Goddess Boot Camp

in a flash.

I hug her a little tighter.

'Come on,' Damian says, clapping a hand to my shoulder. 'Let's go celebrate. I think you can skip camp for today.'

Emotions are boiling through me. I can't believe I made it through the whole course blindfolded. I can't believe I autoportedthrough the wall. But most of all, I can't believe I heard Dad's voice in my head.

* * *

After everyone has gone to bed, I sit down at my desk and power up my laptop. While I'm waiting, I dig into my pocket and pull out the merit badges Stella gave me after dinner. I pin them onto the bulletin board above my desk, next to the ones I've already earned. A dozen little badges of honor. I'm still getting used to the idea that my powers might actually be under control.

The beeping and whirring stops and I click open my IM. I don't really expect my girls to be online- it's crazy early in LA. and I have no idea if Cesca even has Internet access in Paris-but amazingly enough, the smiley faces next to both their user names are bright yellow.

Cesca starts chatting before I can even say hello.

PrincessCesca: about time!

LostPhoebe: Hi!!!

PrincessCesca: I only have a few

PrincessCesca: have to meet Francois in twenty

LostPhoebe: Francois?

GranolaGrrl: new French bf

LostPhoebe: you've only been there like a week!

PrincessCesca: not my bf

PrincessCesca: but he is deliriously yummy

I can't help laughing. Leave it to Cesca to find a hotFrench boyfriend in record time. She never seems to have trouble attracting aguy-she just never seems to want to hold onto them for very long. Maybe this one will be different.

GranolaGrrl:speaking of bfs, what happened with yours?

LostPhoebe: we're totally back together

LostPhoebe: I can't believe I thought he was cheating on me

PrincessCesca: wait, what? you and G broke up?

LostPhoebe: only for a weekend

GranolaGrrl: I don't believe in saying I told you so

GranolaGrrl: but I told you so!

LostPhoebe: I know

PrincessCesca: a girl makes one little trip to France and all hell breaks loose

I can just picture Cesca, crossing her arms over her chest and pursing her perfectly glossed lips in annoyance. It's been too long since I've seen her and Nola.

LostPhoebe: any updates on visiting Serfopoula?

PrineessCesca: my schedis pretty busy

PrineessCesca: but I can always sneak away for a weekend

GranolaGrrl: the grant committee met

For several long, torturous seconds I stare at the blinking cursor. Waiting. Hoping. Waiting. It's not like Nola to make us sweat like this.

LostPhoebe: and…???

PrincessCesea: dish already, envirofreak

PrincessCesca: I got a hot date

GranolaGrrl: I

GranolaGrrl: won't

GranolaGrrl: be

GranolaGrrl: there

My heart dips into my stomach. I know it was a long shot, but I was so counting on her coming, so looking forward to her visit.

PrincessCesca: damn

GranolaGrrl: until August!

LostPhoebe: omigods, yay!!!

PrincessCesca: well played, bi'atch

GranolaGrrl: you two can't have all the fun

PrincessCesca: gotta run

PrincessCesca: e-me the dates and I'll be there

PrincessCesca: luck in your race tomorrow P

LostPheobe: thx Cesca

LostPhoebe: have fun with Francois

PrincessCesca: always XOXO

GranolaGrrl: night

Cesca's smiley face goes blank. I'm always sad to say good-bye, but this time I'm more excited about them coming to the island at the end of the summer.

LostPhoebe: you know the Pythian Games are in August

LostPhoebe: If I make the team you guys can come

GranolaGrrl: of course you'll make the team

GranolaGrrl: 'victory' is assured ‹wink›

I smile at Nola's Nike joke. Even though Damian let me tell my girls about the whole descendant- of-the-gods thing, we're still not supposed to chat about it online. He's convinced someone is going to intercept the transmission and spill the hematheossecret to the world.

He's way paranoid, but I do notwant to be on his bad side.

GranolaGrrl: I'm glad things worked out with Griffin

GranolaGrrl: he's your perfect match

LostPhoebe: I think so too

GranolaGrrl: you better get to bed

LostPhoebe: yeah, gotta get up early

LostPhoebe: love you

GronolaGrrl: love you!