Zoren had always known she is pretty but not pretty. It was not just how fit or curvy her body gets but the person she came to be. Even demigods lose, simply because there are people who have more experienced or our more skilled in others. To mortals, they along with their peers are considered to just be naturally gifted save for their supernatural abilities. There was a time when he went to her track and field competition when it took place near his area and he stood out as McKayla's number one fan. He brought a poster with her name in a font that is strikingly eye catching with her face on it. He shouted at the top of his lungs when she finished first- when she finished second, third, whenever she finished. It did not matter to him if she won or not but she did her best to complete it. It was nice to see her in person again at the time and he got the pleasure of meeting her dad too. She may not know this but Zoren had kept all of her photos she sent and would sometimes look at them to see how she's grown. How they grew. 

Music began to play in the a background with a strum of an acoustic guitar while the lyrics sung only helped better fit the mood they are in. Maybe it was an Apollo kid as well but he did not mind if they helped out with the situation. If they wanted them to get into the mood, they have succeeded. It was not just nostalgia but this hidden love that he had for his best friend this whole time yet... he wanted to be selfish just for once. Wanted McKayla to himself. Seeing someone else have their hands on her did nothing but got him fuming...

"And you'll win on those competitions- because I let you." Zoren teased her once again but he always knew that she won't stop until she reaches the top and he does not want to be an obstacle. Instead, he'll help her get there in any way possible. The music made him feel more calm than he did before, eyes staring at her as they continued to slow dance. He wanted to admire her for a bit and confirm to him that this is the face that always made him happy. For who she is.

"I love you. Like not as a friend, but more than that. I know that we've been friends since like ever and that we hang out all the time during the summer. I am happy. Quite ecstatic that we got to talk online, Discord, letters, voice and video- but nothing compares to seeing you again up close. I wanted to see you with my own two eyes as my voice reaches your ears and not though a pair of earbuds or speakers. You were always there for me and I'd definitely be there for you. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"I love you."

The stories he has heard of older campers once they "graduated" from Camp Half-Blood bring uncertainty to his solid friendship with McKayla. Of course he would be worried about eventually not keeping in touch with her at all because of how busy he might be with college or e-sports or even jeet kune do. There are so much that he could be doing that... he winds up and could forget about the person that was there with him since they met. Zoren brushed all those thoughts away, denying the possibility. There is no way that he would do that and he became certain that she would do the same for him. When she asked to promise him, he thought it was adorable of her to put up her pinky. The gesture reminded him back in the year when they first met when they would ask each other favors over pinky promises. Those occurred less and less because they just know that they'll spare the time for each other. "Promise." He raised his pinky and held hers firmly as he gave her a bright, determined look.

"Actually, I'd love to see you in command. Can't rely on me on everything, right?" He flashed her a grin. "We are a team. We always have been, but there are times when we have to shine on our own." A sigh then followed and his words came with a tone of uncertainty. "I haven't thought about joining the legion yet. I have been focusing on myself that I haven't put much thought into my future. I remember just filling out college applications before going to jeet kune do. I forgot about it until I got my acceptance letters. I only got one rejection letter from a school that thought I was overqualified. Not sure if they were joking or wanted me to reach out to see if I am interested in attending there." Zoren began to giggle, a hand moving to close his mouth. His eyes were squinching, but still the humility trait retained.

"We can split, yeah. Don't want to eat too much before getting settled to assimilate ourselves again as campers, right?" Zoren proceeded to get them their goblets filled with their favorite drinks. Taking a sip, his favorite seemed to be a milk tea at the moment. A hint of brown sugar trickling down his throat, a groan parted his lips. "I will save on the BBQ, so I'll get us cheese, apples, grapes, and strawberries. What about you?"

Zoren had almost forgot that the Hecate children could be wandering around at this time of the night. Indeed, their abilities are at their strongest during the night time but none of Hecate's child is devious enough to put their nose in people's business and ruin it... at least for tonight. No strings attached. No tricks. Just the two of them dancing under the moonlight without interruptions. 

