"So, you're actually dating someone?"

"You don't have to sound so surprised, Pete."

"Can't help it, Perce. You haven't been on a date in ages and now suddenly you're telling me you got a boyfriend?" Pete questions, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes at his best friend. "I wanna meet him."

Currently the two best friends were hanging out at his place at one of their annual movie nights. Percy had finally confessed she has a boyfriend to Pete after weeks of teasing and nudging from him. She couldn't help but laugh at his surprised reaction, especially since Pete had always been the one to play matchmaker in the past.

"Well, I wasn't exactly planning on making it a big announcement," Percy said with a teasing smile, leaning back against the couch. "But, yeah. His name's Luke. He's...Amazing." Her smile softened as she thought about him, her heart fluttering just from saying his name.

Pete watches her closely, noticing the way her eyes lit up as she talked about Luke. "Wow, you really like him, don't you?" He grins, shaking his head. "Never thought I'd see the day, but you're a goner, Perce. Head over heels for this guy."

Percy blushes, ducking her head as her cheeks grew warmer. "Shut up, I'm not head over heels." She mutters, though the grin on her face said otherwise. "Okay, maybe I am a little bit. He's just...I don't know. He's different. He's sweet, and funny, and he's a firefighter which makes him even more amazing. He's really good looking too, like so attractive-"

"Alright, I get it," Pete cuts her off with a roll of his eyes. "You're crushing hard." He laughs, nudging her shoulder playfully. "I'm glad, though. You deserve someone who makes you happy."

Percy's smile widens, her eyes gleaming. "He does. And it's only been a few weeks, but...I can't stop thinking about him."

"So when do I get to meet him?" Pete asks curiously, rolling his eyes at her groan. "What? Come on, Perce. I gotta make sure this guy's good enough for you. Can't just let anyone date my best friend."

"You're just gonna scare him away." She complained, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Pete grins, unfazed by her complaint. "I'll be on my best behavior, I promise." He pauses, giving her a playful look. "Well, maybe not too much on my best behavior. But I'll make sure he knows who he's dealing with."

Percy chuckles, shaking her head. "You're impossible. But fine, I actually invited him to the sand volleyball tournament that's coming up. Figured you could meet him then. Just...be nice, okay?" Percy adds with a teasing smile, though the hint of nervousness in her voice is noticeable. "I know you like to play the overprotective best friend role a lot, but I actually really like this guy, Petey. I want it to work out."

"Of course." Pete immediately replies, his expression becoming serious. He wraps an arm around her, squeezing her shoulder comfortingly. "If he's someone special to you, I'll support you, no matter what. You know that."

Percy leans into him, feeling a rush of gratitude. She did know that, and it meant more to her than she could ever say. "Yeah, I know."

"But I'm still gonna grill him, just a little bit," Pete adds, smirking when Percy playfully swats at him. "What? I'm not gonna let him off easy. I'm your best friend, it's my job to make sure he's treating you right. Besides, you'd do the same for me if the roles were reversed."

"Yeah, yeah. I'd do the same for you." Percy sighs. "Speaking of which, saw you and Charlie getting cozy." Pete stiffens at that and Percy grins. "So it's true? You two are a thing now?"

Pete shrugs, looking away and pretending not to be affected by the question. "She's our instructor, Perce."

"I know that. Do you?" She teases, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Because it sure looks like more than just a student-teacher relationship to me."

"I'm gonna go get some more popcorn." Pete stood up abruptly, heading towards the kitchen.

Percy laughs, following after him. "Pete, c'mon, don't think you can escape this conversation that easily!" She calls out, walking into the kitchen and leaning against the doorframe as he grabbed the popcorn. "I'm just saying, you can't hide it forever. It's obvious you like her."

Pete scoffs, avoiding her gaze as he popped some popcorn into the microwave. "I don't know what you're talking about." He muttered, his back to her.

"You do know what I'm talking about." She stubbornly replies, moving to jump up on the counter to sit down. "The sexual tension between the two of you is gross."

"There is no sexual tension." He retorted, his voice strained.

"I'm pretty sure you were undressing her with your eyes during the entire lecture today," She snickers when he shot her a look. "Just 'cause I was sitting on the other side of the room, doesn't mean I didn't notice."

