WILL'S POV

When I wake up, half the cabin is staring down at me.

"Huh?" I ask, still too tired to form a complete sentence.

"It's the last day of summer, Solace."

"Which means?"

"Well, for one, you have to hand in your slip saying you'll stay for the year!" someone replies in the back. A girl named Daisy. She's only been here for a year, but her constant excitement always makes people cheer up. "You're staying, right?"

"Oh, yeah." I smile in her direction. "I've been meaning to do that, but I've been putting it off," I finish, still blinking out some spots in my eyes.

"Model cabin counselor!" Someone else shouts in the back, causing everyone to laugh.

"Shut up! Okay, what else?"

"Well, the camp's been planning to go on a trip to the beach since the war ended..."

"Wait, when did this happen?" I yawn, putting my hands behind my head to prop me up.

"Um, it's kinda been happening for the past few weeks. I'm surprised you haven't noticed," Kayla says, right near my bed.

"I-I- Have there been signs? Or just people talking about it?"

"Uh, they announced it at the end of capture the flag. Before our campfire songs started, at dinner."

"Wow, I must have really not been paying attention," I admit. I try to remember any notice of the beach trip in the past few weeks. Nothing.

"Lay off him, guys. He's obviously just been too distracted with Nico!" The cabin explodes with laughter at that and I groan loudly.

"What do I have to do?" I ask, gritting my teeth.

"Tell Chiron if our cabin says yes or no to the trip, duh," Austin says, somewhere to my left.

"And what does the cabin say?"

"Yes!" They all chorus.

"Fine, I'll go tell him. Now you all get away from my bed."

They all scramble away, chattering with joy. I shake my head and just take in the whole sight. How did my life turn into this?

. . .

"By unanimous vote, we are going to the beach!" Chiron announces as we are all eating breakfast.

Most of the camp's already cheering.

"Campers! Campers!" Chiron calls, quieting us all. "Remember that weapons are extremely important. Along with sunscreen, please put them in your bags!"

"It's so dangerous, though. Why are they letting us go to the beach?" I ask Austin next to me.

"Well, because some minor gods and goddesses are being recognized at camp. they said they'd help keep us safe. Anyway, stop worrying! We have Percy with us right next to the ocean. It won't be too bad if we get attacked," he responds.

That's true. Sometimes it's great that the campers are from all different godly parents. Normally, they cause fights, especially between Athena and Ares kids, but the cooperation of camp in general... we support each other's strengths and weaknesses.

"Let's go pack!" Kayla says eagerly. Our cabin's already starting to trickle out and leave.

We run to our cabin hurriedly and grab backpacks or any bags for the beach. I grab a backpack and stuff two Camp Half Blood tank tops, a pair of swim trunks, a towel, and a pair of jean shorts.

"Sunscreen, everyone!" Connor Stoll walks through the doors with a bag full of sunscreen and tosses a small bottle to everyone. "If you don't put on sunscreen, you can have fun burning!"

I realize that I've missed being in a cabin the past few days. Being with Nico was so grounding, but it was often a little lonely. As the cabin finishes packing and jump up and down excitedly, I realize that this closeness really helped me to open me up. Especially considering how broken I'd been when... No, I would not think about the family I lost in the wake of an adventure.

"Sunglasses, too!" Travis arrives next to his brother and tosses everyone a pair. They're all different, some with bigger frames, some with darker lenses.

"Did you steal these?" Neron asks in the corner. He's really fit into the camp, not holding a grudge anymore. But I still don't talk to him.

"Um... I'm not qualified to answer that!" Travis replies, dashing out the door with his brother right behind him.

I smile at that, remembering when were actually told to raid stores in the Battle of Manhattan. Then I frown. There's no reason to be smiling over that battle with the amount of losses that we've had.

I finish packing my bag, but I realize I don't know what weapons to bring. I suck at archery and I suck at sword fighting. All around me, my brothers and sisters grab small bows and arrows, and I'm left with nothing.

"Here." Neron passes me a small dagger, watching me gape at the other campers packing weapons. "Have you ever tried fighting with knives? I'm better at them than archery and sword fighting."

I look at him, hesitating.

"Look, can't you forgive me? I was full of hate and now I see that Octavian just wasn't the right augur." Stubbornly, I nod my head at the admission. "I was wrong about this camp. Since I've been here, everyone's been so accepting. It's loads different than Camp Jupiter, where everyone has to act tough."

I can't stay mad at someone who's just been raised to defend and survive all his life. Before camp, I was in a similar situation. "Just have fun at the beach, today." I take the dagger from his hand and smile. He smiles in return, a genuine one.

"Heeey, Wiiiill! Your boyfriend is here to seeee youuuu!" Daisy draaaags out the vowels in a singsong way.

Immediately, everyone's attention turns to Nico at the door, who's looking a little shy, if not uncomfortable. With a wide smile, I take in his black tank top and dark blue shorts.

"Hey, Will. Um, can I talk to you for a second?" He asks, just looking at me and avoiding the gazes of the rest of the cabin.

I throw the dagger Neron gave me into my bag. "Sure. Everyone, make sure you have your weapons with you!" I walk over to Nico who turns to lead me out of the cabin. We stand under a window on the side of the cabin.

"I didn't have any nightmares last night," he starts.

"That's great!" I wrap my arms around him and embrace him. He freezes up for a second before relaxing and taking the hug.

We stand there together for a few seconds before he pulls away. "But I did have a rather interesting talk with a goddess."

I nod. It happens. "Which one?"

He blushes a deep pink. "Aphrodite."

I can't help but smile at that. "Really?"

"Yeah. She sent gifts for everyone at camp, apparently. Some blessings, some clothes, which are not-so-conveniently stacked in my cabin instead of in theirs."

I laugh. "What did you get?"

He shrugs. "A lecture, I suppose. Embarrassment."

"That's somewhat... believable. Do you need help bringing the stuff around?" I ask. I can't imagine him going into cabin after cabin, bringing around clothes.

"Yeah, but not today. I... actually just wanted to, um, see you. And talk to you. Just in general."

"Awww!" Some of the members in my cabin pop their heads out of the window above us.

"Great, we have an audience." On second thought, Nico should have known better. Of course my siblings would eavesdrop.

My cabin starts to chant quietly, slowly growing louder. "Kiss, kiss, kiss!"

I blush lightly before I put my arms around him and pull him into a kiss.

At that exact moment, members of the Aphrodite cabin happen to be passing by and they join in on the cheering.

By the time I pull away, Percy, Annabeth, and Jason have joined the crowd. Jason smirks at Percy.

"You owe me a drachma, Jackson!" Jason yells.

"B-b-ut..."Percy splutters.

Annabeth pats his shoulder. "You're definitely not his type, Percy."

My cabin comes pouring out and exchanges money with the Aphrodite cabin.

"You all bet on us?" I ask in disbelief, laughing.

"Pretty much," Piper says. "Especially this morning, after some of us may have received a... feeling that you guys are dating."

There's some of the embarrassment Aphrodite promised.

AN: Yay! I did another chapter for you since I'm not sure when my next update will be. Please review, favorite, and follow and keep checking back from an update! Be sure to check out my fanfiction called Post War, which is a collection of one shots :)