"You just... look pretty tonight." A soft voice parted his lips with a loving tone. He had always observed her from afar but seeing her up close like this made him feel nothing but euphoric. It's possible that McKayla can be his source of happiness, source of drive, and one of the many reasons he wounded up back at the camp every summer. Sure, they write letters to each other, video called, even send messages over Discord- but none of that compares to meeting her face to face. She is always one to look the other way when he looks at her but tonight, he wanted to change that. Change the way she looks at herself and the way she looks at him at the risk of their friendship. He's got the jungle juice to thank for relaxing his nerves and taking away what some of him could not have done. In no way Zoren is a drinker but he does to share the happy mood with other attendees. 

The gaze upon her lasted until he was looking down at his steps. His nervousness washed away the more they danced, he was happy- evident in the soft smile that stuck to his face. He thought nothing of their company together. They can always be found taking classes together, hanging out wherever and whenever possible. Many campers speculated that they have a sibling bond, others is one side-sided love. It's both which the former is the reason why he had held back these feelings for a long time. "I can't imagine the day where you, a daughter of Nike, saying that a waltz is hard." Zoren did a soft chuckle as he continued to look into her brown eyes.

After a moment, he finally spoke. "McKayla..."

Last night felt surreal- He managed to tell her how he felt and they certainly had a moment that extended to his cabin. Zoren woke up an early bird and moved quietly around his cabin as to not awake his demigod siblings. Getting changed in a chestnut brown tee and a black Champion powerblend retro joggers, he figured he could go for a jog before camp activities start as a way to maintain his fitness and let out all this bottled happiness inside of him. His blue sneakers stepped on camp soil as he began his route from his cabin. He made laps around the lodging area before going to the lake, amphitheater, and went bouldering on the climbing wall. Zoren made a stop at the mess hall to look at the sea and for a moment remembered how he and McKayla went to grab a snack here yesterday and all the times they went together. Some campers had already denoted that he could be a third wheel to Dustin and her but that does not seem to be the case. The thought made him giggle after he drank water and he resumed his jog back to the cabins.

Speak of the devil, the first class of the day is hand to hand combat... with Dustin himself. Zoren could still stand him by a miracle but seeing McKayla there brought a smile to his face. "Hey." He called her in an eager tone. "You seem oddly excited for hand to hand." The young man was adorning a pair of black shorts and a blue tee. Black and white sneakers hugged his feet while fingerless gloves kept his hands in style for combat. If she were to look closer, it would seem that Zoren had gained more muscle since last year and the year before that become more fit than lanky. 

Once the two are a bit ways from the Dionysus cabin, he glanced at his surroundings to make sure that there isn't a nearby camper. The lights from the Dionysus cabin could not reach them but the moon shone on their area as they stood in a small clearing. It was nothing but silence, save for the crickets chirping and his heart pounding against his chest. McKayla looked beautiful under the moonlight and this could not get any better. Zoren was setting an intense, yet passionate gaze. Time was ticking- it felt like both of them were waiting for his next move but he needed to recompose himself. This is not a dream. His right arm moved to wrap around her waist while the left hand intertwined with her fingers before slightly extending their arms and leaving little room. 

"The moves are not as rhythmic as you did before... but it's slow and easy to follow." His left foot made a soft step forward before his right foot, starting the "box" movement of the waltz. "Left, right, side to side..." If people get close enough to him, they have the honor of seeing him dance. Candidly, maybe even get to hear him sing. Zoren liked to express how in tune he is with a song he liked with simple, but upbeat movements and McKayla is one of the first to witness this wild stallion. This time, however, he wanted to take things slow and show her how he felt about her. "Simple enough, right?" He softly spoke to her as the heart pounding began to subside while his assertiveness seemed to surge in its place. @ McKayla Johnson

He gulped. He needed to do this. Dustin could show up and take away this sacred opportunity...

