Hi everyone! Wow- I took a while to update! I sincerely apologize for that! I'm making the chapters a bit shorter now for quicker updates. Hope you guys love the chapter!

Just a Tourist

By: NotUrAverageMusician

The next morning, at the unflattering hour of 6:30, Percy, Annabeth, Leo, and I found ourselves at the Arcade getting ready for our very first Surf School class that started at 7.

"We should do some drills." Leo suggested, "You know, like the ones where you have your board in the sand and you have to paddle and stand up really fast." Leo was waxing his board, an orange one with blue splatters all over it. It's always been one of my favorite surfboards of the group.

Percy nodded. "Oh yeah, that's a good idea. I mean do you really think we should let them in the water on their first lesson?" Percy's board had a picture of a wave on it. It looked almost 3D.

"Maybe we should only let them go out a little bit far, just behind the break, but we wouldn't let them surf- only paddle with the hands for practice." Annabeth said. "That way none of the inexperienced surfers will feel too overwhelmed." Annabeth's board was purple with a simple pink line going down the middle.

"Sounds good to me." I agreed, "We could use the balance board and teach the campers good posture on a board. Maybe even put in some rising up exercises so they know how to get up smoothly."

"I think we're ready." Annabeth announced, "Let's go!"

We jogged down to beach carrying our surfboards and met the group. There was around twelve kids which meant three for each of us, but there was only one person who caught my eye. Jason was in his bathing suit chatting with a guy next to him. His smile seemed so easy and his blonde hair had that 'messed up' kind of look. In other words, he just looked amazing.

"Hey there, surfers!" Percy started, addressing the group, "Welcome to camp. My name is Percy Jackson, the blonde one is Annabeth Chase, the guy with the curly hair is Leo Valdez, and the girl with the braids is Piper McLean. We're all on the Surf Team at our school, Ocean City High, and we're making it our goal to get you all to be good enough to make the team! We're all really excited for this class to begin and to get to know all of you, but we're going to break all of you guys up in groups of three and assign each group with a counselor."

That was Leo's cue, he had split up the groups. He pulled out the attendance sheet and winked at me.

"Okay, Lee Fletcher, Katie Gardner, and Gwendolyn Martin are with me." Leo said, "And Charles Beckendorf, Juniper Evergreen, and Jason Grace," he paused, and I prayed that group would be mine, "are with Piper." Leo mouthed a 'your welcome' to me and went on with the list.

I grinned madly without even feeling weird about it for a while. Three figures started to walk over to where I stood.

"Hi everyone!" I smiled when they arrived. I addressed the group, but I really couldn't keep my eyes off Jason. He wore a tight wet suit that showed off his muscles. His hair was blowing in the wet breeze. Focus, Piper! I commanded myself.

"Hi." Jason, smiled back.

"So, you all want to learn how to surf." I started, "That's good! It's such a great sport and fun thing to do. But, we can't start off right away on the waves! I want you all to put your boards on the sand and lie on them on your bellies… that's it!"

About thirty minutes later my students had learned how to pedal with their arms and the positions to jump up and catch a wave. They were taught which waves were good ones and the lingo associated with riding. I was especially impressed with Jason who had listened intently to my entire lesson with rapt attention. I was very proud on how he was doing. We'd be hitting the waves together in no time!

"Bye guys!" I called to Charles and Juniper, Jason had stayed behind to help us all pack up.

"That went awesome guys!" Percy cheered. He swept Annabeth up off her feet and ran into the ocean and dumped her in. She screamed playfully and pushed him in the water too.

"Oh yeah it did!" Leo exclaimed as he started into the water at running speed, "We're going to rock next year's competitions with all this extra practice!"

It was just me and Jason, alone in the sand.

"So." He said.

"So."

"I was wondering, well, I guess I was thinking that… um." Jason looked down at his feet, his cheeks had grown bright red.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Would you like to grab some dinner with me tonight?" he blurted out.

I smiled. He feels the same way, I thought. "I'd like that." I spoke.

"That's great." Jason looked seriously relieved. His smile stretched from ear to ear. "So where should we go? I'm not really that knowledgeable on all things Ocean City."

"Hmmm, there's this great Italian place at the Avenue." I suggested, "We could go there."

"Sounds good to me." Jason said. I gave him the details and he said he'd pick me up at five tonight. He waved to me as he ran up the beach to go home.

I didn't even have time to process what just happened when I heard the rushing of three pairs of feet stampeding toward me. I turned a 180 to look at my friends' anxious faces.

"Please just tell me he asked you on a date." Annabeth pried.

"Nope." I lied.

"What! That loser!" Percy snapped.

"I'm totally joking- we're going to dinner tonight!" I squealed.

My friends cheered for me. "We can start going on triple dates!" Leo said.

"I don't think we're officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet, but I'll let you know." I told them, "Oh my god I am so excited for this, and I can't believe that Jason liked me back!"

"Of course he did, Piper." Annabeth told me, "You're so awesome. How could he not like you?"

"You guys are the best friends a girl could have." I smiled.

"Hello, Piper." Came a snarly high pitched voice. I rolled my eyes and turned to face the interrupter.

"Hi there Drew." I said, "How's your summer going?" I decided to play this one like I wasn't even bothered by her.

She ignored my question. "Is it true that you've entered the Night in Venice competition?"

"Yeah." I replied.

Drew glared. Her slanted eyes were rimmed with in my opinion pounds of eyeliner, mascara, and eye shadow. She doesn't even look pretty with all that disgusting makeup on. "I just want to let you know that there's no way that you have any chance of winning this competition and you should probably drop out now before you humiliate yourself in front of the entire island. I have won for three years in a row now and there's really no way you could beat me."

"Well Piper's going to whoop your butt in the competition with a landslide victory, Drew." Leo taunted.

"So you better watch out." Percy said.

"Yeah." Annabeth agreed, "She's nicer and smarter than you. There's really no competition."

Drew laughed, "Oh- that's funny. You think it's all about being nice and smart and playing a clean race. That's not what this is about, hon, maybe you should drop out now."

"Not likely." I smirked, "You've got it all wrong, and when the votes and the money is counted, you'll eat your words."

Drew shook her head, "Whatever. You're so wrong. See you around, Piper." She then walked away, almost falling onto the sand due to her platform flip-flops. Seriously, only Drew would ever try that."

"Don't worry, Pipes." Leo said, "She's insane. No one wants to vote for a crazy lady. Especially one who's nose looks faker than a circle looks round."

"I hope you're right." I whispered as I watched the mean girl walk up to the Boardwalk. Maybe I'm not cut out for this after all, I thought.

Hope you liked the chapter!

Have a rocking summer! :)

-NotUrAverageMusician