Disclaimer: I don't own anything! That's including the cover art. :)
Summer burns at Percy's skin.
And he guesses that's what he gets for leaving behind his sunscreen but he can't help but curse the season in his mind, nose scrunched up in distaste as he pushes himself further under the shade of the umbrella.
His hair was wet, clinging to his forehead and little droplets of sea water dripping and falling on his nose or eyelashes before he blinked them away. Sand sticks to pale, wet skin as he wraps his arms tightly around his knees until they're touching his chest and he can lay his head on top of them comfortably.
He could see the sand being kicked with each rapid step Jason and Leo took, going back and forth with the volleyball like they had been for hours, restless and breathing heavy but continuing nonetheless.
Percy had long since given up on trying to keep up with them after missing the ball for a fifth time and deciding it just wasn't his sport.
He scratches at his reddening skin again and it burns, making him groan and drop his head.
Summer had never been his thing to begin with. He looked forward to the breaks and time out of school but the weather was too hot and sticky for him and he hated wearing shorts since it was always too hot for his long, heavy jeans he loved to hide in and he would have to show off his stupid legs. And he didn't like the polluted beach or the water and the countless, unidentifiable creatures roaming in it.
If fall could just hurry up soon, he'd be quite happy.
His view of Jason and Leo gets blocked by tan skin and blonde hair, casting a shadow over him.
"Need some?"
Percy doesn't try to glare but he has one on his face anyway after all that thinking when he looks up and sees blonde hair and grey eyes.
She was wearing blue shorts and a diver's shirt and it was dripping in water much like every other person here. She wore a awkward smile—lopsided and awkward but surprisingly fitting on her and in her hand was a bottle of sunscreen.
Percy's expression softens a little.
"Yeah, thanks." He mutters and he yells at himself in his mind. He was always soft-spoken when it came to people he didn't know and it was something he was trying to get rid of before school started up again.
Not like he wanted to really talk to people.
He just wanted them to actually hear him when he did.
"Here you go," the girl said, tossing it at him and Percy caught it clumsily, fingers fumbling to get a good grip and earning an amused grin from the girl, not looking quite so awkward anymore.
It's quiet for a moment when Percy pops open the lid, pausing for a minute and the unspoken question lingers in the air.
"Keep it," the girl finally says. "I have another at home and you're already burning up."
Percy allows a thankful smile to etch its way onto his face when the girl runs back to her friends, her name being called but Percy hadn't heard it, his mind was foggy and his face was hot.
He isn't sure it's because of the weather.
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