Chapter Text
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Connor Stoll is not the type to make rash decisions. In fact, he always thinks things through—hah! Can you imagine?!
Connor Stoll is, in fact, the type to make rash decisions without thinking things through, and he loves that about himself. So you can imagine when the opportunity comes to make a bet with someone he very much dislikes, he jumps at it.
This whole thing started in the morning.
Connor had managed to wrangle all of the Hermes campers to the dining pavilion, though it wasn't as hard as it usually was since it was winter. Most of his siblings went home during the colder months, leaving the cabin noticeably emptier than usual.
"Connor, pay attention. I haven't finished my story." His half-sister, Alice, snaps her fingers in front of his face, her braces jingling on her wrist.
Connor blinks. "Huh?"
Alice rolls her eyes. "I was telling you what happened the other day with Kayla."
Connor takes a bite of his toast, gesturing for her to carry on with it. "Okay, continue."
"Alright." Alice leans back in her seat. "So then she said that she'd love to teach me archery sometime. Love! Connor, she's perfect." She sighs dreamily.
Julia giggles beside him. "Alice, you're silly."
Connor grins and ruffles Julia's hair. "You're right. She is silly."
Alice frowns at him before resting her head in her hands, obviously looking over at Cabin Seven's table. More specifically, she's staring at Kayla.
"Right, so..." Connor takes another bite of his toast. "Because she said she'd love to teach you archery, that means she likes you." He says, drawing her back to earth.
Alice immediately snaps her gaze toward him "Exactly."
Connor gives her a look that says, Are you sure about that?
She just waves him off. "What would you know about romance, Connor? The only thing you have chemistry with is your Spider-Man comics."
"And I take that as an honour." Connor points his toast at her. "I'll be reading those after breakfast, thank you very much."
"Don't you have a bunch of chores to do?"
"Nuh uh." That's a lie. Mr. D had really laid into him about the pranks he'd been pulling and had basically given every chore duty to him, and he is really dreading it.
Julia's plate suddenly clatters against the table. "I hate these grapes."
"I'll take them," Cecil says, but Connor grabs a handful before Cecil can.
"Man, why you gotta be like this?" Cecil grumbles.
"Wait." Connor puts a finger to his lips. "Watch this."
With what Connor considers to be incredible grace, he flicks a grape across the pavilion.
It flies through the air.
Connor watches it sail past a few heads before it lands with a satisfying plop inside a mug sitting on the Athena table.
"Oh my god," Alice gasps beside him. Cecil lets out a startled laugh.
Yeah, Connor didn't really mean to get it in the mug. But he's just going to play it cool and pretend that was the goal.
He raises his hands and leans back, looking very pleased with himself.
"Connor Stoll, I swear to the gods!"
Oh, shit. He knows that pasty voice.
"Great. Four-eyes over here..." Connor says awkwardly. Alice winces.
"That wasn't funny," Julia says thoughtfully, playing with her toast. That makes Alice start laughing.
Someone clears their throat behind Connor.
He sighs before spinning around.
Malcolm Pace is standing in front of him, holding the mug Connor just threw the grape into. And wow. He is not happy.
Connor looks at the mug, then at Malcolm. "Impressive, right?" he asks with a smirk, admiring his work.
Malcolm grits his teeth. "I'm so done with you. Why do you always do stuff like this?!"
"It's just tea, chill out—"
Before he can even finish his sentence, Malcolm tips the mug forward.
Tea pours directly onto Connor's head.
It runs through his hair, down his face, and soaks straight into his shirt.
He vaguely hears Julia burst out laughing.
Malcolm lowers the empty mug. "That's the third time you've ruined my tea, and I've had enough."
Connor sputters, wiping tea out of his eyes. He licks his lips before making a face. "That's bitter."
Malcolm turns around, but Connor is up in seconds. He grabs the back of Malcolm's shirt "Oh, no you don't."
Malcolm whips around, a scowl already forming on his face. "Let go!"
Connor glances around. The whole camp is probably watching them now. And it probably won't be long until Chiron comes over to break them up.
So Connor does the first thing that comes to mind. He ducks his head then shakes it back and forth like a dog.
Warm tea sprays everywhere, including all over Malcolm. He jumps back, wiping at his shirt. "I hate you so much."
Connor smiles. "No, you don't."
"I do." Malcolm rolls his eyes. "In fact, nothing will make me think otherwise."
He starts walking away, but Connor isn't finished. "Wanna bet?"
Malcolm pauses, he looks over his shoulder apprehensively. "On what grounds?"
Connor grins. "If I can get you to stop hating me by summer, you have to do all my camp chores."
Malcolm purses his lips, his eyes wandering as he thinks. "And what's in it for me?"
Connor pauses. "A high five?"
Malcolm barks out a laugh. "Nice try. Cabin Six gets all of Hermes' training times until summer."
Connor's grin drops. Alice's head snaps toward him. "Don't you dare!"
He ignores her and looks Malcolm over.
His siblings are definitely going to kill him.
But Connor trusts himself. He can be very charming when he wants to be, and getting someone to do something as easy as stop hating him will be a piece of cake.
"Deal."
"Connor!" Alice hisses.
Connor steps forward and holds out his hand.
Malcolm stares at it for a second before taking it. They shake.
When Connor pulls away, Malcolm immediately wipes off his hand. "Your hands are sticky."
Connor grins.
"Part of my charm."