Alternatively

Over Land (ii.)

            hour 50

"You look fantastic."

Grover scowled, pulling at the over sized 'I Kick Tex-Ass' shirt. "I look like I shouldn't believe in climate change."

"Awh, come on," he took a drag of his drink. "It's a statement, you can change some minds in that outfit."

His scowl deepened and he slung his backpack over his shoulder, trudging over to lean against the bus next to him. The sun beamed off the pavement and though the heat was dry, it was still hotter than hell. Exhaust and gasoline dizzied his head and wavered in the Texas air, but the bus driver was still at the pump and to sit in a turned off bus was to sit in a literal oven.

Percy pushed the sleeves on his XXL 'Texas Dads Do It Right' shirt and stirred the ice in his cup, squinting at their fellow passengers milling about the gas station parking lot. None of them had to go on an emergency shopping spree because their bags got drenched, none of them had to pick through a slim selection of tacky t shirts because their clothes got mildewed in the baggage hold.

"I want to die."

He rolled over onto his shoulder as Annabeth jumped the last stair, blowing bubbles in his soda. "Why'd you take ten years to change then?"

"That bathroom's tiny," she combed her hair into a pony tail, her neckline slipping off her shoulder. "I couldn't even turn around without hitting something."

"Hm. Shoulda gone inside."

"Yeah, gross, no thanks."

"I mean," Grover crunched on a mouthful of granola. "It was gross, but where else are you going to find phone numbers and glory holes?"

Percy shook his cup, ice rattling around. "The next time you say glory hole, I'm arresting you."

"What, it's just-"

"Is that Coke?"

He glanced at Annabeth, tilting the straw to her. "Yeah, want some?"

"No," she tucked her bright orange shirt into her shorts. "I am not drinking soda for breakfast."

"Well, what'd you have?"

"Nothing, but-"

He loudly drained his cup, smirking as she rolled her eyes.

"You guys would die without me," Grover rummaged through his bag, pulling out snacks and packaged food. "When we get to the station, we're getting real food. Like Chinese. Or pizza."

Annabeth switched which snacks landed in Percy's hand and he would have complained if he didn't end up with what he really wanted. "You're such a mom."

"Well, someone has to be."

"I can live without your help," she ripped open a bag of trail mix, sighing when he pouted. "Most days, at least."

"I couldn't," Percy tore the top off his almonds with his teeth. "I'd forget to wake up if you didn't text me at fuck o'clock in the morning every day."

"You get those too?"

"Yeah, and I can't actually read them until later because my eyes aren't even functioning at that hour."

"Hey," Grover protested. "It's important to start the day with inspirational affirmations."

He poured a bunch of almonds into his mouth."You quoted the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie."

"You recognized it, so shut up."

Annabeth snorted, knocking back a handful of carefully selected peanuts and chocolate chips. "Nothing better than waking up to a Hillary Duff lyric."