WATERPROOF, jason grace² [REWRITING]

♡- interlude 2: breakfast at cabin 11

"AND I BELIEVE YOU'VE MET AERA," Chiron said, introducing Percy to the other girl who had apparently taken care of him when he was unconscious. Percy's face went hot, the events of that night coming back to him the moment he caught glimpse of her. Aera had cradled him on his lap as he drooled and blabbered stuff about his mom like a complete weirdo. It didn't help his embarrassment that this girl was intimidatingly pretty. Whereas Annabeth, the first girl he'd met, was blonde and had storm grey eyes, Aera was Asian, with black hair in stylish bangs and deep brown eyes.

Percy's first impression of Aera (minus his unconscious drooling) was that she looked extremely neat. Her inky black hair flowed down to her shoulders without a single flyway, her nails were trimmed, her face was free of pimples, and her clothes were all wrinkle-free. There was nothing messy about her appearance. She didn't seem to have any flaws at all like she was photoshopped or something. She smelled good too, like cherry blossoms and stuff. 

Aera was slim and petite, shorter than Annabeth and around the same height as Percy, slightly lean in some places as though she had recently started working out. She looked like one of the popular girls in school who would never spare Percy a second glance, sporting perfect makeup and an orange crop top. Way too cool for Percy.

Aera made eye contact with Percy and gave a friendly smile. "Hey, you're looking a lot better now."

Percy's heart melted. She seemed so kind, too. Aera had been waiting in front of Cabin Eleven with Annabeth when Percy and Chiron arrived. Chiron had been showing him around camp; the strawberry fields, the volleyball courts, the training areas, and the Big House.

"I have masters' archery class at noon," Chiron said. "I trust you girls can take Percy from here?"

"Yes, sir," Annabeth replied.

"Absolutely," Aera said.

"Cabin eleven," Chiron announced to Percy, gesturing toward the doorway. "Make yourself at home."

Out of all the cabins, eleven looked the most like a regular old summer camp cabin, with the emphasis on old. The threshold was worn down, the brown paint peeling. Over the doorway was one of those doctor's symbols, a winged pole with two snakes wrapped around it.

Inside, it was packed with people, both boys and girls, way more than the number of bunk beds. Sleeping bags were spread all over on the floor. It looked like a gym where the Red Cross had set up an evacuation center. Chiron didn't go in. The door was too low for him. But when the campers saw him they all stood and bowed respectfully.

"Well, then," Chiron said. "Good luck, Percy. I'll see you at dinner." He turned and regarded Aera fondly. "And I shall see you before then for our tutoring session."

Aera nodded compliantly and Chiron galloped away toward the archery range. Percy wondered what kind of tutoring Aera did with Chiron. How to look glamorous at a summer camp? How to be perfect and flawless in every way?

Percy wished he had some of that tutoring, too. He stood in the doorway, looking at the other kids and feeling like an idiot. They weren't bowing anymore. They were staring at him, sizing him up. He knew this exact routine. He'd gone through it at enough schools.

"Well?" Annabeth prompted, impatiently tapping her foot on the ground. "Go on."

Of course, Percy tripped over the doorway and made a total fool of himself. Some snickers arose from the campers. Aera shushed them.

"Percy," she said sweetly behind him, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "meet Cabin 11."

"Regular or undetermined?" somebody asked.