Page 48 of The Wild Zone

I lingered awkwardly, hoping to eavesdrop on their conversation, but Silas spoke so quietly that I finally gave up and headed to the archery range.

My spirits lifted slightly when I saw Harper in the mix. Maybe I could get him to help me charm Clarisse into letting me lead off the baton race.

As I approached, I noticed he was talking to a tall brick wall of a guy with short brown hair and burn scars on both arms. I’d seen him yesterday while I was at the forge. Shane, I think his name was.

“You need a taller bow,” Shane was telling Harper.

“Oh, do I?” Harper laughed a little too hard. When Shane didn’t join in, Harper added, “Get it? Like b-e-a-u? I need a taller…” He clamped his lips together. “Never mind. Thank you for your guidance.” He accepted the bow Shane offered.

I cringed on Harper’s behalf. I was used to being awkward, but there was something unsettling about seeing an Aphrodite kid fail so badly at flirting. I made my way toward him, but Shane intercepted me.

“Katie, right?” he said. “Let’s get you set up over there.”

He led me toward the far end of the archery range. I glanced over my shoulder at Harper, who was now gazing at the sky and muttering to himself.

“Have you ever used a bow before?” Shane asked.

“I held one yesterday, if that counts.”

Shane smirked. “Not really.” He handed me a spare bow, grabbed an arrow from the stand, and showed me how to nock it. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

I drew the bowstring back and released. The arrow. Onto the ground at my feet.

“Whoops!” I picked it up and tried again. This time, the bowstring twanged off my arm, and the arrow skidded into the dirt a few feet in front of me.

Shane should have thrown his hands in the air and called me hopeless—the usual routine for anyone who tried to help me—but instead, he said, “You’re trying too hard.”

I barked a laugh but quickly stifled it. “Sorry. Nobody’s ever accused me of that. Usually, it’s the opposite.”

He smiled. “Well, I’m saying it now. It looks like you’re putting all your strength behind that bow draw—like you’re hoping to send your arrow to the moon. For now, just get it to the target.”

“I’ll try,” I said with a sigh. I nocked another arrow and felt Shane’s eyes on me. “If you could not watch, that would be great.”

Shane shook his head. “Sorry, but I can’t help you improve otherwise.”

I clenched my jaw and drew back the bowstring.

“Rotate your bow arm or you’ll get another string slap,” he said, and I adjusted. “Good. Now keep your draw arm steady and just relax your fingers. Let physics do the rest.”

The bowstring twanged free of my grip and the arrow rocketed off toward another target that wasn’t mine. I winced, but Shane applauded.

“Good start!” he said.

“Really?” I smiled at him. From the other end of the firing line, I caught Harper smiling at Shane, too—although mine was appreciative while Harper’s looked more…adoring. It was cute to see him crushing, even if it came with a vibe of Aw. Look at how patient Shane is with Katie’s incompetence!

And indeed, Shane continued to be patient while I continued to disappoint. Yes, I could shoot an arrow, but it never landed anywhere near the target. After about the tenth try, I dropped the bow, grabbed the arrow like a giant dart, and hurled it at the target.

It hit the bull’s-eye dead center.

The archers on either side of me lowered their bows and gawked. Shane even stumbled back a step.

“Whoa,” he said. “We’ve got you using the wrong weapon.”

And that was how I ended up on the javelin range.

Clarisse was our instructor, which gave me what seemed like the perfect chance to talk to her, but after Shane had me demonstrate my throwing skills, she said, “I’m not needed here,” and left to help someone else.

“I’m pretty sure that’s the closest thing she’s ever given to a compliment,” Shane said, and he headed back to the archery range.