"Whatever," Pete rolls his eyes, grabbing the popcorn and turning around. "Even if I did like her, which I'm not admitting to," He adds, pointing at her when she started to smirk. "It's not like anything could happen. We're her students. There's rules."

"Since when have you ever cared about rules?" She pointed out, grinning at him mischievously. "You're not exactly known for following the rulebook, Pete. If you really like her, you should go for it."

Pete let out an exaggerated sigh, leaning against the counter as he held the bowl of popcorn. "I'm not saying I like her," He mutters, though the hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "But, fine, maybe...Maybe I feel something. But I'm not going to act on it. Not with the whole student-teacher thing hanging over us. It's just...Complicated."

Percy raises an eyebrow, her arms crossed as she looked him over. "Since when have you been the responsible one? You've never let complications stop you before."

Pete shot her a playful glare, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "This time feels different," He admits, his voice quieter. "I don't want to mess things up with her. I know how it goes. One wrong move, and everything could get weird."

Percy's face softens, hopping off the counter to stand beside him. "If you really care about her, Pete, you have to at least try. Don't let fear of messing up stop you from being happy. You deserve that, too. Even though it's a little weird that you have a thing for our instructor." She added.

Pete rolls his eyes, letting out a sigh. "Hey, you're one to talk. You're dating a fire chief."

"Hey, he's hot," She defends, blushing as she thought of Luke. Pete raises his eyebrow at her. She chuckles and adds, "And he's also a really great guy. Like I said, he's amazing. And so are you. Plus Charlie seems pretty cool too. Maybe it could work out." She shrugged, ignoring the sudden ache she felt at the thought of Pete dating someone. Those romantic feelings she had for Pete started to creep back in, the ones she thought she had shoved to the back of her mind. They lingered, quiet but undeniable. Percy quickly pushed the thought aside, focusing back on Pete, trying to keep her composure.

Pete notices the way her smile faltered for just a moment. He knew her well enough to catch the subtle change in her expression, the slight shift in her energy. It was nothing major, but it was enough to make him wonder. He didn't push it, though, instead letting out a soft laugh. "I guess we'll see," He said, reaching over to ruffle her hair, dodging her swat to his arm as he chuckles. "Now come on, let's go finish the movie. And I call dibs on picking the next one."

"Noo," She groans, walking back to the living room area. "Your taste is horrible."

"You're just jealous of my cinematic genius." He jokes, grabbing the fresh bag after the microwave beeps and following her back to the couch. "Come on, my taste is perfect. I picked out the last movie, didn't I?"

"Yeah, and I suffered through it. How is that fair?" Percy complains, though her tone was light and playful. "Let me pick the next one. Pretty please? With a cherry on top?" She gave him the best puppy-dog eyes, knowing how weak he was for those. She always used them to her advantage, especially when they were younger.

Pete avoids her gaze, busying himself with pouring the popcorn into the half eaten bowl. "Not working this time." He mumbled, but his resolve was already wavering.

Percy grins, sensing her victory. She scoots closer to him, leaning in and resting her head on his shoulder, her eyes wide and pleading. "Come on, Petey. Please?" She pouts, jutting out her lower lip and looking at him with the same puppy-dog eyes that always made him melt. "Pretty please?" She cupped his face to make him look at her so he couldn't resist.

Pete's breath caught in his throat suddenly at the proximity, his body tensing up. He was used to her being close, but there was something different about it tonight. Something more intimate, more charged. His heart started racing as he stared at her, feeling an unfamiliar sensation building inside of him. He was confused and slightly flustered by the intensity of the moment. The playful, teasing energy that had always existed between them felt heavier now, more loaded with unspoken feelings. He tried to clear his throat, shaking his head as if to dispel the tension in the air.

"Okay, okay," Pete said, his voice a little more strained than usual. "You win. Pick the movie. But only because I can't resist that face." He handed her the popcorn and quickly tried to act like nothing was out of the ordinary, even though his mind was racing.

Percy smirked triumphantly, her heart beating faster now too, but for a different reason. She had always been able to push Pete's buttons, but tonight, she couldn't ignore the strange charge between them. It was like the dynamic between them had shifted just slightly, leaving her wondering if he felt it too. She takes the bowl, trying to act casual, but the knot in her stomach told her otherwise.

