Prisoners

EIGHT

"Jesus CHRIST!" I exclaimed as I fell on my butt.

"I know, she's just a little excited," Percy said apologetically, trying and failing to hold tight to the strained leash.

"A little?" I asked incredulously. "I feel like I was just run over by a freight train!"

"Here," he said, helping me up. I took care to brush off the black dog hair and slobber that covered me.

The culprit? A 600-pound, black, fluffy dog larger than a full-grown grizzly bear. It barked and ran around us a couple times before sitting down, tail wagging vehemently.

"Thanks," I said, but he missed my sarcasm.

"Isn't she beautiful? Her name's Mrs. O'Leary, and she's half Rottweiler, half Shetland Sheepdog. I think she has some great Dane in her too," Percy said thoughtfully, petting Mrs. O'Leary absentmindedly.

I wanted to say, You think? but I restrained myself.

I nodded, my eyes roving over the huge canine. "Does everyone in your prison have a dog?" I asked exasperatedly.

"Uh, just Leo, I think. Have you met Festus?" 

"As a matter of fact, I have," I said. I wondered why Leo said that I was the only one who'd seen Festus. Obviously, all the boys knew about it.

Mrs. O'Leary barked again. "She wants to go outside," Percy explained. "Come with?"

"Sure," I said nonchalantly. I guess the dog was pretty soft. It kind of looked like a really big teddy bear.

We walked outside, and I was glad to have worn shorts; it was scorching. Percy winced. "In New York, we don't get this kind of heat," he said. I could already see sweat forming on his face.

I shrugged. "In California, we get used to it."

We could practically see the heat waves coming off the pavement. The grass to the side was yellow and parched. The sun beat down hard.

We walked around the grounds, careful to stay away from the electrified fence. I heard giggling coming from a nearby bush, its leaves threatening to fall off.

"What's that?" I asked, turning toward it.

Percy frowned. "I don't know. Probably --"

Whatever Percy thought it was, we never found out, because I peeked through the bush and yelled, "Piper McLean!"

The giggling stopped abruptly, and I wrinkled my nose at the scene before me. Jason and Piper had just been making out!

"I think I'm gonna puke," Percy muttered as Jason and Piper, still holding hands, emerged from the bush together. Both of their faces were red, and Piper was trying to hide behind Jason. Their hair and clothes were ruffled, and both looked ready to die.

"What the hell?!" I scolded. "What the fucking hell? That's the most disgusting thing I've ever seen!"

"At least you haven't walked in on you and Luke making out," Piper countered, regaining some of her dignity.

Percy was gagging over in the corner, so thankfully, he didn't hear that.

I made a face. "That was once! For a dare! Eurgh, Piper, I will never be able to erase that scene from my mind!"

"Well, at least I'm making out with someone!" she said reproachfully, her eyes narrowed. She let go of Jason's hand. "Maybe if you just -- I don't know -- kissed Percy, you wouldn't be feeling so upset!" I heard Percy grunt at the mention of his name. I ignored him.