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Rachel tossed the bag of trash she’d been collecting onto the rock, then tried to find a grip to climb up herself. But before she could she felt steady hands grab her by the waist and lift her up. She smiled at Percy as he hoisted himself up to sit beside her, and together they took in the great blue expanse that surrounded them, heard the crashing of the waves, felt the salty breeze on their damp skin.
“This wasn’t too weird for a date, was it?” Percy asked.
“Swimming through coral reefs without scuba gear while picking up plastic isn’t exactly normal…” Rachel said, “But normal’s overrated anyway.”
“True,” Percy nodded, “I guess the better question is was it a fun date?”
“Roaming the beautiful sea with my beautiful boyfriend? Of course! We even get to do some good for the world,” she turned to look at the bag of plastic they’d collected and her smile faded just a little, “Although…”
Percy caught onto her changing mood, “What’s wrong, Rachel?”
She hugged her knees to her chest, “It’s just that even as we speak, my dad’s company is out there dumping oil into the ocean. Does one measly bag of plastic really make up for that?”
“Well for one thing, it’s a pretty big bag,” Percy said, “For another – it’s not your job to worry about making up for what your dad’s doing. He’s the one who decided that poisoning the oceans was worth it to earn an extra dollar, and while I’d appreciate it if he stopped, it’s not your job alone to make him. Besides, it’s not like you haven’t tried.”
Percy would know. Rachel could remember the times she knocked on his apartment door after a screaming match with her dad, unable to bear sleeping in the same house as him no matter how many unused bedrooms stood between them. They’d curl up on the couch and he would listen to her rant, and she would be reminded that she wasn’t alone in this battle.
Percy continued, “I may have a remarkably good relationship with my dad for a demigod, but I know Zeus’s kids. I know you shouldn’t let what your father does hang over you. Maybe we could just be happy that we’re doing what we can to help. Felicia certainly appreciates what you did.”
“Felicia?”
“The turtle from earlier. You know, the one who thought that bag was a jellyfish and almost ate it. We chatted for a bit while you were looking at the coral.”
“Great for her,” she smiled, turning away from the sea to look at Percy. The sea breeze blew his hair from his face, and Rachel found that staring into his eyes gave the same effect as looking at the ocean – something deep and powerful and utterly beautiful.
She pressed her lips to his. “Thank you,” she said when they pulled apart, “You give good advice.”
He shrugged, “You learn plenty of life lessons when most of your teenage years are spent on divine quests.”
She chuckled, then leaned her head on his shoulder, “How about we drop this bag off at shore then go for another round?”
“Sounds good, but… let’s wait a few more minutes. I want to savour this feeling.”
She reached for his hand, interlacing their fingers, “Perfect.”