Jesse

New Years Eve, 2011

"We're out of the camp's boundary. It's cold." Lassa says and shivers, holding her coat closer to her body.

"Of course it is. It's New York in December." I tell her and smile. "Good thing I have blankets and some firewood." I tell her and go grab them off my pegasus' back. "Good boy, Sunburn." I tell him as he grazes on washed up seaweed. We're on the sandbar where we had our first date waiting for the New years Fireworks to start in the next Half Hour.

"Well, I live in Georgia. It doesn't get this cold there." She shivers. I smile and lay out one of the blankets for us to sit on and then start a fire next to us with the wood and my lighter. Lassa relaxes and gets closer to the flames.

"Wouldn't you be warm if you get in the water? I mean I know it's like hardly above freezing in the water, but you're a Poseidon kid. Wouldn't you be comfortable in the sea?"

"Yes. But you can't go with me." She smiles as I sit down next to her, and she curls up into my side, slipping her hands into my jacket pockets. I breathe in the smell of her hair. I love having her this close. Just 7 more months.

Ever since Lassa left Camp last summer, we've been writing letters. Her family invited me to join them for Thanksgiving, and Chiron allowed it since Sunburn was willing to make the flight. Then She came up for a couple weeks Christmas break, the two of us flying back to Georgia for Christmas Eve and Day. She goes home tomorrow, so it's her last night here until summer.

The last few months, I've been really trying to grow in both my life and my faith. Percy and I Iris Message a good bit back and forth, him teaching me a lot I didn't know and fixing some of the bad theology I was taught as a kid. With him away at New Rome, I kinda got put in charge of leading the small group of Christians we have here at camp. It's helped me mature a lot. And I'm finally in a place where I can seriously imagine a future. So while I was on the boat with her dad on Christmas Eve, I asked him for his permission to date his daughter. He pursed his lips, saying he knew this was coming but was hoping he'd have a little more time.

"Tell you what, Kid." He said to me, "I don't actually want her dating for several years to come. But I know I don't have as much control as I want to in this situation, because of camp and the Pegasi. It's clear how Y'all feel about each other. So if you're willing to at least wait for her 13th birthday, I won't stand in the way."

"That's in July." I said with a grimace.

"I know. And I know she'll be at camp before then. But the alternative is waiting until she's 18."

"I'll take July." I told him, and he laughed. Now being this close to her, I really don't want to keep my word on that.

"11:59." Lassa says, looking at her watch. "Should be starting any second now!" She says, and I hold her closer to me.

"Hey, Lassa?"

"Yeah?"

"Remember last Summer when I told you the next time I kissed you it would mean we were together?"

"Y-yeah." She says, looking up at me. Her cheeks are pink from the cold and her blush, making her even more beautiful than normal.

"I don't have your parents' blessing yet. Can we put a pin in that, and just enjoy a New Years Kiss? Just for tradition's sake." I ask, wanting so badly for her to say yes. She's silent for a second, just looking at my mouth. The moment's interrupted when we hear fireworks going off. "I guess that's midnight." I say, leaning back, a little disappointed. Lassa smiles and gets on her knees in front of me.

"Midnight lasts 60 seconds." She whispers, and leans closer to where our noses touch. "I'll take that midnight kiss." She breathes, and that's all I need to close the gap between us. She tastes amazing, salty and a little sweet like honey, probably because she likes drinking from the honeysuckles that grow around the Demeter Cabin. She tangles her fingers in my hair, making me moan as I put my hands on her waist and pull her closer. She sits sideways on my lap with her torso pressed against mine. I noticed she was cute the first time I met her, but she's getting more beautiful every day. Her smell fills me up, lavender and peaches and salt water.

Too soon, I feel I'm about to get stiff. Cursing in my head, I pull back and plant one last kiss on her forehead before sliding her off my lap and letting her lean into my side.

She leans up and kisses me right below my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

"You're cold." She giggles, snuggling closer and pulling the blanket over us. "That was an amazing midnight kiss." I smile, and lay back farther, pulling her with me so we're on our backs looking at the fireworks.

"Yeah. It really was." I tell her. "Just don't tell anyone, if word gets back to your dad or Percy I won't make it to your 13th birthday." I tell her. She giggles.

"No. You won't." I open my mouth, but the only words I want to say are I Love You, Lassa. But I can't say that yet. We're not even a couple yet. I sigh.

"How much longer till your thirteenth birthday again?"

"Seven months and 4 days."

"And you're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?"

"That's right."

"I'm going to miss you. I won't see you again until June."

"May, if I come early." She says gently.

"Think your parents will let you?"

"Knowing this is probably the last time they'll get with me before I start dating you? Not likely. But I'll still try. And you're sure my dad said when I turn 13, not when I get to camp?"

"Oh, he was perfectly clear." I laugh.

"Then that'll be a frustrating 1-2 months. Good thing I have that midnight kiss to tide me over." She smiles and snuggles closer as we watch the last of the fireworks go off.