LostPhoebe: so much better now

GranolaGrrl: gotta go

GranolaGrrl: mom calling

PrincessCesea: me too

PrincessCesca: Tons of packing to do

LostPhoebe: night girls

LostPhoebe: so glad you're heading my way


When I sign off my computer i feel a million times better. It's amazing what a difference a little chat can make.

As I fall into bed, I'm not even thinking about tomorrow. Or about Griffin and Adara. Or the stupid test. Or Dad. Or accidental smoting. In my mind it's already weeks from now and my two best friends are here.

Now, if only actual time would fly that fast.


"Rise and shine, camper."

Through the fog of sleep I hear a disgustingly cheerful voice. Stella's disgustingly cheerful voice. I must be having a nightmare. In real life Stella is never cheerful. Condescending? Yes. Obnoxious? Absolutely. Just. Not. Cheerful.

"Come on. Phoebekins." the voice says. "You need to get up and see Dad and Valerie off. And you don't want to be late for camp."

I'm blinded as my comforter is jerked away and my eyes are exposed to the morning sunlight streaming in my window. Squinting, I force one eye open.

"What are you doing in my room?" I grumble.

"Waking you up, silly." She takes me by the wrist and pulls me into a sitting position. "They're leaving in ten minutes."


The instant she releases my wrist I fall back into my fluffy white bed.

But my eyes are open.

As she walks away I eye her warily. It's not like Stella to be so sickeningly enthusiastic. She's more the scowl-of-superiority type. But today, everything about her screams joyfulness. From her sunny yellow twinset to her bright white Keds.

Wait. Stella doesn't wear sneakers. Not even the casual preppy kind.

Something is definitely suspicious.

"Are you up. Phoebola?" Mom asks, poking her head in my door. "You know we're leaving in-"

"I'm up already." I say, flinging my comforter to the side.

"Is Phoebe awake?" Damian asks, walking up next to Mom. When he sees me climbing out of bed he adds. "Good, your mother and I are about to depart."

"I know." I rub the sleep out of my eyes as I stumble across the room. "Just give me two minutes in the bathroom."

I squeeze around Mom and Damian and then past Stella, who is waiting in the hall. When did my room become Union Station? Thankfully I sleep in a modest T-shirt and smiley-face boxers.

In the bathroom I quickly splash cold water on my face and run a hairbrush through my hair. I don't have the energy to pull it into a ponytail, so I just leave it hanging over my shoulders. I can always secure it later.

When I open the bathroom door, all three of them are standing there waiting for me.

"For the love of Nike," I say, exasperated. "Would you two bon voyage already so 1 can go back to waking up in peace?"

Mom gives me a ha-ha-very-funny look. What were they thinking leaving at eight in the morning, anyway? Thailand will still be there in the afternoon.

I shuffle into my room, closing the door before any of them can follow me. Thirty seconds later I've traded my boxers for sweats and have pulled on my All Stars so I can see them off.

In a bizarre little parade, we all traipse down to the dock. Zenos, the yacht captain, is carrying two of Mom's megasuitcases and Damian is carrying the other. I'm struggling with Mom's carry-on- which I suspect has at least a week's worth of clothes. Mom is walking hand in hand with Hesper, who is way more like family than staff. Stella is carrying-yep, you guessed it-nothing. How does she always manage to get out of these things? She's like the Houdini of grunt work. Makes Tom Sawyer look like an amateur slacker.

As Damian and Zenos load the suitcases, Mom faces me and Stella.

"Now you're sure you girls will be all right?" she asks, again.

I'm tempted to employ sarcasm, but the fear that she might actually take it seriously makes me say. "Of course, Mom."

"Really. Valerie." Stella adds. "I have everything under control."

I drop Mom's carry-on on Stella's Keds-clad foot.

"Because we can cancel the trip," Mom says. And I know from the supersad look in her eyes, she'd do it, too. She wouldn't want to- she's been dreaming of this trip for months-but she would.

I scoot the carry-on off of Stella's foot.

"Seriously, we'll be fine," I say, giving her my best I'll-behave-like-an-adult sincerity. "Stella and I can get along for a few days." I don't look at Stella because I don't think I can hold a straight face. "I'll be busy training and going to camp."

"If you're sure…" Mom's eyes get all watery.

"Besides, we're on an island protected by the gods," I say, throwing my arms out wide. "What could possibly go wrong?"

know, I know. Whenever someone says that in movies, something goes terribly wrong. But seriously, this is the island of the gods-they even have the souvenir T-shirts to prove it. There are supernatural safeguards.

"Don't work too hard." she insists, pulling me into a hug.

"I won't."

"Don't spend all your time worrying about the test."

"I won't."

"1 wish this was something I could help you with, she sniffs. "I feel so powerless and-"

"I know, Mom." I lean back and give her my best seriously-I'm-an-adult-and-I'm-totally-fine look. "Really, I have to figure it out on my own."

Hopefully with a little help from Goddess Boot Camp.

"The yacht is ready,Valerie," Damian says. "We must depart or we will miss the ferry in Serifos."

Mom's tears start to fall. "I'll call you every day, she says, squeezing me one last time.

"You will not, I insist. "This is your honeymoon. Enjoy it. Don't spend all your time worrying about me."

When she releases me,she quickly wipes away her tears. Stella steps forward and gives her a quick hug.

"I'll take care of your girl, Valerie." she promises.

Okay. I am seriously getting tired of Stella's patronizing comments. Like I'm some kind of little kid who needs to be watched over. She's months-not years-older. But I am not about to try for revenge with Mom and Damian standing right there. If I mess up- or maybe I should say whenI mess up-they'll cancel their trip in a second. And then I'd feel really, really guilty.

"Go, I say, shooing Mom toward the boat.

With one last little hug, she hurries to join Damian. Zenos unties the yacht from the dock and takes his place at the wheel. As they pull away, Stella and I stand there waving-perfectly fake smiles pasted on both our faces. Hesper steps to the end of the dock, pulls a white handkerchief from her dress, and starts waving it at the retreating yacht.

"Don't worry," I shout as they escape hearing distance. "If I have to kill Stella, I'll bury her body in the rose garden."

Not that we have a rose garden.

I brace myself for Stella to zap me into the water. When she doesn't, I sneak a peek from the corner of my eye. She's still smiling and waving.

There is definitely something wrong with her.

"Are you feeling all right?" I ask nervously.

"Wonderful, she says, never taking her eyes off the yacht.

"Why are you being so-"

"You'd better hurry, she interrupts, turning abruptly to give me a brilliant smile. "Wouldn't want to be late for the first day of camp."

She turns and walks away and I'm left staring after her, totally confused.

"The house will feel so empty." Hesper says sadly, still waving her white hankie.

"If you want, I offer, "I could conjure up a houseguest or two."

"No, she chides with a cluck. "You girls will keep me busy enough. Besides, she says, giving me a sly look, "with your luck the entire Greek navy would appear at our door."

"Hesper," I gasp.

"Run along, girl," She motions me up the path to the house. "Your camp will hold more surprises than you can imagine."

As I climb the path, I think Hesper must be exaggerating. I mean, it's just a summer camp. How surprising can it be?

Chapter 3

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