Zoren had always been happy to see her ever since they got along. They became each other's outlet and soon grew to be the best of friends. What he did not account for are these feelings he grew to have for her despite being an avid supporter of her crush to the Ares child. Even though he thinks that he can let her go, he does not think he would. Not now. Not in forever. If Dustin were in that Apollo camper's shoes earlier, he still would have done the same. Waiting until the end of summer only to not do it, the missed opportunity is going to haunt him. Nodding at her question, he spoke with half-confidence. "Yes, I do." He thought nothing of what he did and someone could bring it up tomorrow, but all he wanted now was to tell her how he felt.

"I am. I just prefer... a little more privacy. Plus, it's getting a little loud in here." Zoren gave her a soft smile as he softly grasped her wrist and lead them outside of the cabin. Eyes were on them leaving momentarily before they resumed back to the party, not paying mind to the couple who sought to leave early. Really, the party wasn't finished yet- for our Athena child.

EXIT.

GM rights given w/ express permission.

New Rome University.

It was an option for him to attend if he ever goes to Camp Jupiter and it still is. James had told him stories about Annabeth and how she attended both NRU and UC Berkeley. Zoren did not personally know her but he has heard stories about her from him. While it did seem like he is just another Athena child with a bright future, sometimes he felt that Annabeth is the pinnacle of a child of Athena and it is expected of him and siblings to at least match her. The more he thought about it, the more it became an opportunity to learn from both education systems... or a convenience. The only thing left to do was to get an invitation but a part of him wanted to stick around to see where e sports would lead him. Zoren loves gaming and making use of his god-given intellect has made him prominent in the niche community. "I will be but I will try to be there for you. In person. Better than just retelling the story, right?"

Though putting that to the test in the legion might be something he would be interested in but that is not something to think about at the moment. He always liked telling McKayla his pursuits as she would be his biggest supporter, especially if it involves competitions. She was the first to hear about Academic Decathlon, his martial arts competition, National Science Bowl, Cyberpatriot, and even his basketball games- almost every event that made his achievements list. And he would do the same for her but the one thing that he halfheartedly supports is her pursuit of love. It was not towards him but for another camper but he would not tell her that. "I think the legion would be happy to have me, but that is something I should think about. I didn't quite consider that possibility just yet now that you have brought it up."

Zoren began to feel more at home the more he walked with her, reminiscing about his accomplishments he's made simply because his demigod abilities and the drive factor which is often inspired from McKayla. Seeing the mess hall after a while, the first thing came to mind was eating and it just so happens to be the same for her. "Sure thing. I forgot too as I wanted to come here first before eating. I'm happy that you're coming with me because food just... tastes better when you're with someone." The young man gave her a soft grin as they walked to the mess hall together. Stepping inside the pavilion, he had always liked eating with the view of the sea. It was a sight to behold and he doesn't have to be the son of Poseidon to know that. "Since no one else is here, we can sit together like we always do."

How they became friends could remain a mystery to others when one is a scholar and the other is a jock. Zoren had gotten past that because he had always been fascinated of her drive to be number one in... pretty much anything she set her mind to. And with sports, it is no surprise that she was picked to be part of the next line up. He could say that she has made an impact in his life with her encouraging him to get out of his comfort zone more often than not so with that thought, he decided to join a club in high school that specializes in community service. Volunteering in humanitarian causes, he wound up working with people and saw life in different lenses. Besides, that's a plus for his college applications and highly looked upon as part of their selection process. To his disappointment, "fending off against Greek monsters" is not part of it when he considered it to be a necessity as a demigod albeit he had joked about it as such.

Her excitement for sports was contagious to the point where even he began participating in it but she'll always best him in every game no matter how much of his brain he uses. Who knew that war strategies don't carry over to basketball, soccer, or football plays? He didn't have the prior knowledge but instead, played when he can. Upon the mention of him coming with her, Zoren beamed at her. "Of course, I will go with you. You can find me on the sidelines and cheering for you. I cannot guarantee that I will be at every game but I will try to make it for the bigger games. Who would not want to see their friend win in front of a large audience?" A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he got another glance at one of the magazine covers, eyes beginning to dilate. "No, you look cute in them. I think you're gorgeous." Another chuckle followed before he got off her head as she did.

