Chapter four

Thankfully I was able to go home the day after, with a giant brace that covered half my face and still would for the next couple of weeks, so dad came and picked me up. Mum had gotten the job- of course she had – which meant she would be very busy for the next few days. So it would be take out and movie nights in between homework and school.

We got home just after lunch time, which meant dad had to go straight back to work. He was a lecturer at the local university, specialising in Greek history and mythology. And thanks to that, I have a never-ending reading supply of books. By the time I was ten I was reciting a few of the myths, Hercules, Perseus, Jason and the Argo thanks to Dad reading them to me at night.

It helped to dream of heroes instead of knights in shining armour and prince charming. I don't know, just something about them felt more real. Mum was part Greek, so I got to learn part of the heritage as well. On our last holiday as a family, we went to Athens. The architecture, the history, the sun. It was amazing.

Picking up the book from my bedside table, I decided to go have some fun in the sun. And by fun I meant re-read some stuff on the beach.

It was one of the benefits about moving to California was living right by the sea. I hadn't seen it before moving out here, and I didn't actually believe how much I would love it. Of course I missed New York. My friends, my grandparent's out in Westchester. Times square and central park, reading under the trees then going shopping at Macy's with mum, helping her pick out her next glamorous business outfit.

But letting my toes sink into the sand felt like nothing I could get in NYC. And with the friends I have now, I don't think I could move back.

Getting into my usual spot – yes I had a usual spot. It was kind of secluded from everywhere else but still had a great view of the ocean. As the waved crashed along the shore, I stripped down to my swim suit – a fancier one then I had for gym – opened the book and began to read.

I must have been out there for hours. The book was at least 400 pages long and I had almost finished it by the time my sun got blocked by quite a shadow. Looking up, I had to push my blonde curls out of my eyes to see him properly "we meet again wise girl" he said, putting on a deeper voice which sounded funny, making me laugh

"Well hello, seaweed brain" I answered back trying to replicate the voice and doing so quite well from the smile he shot me. He decided to sit down next to me, covering me with water in the process. He had obviously been swimming, and thanks to living so close to the sea, hadn't put a top on – the teenage girl deep inside me started screaming at the sight of his abs.

"Skipping school I see"

"what did you miss me?" I teased, closing the book and laying my head down on my arms so I could have a better look at him "Well, Maths certainly wasn't the same without you answering every question left right and centre"

We had been in the same maths class for the past two years running, with the same teacher who loved me. Percy not so much "did you get picked on by the mean Maths teach" I pouted, choosing not to show an inch of sympathy. I was pleasantly surprised to find how easy it was to be myself around him. I could joke with him, and laugh it would be easy.

In some ways, I had a better relationship with Percy then I did with Jason. And even though I would always consider him a sort of older brother figure, he spent most of his time focusing on Piper, which was fine. But for once, it was good to hang out with someone who wasn't texting their other half at the same time. For once the attention was all on me, and I kind of liked it when it came from Percy.

"We had a pop quiz today" he laughed as my face fell, but I couldn't help but be disappointed. I hated missing these things "How did it go?" I asked

"Badly" he said, the humour going out of his voice. Percy was what you would call academically challenged "Mr. D told me that if I didn't pass this semester, I was off the swim team"

"What?"

"Yep" he said gravely, sitting up looking out over the ocean "Which means I'm defiantly off the swim team next semester"

"Don't think like that, you can do this"

"Are you kidding? Do you know how crap I am at Maths?" it was easy to see in class that it wasn't his best subject. Mr. D did like to pick on several kids during the year, picking his 'favourite' from each class which of course, got the worst of the teasing. But Percy being Percy, he didn't let Mr. D humiliate him, which just made Mr. D angrier.

"You can't be that bad" I smiled, trying to comfort him as best I could. The second my hand brushed electricity shot up my arms, making me shiver in a good way. Percy caught it though "You're cold" he said, picking up a hoodie which I hadn't noticed beside him. I guess I had been too busy staring at his abs to notice him carrying anything, though looking around I saw he had a towel with him now as well.

I started warming up now, the jumper round my shoulders that smelt so much like him "Thank you" I smiled, trying to clear my brain from the Percy Jackson fog that always clouded it whenever he was around. "So, how are you going to make sure you stay on the swim team" that's good, maths talk, I could concentrate on maths talk. It was simple, logical and didn't put butterflies in my stomach when it smiled.

"I honestly don't know. I mean, swimming, it's basically my life. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't swim. Even if it's just in high school"

"well if you need help, ask"

"But what kind of help would I need?" god he could be slow. At least he was pretty "how about a tutor?" I suggested, thinking that it would be pretty simple. Get someone who was good at maths to help him understand it.

"Do you know anyone who's good at maths and can help you?"

"Well" Percy hesitated, his eyes locked on the sky line "There is you"