GEMINI.
Today was supposed to be just another typical boring Saturday in my dorm room alone after cleaning—reading comics hanging out with Ohio if she hadn't gone home for the weekend. But then Percy took me shopping, and I had to pretend I didn't notice how he kept glancing at his phone. We'd been out for hours, I've lost count of how many things he bought for me, and I was exhausted from playing games in the arcade, my feet aching, my eyelids drooping with fatigue.
When Percy finally suggested we head back even though we had a bunch of tickets left, I didn't protest. Instead, I gave our remaining tickets to some kids and followed him to the car. I sank into the passenger seat, eyelids fluttering shut, thinking, 'finally, some rest' and then Percy casually dropped the bombshell, that the real reason we came shopping is because we're going away for the weekend. I blinked, looking at him in surprise. I mean, I liked the sound of it, but it felt utterly crazy.
Who just wakes up and decides to go away for the weekend? Freaking rich people, that's who! I'm trying to act normal but honestly, I can't wrap my brain around it.
"Is it okay to just…leave?" I said, trying to mask my surprise with a nervous chuckle.
"Why not? It'll be fun!" he replied, in his usual tone. His confidence was contagious, but as I started to feel the fatigue settling in, the possibility of just packing up and leaving town began to settle in.
On our way back, Percy practically urged me to sleep.
"You look tired. Rest, I'll wake you up when we get there." he insisted, and I couldn't argue. I succumbed to exhaustion, my eyelids heavy, and before I knew it, the world around me faded into dreams.
But then—I woke up. And I was not in my dorm room or my bed. Something felt…off. I rubbed my eyes, expecting to see the familiar surroundings of Percy's place but I'm not at his house either.
I blinked a few times, groggy and confused. The air was cool, slightly salty, and I was lying on a soft, plush surface. My eyes adjusted to the dim light, and I sat up quickly, heart pounding. Expensive wood paneling, a neatly made king-sized bed, and a window showing the vast expanse of blue sky and shimmering water, in the middle of nowhere—I have seen this kind of place in movies one too many times. It was a cabin! I don't even need to think twice, I was on a yacht. A freaking yacht.
What the heck?
I bolted upright, pinched myself just to make sure I was not still sleeping. I must have slept for more than two, three hours or maybe more. How? Why didn't I feel anything? My mind raced. I was about to freak out, but then I saw a note on the bedside table, written in Percy's handwriting: "Stepped out to take some calls. Be back soon."
"Okay, breathe, Gemini. You can handle this. Waking up in a yacht is totally normal for rich people. Don't be weird, okay?" I whispered to myself, trying to shake off the haze in my mind. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and made my way out of the cabin, each step feeling heavier with confusion. As I emerged onto the deck, the sun hit my face, warm and blinding, and that's when I saw her.
A girl, standing by the railing, turned sharply as I stepped out. She looked older than me, probably the same age as Penelope. Her jet-black hair was sleek, falling just past her shoulders, and her posture screamed old money—confident, poised, a little cold. Her eyes, dark and piercing, scrutinized me like I was a strange creature from some other planet.
"Umm… are you lost, kid?" she asked, voice sharp, with a hint of that mean girl tone that made me want to shrink into myself. She looked around, her gaze flickering as if she was trying to figure out how I'd ended up here. "How did you even get in here?"
Great, just what I need—an interrogation. "Uh, no, I'm not lost. I'm… just—" I stammered, feeling my cheeks heat up under her scrutiny.
"Oh, there you are, Gigi! I thought you were still sleeping." I turned, relief flooding through me as I saw Penelope, emerging from one of the cabins, her smile bright and familiar.
"Gigi?" I echoed, trying to dispel the tension in my racing heart.
"Yeah! It's a new nickname I'm trying for you," Penelope said, her smile brightening the atmosphere. "Isn't it cute?"
I blinked, trying to hide my blush. "Just stick with Gem, please!" I mumbled, feeling awkward. "That sounds like a girl's name."
"Right, I thought so too. Just wanted to try something new," she said, giving me an easy smile. Then, she abruptly shifted her attention. "Anyway, where's Percy?" she asked looking around.
