After edging her way through the swarm of students, however, she saw that she needn't have worried. Jim was too...distracted at the moment to have heard or paid attention to anything Claire shouted.

Elizabeth Cèlia Smollett, daughter of Admiral Alexander Smollett, niece to the famous Captain Amelia and the infamously flirty Felinid queen of their school. Despite the fact that she was a Galactican, Liz did not discriminate when it came to spreading her attention around to all her boy toys. Of course, that's all they were to her, toys to be played with and thrown away once her father arranged a marriage for her. That was why she was now testing her claws on a Terran like Jim Hawkins. She loved a good challenge.

"For the last time Liv, back off! This is never going to happen!" Jim snapped, grabbing Liv's wrists and forcibly removing her from his body. Instantly Liv's eyes narrowed and glinted dangerously. Ann knew what that look meant, having been on the receiving end of it herself.

"It's that damn halfling, isn't it?" She spat, "When are you going to wake up and realize that I'm better for you than she is!? My family has connections! If you were with me, I could get you into the Naval Academy! All that little girl will do is drag you down into the mud with her!"

Ann's shoulders slumped upon hearing that. She knew Jim wasn't elitist like that. He would never hold her mixed heritage against her but she couldn't help but wonder if associating with her was hurting his chances in some way.

Looking at Jim's face though, a face she had come to know better than her own, all she saw was distaste at Liv's words and a strong desire to escape. Deciding to put her own concerns aside for now and forget the hurtful words she had heard, Ann quickly stepped in.

"Jim? Sorry to interrupt but are you ready to go?"

Jim's head whipped around and relief immediately flooded across his features. He strode towards her, covering the distance between them in three long strides. To her absolute astonishment, he caught one of her hands up in his and pulled her close enough to lay a peck on her cheek.

"Yeah, sweetheart, sorry about that. How was your day?"

Sweetheart?! What in Hades dark armpit…?

Ann startled and tried to pull away but Jim wouldn't let her, keeping her close and shooting her a pleading look. Ann was completely confused until she caught a glimpse of Liv's thunderous expression over Jim's shoulder.

Oh! So that's what he was about.

While she was working out the reasoning behind his strange behavior, Jim had taken his acting one step further by reaching up with his free hand to tuck a few strands of her hair behind her ear. As he did so, the tips of his fingers brushed over the shell of her ear causing sudden shivers to run up and down her spine. Ann couldn't stop her face and neck from flushing crimson at the sensation. He knew how sensitive her ears were!

"Beth?" Jim murmured, fighting back a grin at her reaction.

"G-good. It w-was g-good. M-my day, I mean." Ann managed to stutter out as his fingers caressed her ear again, racking her with more unstoppable shivers.

"W-we should get going." She tried to say firmly, pulling away from his hands. This time he let her go, seemingly reluctantly, "Sarah is expecting me at the Inn."

"Actually, mom wanted us to do some shopping for the Inn first." Jim corrected, "Do you…?"

"Jim!" Liv interrupted violently, apparently having gotten over her shock, "What the hell are you doing?!"

"Leaving." Jim answered in a voice so cold Ann was almost surprised when no ice appeared. In contrast his hand, suddenly placed at the small of her back, was warm as he guided her over to where his solar surfer leaned against the pillar. Releasing her for a moment, Jim quickly lowered the board until it was hovering horizontal, waiting for them. With a quick tap on the foot pedal, the mast sprung up from where it was tucked into the length of the board and the solar sail unfurled with a soft rustling hum. Instead of climbing on and offering her a hand up, like he normally would, Jim gestured her closer. Ignoring Liv's screeching demands and protests, Annabeth did so. She was curious as to what he had planned.

Once she was within arms reach, Jim wrapped his hands around her slim waist and lifted her gently onto the board. Ann couldn't help the gasp that escaped her at the sudden move. Before she could react further, Jim was hopping on. Behind her.

They had never ridden like this. Usually she was stuck clinging to his back, screaming at him to slow down as he laughed maniacally and whipped the board into another twirling stunt. This was nothing like that. It was too close. He was too close!

Then his arms were encircling her and he was placing her hands beneath his on the mast bar.

"Hold on." He instructed before stepping back on the fuel pedal. Then they were off and Liv's screeching protests were swept away by the wind whipping past them.