Smiling upon the idea, he cocked his head towards the door. "Of course. Let's go."

"So it is an annual international tournament organized by the game's developer. Since I am qualified to play in the team, I had to go to Berlin until the competition ends." He began at full throttle and it does not seem like he is going to stop any time soon. "Sixteen teams compete for the trophy cup. I competed in the NA division because we are... here in North America but it doesn't mean our team represents the country. So each team eventually got eliminated and I'm a good shot myself, but I can't beat them without relying on others. I took notes on our opponents before we started and devised several tactics to beat them, even strategies to adapt in case they change their plan. Some are more... riskier than others but they can deliver results. During the finals, my opponent and I were the last ones standing since the rest our team is dead. In the game, we were silently walking until we've found each other and this grew into a game of skill. I was fast enough to shoot him in the head and I won." Zoren's smile was radiant as he looked far ahead when walking alongside McKayla who was listening to him talk the entire time. There was no room for her to interject so the thought actually brought him to be embarrassed. "Sorry if I said too much. I just really like playing the game. Strategy games are my forte, you know that."

Before he knew it, he found himself socializing with more campers than he could count. With having a more sociable disposition meant for a charisma that draws people which made Zoren a prime example of that. Even better when several years ago, he would be shut in his cabin and only talking to a select few. Too many people, he thought as he was feeling exhilarated though he could never be as relaxed as James when dealing with a crowd. He did his best to entertain every single one but eventually burnt out and told that he's going somewhere else to recharge. To his shock, he noticed an Apollo camper dancing with McKayla- a sight that did nothing but vexed him terribly. When he could potentially have his hands at her hips, he gulped as a rising level of confidence and dare fired him up, sending him to place a hand onto the camper's shoulder's. Looking at him directly in the eyes, he spoke with a firm, but playful tone. "Woah there, buddy. That's my girl." A forced chuckle parted his lips, mostly to annoy the camper as he stepped back and moved on. What was he doing? Is this the effect of the jungle juice?

Zoren took the moment to recompose himself, gathering every bit of rationality he has left on his conscious. "If the invitation is open... I'd like to dance with you outside." He was not sure if that performance he did would affect her answer as the behavior falls outside of his usual "think before you act" approach. He was not sure if anyone else saw this as well but at the moment, he did not care. All he cared about was the Nike woman in front of him who was dancing to her heart's content. He had always knew she has a crush on Dustin, given her glances towards the door. To his luck, he has not shown up yet.

The Athena child had visited this cabin more times than he could count and he could never get used to how innovative the entire structure is by mortal architect standards. An exterior paint that can change colors and an interior that can be repurposed to any room they liked. He was jealous and has expressed interest in moving in there as a joke. If she was close enough, she could feel his heart pounding against his chest. His eyes were gazing upon the woman with affection as she took a seat in her bed but he remained stood as they began their first conversation of the summer. McKayla mentioning how she "struggles" to do in school made him smirk as he knew she could pass if she set her mind into it but it was never in her. Instead, it was sports. "I have been busy with the school life. I know that you know that I can ace my exams in my sleep so I have been pursuing e-sports. I told you that I wanted to play in a tournament, right?" And finally, he sat down on the edge of the bed moved towards the middle where he crossed his legs.

"Well, I did. And my team and I won. I used the prize money to help out my dad pay off the rest of his car loan while the portion went back to the club." Zoren wanted to wait and tell her himself. He knew that she had always been a supporter of him in this...  side hobby since day one and probably watched the live stream. Still, he wanted to share the news to her simply because she is his best friend. "That and I got accepted into a prestigious university. Nothing new for an Athena child." His tone was playful towards the end before he spotted those magazines with her name and photos. His brows raised, he was impressed that she got on the covers already. "Looks like you're famous yourself. I suppose you're part of the line up for the next Olympic Games?"