"I'm actually looking for him…"
Before I could finish, another voice interrupted, bright and a little too energetic.
"Hey, ladies!"
I turned to see a guy—unknown, unfamiliar—approaching with a grin that made me wary instantly.
"Oh... who's this cutie? Beautiful eyes! Are you wearing colored contacts?" he asked, eyes glinting with curiosity.
"N-no, this is…my natural eye color," I managed to stutter out, but before I could elaborate, he moved closer, his right hand extended toward my face. Instinct kicked in—I stepped back immediately, feeling a flicker of panic, but my back hit someone else's chest—a broad, solid chest—and I gasped. Suddenly, strong warm arms wrapped around me from behind, steadying me. I froze in surprise, my heart pounding so loud I thought it might burst. Then I looked up—and it was Percy. Relief washed over me instantly.
Percy looked down at me, his expression soft but guarded. "I was looking for you," he said quietly, like that explained everything.
"Ahh, guys?" the mean looking girl, interjected with a sharpness that caught everyone's attention. "Care to explain what's going on here?" She puffed her gum with an annoyed huff, eyeing me with hostile curiosity.
What's her deal anyway?
"Daphne, Cole! This is Gemini; he's a first year at our school. And Gemini, these are our childhood friends, Cole and Daphne," Penelope smoothly introduced everyone, seeming unfazed by Daphne's attitude.
"Nice to meet you," I mumbled, trying to keep my voice steady.
The girl—Daphne—popped her gum again, eyeing me with suspicion.
"A freshman? Here? This was supposed to be our weekend getaway," she said, crossing her arms.
"I brought him; he's my friend." Percy replied matter-of-factly, which earned him a strange look from Daphne.
"No way!" Cole exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief. "You're actually friends with this kid?" He tried reaching for my face again, and instinctively, I hid behind Percy, my heart slamming against my ribcage.
"Cole!" Percy snapped, his tone warning. Whoa, he's so protective, like a big brother.
Cole held his hands up in mock surrender. "What? I'm not going to do anything to him! I'm just surprised. I can't believe you're actually friends with him, and he's so pretty!" he said, attempting to peer over Percy's shoulders at me.
I felt my cheeks heat up, and I hunched slightly, hiding my face behind Percy's back. This whole conversation is awkward, tense, and totally surreal.
"Go! I'll be with you in a second," Percy said gently over his shoulder, his eyes warm as he nodded towards the cabin. I took that as my cue to escape this awkward situation ASAP. These people are freaking scary!
I can feel their eyes on me as I walked away, Cole's lingering gaze, Daphne's unimpressed stare. I heard Cole's voice behind me.
"I've never seen such a pretty-looking boy before. Where did you find him?"
Seriously? What kind of question is that? He sounds like I'm a stray cat or something.
What's that guy's problem?—Daphne doesn't seem to like me, and Cole clearly has a weird fixation on wanting to touch my face. Yeah, I definitely need to stay as far away from both of them as possible. I'm only here because Percy needs me.
The cool air of the cabin was a welcome relief. It was a stark contrast to the late evening sun and the sharp, uncomfortable scrutiny of Daphne and Cole. I closed the door softly behind me, leaning my back against the expensive polished wood, and let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"A yacht," I mumbled to the empty room, looking around the luxurious space. The cabin was larger than my entire dorm room, with that fresh, faint scent of salt and fancy soap. It felt surreal, like stepping inside the pages of a magazine I couldn't afford to even look at.
"This is it, Gemini. This is how the other half lives. Something Ohio can relate to."
My mind was still reeling from the encounter on the deck—it was a lot. Even though I knew, deep down, that people like Percy and Penelope were different from me, it's one thing to read about it or see it in movies, and another thing entirely to be on a freaking yacht with people who look at you like you're an interesting stray they're tolerating.
I'm only here because Percy needs me. I'm only here because Percy brought me. And I'm not some project or pet for his friends to gawk at. I need to remember that.
I walked over to the king-sized bed and ran a hand over the ridiculously soft duvet, trying to ground myself. Why did Percy bring me here and not mention his friends? It feels like a test, or maybe he just genuinely didn't realize how stressful this environment would be for me.