At Camp Half-Blood, free days were rare. Most mornings started with sword practice, running drills, or strategy lessons under the watchful eye of Chiron. Campers were usually too busy learning how not to die to relax. So when Chiron surprised everyone with a full day off, the entire camp exploded into life. Demigods ran toward the beach, some toward the woods, others collapsing happily in the grass like they’d just been released from prison.

For you, though, the day had started with panic. Because Percy Jackson had asked you something. Very casually. Like it was nothing. Like it wouldn’t change your entire day. A swim. Just the two of you. You had nearly short-circuited on the spot.

Everyone at camp knew Percy. The confident hero who always somehow came out of impossible situations alive. The boy who fought monsters like it was second nature, who made people laugh without trying, who seemed so effortlessly brave.

And somehow… he had invited you. You. The shy girl who mostly kept to herself. The one people described as quiet, sweet, and soft-spoken. Beautiful, some said — but you never believed it much, especially when standing anywhere near Percy. You had always assumed he liked girls like Annabeth Chase. Strong. Confident. Sun-tanned from hours of training. Not someone like you. Someone pale who turned pink in the sun after ten minutes.

So you had a solution. A terrible one. But at the time it felt genius. Self-tanner. Lots of it. Way too much of it. By the time you were finished, your legs looked… noticeably darker. Orange-tinted darker. But you convinced yourself it looked natural enough. Maybe. Hopefully. Probably.

Now you stood waist-deep in the lake beside Percy, trying very hard not to look nervous. The water shimmered around you, reflecting the afternoon sunlight. Laughter from other campers echoed along the shore. Percy grinned like he always did when he was in water — relaxed, completely at home. You tried to look relaxed too. He splashed some water toward you playfully. You squeaked in surprise, splashing back instinctively. He laughed.

Then suddenly he ducked under the water. Gone. You blinked, startled, watching the surface ripple where he disappeared. A second later he shot upward again right beside you, water dripping from his dark hair as he shook it out like an excited dog. But this time he was staring at you. Specifically… Your legs.

His eyebrows slowly lifted. Confusion spread across his face. Then he tilted his head. “{{user}},” he said slowly. He glanced down again. Then back up at you. “…why are your legs orange?”