Zoren had graduated high school with flying colors and is expected to attend an ivy league school later this year on a full scholarship. It's not surprising for an Athena child but the news to his family and friends nevertheless brought nothing but joy. For the demigod, however, it also brought to him a gloomy feeling- that this summer will be his last summer at Camp Half-Blood. And most importantly, the last time he'll meet McKayla under more casual circumstances. A sigh escaped his lips as he rode a taxi and stopped nearby a strawberry farm. The driver questioned him as to why go all the way here for some farm. Before he got off, he replied with a smirk, "I think the strawberries here are godly." Upon closer inspection, the farm is Half-Blood Hill- the entrance to the camp he had visited for several years now.

Seeing all the campers with their attire made him feel at home again, a smile curling his lips as each foot moved forward towards the cabins. He was unlike his other siblings. Black hair and brown eyes. Reserved but his self-confidence grew and remained as a catalyst to improve himself. He approached the gray temple with a red roof and the owl carving on the door, all signs that this cabin is his mother's. The smell of old scrolls and books did not very much matter to him but rather, he became fond of them. The work benches are organized, a pleasant sight to have for once. Once he settled in, he decided to walk towards Nike's cabin to see if McKayla is already there.

And to his luck, she is. "Looks like you're the first to arrive." He smiled as he approached her for a brief hug. Arms embracing her figure, he closed his eyes as he felt her body warmth for the moment before parting. "How are you? I haven't seen you in a hot minute."

"James?" Zoren asked, confused as to what she was talking about. He flashed her a grin as he narrowed his eyes as if he was already drunk and he was attempting to focus on her. "No, I meant a drinking game. Are you drunk already? No wonder you have two cups already in hand." His tone was playful followed by a snicker, a hand covering his mouth momentarily out of glee. "I still play with James. I like the challenge even though I'd lose. Not today though, I'm not about to lose in a party and every camper in the entire area will know." The thought of the humiliation made him shiver, only to recompose himself at Aislynn's sound. Zoren raised his glass along with McKayla and gulped the jungle juice down until it was empty before placing the cup on the table nearby. Pointing at her, he continued as he walked away from her to explore other areas he might be interested in mingling in. "You better not drink too much."

Zoren began creating small talk with the other campers with another drink in his hand, showing how much he improved when he was more of a recluse last year. Face lighting up as he heard their stories about them outside of camp, he followed by telling his own ventures. High school graduate and going to college this fall. Competing in e-sports tournament and will again later this year. Still, the camp activities he has here are irreplaceable. There is no place that is a home for demigods like this as far as he knows. One of the campers brought up their reaction from seeing as if he was a different person as last year. Zoren was still growing at his own pace so his socialite persona might have come off as a surprise more than others. 

Parties were not very much his thing until McKayla had convinced him otherwise.

It was not because of her, but because he was told he needed to socialize with the campers more. While he still considered himself to be entirely an introvert, he still finds himself enjoying the plenty of conversations he had with the rest of the campers. This party is just the latest in the long line of events that could help him endure out of his shell despite his working socialite persona. Zoren was preoccupied with his own thoughts, reminiscing back to the days when he first got claimed by his mother- Athena when it got interrupted by chatter of a party in the Dionysus cabin. He was not surprised as the cabin members are known to start such social gatherings, given the nature of Dionysus himself. Following the other campers, he found James heading inside followed by Mateo & Helena and then McKayla.

Music filled his ears as his foot stepped inside the cabin and it seemed to boost his mood along with confidence, especially when the music falls under one of his favorite genre to listen to. Hearing James inviting people to play black jack brought him to snicker- he was one of the people that fell for his trip and lost to him, simply because of Tyche's children having favorable luck. Even so, he had always liked to test his intellect with his luck. But when he saw McKayla holding two cups of drinks in her hands, he brushed off the game and proceeded to approach her. "17 and drinking. I suppose you're competitive in whoever can tolerate alcohol the most." A smile curled his lips as he gazed at the young woman. "Here." A hand moved to grab a drink from her hand. "Want to play?"