"I knew you'd cave." She teased, but her voice sounded softer than usual, a hint of something deeper behind her words.

As she settled back onto the couch, she glanced at Pete, catching a glimpse of the uncertainty in his eyes. The playful banter was still there, but now it felt like there was something unspoken hanging between them—something that neither of them seemed quite ready to acknowledge.

****

It was the day of the sand volleyball tournament, and the sun was high over the base, casting long shadows across the sand courts. The air was filled with the sounds of volleyballs being spiked, the steady rhythm of feet hitting the sand, and the occasional cheer from teammates and spectators. The base was buzzing with excitement, and despite the heat, everyone was in high spirits, eager to compete.

Percy and Pete had arrived early, their team stretching and warming up in preparation for their first match. The tournament was a big deal on base, with everyone looking forward to some friendly competition. But as the two of them stood by the courts, ready to start, there was an underlying tension between them that neither of them was willing to acknowledge—at least not yet.

"So, where's your new boyfriend at?" Pete asks, looking around the beach. "Thought he'd be here by now. Unless he's already chickened out."

Percy scoffs giving him a look. "He's not a chicken," She said, her tone defensive. "He's just running a little late. Probably got caught up at the station."

"Right," Pete rolls his eyes. "Because he's a firefighter, and they're always busy saving people. So noble."

"Shut up, Petey," Percy playfully smacks his arm, ignoring the pang of guilt in her chest. "Just because you don't like him doesn't mean you have to be an ass about it."

"Who said I didn't like him?" Pete retorts, his brow furrowed. "I've never even met him."

"Exactly. Which is why you have no right to be an a** about it," Percy shakes her head, sighing. "Look, can we just not fight? Today is supposed to be fun. I don't want us fighting. Especially when he gets here."

"We're not fighting," Pete protests, though there's a hint of a pout in his tone. "I'm just making observations."

Percy rolls her eyes, the playful tension between them still evident. "Well, keep your observations to yourself, okay? I want today to be good vibes only."

"Fine," Pete grumbles, shoving his hands in his pockets. But the way his jaw tightens gives away his irritation—or maybe something else entirely. "I did tell you last night I would be on my best behavior. Or at least try to."

"Thank you." She said softly, smiling a little at him. She perks up when she heard the familiar engine of Luke's motorcycle, watching him pull up near the entrance of the courts where some other cars and bikes were parked. "Luke!" She beamed, leaving Pete's side to watching Percy and Luke greet each other with a warm hug and a few shared words. Percy's smile was wide, her eyes sparkling in a way that Pete wasn't used to seeing. He felt a slight pang in his chest, but he quickly dismissed it, focusing on the game instead.

"Looks like she's really into him." Nick remarked, nudging Pete with his elbow. Pete glanced over at the couple, but there was something about seeing Percy so happy with Luke that made him feel an odd mix of emotions. It wasn't jealousy—at least that's what he told himself. It was more like an uncomfortable itch he couldn't quite scratch.

"Yeah, I guess so," Pete mutters, keeping his eyes on the volleyball net as he adjusted the straps of his sunglasses. "Good for her."

Nick raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying Pete's nonchalant attitude. "You sure about that? You look like you're ready to spike the ball right into his face."

Pete let out a dry laugh. "Come on, Nick. I'm not that petty."

Nick smirks. "If you say so."  

"That's him?" Reyna's surprised but curious voice is heard as she stood by the two men. "Wow, she was right. He is hot..." She commented, looking intrigued, her gaze lingering on the fire chief. She trailed off, clearly impressed by the confident figure striding across the sand. Luke exuded a natural charisma, his easy smile and athletic build adding to the commanding presence he seemed to carry effortlessly.

"Yeah, I've seen better." Pete muttered under his breath, though the jealousy in his tone was unmistakable.

Reyna arched an eyebrow, but her lips quirked into a knowing smile. "Better than that hunk of a firefighter she's with?" She teased, chuckling at the annoyed look he shot her.

"Okay, enough, Sunny. You're not helping." He grumbled and walked off to the court, leaving the two girls amused by his attitude.

