——— ౨ৎ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ “percyyyy…” you sing-song, entering the kitchen almost sneakily in hopes no other campers caught you on your way here. but it was pouring rain and nine o’clock at night so it isn’t very likely anyone was outside. you steal a quick glance to percy by the stove before wringing your dripping hair into the sink. “I can’t wait for april to be over. I miss the sun.” you use the hair tie around your wrist to do your hair up in the messiest ponytail until fully dried. you walk back over to the stove, leaning your back against the counter to face percy as he cooks. “successful?” “I finished a whole four pages!” percy nods. “well, sweet girl, at least you’re making some progress there.” you giggle and turn around, facing the stove. “watcha making?” “non-blue grilled cheese— surprisingly.” you kind of liked the obsession with blue foods. “you’re a changed man. proud of you.” “this is a one-time thing, I’m not that weak.” percy smiles and uses his free arm to snake around your waist, pulling you flush to his side. the sound of sizzling infiltrates the kitchen. you inhale and, with sleepiness, nuzzle your face against percy’s bicep. it’s awfully domestic. in the summer you’ll leave camp. in the summer you’ll be married. in the summer you’ll move into percy’s montauk house together. you brush those thoughts away and focus on the present. “how much longer?”

“patience, sweet girl. I’m trying to burn yours how you like.”

a blush arises on your cheeks.

“you’re sweet.”

“I try to be.”

“you are.”

you rise onto your tippy-toes and press a kiss to his cheek, latching an arm around his arm to steady yourself. you feel, similarly, as percy’s arm flexes tightly around your waist.

“I cut up some strawberries, too. though now that I think about it I might get in trouble for that.”

“not if mr. d knows it was you.”

you slip from his arms with ease and search the counters until finding the bowl of said strawberries. you eat the slices quickly as you walk back to the stove.

“want some?“

percy turns off the stove.