Third Person's POV.
The dinner table had settled into a comfortable chatter, but beneath the surface, Daphne's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. She watched Gemini carefully, noticing how he kept his distance from her and Cole as they ate. It was obvious he was trying to stay as far away from them as possible, but that didn't stop Cole from talking to him.
"Come on, Gemini," Cole grinned, leaning forward slightly. "You gotta tell us—what's your favorite thing to do when you're not hanging out with Percy?"
Gemini's eyes flicked nervously toward Percy, but Penelope instantly stepped in.
"Cole, ease up. He doesn't have to tell you everything about himself right now." she said with a gentle smile on her face and Cole shrugged, waving a hand dismissively.
"I'm just trying to get to know him! Don't be so uptight, Pen."
Penelope's gaze softened as she looked at Gemini. "It's okay, sweetheart. You don't have to share if you're not ready. I get it—being new and not knowing how to fit in can be tough. You're safe here, trust me."
Daphne watched the exchange, feeling a strange mixture of irritation and curiosity. She knew Cole's teasing was all in good fun, but she also saw how Gemini looked like he was shrinking under the spotlight. She wanted to step in, to say something, but her mind was tangled with her own emotions. She was still simmering from earlier—the way Percy had looked at Gemini, the way she'd felt her chest tighten with jealousy and frustrations.
"Hey, new kid!" Daphne finally broke her silence, voice quieter than usual. "Pen is right. We might not look like it but we won't hurt anyone intentionally."
Gemini looked up, startled by her addressing him directly. His face was still guarded, he hesitated before nodded gently.
"You heard the girls, kind. Nobody will hurt you, not while Percy is here." Cole pressed, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "You can trust us. So, tell me. Do you like sports? What's your favorite video game? You're not into something totally wild, like skydiving are you?"
Gemini smiled, a shy smile. "No, I don't really do any of that. I mostly just draw and read."
Penelope's eyes lit up. "That's wonderful! You should show us some of your work sometime."
Cole, still smirking, leaned back into the chair. "See? Not so bad. You gotta loosen up, kid. Life's too short to be so serious all the time."
Penelope caught Daphne's eye and gave her a small nod of appreciation. Daphne knew Penelope was subtly looking out for Gemini, making sure Percy didn't have to carry the entire burden of doing it himself. It was one of the reasons she valued her friend so much—she had a way of standing up for what was right without making a fuss.
"Thanks for that," Gemini said softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he leaned closer to Penelope. "It means a lot."
Penelope nodded, offering him a small, genuine smile. "No one should have to feel like they're on the outside all the time." she said reaching under table to squeeze Gemini's hand gently. "You're doing just fine, sweetheart. Just be yourself, that's more than enough."
"I'm sorry, it seems my coming here is causing a rift among you guys." Gemini admitted softly.
Penelope shook her head, her eyes filled with kindness. "You know how we are," she said gently. "we grew up in this bubble of privilege. It's hard for some of us to understand people who didn't." Her voice was sincere.
Gemini felt relieved, a small warmth in his chest. "Thanks," she murmured, cheeks flushing again. "I didn't think about it like that."
"I understand" Penelope said, squeezing his hand gently. "You're part of our little circle now—even if that ruffles a few feathers. Just give them time. They'll come around." She smiled softly, making him nod then she turned her attention back to the rest of them.
Gemini watched them, feeling a mixture of gratitude and anxiety. He hoped Penelope was right—that eventually, they'd see him for who he is, not just the outsider in their privileged world.
After a while Cole spoke again. "Gemini, do you have a favorite place? Somewhere you've always wanted to visit?"
Gemini's eyes lit up at the question. "Maybe, the mountains. I'd like to see them in person one day. I've only ever seen them in pictures. They look so…big. And free."
Daphne's heart fluttered at that. She thought about her own dreams—places she'd love to go, things she'd love to do, if she didn't have to answer to her parents.
Penelope reached over, giving Gemini a reassuring squeeze on the arm. "That's a beautiful dream. Don't ever stop trying to get where you want to be."
In that moment, Daphne felt a strange warmth—a quiet sense of connection. Maybe Gemini wasn't so different from them after all. Beyond his background and position, he carried hopes and fears just like everyone else.
Daphne's gaze drifted to Percy, who was quietly observing everything, a calm expression on his face. She wondered what he was thinking. Then, she looked around at her other friends, feeling a little lighter. Maybe she could find a way to see Gemini not just as an outsider, but as someone who shared her dreams of freedom and adventure.