"Guess someone's a little jealous." Reyna smirked.

"Oh, good. I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw that. For a second I thought I was just imagining things." Nick grins. "This is gonna be an interesting game."

Reyna smirks. "I can't wait."

Meanwhile, Luke and Percy were walking over, hand in hand. "Hey, guys!" Percy called out, her hand still linked with Luke's as they approached the rest of the team. Her smile was radiant, and she seemed almost glowing, her eyes full of affection for him. Luke, always cool and collected, waved at the group with a casual grin, his presence effortlessly commanding attention.

Pete stood there, his arms crossed, his posture stiff as he tried to keep his expression neutral. His eyes flickered to Luke, his mind racing as he forced himself to focus on anything else. The way Percy beamed at Luke made something twist in his chest, but he kept the feeling buried, not wanting anyone to notice.

"Hey, Luke," Reyna said with a teasing grin, her eyes flicking between Pete and Luke. "Nice to finally put a face to a name. I'm Reyna."

"Same goes to you, Reyna. It's great to finally meet you. Percy's told me a lot about you guys." Luke greets, squeezing her hand as he shares a smile with Percy. "Sorry I'm late. Work got a little crazy this morning." He glances at Nick with a smile. "You must be Nick aka Goose, right?"

Nick looks surprised but pleased as he grins. "Awe, you talked about me?" He teased, glancing at Percy, who rolled her eyes and giggled, playfully shoving his arm.

"You know I did. Don't be a jerk," Percy laughs, glancing up at Luke with a fond smile. "This is Nick and Reyna. And Pete...Where's Pete?" She asked, glancing around in confusion when she didn't see her male best friend nearby.

"Here," Pete walked over, his hands shoved into his pockets as he avoided making eye contact with anyone. His gaze drifted over to Percy, then Luke. Luke was taller than him, and had a confident, easygoing demeanor, but his gaze was surprisingly warm and kind. It was a little annoying, Pete thought, how nice Luke seemed to be. "Hey, man. Good to finally meet you, she's been talking about you non-stop."

"Hey," Luke smiles, reaching out to shake his hand, a friendly gesture. "Likewise, dude. Percy talks about you all the time. Good things though."

Pete chuckles, shaking his head. "That's a relief." He glanced over at Percy, giving her a quick smile. "Alright, let's get started. We're up next, so we should probably warm up. Reyna, you're on Tom's team." He added, glancing over at the young woman, who groaned in protest, looking over at Tom, who smirked at her in return.

"No way," Reyna protests, shooting a glare at him. "I'm not working with him. He's the worst!"

"I resent that, Sunny." Tom shot back, though his smirk never faded. "I'm an excellent player. You're the one who sucks at this game."

"I don't suck! You're the one who can't even hit the ball." Reyna retorted, her eyes narrowed in a glare.

"Are they together?" Luke murmurs to Percy in confusion and slight amusement as Reyna stormed over to Tom, continuing to bicker with the blonde. "They argue like an old married couple."

Percy laughs and shakes her head. "Not yet. But they're totally into each other. They just won't admit it."

"It's cute," He chuckles, his arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her closer to his side. "You're cuter though." He added, grinning when she blushed and looked down shyly.

Pete watched the scene unfold, a scowl on his face. He could feel his annoyance growing with every passing moment. Luke was charming and easygoing, and clearly knew how to make Percy blush and giggle. Pete hated it. Why did he hate it? Why was it so frustrating to see Percy and Luke together? It wasn't like he had a crush on her, right? That would be ridiculous.

"You ready to play?" Reyna's voice pulled him from his thoughts, and he turned to see her standing beside him, a knowing glint in her eyes.

Pete rolls his eyes at her. "Don't start, Sunny."

Reyna held up her hands in defense, her lips quirking into a smirk. "I didn't say anything. Yet."

Pete shot her a look before turning his attention back to the court, ignoring the way his chest tightened as he saw Percy laughing with Luke. He tried to shake off the strange feeling, telling himself it was just because he wasn't used to sharing her. He was overthinking things. It was nothing.

