Percy

He shut the car door and put the keys in the ignition. A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek.

God it's hot this evening, I should go swimming when I get home.

As he drove he thought about the cool pool water. He picked up his phone; there was a text message but he ignored it and dialed Jason. No answer.

Okay, pizza and beer for one then.

Percy pulled into a parking lot. He walked into the restaurant and ordered a large pepperoni pizza.

"7.88 please," The young man behind the counter looked bored.

Percy handed the man a ten dollar bill. "You can keep the change."

"It's probably gonna be like a 10 minute wait. Is that okay?"

Percy nodded. "Not a problem. In fact I'm gonna run next door. I'll just come back when it's done."

The young man shrugged and turned back into the kitchen.

Percy walked to the next shop over. Neon signs lined the barred windows.

Bud Light

Heineken

Bacardi

"Hey man, how's it going?" The clerk hollers cheerfully as Percy walks through the door. He smiles.

"Fantastic, and yourself?"

"Not too bad,"

He walked to the back of the store and took a 6pack of Coors Light from the fridge.

"You like liquor or just beer?" The cashier asked as Percy set the beers in the counter.

"I'm partial to beer. But it depends on the liquor."

"Well we've got a pretty great deal on Jack Daniels Apple. You wanna try?"

Percy laughed. "On a Monday? I'm not totally sure I can handle beer on it's own. I haven't had a drink since... wow, god since before I joined the military."

"You served?"

"Yes sir, US Navy SEALs."

"Well, lemme add a discount. Total's now gonna be.. 5.67."

"Thanks you," Percy handed a debit card over.

"Hey, not a problem. Thank you for your service. You want the receipt?"

Percy shook his head. "Nah, thanks though."

He picked up the pizza and drove home.

*

Percy floated in the cool water, a gentle night breeze cooling his wet face.

SPLASH!

Jason swam up to the surface.

"I drank the last of your beers,"

"Damn, I was definitely going to drink them all tonight."

Jason laughed. "Yeah, I bet you were."

Percy got out of the pool and dried off his face with a towel. He looked at his phone. There was a message from Annabeth.

He opened it. It was a picture of her, wrapped in a towel. Her cleavage and bare shoulders teased him. He licked his lips and smiled.

How was the shower?

"Are you texting Annabeth?" Jason shouted from the pool. "You fuck her yet?"

Percy rolled his eyes. "Always the romantic."

"I'll take that as a no."

Percy sat down on the edge, his feet dropped down into the water. "She sent me a shower picture."

Jason sat on an underwater bench. "Nice!"

"It's not a nude, she's wearing a towel."

Jason shrugged. "Still nice."

Percy nodded. "Yeah. Very."

The phone vibrated.

It was good.