I'll be here forever

chapter 42

It had been a perfect morning, really.

The morning sun shone through the top of the tent, warming my face. I found myself tangled in his arms, his face close to mine. I could still taste him on my lips.

Percy was still asleep, and I didn't want to or feel like getting out of bed, so I stayed there, nestling into the spot that felt like it was made for me. I usually woke up before him; he was a heavy sleeper.

I reached over, peeling my arm off if his stomach to stroke his face. He always seemed so peaceful when he was sleeping. All the world's problems, the ones that weighed heavily on his shoulders, they melted away. The worry lines around his eyes had eased, and I enjoyed how serene he seemed.

I moved my hand and adjusted slightly, just enough to slowly zip open the backpack that was lying near me. I did so as quietly as possible, careful as not to wake him up. I silently pulled out my book, the thick book on Ancient Greek deities, monsters, and myths. I'd read it all the way through many, many times, but still I learned something new every time I did so. There seemed to be something new in it every time, and I wasn't sure if it was magic or it was something that I had accidentally skipped the last time. Either way, the book was my favorite.

And I started to read, taking out the dollar store receipt I used as a bookmark, waiting for Percy to wake up. I did this on the mornings that I woke up early, to let him sleep. I knew he had a hard time really falling asleep at night, so I let him sleep in. Plus, I relished in being the one he held in his arms.

It was quite a while later before Percy woke up. I had become absorbed in my book, and startled slightly when Percy groaned and buried his head into my shoulder, shying away from the light at the top of our tent.

"Good morning," I said quietly, a smile in my voice. He huffed in response, pulling me closer. I set the book to the side, slipping my homemade bookmark back in.

"We need somethin for the top of the tent," he mumbled, "s'too bright."

"It's not, you just wake up late," I told him, running my fingers through his hair. It was soft. My book had since been forgotten.

"Mm."

"Cmon, let's get up. We can walk around Auburn today," I offered. Auburn was the town we were near, although it was a little ways away. We tended to set up camp far enough away that no stray hikers stumbled upon it.

"Can't we stay in bed?" he mumbled, and I traced my hand down his back, feeling every knot and muscle, burning the feeling of his skin on mine into my brain.

"Nope," I told him, and he groaned again.

I managed to miraculously pull Percy up to his feet, although with much complaining and literally dragging him out of bed. It was a struggle.

We packed up camp, something that took no time at all. We were used to packing up quickly, especially because monsters tended to attack us in the middle of it. We'd gotten quite good, if I do say so myself.

"Ready?" Percy asked, leaning against the hood of the car, backpack slung over one shoulder, yawning.

I smiled. He was wearing the shirt I'd picked out for him the last time we'd gone shopping.

"Yup!" I replied, feeling giddy. What else was there for me to ask for? How much better could my life possibly get? I did wonder, and now that I think back on it, I probably jinxed myself.

It was my turn to drive, so I slid in the driver's side, and Percy went in the passenger seat. He tossed the backpack in the backseat and turned on the radio as I pulled out of our makeshift parking space, bumping into a few trees here and there.

I pulled out into a lone country road, with no one around to wonder why the hell we just drove out of the woods, and then we were off.