The match was about to begin, and the crowd was buzzing with excitement. The sun beat down on the court, and the air was filled with the smell of sweat and the sounds of the spectators cheering for their favorite teams. The players were all pumped up, ready to compete. Percy and Luke teamed up with Nick and Pete as Reyna and Tom teamed up with two others.

The game began, and the ball was quickly tossed back and forth between the teams, the energy electric. It was a close match, and the tension was high as everyone cheered for their teammates. Pete hated to admit it, Luke had some skill. He quick on his feet, with sharp reflexes and a knack for reading the game. And he hated to admit it he couldn't find any reason to dislike Luke. He was nice, friendly, and obviously cared for Percy a lot. But it didn't stop the weird, jealous feelings he was trying so hard to suppress. 

Pete sighed and tried to push his weird feelings for Percy to the back of his mind. He didn't want to bother with them, not when it seemed like Percy and Luke were happy together. Plus he had this thing with Charlie...Speaking of Charlie, they planned to meet up for dinner soon. He checked his watch, his heart skipping a beat at seeing it was getting closer to meeting her.

As the game continued, Pete could feel himself starting to relax a little, enjoying the distraction of the game. The tension seemed to ease as he focused on the competition, and for a while, he was able to forget about his feelings for Percy, and the jealousy that seemed to be constantly tugging at his chest. He even was getting along with Luke well and honestly he didn't mind it.

The score was tied, and the teams were determined to win. Percy was in her element, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks flushed as she chased after the ball. Luke was quick on his feet, easily returning the ball and scoring points. Nick and Pete worked in perfect sync, their years of friendship making them a formidable duo, same going for them with Percy too. And surprisingly, Reyna and Tom even worked pretty well together.

The game was intense, and everyone was feeling the pressure. As the last round came, both teams were equally matched, and the outcome was uncertain. Percy served, and the ball was returned, but she quickly spiked it back over the net, winning them the game. The crowd erupted into cheers, and the team high fived each other, celebrating their victory. Pete turned to leave, causing Nick to pout and try to convince him to play another game as Tom and the others tried convincing them for a rematch while Reyna shook her head and rolled her eyes as she got ready to leave, calling Tom a sore loser.

"Leaving so soon?" Percy asked, raising an eyebrow at him when she went over to follow him as Luke chatted with Nick.

"Yeah, I actually have plans with Charlie." Pete mutters so only she could hear while glancing down at his watch. He grimaces, he needed to get going. "I have to get going." He looks up to see Percy smirking at him. He rolls his eyes, but his face felt slightly warm. "It's not a date, Percy. Just dinner."

"With our instructor." Percy smiles teasingly, crossing her arms as she leaned slightly toward him. "Sure, Pete. Just dinner. Totally not a date."

Pete huffs, shaking his head, but he couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at his lips. "Believe whatever you want, Percy. I've got to go." As Pete walked away to his bike, he could feel Percy's gaze on his back, and it made his heart race despite himself. He glanced over his shoulder, catching her waving at him with that playful smirk still plastered on her face.

"Have fun on your not-a-date!" She called out, loud enough for a few of their friends to snicker.

Pete rolled his eyes but felt his cheeks heat up further as he waved back dismissively. He couldn't deny the warmth her teasing brought, even as it stirred the ever-present tangle of emotions he carried for her. He glanced over his shoulder though after climbing on his bike when he heard a surprised squeal from Percy. Luke had suddenly picked her up and spun her around in celebration, clearly still riding the high of their victory. Percy laughed, her voice ringing out over the court as she swatted at Luke's shoulder playfully, telling him to put her down. Pete felt a pang in his chest, but he forced himself to look away and start his bike.

As the engine roared to life, he tried to focus on the road ahead and the dinner with Charlie. He reminded himself that it was just a friendly meeting—nothing more. And yet, the image of Percy laughing in Luke's arms refused to leave his mind.

"Get it together, Pete." He muttered to himself, gripping the handlebars tightly.

He didn't have time for these weird feelings, not when he was trying so hard to convince himself that there was nothing there. Percy was happy, and that should've been enough. Plus he had this thing with Charlie so he needed to focus on that instead. Charlie was waiting for him, and it was important to give her the attention she deserved. Pushing thoughts of Percy aside, Pete revved his bike and focused on the road, letting the hum of the engine drown out the noise in his mind.