Third Person's POV.
The sun had just begun its slow descent behind the horizon, casting long, glowing fingers across the deck of the yacht. The air was thick with the scent of salt and the distant cry of seagulls, but beneath that tranquil surface simmered a brew of unspoken tensions. Daphne's eyes darted towards the staircase where Gemini had just disappeared below decks, her curiosity prickling at her like a restless bug.
"Was that the scholarship kid everyone's been talking about at school?" she asked suddenly, voice loud and clear in the stillness. "I thought the rumors said he was just Percy's new errand boy?"
The words hung in the air, awkward and pointed, as if Daphne had just flung a stone into a tranquil pond. The ripple of silence that followed was almost deafening. Percy's gaze sharpened, his jaw tightening as he glared at her, a flicker of annoyance flashing in his eyes.
"Don't ever call him that again," Percy finally snapped, voice low but edged with steel. "he has a name and I suggest you learn it.
Daphne blinked, caught off guard by the sudden defensiveness. She stared, a little awkward, her fingers tapping on her nails as she considered her next move.
"Daphne, don't listen to such rumors." Penelope chimed in trying to ease the tension.
"Relax, everyone," Cole tried to smooth things over, raising his hands and giving a half-hearted smile. "We're all friends here, right?" But the tension hung heavy in the air, thick enough that even Cole's attempt at levity seemed to dissolve into awkward silence.
Daphne, still inspecting her nails, shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, why is everyone suddenly on edge? It was just a question. And I have the right to know—why am I spending the weekend with the kid everyone's been talking about?"
Percy's gaze sharpened, and for a moment, he hesitated, as if weighing whether to respond. Finally, he spoke, his voice firm but quiet. "He's my guest. That's all you need to know."
Daphne scoffed, rolling her eyes. "A guest? He's a freshman with nothing to his name. Since when did we start adopting strays, Percy? Is this some charity project you're working on?"
Percy's face darkened instantly, the muscles in his jaw tightening as he scowled. "You want to say that again?"
"Whoa, relax, Percy," Cole interjected quickly, trying to diffuse the rising heat. "She's got a point, sort of. You've never been this protective of anyone before. Why are you making such a big deal for a kid you've only known for a few weeks?"
Percy's fists clenched at his sides, his voice rising as he snapped, "I don't care if I've known him for one minute. I won't let anyone insult him. And if I have to choose between you and him based on how you two are behaving right now, I'll pick him."
Daphne's jaw dropped slightly at Percy's intensity, her lips parting as if to retort, but she hesitated, caught off guard by the conviction in his voice. At the same time, Cole's eyebrows furrowed, visibly uncomfortable with the sudden tension.
"Dude! That's a bit harsh," Cole exclaimed, voice tinged with concern.
"Exactly," Daphne shot back, her tone sharper than before. "We've been friends since we were kids, Percy." she said, almost pleading, as if trying to reach through to some part of him that was slipping away.
"Exactly! So you know I mean it." Percy's voice rose, "Don't give him a hard time; I'm serious!" His eyes burned into Daphne, whose mouth still hung open in disbelief. Turning to Cole, Percy continued. "And don't go asking him questions that will make him uncomfortable. Whatever is going on between him and me is my business—stay out of it."
Daphne's heart pounded as she watched Percy walk away. She wanted to chase after Percy, to demand he tell her what was really going on, but Penelope's firm grip on her arm stopped her. With a gentle but decisive shake of her head, Penelope kept her in place.
"What's his problem anyway?" Cole finally broke the silence, looking genuinely perplexed, scratching his head as if trying to piece together a puzzle he hadn't yet seen.
Penelope's voice was calm but firm. "Just leave him alone," she said softly, her eyes meeting theirs. "He's got enough on his mind as it is."
Daphne's brow furrowed, her voice tinged with suspicion. "You're on his side?" she asked, voice slightly accusing.
Penelope shook her head gently. "I'm not on anyone's side. I just know what's right and wrong."
Daphne crossed her arms. "I'm just supposed to be nice to the kid because Percy brought him? Is that it?"
Penelope sighed, her expression softening. "That's not what I'm saying. Gemini's a good kid. He didn't deserve what just happened. Besides—" her gaze softened, "there's more to him than the rumors—he's smart, kind and hardworking. Percy sees that. Maybe you should try to see it too."
Daphne hesitated, her mouth opening as if to argue, but no words came. Instead, she looked away, trying to process what Penelope had said. Growing up in a world where everyone around her was wealthy and privileged, she knew how narrow her worldview could be. People like Gemini—they were outsiders, unworthy in her eyes because they didn't fit into her neatly structured world.
Meanwhile, Cole looked confused, rubbing his neck. "What did I do?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.
Penelope's voice was gentle but firm. "Percy hates having his business talked about. You were asking Gemini weird questions, wanting to touch his face—what does that tell you, Cole? You might not realize it, but you're pushing his boundaries."
She paused, taking a breath before continuing. "Look, we've all brought people along on trips. Not everyone's going to like each other's guests. But that's okay. We're here to enjoy ourselves, to relax for the weekend. Let's just take a breath and remember why we're here—to have a good time. That's what matters, right?"
Cole, always ready to lighten the mood, stretched and grinned. "Right! I need a drink. Too sober for this conversation." Without waiting for permission, he headed toward the yacht's bar. Daphne huffed, turning on her heel to leave as well, her anger trailing behind her like a storm cloud.
Penelope watched them go, then sighed softly, her gaze drifting toward the horizon. "Well, that went well," she muttered quietly before turning back toward her cabin.
The yacht drifted quietly into the evening, the distant hum of engines and the whisper of the wind the only sounds—yet beneath that calm surface, a storm of emotions churned, waiting for the next wave to break.