Alternatively

and somehow, we're here

The ceilings were low enough for him to run the tips of his fingers across the bumpy surface if he really stretched.

So he stretched, swiping his fingers across the ceiling a couple times before letting his arm fall to the side, dangling over the bunk. He squinted, trying to count the clusters and clots above him, and quickly came to the conclusion that it was no easier seeing them from this bed than the other five he was tested. Still, he strained his eyes until they ached before propping himself up on his elbows. Sheets were rumpled on each top bunk despite him trying his best to tuck them back in neatly and if he stretched his neck, he could see the windows by each bottom bunk where he traced faces in the fog.

So he stretched, counting them silently just for something to do before collapsing back on the creaking bed.

And when the wood settled, it was quiet again.

Percy exhaled slowly, huddling deeper in his hoodie. He didn't know what he expected, spending free period in his cabin. Just because the arena was being maintenance and the wind chill off the ocean and lake was too sharp didn't mean he should have holed himself away. Still, he wasn't sure what else he could have done.

Especially considering the fact he wasn't supposed to be there to begin with.

You told her it was okay, he reminded himself as the self pity set in. It was for her job, she needed to go.

Besides, if she traveled now, she wouldn't need to for Christmas. It was fair, he understood. There were worse places he could be.

He stared up without looking, hands curling in the sheets he sprawled across. It must have been a few minutes since he last checked the clock, but oh, did it feel like an eternity. He forgot how empty camp was after summer ended.

The footsteps dully stomping up the stairs barely prefaced his door swinging open, goosebumps racing down his spine as cold air rushed in.

"What are-"

"There you are," Annabeth pulled her scarf away from her mouth. "I spent like fifteen minutes running around because you decided to take a nap? Thanks a lot, Seaweed Brain."

He frowned, rolling over to see her brace her arms against the door frame. "I'm not napping, did no one teach you to knock?"

"And wait five years for you to get up?"

"Why were you even looking for me, don't you have Greek right now?"

She made a face as the wind whipped around her. "Chiron let me out early, so I wanted to know if you had anything you want to work in the bet for the game."

"Really?"

"Just the bet, you aren't touching the schematics again."

"Right," he rolled his eyes, draping his arms over the bunk rail. "Because I didn't do a great job last time."

"Almost got yourself killed is what you did, but whatever."

"Eh, it turned out okay."

"If you say so, now come on."

"I'm comfortable," he grumbled, glaring as another gust of frigid air shot through the door. "Or at least I was, do you have any manners?"

She ignored that, plowing through with a judgemental, "So you're just gonna pout in here all week?"

"Pout- I am not pouting-"

"Like, I get that it sucks not being able to spend break with your mom, but you gotta pull it together."