Hermione smiled back and let him go. Connor tossed her a look as Paul came in and shut the door. "Since when did you two get so chummy, Hermy?" he asked, tossing in the loathed nickname mostly because it sort of rhymed. He smiled in a supremely irritating way. 

"Oh, go back to your project," Hermione snapped. She'd said it without thinking, but she was glad she had because it forestalled any other reaction. It headed off the flashes of guilt, discomfort, and shyness before they could give themselves away. Then immediately she turned her back and walked away from the cabin.

When Paul came back out she raised her eyebrows. 

Connor walked out with he same expression. 

Then Hermione looked Paul over and her expression shifted. 

Connor looked between them and then rolled his eyes heavenward and shook his head. Hermione gave him an odd look and he squinted back at her suspiciously. To which she jumped slightly and looked away, quickly following Paul. He squinted again and followed slowly. He was starting to realize that she had a thing for their cabin mate. Even worse, Paul was either oblivious or into it. And that was not cool at all. Well, if they weren't cabin mates it'd be fine and dandy. But until Paul was claimed by a different god they had to knock it off! And if they didn't he was going to have to say something. Ugh... This kind of thing was why he hated being cabin counselor. Then again, he tilted his head and reconsidered, he could always make Travis do it instead--

Finally, his thoughts cut off when they reached the arena. He was disappointed but not surprised to see Clarisse wearing armor. "Seesh," he muttered. "Spurned ladies are the worst."

Hermione would've smiled at that, if it was actually funny. She glowered at him instead.

"Seesh!" he repeated, moving away.

As for Hermione, she just bit her lip when Paul insulted Clarisse again. But at least it got her to take off her armor. Hermione accepted the sword tentatively and met Paul's eyes. She tried to look encouraging and confident for his sake. But that all crumpled when he handed her his shirt. She didn't think he noticed but her mouth fell open. "Okay," she whispered, feeling her face go hot. 

She clutched both items to her, heart kicking, and stared after him until he stood across from Clarisse. Then she caught herself and moved to the other side of the stands to sit with Connor. Surprised, she noticed that he wasn't the only one there. A few other Hermes' kids (not Travis) and even some other random campers had shown up to watch. Hermione wasn't exactly sure how she felt about the spectacle, but at least Ares' side wasn't full while theirs was empty. 

Then she anxiously turned her eyes back to the two fighters.