Everyone around them just "hooked up." Very few of their friends dated. No, they hooked up with people.

Annabeth was a little confused as to what hooking up was exactly. From what she had gathered it could mean a simple make-out session, or going much, much further than that— it was kind of a general term. But the point is everyone hooked up.

She had friends who would hook up with the same guy for months, but would then scoff at the notion of him being her boyfriend. No, they just hooked up. But then if all they did was hook up, why could her friend get mad at said hookup when he hooks up with another girl?

It was all so confusing. Annabeth was thankful she didn't have to worry about hooking up with people; she could hook up with Percy basically whenever she wanted (though school was occasionally an unwelcome deterrent). But Annabeth didn't understand why anyone would choose to just hook up with someone instead of having a boyfriend or girlfriend.

"Well that's because you have the best boyfriend ever," Percy said with a smirk as he hoisted the sail when Annabeth brought it up. "I mean how many guys do you know who would beg another guy to borrow a sail boat so he could take his girlfriend on the perfect date?"

"Well that depends on how many guys I know that can manipulate the Mist," Annabeth countered with a laugh.

Percy just smiled his perfect lopsided grin and replied, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure sure," Annabeth murmered, a habit she'd picked up from Percy, as she lay back into the cushions. The salty wind blew her hair out of her face, cooling her body. The humidity around here was the worst, but just right now, with the breeze, it felt alright.

She watched Percy work through her sunglasses. He was shirtless, always a plus, and the wind blew his already unmanageable hair in all directions. A small smile played on his lips as he cranked the main sheet. He looked so comfortable. So natural. This was exactly where he belong: at sea.

"But I just don't understand," Annabeth called to Percy, renewing the subject, "why girls allow themselves to be used by guys as random hook ups? I mean its like the two people will be hooking up for a month, every weekend. So you'd think there would be some emotional investment, but no. The guy hooks up with someone else and the girl is secretly hurt, but she had it coming the whole time…I just don't get it. Why would anybody fall into that trap?"

Percy stepped carefully over to where she was sitting, and settled beside her. His eyebrows were all scrunched together, like they always do when he was thinking. "I think people are afraid. If they actually do like the person they are hooking up with, they're afraid to let them know…because they don't want to get hurt. And I think we both know how hard it is to admit feelings," Percy grinned at her and kissed her nose.

"So you trust me with your life against Hydras and Furies, but you're afraid of telling me how you feel?"

"Hey you didn't tell me how you felt either!"

"Yeah but I showed it at least!"

"Okay the point of my little speech was not to get into an argument about who was more in denial before we started dating. My point was people, yes including me, are afraid of being that vulnerable to another person."

"But they end up getting hurt anyways," Annabeth persisted.

"Yeah but they can play it off like they never really cared. Or maybe they never did. I mean a lot hook ups happen when the people are drunk…"

"But there is almost always some sort of lead up to the hook up. Flirting or something. I mean, you take the time to choose the guy you're gonna hook up with, but then show no more preference, and pretend not to care when he leaves? That doesn't make any sense."

"Look, Wise Girl…Teenagers, we're stupid. We are scared, and self-conscious. I think people like to feel loved, but don't want the pain it can bring too…I mean, why make things more complicated then they need to be?"

"But—"

"Wise Girl, don't ask me to explain hooking up anymore. I don't get it either. I'm with you. I'm happy and I wouldn't change that for the world. Okay?" Percy finished earnestly locking his green eyes with her grey.

"Okay." Why did she always have to get lost in his eyes. Eyes should never be that beautiful, and deep, and sincere…It's just not fair. She leaned in. He smirked, but answered her silent request with a kiss.

She could feel the smile on his lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled away for a second, "Are you trying to hook up with me?" Percy said with a smugly

"Oh shut up," She countered as she brought his head back closer to hers and met his lips.

"Gladly…" He murmured against her lips.

Funny how the waves seemed to stop rocking the boat, and the ocean spray stopped showering over them. The sea seemed to hold still as the two kissed, sailing off into the afternoon sea.