea. An amazing, wonderful idea that might make the pain go away.

Ambrosia and Nectar. That's what she needed.

Please Apollo, just a little bit, for her? Jack pleaded with his father up in the sky. If he didn't get it, he'd have to leave Helena here, and he was certainly not going to do that, not in a million years.

"Hold on, Helena. Our father will help us. Or not. Then I'll help you, I always help you, no matter."

Helena tried to quell her tears and swallowed back some of the sobs that were threatening to escape. She did it for Jack, she hated to see him like this and yet her mind was in so much distress that it was impossible for her to think straight for more than a second; which was a new record for demigods.

Her bottom lip still whimpering, Helena couldn't keep herself sitting upright anymore and simply dropped, lying in the dirt and what was left of the burnt up strawberries. Her eyes shifted to Jack but she didn't know what to do anymore.

There didn't have anything that could help and yet she wasn't in any condition to help him thing. Her eyes were understanding though and she watched him, the side of her face against the dirt.

"...I...I know Jack." She half-whispered. Because if it wasn't whispered it would have come out as another scream. Her whole body was numb and nothing but pain as she still reached a quivering hand up for Jack to help her stand.

"We can...go to the...Infirmary..." Butt it was clear in this state that no matter what Helena's mind wanted her to do her body just wouldn't be able to handle it.

Jack reached for Helena's hand gently and pulled her up as carefully as possible, for fear of hurting her further.

"We at least have to try, Helena." Said Jack, lightly wrapping his arm around her burnt figure. "If Nectar and Ambrosia don't work, the lake will. I know from experience that water helps burns. I uh, won't go into the gory details." Jack tried his luck at a very weak joke, because he knew laughter was the best cure.

He hated Alice. He hated the whole cabin of Hermes. Why in Zeus's name would they want to harm Helena? She was like a starfish on the beach that he went to as a child. They didn't harm anybody, they were just there, living their lives as peacefully as possible. Just the thought of Alice set his teeth on edge with fury. But the memory of hitting her with an arrow made Jack smile evilly.

Jack would get his revenge someday, for what Alice did to Helena. She would pay, he would make sure of that.

He remembered when his friend, Tony, smashed a rotten egg over his head at Disneyland after Jack told Sleeping beauty that Tony had a crush on her since a young age. He would do that to Alice, if it was the last thing he would do. Though he wouldn't smash a mere egg over her head, Jack'd do something much, much more worse to her.

"We'll do whatever you want Helena. But I think Ambrosia and Nectar would be the best if we want to keep this thing quiet."

Anyone normal would have howled the moment a hand that badly burt was even barly touched. But it grew apparent that Jack had inhereted at least a bit of their father's healing ability. She was able to let him tocuh her without it increasing any of the pain. Of couse she was still in agony but being near Jack smiply made it better.

"I trust you, Jack." She affirmed softly, looking at him with equal parts thankfulness and shame. Her heart was sinking after what had happened between her and Alice. Helena wasn't sure she could ever think of herself the same way again.

Looking down at Jack's fingers grapsing her own, Helena cringed. "I...I am so sorry..."

It was then, without her realizing it that a liquid started to drip out of the pendant on the necklace Jack had given her. It was like the pendant was crying and the miracle was that the liqud was nectar. They woukd still have to take Helena to the lake, but this would help, this woukd ensure that the two of them wouldn't have to go to the Infirmary where everyone would make a big deal out of this.

Helena still didn't realize about the necklace, but looking to Jack she laughed bitterly. "Oh, Jack. You always make me smile...no matter what."

Jack smiled at Helena. "I know... I make a lot of people smile, I guess it's natural gift."

He looked at the necklace. It was leaking some kind of liquid. Nectar. Jack thought. He looked at the other emeralds on the silver chain. Inside of them jade flames were licking the sides of the sphere it was trapped in. Greek Fire. He said inside of his head. Another weapon they could use if need be.

This necklace was more than just a gift. It saved her life. It stored deadly things that could be used later. Jack was suddenly very happy that he thought of giving this to her. If he hadn't, who knows what would have happened?

"I'm glad you're better. I really don't want publicity right now, which is weird, because usually thats all I want. But lately being at camp has made me realized that it's not all about me." Jack said. "Jack Sparrow should really come here sometime. He could learn a thing or two from us."

He would have to remind himself to repay Apollo a thousand times over for what he did for not only Helena, but for Jack as well. Because without her, Jack thought. I am nothing. Nothing at all.

Helena hadn't realized what happened yet, but as Jack was paying attnetion to her necklace, the girl reached up and touched the pendant delicately with her fingers. Pulling them away, they were wet and it was like she knew exactly what it was right away. "Nectar..." Was her breathless response. Quickly the licked the nectar off of her fingers and felt instantly that there was releif coming into her body.

Finally able to smile at Jack without being in agonizing pain, she chuckled at his reply. He was something else; amazing under pressure. When she would usually have ran away from fear, Helena saw that Jack stood up to problems. "Jack would learn a lot from you, Jack." Helena laughed at how silly it sounded. "And you know what? I think that Bille Joe could write a song just about us." She smirked a little bit, like Jack would. It was strange how much was influencing her. More than anyone else ever had...

Then it struck her. "I...hit someone." Looking back Jack, Helena was distraught. "Why did I do that? My Mama will be so ashamed if she finds out..."

Jack turned to Helena and put his bandaged hands on her shoulders. "You hit her because you were mad. Thats not a bad thing. Besides, if your mother finds out. I won't tell her, you won't tell her, and she'll never find out. Why would she be ashamed? You were standing up for not only me, but for yourself. I know if I was your mother, I'd be proud of you."

Jack brushed off his cargo pants, which had dirt and strawberry juice on them. He stamped out the rest of the green fire. He knew with a gut instinct that they would be in trouble.

"Hey you wanna go and run away to Orlando? I mean, we're most likely going to be drowning in trouble if Alice tells, which she will. We won't take those stupid winged horses." He said, looking at his sling with a face of distaste.

Jack smiled at Helena. It was a crazy idea. A crazy stupid idea, but it just might work in their situation. If they ran away and never returned... A fresh start for the both of them, or maybe just Jack, because it seemed where ever he went, destruction followed... Or that could just be part of being a demigod.

"Maybe we could even go to France!"

(Ok so I have a new plot bunny! How about Jacks grandma gets murdered by a monster when they are in Orlando?)

Helena knew that no matter what her mother wouldn't be proud of her for resorting to violence. They were such a peaceful little family that it was almost like Helena was looking back on the memory of some other girl as she recalled the feeling of punching Alice. But Jack looked so earnest and proud of her that she couldn't help but give a weak smile back to him.

How could they think so differently and yet both be right? It was baffling and yet so incredible that it drew Helena to understand more and more about Jack.

And then he said something that completely blew her away. "Run away?" She asked in a stupor. It didn't seem like an option to her and yet as he reasoned it out, the idea started to make more and more sense. "We will be considered delinquents either way..." She added, further rationalizing the idea.

Then a smile hit Helena, a smile of realization that they were their own people and that they didn't have to be held at camp if they didn't want to be. It felt like freedom.

"Yes, yes, let us go. We will head to Orlando and who knows from there!"

(OOC: That's a great idea, it will add lots of drama. How are they getting there? Bus? They could bus it from New York. We could post a thread of the trip on the America Off Camp section of the board.)

https://camphalfblood.forummotion.com/t13288-second-star-to-the-right-and-straight-on-til-morning-aka-escape#261799

The link! Yeah... I was kinda on a Peter Pan high when I did the title :/