Page 78 of The Wild Zone

“Don’t feel left out,” he said. “I put something in yours, too!”

“You…” I whirled around and patted the back pocket of my shorts. Sure enough, there was something coin-shaped inside. I pulled it out and inspected it.

The coin looked like something they’d made in the forge by melting down old aluminum foil. One side had been stamped with the words you’ve been stolled! The other said good for a free smile.

I couldn’t help smiling at it myself.

“So you’re not stealing from your customers,” I said.

Connor gasped and pressed a hand to his chest. “That would be unlawful, madam! Besides, at the prices we’re charging, we don’t need to steal.”

Benny crossed his arms. “Although it’s strange how the process of reverse-pickpocketing works almost the same as regular pickpocketing.”

Travis dropped his jaw. “Does it?!?”

“We only use our powers for good!” Connor added.

“And it is a little funny,” Travis said.

I fought back a smirk, but Benny regarded them with definite lack of amusement.

Travis sighed. “Look, we know we’re not exactly what people consider ‘authority figures,’ but someone had to step up for the Hermes cabin after Luke betrayed us.”

“Who’s Luke?” I asked.

“Their old counselor,” Benny said. “He turned out to be a spy for Kronos.”

I felt like a Stolled coin was stuck in my throat. “You had a counselor who was a spy?”

Travis nodded grimly. “He tried to kill Percy Jackson. Then he escaped camp and took a lot of other campers with him.”

“And now,” Connor said, “everybody looks at the Hermes cabin like we can’t be trusted! Can you imagine?”

“Inconceivable,” I agreed. “But I mean, that’s over now, right? All the Titan-friendly demigods probably left with Luke.”

“You never know.” Connor leaned close. “Many people think there are still spies among us right now.”

He and Travis glanced at Benny.

“Now if you’ll excuse us,” said Travis, “we have customers to fleece—er, assist.”

As they resumed their rounds, Benny slumped against the register and rubbed his eyes. “I gotta get out of this cabin.”

I waved a dismissive hand. “They don’t seriously think you’re a spy.”

“I can’t even tell anymore,” he said. “I mean, they’re nice enough in their own way, but I’m definitely not ‘Hermes enough’ for them. And I’m tired of being treated like a science experiment while they try to figure out my parentage.” He shook his head, looking about as miserable as I’d ever seen him. “I need to find out who my godly parent is soon, so I can fit in somewhere.”

A customer approached him with a question about a pair of sunglasses (guaranteed Medusa-proof!), and Benny turned his attention to them, but as I browsed halfheartedly through a carousel of postcards, I couldn’t stop thinking about what he had said.

He wanted to fit in.

This charming farm boy, who was probably president of the 4-H club back home, felt like he didn’t belong. It had never crossed my mind that he might feel that way. Even though he was unclaimed, he was always surrounded by other people, always part of any conversation.

I wanted to tell him he’d always fit in with me, but I couldn’t promise that.

I couldn’t even promise I’d make it through the fall.

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